County Civil Court:  APPELLATE PROCEDURE – Preservation of Error – appellant unable to overcome presumption of correctness of trial court’s order without a transcript -  Final Judgment affirmed.  Lenwell v. James Formelio, d/b/a All Stars, Appeal No. 06-0020AP-88A (Fla. 6th Cir. App. Ct. Nov. 3, 2006). 

 

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA

APPELLATE DIVISION

 

LUIS LENWELL,

                        Appellant,

vs.                                                                                        Appeal No. 06-0020AP-88A

                                                                                            UCN522006P000020XXXXCV

JAMES FORMELIO, d/b/a

ALL STARS,

                        Appellee.

____________________________________________/

 

Appeal from Final Judgment for Plaintiff

Pinellas County Court

Judge Dorothy L. Vaccaro

 

Luis Lenwell, Appellant, pro se

 

James Formelio, Appellee, pro se

 

 

ORDER AND OPINION

 

            THIS CAUSE came before the Court on appeal, filed by Luis Lenwell (Lenwell), from the Final Judgment for Plaintiff, entered February 8, 2006, in favor of James Formelio, d/b/a All Stars (All Stars).  Upon review of the briefs, the record and being otherwise fully advised, the Court affirms the trial court’s ruling as set forth below.

The record shows that All Stars filed a complaint against Lenwell in Small Claims Court seeking to recover the principal sum of $ 4,786.11, plus costs and interest, as payment for body-work and repairs completed on Lenwell’s Chevy truck.  The matter came before the trial court for a non-jury trial on January 25, 2006.  After considering the evidence presented and the testimony of several witnesses, the trial court entered judgment in favor of All Stars in the principal amount of $ 2,921.10, plus costs and interest.  Lenwell has appealed this judgment.

                Before this Court, Lenwell argues that the trial court erred in rendering judgment in favor of All Stars in the full amount of the claim and that Lenwell was not given an adequate opportunity to cross-examine All Stars’ witnesses, whom he argues he only became aware of the day of trial.  The Court finds that it is impossible to address these issues as Lenwell has failed to present this Court will a transcript or adequate record to demonstrate error.  See Applegate v. Barnett Bank of Tallahassee, 377 So.2d 1150, 1152 (Fla. 1979)(stating that the decision of the trial court has the presumption of correctness and the burden is on the appellant to demonstrate error).  As the trial court is charged with determining the weight, credibility, and sufficiency of the testimony and evidence presented, Lenwell is unable to overcome the presumption of correctness of the trial court’s ruling without a transcript.  See id; see also Smiley v. Greyhound Lines, Inc., 704 So.2d 204, 205 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998)(explaining that the appellate court cannot substitute its opinion on the evidence but rather must indulge every fact and inference in support of the trial court’s judgment, which is the equivalent of a jury verdict).  Therefore, it is,

            ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Final Judgment for Plaintiff is affirmed.

            DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers, at Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida this ______ of October 2006.

 

                                                ________________________________

                                                JOHN A. SCHAEFER

                                                Circuit Judge, Appellate Division

 

 

 

 

______________________________                        ______________________________

LAUREN LAUGHLIN                                              BRANDT C. DOWNEY, III

Circuit Judge, Appellate Division                                   Circuit Judge, Appellate Division

Copies furnished to:

 

Judge Dorothy L. Vaccaro

 

Luis Lenwell

2169 Drew Street

Clearwater, FL  33765

 

James Formelio

2167 Drew Street

Clearwater, FL  33765