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STATEMENTOFTHEISSUESPRESENTED   0   ` Defendants,MichaelandChristineDozier,throughtheirundersignedcounsel,havemovedtheCourtforanOrdertoPlaintiffsforCompliancewiththeFloridaRulesofCivilProcedure,towit,attachmentoffront/backimagesofalltheinstrumentsuponwhichthecomplaintisbased,foraMoreDefiniteStatementoftheallegationsagainstthemsothattheymaypleadwithgreatercertainty,discussedinfra,andtohavethenon    compliant,AmendedComplaint,dismissedwithleavetoamend. (#(# L $(#L !Hg     !Hg2  A  .3  0 `    ProceduralHistory !Hg݌0` (#` (# Ќ  0   ` On02/23/2005,PlaintiffsSouthernCleanCeiling,Inc.andDavidB.Kelly,filedacomplaintagainstDefendantsMichaelDozier,ChristineDozierandBankofAmerica,N.A.,alleging,interalia,thefraudulentconversionofsomethirtychecks.Plaintiffsfiled  theinstantAmendedComplainton04/18/2005,butinsodoing,failedtoattachcopiesoftheinstrumentsbeingsuedupon,asrequiredunderFloridaRuleofCivilProcedure1.130. (#(# 0   ` On04/25/2005,DefendantsMichaelandChristineDozier,prose,movedforan b ExtensionofTimewithinwhichtofilearesponse. (#(# 0   ` On07/07/2005,the_Doziers_Ԁretainedtheundersignedattorney,whothenimmediatelyfiledaNoticeofAppearanceandwho,on07/11/2005,soughtastipulatedextensionoftimewhereinhecouldexaminethecaseanddraftacogentlegalresponse. (#(# 0   ` Theundersignedattorneynotedseveralseriousinfirmitiesinthepleadings,whichifleftunremedied,wouldunfairlyprejudicethe_Doziers_Ԁinthepreparationoftheirdefense,andfiledMotionstoDismiss,foraMoreDefiniteStatementandforanOrderforCompliance.,',(#(# 0   ` OnAugust5,2005,atanuncontested,butdulynoticed,hearing,thisCourtdeniedtheDoziersmotionswithoutprejudice,seekingadditionalclarificationastotheissueofwhetherchecksconstitutedinstrumentsinthemeaningofFloridaRuleofCivilProcedure1.130. (#(#   B. IssuesPresented   < 0   ` First,thebasisoftheentirecomplaintagainstDefendantsMichaelandChristineDozieristheallegedconversionofchecks.Yetnochecks,neitheroriginals,norverifiedfrontandbackimagesofsaidchecks,wereattachedtotheAmendedComplaint.FloridaRuleofCivilProcedureRule1.130requiresinstrumentsanddocumentsuponwhichthe 0 causeofactionisbasedbeattachedandmadepartofthepleadings.Basedonthequestionastowhetherchecksconstituted instrumentsunderFloridalaw,theCourtdeniedtheaforementionedmotions. (#(# 0   ` Second,theRecordisdevoidofanyNoticetocodefendantBankofAmerica,orareturnofservice,pursuanttoFloridaRuleofCivilProcedure1.070,indicatingthattheycannotbefoundwithinthecounty,orareotherwisebeyondthejurisdictionoftheCourt.$"p"$""%P%"otentially"#,#""DefendantsBankofAmerica( BA)andthe_Doziers_Ԁ&couldbeheld&&being&!potentially!jointlyliable,andassuch,BAisanindispensablepar ty inthisaction.Failuretoserveanindispensableparty','ortoaccountfortheirnonservice(,(subjectsPlaintifftoa_nonsuit_. (#(# 0   ` Third,thecomplaintsoundsinFraud,whichmustbepledwithparticularity.Certainly,withrespecttodefendantMichaelDozier,CountsIIIandIVagainsthimfailstostatetherequisitepleadingforfraudandfraudulentconversion.Takentogether,theallegationssetforthintheAmendedComplaintaresovagueandambiguousthatthe_Doziers_Ԁcannotreasonablyberequiredtoframearesponsivepleadingandtheyhave ,', moved,thereforepursuanttoPXOPtrFloridaRuleofCivilProcedure1.140(e),#PtrOXPX#ԀforaMore  DefiniteStatementbeforebeingrequiredtointerposearesponsivepleading. (#(# L %e- ($L !Hg   !Hg2e-II3  0    ARGUMENT !Hg݌% u(#(# Ќ   #(   #(Y0  2e-  A  .3  0` (#(#   ChecksDesignatedas InstrumentsunderFloridaLaw #(Y݌ L` (#` (# Ќ  0   ` ThequestionpositedbytheCourtiswhetherchecksconstitute instrumentsunderFloridalaw.ThatquestionhasbeenansweredintheaffirmativebywayofaquestioncertifiedfromFloridasFifthDistrictCourtofAppealtotheFloridaSupremeCourtinCitizensNat.BankofOrlandov._Bornstein_Ԁ374So.2d6(Fla.1979).@(#(# 0   ` InCitizens,thecertifiedquestionwaswhetheracertificateofdepositwould _ qualifyunderFloridalawtobedeemedan instrument.TheCourtgaveguidancetothelowertribunalsinholdingthatthedesignationof instrumentshouldbeconstruedbroadly.Checks,beingamorespecificdesignationof negotiableinstrument,consistingofawritingwhichevidencestherighttothepaymentofmoney,weredeemedan instrumentasamatterofcourse. (#(# 0   ` Thisholdingwasagainechoedin_In_Ԁre_V.O.C._ԀAnalyticalLaboratories,Inc.,263 9 _B.R._Ԁ156(S.D.Fla.2001),citingtheFloridaSupremeCourtsanalysisin_Bornstein_, !  definingnegotiableinstrumentsbroadlyunderFloridaStatute673.1041(1).Documents #" whichdidnotqualifyas negotiableinstrumentsnonethelessqualifiedasbasic instrumentsunder673.1041(2).Seealso,_Ameritrust_ԀCo.,N.A.v.White,73F.3d %'u"& 1553,1559(11thCir.1996)(Anegotiableinstrumentisanunconditionalpromisetopayafixedamountofmoneythatmaynotcontainanyotherpromise,order,obligation,orpowerexceptasauthorizedbystatute);seealsoParamountv.Gilbert,867So.2d642(Fla. ,', 4thDCA2004)(definingacheckasaninstrument).(#(# 0   ` EventheplainlanguageofFloridaStatutes679.1021(1)(_uu_)(West2005)clearly (#(#   definean instrumentasbeing:8  8`    [A]negotiableinstrumentoranyotherwritingthatevidencesa  k righttothepaymentofamonetaryobligation,isnotitselfasecurityagreementorlease,andisofatypethatintheordinarycourseofbusinessistransferredbydeliverywithanynecessaryindorsementorassignment.  ` x` x 0   ` Thus,bothstatutoryandcaselawdefinechecksas negotiableinstruments.Certificatesofdepositandotherdocumentsencompassingarighttopaymenthaveconsistentlybeendefinedas instrumentsundertheFloridaSupremeCourtsexpansiveinterpretation.Checks,thesubjectmatterofthecaseatbar,thereforequalifyas instruments. (#(# 0   ` Ifthediscussionofthedesignationofchecksasinstrumentsincommercialaffairsmaybeexpansive,evenwithinmattersrelatingtoSecuredTransactions,thereisnoauthoritytoshowthatthedefinitionof instrumentswithinthecontextofFloridaRuleofCivilProcedure1.130asbeingmorenarrowlyconstrued.Indeed,theplainlanguageoftherulecastsanevenwidernet. (#(# !L &uh( %L !Hg     !Hg%2uh  1  .3  0 `   _Fla.R.Civ.P._Ԁ1.130RequirementthatInstrumentUponWhichActionor R$# DefenseMade,MustBeAttachedtothePleading !Hg%7%݌=% $` (#` (# Ќ    0   ` FloridaRuleofCivilProcedure1.130,withrespecttoaComplaint,providesinrelevantpartthat: (#(# &8  8`   (a) InstrumentsAttached . All bonds,notes,billsofexchange, *%* contractsaccounts,ordocumentswhichactionmaybebroughtordefensemade,oracopythereoforacopyoftheportionsmaterial y,', thereofmaterialtothepleadings, shall beincorporatedinor  attachedtothepleading.[emphasisadded].) ` x` x )0   ` TheFloridaRulesofCivilProcedureusesthebroaddesignationof all...documentswhicharematerialtothecaseatissueastowhatmustbeattachedtoa 6  complaint.Clearly,ifthecauseofactionforconversionisbasedupontheallegedexistenceofanumberofchecks,andallinouttransactionsinvolvingthefrontbackimagesofchecksarerequiredtoberecordedunder12U.S.C.5001-5018( CheckClearingActforthe21stCenturyor Check21"),thenitlogicallyfollowsthatthecomplaintmusthavethefrontbackimagesofallallegedchecksattachedinordertostate A  aclaimuponwhichreliefcanbegranted. (#(# 0   ` Theattachmentrequirementismandatory,notdiscretionary,asillustratedbytheapplicationofconventionalmaximsofstatutoryinterpretation.Floridausesthecommandinglanguageof shallratherthanthehortatory,orgeneral, willor may,in } directingthatthedocumentordocumentsformingthebasisofthecauseofactionbeattachedandmadepartoftheComplaint. (#(# )  2. _Fla.R.Civ.P._Ԁ1.140FailuretoAttachInstrumentUponWhichClaimis      ` BasedConstitutesofFailuretoStateaClaimUponWhichReliefMaybe   ` Granted,WarrantingDismissal  "! 0   ` Apleadingthatassetsaclaimforreliefbasedonawritteninstrumentissubjecttodismissalforfailuretostateacauseof+c+a,c,tioniftheinstrumentisnotattached,5Fla._Prac_.,CivilPractice7.19(20042005ed.)citingJeffRayCorp.v.Jacobson,566So. (+$( 22d885Fla.4thDCA1990);_Safeco_ԀIns.Co.ofAmericav.Ware,401So.2dFla.2dDCA *%* 1981),atfootnote2.SeealsoPXOPtrInreEstateof_Vickery_,564So.2d555(Fla.4thDCA y,', 1990)(complaintwhichfailedtoallegeorattachagreementdidnotstatecauseofaction);_Patriotcom_Ԁv.Vega,821So.2d1261(Fla.4thDCA2002)(Courtimproperlyconsidered  documentsnotattachedtocomplaint);#PtrOXP1#PPXOPtr_Sachse_Ԁv.TampaMusicCo.,262So.2d17(Fla.2d ^ DCA1972)(requiringinstrumentsuponwhichcauseofactionwasbasedbeattachedtothepleadings),seealso_Reinschmidt_Ԁv.Crosby,123So.755(Fla.1929);_McClurkin_Ԁv.  \ _Parrish_ԀVolvo,Inc.,317So.2d85,(Fla.1rstDCA1975);#PtrOXPPY3#PXOPtrԀseegenerally,40Fla._Jur_.2d  3  Pleadings#PtrOXPm5#Ԁ45. (#(# 0   ` Inthecaseatbar,nosuchdocumentsorinstrumentswereattachedtotheAmendedComplaint,andforthereasonsdiscussedabove,PlaintiffsComplaintfailstostateacauseofactionandmustbedismissed. (#(# 0   ` Moreover,eveniftheoriginalComplainthadattachedthemissinginstruments,thereisno relationbackwithrespecttoinstrumentsuponwhichthecauseofactionisbased.SeeHughesv.Home_Sav_.OfAmerica,_F.S.B._,675So.2d649(Fla.2dDCA  1996).PXOPtr(originalattachmentsdonotcarryovertoamendedpleading),seealsoArnoldv. k _Weck_,388So.2d269(Fla.4thDCA1980)(Onmotiontodismissforfailuretostatea B causeofaction,courtmaynotspeculatewhatproofsmaybeoffered,butmustpassoncomplaintasalleged).#PtrOXP8#Ԁ!@ (#(# 0   ` FloridaRuleofCivilProcedure1.140(3)(b)(6)providesthatamotioninterposingthedefensessuchasafailuretostateacauseofactionorfailuretojoinindispensablepartiesshallbemadebeforepleading,ashasbeendoneinthecaseatbar. (#(# P/  3. DenialofAbilitytoDefendThroughDemurrer;UnfairlyPrejudicedby +S&*    ` FailuretoAttach  +>'+ 0   ` TheobjectofRule1.130istoapprizethedefendantsofthenatureandextentofthecauseofactioninorderthattheymaypleadwiththegreatercertainty.Withoutthewealthofinformationthatisincludedinthefaceandonthebackofanegotiableinstrument,muchlessproofoftheirveryexistence,theAmendedComplaintissovagueorambiguousthatthe_Doziers_Ԁcannotreasonablyberequiredtoframearesponsivepleading.Assuch,the_Doziers_Ԁmovedforamoredefinitestatement,pursuanttoFloridaRuleofCivilProcedure1.140,beforeinterposingaresponsivepleading. (#(# 0   ` Plaintiffsfailuretoattachtheoriginalsorverifiedcopiesofthefrontandbackoftheinstrumentsuponwhichthecauseisbased,effectivelydeniesthe_Doziers_Ԁoftheabilityto_demurr_Ԁshouldtheallegedinstrumentscontainevidencewhichexculpatesthem.Floridacaselawisclearinholdingthat,absentacopyoftheinstrumentorinstrumentsbeingsuedupon,theComplaintfailstostateacauseofaction. (#(# L 'h((&LIII _Fla.R.Civ.P._Ԁ1.070FailuretoJoinIndispensableParties  R 0   ` TheRecordisdevoidofanyNoticetocodefendantBankofAmerica,orareturn ) ofservice,pursuanttoFloridaRuleofCivilProcedure1.070,indicatingthattheycannotbefoundwithinthecounty,orareotherwisebeyondthejurisdictionoftheCourt.BankofAmericaandthe_Doziers_Ԁbeingpotentiall/y/0//0//jointlyliable1,131132B24ankofAmericais454na456an62andassuch,theyare2indispensablepart7ies78y8inthisaction.FailuretoserveanindispensablepartyortoaccountfortheirnonservicesubjectsPlaintifftoa_nonsuit_.Aldermanv._Puleston_,24So.2d527 (4$( (1945). (#(# 0   ` Undersimilarfacts,whereinthreedefendantswerejointlyliable,dismissalofthe ,', actionagainstoneforfailureofservicewithoutproofthathedidnotresideinthecountyresultedintheactionbeingdismissedastoallthedefendants.SeealsoDavisv.First  NationalBankofOrlando,150So.633(1933);Harringtonv.Bowman,143So.651 N (1932)(Whentheplaintiffproceededtotrialwithoutsecuringareturnbythesheriffthattheunserveddefendantdoesnotresideinthecounty,thatsuchactionconstitutesadiscontinuanceastoalldefendants). (#(# s<IV _Fla.R.Civ.P._Ԁ1.120FailuretoPleadCountforFraudwithParticularity/Motion Y    forMoreDefiniteStatement  D  0   ` WhiletheallegationslistedintheAmendedComplaintareinflammatory,theyareatthesametime,vagueandambiguous.Assuch,theDefendantsMichaelandChristineDozierareplacedatanunfairdisadvantageinnotbeingabletoframeacogentlegaldefense.ThefunctionofaMotionforMoreDefiniteStatementistorequirethatavague,indefinite,orambiguouspleadingbesoamendedastoenablethepartyrequiredtorespondtheretotointelligentlydiscerntheissuestobelitigatedandtoproperlyframehisanswerorreply._Conklin_Ԁv.Boyd,189So.2d401(Fla.1stDCA1966).((#(# 0   ` FloridaRuleofCivilProcedure1.120(b)requiresthat,whenpleadingspecialmatters,suchasfraudormistake,thecircumstancesconstitutingthefraudormistakeshallbestatedwithsuchparticularityasthecircumstancesmaypermit.CountsIIIIVVoftheAmendedComplaintallegeFraud,FraudulentConversionandConspiracyonthepartofDefendantMichaelDozier,yet,failtostatetheprerequisiteelementsandcircumstancesneededtoconstitutethosecausesofaction.Charityv.BoardofRegents, *&* 698So.2d.907(Fla.1stDCA1997)(Failuretoallegeanessentialelementisgroundsto ,', dismiss);Cashv.AirportMiniStorage,782So.2d983(Fla.3rdDCA2001)(Failureto  allegeelementsofclaimswarranteddismissal). (#(# V0  SUMMARY  m(#(# 0   ` Itbeingtoolate,afterbeingforcedtopleadtoanambiguouscomplaint,toseekclarificationoftheallegationsagainstthem(Watermanv._Mattair_,5Fla.211(Fla.1853),    the_Doziers_ԀhavethereforeMovedthisCourtforanOrderdismissingtheinstantAmendedComplaintwithleavetoamend;foranOrderCompellingCompliancewiththeaforementionedRulesofCivilProcedure,towit,attachmentofallpurportedinstrumentsuponwhichthecauseofactionisbased;andforaMoreDefiniteStatementpriortobeingcompelledtofiletheirAnswertotheAmendedComplaint. (#(# HIXPXOPtr   CERTIFICATEOFSERVICE   R(XXXXXP    (S    IHEREBYCERTIFY thatatrueandcorrectcopyoftheforegoinghasbeenfurnishedby Z hand/fax/U.S.Mail,to:A*)3ddE<0AAlexander_Zouzoulas_,Esquire,AttorneyforthePlaintiffs,1521MountVernonAvenue,Orlando,Florida32803,this____dayof__________,2005.(SFS݌̌  XPXXXX    0 ` 0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#_____________________ (#(#   0 ` 0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#RICHARDVAUGHAN (#(#   0 ` 0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#AttorneyatLaw (#(#   0 ` 0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#P.O.Box360625 (#(#   0 ` 0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#Melbourne,FL32936 (#(#   0 ` 0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#BarNo:0060143 (#(#   0 ` 0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#Tel:(321)2239519#PtrOXXPR#$#(#(#