Filed: Jan. 06, 2016
Latest Update: Mar. 02, 2020
Summary: NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION AND, IF FILED, DETERMINED IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF FLORIDA SECOND DISTRICT In re Guardianship of Sonya M. Hawley. ) _ ) ) JAMES BATTERSON and PAMELA ) ARMSTRONG, ) ) Appellants, ) ) v. ) Case No. 2D14-3260 ) ROBERT M. ELLIOTT, as Limited ) Guardian of the Person and Plenary ) Guardian of the Property for Sonya M. ) Hawley, and as Trustee for the Sonya M. ) Hawley Revocable Trust dated June 17, ) 1997, and Successor Trustee for the )
Summary: NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION AND, IF FILED, DETERMINED IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF FLORIDA SECOND DISTRICT In re Guardianship of Sonya M. Hawley. ) _ ) ) JAMES BATTERSON and PAMELA ) ARMSTRONG, ) ) Appellants, ) ) v. ) Case No. 2D14-3260 ) ROBERT M. ELLIOTT, as Limited ) Guardian of the Person and Plenary ) Guardian of the Property for Sonya M. ) Hawley, and as Trustee for the Sonya M. ) Hawley Revocable Trust dated June 17, ) 1997, and Successor Trustee for the ) ..
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NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING
MOTION AND, IF FILED, DETERMINED
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
OF FLORIDA
SECOND DISTRICT
In re Guardianship of Sonya M. Hawley. )
___________________________________ )
)
JAMES BATTERSON and PAMELA )
ARMSTRONG, )
)
Appellants, )
)
v. ) Case No. 2D14-3260
)
ROBERT M. ELLIOTT, as Limited )
Guardian of the Person and Plenary )
Guardian of the Property for Sonya M. )
Hawley, and as Trustee for the Sonya M. )
Hawley Revocable Trust dated June 17, )
1997, and Successor Trustee for the )
Sonya M. Hawley Revocable Trust )
dated December 6, 2013, )
)
Appellee. )
)
Opinion filed January 6, 2016.
Appeal from the Circuit Court for Sarasota
County; Deno G. Economou, Judge.
John J. Waskom and Mark Dungan of Icard,
Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg,
P.A., Sarasota, for Appellants.
Logan Elliott of Elliott Law, P.A., Bradenton;
and Erika Dine and Sierra Pino of Dine Law,
P.L., Bradenton, for Appellee.
CASANUEVA, Judge.
James Batterson and Pamela Armstrong challenge an order removing
Pamela Armstrong as trustee of the Sonya M. Hawley Revocable Trust dated
December 6, 2013, and removing her as limited guardian of the person of Sonya M.
Hawley. We conclude that the trial court had the authority to enter the order pursuant to
section 744.1075(4)(b), Florida Statutes (2013), where it found that such action was
necessary to protect the physical or mental health or property of Ms. Hawley. However,
upon entering this order, the trial court was required to comply with section
744.1075(4)(a), which provides as follows:
If the court finds probable cause, the court shall issue an
order to show cause directed to the guardian or other
respondent stating the essential facts constituting the
conduct charged and requiring the respondent to appear
before the court to show cause why the court should not take
further action.
We therefore remand this case for the trial court to conduct further
proceedings consistent with section 744.1075(4)(a). We note that on remand, the order
to show cause must "specify the time and place of the hearing with a reasonable time to
allow for the preparation of a defense after service of the order."1 See
id.
Affirmed; cause remanded with directions.
SILBERMAN and SLEET, JJ., Concur.
1
The parties are cautioned against engaging in protracted unnecessary
litigation at the ward's expense.
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