Rich v. Smith — Fourth District affirmed without a written opinion

Case
Samantha N. Rich and Victor H. Waite v. Chanie Marie Smith
Court
Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal
Judge
Ciklin; Klingensmith; Lott
Date Decided
October 29, 2026
Docket No.
4D2025-3084
Topics
Civil Appeal, Per Curiam Affirmance
Source
Read the full opinion

Background

Samantha Rich and Victor Waite appealed from a judgment or order entered by Judge Caryn Siperstein of the Circuit Court for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County. The appellate opinion does not describe the underlying dispute, the circuit court’s ruling, or the issues raised on appeal.

The parties submitted the appeal to the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal. The court resolved it through a brief per curiam decision without a written explanation.

The Court’s Holding

The Fourth District affirmed the circuit court’s decision.

Because the court issued no reasoning, the opinion does not identify the legal grounds for affirmance or decide any expressly stated question of law. The decision was designated not final until disposition of any timely filed motion for rehearing.

Key Takeaways

  • The Fourth District affirmed the circuit court’s ruling.
  • The court issued a per curiam affirmance without a written opinion.
  • The decision provides no factual discussion or legal analysis.

Why It Matters

The decision leaves the circuit court’s ruling in place but offers no written guidance on the underlying legal issues. Its significance therefore lies primarily in the result for the parties rather than in any articulated rule of law.

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