Shepherd — First District dismissed the appeal without explanation

Case
Elizabeth Shepherd v. Escambia County, Florida, and Brian Waters and Lynn Waters
Court
Florida First District Court of Appeal
Judge
Bilbrey (Rick Scott, 2014); Treadwell (Ron DeSantis, 2025)
Date Decided
August 11, 2026
Docket No.
1D2026-1319
Topics
Appellate Procedure, Dismissal
Source
Read the full opinion

Background

Elizabeth Shepherd, proceeding without counsel, appealed from the Circuit Court for Escambia County. Circuit Judge Stephen A. Pitre presided over the matter below.

The appellees were Escambia County, Florida, and Brian and Lynn Waters. No appearance was entered for the appellees in the appeal. The abbreviated opinion does not describe the underlying dispute, the order being appealed, or the procedural basis for dismissal.

The Court’s Holding

In a per curiam decision, the Florida First District Court of Appeal dismissed Shepherd’s appeal. Judges Bilbrey, Treadwell, and Neff concurred.

The court supplied no reasoning and did not state whether the dismissal was jurisdictional, procedural, voluntary, or based on another ground. The decision was not final until disposition of any timely and authorized motion under Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure 9.330 or 9.331.

Key Takeaways

  • The First District dismissed the appeal.
  • The court issued a one-word disposition and provided no explanation for the dismissal.
  • The opinion does not address the merits of the underlying dispute.

Why It Matters

The decision ends the appeal, subject to any timely and authorized post-decision motion. Because the court offered no reasoning or merits analysis, the opinion provides no substantive guidance beyond its disposition of this particular appeal.

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