Background
Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company appealed, and Nicholas Bertocci cross-appealed, from a ruling of the Circuit Court for Pinellas County. Circuit Judge Cynthia J. Newton entered the ruling under review.
The appellate opinion does not describe the insurance dispute, the parties’ claims, the trial court’s reasoning, or the issues raised on appeal and cross-appeal.
The Court’s Holding
The Florida Second District Court of Appeal affirmed the circuit court’s ruling. The court issued its decision per curiam, with Judges Silberman, Kelly, and Rothstein-Youakim concurring.
The court provided no written reasoning and announced no express rule of law. Its one-word disposition—“Affirmed”—left the challenged ruling in place without explaining the basis for rejecting the appeal or cross-appeal.
Key Takeaways
- The Second District affirmed the circuit court’s ruling.
- The disposition resolved both an appeal by Universal and a cross-appeal by Bertocci.
- Because the court supplied no reasoning, the opinion does not identify the controlling legal issue or establish an articulated rule for future cases.
Why It Matters
The decision leaves the lower court’s ruling intact for these parties. Its practical significance beyond this dispute is limited because the appellate court did not explain its reasoning or state a legal standard.