Motion,Ex Parte: VILLAS AT EMERALD LAKE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION INC vs. ROYAL OAK HOMES LLC

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                                Filing # 191244372 E-Filed 02/05/2024 12:45:31 PM


                                                         IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF
                                                         THE NINTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
                                                         IN AND FOR OSCEOLA
                                                         COUNTY, FLORIDA

         VILLAS        AT        EMERALD     LAKE
         HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., a
         Florida not for profit corporation,

               Plaintiff,                                Case No.: 2020-CA-002942

         v.

         ROYAL OAK HOMES, LLC, a Florida
         limited liability company;

             Defendants.
         ___________________________________/

         And All Related Actions.
         ___________________________________/

                         PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO STRIKE
                  TGK STUCCO, INC.’S LATE DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS

              Plaintiff, Villas at Emerald Lake Homeowners Association, Inc.

        (“Association”), through the undersigned and pursuant to Florida Rules of Civil

        Procedure 1.140(f) and Business Court Procedures 12.1 and 7.6, moves the Court to

        strike the Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on the Violation of the Florida

        Building Code Claims [D.E. 953] and Joinder in Defendant/Crossclaim Plaintiff,

        Royal Oak Homes LLC’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment as to Count III of

        Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint for Breach of Implied Warranties and Claims

        for Incidental and Consequential Damages and Incorporated Memorandum of Law


                                          Page 1 of 12
[D.E. 952], which were belatedly filed by Defendant, TGK Stucco, Inc. (“TGK”) on

January 26, 2024 (“TGK’s Dispositive Pleadings”).

   I.        BACKGROUND

        1.     In this case, the Association seeks redress from the defendants for

damages it has suffered—and continues to suffer—as a result of the negligent and

defective construction at the Villas at Emerald Lake townhome community located

in Orange County, Florida (“Community”).

        2.     TGK installed, among other things, the lath, stucco, and stucco

accessories at the Community.

        3.     This case has been pending since 2020 and, on April 12, 2023, the Court

entered a Case Management Order (“CMO”) which set a January 22, 2024, deadline

for parties to submit dispositive motions and supporting legal memoranda.

        4.     TGK has actively participated in this litigation since, at latest, May 11,

2022.

        5.     TGK actively participated, conferred, and ultimately agreed to the

deadlines contained in the operative CMO.

        6.     TGK did not seek leave of Court for an extension to the dispositive

deadline nor conferred with counsel regarding an extension for the same.

        7.     TGK’s Dispositive Pleadings were not filed on or before January 22,

2024, and, instead, were filed on January 26, 2024.


                                      Page 2 of 12
         8.      On February 5, 2024, pursuant to Business Court Procedure 12.2, the

Association filed a Notice of Noncompliance regarding TGK’s Dispositive

Pleadings, noting the pleadings are untimely.

         9.      In sum, TGK has plainly and knowingly failed to comply with this

Court’s Case Management Order and the Business Court Procedures.

         10.     As such, TGK’s Dispositive Pleadings should be struck as untimely,

immaterial, and impertinent.

   II.         MEMORANDUM OF LAW

               A. Applicable Law

         The Court may, on its own or pursuant to the motion of a party, strike any

pleading at any time if the Court finds the pleading to be “redundant, immaterial,

impertinent, or scandalous.” See Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.140(f).

         Further, Section 12.1 of the Business Court Procedures provides that the

“court may impose sanctions on any party (including any unrepresented party) or

any attorney . . . 6) who otherwise fails to comply with the Business Court

Procedures or law. Sanctions may include, without limitation, any, some, or all of

the following: an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, the striking of

pleadings, the entry of default, the dismissal of the case or a finding of contempt of

court.”




                                      Page 3 of 12
         B. TGK’s Dispositive Pleadings are Untimely and Should be Struck

      TGK’s Dispositive Pleadings should be struck because they are untimely and

therefore immaterial and impertinent.

      It is worth noting that TGK’s Dispositive Pleadings include a purported

“joinder” in a dispositive pleading filed by another defendant, Royal Oak Homes,

LLC (“Joinder”). TGK alleges it “fully and completely incorporated” that pleading

such that, should Royal Oak Homes, LLC be dismissed from the action, the “Joinder

will survive such dismissal.” See Joinder. This attempt to avoid the deadlines in the

CMO is improper.

      TGK knew of the dispositive deadline and failed to comply with it. Further,

TGK did not even bother to seek requisite leave to file TGK’s Dispositive

Pleadings—and still has not sought such leave. Therefore, TGK’s Dispositive

Pleadings are untimely, immaterial, and impertinent and should be struck.

      WHEREFORE, the Association respectfully requests the Court grant this

motion and enter an order striking TGK’s Dispositive Pleadings alongside any other

relief the Court deems reasonable and just.

                      Certificate of Good Faith Conference

      Pursuant to BCP 5.3, Plaintiff’s counsel, Kasey L. Joyce, Esq. certifies that

she conferred with Kira Tsiring, Esq., counsel for TGK Stucco, Inc., on February 5,




                                    Page 4 of 12
2024, in a good faith effort to resolve the issues raised by this motion and there was

no agreement on a resolution of the issues raised and the relief sought in this motion.



                               Respectfully submitted,
                               BALL JANIK LLP
                               By: /s/ Kasey L. Joyce
                                  Phillip E. Joseph, FL Bar No. 1000368
                                  Evan J. Small, FL Bar No. 57306
                                  Jeffrey A. Widelitz FL Bar No. 105642
                                  Christopher S. Tribbey, FL Bar No. 1003114
                                  Kasey L. Joyce, FL Bar No. 1024705
                                  201 E Pine Street, Suite 600
                                  Orlando, FL 32801
                                  Telephone:     (407) 455-5664
                                  Facsimile:     (407) 902-2105
                                  pjoseph@balljanik.com
                                  esmall@balljanik.com
                                  jwidelitz@balljanik.com
                                  ctribbey@balljanik.com
                                  kjoyce@balljanik.com
                                  dtodd@balljanik.com
                                  cbetancourt@balljanik.com
                                  bburton@balljanik.com
                                  orlandodocket@balljanik.com

                               Counsel for Plaintiff Villas at Emerald Lake
                               Homeowners Association, Inc.

                             CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
      I certify that a true copy of the foregoing has been filed via the Florida Courts

E-Filing Portal on February 5, 2024.



                                                    /s/ Kasey L. Joyce
                                                    Kasey L. Joyce



                                    Page 5 of 12
                             SERVICE LIST

LUIS PRATS                             THAMIR A.R. KADDOURI, JR.
LANNIE D. HOUGH, JR.                   PENELOPE T. ROWLETT
JAMES MICHAEL WALLS                    BETH ANN TOBEY
ROBIN H. LEAVENGOOD                    Law Office of Thamir A.R. Kaddouri,
Carlton Fields, P.A.                   Jr. P.A.
4221 W. Boy Scout Boulevard            3220 West Cypress Street
Tampa, FL 33607-5780                   Tampa, FL 33607
(813) 223-7000                         (813) 879-5752
lprats@carltonfields.com               thamir.kaddouri@tampalaw.org
lhough@carltonfields.com               service@tampalaw.org
mwalls@carltonfields.com               penelope.rowlett@tampalaw.org
rleavengood@carltonfields.com          beth.tobey@tampalaw.org
mramos@carltonfields.com
nbonilla@carltonfields.com             Counsel for Defendant, Imperial
ejohnson@carltonfields.com             Building Corporation
krick@carltonfields.com
                                       Dismissed with Prejudice by Plaintiff,
Counsel for Defendant, Royal Oak       Villas at Emerald Lake Homeowners
Homes, LLC                             Association, Inc. ONLY 12/8/2023

                                       Dismissed with Prejudice by
                                       Defendant/Crossclaim Plaintiff, Royal
                                       Oak Homes, LLC, 12/12/2023


PAUL SIDNEY ELLIOTT                    PETER J. KAPSALES
P.O. Box 274204                        MARGARET M. EFTA
Tampa, FL 33688-4204                   Milne Law Group, P.A.
(813) 265-1314                         301 E. Pine Street, Suite 525
pse@psejd.com                          Orlando, FL 32801
                                       (321) 558-7700
Counsel for Defendant, Hugh            pkapsales@milnelawgroup.com
MacDonald Construction, Inc. (HMC)     mefta@milnelawgroup.com
                                       eservice@milnelawgroup.com
DENISE M. ANDERSON
ASHLEY M. MATTINGLY


                                Page 6 of 12
DAVID E. BRADLEY, JR                     Counsel for Defendant/Cross
Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP         Defendant/ Third-Party Plaintiff,
400 N. Ashley Drive, Suite 2300          Weathermaster Building Products, Inc.
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 281-1900                           Dismissed with Prejudice by
danderson@butler.legal                   Defendant/Crossclaim Plaintiff, Royal
amattingly@butler.legal                  Oak Homes, LLC ONLY 12/21/2023
dbradley@butler.legal
krieck@butler.legal
rjorge@butler.legal

Co-Counsel for Defendant, Hugh
MacDonald Construction, Inc.

DENISE M. ANDERSON                       ANDREW E. HOLWAY
DAVID A. MERCER                          J. ROCCO CAFARO
Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig, LLP        Hill Ward Henderson
400 N. Ashley Drive, Suite 2300          101 E. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 3700
Tampa, FL 33602                          Tampa, FL 33602
danderson@butler.legal                   (813) 221-3900
dmercer@butler.legal                     andrew.holway@hwhlaw.com
krieck@butler.legal                      derrick.calandra@hwhlaw.com
rjorge@butler.legal                      jill.kuty@hwhlaw.com
tbarry@butler.legal                      kathy.wernsing@hwhlaw.com
                                         rocco.cafaro@hwhlaw.com
Counsel for Defendant, Don King’s        tracy.coale@hwhlaw.com
Concrete, Inc.
                                         Counsel for Defendant/Cross
Dismissed with Prejudice by Plaintiff,   Defendant, Weintraub Inspections &
Villas At Emerald Lake Homeowners        Forensics, Inc. n/k/a Weintraub
Association, Inc., ONLY 12/28/2023       Engineering and Inspections, Inc.

                                         Dismissed with Prejudice by Plaintiff,
                                         ONLY 12/12/2023

                                         Dismissed with Prejudice by
                                         CrossClaim Plaintiff, 1/192024

JAYNE ANN PITTMAN                        BRUCE R. CALDERON
NATALIE C. FISCHER                       ALICIA Z. GROSS

                                 Page 7 of 12
Conroy Simberg                           BARRI A. REISCH
Two South Orange Avenue, Suite 300       Milber Makris Plousadis & Seiden,
Orlando, FL 32801                        LLP
(407) 649-9797                           1900 NW Corporate Blvd.
eserviceorl@conroysimberg.com            East Tower, Suite 440
jpittman@conroysimberg.com               Boca Raton, FL 33431
mmaitland@conroysimberg.com              (561) 994-7310
nfischer@conroysimberg.com               bcalderon@milbermakris.com
                                         azgross@milbermakris.com
Counsel for Defendant/Cross-Claim        breisch@milbermakris.com
Defendantt, Advanced Wrapping and        kmcdowell@milbermakris.com
Concrete Solutions of Central Florida,   sskowronski@milbermakris.com
Inc.
                                         Counsel for Defendant/Cross-
Dismissed with Prejudice by Plaintiff,   Defendant, Brown + Company
ONLY 11/8/2023                           Architecture, Inc.

Dismissed with Prejudice by              Dismissed with Prejudice by Plaintiff,
Defendant/Crossclaim Plaintiff, Royal    ONLY 11/8/2023
Oak Homes, LLC, 12/12/2023
                                         Dismissed with Prejudice by
                                         Defendant/Crossclaim Plaintiff, Royal
                                         Oak Homes, LLC, 12/12/2023
JACKELINE RODRIGUEZ                      S. SCOTT ROSS
KIRA TSIRING                             Groelle & Salmon, P.A.
Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, LLP        1715 N. Westshore Blvd., Suite 320
150 Southeast Second Avenue, Suite       Tampa, FL 33607
1200                                     (813) 849-7200
Miami, FL 33131-2332                     gstcourtdocs@gspalaw.com
(305) 379-3686                           sross@gspalaw.com
jrodriguez@hamiltonmillerlaw.com         cebanks@gspalaw.com
ktsiring@hamiltonmillerlaw.com           mcoleman@gspalaw.com
mprieto@hamiltonmillerlaw.com
vbain@hamiltonmillerlaw.com              Counsel for Third-Party Defendant,
                                         Helberg Enterprises, LLC
Counsel for Defendant/Cross-
Defendant, TGK Stucco, Inc.

VICKI LAMBERT                            ANDREW T. MARSHALL
ALEC MASSON                              SARA W. MAPES

                                 Page 8 of 12
Luks, Santaniello, Petrillo & Cohen     Hamilton Price, P.A.
201 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 400         2400 Manatee Ave. W.
Orlando, FL 32801                       Bradenton, FL 34205
(407) 540-9170                          (941) 748-0550
luksorl-pleadings@ls-law.com            andrew@hamiltonpricelaw.com
amason@insurancedefense.net             sara@hamiltonpricelaw.com
jpestonit@insurancedefense.net          nancy@hamiltonpricelaw.com
                                        kelsey@hamiltonpricelaw.com
Counsel for Third-Party Defendant,      atmservice@hamiltonpricelaw.com
Casey Hawkins Glass, Inc.
                                        Counsel for Third-Party Defendant,
PHILLIP S. HOWELL                       T&M Construction of Sanford, Inc.
BRENDEN C. COLLINS
Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr &     Dismissed with Prejudice by Third-
Smith, P.L.C.                           Party Plaintiff, Weathermaster
400 N. Ashley Dr., Suite 1000           Building Products, Inc. 1/11/2024
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 977-1200                          WILLIAM M. WOODS
tampaservice@gallowaylawfirm.com        JOSEPH M. CLINE
phowell@gallowaylawfirm.com             Woods Law Group
bcollinsl@gallowaylawfirm.com           100 S. Missouri Avenue, Suite 201
                                        Clearwater, Fl 33756
Counsel for Third-Party Defendant,      (727) 799-1229, Ext. 4072
Casey Hawkins Glass, Inc.               wwoods@willwoodslaw.com
                                        josephc@willwoodslaw.com
Dismissed with Prejudice by Third-      marital@willwoodslaw.com
Party Plaintiff, Weathermaster          sharonmg@woodslawgroupfl.com
Building Products, Inc. 1/11/2024       pleadings@willwoodslaw.com

                                        Counsel for Third-Party Defendants,
                                        T & M Construction of Sanford, Inc.
                                        and All Glass Installation Corp.

                                        T & M Construction of Sanford, Inc.
                                        Dismissed with Prejudice by Third-
                                        Party Plaintiff, Weathermaster
                                        Building Products, Inc. 1/11/2024

                                        All Glass Installation Corp. Dismissed
                                        with Prejudice by Third-Party

                                 Page 9 of 12
                                       Plaintiff, Weathermaster Building
                                       Products, Inc. 1/11/2024
JOSEPH L. ZOLLNER                      COLE J. COPERTINO
Law Office of Christopher Norris       JAMES MICHAEL MOORHEAD
PO Box 7217                            Wright, Fulford, Moorhead & Brown,
London, KY 40742                       P.A.
(904) 346-5422                         505 Maitland Avenue, Suite 1000
floridacdlegalmail@libertymutual.com   Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
joseph.zollner@libertymutual.com       (407) 425-0234
                                       ccopertino@wfmblaw.com
Counsel for Third-Party Defendant,     cbraungart@wfmblaw.com
Lios Concrete Corp                     mmoorhead@wfmblaw.com
                                       jgarcia@wfmblaw.com

                                       Counsel for Third-Party Defendant,
                                       Well Hung Windows & Doors
MONAL O. ZIPPER                        CHESLEY G. MOODY, JR.
JENNIFE SHIPPOLE                       MAI M. LE
Law Office of Jennifer L. Shippole     Moody & Graf, P.A.
14050 NW 14th Street, Suite 180        1101 N. Lake Destiny Road, Suite 200
Sunrise, FL 33323                      Maitland, FL 32751
(954) 417-3066 Ext. 4645               (407) 755-6900
jlspleadings@fednat.com                cmoody@moodygraf.com
mzipper@fednat.com                     mle@moodygraf.com
jshippole@fednat.com                   kbraund@moodygraf.com
                                       iperera@moodygraf.com
Counsel for Third-Party Defendant,
Atlantic Concrete Systems, Inc.        Counsel for Premier Plastering of
                                       Central Florida, Inc. Withdrew for
                                       Premier Plastering only 3.4.2022 &
                                       Defendant/Cross-Defendant, Wolf’s
                                       Irrigation & Landscaping, Inc.

                                       Defendant/Crossclaim Defendant,
                                       Wolf’s Irrigation & Landscaping, Inc.
                                       Dismissed with Prejudice by Plaintiff,
                                       Royal Oak Homes, LLC ONLY
                                       8/22/2023




                                Page 10 of 12
                                          Defendant/Crossclaim Defendant,
                                          Wolf’s Irrigation & Landscaping, Inc.
                                          Dismissed with Prejudice by Plaintiff,
                                          Emerald Lake Homeowners
                                          Association, Inc. 8/24/2023
JERRILYNN HADLEY
TODD M. LADAUCEUR                         WAYNE M. ALDER
Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr         Fisher Broyles, LLP
and Smith, PLC                            7668 N. W. 125th Way
118 E. Garden Street                      Pompano Beach, FL 33076
Pensacola, FL 32502                       (954) 603-6174
(850) 436-7000                            wayne.alder@fisherbroyles.com
tmlconstruction@gallowaylawfirm.com       wmalder@bellsouthnet.com

Counsel for Third-Party Defendant         Counsel for Third-Party Defendant,
Hobbit Windows, LLC                       E.R.O. Construction, Inc. and Well
                                          Done Windows, Inc.

                                          Well Done Windows, Inc. Dismissed
                                          with Prejudice by Defendant/Third-
                                          Party Plaintiff, Weathermaster
                                          Building Products, Inc. 6/9/2023
SHAUN M. QUINN                            RAYMOND E. WATTS, JR.
JACKELINE RODRIGUEZ                       ANDREW S. YATKMAN
Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, LLP         Wicker Smith O'hara Mccoy & Ford,
150 S.E. 2nd Avenue, Suite 1200           P.A.
Miami, FL 33131                           390 N. Orange Ave., Suite 1000
(305) 379-3686                            Orlando, FL 32801
squinn@hamiltonmillerlaw.com              (407) 843-3939
jrodriguez@hamiltonmiller.com             orlcrtpleadings@wickersmith.com

Counsel for Defendant/ Cross-             Counsel for Defendant, Expert
Defendant, Premier Plastering of          Painting & Pressure Washing, Inc.
Central Florida, Inc.
                                          Dismissed with Prejudice by Third-
                                          Party Plaintiff, 1/16/2024


                                          GREGORY E. BLACKWELL
                                          KIERAN F. O'CONNOR

                                   Page 11 of 12
       ELIZABETH DROZ-STOLINAS
       O’Connor & Stolinas Law Group,
       PLLC
       800 North Magnolia Avenue, Ste 1350
       Orlando, FL 32803
       (407) 843-2100
       gblackwell@oconlaw.com
       koconnor@oconlaw.com
       tclark@oconlaw.com
       edroz-stolinas@oconlaw.com
       rps@oconlaw.com

       Counsel for Third-Party Defendant,
       Expert Painting & Pressure Washing,
       Inc.

       Dismissed with Prejudice by Third-
       Party Plaintiff, 1/16/2024




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