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“Civil trespass to real property occurs when there is an injury to or use of the land of another by one having no right or authority. To sue and recover for a trespass, the plaintiff must have been the owner or rightfully in possession of the land at the time of the trespass.”

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“Civil trespass to real property occurs when there is an injury to or use of the land of another by one having no right or authority. To sue and recover for a trespass, the plaintiff must have been the owner or rightfully in possession of the land at the time of the trespass.”

Gunning v. Equestleader.com, Inc., 253 So. 3d 646, 648 (Fla. 2d DCA 2017).

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FLORIDA STATE COURTS

Supreme Court: Vincent v. Hines, 84 So. 614 (Fla. 1920).

First District: Hutchins v. Strickland, 674 So. 2d 870, 872 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1996); Okaloosa Cty. Gas Dist. v. Enzor, 101 So. 2d 406, 407 (Fla. 1st DCA 1958).

Second District: Gunning v. Equestleader.com, Inc., 253 So. 3d 646, 648 (Fla. 2d DCA 2017); State v. Sarantopoulos, 604 So. 2d 551, 555 n.7 (Fla. 2d DCA 1992).

Third District: Winselmann v. Reynolds, 690 So.2d 1325, 1327 (Fla. 3d DCA 1997).

Fourth District: Guin v. Riviera Beach, 388 So. 2d 604, 606 (Fla. 4th DCA 1980).

FLORIDA FEDERAL COURTS

Northern District: Lee-Bolton v. Koppers Inc., No. 1:10-CV-253-SPM/GRJ, 2012 WL 12817318, at *14-15 (N.D. Fla. Feb. 10, 2012).

Southern District: Mendez Fuel Holdings, LLC v. 7-Eleven, Inc., 20-22984-CV, 2021 WL 4125362, at *22 (S.D. Fla. Sept. 9, 2021); Roldan v. City of Hallandale Beach, No. 22-60279-CIV, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 119444, at *43 (S.D. Fla. July 11, 2023).

Middle District: Clark v. Ashland, Inc., No. 2:13-cv-794-FtM-29MRM, 2017 WL 468213, at *22 (M.D. Fla. Feb. 3, 2017); Sweet Sage Cafe, LLC v. Town of N. Redington Beach, 380 F. Supp. 3d 1209, 1233 (M.D. Fla. 2019).

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2 Defenses to Claim for Trespass

(1) R. Civ. P. 1.110(d) (pleading affirmative defenses), and other standard defenses. See § 1.

(2) Statute of Limitations: § 95.11(3)(f), Fla. Stat. (four years).

(3) The measure of damages in an action for trespass to lands is the difference in value of the land before and after the trespass. Gasque v. Ball, 65 Fla. 383, 62 So. 215 (1913).

(4) When the trespass occurs, and no actual damages are proven, the plaintiff is entitled to a judgment for nominal damages and costs. Leonard v. Nat Harrison Associates, Inc., 122 So. 2d 432 (Fla. 2d DCA 1960).

(5) The aggrieved party must have had an ownership or possessory interest in the property at the time of the trespass. Winselmann v. Reynolds, 690 So. 2d 1325, 1326 (Fla. 3d DCA 1997).

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