28 Fla. L. Weekly D2471a
Insurance — Personal injury protection — Attorney’s fees — Offer of judgment — Section 768.79, Florida Statutes, applies to cases brought pursuant to section 627.736, Florida Statutes, and to cases pending in small claims court — Question certified: May an insurer recover attorney’s fees under rule 1.442, Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, and section 768.79, Florida Statutes, in an action by its insured to recover under a personal injury protection policy?
JULIA HONG TRAN, Appellant, v. STATE FARM FIRE AND CASUALTY COMPANY, Appellee. 1st District. Case No. 1D02-3678. Opinion filed October 28, 2003. An appeal from the Circuit Court for Escambia County. Judge William P. White, Jr. Counsel: David Lee Sellers, Pensacola, for Appellant. Charles F. Beall, Jr., of Moore, Hill & Westmoreland, P.A., Pensacola, for Appellee.
(PER CURIAM.) Section 768.79, Florida Statutes, applies to cases brought pursuant to section 627.736, Florida Statutes, and to cases pending in small claims court. Nichols v. State Farm Mutual, 851 So. 2d 742 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003); U.S. Security Insurance Co. v. Cahuasqui, 760 So. 2d 1101 (Fla. 3d DCA 2000), review dismissed, 796 So. 2d 532 (Fla. 2001). We accordingly answer the certified questions in the affirmative. We certify to the Florida Supreme Court, however, the following question as one of great public importance: May an insurer recover attorney’s fees under rule 1.442, Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, and section 768.79, Florida Statutes, in an action by its insured to recover under a personal injury protection policy?
AFFIRMED. (BARFIELD, BENTON, and VAN NORTWICK, JJ., CONCUR.)
