Coastal Petroleum Co. v. Mobil Oil Corp.

Summary

The Florida Supreme Court answered a certified question affirmatively, holding that the term "costs" in Rule 1.420(d) includes reasonable and necessary expert‑witness preparation expenses incurred before a voluntary dismissal, subject to trial‑court discretion and limited to amounts that would have been reasonable in a trial. The Court quashed the lower‑court opinion and remanded for reconsideration applying its cost‑award analysis.