Brinda Coates, etc. v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

Supreme Court of Florida ____________ No. SC2021-0175 ____________ BRINDA COATES, etc., Petitioner, vs. R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY, Respondent. June 15, 2023 GROSSHANS, J. Today, we decide a recurring issue of law regarding Florida’s offer-of-judgment statute, specifically whether a party must prevail in a proceeding to be entitled to fees under the statute. See § 768.79, Fla. Stat. (2022). We hold that the statute does not impose this requirement and, thus, is not a prevailing-party statute. BACKGROUND Petitioner Brinda Coates sued Respondent R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (RJR) seeking…