Capacity Part 1:
Fla. R. Civ. Pro. 1.120(a) provides that
[i]t is not necessary to aver the capacity of a party to sue or be sued, the authority of a party to sue or be sued in a representative capacity, or the legal existence of an organized association of persons that is made a party, except to the extent required to show the jurisdiction of the court. (emphasis added)The initial pleading served on behalf of a minor party shall specifically aver the age of the minor party. When a party desires to raise an issue as to the legal existence of any party, the capacity of any party to sue or be sued, or the authority of a party to sue or be sued in a representative capacity, that party shall do so by specific negative averment which shall include such supporting particulars as are peculiarly within the pleader’s knowledge. Bold emphasis addedCapacity Part 2:
” Capacity to sue” is an absence of legal disability which would deprive a party of the right to come into court. 59 Am.Jur.2d Parties § 31 (1971). This is in contrast to “standing” which requires an entity have sufficient interest in the outcome of litigation to warrant the court’s consideration of its position. Keehn v. Joseph C. Mackey and Co., 420 So.2d 398 (Fla. 4th DCA 1982)
Capacity Part 3:
The issue of capacity to sue may be raised by motion to dismiss where the defect appears on the face of the complaint. See Hershel California Fruit Products Co. v. Hunt Foods, 111 F. Supp. 603 (1975), quoting Coburn v. Coleman 75 F. Supp. 107 (1974); Klebano v. New York Produce Exchange, 344 F.2d (2nd Cir. 1965)
