Thursday, March 9, 2000
Frankenmuth Mutual Ins. Co. v. Ernie Lee Magaha

No. 96,384

Place of Origin
Escambia County

Facts
Escambia County comptroller Joe Flowers entered into long-term lease agreements worth nearly $5 million with Unisys Corp. to obtain and finance computer equipment. Frankenmuth obtained the lease by assignment. On August 1, 1995, the Legislature abolished the comptroller's office after Flowers was indicted for illegal activity in office, including matters related to the leases. Afterward, Escambia County did not appropriate funds to make further payments under the agreements, and Frankenmuth sued the county and its clerk of court, Magaha, in federal court. The judge declared the bulk of the agreements valid and held that the county had effectively ratified them. On appeal, the Eleventh Circuit Court certified questions to the Supreme Court about the legal issues at stake.