The ''Reasonableness'' Test of Judge's Discretion

In Canakaris v. Canakaris, 382 So. 2d 1197, 1203 (Fla. 1980), the Court set forth the standard of review to be employed by an appellate court in reviewing a discretionary act of the trial judge: In reviewing a true discretionary act, the appellate court must fully recognize the superior vantage point of the trial judge and should apply the "reasonableness" test to determine whether the trial judge abused his discretion. If reasonable men could differ as to the propriety of the action taken by the trial court, then the action is not unreasonable and there can be no finding of an abuse of discretion. The discretionary ruling of the trial judge should be disturbed only when his decision fails to satisfy this test of reasonableness.