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The FDLA Amicus Committee works to ensure that FDLA has a presence in cases
involving significant issues at both the supreme court and district court of
appeal levels. The Association has a strong list of people who are willing to
prepare amicus briefs for FDLA.
The Amicus Committee, chaired by Caryn Bellus, has started an email list which
is used to keep amicus committee members informed of current cases in which FDLA
is involved, and to recruit brief writers for new cases. To date FDLA has not
had any legitimate requests for amicus briefs that have not been fulfilled.
FDLA is currently involved as amicus in ten pending cases. These current cases, along
with their issues, follow.
A major area of improvement that FDLA needs to make is in being more pro-active in
identifying significant cases which warrant FDLA involvement. To date, FDLA has
felt successful if it could get an amicus brief done when a defense attorney
requested one. The Amicus Committee would like to affirmatively seek out cases
in which FDLA could contribute amicus help. In addition to ensuring that FDLA is
fully utilizing the great brief-writing resources it has, and that FDLA has a
strong presence in the courts, we hope that this will make both member and
non-member defense attorneys more aware of one of the major benefits FDLA
offers.
Identifying important supreme court cases is generally as easy as reading the Florida Law
Weekly and noting which significant issues have been decided (or certified) by
the DCAs, then calling the parties to see if they plan to take the case to the
supreme court, and if they'd like amicus help. The Amicus Committee has done
this in two cases, and the defense attorney was thrilled. The Amicus Committee
plans to create a subcommittee of "case-watchers" from each DCA who will be
charged with identifying important decisions from each district that will likely
go to the supreme court.
Of course, many important cases do not go to the supreme court. However, FDLA's
presence in DCA cases has been limited. This is largely because very few people
other than the parties are aware that an important issue is pending in the DCA
until the opinion is issued. FDLA relies on the defense attorneys in those cases
to call for help, and FDLA needs to make our members more aware that they can
and should call for amicus help if they have such a case.
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| Amicus Committee Chair |
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Caryn Bellus, Esquire
Kubicki Draper
25 West Flagler Street Penthouse
Miami,FL 33130
Phone: (305)982-6634
Fax: (305)374-7846
Email: cb@kubickidraper.com
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| Pending FDLA Amicus Cases |
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CASE STYLE: D’Angelo v. Fitzmaurice
COURT: Florida Supreme Court (Second DCA 2D01-1789)
CASE NO.: SC03-33
ISSUE: set-off issue
STATUS: FDLA brief filed in support of appellant 2/17/03
possible second brief on proposal for settlement
ATTORNEY:
Esther E. Galicia, Esquire, Esquire
George, Hartz, Lundeen, Fulmer, Johnstone, King & Stevens
524 South Andrews Avenue
Fort Lauderdale,FL 33301
Phone: 954 462-1620
Fax: 954 524-3810
Email: esthergalicia@georgehartz.com
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Wendy Lumish, Esquire
Seth Abrams, Esquire
Marlow Connell Et Al
One E Broward Blvd #905
Ft Lauderdale,FL 33301
Phone: )954)765-3400
Fax: (954)765-1933
Email: sabrams@marlowconnell.com
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CASE STYLE: Infinity Insurance Company v. Berges
COURT: Florida Supreme Court
CASE NO.: SC01-2846
ISSUE: Whether an insurance company’s failure to accept a “Cunningham” agreement amounts to bad faith, oral argument held February 4, 2003 in Tallahassee
STATUS: oral argument held February 4, 2003 in Tallahassee
ATTORNEY:
Tracy Gunn for Infinity, Esquire
Fowler, White
Phone: (813) 228-7411
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Rhonda B. Boggess, Esquire, Esquire
Stephen E Day, Esquire
Taylor, Day & Currie
50 N Laura St #3500
Jacksonville,FL 32202
Phone: (904)356-0700
Fax: (904)356-3224
Email: sday@tdclaw.com
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CASE STYLE: Helen M. Caruso v. Earl Baumle
COURT: Florida Supreme Court
CASE NO.: SC03-127
ISSUE: PIP issue
STATUS: Petitioner’s brief on merits due - March 14, 2003 (on extension)
ATTORNEY:
Elizabeth C. Wheeler, Esquire, Esquire
Elizabeth C. Wheeler, P.A.
P. O. Box 2266
Orlando,FL 32802-2266
Phone: 407 650-9008
Email: ewheeler@ewheelerpa.com
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Thomas R Thompson, Esquire
Thompson Crawford Et Al
PO Box 15261
Tallahassee,FL 32317
Phone: (850)386-5777
Fax: (850)386-8507
Email: tcslaw@aol.com
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CASE STYLE: Steel v. Kinsey & United Automobile
COURT: Supreme Court of Florida
CASE NO.: SC02-152
ISSUE: Liability insurance coverage (supplementary payments) for award of the plaintiff’s attorney’s fees and costs against the insured under section 768.89.
STATUS: FDLA Brief filed; Plaintiff’s Reply Brief due
ATTORNEY:
Hinda Klein and Conroy Simberg, Esquire
FDLA ATTORNEY:
David B Pakula, Esquire
Law Off of David B Pakula
5100 N Federal Hwy #202
Ft Lauderdale,FL 33308
Phone: (954)776-3634
Fax: (954)776-2050
Email: dpakula@infi.net
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CASE STYLE: Nehme v. Smithkline
COURT: Supreme Court
CASE NO.: SC02-1680
ISSUE: statute of repose - med mal; does negligent misdiagnosis amount to concealment to toll statute of repose (on certification from 5th DCA)
STATUS: supreme court has not issued decision on jurisdiction
ATTORNEY:
Christopher Curry, Esquire
Email: ccc@hei-law.com
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Hal Anderson, Esquire
Gail Leverett Parenti, Esquire
Parenti & Parenti, P.A.
9155 S. Dadeland Blvd., Suite 1504
Miami,FL 33156
Phone: (305) 539-3800
Fax: (305) 539-3801
Email: gp@theparentifirm.com
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CASE STYLE: Barlow v. North Okaloosa Medical Center
COURT: Florida Supreme Court
CASE NO.: SC02-796
ISSUE: Whether the arbitration panel’s award of zero damages for the claim of loss of earning capacity was consistent with Florida law on damages as well as the medical malpractice act
STATUS: Petitioner’s reply brief due - 2/17/03
ATTORNEY:
, Esquire
,
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Gail Leverett Parenti, Esquire
Parenti & Parenti, P.A.
9155 S. Dadeland Blvd., Suite 1504
Miami,FL 33156
Phone: (305) 539-3800
Fax: (305) 539-3801
Email: gp@theparentifirm.com
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CASE STYLE: Taylor v. Brevard County
COURT: Florida Supreme Court
CASE NO.: SC01-1924
ISSUE: unrelated works exception for worker’s comp immunity
STATUS: briefing completed 6/14/02
ATTORNEY:
Michael H. Bowling, Esquire
Bell, Leeper & Roper, P.A.
Orlando,FL
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Tracy Raffles Gunn, Esquire
Gunn Appellate Practice PA
777 S Harbour Island Blvd #770
Tampa,FL 33605
Phone: (813)695-6855
Email: tgunn@gunnappeals.com
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CASE STYLE: Hodson v. Thompson
COURT: Supreme Court
CASE NO.: SC02-1623
ISSUE: proposals for settlement in death cases; single proposal to P.R.; recovery of fees against estate assets recovered from other defendants.
STATUS: jurisdiction denied 12/30/02
no rehearing entertained
ATTORNEY:
Mary Bland Love, Esquire
Gobelman, Love, Gavin, Blazs & Mathis
815 S. Main Street, Suite 300
Jacksonville,FL 32207
Phone: 904 393-9007
Fax: 904 393-9050
Email: mlove@gobelman.com
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Stephen M Materson, Esquire
Bush Brooks Et Al
1301 Metropolitan Blvd #300
Tallahassee,FL 32308
Phone: (850)386-7666
Fax: (850)386-1376
Email: smm@bushlawgroup.com
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CASE STYLE: Goble v. Frohman
COURT: 2nd District
CASE NO.: 2D02-1887
ISSUE: collateral source set off for medical bills settled by Plaintiff’s insurance carrier
STATUS: appellee’s reply brief was due October 1, 2002
ATTORNEY:
Alan Scharf of Gray Harris, Esquire
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Brief donated on related issues by Esther Galici, Esquire
Jeremy S Sloane, Esquire
Rice Rose Et Al
PO Box 2599
Daytona Beach,FL 32115-2599
Phone: (386)257-3839
Fax: (386)257-9025
Email: jeremysloane@ricerosesnell.com
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CASE STYLE: Fleetwood Homes of Florida, Inc. v. Reeves
COURT: Second DCA
CASE NO.:
ISSUE: intentional tort exception to workers’ compensation immunity
STATUS: unknown at this time
ATTORNEY:
John Frost, Esq. and Peter Van den Boom. Esq. , Esquire
Frost Tamayo Sessums & Aranda
P. O. Box 2188
Bartow,FL 33831-2188
Phone: 863 533-0314
Email: JFrost1985@aol.com
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Elizabeth C Wheeler, Esquire
Elizabeth C Wheeler PA
PO Box 2266
Orlando,FL 32802-2266
Phone: 407-650-9008
Fax: (407)650-9070
Email: ewheeler@ewheelerpa.com
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CASE STYLE: DeCristo v. Griff
COURT: Fourth DCA
CASE NO.:
ISSUE: disqualifying of expert
STATUS:
ATTORNEY:
Lawrence Brownstein, Esquire
515 N. Flagler Drive, Suite 300 Pavillion
West Palm Beach,FL 33401
Phone: 561 802-4123
Fax: 561 802-4144
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CASE STYLE: Graeber v. Clarindon National Ins. Co.
COURT: Fourth DCA/Supreme Court
CASE NO.:
ISSUE: whether pre-judgment interest is covered as compensatory damages or as supplementary payments
STATUS:
ATTORNEY:
For Clarindon National Ins. Co. Dina Stein, Esquire
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CASE STYLE: Florida Farm Bureau v. Copertino
COURT: Supreme Court
CASE NO.:
ISSUE: Discovery in bad faith cases
STATUS: Brief filed 10/17
ATTORNEY:
Sylvia H. Walbolt, Esquire
Carlton Fields
P. O. Box 2861
St. Petersburg,FL 33731-2861
Phone: 727 821-7000
Fax: 727 822-3768
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| Cases Being Monitored |
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CASE STYLE: Morales v. Coca-Cola
COURT: Fourth DCA 813 So.2d 162
CASE NO.: 4D01-1795
ISSUE: vicarious liability/dangerous instrumentality
STATUS: rhrg. denied - 4/25/02
ATTORNEY:
Michael V. Elsberry, Esquire
Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A.
Orlando,FL
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CASE STYLE: Desimone v. Old Dominion Ins. Co.
COURT: Fourth District
CASE NO.: 98-02224; 740 So.2d 1233
ISSUE: Dismissal of plaintiff’s case for fraud on the court
STATUS: opinion issued for defense
ATTORNEY:
Esther E. Galicia, Esquire
George, Hartz, Lundeen, Flagg & Fulmer
3rd Floor - Justice Building East; 524 South Andrews Avenue
Fort Lauderdale,FL 33301
Phone: 954 462-1620
Email: esthergalicia@georgehartz.com
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CASE STYLE: Allstate v. Materiale
COURT: Second District
CASE NO.: 2D00-1621/2D00-3083 787 So.2d 173
ISSUE: whether an offer of judgment by multiple plaintiffs is deficient where the offer is not broken down as between the various plaintiffs.
STATUS: affirmed in part, reversed in part - 11/11/01
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Robert M Klein, Esquire
Stephens Lynn Et Al
9130 S Dadeland Blvd PH 1&2
Miami,FL 33156
Phone: (305)670-3700
Fax: (305)670-8592
Email: kleinr@stephenslynn.com
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| Recently Completed Cases |
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CASE STYLE: AMERACE V. STALLINGS
COURT: Florida Supreme Court
CASE NO.: SC00-565
ISSUE: personal injury plaintiff could not recover postverdict, prejudgment interest.
STATUS: opinion issued 6/13/02
ATTORNEY:
Hala Sandridge, Esquire
Fowler White
Tampa,FL
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Warren B Kwavnick, Esquire
Cooney Mattson Et Al
PO Box 14546
Ft Lauderdale,FL 33302
Phone: (954)568-6669
Fax: (954)568-0085
Email: wkwavnick@cmlbro.com
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CASE STYLE: Allstate Insurance Company v. Derius
COURT: Supreme Court
CASE NO.: SC01-296
ISSUE: Whether the PIP statute, Florida Statutes Section 627.736, requires an insurer to obtain a physician’s report within 30 days in order to deny or reduce a claim
STATUS: denied due to United Automobile v. Rodriguez - January 16, 2003
ATTORNEY:
Richard Sherman, Esquire
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Tracy Raffles Gunn, Esquire
Gunn Appellate Practice PA
777 S Harbour Island Blvd #770
Tampa,FL 33605
Phone: (813)695-6855
Email: tgunn@gunnappeals.com
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CASE STYLE: Coca-Cola v. Hagan
COURT: 5th DCA/Florida Supreme Court
CASE NO.: 5D98-1463
ISSUE: fear of AIDS case; continued viability of the impact rule; question certified by Fifth DCA
STATUS: Supreme Court opinion issued: Hagan v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co., 804 So.2d 1234 (Fla.2001).
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Tracy Raffles Gunn, Esquire
Gunn Appellate Practice PA
777 S Harbour Island Blvd #770
Tampa,FL 33605
Phone: (813)695-6855
Email: tgunn@gunnappeals.com
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CASE STYLE: Long v. Swofford
COURT: Third District
CASE NO.: 3D00-3313; 805 So.2d 882
ISSUE: Dismissal of plaintiff’s claim as a result of a pattern of deception/fraud on the court.
STATUS: Rehearing denied - February 26, 2002
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Kubicki Draper, and Angela C. Flowers, Miami, for appellee., Esquire
Gail Leverett Parenti, Esquire
Parenti & Parenti, P.A.
9155 S. Dadeland Blvd., Suite 1504
Miami,FL 33156
Phone: (305) 539-3800
Fax: (305) 539-3801
Email: gp@theparentifirm.com
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CASE STYLE: Estate of Irving Ellis v. Florida Convalescent Centers, Inc.
COURT: Supreme Court
CASE NO.: SC01-731
ISSUE: conflict between First HealthCare v. Hamilton from the Fourth DCA and Beverly v. Spillman from the Fifth DCA regarding whether there is a viable claim for pain and suffering of a decedent nursing home resident from time of injury to time of death
STATUS: concur with majority decision
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Paul Regensdorf, Esquire
Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson PA
200 E Las Olas Blvd #2100
Ft Lauderdale,FL 33301
Phone: (954)462-9590
Fax: (954)462-9556
Email: pregensdorf@swmwas.com
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CASE STYLE: Cisko v. Phoenix Medical Products
COURT: Florida Supreme Court
CASE NO.: SC01-
ISSUE: as a matter of first impression, aggrieved person who receives "no cause" determination from Florida Commission on Human Relations (HCHR) or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) after 180-day period contemplated by Act, but before filing of lawsuit, may not disregard Act's administrative hearing requirement
STATUS: Decision issued.
ATTORNEY:
Jason Hunter Korn, Esquire
Cummings & Lockwood
3001 Tamiami Trail North
Naples,FL 34101-3032
Phone: 941 649-3111
Fax: 941 262-6092
Email: jkorn@cl-law.com
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Susan S Erdelyi, Esquire
Marks Gray PA
PO Box 447
Jacksonville,FL 32201-0447
Phone: (904)398-0900
Fax: (904)399-8440
Email: serdelyi@marksgray.com
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CASE STYLE: Lincoln Ins. Co. v. Home Emergency Services
COURT: Third District/supreme court
CASE NO.: 3D99-1806
ISSUE: CGL insurance coverage for spoliation of evidence claims against insured
STATUS: Opinion on rehearing en banc 3/6/02, Jurisdiction pending in Fla. Supreme Court
ATTORNEY:
Esther Galicia, Esquire
Phone: 954-462-1620
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Gail Leverett Parenti, Esquire
Parenti & Parenti, P.A.
9155 S. Dadeland Blvd., Suite 1504
Miami,FL 33156
Phone: (305) 539-3800
Fax: (305) 539-3801
Email: gp@theparentifirm.com
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CASE STYLE: White v. Steak & Ale
COURT: Supreme Court
CASE NO.: SC01-96
ISSUE: Whether pre-offer costs are included in determining the “net judgment” for purposes of the offer of judgment statute.
STATUS: opinion issued 4/18/02Supreme Court, Pariente, J., held that victim's pre-offer tax costs were included in determining whether "judgment obtained" exceeded 25%-of-offer threshold for proposal for settlement recovery
ATTORNEY:
Charles Tyler Cone , Esquire
Fowler, White, Gillen, Boggs, Villareal and Banker, P.A.
Tampa,FL
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Thomas R Thompson, Esquire
Thompson Crawford Et Al
PO Box 15261
Tallahassee,FL 32317
Phone: (850)386-5777
Fax: (850)386-8507
Email: tcslaw@aol.com
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CASE STYLE: Lindley v. Starke Nursing Center
COURT: First District
CASE NO.: 1D01-2925
ISSUE: Arbitration clause in nursing home resident contract.
STATUS: Appeal dismissed - 9/21/01
ATTORNEY:
Tracy Raffles Gunn, Esquire
Fowler White Boggs Banker P.A.
P. O. BOX 1438
Tampa,FL 33601
FDLA ATTORNEY:
John R Owens, Esquire
Fowler White Et Al
501 E Kennedy Blvd #1700
Tampa,FL 33602
Phone: (813)228-7411
Fax: (813)229-8313
Email: jowens@fowlerwhite.com
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CASE STYLE: Siegle v. Progressive
COURT: Supreme Court of Florida
CASE NO.: SC01-1219
ISSUE: Diminished value insurance claims
STATUS: Approved decision below and answer certified question in the negative - May 23, 2002
ATTORNEY:
Rhonda B. Boggess, Esquire
Taylor Day & Currie
50 North Laura Street, Suite 3500
Jacksonville,FL 32202
Phone: 904 356-0700
Fax: 904 356-3224
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Brian R Denney, Esquire
Bavol Judge PA
101 E Kennedy Blvd #3230
Tampa,FL 33602-5151
Phone: (813)221-1711
Fax: (813)221-7116
Email: bdenney@bavoljudge.com
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CASE STYLE: Basel v. McFarland & Sons, Inc.
COURT: Fifth District
CASE NO.: 5D01-827
ISSUE: Constitutionality of 1999 amendment to § 768.81 (comparative fault and joint and several liability) and application to pending cases.
STATUS: Opinion filed 4/5/02 - affirmed in part, reversed in part - remanded; no retroactive application
no further proceedings
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Michael V. Elsberry and Harry W. Lawrence of Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, Professional Association, Orlando, for Appellees., Esquire
Hal Anderson, Esquire
Billing Cochran Et Al
888 SE 3rd Ave #301
Ft Lauderdale,FL 33316
Phone: (954)764-7150
Fax: (954)764-7279
Email: hba@bchlm-pa.com
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CASE STYLE: Woodham v. Blue Cross & Blue Shield
COURT: Third DCA/Florida Supreme Court
CASE NO.: 3D00-2277
ISSUE: As a matter of first impression, aggrieved person who receives "no cause" determination from Florida Commission on Human Relations (HCHR) or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) after 180-day period contemplated by Act, but before filing of lawsuit, may not disregard Act's administrative hearing requirement
STATUS: Decision issued
ATTORNEY:
Jason Hunter Korn, Esquire
Cummings & Lockwood
3001 Tamiami Trail North
Naples,FL 34101-3032
Phone: 941 649-3111
Fax: 941 262-6092
Email: jkorn@cl-law.com
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CASE STYLE: Peralta v. Gutierrez
COURT: Florida Supreme Court
CASE NO.: SC01-1249
ISSUE: Whether a spouse who seeks to pursue a loss of consortium in a medical malpractice action must either provide notice of intent to initiate litigation pursuant to section 766.106, Florida Statutes and section 766.203, Florida Statutes or join in the notice provided by the injured party/spouse?
STATUS: 9/21/01 - dismissed 796 So.2d 536
ATTORNEY:
Esther E. Galicia, Esquire, Esquire
George, Hartz, Lundeen, Fulmer, Johnstone, King & Stevens
524 South Andrews Avenue
Fort Lauderdale,FL 33301
Phone: 954 462-1620
FDLA ATTORNEY:
Douglas R Wight, Esquire
Haas Dutton Blackburn Lewis & Longley PL
PO Box 263
Tampa,FL 33731
Phone: (813)823-7979
Fax: (813)823-7989
Email: wight@insdef.com
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CASE STYLE: Giles v. Luckie
COURT: First District
CASE NO.: 1D01-1802
ISSUE: whether non-economic damages apartment from those listed in the threshold stature are recoverable without a permanent injury
STATUS: Settled
ATTORNEY:
Angela Flowers, Esquire
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CASE STYLE: Rose v. Norweigan Cruise Lines
COURT: Florida Supreme Court
CASE NO.:
ISSUE: Class certification - whether commonality existed among passengers of three voyages
STATUS: Case dismissed 8/22/02
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CASE STYLE: Cahuasqui v. U.S. Security Ins. Co.
COURT: Supreme Court
CASE NO.: SC00-1649
ISSUE: Whether the offer of judgment statute can be constitutionally applied to PIP
STATUS: 9/26/02 - dismissed (no conflict) 796 So.2d 532
ATTORNEY:
Hinda Klein, Esquire
Conroy, Simberg & Ganon, P.A.
3440 Hollywood Blvd., 2nd Floor
Hollywood,FL 33021
Phone: 954 961-1400
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CASE STYLE: Wilson v. Gerth
COURT: Supreme Court of Florida
CASE NO.: SC00-2390
ISSUE: Worker’s compensation immunity for OSHA violations
STATUS: rev. den. 4/11/01
ATTORNEY:
Sylvia H. Walbolt, Esquire and J. Andrew Meyer, Esquire
Carlton Fields
P. O. Box 2861
St. Petersburg,FL 33731-2861
Phone: 727 821-7000
Fax: 727 822-3768
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