ZAHIR KANJI, PETITIONER,
v.
GULFROSE VALLI, INDIVIDUALLY, ETC., RESPONDENT
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In a civil action arising from alleged sexual conduct with a minor, the court addressed whether the defendant could invoke Fifth Amendment protection to avoid discovery demands. The court held that while specific objections to interrogatories must be made on a question-by-question basis, the defendant could challenge the production of documents that would be self-incriminatory.
A party claiming Fifth Amendment protection from discovery must make specific, question-by-question objections detailing the self-incrimination concern for each interrogatory, to be ruled on by the trial court. However, the court may quash discovery demands for documents that would tend to incriminate the party, are overbroad, or do not exist.
[1] A party asserting a Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination in response to discovery requests must make a question-by-question objection detailing the basis…
[2] A trial court must determine whether a discovery response could result in criminal charges or conviction when a Fifth Amendment objection is raised.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“a question-by-question objection detailing the Fifth Amendment objection in regard to each challenged question should be made and presented to the lower court, at which time that court must determine whether the response could result in criminal charges and/or conviction”
Establishes the proper procedure for asserting Fifth Amendment protection in response to interrogatories in civil discovery
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceRespondent Valli sued petitioner Kanji for his alleged sexual relationship with Valli's sixteen-year-old daughter, Nina. Kanji received two orders sta…
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DAUKSCH, Judge.
Respondent, Gulfrose Valli, filed a civil action against Petitioner, Zahir Kanji, arising out of Kanji’s alleged sexual relationship with Valli’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Nina. Valli served discovery demands upon Kanji, requesting admissions, production of documents, and answers to interrogatories. Kanji sought, and received, two orders abating and staying the proceedings pending the outcome of potential criminal charges based on the same acts giving rise to the civil litigation. Kanji’s application for a third such order was denied, and he was directed to respond to the interrogatories and produce the requested documents.
Kanji petitions this court for writ of certiorari quashing the order compelling discovery. He alleges that his responses to the discovery order may be used against him in the criminal matter; conversely, if he fails to respond, he claims that he will likely lose the civil case. Kanji asserts that his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination shields him from the discovery order.
On March 18, 1993, this court ordered Valli to respond to the certiorari petition within twenty days. She did not do so, and to date, has made no response. Her failure to respond significantly narrows this court’s consideration of the instant issues. Only the information contained in the record excerpts submitted in support of the petition and the allegations contained in the petition will be considered. See Trojan Investments, Ltd. v. Pelege Iron Corp., 587 So. 2d 577 (Fla. 3d DCA 1991). If the claims are facially and legally sufficient, when viewed in light of the record excerpts, the requested relief should be granted.
The petition and record excerpts show that Kanji was asked to admit to certain facts. He filed denials to the requests for admissions. Since several of the subject interrogatories are virtually identical to the denied admissions, Kanji has, in practical effect, responded. Further, some of the interrogatories do not appear to require self-incriminatory answers. Kanji, however, complains about having to answer any of them. Under these circumstances, a question-by-question objection detailing the Fifth Amendment objection in regard to each challenged question should be made and presented to the lower court, at which time that court must determine whether the response could result in criminal charges and/or conviction. See Fischer v. E.F. Hutton & Co., Inc., 463 So. 2d 289, 291 (Fla. 2d DCA 1984).
But see Rainerman v. Eagle National Bank of Miami, 541 So. 2d 740, 741 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989) (where nature of proceeding “has narrowed the scope of inquiry” to matters germane to potential criminal prosecution, a general objection to all discovery questions permissible).
In the absence of same, it cannot be said that the trial court’s order compelling Kanji to answer the interrogatories materially departs from the essential requirements of the law.
However, the same cannot be said for the portion of the order compelling the production of documents. From the petition and record excerpts, it appears that the documents sought would tend to incriminate Kanji, are impermissibly over-broad, or do not exist. Under these circumstances, this part of the order departs materially from the essential requirements of the law. Further, the potential injury which Kanji might suffer involving the filing and/or prosecution of criminal charges against him is sufficiently prejudicial to justify issuance of the extraordinary writ of certiorari. See Stewart v. Mussoline, 487 So. 2d 96 (Fla. 3d DCA 1986); DeLisi v. Smith, 423 So. 2d 934 (Fla. 2d DCA 1982), pet. for rev. den., 434 So. 2d 887 (Fla.1983); Roberts v. Jardine, 358 So. 2d 588 (Fla. 2d DCA 1978).
The petition is granted and the writ issued, quashing the portion of the trial court’s order compelling production of the requested documents; it is denied in all other respects without prejudice to the petitioner making specific proper objections to. individual questions.
PETITION GRANTED.
W. SHARP and HARRIS, JJ., concur.
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City OF Kissimmee v. Grice, 669 So. 2d 307 (Fla. 5th DCA 1996)…a default which automatically entitles the petitioner to his requested relief. The failure of response does limit the court’s consideration to the information contained in the record and the allegations contained in the petition. See Kanji v. Valli, 621 So. 2d 750 (Fla. 5th DCA 1993). Still the court must determine if the petition is meritorious and whether the requested relief should be granted. In that regard, De Groot v. Sheffield, 95 So. 2d 912, 915 (Fla.1957), determines the ground rules for review: In…
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Sugarmill Woods Civic Ass'n, Inc. v. S. States Utils. & Fla. Pub. Serv. Comm'n, 687 So. 2d 1346 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997)…on basis are distinguishable, because they involved the privilege against self-incrimination, which is usually asserted on a question-by-question basis. See, e.g., Patchett v. Commission on Ethics, 626 So. 2d 319 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993); Kanji v. Valli, 621 So. 2d 750 (Fla. 5th DCA 1993); Fischer v. E.F. Hutton & Co., Inc., 463 So. 2d 289 (Fla. 2d DCA 1984). But see, e.g., Rainerman v. Eagle National Bank of [*1351] Miami 541 So. 2d 740 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989) (issues to be addressed in requested deposition in aid of…
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Barnett C. Messer, Jr. v. E.G. Pump Controls, Inc., 667 So. 2d 321 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995)…d the respondent to show cause why the petition for writ of certiorari should not be granted. Having received no response, our consideration is limited to determining whether the petitioners’ claim is facially and legally sufficient. Kanji v. Valli, 621 So. 2d 750, 751 (Fla. 5th DCA 1993). In Becker Metals Corp. v. West Florida Scrap Metals, 407 So. 2d 380 (Fla. 1st DCA 1981), this court found a departure from the essential requirements of law where, despite the assertion of a trade secret privilege, the tri…
Previewing 3 of 4 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Delisi v. Smith, 423 So. 2d 934 (Fla. 2d DCA 1982)
- Rainerman v. Eagle Nat'l Bank OF Miami, 541 So. 2d 740 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989)
- Fischer v. E.F. Hutton & Co., Inc., 463 So. 2d 289 (Fla. 2d DCA 1984)
- Roberts v. Jardine, 358 So. 2d 588 (Fla. 2d DCA 1978)
- Stewart v. Mussoline, 487 So. 2d 96 (Fla. 3d DCA 1986)
- Trojan Invs., Ltd. v. Pelege Iron Corp., 587 So. 2d 577 (Fla. 3d DCA 1991)