MOTOR UNION (AVIATION) ORION INSURANCE CO., LTD., "T" A/C AND LONDON AND EDINBURGH INS. CO., LTD., D/B/A INSURANCE COMPANIES IN ENGLAND, APPELLANT,
v.
FRANKLYN LEVENSON, APPELLEE; CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYD'S LONDON, APPELLANT, V. FRANKLYN LEVENSON, APPELLEE; SECURITY MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK, APPELLANT, V. FRANKLYN LEVENSON, APPELLEE
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The court held that summary judgment was improperly granted as issues of fraud and intentional self-inflicted injury raised jury questions, but denial of a discovery deposition of plaintiff's expert was proper.
Appellee sued on insurance contracts for disability benefits after an automobile accident. Appellants raised defenses of fraud and intentional self-in…
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These interlocutory appeals are from similar orders in three suits brought by appellee on separate insurance contracts. They were consolidated and heard together. What is said here applies to all. Suit was filed for declaratory decree, seeking construction of contract and judgment for amounts claimed to be payable for disability from an automobile accident. The answer charged fraud and that the injury was intentional and self-inflicted. The coverage excluded disability so induced. After having made provision for a jury trial of the issue created by that defense, the court granted a motion by the plaintiff for summary judgment thereon. That order is one of those appealed. On con*853sidering the facts as revealed by the pleadings and the numerous depositions which were before the trial judge on the hearing on plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment, and according the party moved against the benefit of inferences reasonably to be drawn in its favor from the facts disclosed, we have concluded that issues were raised relating to the defense of conspiracy to defraud and intentional accident which presented jury questions, not triable by the court or proper to be determined by summary judgment. In holding the contrary the able trial judge was in error, and we therefore reverse the summary judgment. See Alepgo Corporation v. Pozin, Fla.App.1959, 114 So.2d 645, 647; Firemen’s Mut. Ins. Co. v. Aponaug Mfg. Co., 5 Cir.1945, 149 F.2d 359; Colby v. Klune, 2 Cir.1949, 178 F.2d 872; Subin v. Goldsmith, 2 Cir.1955, 224 F.2d 753.
The second order sought to be reviewed, which' denied a requested medical examination of the plaintiff, is affirmed. Several examinations had been made earlier. Liability under the policies had been disclaimed. The examination was requested close to the date set for trial. In the situation presented, no abuse of discretion was shown.
The third order appealed was one which granted plaintiff’s motion for protection and operated to prevent the defendant from taking the discovery deposition of a doctor whom plaintiff’s attorneys had employed to examine the plaintiff and advise them. As disclosed by their motion plaintiff’s attorneys did not intend to have the doctor testify at the trial. The plaintiff was not unavailable for similar examination by other doctors. It seems clear the only information which could be expected to be obtained from him was what he found on examining the plaintiff and the records, and his conclusions thereon. No good cause was shown by the defendants to justify deposing this expert hired to inform and advise the plaintiff’s attorneys. Under the circumstances, the denial of the discovery deposition was not error, and that order is affirmed. It is the general rule that an expert so employed may not be deposed unless such information is not obtainable elsewhere, or other good cause is shown. See Ford Motor Company v. Havee, Fla.App.1960, 123 So.2d 572, and authorities cited there. The case of Shawmut Van Lines, Inc. v. Small, Fla.App.1963, 148 So.2d 556, relied on by the appellant is distinguishable. There the court recognized that by reason of the length and nature of the employment there could be areas for examination of the employed adjuster outside of privileged work product and allowed discovery subject to the right to object if it led into privileged ground. In American Ladder & Scaffold Company v. Eadie, Fla.App.1960, 120 So.2d 65, the attorneys who employed an expert to examine and report to them on property involved in a case used his evidence in the form of an affidavit in support of an unsuccessful motion for summary judgment. We there held that such use of the expert’s evidence was a waiver of any privilege which' otherwise might have been availed of as protection against a discovery deposition. In Dade County By and Through Board of County Com’rs v. Bosch, Fla.App.1961, 133 So.2d 578, we quashed an order of the trial court which granted protection against such a deposition. In that case the doctor had been listed by the party who employed him as one of the witnesses to be called at trial. Where in the earlier American Ladder case we held that use of the expert’s evidence amounted to a waiver, in the Dade County By and Through Board of County Com’rs v. Bosch case we held that an announced intention to use the expert as a witness did not waive the work product privilege, and we there held the deposition could be taken subject to protective orders if it should invade the work product. The holdings in the Shawmut Van Lines, Inc. v. Small and Dade County By and Through Board of County Com’rs v. Bosch, supra, are not inconsistent with our holding in the instant case because of the different cir*854cumstances here, among which are that the expert is not to be presented as a witness and no area for useful examination apart from privileged matter was suggested or shown in this case.
The judgments and orders appealed from in the above cases numbered 63-52, 63-53 and 63-54 are in part affirmed and in part reversed as and in the respects set out above, and the said causes are remanded to the circuit court for further proceedings.
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Pinellas Cnty. v. Carlson, 242 So. 2d 714 (Fla. 1970)…rmation prepared for his adversary party and counsel by an expert, when that expert is not scheduled to be called as a trial witness. This question previously has been answered in the negative; Motor Union (Aviation) Orion Insurance Co. v. Levenson, 153 So. 2d 852 (Fla.App.3rd 1963). In Motor Union, the District Court of Appeal held that discovery would not be permitted of a doctor’s work product for adverse parties, where the doctor was not to be called at trial. In the case sub judice, it is argued that a…1 / 2
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Lifemark Hosps. OF Fla., Inc. v. Inez Hernandez and Lenin Hernandez, 748 So. 2d 378 (Fla. 3d DCA 2000)…ion of testimony as its only remedy.” 7 James Wm. Moore et al., Moore’s Federal Practice ¶ 35.12[4], at 35-34 (3rd ed.1999). Plaintiffs argue that the disposition of this case is controlled by Motor Union (Aviation) Orion Insurance Co. v. Levenson, 153 So. 2d 852 (Fla. 3d DCA 1963). That case is not applicable, because it did not involve any issue under the predecessor to Rule 1.360. The sole work product issue discussed in that case was whether the defendant had sufficiently shown good cause to overcome the…
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In the Interest of S.M.B. and S.B., 597 So. 2d 848 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992)…DCA), review denied, 513 So. 2d 1061 (Fla.1987). We recognize, further, that the abuse of discretion standard applies also to requests, such as that made here, for a physical or mental examination. Motor Union (Aviation) Orion Ins. Co. v. Levenson, 153 So. 2d 852 (Fla. 3d DCA 1963). Clearly, the trial court’s decision to deny appellant’s motion for a psychological or psychiatric examination and evaluation was motivated by concern for the well-being of the children. Nevertheless, on the facts of this case, we…
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Colby v. Klune, 178 F.2d 872 (2d Cir. 1949)
- Alepgo Corp. v. Pozin, 114 So. 2d 645 (Fla. 3d DCA 1959)
- Subin v. Goldsmith, 224 F.2d 753 (2d Cir. 1955)
- Firemen's Mut. Ins. Co. v. Aponaug MFG. Co., Inc., 149 F.2d 359 (5th Cir. 1945)
- Ford Motor Co. v. Havee, 123 So. 2d 572 (Fla. 3d DCA 1960)
- Shawmut van Lines, Inc. v. Small, 148 So. 2d 556 (Fla. 3d DCA 1963)
- Dade Cnty. v. Bosch, 133 So. 2d 578 (Fla. 3d DCA 1961)
- Am. Ladder & Scaffold Co. v. Montague Eadie and Paul Digirolamo, 120 So. 2d 65 (Fla. 3d DCA 1960)