SC01-893 – Allstate Indemnity Company, Et Al. v. Joaquin Ruiz And Paulina Ruiz

State: Florida

Docket No: SC01-893

Case Date: 04/14/2005

Preview:Supreme Court of Florida
____________ No. SC01-893 ____________ ALLSTATE INDEMNITY COMPANY, et al., Petitioners, vs. JOAQUIN RUIZ and PAULINA RUIZ, Respondents. [April 7, 2005] CORRECTED OPINION LEWIS, J. We have for review Allstate Indemnity Co. v. Ruiz, 780 So. 2d 239 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001), which expressly and directly conflicts with a number of cases from other district courts with regard to issues concerning application of work product privilege to shield documents from discovery in the insurance bad faith context. See Vesta Fire Ins. v. Figueroa, 821 So. 2d 1233 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002); Fla. Farm Bureau Gen. Ins. Co. v. Copertino, 810 So. 2d 1076 (Fla. 4th DCA 2002); WalMart Stores, Inc., v. Ballasso, 789 So. 2d 519 (Fla. 1st DCA 2001); McRae's, Inc. v. Moreland, 765 So. 2d 196 (Fla. 1st DCA 2000); Prudential Ins. Co. of Am. v.

Fla. Dep't of Ins., 694 So. 2d 772 (Fla. 2d DCA 1997); Anchor Nat'l Fin. Servs., Inc. v. Smeltz, 546 So. 2d 760 (Fla. 2d DCA 1989). Because we conclude there is clearly conflict and confusion in the application of discovery concepts in the case law, and particularly in the insurance bad faith context, we determine that we have jurisdiction in this case and that we should exercise our discretion to resolve the conflict. See art. V,

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