PROMISE HOSPITAL OF FLORIDA AT THE VILLAGES INC v. PRINGLEY (2019)

Promise Hospital of Florida at the Villages, Inc. (“Petitioner”) petitions for writ of certiorari to quash a lower court order in a lawsuit brought by Frederick M. Pringley and Erika Pringley (“Respondents”). In their underlying complaint, Respondents alleged negligence by two doctors employed by Petitioner. Petitioner moved for an order authorizing ex-parte communication with those doctors, specifically seeking permission to conduct voluntary interviews with its alleged employees. The trial court denied the motion, and this petition followed.

Respondents have conceded the merits of the petition. Specifically, Respondents have “conveyed their agreement to the relief requested ․” Based on the concession, and consistent with decisions from our sister courts, see, e.g., Lee Mem'l Health Sys. v. Smith, 40 So. 3d 106, 107–08 (Fla. 2d DCA 2010); Melody v. Dep't of Health & Rehabilitative Servs., 706 So. 2d 115, 118 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998); Pub. Health Tr. of Dade Cty. v. Franklin, 693 So. 2d 1043, 1046 (Fla. 3d DCA 1997); Alachua Gen. Hosp., Inc. v. Stewart, 649 So. 2d 357, 359 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995), we grant the petition, vacate the trial court's order denying Petitioner's motion for ex parte communication, and remand this case to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

PETITION GRANTED; ORDER QUASHED.

HARRIS, J.

COHEN and EDWARDS, JJ., concur.