27 Fla. L. Weekly D2292b
Insurance — Discovery — Count for common law bad faith failure to defend brought in first-party action against insurer — Insurer which sought certiorari review failed to show irreparable harm — Whether insured’s settlement of underlying claim provides necessary “determination of liability” should await trial of the matter
AMERISURE INSURANCE COMPANY, Petitioner, v. MILLER, MILLER & MAC-FLORIDA, INC., ET AL., Respondents. 5th District. Case No. 5D02-1359. Opinion filed October 18, 2002. Petition for Certiorari Review of Order, From the Circuit Court for Orange County, Dorothy J. Russell, Judge. Counsel: Hinda Klein and Marc Gutterman, of Conroy, Simberg, Ganon, Krevans & Abel, P.A., Hollywood, for Petitioner, Amerisure. Steven R. Schooley, of Holland & Knight LLP, Orlando, for Respondents.
(HARRIS, J.) Although we question whether the count for common law bad faith for failure to defend can survive in this first party action against the insurer, the insurer has not shown irreparable harm and the writ of certiorari is therefore denied. Certainly any appropriate discovery which might be addressed to the common law count would be available in any event under the existing statutory bad faith count. Whether the insured’s settlement of the underlying claim in this case provides the necessary “determination of liability” should await the trial of this matter.
WRIT DENIED. (ORFINGER, R.B., J., concurs. PLEUS, J., concurs in result only.)
