Case ID: so3d_179/html/0564-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

MEDERI CARETENDERS VISITING SERVICES OF SOUTHEAST FLORIDA, LLC, and Almost Family, Inc., a Delaware Corporation, Appellants, v. Elizabeth WHITE, Appellee.
    Nos. 4D14-488, 4D14-2460.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
    Dec. 2, 2015.
    Patrick M. Muldowney, Marilyn G. Moran,'Tiffany L. Cummins and James Seeg-ers of Baker & Hostetler LLP, Orlando, for appellants.
    Margaret Cooper of Jones, Foster, Johnston & Stubbs, P.A., Jane Kreusler-Walsh and. Stephanie L. Serafín of Kreus» ler-Walsh, Compiani & Vargas, P.A., West Palm Beach, Joel C. Zwemer and Daryl J, Krauza of Dean, Mead, Minton & Zwemer, Fort Pierce, for appellee.
   PER CURIAM.

Appellant, a home health care provider, challenges a final summary judgment denying enforcement of a non-compete covenant and dismissing a tortious interference claim on the authority of Florida Hematology & Oncology v. Tummala, 927 So.2d 135 (Fla. 5th DCA 2006). Tummala held that referral sources for. patients in the health care industry were not “legitimate business interests” protectable pursuant to section 542.335, Florida Statutes (2004). Appellant also sought to protect referral sources as business interests in this case.

Recently, in Infinity Home Care, LLC v, Amedisys Holding, LLC, 40 Fla. L. Weekly D1929 (Fla. 4th DCA Aug. 19, 2015), we concluded that referral sources are pro-tectable legitimate interests and that an employment contract containing non-compete and non-solicitation provisions was enforceable. On the authority of Infinity Home Care, we reverse the final summary judgment and remand for further proceedings. As we did in Infinity, we certify conflict with Tummala.

Appellant also appealed an order granting attorney’s fees to appellee in case no. 4D14-2460. We consolidate that case with the main appeal for purposes of disposition. Because we are reversing the main appeal, we also reverse the order awarding attorney’s fees, See River Bridge Carp. v. Am. Somax Ventures, 76 So.3d 986, 989 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011); Viets v. Am. Recruiters Enters., Inc., 922 So.2d 1090, 1096 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006).

Reversed and remmded for further proceedings; conflict certified.

WARNER, STEVENSON and FORST, JJ., concur. .