Case ID: so2d_352/html/0080-01.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

Kermitt Lamar HORN, Orange County Board of County Commissioners, and Providence Washington Insurance Company, an Insurance Corporation, and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, Appellants, v. Betty Ann RAGINS, Individually and as wife of John Lester Ragins, John Lester Ragins, Individually and as husband of Betty Ann Ragins, and John Lester Ragins, as next friend of Janie Lee Ragins, Appellees.
    No. 76-2303.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
    June 17, 1977.
    A. Craig Cameron, Gosney, Cameron & Parsons, Orlando, for appellants.
    James 0. Driscoll, Orlando, and R. David Ayers, Jr., Winter Park, for appellees.
   PER CURIAM.

This is an appeal from the dismissal of a third party complaint seeking contribution from the spouse of the plaintiff/appellee, Betty Ann Ragins, in a personal injury action. This court has recently decided that the common law doctrine of interspousal immunity does not apply to actions for contribution among joint tortfeasors. Accordingly, we must reverse the order of dismissal. However, since we perceive the question involved to be one of great public interest, we certify the following question to the Supreme Court of Florida:

Is the doctrine of interspousal immunity a bar to an action against a claimant’s spouse for contribution under the uniform contribution among joint tort-feasors act?

The order of dismissal is reversed.

ANSTEAD, DAUKSCH and LETTS, JJ., concur. 
      
      . Paoli v. Shor, 345 So.2d 789 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977).