Case ID: so2d_596/html/0813-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM. ANSTEAD, Judge,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Mary BARNER, as Guardian and Natural Parent of Joseph Burkes, a minor, and Mary Barner, individually, Petitioners, v. Honorable L.B. VOCELLE, Honorable Paul B. Kanarek, Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart & Shipley, P.A., Indian River Memorial Hospital, Inc., Richard L. Peter, M.D., Evan B. Tow, D.O., and Coastal Emergency Service, Inc., Respondents.
    No. 92-0321.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
    April 22, 1992.
    Larry Klein and Randy D. Ellison of Klein & Walsh, P.A., West Palm Beach, for petitioners.
    Robert A. Butterworth, Atty. Gen., and Rivers Buford, Jr., Asst. Atty. Gen., Dept, of Legal Affairs, Tallahassee, for respondents — Judges L.B. Vocelle and Paul B. Kanarek.
    
      Joel D. Eaton of Podhurst, Orseck, Jo-sefsberg, Eaton, Meadow, Olin & Perwin, P.A., Miami, for respondent — Searcy, Den-ney, Scarola, Barnhart & Shipley, P.A.
    Gregory F. Reis of Adams, Hill, Reis, Adams & Hall, Orlando, for respondent— Indian River Memorial Hosp.
    Michael A. Estes of Woolfolk, Estes, Keought & Jordan, P.A., Orlando, for respondent — Richard L. Peters, M.D.
    William Zei of Wicker, Smith, Tutan, O’Hara, McCoy, Graham & Lane, P.A., Fort Lauderdale, for respondents — Evan B. Tow, D.O., and Coastal Emergency Service, Inc.
   PER CURIAM.

The application for a writ of mandamus or alternatively, a writ of certiorari, is hereby denied.

POLEN and GARRETT, JJ., concur.

ANSTEAD, J., dissents with opinion.

ANSTEAD, Judge,

dissenting.

In view of the case law which holds that a client in civil proceedings has a right to choose counsel to represent her, I would grant certiorari relief. See State ex rel. Branch v. DuVal, 249 So.2d 468 (Fla. 3d DCA 1971). Whether the client is exercising poor judgment in her selection of a lawyer, for herself and her child, or whether she is exposing herself to liability for breach of an existing lawyer-client agreement, are not matters which the courts should or can resolve by refusing to allow her to change attorneys.