Case ID: so2d_673/html/0568-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM. POLEN, Judge,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Derrick C. FURTADO, a minor, By and Through his father and next friend, Thomas FURTADO, and his mother and next friend, Lauren Furtado, and Thomas Furtado, individually, and Lauren Furtado, individually, Appellants, v. Beth WALMER, David Walmer, and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., a foreign corp., Appellees.
    No. 94-3533.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
    May 22, 1996.
    Philip M. Burlington of Caruso, Burlington, Bohn & Compiani, PA., and Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, PA., West Palm Beach, for appellants.
    Michele I. Nelson of Paxton, Crow, Bragg, Smith & Keyser, P.A., West Palm Beach, for Appellees-Waimers.
    Thomas A Conrad of Heller &, Conrad, P.A., Hollywood, for Appellee-State Farm.
   PER CURIAM.

We find no error in the trial court’s failure to grant appellants’ request for a jury instruction on aggravation of a preexisting condition.

Although we conclude that the trial court erred in precluding appellants’ counsel from eliciting the identity of the insurance carrier in his redirect examination of Dr. Alexakis, see Krawzak v. Government Employees Ins. Co., 660 So.2d 306 (Fla. 4th DCA 1995), rev. granted, 670 So.2d 938 (Fla.1996), we find such error to be harmless under the circumstances of this case. Accordingly, we affirm.

GLICKSTEIN and STEVENSON, JJ., concur.

POLEN, J., dissents with opinion.

POLEN, Judge,

dissenting.

Although the trial court did not have the benefit of our opinion in Krawzak v. Government Employees Insurance Co., 660 So.2d 306 (Fla. 4th DCA 1995), rev. granted, 670 So.2d 938 (Fla.1996), it appears that in a suit for uninsured/underinsured motorist benefits, the insurance carrier may now be identified to the jury as a party in the lawsuit. The majority acknowledges it was error for the trial court to preclude appellants’ counsel from mentioning appellee State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. in his redirect examination of Dr. Alexakis, appellee having opened the door on cross. However, they find the error to be harmless. I disagree, and would reverse for a new trial on this ground.

I agree that no reversible error is demonstrated by the trial court’s refusal to give a jury instruction on aggravation of a preexisting condition.