Case Name: TT OF LONGWOOD, INC., d/b/a Cory Fairbanks, Etc, Petitioner, v. Johnnie L. BRIGGS, Etc., Respondent
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2008-06-20
Citations: 985 So. 2d 62
Docket Number: No. 5D07-3891
Parties: TT OF LONGWOOD, INC., d/b/a Cory Fairbanks, Etc, Petitioner, v. Johnnie L. BRIGGS, Etc., Respondent.
Judges: SAWAYA, and LAWSON, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 985
Pages: 62–63

Head Matter:
TT OF LONGWOOD, INC., d/b/a Cory Fairbanks, Etc, Petitioner, v. Johnnie L. BRIGGS, Etc., Respondent.
No. 5D07-3891.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.
June 20, 2008.
Donald W. St. Denis, Brian W. Davey, and Michael J. Lufkin, of St. Denis & Davey, P.A., Jacksonville, for Petitioner.
Charles M. Hartz, of George, Hartz Lundeen, Fulmer, Johnstone, King & Stevens, Coral Gables, and Marsha L. Lyons and Douglas S. Lyons of Lyons & Farrar, P.A., Tallahassee, for Respondent.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
We grant the Petition, issue the writ of certiorari, and quash the circuit court's order, concluding that the trial court departed from the essential requirements of law causing material injury throughout the remainder of the proceedings, effectively leaving no adequate remedy of law. It is apparent from the record that the order under review erroneously grants merits discovery prior to class certification. As this court explained in Policastro v. Stelk, 780 So.2d 989, 991 (Fla. 5th DCA 2001):
Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.220(d)(1) provides for discovery prior to class certification. The rule does not contemplate merits discovery prior to class certification; rather, the rule permits discovery "concerning whether the claim or defense is maintainable on behalf of a class." Until discovery on this limited issue is completed, the trial court may postpone the determination of class certification.
CERTIORARI GRANTED; ORDER QUASHED.
SAWAYA, and LAWSON, JJ., concur.
EVANDER, J., concurs specially, with opinion.