Opinion ID: 76866
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Unsettled Legal Questions of Florida Law

Text: 39 The parties agree that Florida law controls all issues in this appeal. Further, the facts relevant to this appeal are basically undisputed. The parties do not even challenge the fact findings made by the district court after the bench trial. Rather, the appeal presents purely legal questions of Florida law regarding the interpretation of the Michigan Mutual policy, whether that policy may be reformed, and the proper construction and application of § 627.727, Florida's uninsured motorist statute. 40 Where there is doubt in the interpretation of state law, a federal court may certify the question to the state supreme court to avoid making unnecessary Erie guesses and to offer the state court the opportunity to interpret or change existing law. See Alltel Communs., Inc. v. City of Macon, 345 F.3d 1219, 1225 (11th Cir.2003); CSX Transp., Inc. v. City of Garden City, 325 F.3d 1236, 1239 (11th Cir.2003); Mosher v. Speedstar Div. of AMCA Int'l, Inc., 52 F.3d 913, 916-17 (11th Cir.1995). While there may not be a persuasive indication that the Florida Supreme Court would decide this case differently than Perez, there is some doubt in Florida law about the interpretation of the policy language, especially given that the Perez court focused on only Item 1 of the Declarations sheet and did not discuss Item 2 on that same Declarations sheet or other relevant parts of the auto supplement. Additionally, these cases present difficult and apparently novel issues under Florida law. 41 Accordingly, because this appeal depends on resolution of questions of unsettled Florida law and will affect many other cases, we have determined that issues in this case should be certified to the Florida Supreme Court. 42