Opinion ID: 1829288
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: motion to depose dna expert

Text: Rhodes next argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion to depose the State's DNA expert. We do not decide this issue because it was not preserved. While Rhodes filed a motion to depose the State's DNA expert, he did not obtain a ruling. Absent fundamental error, an appeal may not be taken from a trial court's judgment or order unless properly preserved. See § 924.051(3), Fla. Stat. (2006). To be preserved, the issue or legal argument must be raised and ruled on by the trial court. See § 924.051(1)(b); see also Philip J. Padovano, Florida Appellate Practice, § 8.1, at 148 (2007 ed.) (The aggrieved party must obtain an adverse ruling in the lower tribunal to preserve an issue for review. The appellate courts review only the decisions of lower tribunals.... Without a ruling or decision, there is nothing to review.). Further, without a ruling, it is difficult to ascertain whether the trial court abused its discretion in denying Rhodes's discovery request. See Panda Energy Int'l v. Jacobs, 813 So.2d 46, 49 (Fla.2002) (holding that postconviction discovery decisions are within the trial court's authority and are reviewed for an abuse of discretion). Thus, because Rhodes failed to follow the well-established practice requiring a party to secure a ruling on its motion before seeking appellate review, he waived the issue. See Rose v. State, 787 So.2d 786, 797 (Fla.2001) (The failure of a party to get a timely ruling by a trial court constitutes a waiver of the matter for appellate purposes.); Richardson v. State, 437 So.2d 1091, 1094 (Fla.1983) (noting that appellant, having failed to pursue or obtain a ruling on his motion, did not preserve the issue for appeal); Carratelli v. State, 832 So.2d 850, 856 (Fla. 4th DCA 2002) (listing the plethora of Florida cases supporting the notion that a party must obtain a ruling from the trial court in order to preserve an issue for appellate review).