Opinion ID: 1713909
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Liberty National's Request for Mandamus Relief

Text: Liberty National claims that it is entitled to a writ of mandamus based on the trial court's denial of its motion to dismiss or for a summary judgment. In order for a writ of mandamus to properly issue, Liberty National must demonstrate: (1) a clear legal right in the petitioner to the order sought; (2) an imperative duty on the respondent to perform, accompanied by a refusal to do so; (3) the lack of another adequate remedy; and (4) the properly invoked jurisdiction of the court. Ex parte Ridgeview Health Care Ctr., Inc., 786 So.2d 1112, 1115 (Ala.2000). Subject to certain narrow exceptions not applicable here, we have held that, because an adequate remedy exists by way of an appeal, the denial of a motion to dismiss or a motion for a summary judgment is not reviewable by petition for writ of mandamus. See Ex parte Jackson, 780 So.2d 681, 684 (Ala.2000) (quoting Ex parte Empire Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 720 So.2d 893, 894 (Ala.1998), quoting in turn Ex parte Central Bank of the South, 675 So.2d 403 (Ala.1996), for the general rule that `a writ of mandamus will not issue to review the merits of an order denying a motion for a summary judgment,' but noting that narrow exceptions exist, such as in cases involving governmental immunity); Ex parte Newco Mfg. Co., 481 So.2d 867, 870 (Ala.1985) (In its Mandamus petition as addressed to its motion for summary judgment based on the statute of repose contained in the Tennessee products liability act, Newco seeks `to do by mandamus that which can be done on appeal.' (quoting Ex parte South Carolina Ins. Co., 412 So.2d 269 (Ala.1982))); see also Ex parte Mobile County Dep't of Human Res., 815 So.2d 527 (Ala.2001) (issuing writ of mandamus to reverse an order denying a motion to dismiss asserting defense of immunity); Ex parte Alabama Dep't of Forensic Sciences, 709 So.2d 455 (Ala.1997) (permitting review by petition for a writ of mandamus in case involving immunity). Because the relief Liberty National seeks in its mandamus petition can be adequately attained by an appeal, Liberty National is not entitled to a writ of mandamus to review the denial of its motion. Liberty National also claims that it is entitled to a writ of mandamus based on the trial court's refusal to certify the denial of Liberty National's motion for appeal pursuant to Rule 5, Ala. R.App. P. Under Rule 5, a trial judge should certify for appeal an interlocutory order when that order involves a controlling question of law as to which there is substantial ground for difference of opinion, [and when] an immediate appeal from the order would materially advance the ultimate termination of the litigation and ... would avoid protracted and expensive litigation. The trial court's action in certifying an order pursuant to Rule 5 is discretionary and is subject to correction by mandamus on a showing of a clear abuse of that discretion. Ex parte Showers, 812 So.2d 277 (Ala.2001). In this case, we do not find that the trial judge abused his discretion in refusing to certify for appeal his ruling on Liberty National's motion, because he expressly ruled only on Liberty National's motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6); he expressly refused to consider at that time Liberty National's motion for a summary judgment or any materials related to that motion. [1] Looking only at the allegations in the complaint, one cannot determine when the Hudsons purchased their policies. Liberty National did not, and cannot, contend that the complaint states when the policies were purchased, and, as discussed below, the issue of repose in this case will depend greatly upon when those policies were purchased. Because the trial court did not consider that information in conducting its narrow 12(b)(6) analysis, an immediate appeal from the trial court's denial of Liberty National's motion to dismiss based on the theory of repose would not materially advance the ultimate termination of the litigation. This is true because without facts concerning the purchase dates of the policies, the repose issue could not be resolved on appeal. The trial court's refusal to certify for appeal its denial of Liberty National's motion to dismiss was not an abuse of discretion; therefore, mandamus relief is not appropriate. We note that Liberty National's motion for a summary judgment based on the rule of repose is still pending before the trial court. Furthermore, judging from the various briefs filed by the parties and the amici curiae, we note that there is some confusion concerning the application of Alabama's rule of repose. Because this issue is, as the parties admit, one of great importance to the proper resolution of this case and similar cases, we take this opportunity to assist the parties (as well as the bench and bar) by clarifying the law concerning Alabama's rule of repose.