Coggan v. Coggan

• Decision Date: 17 May 1961
• Docket Number: No. 2010,2010
• Citation: 130 So.2d 131
• Parties: George M. COGGAN, Appellant, v. Sarah M. COGGAN, Appellee.
• Court: Florida District Court of Appeals

Page 131

130 So.2d 131

George M. COGGAN, Appellant, v. Sarah M. COGGAN, Appellee.

No. 2010.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District.

May 17, 1961.

Dick Lee of Lee & Feigin, Sarasota, for appellant.

Charles E. Early of Early & Early, Sarasota, for appellee.

SHANNON, Judge.

The appellant, defendant in the court below, brings this interlocutory appeal from an order entered by the chancellor.

The appellee, Sarah M. Coggan, plaintiff below, filed a complaint against the defendant, pursuant to § 65.09, Fla.Stat., F.S.A. seeking alimony unconnected with divorce, and other equitable relief. In the proceedings the plaintiff filed a motion for production, inspection and copying of documents or papers and to have all the financial records of the defendant audited for the years, 1958, 1959 and 1960.

After setting forth a description of the items sought to be produced, the plaintiff had this to say concerning the suit:

'One of the major issues in the above cause is the gross income and the business expenses of the defendant. It is necessary that plaintiff be allowed to make a thorough and complete audit of the defendant's books and accounts in order to properly present testimony and evidence as to the true gross income and true expenses of the defendant. Plaintiff has good reason to believe that the ledger books of the defendant are incorrect and that a thorough and complete audit of defendant's records will reveal this is incorrect.'

The chancellor entered an order wherein all of the defendant's financial records were ordered produced, and in addition, for the protection of the defendant, the order said in part:

'That on or before 10 days from the date hereof on a date mutually agreed to between said accountants and defendant, said accountants be allowed access to defendant's 'patients' cards' at defendant's office, to the extent that said accountants be allowed to select 50 patients' names at random and that the defendant or someone acting for him exhibit to said accountants all of the patients' cards relating to each patient selected. The defendant or someone acting for him, however, shall have the right to block or conceal the portion of said cards, and only such portion, as reveal the nature of the patient's complaint and treatment. Such cards shall be exhibited to said accountants for such periods of time as the accountants shall deem necessary to examine said cards or to copy the contents thereof which relate to matters other than...