Stoever v. Vedder Homes, Inc.

Decision Date18 July 1997
Docket NumberNo. 97-969,97-969
Citation697 So.2d 1247
Parties22 Fla. L. Weekly D1731 Hans-Juergen STOEVER and Karin Stoever, Petitioners, v. VEDDER HOMES, INC., etc., et al., Respondents.
CourtFlorida District Court of Appeals

Paul M. Guntharp, Jr. of Chiumento, Braunstein, Guntharp & Emery, P.A., Palm Coast, for Petitioners.

C. Anthony Schoder, Jr. of Smith, Schoder, Bouck & Roddenberry, P.A., Daytona Beach, for Respondents.

ANTOON, Judge.

Hans-Juergen Stoever and Karin Stoever petition this court for a writ of certiorari to review a nonfinal order entered by the trial court denying their motion in limine. We deny the petition.

The Stoevers contracted with Vedder Homes, Inc., for the construction of their new home. The home was completed in 1991. In 1994, they learned that the home had sustained extensive termite damage. The Stoevers notified Vedder, as well as the extermination company who had treated their home for termites, of the damage. The Stoevers reached a settlement with the extermination company, but were unable to settle with Vedder. Consequently, the Stoevers filed an action for damages against Vedder.

Prior to trial, the Stoevers moved for an order in limine excluding evidence of their settlement with the extermination company. Citing sections 46.015(3) 1 and 768.041(3), FLORIDA STATUTES (1995)2, the motion in limine asserted that it would be improper to allow Vedder to inform the jury of the settlement. The motion also sought exclusion under section 90.403, Florida Statutes (1995), on the ground that the prejudicial impact of allowing such evidence would outweigh any probative value. The trial court denied the motion and ruled that evidence of the settlement was admissible. The Stoevers seek certiorari review of this ruling.

In their petition, the Stoevers argue that denial of the motion in limine constitutes a departure from the essential requirements of law. They further argue that no adequate remedy exists by appeal because the entire trial would be fatally flawed by the introduction of this evidence. Moreover, the Stoevers maintain that this is a matter of irreparable harm because they cannot afford to continue the lawsuit through a trial, an appeal, and, ultimately, a retrial on remand.

Certiorari review of a nonfinal order is available only if the order is a departure from the essential requirements of law, causing material injury throughout the remainder of the proceedings, and effectively leaving no adequate remedy on appeal. Allstate Insurance Co. v. Langston, 655 So.2d 91 (Fla.1995); ...

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3 cases
  • St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. MARINA BAY RESORT CONDOMINIUM ASSOC., …
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • September 26, 2001
    ...contention that the possibility of having to bear the expense of trying a case twice is irreparable harm); Stoever v. Vedder Homes, Inc. 697 So.2d 1247, 1248 (Fla. 5th DCA 1997); Naghtin, 680 So.2d at 577. So does St. Paul's complaint that it may be required to pay the additional attorney's......
  • Bridges v. Bridges
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • June 2, 1999
    ...type of issue for which certiorari lies. See Leibman v. Sportatorium, Inc., 374 So.2d 1124 (Fla. 4th DCA 1979); Stoever v. Vedder Homes, Inc., 697 So.2d 1247 (Fla. 5th DCA 1997); Riano v. Heritage Corp. of South Florida, 665 So.2d 1142 (Fla. 3d DCA 1996) (holding that writ of certiorari is ......
  • Zabawa v. Penna, 5D03-1466.
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • April 8, 2004
    ...arbitration. This is an insufficient showing of irreparable harm to justify certiorari review. See Stoever v. Vedder Homes, Inc., 697 So.2d 1247, 1248 (Fla. 5th DCA 1997). Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed. Appellees' cross-appeal, which challenges the same order, is likewise dismissed f......

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