SWENSEN'S ICE CREAM COMPANY, PETITIONER,
v.
VOTO, INC., LEISURE COLONY MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, J & H VERMES ENTERPRISES, INC., AND JOHN VERMES, RESPONDENTS
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Swensen's Ice Cream Company sought to overturn an order disqualifying its counsel McHugh from representing it in a franchise dispute. The court held that disqualification was improper because McHugh would not testify against Swensen's interests, his testimony would be cumulative, and no conflict of interest existed.
McHugh's disqualification was improper. Although disqualification is an extraordinary remedy to be used sparingly, the respondent failed to show a conflict of interest, that McHugh would be a necessary witness, or that his testimony would be adverse to Swensen's position.
[1] Disqualification of counsel is an extraordinary remedy that should be resorted to only sparingly.
[2] An attorney's testimony is not necessarily disqualifying if the testimony concerns an uncontested issue.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“disqualification of an attorney is an extraordinary remedy that should be resorted to only sparingly”
Establishes the high bar for disqualifying counsel, citing Arcara v. Philip M. Warren, P.A.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceMcHugh was retained by Swensen's to help Voto in a dispute with Vermes, the assignor of a Swensen's franchise. While representing Swensen's, McHugh wr…
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PER CURIAM.
We grant Swensen’s petition for writ of certiorari and quash an order disqualifying its counsel, McHugh, and his law firm, from further representing Swensen’s in litigation with Respondent-Voto.
Swensen’s retained McHugh to represent Swensen’s in an effort to help Voto in an earlier dispute between Voto, the assignee of a Swensen’s franchise, and the assignor of that franchise, “Vermes.” Voto alleges that it revealed confidential information to McHugh and that McHugh, while representing Swensen’s, wrote two letters to Vermes, for Voto’s benefit, demanding that Vermes cure a breach of a covenant not to compete contained in the initial Vennes’ franchise agreement with Swensen’s.
The instant action for commercial eviction was initiated against Voto by a landlord. In a counterclaim and third party complaint filed by Voto (against Swensen’s, Vermes and the principals of Vermes) Voto stated that Swensen’s breached its franchise agreement and violated a duty to Voto, the present franchisee, to enforce the covenant not to compete contained in the initial franchise agreement between Swensen’s and Vermes. Voto asserts, relying on the two letters written by McHugh, that Swensen’s has acknowledged that Vermes, the former franchisee, has breached the franchise agreement.
McHugh and his law firm represent Swen-sen’s in the litigation. Voto alleges McHugh will be called as a witness because he participated in meetings with Voto’s president and counsel, and because of the two letters McHugh wrote on Voto’s behalf.
The trial court recognized that disqualification of an attorney is an extraordinary remedy that should be resorted to only sparingly. Arcara v. Philip M. Warren, P.A., 574 So. 2d 325 (Fla. 4th DCA 1991). However, the court concluded that McHugh cannot act as an advocate at a trial in which he is likely to be a witness to a contested matter where the issue is more than a formality. The court did not agree with Swen-sen’s that because Swensen’s had no intention to contest the authenticity of the two McHugh letters, McHugh’s testimony would concern an uncontested issue.
We note that McHugh will not be testifying either against or on behalf of Swensen’s. McHugh stated in his correspondence to Vermes, in support of Voto, that Mr. Vermes was in violation of his corporation’s franchise agreement with Swensen’s. To defend against Voto’s present allegations against Swensen’s, Swensen’s does not need to deny that Vermes violated its agreement by competing with Voto, nor is there any apparent reason it would wish to do so. We note that there is no separate covenant not to compete in the assignment from Vermes to Voto. Vermes and Swensen’s interests obviously are not related. Therefore, McHugh can state an opinion that Vermes violated its agreement without prejudicing Swensen’s.
Additionally, as McHugh’s letters were based on information furnished by Voto, any factual information McHugh might have is information Voto’s principals and agents also have, so that it cannot be said, at least on this record, that McHugh’s testimony will be necessary or indispensable. Also, McHugh’s letters speak for themselves. His testimony on the contents would be cumulative at best. Although Voto alleges that its president made confidential disclosures to McHugh, it has never claimed that McHugh was its counsel.
We remain cognizant of the principle that disqualification of counsel, contrary to the wishes of counsel and the client, should be resorted to sparingly. Arcara. Respondent has failed to carry its burden to show existence of a conflict of interest. Ray v. Stuckey, 491 So. 2d 1211,1214 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986). It is also not shown that McHugh will be a necessary witness, see Allstate Ins. Co. v. English, 588 So. 2d 294, 295 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991); nor that his testimony would be adverse to Swensen’s position. In Re Estate of Gory, 570 So. 2d 1381, 1383 (Fla. 4th DCA 1990); Allstate; Stuckey.
Because we hold that McHugh need not be disqualified, we do not decide whether his law firm would also be disqualified. However, we do note, should it arise again, that under the rules such would be the case only if McHugh’s disqualification were pursuant to rule 4-1.7(b). On this record, there is no reason, however, to conclude that this rule is applicable.
STONE, PARIENTE, and STEVENSON, JJ., concur.
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Singer Island Ltd., Inc. v. Budget Constr. Co., Inc., 714 So. 2d 651 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998)…el will therefore have to be deposed about the communications which are at the heart of the case. Disqualification of a party’s chosen counsel is an extraordinary remedy and should only be resorted to sparingly. Swensen’s Ice Cream, v. Voto, Inc., 652 So. 2d 961 (Fla. 4th DCA 1995) and Fleitman v. McPherson, 691 So. 2d 37 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997). We view motions to disqualify on this ground with some skepticism, because they are sometimes filed for tactical or harassing reasons, rather than the proper reason, r…
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Anderson Trucking Serv., Inc. v. Gibson, 884 So. 2d 1046 (Fla. 5th DCA 2004)…e is whether the trial court’s order of disqualification constitutes a departure from the essential requirements of law. Key Largo Rest., Inc. v. T.H. Old Town Assocs., Ltd., 759 So. 2d 690 (Fla. 5th DCA 2000); Swensen’s Ice Cream Co. v. Voto, Inc., 652 So. 2d 961 (Fla. 4th DCA 1995). Disqualification of counsel implicates a wide range of interests. It is generally agreed that a client has a right to counsel of his or her choice. Disqualification may impose extreme hardships on the client because this very v…
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Fleitman v. Virginia McPHERSON (individually and as President, 691 So. 2d 37 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997)…association in the Franklin County dispute, and is counsel of record for the respondents in the defamation action. Disqualification of an attorney is an extraordinary remedy to be resorted to only sparingly. Swensen’s Ice Cream Co. v. Voto, Inc., 652 So. 2d 961 (Fla. 4th DCA 1995). Nevertheless, when it is shown that the attorney will be an indispensable witness or when the attorney becomes a “central figure” in the case, disqualification is appropriate. See Ray v. Stuckey, 491 So. 2d 1211, 1214 (Fla. 1st…
Previewing 3 of 10 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Bonfiglio v. Hampton, 574 So. 2d 325 (Fla. 4th DCA 1991)
- In re Est. OF Frank A. Gory, Sr., 570 So. 2d 1381 (Fla. 4th DCA 1990)
- J.R. RAY, Jr. v. Talmadge & Reva Stuckey & Ortega Executive Ctr., Ltd., 491 So. 2d 1211 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986)
- Allstate Ins. Co. v. English, 588 So. 2d 294 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991)