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Filing# 158078263 E-Filed 09/23/2022 05:58:49 PM
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 17th
JUDICIALCIRCUIT IN AND FOR
BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA
CIVIL DIVISION
CASE NO.: CACE-19-021656
MITCHELLE R. ORDONEZ AND
DOREEN B. ORDONEZ,
Plaintiff,
VS.
UNIVERSAL PROPERTY & CASUALTY
INSURANCE COMPANY,
Defendant.
i
PLAINTIFFS' MOTION TO COMPEL DEPOSITION OF
DEFENDANT'S CLAIM REPRESENTATIVE/ADJUSTER
COMES NOW MITCHELLE R.
Plaintiffs, ORDONEZ and DOREEN B. ORDONEZ, by and
through their undersigned counsel, and moves this Court for the entry of an Order pursuant to the
'
Florida Rules ofCivilProcedure compellingthe Depositiono f the Claim Representative/Adjuster
with the Most Knowledge,' and in support thereof would state as follows:
1. This is an action of and concerning insurance coverage as well as the parties'respective
contractual rightsand obligationsunder a policy of property insurance for and regarding a property
loss.
2. Florida Rules ofCivilProcedure,
Rule 1.310(a), states in pertinentpart that:
"After commencement of the action any party may take the testimony of any
person, includinga party, by deposition upon oral examination. Leave of court,
grantedwith or without notice,must be obtained only if the plaintiff
seeks to take
a deposition within 30 days after service of the process and initial pleading upon
*** FILED: BROWARD COUNTY, FL BRENDA D. FORMAN, CLERK 09/23/2022 05:58:49 PM.****
any defendant, except that leave is not required (1) if a defendant has served a
..
notice oftaking depositionor otherwise sought discovery [emphasis added].'
3 Consistent with the above Rule, Plaintiffs, the instant
in a good faith effort to investigate
case and move it forward sought to mutually coordinate the depositionof Defendant's
toward trial,
'Claim Representative/Adjuserwith the Most Knowledge' sendingthree separate written requests
to Counsel for the Defendant seekingmutually agreeabledates therefore. See attached herewith
copies of Plaintiffs' Three 'Good Faith Letters' attached herewith as Plaintiffs' Composite
Exhibit "i?."
4. Each of the above letters requestedthat Defendant providedepositiondates/times within
five (5) days of receiptand Defense objectsto producing a Desk Adjuster for deposition. See
Plaintiffs' Composite Exhibit "A.'
5. Plaintiffs requiretakingthe above requesteddepositionin order to proceed forward with
the instant case. regarding a 2018
Given Defendant's fraudulent representations loss and recent
decision (meaning post litigation made
representations by Counsel for Defendant which are in
turn, imputed to the Defendant as well) to misrepresentreliance thereon in order to wrongfully
deny this claim, this deposition is absolutelyimperative.Plaintiffs' prejudice absent this
not be permittedwill be irreparable.
this deposition
deposition/should
6. The above requested deposition is sought in good faith and is not for the purpose of
embarrassment or harassment of Defendant.
7. As this Honorable Court well knows, Discovery must be related to the subjectmatter of
the case and must be admissible or reasonably calculated to lead to discovery of admissible
evidence. Allstate v. Langston, 655 So.2d 91, 94 (Fla.1995).
8 Plaintiffs would submit that Defendant's 'Claim with the Most
Representative/Adjuster
Knowledge' is a valuable witness as he/she is purportedlythe party with the most knowledge of
2
the underlyingclaim on behalf of the Defendant. Moreover, this individual would have been the
one making the applicablecoverage determination in this case.
9- Plaintiffs are attemptingto move
diligently this case to trial and a 'stay'until such time as
the Defendant unilaterally
decides that it will provide dates for the 'Claim Representative/Adjuster
with the Most Knowledge' is not unacceptable.
10. As such, in lightof the above failed attempts to mutually coordinate and in the interest of
moving the instant case forward, Plaintiff was forced notice the deposition of
to unilaterally
Defendant's 'Claim Representative/Adjuserthe Most Knowledge.'
11. Many courts in Miami-Dade County, and Broward County have held defendants' refusal
to provide the desk adjuster'sdepositionis without merit. See attached as Composite Exhibit "B."
12. Pursuant to Stables v. Rivers, 559 So. 2d 440, 441 (Fla.Dist. Ct. App. 1 st Dist. 1990) it is
and a 'Motion for
apparent that the Plaintiffmaynotice the above party for depositionunilaterally
Protective Order' filed before that date would not stay the same (absenta Court Order),but in the
interest Plaintiff would merely request that a date
of both judicialeconomy as well as civility,
certain be Ordered by the Court.
WHEREFORE MITCHELLE R.
Plaintiffs, ORDONEZ and DOREEN B. ORDONEZ, request
this Honorable Court compel Defendant provide Plaintiffs with available reasonable deposition
dates for the above named party or alternatively
Order the depositiontake placeas unilaterally
set,
for fees and costs incurred in bringing the instant motion, and for any other relief that this court
would deem just,necessary, and proper.
Respectfullysubmitted;
By-. /s/ R.J.L., Esq.
Robert J. Lee, Esq.
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ATTACHED ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE
3
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I CERTIFY that the foregoingdocument has been furnished to: Counsel for Defendant, Universal
Property & Casualty Company by Email (upciceservice02@universalproperty.com
kp0308@universalproperty.com & sb0922@universalproperty.co)on this 23rd day of September,
2022.
ROBERT J. LEE, P.A.
Concorde Building
66 West FlaglerStreet,12th Floor
Miami, FL 33130
P: (305) 503-5322 F: (305) 390-3077
Service Emails:
By-./s/ R.J.L., Esq.
Robert J. Lee, Esq.
Florida Bar No: 0083391
MassachusettsBBO: 680683
Tennessee BPRNo.. 015051
4
COMPOSITE EXHIBIT
5
Robert J. Lee, RA.
August 17,2022
SENT VIA E-SERVICE ONLY FIRST REQUEST
Universal Property & Casualty Company
P.O. Box 9388
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309
upciceservice02@universalproperty.com
kp0308@universalproperty.com
sb0922@universalproperty.com
Re: Mitcheife R. Ordonez and Doreen B. Ordonez v. Universal Propertv & Casuaitv
Insurance Company: Case No.: CACE-19-021656
Dear sir and/or madam;
Please allow for this letter to serve as the first formal request that at this time, our office would
like to coordinate the deposition of:
"Defendant's 'Claim Representative' / 'Claim Adiuster' / 'Desk Adiuster' with the Most
,,
Knowledge.
For depositionto occur which is requestedto occur within the next sixty(60)days.
Within five (5) days of today's date (by or before August 22,2022) please have your assistant
coordinate the date for depositionto occur within the next sixty(60) days with our office (via
email- Scheduling@RJLLegal.com and/or Scheduler@RJLLegal.com and/or
Schedule@RJLLegal.com and/or via telephone: 305.503.5322 M-F between the hours of 9:00
a.m. and 5:00 p.m.).
Should we not hear from you we will be forced to notice this in order to
depositionunilaterally
move this case forward.
Thank you for your prompt attention to these matters; we look forward to hearing from you
regardingthe above.
Very trulyyours;
/s/ R. J. L., Esq.
Robert J. Lee, Esq.
Offices: Miami & Jacksonville
Mailing: Concorde Building, 66 West Flagler Street, 12th Floor, Miami, FL 33130
Web: www.RJLLegal.com 1 Email: Robert@RJLLegal.com I P: 305-503-5322 I F: 305-390-3077
August 29,2022
Robert
4 J. Lee, RA.
SENT VIA E-SERVICE ONLY SECOND REQUEST
Universal Property & Casualty Company
P.O. Box 9388
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309
upciceservice02@universalproperty.com
kp0308@universalproperty.com
sb0922@universalproperty.com
Re: Mitcheife R. Ordonezand Doreen B. Ordonez v. Universal Propertv & Casuaitv
Insurance Company: Case No.: CACE-19-021656
Dear sir and/or madam;
Please allow for this letter to serve as the second formal request that at this time, our office would
like to coordinate the deposition of.
"Defendant's 'Claim Representative' / 'Claim Adiuster' / 'Desk Adiuster' with the Most
,,
Knowledge.
For depositionto occur which is requestedto occur within the next sixty(60)days.
Within five (5)days of today'sdate (by or before September 3,2022) pleasehave your assistant
coordinate the date for depositionto occur within the next sixty(60) days with our office (via
email: Scheduling@RJLLegal.com and/or Scheduler@RJLLegal.com and/or
Schedule@RJLLegal.com and/or LegalStaff@RJLLegal.com and/or via telephone: 305.503.5322
M-F between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.).
Should we not hear from you we will be forced to notice this in order to
depositionunilaterally
move this case forward.
Thank you for your prompt attention to these matters; we look forward to hearing from you
regardingthe above.
Very trulyyours;
/s/ R. J. L., Esq.
Robert J. Lee, Esq.
Offices: Miami & Jacksonville
Mailing: Concorde Building, 66 West Flagler Street, 12th Floor, Miami, FL 33130
Web: www.RJLLegal.com 1 Email: Robert@RJLLegal.com 1 P: 305-503-5322 1 F: 305-390-3077
Robert J. Lee, RA.
September 8,2022
SENT VIA E-SERVICE ONLY THIRD AND FINAL REQUEST
Universal Property & Casualty Company
P.O. Box 9388
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309
upciceservice02@universalproperty.com
kp0308@universalproperty.com
sb0922@universalproperty.com
Re: Mitcheife R. Ordonez and Doreen B. Ordonez v. Universal Propertv & Casuaitv
Insurance Company: Case No.: CACE-19-021656
Dear sir and/or madam;
Please allow for this letter to serve as the third formal request that at this time, our office would
like to coordinate the depositionof:
"Defendant's 'Claim Representative' / 'Claim Adiuster' / 'Desk Adiuster' with the Most
,,
Knowledge.
For depositionto occur which is requestedto occur within the next sixty(60)days.
Within five (5)days oftoday's date (by or before September 13, 2022) pleasehave your assistant
coordinate the date for depositionto occur within the next sixty(60) days with our office (via
email- Scheduling@RJLLegal.com and/or Scheduler@RJLLegal.com and/or
Schedule@RJLLegal.com and/or LegalStaff@RJLLegal.com and/or via telephone: 305.503.5322
M-F between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.).
Should we not hear from you we will be forced to notice this depositionunilaterally
in order to
move this case forward.
Thank you for your prompt attention to these matters; we look forward to hearing from you
regardingthe above.
Very trulyyours;
/s/ R. J. L., Esq.
Robert J. Lee, Esq.
Offices: Miami & Jacksonville
Mailing: Concorde Building, 66 West Flagler Street, 12th Floor, Miami, FL 33130
Web: www.RJLLegal.com 1 Email: Robert@RJLLegal.com I P: 305-503-5322 I F: 305-390-3077
COMPOSITE EXHIBIT "B"
6
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE
ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRC[JIT IN AND
FORMIAMI-DADE COUNTY? FI.ORIDA
CIVIL DIVISION
?
CASE NO.: 2018 005054 CA 01
JENNIFER.KAY, and
MAT114.bW KAY,
Plainfif?.
VS.
IINIVERSAL PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE
COMPANY.
i
Dei?odant.
"1 i
AGREED ORDZRONPIAUmBT'S MOIYON TO COMMCLDEPOSnIONOF I
D
THIS MATTER came befble me for consideration
upon the PWnfffps MGnON TO COMPEL
DEPOSMON OP DEFENDAN?S CLAIM REPRESENTATIVE/ADJUSIER
(Mo#on), it
1
appeannglh@pmlies?N andthe CouttbeingMly advised
b:qgrtement, His
i
mthepremises,
1
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED:
1. Plintiffs Molion is GRANTED.
2. Defgadaol to coordinalo lh?
-
CLAIM REPRRmEN?I*mm/ADJUSIER
d#ositionto occur by July 24.2018. udli?Z
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correct copy i
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delive*y, ofreoord for whom service is notindicated
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10/1//18,11:38 AM
IN THE CIRCUrr COURT OF THE
11TH JUDICIAL C?RCU]T IN AND FOR
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CIRCUIT CIVIL Dn?ISION
CASE NO:
2018-014480-CAOI
5
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Anton.oDuyo,3 ci 2:
Plaintiff(s), 0
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VS.
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