Fernandez-Andrew v. Fla. Peninsula Ins. Co.

208 So.3d 835

Rebecca FERNANDEZ–ANDREW, Petitioner,

v.FLORIDA PENINSULA INSURANCE COMPANY, Respondent.

No. 3D16–331

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.

Opinion filed January 25, 2017

Alvarez, Carbonell, Feltman & DaSilva, P.L., and Paul B. Feltman, for petitioner.

Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A., and Thomas A. Valdez and Jose E. Bosch (Tampa), for respondent.

Before SUAREZ, C.J., and LAGOA and SALTER, JJ.

LAGOA, J.

The insured, Rebecca Fernandez–Andrew ("Petitioner"), petitions this Court for a writ of certiorari seeking to quash the trial court's order abating her declaratory judgment action against the insurer, Florida Peninsula Insurance Company ("FPIC"), and enforcing the option to repair provision contained in the insurance policy at issue. Because Petitioner has failed to meet the threshold requirement of showing that the circuit court's order creates irreparable harm, we dismiss the petition for writ of certiorari for lack of jurisdiction.

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

The Petitioner had a homeowner's insurance policy with FPIC. The policy contained an option to repair provision:

9. Our Option

At our option, in lieu of issuing any loss payment, if we choose to exercise our option: a. For losses settled on an actual cash value basis, we may repair or replace any part of the damaged property with material or property of like kind and quality; b. For losses covered under Coverage A—Dwelling, insured for Replacement Cost Loss Settlement as outlined in Section 1—Conditions, Loss Settlement, we may repair the damaged property with material of like kind and quality without deduction for depreciation.

....

f. You must execute all work authorizations to allow contractors and related parties entry to the property. g. You must otherwise cooperate with repairs to the property.

....

i. Our right to repair or replace, and our decision to do so, is a material part of this contract and under no circumstances relieves you or us of our mutual duties and obligations under this contract.

Petitioner's home was damaged as a result of a plumbing leak that occurred on July 20, 2014, while the policy was in full force and effect. Petitioner reported the loss to FPIC on July 30, 2014, and FPIC thereafter informed Petitioner that her covered damages would be repaired.

In early October, 2014, FPIC sent two contractors, one of which was Florida Executive Builders ("FEB"), to the property. Each provided an estimate of repairs. On November 25, 2014, Petitioner's public adjuster, Robert Inguanzo ("Inguanzo"), sent FPIC a letter stating a "damage estimate comparison depicting an overall difference of $13,852.23 due to scope differences." Petitioner subsequently signed the work authorization for FEB, adding the handwritten words, "All rights reserved; Executed under protest." Petitioner continued to assert that FPIC provide an updated estimate and scope of work that matched Inguanzo's estimate, and that prior to beginning work, FPIC assure her that the work performed by FEB would comply with the scope detailed in Inguanzo's estimate.

In July of 2015, Petitioner filed a complaint for declaratory relief, seeking a determination of, among other things, the scope of repairs to be performed and whether the option to repair provision was properly invoked under the terms of the policy. In response, FPIC filed a motion to abate action and/or compel Plaintiff [Petitioner] to comply with FPIC's right to exercise option to repair damaged property. Petitioner then filed a motion for summary judgment and response to FPIC's motion to abate and/or compel. Petitioner argued that FPIC's estimate was insufficient and failed to address all needed repairs given the scope of damage and that Inguanzo's estimate accurately reflected the full scope, cost, and extent of damages. After a hearing, the trial court entered an order granting FPIC's motion to abate action and/or compel Petitioner to comply with FPIC's option to repair.

II. ANALYSIS

The Supreme Court of Florida has made clear that certiorari relief is available in limited circumstances, and that a showing of irreparable harm is a condition precedent to invoking this Court's certiorari jurisdiction:

A finding that the petitioning party has "suffered an irreparable harm that cannot be remedied on direct appeal" is a "condition precedent to invoking a district court's certiorari jurisdiction."

If the party seeking review does not demonstrate that it will suffer material injury of an irreparable nature, then an appellate court may not grant certiorari relief from a

...