Roger Klein, Ltd. v. Tuttle
Roger Klein, Ltd. v. Tuttle
Opinion of the Court
This is an interlocutory appeal from the Circuit Court in an action for damages.
Defendant made a motion to dismiss on the grounds of insufficiency of process and lack of jurisdiction. Defendant specifically challenged the constitutionality of Fla. Stat. § 48.193(1)(f)(2) (1973). The trial court entered the appealed order which denied the motion and specifically and necessarily ruled upon the constitutionality question. The appeal centers solely upon the constitutionality of the statute.
It is our view that our jurisdiction has been improvidently invoked and that the appeal must be transferred to the Supreme Court of Florida, Art. V, Section 3(b) (1), Florida Constitution.
We have studied the case of Burnsed v. Seaboard Coastline Railroad Company, 290 So.2d 13 (Fla. 1974), which upon first reading would indicate that only final orders passing upon the validity of a state statute are appealable to the Supreme Court. However, we believe, upon further consideration, that an important distinction exists which points to an exception here.
It is to be noted that this defendant has an absolute right to an interlocutory appeal under F.A.R. Rule 4.2, because it is an interlocutory order relating/to jurisdiction. This was not the case in Burnsed and there only certiorari relief was available provided the court chose to exercise its discretion in that direction, as was done.
Except for the fact that defendant has a right to a F.A.R. 4.2 appeal, the defendant, upon final judgment, could challenge the constitutionality of the statute and that ap-' peal would then lie in the Supreme Court without question. We recognize of course that discretionary certiorari might be sought of this interlocutory order but this ignores the fact that defendant is entitled, without court discretion, to an appeal and a decision as we have mentioned.
All circumstances considered, the Clerk will please transfer this appeal to the Supreme. Court of Florida per F.A.R. 2.1a. (5)(d).
It is so ordered.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.