Opinion
No. 97-4067
Opinion filed June 3, 1998 JANUARY TERM 1998
Petition for writ of certiorari to the Circuit Court for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County; Jack H. Cook, Judge; L.T. No. CL 96-4168 AJ.
Jennifer S. Carroll of Metzger, Sonneborn Rutter, P.A., West Palm Beach, for petitioners James Phillips, M.D., and Family Practice Center, Inc.
Crane A. Johnstone of George, Hartz, Lundeen, Flagg Fulmer, Fort Lauderdale, for petitioners James Byrnes, M.D., and Premier Medical Group, P.A.
Michael K. Mittelmark of Michaud, Buschmann, Fox, Ferrara Mittelmark, P.A., Boca Raton, for petitioner Hanley-Hazelden Center at St. Mary's, a Florida nonprofit corporation.
Robert J. Berman of Law Offices of Robert I. Rubin, Fort Lauderdale, for petitioner Thomas L. Purcell, M.D.
Catherine M. Paris of Adams, Coogler, Watson Merkel, P.A., West Palm Beach, for petitioners Jerome Werner, M.D., and Walk-In Family Centers, Inc., a Florida corporation.
Brian J. Glick of Glick Retamar, Boca Raton, and Jane Kreusler-Walsh of Jane Kreusler-Walsh, P.A., West Palm Beach, for respondent.
Defendants in a medical malpractice case seek certiorari review of an order denying their motion to dismiss plaintiff's complaint for plaintiff's failure to comply with the mandatory presuit requirements, specifically that the verified medical opinion was not from a medical expert as defined by section 766.202(5) Florida Statutes. We deny certiorari because it is clear that the court did not depart from the essential requirements of law in determining that the affiant's qualifications met the alternative definition of a medical expert. See Fort Walton Beach Med. Ctr., Inc. v. Dingler, 697 So.2d 575 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997).
CERTIORARI DENIED.
POLEN, STEVENSON, JJ., and OWEN, WILLIAM C., JR., Senior Judge, concur.