Opinion
Case No. 3D01-1447
Opinion filed October 3, 2001.
A Case of Original Jurisdiction — Prohibition. Lower Tribunal No. 99-14301 Ca 08.
Payton Carlson and Amy L. Koltnow, for petitioners.
Richman Greer Weil Brumbaugh Mirabito Christensen and Mark A. Romance and Lyle E. Shapiro, for respondents.
Before JORGENSON, GODERICH, and SORONDO, JJ.
ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF PROHIBITION GRANTED
Petitioners seek a writ of prohibition, contending that the trial judge should have disqualified herself. We grant the petition, as the record reveals that statements made by the trial judge provided a reasonable and well-founded fear that the plaintiffs below would not receive a fair trial. See Perez v. State, 771 So.2d 1285 (Fla. 3d DCA 2000); Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. v. Doe, 767 So.2d 626 (Fla. 3d DCA 2000); Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.160.
Although we grant the petition, we are confident that it will not be necessary to issue the writ.
PROHIBITION GRANTED.