Epstein Secrets

, 2013 WL 6628619 (Dec. 16, 2013) 14 Montejo v. Martin Memorial Medical Center, Inc., 935 So. 2d 1266 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006) 13 ii EFTA00589619 Olson v. Johnson, 961 So. 2d 356 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007) 17, 22 Pardo v. State, 596 So. 2d 665 (Fla. 1996) 12 Procacci v. Zacco, 402 So. 2d 425 (Fla. 4th

ysis of the seminal cases upon which Appellee relies in support of his assertion that the trial court's ruling was proper; Levin, 9 EFTA00589629 Middlebrooks, Mabie, Thomas, Mayes & Mitchell, M. v. United States Fire Ins. Co., 639 So. 2d 606, 608 (Fla. 1994) and Echevarria, McCalla, Raymer, Barrett & Fra

ional Association, 141 So. 3d 754 (Fla. 4th DCA 2014) 2 LatAm Invests., LLC v. Holland & Knight, LLP, 88 So. 3d 240 (FIa. 3d DCA 2011) 3 Levin, Middlebrooks, Moves & Mitchell, v. U.S. Fire Ins. Co., 639 So. 2d 606 (Fla. 1994) passim McCullough v. Kubiak, 4DI3-4048 (Feb. 18, 2015) 9, 10 Microbilt Co

, 2013 WL 6628619 (Dec. 16, 2013) 14 Montejo v. Martin Memorial Medical Center, Inc., 935 So. 2d 1266 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006) 13 ii EFTA00714922 Olson v. Johnson, 961 So. 2d 356 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007) 17, 22 Pardo v. State, 596 So. 2d 665 (Fla. 1996) 12 Procacci v. Zacco, 402 So. 2d 425 (Fla. 4t

ional Association, 141 So. 3d 754 (Fla. 4th DCA 2014) 2 LatAm Invests., LLC v. Holland & Knight, LLP, 88 So. 3d 240 (FIa. 3d DCA 2011) 3 Levin, Middlebrooks, Moves & Mitchell, P.A. v. U.S. Fire Ins. Co., 639 So. 2d 606 (Fla. 1994) passim McCullough v. Kubiak, 4D13-4048 (Feb. 18, 2015) 9, 10 Microbil

conducted an analysis of the seminal cases upon which Appellee relies in support of his assertion that the trial court's ruling was proper; Levin, Middlebrooks, Mabie, Thomas, Mayes & Mitchell, M. v. United States Fire Ins. Co., 639 So. 2d 606, 608 (Fla. 1994) and Echevarria, McCalla, Raymer, Barrett & 9

ently exists with regards to the 8 issue whether the litigation privilege bars a 9 malicious prosecution claim. And 2 have cited to 10 the case Olson vs. Johnson, 961 So2d. 356, the 11 Second DCA's opinion in 2007, after both Levin and 12 Echevarria. And it holds that malicious 13 prosecution

conducted an analysis of the seminal cases upon which Appellee relies in support of his assertion that the trial court's ruling was proper; Levin, Middlebrooks, Mabie, Thomas, Mayes & Mitchell, P.A. v. United States Fire Ins. Co., 639 So. 2d 606, 608 (Fla. 1994) and Echevarria, McCalla, Raymer, Barrett & 9

ional Association, 141 So. 3d 754 (Fla. 4th DCA 2014) 2 LatAm Invests., LLC v. Holland & Knight, LLP, 88 So. 3d 240 (FIa. 3d DCA 2011) 3 Levin, Middlebrooks, Moves & Mitchell, P.A. v. U.S. Fire Ins. Co., 639 So. 2d 606 (Fla. 1994) passim McCullough v. Kubiak, 4D13-4048 (Feb. 18, 2015) 9, 10 Microbil

acts occurring during the course of a judicial proceeding, if those acts bear some relation to the proceeding. Edwards urged the Court to fmd that Olson v. Johnson, 961 So. 2d 356 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007), is in conflict with Wolfe, thereby allowing the Court to find that the privilege does not apply. How

uring the course of a judicial proceeding are absolutely privileged, so long as the actions have some relation to the underlying proceeding. Levin, Middlebrooks, Moves & Mitchell v. U.S. Fire Ins. Co., 639 SO. 2d 606, 608 (Fla. 1994). This position was reaffirmed in Echevarria. In Wolfe, the Third District

privilege. Acts committed prior to the filing of the complaint may not, in some cases, enjoy the broad protection of the privilege. For example, in Olson v. Johnson, 961 So.2d 356, 360 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007), the court found that the litigation privilege did not protect the three women who allegedly fil

rida in 1907 to provide legal immunity for actions that occur in judicial proceedings. Myers v. Hodges, 53 Fla. 197, 44 So. 357 (1907). In Levitt, Middlebrooks, Mabie, Thomas, Mayes & Mitchell, P.A. v. U.S. Fire Ins. Co., 639 So.2d 606, 608 (Fla.I994), the Florida Supreme Court extended the litigation pri

acts occurring during the course of a judicial proceeding, if those acts bear some relation to the proceeding. Edwards urged the Court to fmd that Olson v. Johnson, 96] So. 2d 356 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007), is in conflict with Wolfe, thereby allowing the Court to fmd that the privilege does not apply. Howe

ecution claims. This Court agrees and grants summary judgment in favor of Epstein. EXHIAIT "B" EFTA00617998 The Court thoroughly reviewed Levin, Middlebrooks, Moves & Mitchell v. US. Fire Ins. Co., 639 So. 2d 606, 608 (Fla. 1994), Echevarria, McCalla, Raymer, Barrett & Frappier v. Cole, 950 So. 2d 380 (F

e privilege applies to both the abuse of process claim and malicious prosecution claims made herein. 6. The Counter-Plaintiff urged the court that Olson v. Johnson, 961 So.2d 356 (FIa. 2d DCA 2007), is in conflict with Wolfe and that this conflict would allow this court to "peruse" other issues. How

RAFT EFTA00597298 CASE NO. 502009CA040800XXXXMB of action for both abuse of process and malicious prosecution. 3. The court has reviewed Levin, Middlebrooks. Moves & Mitchell. v. U.S. Fire Ins. Co., 639 So.2d 606, 608 (Fla. 1994), Bchevarria, McCalla. Ravmer, Barrett & Frappier v. Cole, 950 Sold 380 (Fl

udicial proceeding, a cause of action sounding in malicious prosecution may still be viable. See Fridovich v. Fridovich, 598 So. 2d 65 (Fla. 1992); Olson v. Johnson, 961 So. 2d 356 (Ha. 2d DCA 2007). Moreover, the Florida Supreme Court judiciously pointed out in Levin that "other tortious conduct du

association, and the state," and as such "other tortious conduct occurring during litigation is equally susceptible to that same discipline." Levin, Middlebrooks, Moves & Mitchell, P.A. v. U.S. Fire Ins. Co., 639 So. 2d 606, 608 (Fla. 1994) (citing Wright, 446 So. 2d at 1164). Accordingly, Levin neither held

judgment in an action for abuse of process on the basis of absolute immunity and on the authority of Levin). While Edwards urged the court to apply Olson v. Johnson, 961 So. 2d 356 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007), and argued that the decision in Olson was in conflict with Wolfe, the court finds Olson inapplicable

to judgment as a matter of law. Fla. R.Civ. P. 1.510(c). This court, in applying the Florida Supreme Court binding precedent as espoused in Levin, Middlebrooks, Moves & Mitchell, v. U.S. Fire Ins. Co., 639 So. 2d 606, 608 (Fla. 1994) and Echevarria, McCalla, Rayner, Barrett & Frappier v. Cole, 950 So. 2d 38

ician against his patients and an expert after he successfully defended a malpractice claim. Also of significance is the Second District’s opinion in Olson v. Johnson, 961 So. 2d 351 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007). In that case, the court observed that the litigation (or judicial) privilege would not apply to bar a

or other tortious behavior, suéh as tortious interference with business relationship, so long as act has some relationship to proceeding, See Levin, Middlebrooks, Mabie, Thomas, Mayes & Mitchell, P.A. v. U.S. Fire Ins. Co., 639 So, 2d 606 (Fla. 1994). The immunity afforded to statements made during the course