Party Discovery: BURG, DEBORAH A vs. WEST FLORIDA PHYSICIANS NETWORK, LLC

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                                Filing # 122274759 E-Filed 03/01/2021 04:58:07 PM



                                                                              IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE
                                                                              20 JUDICIAL COURT IN AND
                                                                              FOR CHARLOTTE COUNTY,
                                                                              FLORIDA

                                                                             GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION

                                                                             CASE NO. 2020-000616 CA

         DEBORAH COOPER BURG, by and through
         her Court-appointed Guardian, RICKY
         BURG; NICOLE BURG, her daughter; and
         RICKY BURG, her spouse,

               Plaintiffs,

         Vv.

         WEST FLORIDA PHYSICIAN NETWORK, LLC;
         DILENDRA WEERASINGHE; JOHN RIOUX;
         FAWCETT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, INC. d/b/a
         FAWCETT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL; SUSAN
         BRUNER; ABIGAIL UTECH; NANDINI KIRI,
         M.D., P.A.; NANDINI KIRI; HARBOR MEDICAL
         GROUP, LLC; AHSAN KAMAL; SOVI JOSEPH,
         M.D., P.A.; SOVI JOSEPH; DOMINGO E.
         GALLIANO, JR., P.A.; DOMINGO GALLIANO,
         JR.; ARTURO RODRIGUEZ-MARTIN, M.D.,
         P.L.; ARTURO RODRIGUEZ-MARTIN;
         MILLENNIUM PHYSICIAN GROUP, LLC d/b/a
         MILLENNIUM PHYSICIAN GROUP;
         CATHY CRISS; LIFE CARE CENTERS OF
         AMERICA, INC.; PUNTA GORDA MEDICAL
         INVESTORS, LLC d/b/a LIFE CARE CENTER
         OF PUNTA GORDA; LIFE CARE PHYSICIAN
         SERVICES, LLC; and VANCE MALONEY, III,

               Defendants.
                                                                    /

               PLAINTIFFS’ SUPPLEMENTAL REPLY TO DEFENDANTS’ POSITION ON
                          WITNESS COACHING DURING DEPOSITIONS

                                                         Deutsch Blumberg
                                                          & Cabellere, PA,
                         NEW WORLD TOWER - 100 N BISCAYNE BOULEVARD, SUITE 2602 » MIAMI, FLORIDA 33192 - TEL (305) 358-6220
Burg v West Florida Physician Network, LLC, et al.
CASE NO. 2020-000616 CA
Page 2


          COME      NOW the Plaintiffs, DEBORAH                       COOPER          BURG,       by and through her Court-

appointed Guardian,             RICKY      BURG;        NICOLE        BURG,        her daughter;          and RICKY            BURG,    her

spouse, by and through their undersigned attorneys, and as their Supplemental Reply to the

Defendants’ Position on Witness Coaching During Deposition state:

          1         The sanctity of the administration of justice cannot be overrstated. The search

for the truth is paramount.                As stated in the comment to the Rules Regulating The Florida

Bar, Rule 4-3.4:

                    “Fair competition in the adversary system is secured by
                    prohibitions against destruction or concealment of evidence,
                    improperly influencing witnesses, obstructive tactics in
                    discovery procedure, and the like.”

         2          It is disconcerting             that     positions       are     being     espoused          for     the    Court    to

countenance         witness coaching            during depositions.                Errata sheets are available for post

deposition use, not intra deposition use.                      While the attorney/client privilege exists, it should

not be utilized as a sword for a lawyer to obstruct discovery.

         3          McDe
                       v. rmot
                          Miami-Dade County,
                                     t       753 So.2d 729 (1% DCA 2000), sets forth
the law in Florida whereby the trial court was affirmed                                      in precluding witness coaching

between       the   lawyer      and     the witness/client of potential                    testimony        while the deposition

process was still in progress.

         4.         The public’s confidence                in our judicial system              is at risk should depositions

deteriorate to the point where lawyers during deposition breaks can coach their witness/

client as to what to say so that answers are changed during the deposition itself.



                                                    Deulsche Blumberg
                                                     & Caballero, PA,
                    NEW WORLD TOWER * 100 N BISCAYNE BOULEVARD, SUITE 2002 « MIAMI. FLORIDA 39932 + TEL (305) 380-6329
Burg v West Florida Physician Network, LLC, et al.
CASE NO. 2020-000616 CA
Page 3


         5        Without       this Honorable           Court enforcing             proper decorum              in the deposition

process, fair play and the rule of law are doomed to failure.




                                                                   TE OF SERVICE

        WE     HEREBY        CERTIFY         that a true and correct copy of the foregoing                               has been

furnished by e-service this 1% day of March, 2021, to: see attached service list.

                                                             DEUTSCH BLUMBERG & CABALLERO, P.A.
                                                            Attorneys for Plaintiffs
                                                            New World Tower, Suite 2802
                                                            100 North Biscayne Boulevard
                                                            Miami, Florida 33132
                                                             (305) 358-6329
                                                             (305) 358-9304 (facsimile)
                                                             Email — erb@deutschblumberg.com;
                                                             rmitchell@deutschblumberg.com

                                                             By:                   Blumber:
                                                                       EDWARD R. BLUMBERG, ESQ.
                                                                       Florida Bar No. 190870




                                                   Deutsch Blanberg
                                                    & Caballero, PM,
                   NEW WORLD TOWER - 100 N BISCAYNE BOULEVARD, SUITE 2802 » MIAM!, FLORIDA 33192 » TEL (305) 358-6329
BURG v. WEST FLORIDA PHYSICIAN NETWORK, LLC, et al.
CASE NO. 2020-000616 CA

                                       SERVICE LIST
John M. Stewart, Esquire
Michael J. Swan, Esquire
Rossway Swan Tierney Barry & Oliver, P.L,
Co-Counsel for PLAINTIFFS
2101 Indian River Boulevard, Suite 200
Vero Beach, Florida 32960
Telephone: (772) 231-4440
E-Mails: jstewart@rosswayswan.com; mswan@rosswayswan.com,; cdelo@rosswayswan.com

Richard K. Bowers, Esquire
Brandon R. Scheele, Esquire
Bankers Lopez Gassler, P.A.
Attorneys for DILENDRA WEERASINGHE
501 East Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 1700
Tampa, FL 33602
Telephone: 813-221-1500
Fax: 813-222-3066
Email: service-rbowers@bankerlopez.com ; service-bscheele@bankerlopez.com

Jay P. Chimpoulis, Esquire
Susanne E. Riedhammer, Esquire
Chimpouiis & Hunter, P.A.
Attorneys for Defendants      PUNTA   GORDA   MEDICAL   INVESTORS,   LLC   d/b/a   LIFE   CARE
CENTER OF PUNTA GORDA; LIFE CARE PHYSICIAN SERVICES, LLC; and VANCE MALONEY,
ul
150 S. Pine Island Road, Suite 510
Plantation, FL 33324
Telephone: 954-463-0033
Fax: 954-463-9562
Email: JCHimpoulis@ChimpoulisHunter.com

Victoria N. Ferrentino, Esq.
Erin B. Reynolds, Esq.
Bush Graziano Rice & Platter, P.A.
Attorneys for Defendants WEST FLORIDA PHYSICIAN NETWORK, LLC and JOHN RIOUX
100 S. Ashley Drive, #1400
Tampa, FL 33602
Telephone: 813-228-7000
Fax: 813-273-0091
Emails: vferrentino@bgrplaw.com;eserve@barplaw.com; and dhensley@barplaw.com
 reynolds@barplaw.com

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Douglas Lumpkin, Esq.
Summer E. Harcup, Esq.
Wicker Smith O'Hara McCoy & Ford, P.A.
Attorneys for Defendants AHSAN KAMAL, M.D. and HARBOR MEDICAL GROUP, LLC
1819 Main Street, Suite 910
Sarasota, FL 34236
Telephone: 941-366-4200
Fax: 941-366-4227
Email: SARcrtpleadings@wickersmith.com

Ralph L. Marchbank, Jr., Esq.
Dickinson & Gibbons, P.A.
Attorney for Defendants DOMINGO GALLIANO, JR. and DOMINGO E. GALLIANO, JR.,
PA.
401 N. Cattlemen Road, Suite 300
Sarasota, FL 34232
Telephone: 941-366-4680
Fa: 941-953-3136
Emails: Rmarchbank@dglawyers.com; Laordon@dglawyers.com

Brett P. Gliosca, Esq.
Jeffrey M. Goodis, Esq.
LA CAVA JACOBSON & GOODIS, P.A.
Attorneys for Defendants SOVI JOSEPH and SOVI JOSEPH, M.D., P.A.
200 Central Avenue, Suite 250
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Office: 727-477-1013
Fax: 727-550-0811
Emails: stp-pleadings@ljglegal.com; baliosca@ljglegal.com; nkovacic@liglegal.com

Frances G. Prockop, Esq.
Alexandra S. Farren, Esq.
Bush Graziano Rice & Platter, P.A.
Attorneys for Defendant FAWCETT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, INC. and ABIGAIL UTECH
100 S. Ashley Drive, Suite 1400
Tampa, FL 33602
Office: 813-228-7000
Fax: 813-229-6316
Emails: eserve@barplaw.com; Iplyushke@barplaw.com




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Richard B. Mangan, Jr., Esq.
Kelsey T. Campbell, Esq.
RISSMAN, BARRETT, HURT DONAHUE, McLAIN & MANGAN, P.A.
Attorneys for Defendants NANDINI KIRI, M.D., and NANDINI KIRI, M.D., P.A.
1 North Dale Mabry Highway, 11th Floor
Tampa, FL 33609
Telephone: (813) 221-3114
Facsimile: (813) 221-3033
Emails: rom.service@rissman.com; ktc.service@rissman.com;
Stephanie.doyle@rissman.com

Scott B. Albee, Esq.
Ryan B. Stevens, Esq.
Fulmer LeRoy & Albee, PLLC
Attorneys for ARTURO RODRIGUEZ-MARTIN and ARTURO RODRIGUEZ-MARTINM.D.,
PL.
5544 Central Avenue
Saint Peterburg, Florida 33707
Telephone -727-217-2500
Email: sAlbee@fulmerleroy.com; rstevens@fulmerleroy.com;
eservicetpa@fulmerleroy.com

R. Ryan Rivas, Esq.
Hall Booth Smith, P.C.
Attorneys for SUSAN BRUNER
2202 North Westshore Boulevard, Suite 200
Tampa, Florida 33607
Telephone — 727-568-8435
Emails: rrivas@hallboothsmith.com; NContreras@hallboothsmith.com

Ron M. Campbell, Esq.
Daniel C. Calvert, Esq.
Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A.
Attorneys for CATHY CRISS and MILLENNIUM PHYSICIAN GROUP, LLC d/b/a
MILLENNIUM PHYSICIAN GROUP
27300 Riverview Center Boulevard, Suite 200
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Telephone: 239-690-7925
 Facsimile: 239-738-7778
 Emails: ron.campbell@csklegal.com; daniel.calvert@csklegal.com;
krystal. perez@csklegal.com; daniela.perez@csklegal.com
 Emails:                 ski      m; daniel.calvert@csklegal.com;
krystal. perez@csklegal.com; daniela.perez@csklegal.com


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