State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, Inc.

A hospital provided medical services to twenty-nine insureds who were injured in motor vehicle accidents. After paying the hospital, the insurer requested certain documentation relating to the reasonableness of the charges pursuant to Fla. Stat. 627.736(6)(b). The hospital provided the insurer with various documents but refused to furnish copies of third-party contracts containing negotiated discount rates between the hospital and other insurers and payers, arguing that the information was not covered by subsection (6)(b). The insurer filed a petition pursuant to Fla. Stat. 627.736(6)(c) asking the trial court to compel discovery of the withheld information. The trial court ordered the hospital to produce the requested discovery. The court of appeal reversed, concluding that the trial court’s order exceeded the scope of discovery permissible under sections 627.736(6)(b) and (c). Specifically, the court ruled that discovery of facts under section 627.736(6)(c) is limited to the production of the documents described in section 627.736(6)(b). The Supreme Court approved the court of appeal’s interpretation of the scope of discovery under section 627.736(6)(c), holding that the scope of permissible discovery under subsection (6)(c) is limited to the production of documents described in subsection (6)(b). View "State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, Inc." on Justia Law