Court of Appeals Overturns Denial of Continuance Motion

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A Florida Court of Appeals has granted an emergency petition for writ of certiorari, relieving the defendants of a trial court order expediting the underlying asbestos trial. Genuine Parts Co., et al. v. Parsons, No. 4D05-4633 (Fla. 4th Dist. Ct. App.).

In the Jan. 11 opinion, the Fourth District Court of Appeals opined that the trial court did not comply with the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure when granting a motion to expedite the trial, specifically a section which mandates that all defendants must be served with the complaint before a trial setting can be …