Asplundh Tree Expert Co. v. Barnes

Petitioner Asplundh Tree Expert Co., a defendant in the court below, seeks certiorari review of an order compelling one of its attorneys to answer certain questions pertaining to a wood chipper which injured the plaintiff. The substantive areas of inquiry are protected by the attorney client privilege. § 90.502(2), Fla. Stat. (1995); United Servs. Auto Ass’n v. Crews, 614 So.2d 1213 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993). The communications between Asplundh’s attorney and the president of the codefendant, the company that sold the wood chipper, are also privileged as part of the common interests exception to…