Supinski v. OMNI HEALTHCARE, PA

853 So. 2d 526, 2003 Fla. App. LEXIS 12851, 2003 WL 22023279
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
DecidedAugust 29, 2003
Docket5D03-563, 5D03-720
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 853 So. 2d 526 (Supinski v. OMNI HEALTHCARE, PA) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court of Appeal of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Supinski v. OMNI HEALTHCARE, PA, 853 So. 2d 526, 2003 Fla. App. LEXIS 12851, 2003 WL 22023279 (Fla. Ct. App. 2003).

Opinion

853 So.2d 526 (2003)

Edward SUPINSKI, M.D., Appellant,
v.
OMNI HEALTHCARE, P.A., Appellee.

Nos. 5D03-563, 5D03-720.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.

August 29, 2003.

*527 Douglas B. Brown and R. Travis Rentz, of Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, Orlando, for Appellant.

Jack A. Kirschenbaum, Alec D. Russell of Gray, Harris & Robinson, P.A., Melbourne, for Appellee.

MONACO, J.

Edward Supinski, M.D. ("Dr.Supinski)", appeals the entry of a temporary injunction issued in response to alleged breaches by him of a noncompetition restrictive covenant contained in his employment agreement with the appellee, Omni Healthcare, P.A. ("Omni"). We have jurisdiction of this nonfinal appeal in accordance with Article V, section (b)(1), Florida Constitution, and Rule 9.130(a)(3)(B), Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure. As we conclude that the temporary injunction met the necessary legal requirements, we affirm, but remand for further consideration of the bond amount.

The facts, in truncated form, reflect that Dr. Supinski was recruited by Omni in the year 2000 to move to Florida from Pennsylvania to work in one of Omni's facilities in Brevard County. Omni is a physician owned multi-specialty medical practice that operates three medical offices exclusively in central and southern Brevard County, and mainly in the Melbourne area. The parties negotiated an employment agreement effective August 1, 2000, for an initial term of 24 months. It was to terminate on July 31, 2002, unless automatically extended pursuant to its terms. More particularly, the agreement provided that it would automatically renew unless either party provided written notice of nonrenewal at least 180 days prior to the termination date.

The employment agreement contained a noncompetition restrictive covenant that was enforceable by injunction. In essence, the parties agreed that for a period of two years after the conclusion of his employment, Dr. Supinski would not compete against Omni within a ten mile radius of any of its offices in Brevard County, nor would he solicit Omni's patients or employees. Dr. Supinski also agreed not to misappropriate Omni's trade secrets or confidential information for a period of five years. He acknowledged that the restrictive covenant was reasonable and necessary for Omni's protection and that he *528 could earn a living outside the boundaries of the restricted territory.

Dr. Supinski began his employment in accordance with the contract. There is evidence that Omni assisted Dr. Supinski in becoming credentialed by various managed care organizations, helped him gain staff privileges at hospitals, hired his staff, advertised his practice, and aided him in establishing a patient base. On May 10, 2002, well short of the 180 day requirement, Dr. Supinski sent a letter to Omni asserting that he was not renewing his employment agreement, and that he would leave its employment on July 31, 2002.

As soon as his resignation was effective, Dr. Supinski opened his new practice approximately 4 miles from the care center at which he had previously been employed. Three days later Omni filed suit, asserting that Dr. Supinski had breached his employment agreement in a number of ways, including the failure to give the minimum notice of nonrenewal and the violation of the noncompetition provisions. Omni sought liquidated damages and temporary and permanent injunctive relief pursuant to the terms of the agreement and section 542.335, Florida Statutes (1999).

During the course of pleadings and discovery, Dr. Supinski denied that his resignation was untimely, and alleged that Omni had earlier breached the contract in a number of ways, the details of which are unimportant for purposes of this appeal. He admitted, however, that he had established his new office within 10 miles of an Omni care center, and that 40% of the patients at his new office were patients he treated while employed by Omni.

An evidentiary hearing was held to consider entry of a temporary injunction. Upon consideration of the evidence, the trial court concluded that the restrictive covenant was supported by legitimate business interests associated with a specific geographic location and a specific marketing area; that the terms of the restriction were reasonable; that Dr. Supinski materially breached the covenant by opening his practice within the proscribed area; that Omni would suffer irreparable harm unless an injunction were issued; and that the agreement did not violate public policy. The court granted the temporary injunction, and set bond at $50,000.

Several months later Dr. Supinski moved for an emergency modification of the temporary injunction. The motion contained many of the arguments previously considered by the trial court; asserted that the injunction was overbroad because it precluded him from opening an office within 10 miles of any Omni office, and covered all patients, not just those he had treated while at Omni; and argued that the bond amount was not supported by evidence. Dr. Supinski alleged that there was a "change in circumstances" to support the modification; namely a decision by the First District Court of Appeal in the case of University of Florida, Bd. of Trustees v. Sanal, 837 So.2d 512 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003). Omni responded that there were no changed circumstances, and that the bond amount had been stipulated to by the attorney who had previously represented Dr. Supinski at the earlier injunction hearing. Omni's counsel indicated in this regard that the hearing had been running late and that the court reporter was unable to stay. Both sides agreed to waive the presence of a court reporter for the legal argument that was to follow. Omni's counsel indicated further that the stipulation occurred during the time the reporter was not present.

The trial court declined to modify the injunction. As to the bond amount, the court said that he would not modify it based on the representations made by Omni's counsel, and his own recollection *529 that he did not pull the bond number "from thin air." Counsel for Dr. Supinski asserted that he was surprised by the claim of a stipulation, and that he would have had the prior attorney present to testify if he had known. Counsel for Omni offered to have the prior attorney appear immediately by telephone to confirm that there was a stipulation on the amount of the bond. Apparently, however, the prior lawyer was not called. The trial court concluded the hearing, saying that Dr. Supinski had not met his burden for modification or vacation of the injunction. Dr. Supinski then appealed both the rendition of the temporary injunction, and the denial of his motion to modify.

The parties appear to agree that section 542.335(1), Florida Statutes (1999), is applicable to this case.[1] So long as the *530 covenant not to compete fits within the parameters of section 542.335, it may be enforced by the injunctive power of the courts. The grant or denial of a temporary injunction comes to an appellate court clothed with the presumption of correctness, and may be reversed only upon a showing of a clear abuse of discretion. See Knox v. District School Bd. of Brevard, 821 So.2d 311, 314 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002); Rollins, Inc. v. Parker, 755 So.2d 839, 841 (Fla. 5th DCA 2000); Anich Industries, Inc. v. Raney, 751 So.2d 767 (Fla. 5th DCA 2000).

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853 So. 2d 526, 2003 Fla. App. LEXIS 12851, 2003 WL 22023279, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/supinski-v-omni-healthcare-pa-fladistctapp-2003.