Justice Carlos Muniz

The “apex doctrine” that protects “high-level government officials” from abusive discovery practices has been extended to top corporate executives by the Florida Supreme Court.

Acting on its own motion, the court on August 26 in a 6-1 decision amended Rule of Civil Procedure 1.280 to extend the doctrine to business officers. Justice Jorge Labarga dissented, saying there were sufficient protections in the existing rule.