Michael Reuschel v. Susan Reuschel
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
Date FiledMay 14, 2021
Docket1D20-1039
StatusPublished
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Full Opinion
FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
STATE OF FLORIDA
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No. 1D20-1039
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MICHAEL REUSCHEL,
Appellant,
v.
SUSAN REUSCHEL,
Appellee.
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On appeal from the Circuit Court for Alachua County.
Peter K. Sieg, Judge.
May 14, 2021
PER CURIAM.
Michael and Susan Reuschel are going through a divorce.
Michael appeals the trial court’s order that purports to grant
Susan’s motion to disqualify the law firm that had been hired to
provide legal services to both the husband and Sapphire Dental,
LLC, of which the husband is sole member. There is no dispute
that Sapphire Dental is a marital asset. As it turns out, Michael is
serving a thirty-year sentence for attempting to murder Susan—
which of course prompted her petition for marriage dissolution—
and the parties agreed to a court order appointing a custodian that
would have sole authority to operate Sapphire Dental in the best
interest of its members and creditors. The custodian decided to
hire separate counsel, and the trial court in turn concluded that
this development mooted any possible conflict of interest arising
from the firm’s representing both clients. We agree and affirm the
trial court’s ultimate determination of mootness—the trial court
actually did not disqualify anyone. We offer no comment on
whether there in fact was a preclusive conflict that would support
disqualification in the future.
AFFIRMED.
LEWIS, TANENBAUM, and LONG, JJ., concur.
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Not final until disposition of any timely and
authorized motion under Fla. R. App. P. 9.330 or
9.331.
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W. Charles Hughes of Siegel Hughes & Ross, Gainesville, for
Appellant.
Kevin D. Jurecko and Lauren A. McCord of Scruggs, Carmichael
& Wershow, P.A., Gainesville, for Appellee.
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