SUAREZ, J.
Robin Simon, D.O. ("Dr. Simon"), South Florida Orthopedics, Inc., and HealthSouth Corporation appeal a final order granting a new trial after a jury verdict and juror interview. Plaintiffs ("Maldonados") cross-appeal the denial of the admission of a Fabre
Dr. Simon raises two issues on appeal. Dr. Simon claims that the affidavit filed by the Maldonados in support of the motion to interview jurors was factually insufficient, and, as such, the trial court erred in granting the motion to interview, and, even if sufficient, the trial court erred in ordering a new trial as the alleged undisclosed claims were not relevant or material to the issues at trial and did not constitute concealment. Second, Dr. Simon contends that the trial court abused its discretion in ordering a new trial as the Maldonados' motion was untimely filed and good cause was not shown for the late filing.
We agree with the Appellants that the affidavit was not factually sufficient to require the juror interview. A post trial juror interview "is never permissible unless the moving party has made sworn factual allegations that, if true, would require a trial court to order a new trial." Baptist Hosp. v. Maler, 579 So.2d 97, 100 (Fla.1991). In considering whether to authorize inquiry into alleged juror misconduct, the trial court must determine exactly what type of information will be elicited from the jurors. Maler, 579 So.2d at 97. This rule rests on a policy of preventing litigants or the public from invading the privacy of the jury room. Maler, 579 So.2d at 99. The affidavit submitted in support of the motion for juror interview was based factually on speculation, alleging only that there was a "possibility" of juror misconduct. Such speculation is not sufficient to warrant the trial court to order a juror interview. Albertsons, Inc. v. Johnson, 442 So.2d 371, 372 (Fla. 2d DCA 1983) (holding that allegations in a motion for juror interview cannot be "bottomed on mere conclusory statements based on speculation and surmise that, if interrogated, the jurors might have something to say that would be material to whether or not the court should award a new trial"). The allegations must be certain as to the proof required to substantiate nondisclosure or concealment relevant to the facts at issue. De La Rosa v. Zequeira, 659 So.2d 239 (Fla.1995).
Even if the affidavit were sufficient to warrant the interview, the facts revealed at the Subaran interview were not relevant or material to the issues to be tried and, therefore, a new trial should not have been granted. Under De La Rosa, the party seeking a new trial on the basis of juror non-disclosure has the burden of establishing entitlement to it. In determining whether a juror's non-disclosure of information during voir dire warrants a new trial, courts generally have utilized a three-part test. First, the complaining party must establish that the information is relevant and material to jury service in the case; second, that the juror concealed the information during questioning; lastly, that the failure to disclose the information was not attributable to the complaining party's lack of diligence. See De La Rosa, 659 So.2d at 241. Appellate courts have reversed for juror interviews or new trials where a potential juror has failed to disclose prior litigation history or where other information relevant to jury service was not disclosed. But the mere possibility that a juror was involved in prior claims does not show in and of itself that his point of view was affected so as to deprive the defendant of a fair and impartial trial. Here, it cannot be said that Subaran's failure to disclose prior litigation deprived the Maldonados of a fair and impartial trial. It cannot be said that the allegedly undisclosed legal claims—two of which
Likewise, the elements of concealment and due diligence have not been demonstrated. Juror Subaran answered on her juror questionnaire that she had made a legal claim. It was never shown that the information sought as to whether there had been any legal claims against her or her family had been asked for directly on voir dire to explain the answer she had given on the juror questionnaire.
Setting aside the arguments of Dr. Simon that the motion to interview was not timely filed and that good cause for the late filing was not shown,
For these reasons, we find that the Maldonados failed to meet their burden of showing that nondisclosure entitled them to a new trial, and we hold that the trial court abused its discretion in ordering a juror interview and a new trial based on the alleged non-disclosure of a juror.
The Maldonados cross-appeal the trial court's ruling excluding cross examination trial testimony of Dr. Simon to show that she received low rating evaluations during her residency. The proffered evidence also showed that, as a result of the ratings, the doctor brought a gender discrimination lawsuit. The trial court ruled that the probative value of the low ratings did not outweigh the potential harmful effect of the testimony concerning the discrimination suit and the confusion that such evidence would have brought to the overall trial. It must be shown that the probative value of admitting evidence of the training and residency of Dr. Simon, outweighs the prejudice which would have resulted in the admission of evidence concerning the gender discrimination lawsuit brought by Dr. Simon in response to her evaluations. See Sims v. Brown, 574 So.2d 131 (Fla.1991). The collateral issue of a gender discrimination lawsuit, as an explanation of the doctor's performance in training and residency, would have resulted in such prejudice outweighing the probative value of the admission of the evidence and, therefore, the trial court was correct in refusing to allow cross examination on the training and residency of the doctor at trial.
The next issue on cross-appeal is whether evidence of the subsequent, treating doctor's alleged negligence was admissible to show the cause of the plaintiff's injuries. Such evidence is admissible unless the plaintiff can prove that the original defendant, Dr. Simon, was liable as a matter of law. If not, it is for the jury to decide whether both defendants were liable. See Barrios v. Darrach, 629 So.2d 211 (Fla. 3d DCA 1993); see also Haas v. Zaccaria, 659 So.2d 1130 (Fla. 4th DCA 1995). We find that the trial court was correct in admitting evidence of the subsequent, treating doctor's alleged negligence, and was correct in allowing the subsequent, treating doctor as a Fabre defendant on the jury verdict form since it was not shown that Dr. Simon was liable as a matter of law. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's rulings on cross-appeal.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part.
The Maldonados' motion was filed one day late requiring a showing of good cause for the late filing. See Beyel Bros. v. Lemenze, 720 So.2d 556 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998) (holding that a motion to interview jurors filed three months after the return of the jury verdict was untimely; citing Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.530(b), which requires a motion for new trial to be served not later than ten days after the return of the jury verdict).