Case Name: Gardenia DeARMAS et al., Appellants, v. Nathan BLONSTEIN and Allstate Insurance Company, Appellees
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1978-04-04
Citations: 356 So. 2d 1339
Docket Number: No. 77-1022
Parties: Gardenia DeARMAS et al., Appellants, v. Nathan BLONSTEIN and Allstate Insurance Company, Appellees.
Judges: Before HENDRY and KEHOE, JJ., and CHARLES CARROLL (Ret.), Associate Judge.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 356
Pages: 1339–1340

Head Matter:
Gardenia DeARMAS et al., Appellants, v. Nathan BLONSTEIN and Allstate Insurance Company, Appellees.
No. 77-1022.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
April 4, 1978.
H. C. Starkweather, Miami, for appellants.
Petersen & Feder, Miami, for appellees.
Before HENDRY and KEHOE, JJ., and CHARLES CARROLL (Ret.), Associate Judge.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
This is an appeal by the plaintiffs below from an order dismissing an action filed by them on April 28, 1976 for damages for personal injuries received by appellant, Gardenia DeArmas, as a result of an automobile accident alleged to have been caused by the defendant, Nathan Blonstein, against whom, with his indemnity liability insurer, the action was brought.
The defendant-insurer filed an answer denying coverage. On September 14, 1976, the attorneys for the defendant-insurer filed a suggestion of death, stating that the said Nathan Blonstein had died prior to the filing of the complaint. He had died in January of 1976, some three months prior to the filing of the action.
On February 1, 1977, the defendant-insurer filed a motion to dismiss. There was no substitution of parties. See: Fla.R. Civ.P. 1.260(a)(1) and (2). The motion was granted by an order wherein the court stated: "and judgment be and is hereby entered in favor of the Defendant and against the Plaintiffs, with costs to be hereafter taxed, and the Plaintiff shall go hence without day".
Appealing therefrom, appellant contends the dismissal of the action was error. We hold no error was thereby committed, but amend the dismissal order to be one without prejudice.
Judgment affirmed as amended.