Case Name: FRONTIER INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK, Petitioner, v. Charles GLUCK, M.D., Nudel & Gluck, M.D., P.A., Kim Lewin, and Curt Lewin, Respondents
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1998-07-22
Citations: 714 So. 2d 616
Docket Number: No. 98-0975
Parties: FRONTIER INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK, Petitioner, v. Charles GLUCK, M.D., Nudel & Gluck, M.D., P.A., Kim Lewin, and Curt Lewin, Respondents.
Judges: STONE, C.J., and GUNTHER and TAYLOR, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 714
Pages: 616–617

Head Matter:
FRONTIER INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK, Petitioner, v. Charles GLUCK, M.D., Nudel & Gluck, M.D., P.A., Kim Lewin, and Curt Lewin, Respondents.
No. 98-0975.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
July 22, 1998.
Nancy W. Gregoire of Bunnell, Woulfe, Kirschbaum, Keller, Cohen & McIntyre, P.A., Fort Lauderdale, for petitioner.
Robert P. Frankel and Philippe Lieberman of Lapidus & Frankel, P.A., Miami, for Respondent-Charles Gluck, M.D.
Norman S. Klein of Klein, Tannen & Cohen, P.A., Hollywood, for Respondent-Nudel & Gluck, M.D., P.A.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Through this petition for writ of certiorari, Frontier Insurance Company challenges a trial court's abatement of the declaratory judgment action on coverage. We exercise our certiorari jurisdiction and grant the petition. Britamco Underwriters, Inc. v. Central Jersey Invs., Inc., 632 So.2d 138 (Fla. 4th DCA 1994).
The parties do not dispute that in determining if there is a duty to defend, the trial court is restricted to the allegations of the complaint, regardless of what the defendant and others say actually happened. Marr Invs., Inc. v. Greco, 621 So.2d 447 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993). In its present form, the underlying complaint does not seek damages associated with Respondents' "providing or failing to provide professional services." Accordingly, the issue of Petitioner's insur- anee coverage is not dependent on the resolution of factual issues common to the underlying litigation. Britamco, 632 So.2d at 141.
Accordingly, we find the trial court's order departed from the essential requirements of law. The petition for writ of certiorari is granted, and the order abating the cause of action is quashed.
STONE, C.J., and GUNTHER and TAYLOR, JJ., concur.