Case Name: ERIE INSURANCE EXCHANGE, a foreign corporation, Appellant, v. Betty HOFFMAN, Individually, et al., Appellees
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1974-11-05
Citations: 302 So. 2d 445
Docket Number: No. 74-671
Parties: ERIE INSURANCE EXCHANGE, a foreign corporation, Appellant, v. Betty HOFFMAN, Individually, et al., Appellees.
Judges: Before PEARSON, HAVERFIELD and NATHAN, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 302
Pages: 445–445

Head Matter:
ERIE INSURANCE EXCHANGE, a foreign corporation, Appellant, v. Betty HOFFMAN, Individually, et al., Appellees.
No. 74-671.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
Nov. 5, 1974.
Fowler, White, Humkey, Burnett, Hurley & Banick and Fred R. Ober, Miami, for appellant.
Abramson, Rosenthal & Scremin, Rentz, McClellan & Haggard, Miami, for appel-lees.
Before PEARSON, HAVERFIELD and NATHAN, JJ.

Opinion:
PEARSON, Judge.
The issue of law presented by this interlocutory appeal is whether a foreign insurer neither licensed to do, nor engaged in, business within this state may be served pursuant to § 48.181, Fla.Stat. We hold that such a defendant is not properly served by the process prescribed in that statute when the only proof of the acceptance "of the privilege extended by the law to nonresidents and others to operate, conduct, engage in, or carry on a business or business venture in the state" is the fact that its policyholder traveled into this state. Cf. Young Spring & Wire Corp. v. Smith, Fla.1965, 176 So.2d 903; Viking Superior Corporation v. W. T. Grant Company, Fla.App.1968, 212 So.2d 331.
Accordingly, the order appealed denying defendant Erie Insurance Exchange's motion to dismiss is reversed and the cause remanded with directions to grant the motion.
Reversed.