Case Name: MUTUAL OF OMAHA INSURANCE COMPANY and Flamedco, Inc., Petitioners, v. Ethan A. GOLD, etc., et al., Respondents
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1996-10-25
Citations: 681 So. 2d 1204
Docket Number: No. 96-2952
Parties: MUTUAL OF OMAHA INSURANCE COMPANY and Flamedco, Inc., Petitioners, v. Ethan A. GOLD, etc., et al., Respondents.
Judges: THOMPSON and ANTOON, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 681
Pages: 1204–1205

Head Matter:
MUTUAL OF OMAHA INSURANCE COMPANY and Flamedco, Inc., Petitioners, v. Ethan A. GOLD, etc., et al., Respondents.
No. 96-2952.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.
Oct. 25, 1996.
Ralph C. Losey of Subin, Rosenbluth, Lo-sey, Brennan, Bittman & Morse, P.A., Orlando, for Petitioner Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.
David B. Blessing of Taraska, Grower & Ketcham, P.A., Orlando, for Petitioner Flam-edco, Inc.
Philip M. Burlington of Caruso, Burlington, Bohn & Compiani, P.A., and Jeffrey M. Liggio, P.A., West Palm Beach, for Respondents.

Opinion:
HARRIS, Judge.
We grant the petition for writ of certiorari and quash the August 27,1996 order denying the petitioners' motion on the jurisdictional issues. Even if such order is only "voidable," under the facts of this case we conclude that the order should not stand. Further, because an independent determination under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.160(h) was not made during the October 24, 1996 hearing (the court merely relied on the former order), we also quash the October 24, 1996 order denying the petitioners' motion on the jurisdictional issues. We, therefore; direct the trial court to decide the issue of jurisdiction before the evidence on the merits is received during the trial of this cause. See, Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co. v. Gold, 669 So.2d 362 (Fla. 6th DCA 1996).
WRIT OF CERTIORARI ISSUED, ORDERS QUASHED.
THOMPSON and ANTOON, JJ., concur.