Peerless Insurance Co. v. Guignardi

Appellee, Mario Joseph Guignardi, filed a complaint against Barry Seth Ratner and Peerless Insurance Company (Peerless) for injuries sustained during a physical attack upon him by Ratner. Peerless was charged in one count of the complaint with liability for negligently hiring Ratner knowing of his propensity for violence.

Service was effected on Peerless through the Florida Insurance Commissioner. Upon receipt of the suit papers, Peerless, a foreign corporation, forwarded them to the Plymouth Agency, Inc., a Florida corporation, an agency that handled bail surety business for Peerless. Dan…