Carlozzi v. Fidelity & Casualty.
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IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE IN AND FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY Michael J. Carlozzi and Patricia B. Carlozzi, Plaintiffs, 5. Fidelity and Casualty Company, a Non Delaware corporation, Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) C.A. No. 99C-03-083-JRS Submitted: May 17, 2001 Decided: June 27, 2001 Upon Consideration of Plaintiffs Motion for Reargument. DENIED. This 27th day of June, 2001, upon consideration of Plaintiffs Motion for Reargument and Defendant s response thereto, it appears to the Court that: 1. Plaintiffs Michael J. Carlozzi and Patricia B. Carlozzi ( Plaintiffs ) filed the instant Motion for Reargument pursuant to Superior Court Civil Rule 59(e). The Motion questions this Court s previous disposition of Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment.1 For 1 Carlozzi v. Fid. & Cas. Co., Del. Super., C.A. No. 99C-03-083, Slights, J. (May 3, 2001)(Mem. Op.). the reasons that follow, Plaintiffs Motion is DENIED. 2. Plaintiffs home suffered damage to its foundation beginning in 1993 and continuing through the present. Although the cause of the damage is disputed by the parties, the Court, in resolving Defendant s Motion for Summary Judgment, viewed all facts in a light most favorable to Plaintiffs as the non-moving party. According to that version of the facts, a corroded drainpipe leaked water which, in turn, caused settlement damage to the home s foundation. Plaintiffs brought the current action seeking coverage for that damage under their homeowner s insurance policy. 3. In its previous decision, this Court ruled that the settlement damage to Plaintiffs home, even if caused by water leaking from a drainpipe, was excluded from coverage by the clear language of the insurance policy.2 The Court also held that a clause in the policy creating an exception to the listed exclusions does not provide coverage for settlement damage even if caused by leaking water.3 As part of 2 Id. at 18. 3 Id. at 18-20. 2 this ruling, the Court held that the policy language was clear and unambiguous, negating the application of contra proferentem.4 4. Motions for Reargument under Superior Court Civil Rule 59(e) will only be granted in limited circumstances. A movant must demonstrate [that] the Court has overlooked a decision or principle of law that would have controlling effect or the Court has misapprehended the law or the facts so that the outcome of the decision would be affected. 5 4 Id. at 20. 5 Mainiero v. Microbyx Corp., Del. Ch., 699 A.2d 320, 321 (1997)(citing Stein v. Orloff, Del. Ch., C.A. No. 7276-NC, Hartnett, V.C. (Sept. 26, 1985), Mem. Op. at 3). See also Steadfast Ins. Co. v. Eon Labs Mfg., Inc., Del. Super., C.A. No. 98C-01-058, Del Pesco, J. (Aug. 18, 1999), Letter Op. at 2 (citing Mainiero, 699 A.2d at 321). 3 5. In their Motion, Plaintiffs argue two grounds in an attempt to justify reargument. First, they assert that the policy s plain language covers the settlement damage. Second, they assert that the policy is ambiguous, mandating that the Court apply the principle of contra proferentem and construe the language in their favor.6 Both of these grounds previously were raised, considered and decided by the Court in its decision.7 Motions for reargument will be denied where they rely on grounds not raised in the original proceeding or where they merely advance the same matters that were already considered in the original proceeding. 8 Plaintiffs Motion does precisely that; accordingly, the Motion for Reargument is DENIED. IT IS SO ORDERED. Judge Joseph R. Slights, III Original to Prothonotary cc: Richard L. Abbott, Esquire Thomas J. Gerard, Esquire 6 The Court notes that Plaintiffs, in their Motion for Reargument, have directed the Court to a decision of our Supreme Court which they now contend is controlling authority even though it was cited in their earlier submissions as support only for general principles of contract interpretation. See Phillips Home Builders, Inc. v. Travelers Ins. Co., Del. Supr., 700 A.2d 127 (1997). In Phillips, the Court held that policy language quite different from the language in this case was ambiguous and, therefore, consistent with the doctrine of contra proferentem, construed the policy against the carrier to find coverage. In contrast, this Court has concluded that the policy language sub judice is clear and unambiguous. For this reason, the Supreme Court s decision in Phillips does not mandate a result different than the result announced by the Court in its initial decision. 7 Carlozzi, supra, Mem. Op. at 18-20. 8 Steadfast, supra, Letter Op. at 2 (citing Miles, Inc. v. Cookson Am., Inc., Del. Ch., 677 A.2d 505, 506 (1995)). 4
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