Gamez v. ACE American Insurance Company, No. 1:2011cv22842 - Document 149 (S.D. Fla. 2014)
Court Description: ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF'S POST-TRIAL MOTIONSdenying 135 Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law; denying 135 Motion for New Trial. Signed by Judge Patricia A. Seitz on 8/11/2014. (yha)
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Gamez v. ACE American Insurance Company Doc. 149 U NI TED STATES D I STRI C O URT CT SOUTHERN D I STRI OF FLORIDA CT Cas No.11228 - V- TZ/ M ONTON e - 42 CI SEI Sl EURYS GAM EZ, Pl ntf, ai if ACE AM ERI CAN I SU RAN CE COM PAN Y, N Def ndant e . / O RDER D ENYI PLAI FF' POST- ALM OTI NG NTI S TRI ONS On N ove ber24,2007 Eur Ga ez' c i A lr m , ys m s ousn, f edo H as un,l ned s oa Ga z sne 3 -oot a sr a fs ngya ht(he ' s e' t ar c nt me ' w 2 f Gls te m ihi c t ' s 1) o e e Ve ' acquai anc ,Al xi Suar z,f a fs ng ti Suar z a t Ves elt n nt e e s e or ihi rp. e nd he s he m yserousy diappear and w e e neverhear f om agai Thi c e ars out t i l s ed r d r n. s as ies ofDe e ntAc Ame ia I ur nc Co pa (' el ur nc v ' de a of fnda e rc n ns a e m ny ' Ac ns a e ls ni l i ur nc c ns a e over f t l soft Ves e . age or he os he sl Thej y f und t tGa zha pr ve hi cam butc ul no r c e ur o ha me d o n s l i o d t e ov r bec e AceI ur nc had es abls aus ns a e t ihed asan afim atve de ens t Gam ezhad fr i f e hat i e i l m ir es ed a m at i f i hi i ur nc applc i Gam ez nt ntonaly s epr ent eral act n s ns a e i aton. now move t s ta i t j y ve dit a gui t tt r wa noa s i e s o e sde he ur r c, r ng ha he e s dmisbl e de efom whihar a o bl j y c ul ha fundt tGa zs vi nc r c e s na e ur o d ve o ha me ' m i r es nt tonshad 'i eas t hazar by any m eansw ihi t c r of s epr e a i 'ncr ed he d t n he ont ol t i ur d. ( 1 5 DE- 3 )Be a eF ordal w do snotr quiet t he ns e ' DE- 3 ; 1 6. c us l i a ' e e r ha m i r es atons i r e t hazar and bec e t ew ass fcent s epr ent i nc eas he d, aus her ufi i e de ea tilorara ona ej yt c l t tGa zsi e ina vi nc tra f e s bl ur o oncude ha me ' ntnto l m ir pr ent i afec ed A c l ur e' a lt t as es t rs i w as s e es atons f t e ns anc s biiy o s s he iks t i urng,bot ofGam ez' m otonsar deni ns i h s i e ed. Dockets.Justia.com A .LEGAL STANDARD Ga zmo sf j me a amat rof1w unde Rul 5 b)a me ve or udg nt s te a r e 0( nd at r tvey f rane til le na i l o w ra unde Rul 5 ( ) A c tmus r eonbot m o i . r e 9 a . our t ul h tons S eF d. Ci P. 0() e e R. v. 5 c. Unde Rul 50b) Ga za kst Co tt s ta i t j y' ve dita r e ( , me s he ur o e sde he ur s r c s t Ac I ur nc ' a fr tvede e ebutt a l t j y' ve ditt sa a o e ns a es fima i f ns o low he ur s r c o t nd s t Ga e scam . n r s vi aRul 5 m o i n,ac ur ' ho d c nsde al o m z' l i l e ol ng e 0@) to o t ' ul o i r 1 s t e de e-no j tt te de ewhih s he vi nc t us ha vi nc c upporst no mo rsc s t he n- ve ' a e-but i t lghtand w ih al r onabl i er esm os f abl t t pary n he i t 1 eas e nf enc t avor e o he t oppos t t m oton.I t f t and i er nc poi s s r y and ed o he i f he ac s nf e es nt o t ongl over hel i y i f w m ngl n avorofone pary t t Cour belevest r s t hat he t i hat ea onabl e m e coul notar i ata cont ar ver c ,gra i oft m otonsi pr n d r ve r y di t ntng he i s oper O n . t ot hand,i t r i s t ntale denc oppos t t m otons t ti , he her f he e s ubs a i vi e ed o he i , ha s evi nc ofs h qua iy and w ei t r ona e a f rm i de e uc lt ght hat eas bl nd ai- nded m e i t n n he e e cs ofi ril udg ntmi htr a h dif r ntc ncuso ,t motonl x r ie mpa ta j me g e c fe e o l ins he i ) s houl be deni ' W càs7.Gr atA t.& Pa .Te Co. I . 8 F. 307,309-10 d ed. ' fJ e l c a , nc, 42 2d ( 1h Ci. 9 8 ( ia i omitd) 1 t r 1 8 ) ct ton te . I t a tr tve Ga e a kst Co tt s ta i t j y ve dit n he le na i , m z s he ur o e sde he ur r c e iey a or rane tilund rRul 5 ( ) whih i s sam o elnint ntr l nd de w ra e e 9 a , c mpo e r e e sa r t n Rul 5 .'n r i o amoton f ne ti lt tiludgei t nda d ha e 0@) ' ulng n I i or w ra, he ra j s per it t w e gh t evi nc ,butt gr ntt m oton he m us fnd t ve di t m ted o i he de e o a he i t i he r c c r y t t gr ,notm er y t gr er w ei oft evi nc ' W ats 842 ontar o he eat el he eat , ght he de e.' t, F.d a 3 0(iai n o it d) 2 t 1 ct to m te . B .A PPII -CABLE LAW Thej y, c Ga za e sw a pr pe l i tuce ( 1 5a 8 1 1 ur whih me gr e s o ry nsr t d DE- 3 t - 0 , f ound f Gam ez on hi br h- - ont ac c a m a f A c l ur e on is or s eac of c r t l i nd or e ns anc t afim atve def ns t Gam ez had f audul nty m i r es nt m at i f t fr i e e hat r e l s epr e ed eral ac s on hi i ur e applcaton.Gam ez' prm ar ar s ns anc i i s i y gum ent i t t e w asno l s hat her a s i ee i nc a tilfo whih ar a o bl j y c d dee mi whih dmisbl v de e t ra r m c e s na e ur oul t r ne c hazar r uled i t l soft Ves elort t m i r es atonsc d d es t n he os he s hat he s epr ent i oul have i r ed t hazar A c or ng t Gam e a f audul nt nc eas hat d. c di o z, ny r e m ir es nt i onl voi t i ur nc polc i i 'i eas t ha r by s epr e aton y ds he ns a e i y f t 'ncr ed he za d a me nswihi t c r o Ga e o Ha s 'S eFl Stt j6 . 92) ny a t n he ontol f m z r s un. e a. a . 2740 ( . ' Thus w ihoutbe ng a e t det m i whih hazar had bef l t Ves el a , t i bl o er ne c d alen he s , r a o bl j y c d not i t tGa z o Ha s ha i r a e t t z r e s na e ur oul fnd ha me r s un d nc e s d ha ha a d. G a ez f t ar m urher guest ,e hat ven i t hazar i s m pl c ac e i ast tofa f he d s i y har t rzed ha 'm i sng ves el' none ofGam ez' orH as un' m i r es atonsc d have ' si s z ' s s s s epr ent i oul i r ed t ha d. nc eas hat zar Gam ez applest i or ec l i he nc r t egals andar Fl i l w pr des t d. or da a ovi : ( )Any sa e e o de c i i m a byoro be l ofa 1 t tm nt r s rpton de n haf n i ur ...n a a i ton f an i ur nc polc ...i a ns ed i n pplca i or ns a e i y s r es nt i a i nota w ar ant A m i r pr ent i epr e aton nd s r y. s e es aton, om is on,c ea m e off t ori or ec s at entm ay si onc l nt ac , nc r t t em pr ventr over undert cont ac orpolc onl i any oft e ec y he r t iy y f he f l i appl olow ng y: Ga za s a gue t tAc I ur nc ' c uns l'nvie t j y t me lo r s ha e ns a es o e ' t d he ur o i dir g r t 1w a a y a i ore tlga sa r '( 1 5 a 6 . s e a d he a nd ppl n nc r c e l t nda d. DE- 3 t -81 ' Beca eG am ez neihers ii w he Ac I ur nc scouns lalegedl di s us t pec fes n e ns a e' e l y d o nore tbls st theo e t d a t tm edurng ti lGa e c nnotpur ue sa ihe ha bjce t he i i ra, m z a s t s a gum e i a postti m oton.Se Si Cr Se v. I . I alSte hi r nt n -ral i e ms' ane r , nc p. de e l Pr d cs I c, 0 F.d 1 5 ,1 57( 1h Ci. 98 ) o u t, n .8 0 2 5 3 5 1 t r 1 6 . ( )Themir pr s nt to o iso c nc am e ,o a s e e e a i n, m s in, o e l nt r s at m enti f audul ntori m at i eihert t t e sr e s eral t o he ac ept nceoft rs ort t hazar as um ed by t c a he i k o he d s he i nsur er. ( I t tuef csha be n k wn t t i ur r b) f he r a t d e no o he ns e pur uantt a polc r r e orot r r ent s o i y equiem nt her equiem , t i ur i good f t w oul nothave i ued t he ns er n aih d ss he polc orc r t w oul nothave i ued i att sa e iy ont ac , d ss t he m pr i r e,w oul nothave i s em um at d s ued a polc orc r t iy ont ac i asl ge an am ount orw oul notha pr ded n ar , d ve ovi c over w ih r pec t t hazar r uli i t l s age t es t o he d es tng n he os . ( )A br a h orvi a i n b t i ur d ofa w a r nt 2 ec olto y he ns e ny ra y, c ondii orpr son ofa w etm arne ...i ur nc polc .. ton, ovi i ny i ns a e i y pplc i t ef doe notvoi t polc or c r t or i aton her or s d he i y ont ac , . ora c tt e a def e t a l st eon,unl ss h br ons iut ens o os her es uc each or vi aton i r e t ha d by any m eansw ihi t cont ol ol i nc eas d he zar t n he r oft i ur he ns ed. Fl . t tj 6 . 9( 1 ) The e a et t lga ditnc t ore a i ur rc n a S a . 2740 20 3 . r r hus wo e l si t he i s n ns e a as er t deny c s to over age:e s i l f audul nti s entaly, r e nduc entand m at i br h. em eral eac A ' eac orvi aton by t i ur ofany w ar ant c ' br h ol i he ns ed r y, ondii orpr s on' ton, ovii ' onl exc est i ur f om pa ng- es entaly,i onl c tm t a m at i y us he ns er r yi s i l t y ons i es eral br h- i ' uc br h orvi aton i r ed t hazar by a m eansw ihi eac f ' h eac s ol i nc eas he d ny t n t c r oft i ur 'Fore he ont ol he ns ed. ' xam pl ,i t i ur d vi at t i ur nc e f he ns e ol ed he ns a e polc by keepi t m any c e m em ber ,t m i i eas t lkelhood of iy ng oo rw s hat ght ncr e he i i mutny. rma ' Fu I s Co p. x 7 2F. upp. 0 , 1( . Fl 1 8 )afd i Fie n s nd n . . Co , 4 S 6 9 61 M D. a. 9 9,f , 8 2 F.d 8 ( 1h Ci. 9 9 . a i ur d' f iur t upda eaplne s 9 2 7 1 t r 1 8 ) But n ns e s al e o t a ' aiw or hi sc tfc e doesnotvoi c r t nes er iiat d over f a pl c as c ed by piot age or ane r h aus l e r . c etp W ( s 4 4So. 1 5 ( a. t DCA 1 8 ) r or Pik t . vl , 0 2d 1 2 Fl 5 h 9 1. I c r t t pr em w ih m i r pr s atons i an i ur e n ont as, he obl t s e e ent i n ns anc applca i i nott tt i r e t rs ofl s butt t i er er w ih i ton s ha hey nc eas he i k os , hat hey nt f e t t i ur ' abiiy t a e t r s ofl sbef e decdi how m uc c he ns ers lt o ss ss he ik os or i ng h over age t pr vi a a whih pr mi The e or mir pr s nt tonsa es jc t a o o de nd t c e um. r f e se e e a i r ube t o dif e s andar ess ntaly,t m us afec t i ur ' la lt t pay a fer nt t d: e i l hey t f t he ns ers i biiy o ce t n am ountofm oney.They ne noti r e t ha d. r ai ed nc eas he zar A m i r es aton i t i ur nc polc c s epr ent i n he ns a e i y annotbe c ac erzed asa har t i ' eac orvi aton by t i ur ofa w ar ant c ' br h ol i he ns ed ny r p ondii orpr son' ton, ovi i ' unde s ci n 6 7.0 2)Se ton 6 74 9 1 s cfc ly sa e t ta' t tm e o r e to 2 4 9( . ci 2 .0 4 ) pe iia l t t s ha ' a e nt r s des i i m adeby oron be fofa i ur ... n an applc i f a crpton hal n ns ed i i aton or n i ur nc polc ... sa r pr ent i and nota w ar ant 'a t n delne es ns a e iy i e es aton r y' nd he i at e a ty wha sa r a i sf m ir pr s nt tons Be a es ci 6 7.0 4 ) x cl t t nda d pple or s e e e a i . c us e ton 2 4 9 1 al e r ady l outas cii s andar f m ir es nt tons t Cour wilnot ays pe fc t d or s epr e a i , he t l s ho n mir pr s nt tonsi os ci n 6 . 92)s h t tt i r a et hoe r s e e e a i nt e to 2740 4 uc ha he nc e s -he ha d r zar equiem entm i appl r ght y. The par i c r tonl a t st sanal sby r qui i t any tes' ont ac y ler hi ysi e rng hat m ir es nt i be i entonal now her doest cont ac is fr r t s epr e atons nt i ; e he r t t el equi e hat t m ir pr s nt to i r a et ha r ( e Or rDe ng De .sM otf r he s e e e ai ns nc e s he za d. S e de nyi f' .o Summ ..( 5 . Thus a t j y wa c r cl i tuce J DE-4J) , s he ur s ore ty nsr t d: ( oe t bls isa fr a i edee eba e on fa ACE TJ sa ih t fim tv f ns s d r ud, Ame ia m us pr . . 1 t tGa zorHa s f ley rc n t ove . ( ) ha me s un as l m ir pr s nt d orc nc a e as cfc m ae ilf c;( t t se e e e o e ld pe ii, tra a t 2) ha Gam ez orH as un kne ors s w houl haveknow n t t d. hat he r pr s nt to wa f le ( )t tGa e o Ha s wiluly e e e ai n s a s ; 3 ha m z r s un lf l m ade t r pr ent i orconce m e w ih t i e i of he e es aton al nt t he nt nton de r udi ACE Ame ia ( )t tGa e o Ha s fa ng rc n; 4 ha m z r s un i e nt nded t i o nduc ACE Am erca t ac on t r pr s aton e i n o t he e e ent i o c e l e ; nd ( )t tt r pr s nt ton m a wa o r onc am nt a 5 ha he e e e a i de s ne t w oul a f tt labiiy ofACE Am erca t pay a hat d fec he i lt i n o c t n am ountofm oney. er ai ( 1 at9 1 DE-28 -10. C.EVI DENCEAT TRI AL Thee de ea til spli y s fce f t j y t fnd t t vi nc t ra wa a nl ufii nt or he ur o i ha Gam ez' and H as un' m i r pr ent i w er i entonaland m at i . s s s s e es atons e nt i eral Vi w e i t lghtm os f e d n he i t avor e t A c I ur e,t evi e s abl o e ns anc he denc how ed t hat Gam ez and H ass m ade t f l i i entonalm i r es nt donsi t un he olow ng nt i s epr e a n he i ur e applc i ns anc i aton: . Ve s lLoc ton: se a i Thei ur ns anceapplc i ls ed '3301 nw 16 s,M i i i aton it / t am , FL,33125/ asGam e saddr s a 'r i ' z' e s nd 'esdence M i m i FL,33010' as , a , / t ' s e l a i '(oi Ex. .ButGa e i e d a e pe t d he ' s l oc ton. J nt 2) ve ' m z nt nde nd x ce t hi c i Alr hat s ous n fedo H as un w oul keep t Ve eli t dr vew ay s d he ss n he i ofH as un' r i s s esdenc w hi h i notls ed anyw he e on t a i aton. e, c s it r he pplc i M or eover a t , lhough G am ez ow ned 3301 N W 1 hSt e ,he di notlve 6t r et d i t r ( i l . ptmbe 1 , 01 ( 1 6 1 8:-1 9:5) he e.Tra Tr Se e r 0 2 3 DE- 4 1 1 9 1 1 . * O wne s p: r hi The i ur e applc i ls ed G a ez ast Ve s ' ns anc i aton i t m he s els owne .J ntEx. . Ga e hed ttea w a t o y pe s r (oi 2) m z l il nd s he nl r on o i t d t m a morg gepa nt .Pl' Ex. ; i l . e e r blga e o ke t a yme s ( . s 2 Tra Tr S pt mbe 1 , 01 ( 1 6 1 6 3.ButHa s a it d i Coa tGua d 0 2 3 DE- 4 J 0:-1 ) s un dm te n s r r c di t tGa z wa j tt o r' n pa r'( ilTr e or ngs ha me s us he wne ' pe . Tra . o ' S ptm be 1 , 01 I 1 3 6 :4 2 )Ha s ke t Ve s l thi e e r 3 2 3 DE- 4 J 9 1 - 4. s un pt he s e a s hom e m ade m os oft m ont y paym e s a m ai ai , t he hl nt , nd nt ned,us ed, a l ne t Ve s lo wiho l ia i ( eJ ntEx. . nd oa d he s e ut t ut i t ton. Se oi m 9) * Prmar Ope at : i y r or The i ur ns ance a iaton ls ed Gam e ast pplc i i t z he ' i ar oper or'and di notls anyone asan 'addii ' m y pr at ' d it ' tonal o r t . (oi Ex. )Ye Ga e e pe t d t tHa s w o d e e t pe a or' J nt 2. t m z x ce ha s un ul x r ' gr erc r ove t Ves elt n G am ez w oul i l ng by eat ont ol r he s ha d, ncudi H as un kee ng t Ves elathi ow n hous s pi he s s e. * Proro d v s es:On t applcaton,G am ez s at t hehad had i wne e s l he i i t ed hat f year ofprorboatow ner hi i l ng havi ow ned a 's ox' our s i s p, nc udi ng 'eaf ' f t e ye r .J i Ex. ) Ga e ' f t ro d t Se f , or hr e a s (o nt 2.But m zs a he wne he aox not Gam ez. a ez ne owned any prorvess s G m ver i el . A r a o bl j y c d e sl i e t tt s i e i na e s na e ur oul a i nf r ha he e ntnto l y m ir es atonsafec ed A c l ur e' la lt t pa a ce t n am ountof s epr ent i f t e ns anc s i biiy o y r ai m oney. ed on t i ur e applc i A c I ur e t Bas he ns anc i aton, e ns anc houghtt one hat per on w ih f year ofboatowner hi exper e w oul keep t Ves elat s t our s s p i nce d he s hi hom e and w oul be t onl pr m ar ope t .Acc di t isunder rt s d he y i y ra or or ng o t w ier S r J m s n, el ur nc wo d ha ec r e ahihe pr m i i i ha he yl ol o Ac ns a e ul v ha g d g r e um f t d kno ot r s .Tra Tr S pt mbe 1 , 0 3 ( 1 18 :4 92 )Thi wn he wie ( i l . e e r 1 2 1 DE-47 62 -8 :0. s com por sw ih com m on s e;a sngl expere ed ow neroper orc kee t t ens i e i nc at an p t ac ofa yac i hi drve ay. ih t o peopl eac hasl s 's n i t r k ht n s i w W t w e, h es 'ki n he gam e't a s ngl per w oul and t uni r e oft ngst c d go ' han i e son d, he ve s hi hat oul w r i r es sgnii anty: heboati pr ong nc eas i fc l t s obabl i us m or ofen,i lkel yn e e t ti y t avel bac a f t bet e dif e l atons t e i a rs of r s k nd orh w en fer nt oc i , her s ik m i c m uni ton bet ee t t per ons a s f t One m i eve l n s om ca i w n he wo s , nd o or h. ght n oa t Ves e t a ac he s l o n quai anc t t ot rm i nott us . nt e hat he he ght r t D . CONCLUSI ON Be a et j y' v r c a t Ac I ur nc ' a fr a i dee ewa c us he ur s e dit s o e ns a es fim tve f ns s f ounded on al ly s fc e bas sand w asnotcont ar t t gr w e ghtof ega l ufi i nt i r y o he eat i t e de e t r i no ba i f et rj m e a am a t ro 1 w o ane he vi nc , he e s ss or ihe udg nt s te f a r w t i . c or ngl i i ral A c di y, t s ORD ERED t hat Pl i ifsRe we M oton f J m e a aM a trofLa ( antf' ne d i or udg nt s te w DE1 i DENI 351 s ED. 2 . Pl i ifsM oto f rNe Tra g 1 6 i DENI antf' in o w il DE- 3 J s ED. Thi c e i CLO SED .Al pe ng m otonsnotot r i er ed s as s 1 ndi i he w s ul upon ar D EN I A S M OO T. e ED DONE AND ORDERED i Mi mi F orda t s // da ofAug t 01 n a , l i , hi y us 2 4. e ' . V. PA TRI A A .SEI CI TZ UNI TED STATESDI CT J STRI UDGE CC * A1 Couns ofRec d 1 el or
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