Guarantee Insurance Company v. Old Republic General Insurance Corporation, No. 1:2012cv20189 - Document 20 (S.D. Fla. 2012)
Court Description: ORDER granting 10 Motion to Dismiss. Signed by Chief Judge Federico A. Moreno on 9/26/2012. (mmd) (Main Document 20 replaced on 9/26/2012) (ail).
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Guarantee Insurance Company v. Old Republic General Insurance Corporation Doc. 20 UNI TED STATES DI STRI COURT F0R THE CT SOUTHERN DI STRI OF FLOI CT UDA M im iDi son a vii Cas Num be 1 201 CI M ORENO e r: 2- 89- VGUARANTEE W SURANCE COM PAN Y, Pli if antf, VS. OLD REPUBLI GEN EM L W SURANCE C C O R P . d/b /a O L D R E P U B L 1C CON STRUCTI GROUP,I C. ON N , Def nda s e nt . ORDER G RANTI M OTI TO DI I NG ON SM SS Thi De a a or Ac i i a diput bewe i ur nc c s clr t y ton s s e t en ns a e ompa esr quesi t sCour ni e tng hi t de dewhe he Pli tf o Def nda ' wor rsco pe a i polc co r a empl yees ve ey ci t r a n if r e nts ke ' m ns ton iy ve s n o e rl ij r d i a a cd n d rn teFo tie e Ho e' rn vai n Be a et eCo r fn st e n ue n n c ie t u ig h nan blu tls e o to . c us h u t i d h fco s i Ame ias Varabl Lte l .Co.v Ro c ,41 F.d 1 2 ( 1h Ci.2 0 ) fv r a tx n rt i e / ns ' . a h 1 3 3 8 1t r 0 5 a o a j dc to i tesaec u t,h Co r g a t t eDee d n ' M oint Dimis du iain n h tt o rs te u t rn s h fn a ts to o s s. THI CAUSE ca beor t Cour uponDee ntsMotont Dimis( E. 1 , S me f e he t fnda ' i o s s D. No. 0) fld on Febr ie uary23.2012. THE COURT ha c i r t motonandt peri ntpori oft r c d, and bei s onsde ed he i he tne tons he e or ng ot r s f l advie i t pr s s i i he wie uly s d n he emie , t s A D JUD G ED t tt m oton i G RAN TED f t r as s a e i t sO r r I i al ha he i s or he e ons t t d n hi de . t s so ADJUDGED t talot rpe ng motonsa eDENI asm oo . ha l he ndi i r ED t Dockets.Justia.com L BACK GRO UND Plitf, aa teI s rn eCo n , rng t sd caao yj d me t ci np rua t an if Gu rn e n u a c mpa y b i s hi e lrt r u g n a to u s n t 28 U. C.j 2 01a ,s e n t d tr n isp tnill blt a d t e d te o d u e o S. 2 ( ) e kig o eemie t oe ta i ii n h u is we nd r a y De e t Ol Re i Ge r I ur nc Com .s polc Thi cas se s fo a wor rs f ndan d publc ne al ns a e ' iy. s e t m r m ke ' c mpe s t ncam fldb awo k rij rdi te2 0 rn vai no t Fo tie luHoe.Th o n ai li ie y r e nu e n h 0 6 e o to fhe nan be tl e o cam wa a j dc tdb aJ g of mp n ainCli , o eo d ri o a p a t t eFo ia li s d u iae y ud e Co e sto ams wh s r e s n p e lo h lrd DititCo tofAppea . src ur l The unde l ng c r t r ltons p i al ge by t Pl i if G ua a e I ur nc ryi ontacual ea i hi s le d he antf, r nt e ns a e Compa i t c ny,n he ompl nt TheFont i e c r c e wihTur ryConsr c i asisge a ai . aneblu onta t d t nbe r tu ton t ner l c n rco o ter n v to rj c . mb ny,ntr c n rce wihM arxCo tu to Gru o ta tr n h e o ainp oe t Tu e i u n, o ta td t ti nsr cin o p, Ic t p o i elb ra dc r e tr f r h p oe t M arxs bsq e t e trdit as b o ta t n .o r v d a o n ap nes o t e rj c. ti u e u nl ne e no u c nrc y wihHez- Ap le Qu ly,n .op o d lb ro c ranc nsr cinwok o t ep o e t t fiBa p id ai l c t r vie a o n eti o tu to r n h rj c. t Bef e sa tng is r nova i t Font ne e Ho elpur has d a om wrco r l d or tri t t ton, he ai blu t c e n - ntole i urncepr r m Ct P')whihi kno a wr p- i ur ncefo Dee ntO1 Republc ns a og a OCI ', c s wn s a up ns a rm fnda d i Ge r l ur nc Co . I t c tuc i i ty,a wr p- polc i a i ur nc ve ce ne al ns a e p . n he onsr ton ndusr a up iy s n ns z e hi l p rh s db a o e o alr ec nsr cin po e tt tg n r lyp o i e c ns ld tdo st u c a e y n wn r f ag o tu to rj c ha e e al r v d s o oi ae n-ie c v r g f rt ee tr p o t icu n wo k rsc mp nsto c v rg . W rp u i u a c o ea e o h n ie rj d, n ldig r e ' o e ain o e a t a - p ns rn t pr a spr de a sngl s ce f consr ton i ur ogr m ovi i e our or tuc i ns mwe t tc r al t conta t s a ha ove s l he r c or nd s b o ta tr o ap o e t l a dto t Ol Re u lcsOCI p lc wi teFo tie lu Ol u c nr co s n rj c. n d iin o d p bi ' P o iy t h nan b e , d h Re i is da i ntc polc t M arxConsr c i Gr , I U nde a O CI t pr ry publc s ue n de ial i y o ti tu ton oup nc. rn P, he ope t ownerpr ur one s tofi ur e polc esf a fxe pr i t ti ur m os oft c pa es oc es e ns anc i i or i d em um ha ns e t he om ni wo kn o t e p o e t a d atmp s t r c v r t e p e u t r u h t c nta tr a d r ig n h rj c, n te t o e o e h r mim h o g he o r co s n - 2- s nta t r . ubco r c o s Tur ry' co r c wih M a rx r quie M a rx t enr li t OCI . M a rx w a a s nbe r s nta t t ti e r d ti o ol n he P ti s lo o lg td t a s r t a e c s b-u c nr co e r ls i te OCI wihn fv () d y o biae o su e h t a h u s b o ta t r n ol n h P t i ie 5 a s f c r ctng, nol s t n45da bef r mobii ton. TheM a rx s onta i or e s ha ys o e lza i ti ubconta wih Hef iBaalo r ct t z- s r r d He ziBa t e ol i t OCI . Ol Re i i s d a compr hensve wor rs equie f - o nr l n he P d publc s ue e i ke ' co pe ai n i ur nc polc t t Font i blu. m ns to ns a e iy o he ane e Pl i ifale t tM a rx ne ra t ly i or d iss antf lges ha ti ve c ua l nf me t ubcontacorHef iBaabou t r t zt he e olmentr quie t l t d,M a rx i uded He ziBa' hour wor d a is pa ol i nr l e r men . nsea ti ncl f- s s ke nd t yr l n M a rx' ow n r tng f ti s epori onns t t i ur nce br ke . M a rx' prnc pal M r A nge Acos a o he ns a o r ti s i i , . l t, t si t the bele t tby i l ng He z- se oy s'hour a pa , t y woul be e tûed ha ived ha ncudi f iBa' mpl ee s nd y he d c r unde O1 Republc' OCI M arx di pa t i ur nc pr m i c nge o de st t ove ed r d i s P. ti d y he ns a e e um ha r r ha r l td t t sove -t t d pa ol. e ae o hi rsa e yr l Alhough M arx beleve He ziBa t be c r unde t Ol Re i OCI polc , t ti i d f - o ove td r he d publc P iy M a rx a s r r d Hef iBa t obt i isown i ur nc whih He ziBa pr ur d fom t ti lo equie z - o an t ns a e, c f oc e r he Pl ntf i t sa ton,Gua a e I ur nc Com pa Ol Re i i tal ac e e awor rs ai if n hi c i r nt e ns a e ny. d publc nii ly c pt d ke ' c pe a i c am by aHe z - e pl e on isbeleft tM r Dougl Sora wa M arx' om ns ton l i f iBa m oye t i ha . as i no s ti s e o e. Lae ,Ol Re i de e t c am . mpl ye tr d publc nid he l i M a rx i taed s twih t J ti nii t ui t he udge ofCompe a i Cl i spur ua t Fl i St t e ns ton am s nt o orda aut Se ton440. 4)OJ Cas ci 42( ; CC eNo. 0155 HHH, imiDa Di son,e ki embur e nt 08- 71 M a - de vii s e ngr i sme f albene isa m oni e or l ft nd es xpende a ongwih adeer nai t tGua ante, Hef iBa' diec d l t t mi ton ha r e z- s r t i ur r wasr ponsbl f ralf ur be ft andc t .Ol Re i mai ai di ha pr ee ng ns e , es i e o l ut e ne is oss d publc nt ne nt t oc di t tHe ziBawa no i ur d u rt OCI ha f s t ns e nde he P. - 3- OnDec m be 5, 1 J e r 201 , udgeHa n ,t J r age he udgeofCo pe a i Cl m si t sca e m ns ton ai n hi s , is s ued isr lng a i tPl i ifGua a e and deer ned t tHe z - Bai noti ur d unde t OCI t u i gans antf r nt e t mi ha f i s ns e r he P . Plitf Gu rn e i no b f r ti Co r rq e tn ad caao yj d me tta He z Ba i an if aa te s w e o e h s u t e u si g e lrt r u g n h t fi s - e il t co r geunderOl Re i sOCI , bec us t Font ne e Hotli ende t ta l ntted o ve a d publc' P a e he ai bl u e nt d ha l c ta t sand s onta t r bee oltd i t OCI , M arx had a a tr ai dut unde t on r c or ubc r c o s nr l n he P ti n fl m tve y r he c r tdoc ontac ument t e ol als onta t r , a be aus M a rx' prnci lbeleve t tby is s o nr l l ubc r c o s nd c e ti s i pa i d ha t aci of i l ng He ziBa' e pl esa hour wor , He z - wasc r d unde t tons nc udi f - s m oye nd s ked f iBa ove e r he OCI P. I .LEGAL ANALYSI l S TheDe l r t r J c a a o y udgme Ac i an d nablngAc , whih co e sadic eton on c t nt t s f e i t c nf r sr i ours r t rt n a a ol erghtupon t ltga .' Wit v Se en FalsCo., 51 U. 277,278 a he ha n bs ut i he ii nt ' lon . v l 5 S. ( 9 5 .I o l gv sfd r l o rsc mp tn et ma ead caaino rg t;td e n t 1 9 ) t ny ie e ea c u t o ee c o k e lrto f ih s i o s o i mpos adut t do s . Ame ia V ra l Lf I s Co v Ro c 41 F.d 1 2 e yo o rts a ib e / n . . . a h, 1 3 3 8 ? 1 ( 1hCi. 330 1 t r 2005) Consdei ours tm off rls t Supr Cou tc i dt t$iwoul be . i rng yse edeaim,he eme r autone ha tt d , u e o o c l swel sv xai u f rafd rlc u t op o e di ad caao yj d me ts t n c n mia a l a e to s o e ea o r t r c e n e lrt r u g n ui whe ea hers ti pe ng i a sae c tpr e i t s me is s no gove ned b f r l r not ui s ndi n t t our es ntng he n s ue t r y ede a , lw,bewe n t s mepa tes'Brlhar v Exc s I . a t e he a ri . ' il t , e s ns Co o . fAme ia 31 U. 4 , 9 rc , 6 S. 91 4 4 ( 942) 1 . M i uloft prnci esofcomiyand f de aim t tunde l t Brlhar dec son, he ndf he i pl t e r ls ha ry he il t ii t Elvent Cicui pr e h r t opagae as resoff ct st i o t dic e i ydec so whe he t td e i a or o nf nn he s r tonar ii n t ro a ti fo e riigj rs ito o e sae lw camsi tefc o p rle l iaini t e bsan r m xecsn u idcin v r tt-a li n h a e f aall i g to n h t saecou t. Fe r ldititc t a e t consde t f l ng f t s tt rs de a src ours r o i r he olowi acor : - 4- ( )t srngt oft sae' i ee ti ha ngt is sr s i 1 he te h he tt s ntrs n vi he sue aied n t f de a de a a or ac i de de i t sa ecours he e r l clr t y ton ci d n he tt t; ( )wh t e t j g n i tefd r l e lrt r a to wo l 2 eh r he ud me t n h e ea d caao y cin ud s tl t c r r y; ete he ontove s ( )whehe t fdealde aaor aci woul s r eaus ul 3 t r he e r clrt y ton d ev ef pur ei ca iyi t l ga r a i hi a is ; pos n lrf ng he e l eltons ps t s ue ( )wh te t ed ca ao yrme y i ben u e meey frt e 4 eh r h e lrtr e d s ig s d r l o h pur e ofç oc dur lf nci ' t ti, o pr dea a e f a pos ç e a e ng'- ha s t ovi n r na or pr rc f r sju c aort a e afde a heai i acae a e or e diat o chive e r l rng n s ot r s notr mova e; he wie e bl ()wh t rteu eo ad caao ya to wo l i ra ete 5 ehe h s f e lrt r cin ud nce s h fiton be we n ourf r la sa ec t and i ope l rc i t e ede a nd t t ours mpr ry e co c o saej rs ito n r a h n tt u idcin; ( )wh te t eei a atmaier me yt t sb te o moe 6 eh r h r s n le tv e d ha i e tr r r efci f e tve; ( whehe t undel ngf t lis saei ra t a 7) t r he ryi acua sue r mpo tnt o n i or d r olton oft c e nf me es u i he as ; ( )whehe t saeti c ti i abete postont evauae 8 t r he tt ral our s n tr ii o l t t ef t is st n i t f r lcour;a hos acual s ue ha s he ede a t nd ( )wheh rt eei aco ene u b t e t eu eli f cu l 9 t e h r s l s x s ewe n h nd ryng a ta a l li s a sae lw a orpublc polc orwhe he nd ega s ues nd t t a nd/ i i y, t r f r lc ede a omm on orsaut y lw dit t sar ol i oft t t or a c a e es uton he d ca ao yj dg n a o . e lr tr u me t di n Ame ias 41lF. a 1 . The ls i neiherç bs ut nori an onef c orc r lng. . ..'I rt , 3d t 331 it s t ' ol e a s y a t ontoli ' d. Thecr ofPli ifsposton i t sc s i t tt s ae a f de a ca e pr s n ux antf ii n hi a e s ha he tt nd e r l s s e e t dif r ntlga is . Pl i ifa guest tt J fe e e l s ues antf r ha he udgeofCom pe a i Cl m si a c tof ns ton ai s our lmiedj iditona c r a es t eso landrf mai ofc r c is .ndee a i t urs ci nd amot ddr s he tppe eor ton onta t sues I d, r viw oft J e e he udgeofCompe ai Cl ms'Fi lM ert De i i r fe t t ther e a ns ton ai na is c son e l c s ha uld s f lo :$rj c Guaa tesag me tta i u a ec v rg u e t eOCI i ce td,o olws d ee t r ne ' r u n h t ns rnc o e a e nd r h I P s rae f r - 5- He z - by esoppelbas d on t c f iBa, t e he onduc ofM arx. I i s tl Fl i lw t i ur nce t ti t s eted orda a hat ns a cove a c no bec eaed b esoppe .'Se Fi M e isDecson, J r ge an t r t y t l' e nal rt ii udge ofCompe a i ns ton Cli ,Ca eNo.Ca eNo. 08- 5571 a ms s s 01 HHH. Des t t sc e rr lng a wihoutsg tc nt pie hi l a u i nd t i ni a i anayss Pl i ifc l st Amert f c or wei a i tdim is oft sde l l i, antf onc ude he ias a t s gh ga ns s s al hi c a r or at y a ton. ci TheCour wila yz t f c or i lgh oft sae c tor ri t pa al l t l nal e he a t s n i t he t t our de n he r le pr e ng a t pe ng sae a a . Fl i hasal r cognied i e e ti ha ng oc edi nd he ndi t t ppe l orda ong-e z nt r s n vi wor ' c kers ompe a i i ur nceis d i bya J e ofCompens ton Cli . The ns ton ns a s ues ecded udg ai a ms Fl i a Supr m eCour wr e: ord e t ot ()wo l a p a t bewi nt epe u irc mpee c o a(u g o lt u d p e ro t h c la o tn e f J d e f hi Co e s to Cli fkaId sra J d e ) od cd t ee se c mp n ain ams / / n u til u g s t e ie h xitn e ornon- xit nceofi u a ecove a whenr l ntoawor e s e se ns r nc r ge eeva t km n' c mp nsto p o e ..( e c mpe s to j geld v lp a o e ain r blm. Th o n ai n ud s e eo n e xperie t te pst m t ha t efe tvel m at r r ltng t ts ha qui he o ndl f c i y te s ea i o w o km e s c pens ton. Thi i s e n t r' n' om ai s s o ve houg i a dif r h n fe ent posur smia pr e s mi pr l be r f red t a c tof t e i lr oblm ght opery e e r o our equiy or l w . t a Fie r man 'Fu n .Co. .Ri , 2 0S 2 3 9 31 - 2( a 1 6 ) Rihwa ac s ta i v le s ndl s v ch 2 o. d 6 , 7 7 Fl. 9 9 . c s a e h t n ov d t J eofCompe a i Cli sde di eso lis , a wtha i t sc t, a al dl he udg ns ton am ci ng t ppe s ues s ve n hi as on n lege y e r d polc I He e,t Pl i ifi a ki t Cour t c i rwhe he Def nda Ol xpie iy. d r he antf s s ng he t o onsde t r e nt d Re i i eso dfom a gui ispolc doesnotc publc s t ppe r r ng t i y overt i de bas d onM arx' pr c ies he nci nt e ti s a tc ofi l ng He z - se pl e on ispa r lf t OCI . Ac or ngl t Cour fndst ncudi f iBa' m oye s t y ol or he P c di y, he t i he sa e' i er ssi decdi i ur ncem a tr r l tngt wor r sc tt s nt e t n i ng ns a te s e ai o ke ' ompe ai n i we le tbls d ns to s l- sa ihe unde Fl i l w. r orda a Ano he fct t twei i fvo ofdimi s i t t hes aec t ar i abe trposton t r a or ha ghs n a r s s al s ha t t t ours e n te ii - 6- t e l t t f c soft sc ea i f c ,heJ o va uae he a t hi as nd n a t t udgeofCom pe ai Cli dec son di dos . ns ton a ms' ii d o I hsFna MeisOr e ,heJ d eo Co e s to Cli ial rj ce Gura te scam ta n i i l rt d r t u g f mp n ai n ams t ee td y n e ' li h t He z - wa ana tonalns e under heOCI polc orM arx' polc . ThePli ifr quess f iBa s ddii i ur d t P iy ti s i y antf e t t sCo toove s et wor oft J hi ur t r e he k he udgeof heCom pe a i Cl m s ar et tr sspl nl wih t ns ton ai , ol ha e t ai y t teFlrd Ap ell Co r.Un o b e l,heDitit u t f p a, o e u idcinicu e h o i a p lae u t d u tdy t src Co ro Ap e lwh s j rs ito n ld s r i a outne ppea sofwor rscompe a i c r is ,i i a be t poston t e ua et l ke ' ns ton ove age s ues s n ter ii o val t he i s s Fl.R. s ue . a App.P.9. 80. 1 Se vngasaiM onda m or ngqua tr c 'sno t r eCong es i e df hef de a ri l y- ni re ba k'i t he ol r s nt nde ort e r l c u t i t De lrt r J g n Ac.I ti Co r we et a j dc t t i c s ,c re tyo o rs n he ca ao y ud me t t f h s u t r o d u iae hs a e u rn l n a ppea i t sae c t,i woul c eae t s toffito bewee t t s t m st tt l n he t t ours t d r t he or rc i n t n he wo yse ha he El ve hCicuica i ne a ns k e nt r t uto d gai t nAme ias.Ac or ngl t Cour gr nt t m oto t dimi s rt c di y,he t a s he i n o s s fn i s v r l a tr weg sr n l i fv ro aj d c to i t esaec u t. i dng t ta fco s ih to gy n a o f du iai n n h tt o rs Z DONE AND ORDERED i Chambe sa M im i Fl i t s n r t a , orda,hi a ofSe e r 201 y pt mbe , 2. FEDE A.M O > 1 D STAT S DI STRI J CT UDGE Co espr de t pi ovi d o: Co elofRe or uns c d
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