SUNDERLAND MUTUAL MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY LTD v. Comastro, No. 9:2013cv80415 - Document 27 (S.D. Fla. 2014)

Court Description: ORDER granting in part and denying in part 21 Motion for Summary Judgment; granting in part and denying in part 23 Motion for Judgment; by Clerk of Non-Entry of Default re 24 Motion for Clerks Entry of Default as to Karen L. Comastro. Reason: Responsive pleading (i.e. Motion for Extention of Time to File Answer to Complaint, Motion to Dismiss Complaint, etc) has been filed. Signed by Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks on 1/7/2014. (sw)

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SUNDERLAND MUTUAL MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY LTD v. Comastro Doc. 27 Dockets.Justia.com i ssued a m arne hulpol y ofi ance,num berLM II1260- 1,pr di cover i l i c nsur 201 ovi ng age f t M/ CHI or he V CAG O ,m odel year1987 63'Hater m ot vessel Hul l ii i t as or , l dentfcaton Num berHATCW 315L687,f t cover perod fom Augus 3,2012 t ough August or he age i r t hr 3, 3 (h ' iy'.COMASTRO i t e named i u ed un t e su j tmarn 201 t e d c ' PoI ) sh ns r der h bec ie i ance pol y. O n Novem ber19,2012,t CHI nsur i c he CAGO ,bei capt ned by an ng ai i vi ndi dualnamed M i chaelChrst i opherLeger experenced wat i r on and a pari , i er ntusi tal si ng whi r r t i t vesselbackt W estPal Beach. nki ch equied ow ng he o m I i Compait Sun l d s ek a decarton, s tt 2 U. C. 2001, nt s l n , der an e s l a i puruan o 8 S. j efseq. t t Pol y i voi ab i to due t m i epr , hat he i s d c nii o sr esen atons Com asto m ade durng t i r i t Pol s appl i pr he i cy' i on ocess. Al natvel Sunderand seeks a decl aton t t cat t er i y, l ar i hat he Pol was voi aferi i cy ded t ssue due t Com as r s br o to' each oft W arant of he r y Seawodhi ness and/ t W arant ofNam ed O per or On June 11,2013,t s case or he r y at . hi was s f ti durng t t week ti perod com menci Januar 13,201 et or ral i he woral i ng y 4. O n Jul 9,2013,Sunderand fl an Am ended Com pl ntaddi cl m s f an y l i ed ai ng ai or ad t al ecl a i t a : 1 i h d n du yt d en Comas r i a sutbe we dion d ar t h t ( )t a o t o ef d i on to n i t en Coma to an a t id p t s v c s r d hr - ary alage ompan i 1 - 00 - v Ro enbau , ( y n 3 8 22 Ci- s m 1 2) . Comas r scl m un er he p iywas u tmel'an ( Coma tof l t miga e her to' ai d t ol c n i y d 3) , s r ai o t t ed i damages as r r by t Polc equied he iy. O n Jul 31,2013,Com asto fl herans and assered t count - ai y r i ed wer t wo ercl ms agai Sunderand,one f a decl aton t t Pol w as and i val and t ot nst l or ar i hat he i cy s i d, he her f br or each ofcontact Sunderand answer t count - ai s on August21,201 r . l ed he ercl m 3. 1 Inot t Sunderand' ator cl l f l t i cat t s r at case on t Ci l e hat l s t ney eary ai o ndi e hi el ed ed he ci Case CoverSheetas r r by t I r es oft s Di rct Addional S o oft equied he ocal ul hi sti . t i l y, he added cl ms i t i antacton r atng t Sunderand' dutes t i ai n he nst i el i o l s i o ndem niy ordef f end ar diec l r at t t acton bef e Judge Rosenbaum . e r ty el ed o he i or 2 Si Jul t e has been lte actviy i t s case. The f l ng i t cour of nce y, her il t i t n hi ol owi s he se pr oceedi i t s m atersi Augus of2013: ng n hi t nce t Aucust23,2013- Joi M oton t Contnue - deni on Augus 26,2013' nt i o i ed t , Sent ber30,2013-J ntM oton f Hearng - deni on Oct em oi i or i ed ober2,2013* , Oct ober29,2013- M oton by Pl ntf' Counsel o wihdr due t i ai i s f t t aw o dreconci e di er 'r i l abl f ences, The Moton was gr ed on Novem ber1 h,by DE f ' ' i ant 4t 2 wher n Comas r wa n ied t a sh ha t t ( day t r t n a ne 2 ei to s ot i h t e d wen y 20) s o e ai f w Iwy or du t a p ng Mo i f Su a er , e o endi ton or mmar J ment( e b ow) r k y udg s e el , i s entyof u r j dgmen a n th ; t gais er Nov ber1,2013-Sunderand fl a M oton f Sum m ar Judgment em l i ed i or y , ' Decem ber12,2013-Sunderand fld a s l i e econd M oton f Summ ar Judgment i or y as Com as r had notr to esponded t t fr one;and o he ist Decem ber12,2013-Sunderand fl a Moton f Enty ofCl k' Def tz l i ed i or r er s aul. As st ed pr ousl t s materi setf ti durng t t week perod at evi y, hi t s or ral i he woi com m enci Januar 13,201 wih Cal ng y 4, t endarCal schedul f t s W ednes l ed or hi day, Januar 8,201 However Com asto has f l t r y 4. , r ai o espond t any ofSunderand' ed o l s di sposii m otons,and has nott en any di nabl st t ar pr ecutng her tve i ak scer e eps ow ds os i count - ai s,3 ercl m Summ a yj ment halb r der 'f he pl digs, ep ion an wer t r udg s l e en ed ' t ea n d ost s, s s o i i i erogat i and adm i ons on fl t herwih t afi t i any,show t nt r ores, ssi i oget e, t he fdavis,f hat t e i no genui i her s ne ssue as t any m at i f tand t t m ovi pady i entted t o eral ac hat he ng s il o aj gmen asa matero Iw. Fed.R.Ci P. c . I makng myas es men o t e ud t t fa ' v. 56() n i s s t fh 2 Thi M oton f Cl k' Def ti al pr s i or er s aul s so ocedur l i r as Def al ncorect y endant / Coun er ai antCom asto has,by fl and answerand count - ai ,' t cl m r ii ng ercl m appear or ed ot wie def her s ended't eby pr udi enty ofa cl k' def tas agai her ' her ecl ng r er s aul nst . 3 1not t Com asto has appar l f l t def i t r at ac i bef e Judge e hat r enty ai o end n he el ed ton or ed Ro enb s aum, d t ta mot f fn de autudg an ha i or ial f lj menti p di i t a c e.See on s en ng n h t as 1380022- vCi Rosenbaum atDE 70. appr i ene s o s opr at s f ummar j dgmen ,I' s ve aIt e den e an (eas abl yu t ' t iw Ihe vi c d r on y mu dr w)alf t alif enc . .fom t e evd e i te l tmos f or bl t t e a Iacu n er es . r h ienc n h i gh t av a e o h nonmovi pary, Com asto. St ng t ' ' r ewar v Happy Her an' Cheshie Brdge,I ,117 t. m s r i nc. F. 1 3d 278,1 5 ( 1h Ci.1 7) Addional ,I' tr ole aIr o e doubs 28 1 t r 99 . t l ' i y mus es v I eas nabl t aboutt f s i f he act n avoroft non- ovant'Unied ofOm aha Lie I Co.F.Sun Lie he m . t f ns. f I .Co. Amerc 89 F. 1 5,1 ( 1 hCi.1 0) ns of ia, 4 2d 55 558 1 t r 99 . $ i ver t m s,t s st t t By s y er hi andar pr des t t m er exi ence ofsom e d ovi hat he e st al l eged f t di e bet ac ual sput ween t pari wi notdef an ot wi pr he tes l l eat her se opery l su oded mo i f s pp ton or ummar j gmen ' he r r y ud t t equi , emen i t at her b n gen n t s h t e e o uie i ssue ofm at i f . Ander v Li t Lobby,/ , eral act' ' son . bery nc. 477 U. 242,247-48,1 S. S, 06 Ct 2505, L, 2d 20 ( 98 ( . 91 Ed. 2 1 6) emph i i or n ) d st ma er i , h ass n i al.$ o t i t t e gi A aly subs antve I w i i iy whi f s ar m at i .O nl di es overf s t m i t i aw l dentf l ch act e eral y sput act hat ght afec t out e oft sui undert gover ng I w i pr l pr ude t enty of f t he com he t he ni aw l opery ecl l he r su mmar j dgmen .Fa t al s est atar i el an orunn es y wi no be yu t c u diput h e r ev t r ec sar l t l c ount 'I at248.Li i a di e abouta m at i f i a ' ed. d. ' kew se, sput eral act s ' genui 'i ne' ssue dft ' he i evd e i s ht ta r s abl j r c l r ur a v ditf t e n ienc s uc ha ea on e u y oud et n er c or h onmo ng pad ' vi y. ' I d. The m ovi pady ' ways bear t i talr ng ' al s he nii esponsi ly ofi or i t di rct bit i nf m ng he sti coud oft basi f is m oton,and i iyi t e podi of'he pl ngs, he s or t i dentf ng hos ons t eadi deposii answer t i erogat i and adm i ons on fl t herwih t tons, s o nt r ores, ssi i oget e, t he afi t i any,w hi i bel fdavi f s, ' ch t i eves dem onstat t absence ofa genui i r e he ne ssue of m at i f t'Ce/ ex Cor B.Catet,477 U. 317,323,1 S.Ct 2548,91 L.Ed.2d eral ac . ol p. r t S. 06 . 2 ( 98 . mmar j gmen i pr er' ais a parywh f l t mak a s owig 65 1 6) Su y ud t s op ' n t ag t o ai o s e h n 4 sufi entt est i t exi ence ofan el entessentalt t pary' case,and on fci o abl he st sh em i o hat t s w hi t pary wi beart bur ofpr atti . I at322.l t ch hat t l l he den oof ral' d. ' n hose c ases,t e i her s no genui i ne ssue ofm at i f t' nc a com pl e f l e ofpr concer ng an eral ac ' e si et ai ur oof ni essental emen oft nonm ovi pady' case necessarl r i el t he ng s i ender aIot f t y s I her ac s i mat i . d.at323. m eral' ' I i M oton f Sum m ar Judgm ent Sunderand,i eral ass nt s i or y , l nt i a, eds t hat Comasto m ade m at i m i epr r eral sr esen atons i m aki herappl i whi r t i n ng i on cat ch endert he entr appl i and aI cover t eundervoi ab i to. Forexam pl i her ie i on cat I age her d nii e, n appl i Com as r was r r t I tany and aIi vi s w ho woul be i on, cat to equied o i s Indi dual d oper i t CHI atng he CAGO and t pr de a det l l oft o ovi ai i ed st hose i vi ' quali i ndi dual s icatons f t capt n t yacht Com asto I t her f and one Capt n Scot Cr g al w ih o ai he . r i ed sel, s ai t ai ong t t rsubst i capt ni experenc hei antal ai ng i e.She di notI tM i d i s chaelChrs opherLeger The it . Pol appl i pr ded t f l ng above t si ur bl i cy i on ovi cat he ol owi he gnat e ock: PLEASE READ BEFO RE SI NI APPLI G NG CATI N O 1.Thi appl i wi be i por ed i is entr y i o any r evant s i on l cat l ncor at n t iet nt el pol ofi ance w her i er have r i upon t i or aton i cy nsur e nsur s el ed he nf m i cont ned t ei ai her n. 2.Any m i epr sr esent i i t s appl i f i ance wilr aton n hi i on or nsur cat l ender i ance cover nuland voi fom i nsur age l d r ncepton.Pl i ease t ef e check her or t m ake sur t aIquestons have been f l answer and t aIf s o e hat I i ul y ed hat l act m at i t youri ance have been di osed,i necessar by a eral o nsur scl f y suppl entt t appl i em o he i on. cat 3.A phot aph oft vesseli r r t be subm i ed w ih t s ogr he s equied o t t t hi appl i i on. cat 4.Fr st em ent- pl aud at ease see page 4 oft s appl i f m & i tal hi i on or cat nii t par aph r evantt you t i cat t y hav r and he agr el o o ndi e hat ou e ead under ood t s. st hi 5 The Pol f i udherpr ded t : cy ovi hat 28)Nocover i pr ded undert spol ywhent I ed vessels) age s ovi hi i c he nsur l i ar bei oper ed by anyone ot t t s/ e ng at her han hose l t as oper or i ed s at s i udig t ncl n hose I t on an bar i ed s y eboatchaderagr eement . I t Moton,Sunderand ass t i herPolc appl i Com asto n he i l eds hat n iy i on cat r m i epr sr esent w ho woul be oper i t vessel and t she di notever ed d atng he , hat d suppl entt Pol appl i t pr de t nam e ofM i em he i cy i on o ovi he cat chael i opher Chrst Legeras a I ed oper oroft CHI i st at he CAGO .As not pr ousl Com as r has ed evi y, to f l t fl any r ai o i ed e esponse i r ds t t s orany ofSunderand' ot n egar o hi l s her al i l egatons. 1fa pady ...f l t pr l addr anot pary' assedi of $ I ai o opery s ess her t s on f tas r r b Rul 56( , h c t ac equi y e c) t e our may . . onsder h f tun s t f r ed . c i t e ac dipued o pur s of h mo i ' S. Fl L. 5 1 b .Ac o digl be s Pl n i po es t e t ' D. a. R. 6. ( ) c r n y, cau e ait f on. f f l t contoved Sunderand' St em entofUndi ed M at i Fact and ai o ed r l s at sput eral s becaus Sunderand' f s ar suppoded by evi e i t r d,i e l s act e denc n he ecor n ac dance w ih Sout n Diti ofFl i LocalRul 56. Sunderand' f s cor t her s rct orda e 1, l s act ar dee e med admie b Comasr See alo F R. v. 5 e) I h ef r td y t to. s ed. Ci P. 6( . t er o e fnd t i i es abl i hat t s t i shed t M i hat chael i opherLegerwas nota named Chrst oper orundert Pol y. Addii l t uncontovered evi at he i c tonal he y, r t dence est i abl shes Mi chaelChrst i opherLegerwas att hel when t CHI he m he CAGO t on wat ook er and experenced a padi si ng. i al nki 4 Sunderand r l equest t I i t t s m i epr s hat fnd hat hi sr esent i occured durng aton r i t Polc appl i and so t Pol i voi ab i to. However Sunderand he iy i on, cat he i s d cy nii , l pr des no l ovi egalbasi orevi i y suppod whi per is m e t det m i t s dentar ch mt o er ne hat 4SeeExh.8 t t M oton w her n Comasto st es t M i o he i ei r at hat chaelChrst i opherLegerwas att hel when t C HI he m he CAGO t on wat and experenced a pari si ng ook er i tal nki 6 i Augustof2012,Comasto pur n r posef l ornegl ul y i l om i ed Legeras a I ed genty t t i st oper or Such f i ofno i pod her however ast Pol cl l s at at . act s m e, , he i eary t es cy t t e i no c hat her s over undert Pol y f dam ages i r whi t vessel age he i or c ncured l he e i bei oper ed by som eone ot t one oft I t oper or s ng at her han he i ed s at s. Accor ngl undert specii t m s oft Pol t e i no cover di y, he fc er he i her s cy, age o i ton, d s bl i an ummar j dgmen i t er or du t b ener i f v o ga yu ts h ef e e o e t ed n a or f Sun er d on t e Maor yofi cl ms a wela onComa to' c n ercai d l an h j i t ai s l s t s s r s ou t - l ms. However because t i , he ssue ofSunderand' dut t def ori l s y o end ndem niy i f s aleady pendi bef e anot Judge oft s Di rct ldecl t addr t t r ng or her hi sti , i o ne ess he wo Coun s r atng t Sunderand' i t el i o l s ndem niy ordef t ense obl i i ons,i t e ar gat f her e any an ac digl wi dim isCouns I andV wi ou p e u c ast e ar , d cor n y l s s l tV t t r j die h y e h encom pass i t sui bef e Judge Rosenbaum . I i t ef e, ed n he t or t s her or ORDERED an ADJ d UDGED t at h Mo i sf Summ a yJu h t e ton or r dgmen ( t DE 21& 23)b an ar h eb GRANTED i PART ast alcai ex ep f e d e er y n o I l ms c t or Count I and V oft Am ended Com pl ntwhi ar DI I sV he ai ch e SM SSED w ihout t PREJUDI CE. The Cal endarcal oft s m ater pr ousl setf W ednesday, l hi t , evi y or Januar 8,201 at1: p. .i CANCELLED and aI ot PENDI M OTI NS y 4 15 m s I her NG O notr ol her n ar DENI as M OOT. es ved ei e ED DONE and O RDERED i Cham ber atW estPal Beach,Fl i t s n s, m orda hi 7 d yo J n ay 2 1 . a f a u r,0 4 D NALD M .M I DDLEBROO KS UNI TED STATES DI STRI JUDGE CT 7

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