Bateman et al v. National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA et al, No. 9:2008cv00096 - Document 45 (D. Mont. 2009)
Court Description: ORDER ADOPTING FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS for 25 Motion to Dismiss filed by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA, 41 Findings and Recommendations, ORDER DISMISSING PARTIES re: Motion to Dismiss 25 filed by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA, Findings and Recommendations 41 . Signed by Judge Donald W. Molloy on 1/15/2009. (MCN, )
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Bateman et al v. National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA et al Doc. 45 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MONTANA MISSOULA DIVISION LENORA DAVIS BATEMAN, VICKI EARHART, CAROL HEALD, IVAN KAYS, THERESA YOUNGQUIST, BARBARA GAUSTAD, SHARON YOUNG, DIANE MOLES, KYLE BAILEY, MIKE BRIGGS, MARK RADEMAN, DREW OLSEN and CHADNEY SAWYER, Plaintiffs, vs. NATIONAL UNION FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA and FEDERAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) CV 08-96-M-DWM ORDER 1 United States Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch entered Findings and Recommendation in this matter on December 4, 2008. Judge Lynch recommended dismissing Plaintiffs' Amended Complaint pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12 (b) for lack of jurisdiction. Plaintiffs did not object and so have waived the right to de novo review of the record. 28 U.S.C. S 636(b)(1). This Court will Dockets.Justia.com review the Findings and Recommendation for clear error. McDonnell Douslas Corp. v. Commodore Bus. Mach., Inc., 656 F.2d 1309, 1313 (9th Cir. 1981). Clear error exists if the Court is left with a "definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed." United States v. Svrax, 235 F.3d 422, 427 (9th Cir. 2000). Plaintiffs' Amended Complaint asserts claims against National Union Fire Insurance ("National Union") and Federal Insurance Company under the Federal Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. ยงยง 2201, 2202. National Union moved to dismiss the complaint because, inter alia, it does not present an actual case or controversy. See Principal Life Ins. Co. V. Robinson, 394 F.3d 665, 669 (9th Cir. 2005). Judge Lynch found that Count 2 of the Amended Complaint, which is the only claim against National Union, does not present an actual case or controversy because it requests an advisory opinion stating that National Union must follow the applicable law. I find no clear error in Judge Lynch's findings and recommendations. While Plaintiffs do not object to Judge Lynch's findings and recommendation, they request that the Court dismiss the complaint without prejudice. Plaintiffs assert that National Union has committed on-going violations of Montana's Unfair Trade Practices Act (UTPA). Judge Lynchfs recommendation does not specify whether the claim should be dismissed without prejudice. If Plaintiffs allegations are true, it is possible they could assert a claim against National Union for violations of UTPA in the future. Dismissal without prejudice is appropriate. Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Judge Lynch's Findings and Recommendation (dkt #41) are adopted in full. Defendants' motion to dismiss (dkt #25) is GRANTED and Count 2 of Plaintiffs' amended com~laintis DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Dated this A ' day of January, 2009. itdd skates District Court
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