Hummel v. Hall, No. 6:2011cv00012 - Document 29 (W.D. Va. 2012)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Norman K. Moon on October 18, 2012. (sfc)
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r mnts oFF1 u. .DIT. ; c; s s COURT A LN IE R V T Y FI D G A CO U L IN THE U NI TED STATES DI STRI C OURT CT FOR THE W ESTERN D I STRI OF V I NI CT RGI A LYNCHBURG Dl s ON vI I 221 18 2 1 ,2 JU BY; ' C. DUD u CLERK CLERK CAS N0.6: 1 c 0001 E 1 - v2 MI CHAEL J.HUMM EL, Pli tf a nf M EM OM NDUM OPI ON NI D AVI W . ALL,TA COUNT M OTOR SALES D H / RY Dee da t f n n. J UDGE N ORM AN K . OON M Thi m a tr i bef e t Cour on Pl ntf M ihae J Humm els moton f a s te s or he t ai if c l . ' i or s e ntla r ofat ne sf s( ke no.28) Fort r s t tf l lwilgrnt upplme a wad tor y' ee doc t . he ea ons ha olow, l a Pl ntf ' m oton. ai i f s i 1 PROCEDURAL H I TORY . S On M ay 2,2011 Pli iffl ac , a ntf ied ompl i ,a s tng ava it ofc am saga ns ant s eri re y l i i t Def nd tD a d H al,a1 ofw hi r l t d t Def nt ss l ofa ve cl t Pl ntf . A f e e an vi l l ch e a e o enda ' a e hi e o ai i f t r f ii t a a lng o ppea , ea orot w i e de e aga ns t a ton, ef nt s de a tw a e e e r pl d, her s f nd i t he c i D enda ' f ul s nt r d by t Clr oft Cour on Augus 31 2011 A c rii d c oft Cl r se r ofde a t he e k he t t , . e tfe opy he e k' nty f ul wasma ld t Def nda .Subs nty,on M a c 1 201 Pl ntf fl d am oton f de a t ie o e nt eque l r h 3, 2, ai if ie i or f ul j d me ta dmaldac p t De e d n .De e d n d dn tr s ndt t moin a h dd u g n n ie o y o fn a t fn a t i o e po o he to , nd e i nota ppea a t hea i 1conduc e on Pli ifsmoto on M a 24, 2. l amemor ndum r t he rng td antf in y 201 n a o i o a do d rd tdJ n 1 201 1g a tdPlitf' moi nf rd f ut u g n a d, pnin n r e ae u e 9, 2, r ne anifs to o e a lj d me t n aongwihij tver i ,a r Pli ifda ge i t a l t n unci elef waded antf ma s n he mountof$ 1 44. 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On J y 20,201 1i s a or rconsr ng alte s ntt t Cour by De enda ul 2, s ued n de tui e t r e o he t f nt Da i Halnh s os c p ct a amo int s t sd d f ut u g n .Afe s b s in o v d l i irr e a a i s to o e a i e ea lj d me t tr u miso f y bre sby bot sdes o Se e r6, 2, de e De e ntsmoton t s tasde de a t if h i , n pt mbe 201 I nid f nda ' i o e i f ul j udgme .OnSe t r1 201 Pli iffl amotonf as e ntlawar of nt pembe 4, 2, antf ied i or upplme a d at ey' f ess e ng a a r off esf t a tona tm es ntdef ng a i t tom s e e ki n wa d e or he ddii l i pe endi gans De e d n ' mo int sta ied fulj g n . fn a ts to o e sd ea t ud me t I L EGAL STANDARD L Unde t s ca ld Am e i a r e t pari t ci lltgai or na iy be rt i o r he o- le rc n ul, he tes o vi ii ton di rl a her wn at tonwy' f es a coss unl s t r i e ii sa ut y a hort t t con r r Se s e nd t , es he e s xplct tt or ut iy o he ta y. e Bu k a n n#t a d Ca eHo , n .v l P De 'o a t a d Hu n Re . 5 2 U. 5 8 c h n o f n r me I c . I W. p t fHe lh n ma s, 3 S. 9 , ( 6 2 ( 0 ) S h a e c p in i p o d d fri te Trzh i Le dig Ac (t LA' ,whih 0 2 01. uc n x e to s r vie o n h t n n n t 1 t TI ' ) c saest tSn t c e ofa s es f a ton t e or e t f egoi la lt 't c e t i t t ha i he as i ny ucc s ul c i o nf c he or ng ibiiy,' he r dior s labl f d he c t oft a ton,t t rw ih a r as i e or t os s he c i oge he t e onabl a t e s f e as de er i by t t e tom y' e t m ned he c u t' 1 U. C.j 1 4 ()3 . S mial Vig naus r lw pemisa s c sf lplitf t o r. 5 S. ' 6 0 a () i lry, r i i u y a r t uc e su an if o r ove co tc t a r s na eal m e sfe .Se Va. ec r ur oss nd ea o bl to y' e s e Codej6. 3 2- 05. 1 D l l oN 11. sclssl Ha ng pr vaied on De e vi e l f ndantsM oton t Se AsdeDef ul J ' i o t i a t udgment Pl ntf a g s , ai if r ue t thei e il t r ove r a ona ea t ne sf e f t a tona tme s ntopposng ha s ntted o ec r e s bl tor y' e s or he ddii l i pe i Def nda ' moton. A numbe ofdititc t ha m a s e e a awa dsofa t ne s e nts i r src ours ve de upplm nt l r tor y' fe frav reyo tpe o po t u g n l i to S eOd iM u i Lt v Ka h r i LLC, e s o ait f y s f s- d me t igain. e nl sc d. . t a ss j t No. V 5 0 - 5 5 2 0 W L 1 3 3 ( D. lM a 1 2 08 (d p ig ama itaej d es Cl - 5 0 4 , 0 8 9 0 01 E. Ca. y , 0 ) a o tn gsrt u g ' r co me ton ofa s eme a a r ofa t ne sf e i ure i e f c i a e e m nda i uppl nt l wa d tor y' e s nc r d n f e tng m ndme of nt aj d me t n o ti n ij n tv r l g; le v Pi rm 'Prd Cop.No. :5 0 6 u g n a d b anig n u cie ei Milr . l i s ie r , 50 CV0 0 4, e g 2008W L 68 6761, * ( . Va. a .1 2008 ( a i as e nt awadofat ne s at 3 W D. M r 2, ) grntng upplme al r tor y' f e frdee s a an tar n we moinf r u me t samatroflw p ru n t Fe e a e s o fn e g is e e d to o j dg n a te a u s a t o d r l Rueo Cii P o e u e5 (); mi v fJ O hc so i h lN Ka 7 2F. u p. 2( l f v l r c d r 0b ) S t . w f e fM t el h c y, 6 S p 8 D. De.1 91 ( wa dn s p lme tlat r y' fe ic re d fndn a ans amo inf ran w l 9 ) a r ig u pe n a tone s e s n u r d ee ig g i t to o e til.I d e i c rancr u tn e ,t je i u rdb ap e al gpa t i a e f r t ra) n e d,n e ti ic msa c s (fe s nc re y r v ii ry n n fo to l n r o rr a ona e at ne sf sa et m s l sr c r bl i r as bl .' t 762 F.Supp. ec ve e s bl tor y' ee r he e ve e ove a e f e ona e'Smih, a 8 ; e as Ga e v Ga rs n 81 F.d6 0 6 2( t Ci. 9 7 .W h n h n ln t 5 s e lo n y . r io , 3 2 5 , 5 4 h r 1 8 ) e a d ig s pplm e a m oto f f e ,a t oul m a a r s pplm e a ator y' f esi t s u e ntl i ns or e s d ' y wa d u e nt l t ne s e n he nme c t ma e a ia r e atr e sfe i tefrtnsa e' M i e , 0 8 W L 6 67 , t* (iig nn r s t wad d to n y' e s n h s i tnc . l r 2 0 ' l 8 61 a 1 ctn Mc mb v M e r I c, 9 F.d3 6 3 - 2( t Ci. 0 :. co s . je, n .3 5 3 4 , 61 6 6h r 20 5 Pl ntf wa t pr va lngpa t on hi unde l ng TI cai , c e il hi t ai if s he e ii ry s ryi LA l m whih ntted m o r c ve r as bl a t ne sf e pur uan t t s a u e. Pl ntf alo pr vaied i li e ei e ona e tor y' e s s t o he t t t ai if s e l n z s o ppostont De e ii o f ndantsM o i n t Se AsdeDe a tJ m e . Asa r ul,lfnd t t ' to o t i f ul udg nt es t i ha Pl i ifi entte t r as na e at ne sf e i ured i de endi agans De e antf s ild o e o bl tor y' e s nc r n f ng i t f ndan ' posts t j d me t to Th o l rmann ts i t c n ie t er a o a e e so t en t o u g n moin. e ny e iig a k s o o sd r h e s n bln s f h momt f f spli ifha r quese s1305 = d hi a c i f s h an a r ee antf s e t d- , s c ountng or uc wa d. TheUnied St t sCour ofAppe sf t Fo t Cicui ha a e t l desa t ae t al or he urh r t s dopt d he o t r m ehod ofdeer ni t r as bl nes ofat ne sf es Se Br zi v Run t t mi ng he e ona e s tor y' e . e od ak . yon,1 F. 45 3d 1 1 (t Ci.1998 .l t FourhCic tt l sa fg ei cac aedby muli yi 94, 96 4h r ) n he t rui,he odetr iur s lult tpl ng t numberofr a ona ehour e nde by ar s na er t whih i de e mi i lghtof1 he e s bl s xpe d ea o bl ae, c s t r ned n i 2 fco s E. O. v Sev.Ne Co. 898F. 958,965(t Ci.1 .I my e riropi on a tr . E. C. . r ws , 2d 4h r 990) n ale ni gr ntngPl i ifsorgi r ques f a t ne sf e ,1f nd t tar e of$290 pe hou wa a a i antf ' i nal e t or tor y' e s ou ha at r r s r as bl a pr aii mar tr t f rPl ntf ' ator i Lync g,Vigi a Pl i if s e ona e nd ev lng ke ae o ai ifs t ney n hbur r ni . antf' a t ne s tor y ubmit d a a fda tsai t thes n tveho spr pa i f a r s ndi t te n fi vi t tng ha pe t i ur e rng or nd e po ng o De e f ndantsm oton,r uli i at all t rfgur of$145 I a exe cie ofbilng ' i es tng n ot odesa i e , 0. n n r s li dic etgn,c ns r duc hi r que tby 1 t a countf a e es i trot rnons r i ou el e ed s e s 0% o c or ny xc sve ) he c ompe a e a tvii ,t uli a ey as ng f a a d of$1350. ns bl c i tes hus tm t l ki or n war , Iorgi l a r d Pl i ifa t ne sf esi t a oun of$9, 05 f t i naly wa de antf tor y' e n he m t 786. or he unde l ng TI cli . l my pr vi opi on, not d t tt f esa a de we ene ry fve ryi LA am n e ous ni 1 e ha he e w r d r a l i tmesgr a e t n t t ala ou ofda a sa r i e t r ha he ot m nt m ge wa ded.I e pl ni why s h a a r wa n x ai ng uc n wa d s r s bl ,ldr w a ana ogy t t c extofc tt tonalt tltgaton,whe e t Supr m e ea ona e e n l o he ont ons iu i or ii i r he e Co r çee te )t p o o i o ta fea r su d rj 1 8 s o dn c s aiyb u té j cgd he r p st n h t e wa d n e 9 8 h ul e e s rl e r i p o o t n t t t ea u t d ma e acvirg t p an ifa tal r c v r. Ci o r p ri ae o h mo n of a g s i l ih s litf cu ly e o e s' t f o ' y Rie sdev Rier 477U. 561 574( 986) I c ume ce tca e ,a i ci lrght c es v r i . v a, S. , 1 . n ons r rdi s s s n vi i s as , t l w mone a y val ofcl msc n ç s otr vi ouse or m e ofc ume pr t c i he o tr ue ai a t c tage gor di nf ce nt ons r o e ton s a ut . Cr y v E.H al tr s s,P. . . , o.5: cv- O7,2007 W L 67 t t es ' o . ' l f As oc . L L C. N 06- 001 6698, t*3 a ( . Va M a . , 0 7 .Tha ben s i , we e ,h S p e Co r d dr c g iei Ci o W D. . r 2 2 0 ) t ig ad ho v rt e u rme u t i e o n z n t f y Rier i t tt hea ountofda v sde ha s m t mage apl ntf r c r i c ti y r e ntt t a s ai if e ove s s era nl elva o he mountof a t ne sf st beawa de ' sE ofm a f c or t tac ts ul eonsde .' 477 U . a tor y' ee o r d'a t one ny a t s ha our ho d i r' S. t I t sca e 1fnd t tt a ountoft pr vi usa r c n hi s , i ha he m he e o wa d ombi wih t dipa iy ned t he s rt bt e t a e we n he mountofda mage a t a omtofa tm e sf e a a de we ghsi f vorof s nd he m t to y' e s w r d i n a r uci Pl i if s l t fgur , a dIfn ta ara o befefrtepo tj d me t ed ng a ntf ' odesar i e n id h t e s na l e o h s-u g n pr e di i $5 Unlket unde l ng c us ofaci , t l w r gar ng whet rt s t oc e ngs s 00. i he ryi a e ton he a e di he o e a iead fulj d me ti ce ra sr ih fr r I a di o , n d tre tefc o ft r sd ea t u g n s la nd tag towad. n d t n a y ee rn fe t n uu e i vi a i nsby t sD e enda orot r hasale dy bee a hi ved by t orgi la d off e . ol to hi f nt he s ra n c e he i na war es Si ia l gi n t tc m lry, ve ha ouns i t sc ehasar ad r c ve a s t nta a r off st t el n hi as le y e ei d ubsa i l wa d ee ha mac e h so i ia rq e t g a tn tef lld sa a u t o t p t u g n wo kwo l th d i rgn l e u s, r ni g h ul o e tr mo n f r he os- d me t r ud j ha ltl addii efe ton t wilngne sofat ne t t ke on s h ca e . The 1w doe ve ite tonal f c he li s tor ys o a uc s s a s p o iet a c u e s udr c i ra o a ec mp n ainf rh sp t u g n wo k a dl r vd h t o ns l ho l e eve e s n bl o e s to o i os- d me t r , n j t r f r fnd t t$500 pr de r as bl c pe ai n wihoutbeng e es i . he e o e i ha ovi s e ona e om ns to t i xc sve I . ONCLUS ON V C I For t f egoi r a ons Pl ntf s m oton f r a t y' f es a c t s l be he or ng e s , ai i f i o tonw s e nd os s ha l g a e An or rwilis a z ng Pli tf a t ne sf si t a oun of$500. r ntd. de l s ue wa di a n if tor y' ee n he m t 00. The Clr oft Cour i her by dieced t s nd a c rii co oft sm e o a ek he ts e r t o e e tfed py hi m r ndum opi on a t ac mpa ng or rt a1c ni nd he co nyi de o l ouns lofr cor a t De e nt e e d nd o f nda . I i s O RD ERED . ts o E trdti 1 +- a o- tbr nee hs î- d y t o e 2012. oc , - > NO AN K.M O UN I TED STATES D I TRI J S CT UDO E
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