Ellis et al v. Seale
Filing
73
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER re 38 Motion for Summary Judgment filed by Lloyd's Market Association; denying as moot as to indemnity issue and granting as to duty to defend issue. Accordingly, Seale's claims against Third-Party Defendants are dismissed. Civil Case Terminated. Signed by Honorable Harry F. Barnes on August 30, 2011. (cap)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
TEXARKANA DIVISION
MACK ELLIS AND NIKKI ELLIS
V.
PLAINTIFFS
CASE NO. 4:08-CV-04026
W.O. SEALE D/B/A “SEALE MARINE”
DEFENDANT/
THIRD-PARTY PLAINTIFF
V.
LLOYD’S MARKET ASSOCIATION A/K/A
AND D/B/A “LLOYD’S OF LONDON,”
FIRSTCITY PARTNERSHIP LIMITED,
MACLEAN ODDY & ASSOCIATES, INC.,
AND CUNNINGHAM LINDSEY U.S., INC.
THIRD-PARTY DEFENDANTS
MEMORANDUM OPINION and ORDER
Plaintiffs Mack and Nikki Ellis filed a complaint against Defendant W.O. Seale d/b/a Seale
Marine (“Seale”) alleging negligent transportation of an interstate shipment. (Doc. 1). Seale then
filed a complaint against Third-Party Defendants Lloyd’s Market Association d/b/a Lloyd’s of
London, FirstCity Partnership Limited, Maclean Oddy & Associates, Inc., and Cunningham Lindsey
U.S., Inc. (collectively “Underwriters”) alleging breach of contract and negligence in failing to
defend and/or indemnify Seale against the Ellises’ claims. (Doc. 21). On August 29, 2011, the
Court dismissed the Ellises’ claims against Seale. This matter is now before the Court on
Underwriters’ summary judgment motion against Seale. (Doc. 38). Seale has responded. (Doc. 45).
Underwriters have filed a reply. (Doc. 49). The Court finds this matter ripe for consideration.
The standard of review for summary judgment is well established. Under Rule 56(c) of the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, summary judgment is proper “if the pleadings, depositions,
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answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there
is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a
matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.
Ct. 2548, 91 L. Ed. 265 (1986); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 250, 106 S. Ct. 2505,
91 L. Ed. 202 (1986). In deciding a motion for summary judgment, the Court must consider all the
evidence and all reasonable inferences that arise from the evidence in a light most favorable to the
nonmoving party. See Nitsche v. CEO of Osage Valley Elec. Co-Op., 446 F.3d 841 (8th Cir. 2006).
The moving party bears the burden of showing that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that
it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Enterprise Bank v. Magna Bank, 92 F.3d 743, 747
(8th Cir. 1996). Genuine issues of material fact exist when “there is sufficient evidence favoring the
nonmoving party for a jury to return a verdict for that party.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249. A party
opposing a motion for summary judgment “may not rest upon mere allegations or denials . . . but
must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at
256.
Underwriters move for summary judgment on two issues: (1) whether they have an
obligation to indemnify Seale and (2) whether they have a duty to defend Seale. At all times relevant
to this lawsuit, Seale was insured by Underwriters under a policy of insurance issued to Seale for a
period of one year from March 27, 2005. Underwriters agreed to provide coverage to Seale for
specific losses if certain conditions precedent were met. One such condition precedent was a notice
requirement. Underwriters argue that summary judgment should be granted in their favor because
Seale did not comply with the policy’s notice requirement and thus Underwriters are not required
to provide coverage. The Court finds that the indemnity issue is now moot. On August 29, 2011,
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the Court dismissed the Ellises’ claims against Seale, finding that the Ellises’ claims were untimely
and that Seale is not liable for any loss. Because Seale faces no liability in the lawsuit between him
and the Ellises, neither do Underwriters.
The second issue is whether Underwriters have a duty to defend Seale in the lawsuit brought
against him by the Ellises. Underwriters argue that they are entitled to summary judgment on this
issue because the insurance policy at issue provides no duty to defend. The pertinent policy language
states, “If legal proceedings be taken to enforce a claim against the Insured ... the Underwriters
reserve the right at their option ... to conduct and control the defense on behalf of and in the name
of the Insured.” According to Underwriters, the policy gives them a discretionary option to defend
rather duty to defend. The Court tends to agree with Underwriters that the plain language of the
policy states that they can choose whether or not they will defend the insured in a legal proceeding.
Seale offers no argument to the contrary. In fact, Seale fails to address this issue at all in his
summary judgment response. Accordingly, the Court finds that summary judgment in favor of
Underwriters on this issue is proper.
.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, the Court finds that Underwriters’ summary judgment
motion is DENIED AS MOOT as to the indemnity issue and GRANTED as to the duty to defend
issue. Accordingly, Seale’s claims against Third-Party Defendants are dismissed.
IT IS SO ORDERED, on this 30th day of August, 2011.
/s/ Harry F. Barnes
Harry F. Barnes
United States District Judge
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