State National Insurance Company v. Anzhela Explorer LLC et al

Filing 203

ORDER denying 199 Motion to Alter Judgment; granting 200 Motion to Tax Costs. Judgment for Costs taxed in the amount of $ 19004.08 against Defendant Anzhela Explorer LLC. Signed by Magistrate Judge Edwin G. Torres on 10/31/2011. (EGT)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
Case No. 07-61162-CIV-TORRES
STATE NATIONAL INSURANCE
COMPANY,
Plaintiff,
vs.
ANZHELA EXPLORER, L.L.C.,
JEFF DORSEY, MARK ROSANDICH,
Defendants.
_________________________________________/

ORDER ON PENDING MOTIONS;
JUDGMENT FOR COSTS
This matter is before the Court on two post-judgment motions pending in the
case following entry of the Court’s Final Judgment.

The motions are ripe for

disposition.
First, Defendant Anzhela Explorer LLC timely filed a Rule 59 motion to alter
the Court’s Final Judgment [D.E. 199].

Briefing on the motion has now been

completed. The Court has considered the arguments raised in the motion, the response
in opposition, and the reply. The majority of the issues raised in the motion seek
reconsideration of credibility findings that the Court already made in its Findings of
Fact and Conclusions of Law. Accordingly, under Rule 59 there is no basis for the
Court to alter or amend the judgment on these bases.
Only two matters need be addressed in any detail. Defendant argues in part
that the Court’s erred in finding that Defendant breached its duty of utmost good faith

by not disclosing to the underwriter the Coast Guard’s deficiency report. Defendant
argues that it did not have the report itself or did not have it available with which to
produce it to the underwriter. Thus, Defendant contends that the Court’s findings
must be amended. The problem is that the Court’s findings are not based upon the
availability of that particular exhibit per se. Given Mr. Rosandich’s testimony, the
record shows that it is abundantly clear that he was aware throughout the process of
the vessel being inspected and repaired prior to the voyage as to the deficiencies that
the Coast Guard identified prior to issuing the hull credit. Thus, whether or not he
ever had physical possession of the particular exhibit introduced in evidence is beside
the point. Mr. Rosandich had the information and knowledge that the Court’s findings
relied upon to find that the Defendant breached its duty of disclosure prior to the
inception of the policy. And as the Defendant’s agent armed with that knowledge, he
and the owner had the duty to disclose that knowledge to the carrier’s underwriter for
the reasons fully set forth in the Court’s findings.
Moreover, the Court did not find, as Defendant suggests, that Defendant
engaged in bad faith during the underwriting process. Bad faith or intent is not an
element of the defense of violation of the duty of disclosure, against as the Court’s
Findings make clear. Simply the failure to disclose material information, or the failure
to correct material misinformation provided to the underwriter, is enough to satisfy
this defense under admiralty law.
Finally, the Court did not find, as Defendant suggests, that the absence of a
certificate of inspection per se rendered the vessel unseaworthy. To the contrary, the
Court found otherwise. The Court did find, however, that the failure to disclose the

correct status of the watertight bulkheads onboard the vessel violated the duty of
disclosure, and the failure to correct that condition rendered the vessel unseaworthy,
again even though Defendant did not engage in any bad faith. Under the law of
express warranties of seaworthiness, the unseaworthy condition by itself is sufficient
to satisfy Plaintiff’s burden of proof in this regard.
Second, the Defendant timely filed a Motion to Tax Costs [D.E. 200], to which
no timely response in opposition was filed. Upon the Court’s review of the record
submitted on the motion, the Court finds that the amounts sought are reasonable and
recoverable under 28 U.S.C. § 1920. Accordingly, the motion should be Granted and
a Judgment for costs entered.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED and ADJUDGED as follows:
1.

Defendant’s Motion to Alter Judgment [D.E. 199] is DENIED.

2.

Plaintiff’s Motion to Tax Costs [D.E. 200] is GRANTED.

3.

A Cost Judgment is hereby entered in favor of State National Insurance

Company, against Anzhela Explorer LLC, in the total amount of NINETEEN
THOUSAND FOUR DOLLARS AND 08/100 CENTS ($19,004.08), which Judgment is
in addition to the Court’s Final Judgment [D.E. 198], and for which sum let execution
issue.
DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Miami, Florida, this 31st day of
October, 2011.

___________________________________
EDWIN G. TORRES
United States Magistrate Judge