Ocean View Towers Association, Inc. v. QBE Insurance Corporation

Filing 87

OMNIBUS ORDER on Motions in Limine 34 35 36 37 38 ; Motion to Amend/Correct Pretrial Stipulation 82 ; Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice 84 ; and Ore Tenus Motion to Strike Expert Opinion or Alternatively for Continuance. See ORDER for details. Signed by Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr. on 1/4/2012. (jky)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
Case No. 11-60447-Civ-SCOLA

OCEAN VIEW TOWERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
Plaintiff,
v.
QBE INSURANCE CORPORATION,
Defendant.
_____________________________________/
OMNIBUS ORDER
On January 3, 2012, the day trial was set to begin in this case, the Court heard argument
on several matters and issued its rulings. Thereafter, a jury was selected and the case was
adjourned for the remainder of the day. This Omnibus Order follows. Accordingly, it is hereby
ORDERED and ADJUDGED as follows:
Motions in Limine
1.

Plaintiff’s First (Agreed) Motion in Limine [ECF No. 34]: Ocean View sought to

preclude evidence pertaining to the fact that its attorneys are from out of town. QBE stated that
it does not intend to introduce such evidence. Therefore, as stated in open court, this Motion
in Limine is DENIED AS MOOT in light of the parties’ agreement.
2.

Plaintiff’s Second (Agreed) Motion in Limine [ECF No. 35]: Ocean View sought

to preclude evidence as to the burden of proving damage from excluded causes of loss under the
insurance contract. QBE argued that this is not a proper in limine motion and that the relative
burdens of proof are matters for the Court to instruct the jury upon. Thereafter, in open court,
Ocean View voluntarily withdrew its motion. Therefore, in light of the withdrawal, this Motion
in Limine is DENIED AS MOOT.

3.

Defendant’s Motion in Limine to Preclude Evidence of, or References to, Claims

Handling Practices [ECF No. 36]: QBE sought to exclude evidence pertaining to its (or its
agent’s) claims handling practices, due to lack of relevance under Federal Rule of Evidence 402
and for potential prejudice under Federal Rule of Evidence 403. According to QBE, such
evidence would be relevant only to a bad-faith insurance claim, which this case does not present.
Where, as here, the only claim is for breach of the insurance contract, QBE argued that claims
handling evidence is without relevance and would only prejudice the jury. As stated in open
court, this Motion in Limine is GRANTED, subject to revisitation during the course of trial.
Should Ocean View’s counsel seek to raise this matter during the trial, counsel shall not do so in
front of the jury; instead, counsel shall request conference at sidebar.
4.

Defendant’s Motion in Limine to Preclude Evidence of, and References to, Other

Claims Against QBE, Including Affirmative Defenses Used by QBE in Other Lawsuits
[ECF No. 37]: QBE asked the Court to bar all evidence pertaining to other claims or lawsuits
against it on the basis of Federal Rules of Evidence 402 and 403. According to QBE, evidence
of prior lawsuits and claims involving QBE would be unrelated to the instant litigation and
would present a substantial risk of prejudicing the jury. As QBE points out, this case involves
claims by Ocean View pertaining to its property and its claims for coverage.

Therefore,

evidence of other claims and lawsuits against the insurer in unrelated matters likely will not
assist the jury in determining whether, in this case, QBE is liable for breach of contract. QBE
conceded, however, that it may be appropriate to allow questioning of experts regarding (a) their
prior retention by, and experience with, the insurer; (b) their financial remuneration
arrangements with the insurer; and (c) the number of hurricane claims for which they were
retained by the insurer. Both QBE and Ocean View agree that this is a reasonable limitation.
Therefore, as stated in open court, this Motion in Limine is GRANTED IN PART. Evidence of
other claims or lawsuits shall not be admitted into evidence, except to the extent necessary to
question and impeach expert witnesses as set forth above.
5.

Defendant’s Motion in Limine to Preclude Testimony and Evidence Regarding

“Matching” or “Uniformity” [ECF No. 38]: QBE sought to preclude evidence regarding the
need for the replacement of undamaged property to ensure “matching” or “uniformity” in
appearance. In the Order on Cross Motions for Summary Judgment [ECF No. 66], the Court
ruled that the insurance policy does not require QBE to cover “matching,” except as consistent

with its practice of matching a continuous run of materials such as siding, roofing, paint,
wallpaper, and carpeting.

Because the Court found the insurance policy does not cover

“matching,” there is no occasion for Ocean View to offer such evidence at trial. Therefore, as
stated in open court, this Motion in Limine is DENIED AS MOOT.
QBE’s Motion for Leave to Supplement the Joint Pretrial Stipulation
On January 2, 2012, QBE filed a Motion [ECF No. 82] seeking leave to supplement the
Joint Pretrial Stipulation to include certain deposition designations of Stephen End, a
representative of the public adjusting company retained by Ocean View to assist with its
supplemental Hurricane Wilma claim. Due to travel and work commitments in California and
Texas, QBE is uncertain that Mr. End will be in Florida and available for testimony during the
trial period. In the event he is not available, QBE requested permission to offer into the record
various deposition designations as to Mr. End. Ocean View stated in open court that it has no
opposition to this approach, provided it is given the opportunity to offer appropriate counterdesignations. In light of this agreement and as stated in open court, this Motion is GRANTED.
Ocean View’s Pro Hac Vice Motion
On January 3, 2012, Ocean View filed a Motion [ECF No. 84] to obtain pro hac vice
admission for Michael W. Duffy, Esq. As stated in open court, this Motion is GRANTED. The
Clerk is directed to provide notices of electronic filings in this case to Mr. Duffy at
[e-mail].
QBE’s Ore Tenus Motion to Strike Expert Testimony or, Alternatively, for Continuance
On the morning of trial, January 3, 2012, QBE raised an ore tenus motion in open court
to exclude certain opinions and testimony by Ocean View’s expert. According to counsel for
QBE, Ocean View has attempted to amend the expert’s hurricane damage calculations outside
the time permitted by the Rules of Procedure. Accordingly, QBE argued prejudice and sought to
strike the expert’s opinions. In response, Ocean View maintained that the changes were to
conform to the Court’s Summary Judgment Order; to eliminate certain claimed damages that
Ocean View has decided not to seek; to substitute RCV for ACV as to certain replacements that
were done; and to eliminate approximately $86,000 pertaining to roof repairs for which QBE
already tendered payment. In other words, according to Ocean View, the expert’s changes –

which resulted in a damages calculation that is more than $1.7 million less than the expert’s prior
calculation – were simply to extract out the items for which Ocean View may not recover.
In reply, QBE insisted that these changes appeared more substantive, but emphasized that there
was no way it could possibly know at this late stage for certain. Consequently, according to
QBE, striking the expert’s opinions and testimony would be the appropriate thing to do in order
to prevent any prejudice to the defense. At the Court’s inquiry, counsel for QBE alternatively
requested a continuance of the trial to allow time to depose the expert on the changes to his
calculations. As stated in open court, both the request to strike and for a continuance are
DENIED.

However, the Court has granted QBE permission to depose the expert on the

afternoon of January 3, 2012, with the option to renew its request for a continuance (to the extent
necessary in light of what unfolds during the deposition) before the beginning of opening
statements on January 4, 2012.
DONE and ORDERED in chambers at Miami, Florida on January 3, 2012.

________________________________
ROBERT N. SCOLA, JR.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Copies to:
Designated U.S. Magistrate Judge
Counsel of record