Tober et al v. Transamerica Life Insurance Company

Filing 19

ORDER Remanding Case to State Court and Denying Plaintiffs' Request for Attorney's Fees; granting 4 Motion to Remand to State Court; denying 4 Motion for Attorney Fees; The Clerk of Court is directed to remand this cause to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, FL. This case is closed. All pending motions not otherwise ruled upon are denied as moot. Signed by Judge Patricia A. Seitz on 6/25/2012. (ral)

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UNITED STA TES D I STRI C O URT CT SO UTH ERN DISTRI T O F FLO R I C DA CA SE N O .12216l3- V- TZ/ M ON TON Cl SEl Sl CYNTHI TOBER,i vi l and, A ndi dualy I I TO BER,i vi l RV N ndi dualy, Pl ntf s ai if , VS. TRAN SA M ERI LI I SUM N CE CA FE N COM PAN Y,fk/ TM N SAM ERI / a CA OCCI EN TAL LI m SURAN CE D FE COM PAN Y, Def endant. / O R DER REM ANDING CA SE TO STA TE C O URT AND DENYING PLAINTI FFS' REO UEST FO R ATTO RN EY ' FEES S THIS M ATTER cam ebef e t Courtupon Pl ntfs'M oton t Rem and and f Recover of or he ai if i o or y Atore sFee .DE41Uponarviw o t moto pa r a t NotceofRemo a d ume s t n y' s ( . e e fhe in pes nd he i val nd oc nt a t c d t e o, f nda tha n m e isb de ofs ta he her t De e n s ot t t ur n howi b apr ponde a e o t e d nc t t ng, y e r nc f he vi e e, ha t eamou i c tove s e e ds$7 000. ex usv ofi e e t ndc t.The e or ,h Cour wil h ntn on r ry xc e 5, 00, cl ie ntr s a oss r f e te t l r m an hi a tonba kt s a ec t Addii l , heCou t il ny Pl n if 'r que t oral ne s e dt s c i c o t t our. tonaly t r w l de ai tf s e s f tor y' f ees. L BACK G R OU ND Thidiput rs ou ofpl nif' amstatherl t m c ei urnc iyts ua e s s eaies t aitfscli h t i ong-er ar ns a epolc tns rnc i p iy' r quie De e an t pa f c r t y r c vea a a sse lvig f ciiy i l ng s le olc ' e r s f nd t o y or a e he e ei t n s itd i n a lt ncudi kild ) c r prvi dbylc ns dprcial s a me pr paai byac ri dnurtonit ( 11a ae o de ie e a tc nures nd al e rton e tfe tii s.DE - t 6-) Pl ntfsmaiti t t en nt e c dt i urnc iybyfiigt rmipa nt Ld) 8. ai if nan ha Def da bra he he ns a epolc aln o e t yme . 1 . 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J J Addii l Def tonaly, endantass st t pot i am ountofator sf Pl ntf swillkel i ert hat he ental t ney' ees ai if l i y ncur t oug s hr h ummayj gme a tilas e e dst a unti conr ry. g#..Pli if sek r ud nt nd ra lo xc e he mo n toves f l antfs e r ma o t eg oun t tt a e nd n h r d ha he moun i c tov r yd no e e d$75,00a ofhed t ofr moval t n on r e s oes t xc e 0 s t ae e , i usveo at ne sfe .( 4) Pl nif d notdipuetatt patesaedi re.g#.. ncl i f tor y' e s DE . aitfs o s t h he ri r ves f 1 11 D I USSI N 1. SC O 4.Le St gal andar d a Puru tt 28U. C.j l 2() fder dititc t ha orgi l urs ci ofalci l s an o S. 33 a, e al src ours ve i na j iditon l vi a tonsbewe ciie ofdif r ntsatswher t amou i c to s e e $75, ci t en tz ns fe e t e e he nt n on r very xc eds 000. Se e Mo rs v Alsat I m.Co.228F. 1 ,1 ( lhCi. ) Thepat ivokigt Couts r ion . lt e nde , 3d 255 261 1 t r2000. ry n n he r' j iditonha t bur no esa ihi s j c mat j rs ci Wheet a nti c toves urs ci she de f tbls ng ube t teru iditon. r he mou n onr ry i nots fed i t com pl nt t r ovi part m us es ablsh by apr s pecii n he ai , he em ng y t t i eponder ance oft evi he dence t ttea ti c r erye e stej idito mi mum.Roev Mihei N Am.I .61 ha h moun n ontov s xc ed h urs cinal ni . c ln , nc, 3 F.d 1 3 058,1 62 ( 1h Ci.201 ) The Elve t Cicui a horz a c tt ma ras bl 0 1t r 0. e n h r t ut ies our o ke e ona e deductonsand i er i nf encesdw hen a r ovi def d em ng endantm akess fcf ualalegatonses abls ng pecii act l i t i hi j rs cin't tica sppor wihevi nc Pr tav Kole C,pPl aI I .608F.d7 75 u idito 'ha t n u t t de e. ek . tr ' az L nc, / . 3 44, 4 2 ( 1h Ci.201 . Whe t j idito a t i notfcaly a rntfom t c ait 1 t r 0) n he urs cinal moun s a i l ppae r he ompl n, ûdlfnda t mayad tt ro afda t, clrto ,orohe doc me tton't etbls ta t ee ns l mi hei wn fi vis de aains t r u nai 'o sa ih h t r ovali pr . 1 at755.A ny doubtr di t appr i enessofr ovalm ustbe r ol em s oper d. egar ng he oprat em es ved a ai ta c ptngrmo j rs ci a i fvo ofrma Ale v Chrse ry, 7F.d 1 0, g ns c e i e valu iditon nd n a r e nd. ln . itnbe r 32 3 29 1 ( 1hCi.2 ; a ov US. rwa ,Ic.2 U. DitLEXI 6681 2008W L 39 0, 293 1 t r 003)f z . Ai ys n , 008 S. s. S 4, 2643 a *l( D. a. 26,20 . t S. Fl Aug. 08) Ad ton l t Elve hCic tha ma cla t t(a c tsa y i o t amou -ndii aly,he e nt rui s de e r ha ( J our' nalss f he ( nti contover y r r entf es on how m uch i i contover y att tm e ofr oval not l er.' r s equiem ocus sn r s he i em , at ' Prt ,608F. a 751 Sir n k v Tr out Fi ci Cor , 6F. 945, ( lhCi. 0) eka 3d t ; e mis i . ans h nan al p.21 3d 949 1 t r200 . As a gener rul f ur pot i beneft m ay not be t al e, ut e ental is aken i o consi aton i det m i ng t nt der i n er ni he am ounti cont over y w hen a pl ntf s n r s ai if eekst r o ecoverunpai beneft underan i urancepolcy and d is ns i do no c le et vai t oft polc Se Tr ee 'ls anc Co. Gr n l 1 4F. 950 es t halng he ldiy he iy. e av lrs n ur e v. eefed, 5 2d , 952( t Ci.l . Thus t a 5h r 946)1 ,he moun i c to ryi no t fc val oftepolcybu onl t t n onrves s t he a e ue h i t y he dam agesact l i red att tm eofr oval Si ai v. at Farm M ut ualy ncur he i em . ncl r St e ualAut obieI om l nsur.Co. , 20l W L27 1 46823 a *2( D. a J ne1 20l1 (iigTr elr'Is anc Ct.1 F. a 9 ) , t M. Fl. u 4, ) ctn av e s n ur e ?, 54 2d t 52). #.Moto rRe nd info ma Her Pl n if 'da ge a t tme ofr valdi note e d $75,00. The a nti e, aitfs ma s t he i emo d xc e 0 mou n c t ov r y i nots cii d i t Co pl i a t r o e, he bur n i on Def da t e t bls i on r e s s pe fe n he m a nt nd, he ef r t de s en nt o s a ih t by apr eponder ance oft evi he dence. Roe, 613 F. at1062. l s z 3d n upportofr oval Def em , endantf ed an il ' El ent Cic thasa pt , a bi ng pr ede ,decsonsoft Fit Cicui ha d downpro The ev h r ui do ed s ndi ec nt ii he fh r t nde ir t Oco e 1 1 81 Bo n rv Prc a d 6 F.d 1 0 ( 1hCi. 98 ) o tb r , 9 . n e . ih r , 6l 2 2 6 1 t r 1 1. z eCo an alg sta çthsi a ato f rd ma e i e c s o Fite Th u a d( 50 0 Th mplit le e h tt li s n cin o a g s n x e s f fe n o sn $1 ,0 ) l Dolr bu ls ta S v nyFieTh u a d( 7 ,0 )Dol r a o ted t o ti fl ge l ieo atre s las te s h n e e t- v o s n $ 50 0 l s s f h ae f hs in xcusv f ton y ' a i fe ,neeta dc sswi rse tt e c panif'DE 1 la 5 !1. e s itrs n ot t ep c o a h lit . ( - t , 1 h f' act i anal i andestm at t i Pl ntf Cynt aToberlvesherexpec ed lf expect uaral yss i es hat f ai if hi i t ie ancyoft ee hr y r,heva u ofhe c am f b eft unde t i ur nc polc c c ae a ar eof$1 0pe da ea s t l e r l i or en is r he ns a e iy, alultd t at 0 r y, i$11 02179, xcusveofat ne sfe .DE l2a 3- .Dee n esi tst tiPlitf r n s 4, . e l i tor y' e s ( - t 41 fnda t tmae ha f aniflwi Tober lves hi expec ed lf expect i s t ie ancy of 3. year t val ofhi cl m f beneft undert 9 s, he ue s ai or is he i ua epolc cac ae a art of$1 pe da ,i $1 082.2, xcusveofator y' fe .Ld. ns rnc iy, lultd t ae 00 r y s 40, 9 e l i t ne s e s l a 4- 1 Thus Defnda mant nsta tea t 5. , e nt i ai h t h moun i c rverywihrs tt bohPli if i t n onto s t epec o t antfs s $25 1 71( 1 0 .9+$1 08 9 ,wela e$75, . 4,04. $1 4,217 40, 2.2) l bov 000 Def endants cont i t t am ount i cont overs i cal at based on Pl ntf s'lf ' enton hat he n r y s cul ed ai if ie expect ancy i t oft val oft cl m satt tm e ofr ovali w ihoutm ert l i wel- etl nsead he ue he ai he i em s t i. t s ls ted t t am ounti contover i det m i att tm eofr oval notl er.Pret 608 F. at751, hat he n r sy s er ned he i em , at ka, 3d * Tr ee ' I s r ce Co. 1 4 F.d a 95 ;Sige v Bank sLfe ( Cas t Co. 2011U. Dit av lr s n u an ,5 2 t 2 e l. er / f ual ' y , S. s. LEXI 1 76, t*3( D. a. v.1 , 1.TheCour h cac ae t vaueoft cai a t S 500 a S. Fl No 8 201 ) t as lultd he l he l ms the tm eofr ovalbas on t r evantf sagr t by t par i Speci l t par i agr t ; i em ed he el act eed o he tes. scaly, he tes ee hat ()Pl ntfscai $1 pe da i be isunde hei ur epolc ( Pli if' amsaes be t a ai if l m 00 r y n neft rt ns anc iy;b) antfs cli r u jc t atnda elmi tonpei '()Pli if weeadmit t t asse lvi fclt onNo mbe o e - y i nai rod, c antfs r F ted o he sitd i ng a iiy ve r 1 20lla ()t c ewasrmov dt fdea cout i27, l .Ass h,acorngi tetn- y 2, ; nd d he as e e o e rl rAprl 20 l uc f t i n h e da elm i i perod,hecl m perod f hepur eofdet m i ngt am ounti contover yatt tm e i naton i t ai i ort pos er ni he n r s he i ofr ovali fom N ovem berzz,20114untlAprl27,2012. A t al l58dayspass f om N ovem ber em sr i i ot of ed r 22,201 t oug Aprl27,2 1 Theeor,t a ti c r ryatt tmeo e alwa 1 hr h i 01 . rf e he moun n ontoves he i fr mov s 3 i ur nc polc pr desf a l dayelm i to perod, whih i t numbe ofda att sar of The ns a e iy ovi or oi nain i c s he r ys he t t e c n sn h mesa n e dt q ai frb n t .DE 11a 1 1 Un e tep lc a is ei ti c s, n e ah urig o ty ede o u ly o e eks ( - t 7. d rh oiy tsu n hs a e o c f Pl n if saye i anuri homef mo et nt days t y qualfedf rbe isa ar t of$1 pe da aitfs t d n sng or r ha en ,he ii o neft t ae 00 r y. 4 ai if wer adm itd t t a ssed lvi f lt onN ove be 1 ,2011 A ss h,f t i i t tnpl ntfs e te o he s it i ng aciiy m r2 . uc acorng n he e da elm i tonpe i durngwhih Pl ntfswe eno enild t havebe ft pad u rt i ur nc polc t y i nai rod i c ai if r t tte o ne is i nde he ns a e iy, he cl m pe i be onN ove be 22, 1 ai rod gan m r 201 . $1 80 ( 0 x1 da ) Plitf frat al $31600frbot Pli if. Thia 5, 0 $1 0 58 ys per anif o ot of , o h antfss s moun doe not t s e e $ 0 xce d 75,00. H ow ever, ef D endantalo arguest heator sf Pl ntf sw illkel i s hatt t ney' ees ai if l i y ncurpur ngt s sui hi c s t o s mmayj dgme a ti soul b i ud di c c ai t a unti c to ry. ae hrugh u r u nt nd ral h d e ncl e n alultng he mo n onrves S he gener r e i t ator T al ul s hat t neysf do notcountt ar t am ounti contover y unl t ar ees ow ds he n r s ess hey e alowed f by sat eorcontact' Federat ut l Co.v. cKi l or t ut r .' edM ual ns. M nnonM ot s, LC, F. 805, or L 329 3d 8 n.4( 1hCi.200 .Wihr pe tt t cai hee,Fl i Iw per t Pl nif t rc r 08, 1 t r 3) t es c o he l ms r orda a mis aitfs o e ove ras bl at n sfesi t yprval s eFl Stt j627. butt is e i wheher f t e ona e torey' e f he e i, e a. a. 428, he su s t , or he pur posesofdet m i ngt am ounti contover y, he ator sf i r asoft dat ofr oval er ni he n r s t t ney' ees ncur ed he e em s oul b i cl ed ora I t r a ona e a t n y' f est oug ti l The e i co lc i c e l w h d e n ud l of he e s bl tor e s e hr h r a . r s nfi tng as a onteis Se Lotdr idl P..v Cr atv Compou ,LLC, 0W L204488 a * ( D. h sue. e t Fre an4 A . e ie nds 201 9, t 4 S. Fl Apr21 201 ( di ta at ne fe g neae atrr val ann ce tdj iditont t a. . , 0) hol ng h t tor y e s e rtd fe emo c ot rae urs ci ha waslc ngathetmeofrmova)Rogatnsyv Meto ianLfèI s r Co.2009U. DitLEXI a ki t i e l; i k . rpolt / n u . , S. s. S 1 40 a ( D. a Oc. 200 (a )(ii Walemye v Norhwe tr Mut lLfels r Co. 00 2, t S. Fl. t26, 9) s me ctng t r . t se n ua nu. , 20 WL 41 07 9663,a * ( . Fl.Fe 2,2007) butc Hal v Am.Se .I .Co.20 U. Dit t 2 M D. a b. ); f l . c ns , 09 S. s. LEXI 642 ( D.Fl J .23, )(sumi t taras bl a unto alat ne sfe ae S 23 S. a. ul 2009 a s ng ha e ona e mo f l tor y' e s r icl ed i t a n ud n he moun i c to ryl. t n on r ve s ) I t i t case,t Cour need notr n he nsant he t eacht sisue becauseDef hi s endanthasnotm etisbur t den of e t bls n by a pr pon r nc o t e e de e t a ou of r s bl a t ne s f e t a s a i hi g, e de a e f h vi nc , he m nt ea ona e tor y' e s h t Pl n if 'c ai tfs ouns lw ili uri t s c s pr e t ti l The e de e De e n f l d c e ni g e l nc f hi a e oce ds o r a . vi nc f nda t ie onc r n s parisdo notaddr swhehe i i a opraef Pl ntfst a e et rcli i or t r ch The te es t r t s ppr it or ai if o ggr gat hei ams n der o ea tej rs ito a mi mu Whi ia per ta a ge ainij siidh r b cu etep riss e t e fre h uidcin l ni m. l t p as h t g rg to s utfe ee e a s h ate e k o no c e t rrght underasngl i ur ncepolc t Cour nee notdecdet sis a r m a i r quiede whe hei i s i e ns a iy, he t d i hi sue s e nd s e r ven n e ua i t a ounti contove s i t a e t val tng he m n r ry n he ggr gae. ator sf consit ofa decl a i f om Enr que Ar a ltgaton part i t M i iofi of t ney' ees ss ar ton r i ana, ii i ner n he am fce J den Bur LLP,es i a i t am ountoff Pl ntfs'counselw ili or t tm tng he ees ai if l ncurltgatng t s cas and ii i hi e, exhi t t et s fcaly prntout fom Pl ntf s'couns ' fr webst a m oton f ator s bis her o, pecii l i - s r ai if els im ie, i or t ney' f fl by Pl ntfs'couns i a cl acton,and an or gr i i part an awar of f t ees ied ai if el n ass i der antng, n , d ees o Pl n if 'cou eli t cl s ac i ai tfs ns n he as ton. Howe r t e de i r val ofM r Ar a' a fda t i ve , he vi nta y ue . an s fi vi s ques i tonabl gi is s f er ng nat e as M r.Ar s fr r es s t Def e ven t el-s vi ur ana' i m epr ent he endanti t s cas n hi e. M or eover M r. r ssat ent i t afi tast Pl ntf s'couns ' houry r t and t num ber , A ana' t em s n he fdavi o ai if els l ae he ofhour he can expectt expend ltgatngt scas ar s s o ii i hi e e pecul i andconcl or Fi l D ef atve us y. naly, endant f l t poi t f aw ar i cas t ar si iart t i antcas t asss t Courti det m i ng ais o nt o ee ds n es hat e m l o he nst e o it he n er ni t r onabl houry r e and t am ountofhour Pl ntf s'counselcan expectt expend. he eas e l at he s ai if o 6 Ass tf t ab e,hecai swe ev ue a $316 asoft edaeofr mov .De e a ha e orh ov t l m r al d t ,00 h t e al f nd nt s f l t m eetisbur ofesabls ng t am ountofator sf Pl ntf couns can r onabl aied o t den t ihi he l ney' ees ai ifs el eas y e c t i urltg tngt sc e Thust Cou t lrma dt sc et saeco tf lc ofs j c xpe to nc iiai hi as. ,he rwile n hi as o tt ur ora k ube t matr u iditon. te j rs ci C.M olnfo Ator y' Fe s to r t ne s e l teiMoto f Re nd, ai if alose at ne sfe .( 4a 9 1 .Th Co t l n h r in or ma Pl ntfs s e k tor y' e s DE t - 01 e urwil deny Pl ntfs'r ai if eques .An awar ofator sf i di etonar See I CO USA,I v.Til I t d t ney' ees s scr i y. M nc. te ns. Co o n . 7 9F. u p. 3 2 l 2 ( . Fl.1 9 ) Th r i n b ssf rteCo rt fn ta . fMin, 2 S p 1 2 , 3 4 M D. a 9 0 . ee s o a i o h u to id h t Def endantact unr onabl or i bad f t i r ovi t scas par i arl gi t cont cti ed eas y n aih n em ng hi e, tcul y ven he li n aut iy concem i het hort ngw herpos -em ovalator sf s dbei uded i det m i ngt am ount tr t ney' ees houl ncl n er ni he 6 udgeCohn' or e g a tnga t ne sfest Pl ntfs'c eli a t c e whih i a e bit J s d r r n i tor y' e o ai if ouns n noher as , c s n xhi t o M r Ar na' deca ai i nothel ulbe us i conc nsacls aci t t o isf e,r r d ca sc e t . a s lr ton,s pf ca e t er a s ton ha, n t ac equie ls ouns l o s pendmor tmeltga i t Plitfs couns lwils e i ii tng han an if' e l pendon t i tntc e he nsa as . 6 i contover y. Thus Pl ntf s'm oton t r and i deni t t ext i s n r s , ai if i o em s ed o he ent t eeksator sf and t ney' ees cOs s t. 1 1.CO NCLU SI N 1 O Fort r he easonss f t above,D ef et orh endanthasf l t es abls by a pr aied o t i h, eponder ance oft he e d c t tt a unti co r rye ee $75,00,e l ieofi e es a c t. e e or , vien e,ha he mo n ntove s xc ds 0 xcusv ntr t nd oss Th r f e t Cour w ilr and t scase back t t El he t l em hi o he event J ci Cicui i and f M i iDade Count h udi al r t n or am y. Accor ngl i i di y, t s ORD ERED t hat ()Pl nif'Moi f Re nda f Re veyofAtor y' Fee ( 4)i GRANTED 1 aitfs ton or ma nd or co r t ne s s DE s s el ast Pl ntf sr ol y o ai if' eques f r and. l i DEN I ast Pl ntf s'r t or em ts ED o ai if eques f ator sf t or t ney' ees and cos s. t ( TheClr ofCour i DI 2) ek ts RECTED t r o emandt sc s t t Elve hJ di a Cic ti hi au e o he e nt u cil rui n and f M i iDade Count Fl i or am y, orda. ()Thi CASE I CLOSED. 3 s S ( Alpe ngmoi no ohe wier eduponar DENI ASM OOT. 4) l ndi tons t t r s ul e ED P DONEAND ORDERED i MimiFlrd ,hsW V d yo Jn , 01 . n a , oiati a fu e2 2 < PATRI A A . EI Z CI UN I TED STATES DI STRI JUD GE CT cc: Honor e A ndr M .Si ont abl ea m on A1 couns ofr d l el ecor

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