Zambrano et al v. Vivir Seguros, C.A.
Filing
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SECOND AMENDED ORDER. Signed by Judge Darrin P. Gayles (ssd)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
Case No. 16-cv-22707-GAYLES
KEVIN ZAMBRANO and
LONGOBARDO LOZADA,
Plaintiffs,
v.
VIVIR SEGUROS, C.A. f/k/a/ SEGUROS
CANARIAS DE VENEZUELA, C.A.,
Defendant.
____________________________________/
SECOND AMENDED ORDER
THIS CAUSE comes before the Court on Specially Appearing Defendant’s Motion for a
Rule E(4)(f) Hearing to Vacate Maritime Attachment, and in the Alternative, to Post a Special
Bond in Lieu of Attachment Under Rule E(5)(a) (“Motion”) [ECF No. 10]. The Court heard
argument from the parties on August 5, 2016, and again on August 11, 2016. After reviewing the
Motion, Plaintiffs’ Response [ECF No. 12], Defendant’s Reply [ECF No. 19], the record, and the
applicable law, the Court granted Defendant’s Motion [ECF No. 22]. Thereafter, the Court
issued an Amended Order [ECF No. 31] following additional briefing and argument by counsel.
On November 22, 2016, Defendant filed yet another motion for clarification [ECF No. 68] based
on its inability to post a bond in Venezuela, despite Defendant’s specific request to do so in its
initial Motion. In support of its motion for clarification, Defendant submitted a ruling by the
Venezuelan Maritime Court, which held, in part, that only a plaintiff may request a judicial bond
under Venezuelan law [ECF Nos. 68-1 & 73-2]. Plaintiff does not dispute the holding of the
Venezuelan Court. Accordingly, the Court hereby amends its previous orders granting
Defendant’s motion to vacate the maritime attachment for the reasons that follow.
I.
BACKGROUND
This case involves a dispute regarding insurance coverage of the motor yacht “FREE
WATER” (the “Vessel”), which sank to the bottom of Venezuelan waters on May 22, 2015.
[ECF No. 1 ¶ 7]. Passengers and crew managed to escape the sinking Vessel by use of an
inflatable auxiliary boat. [Id.] At the time of the sinking, Plaintiffs Kevin Zambrano and
Longobardo Lozada—residents and nationals of Venezuela—were the exclusive owners of the
Vessel, for which they had purchased insurance coverage from Defendant Vivir Seguros—a
Venezuelan company—on November 24, 2014, by paying $5,074.00 in insurance premiums by
wire transfer to Defendant’s account in the West Miami, Florida, branch of Intercontinental
Bank. [Id. ¶ 6]. The insurance policy was effective from November 14, 2014, to November 14,
2015. [Id. ¶ 5]. Plaintiffs filed a claim for the coverage limit of $430,000 on May 22, 2015. [Id.
¶ 8]. After five months of investigation, Defendant denied Plaintiffs’ claim on November 17,
2015, stating that Plaintiffs had breached a warranty under the insurance policy by towing an
auxiliary boat in violation of the policy and in violation of Venezuelan law. [Id. ¶¶ 9–11].
Plaintiffs requested reconsideration of the coverage denial by letter on December 16, 2015,
explaining that the towing of the auxiliary boat did not violate any policy warranties and that no
Venezuelan laws had been violated by use of the auxiliary boat. [Id. ¶ 12]. Defendant confirmed
its denial of coverage on February 12, 2016. [Id. ¶ 13].
Plaintiffs filed the instant action on June 27, 2016, for breach of the insurance policy [Id.
¶¶ 14–23] and sought a writ of maritime attachment in the amount of $562,900.00 pursuant to
Rule B of the Supplemental Rules of Admiralty and Maritime Claims of the Federal Rules of
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Civil Procedure [Id. ¶¶ 24–29]. On June 28, 2016, Plaintiffs filed an Emergency Motion for
Issuance of an Order to Issue Process of Maritime Attachment and Garnishment on an Ex Parte
Basis [ECF No. 5], which the Court granted on June 30, 2016 [ECF No. 6]. On July 22, 2016,
Garnishee Intercontinental Bank held $200,994.69 subject to the Court’s Process [ECF No. 9
¶ 3]. Defendant filed the instant Motion on August 2, 2016, seeking a hearing under Rule E(4)(f)
to determine Plaintiffs’ entitlement to attach the funds.
II.
LEGAL STANDARD
The Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions
of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that “[i]f a defendant is not found within the
district . . . , a verified complaint may contain a prayer for process to attach the defendant’s
tangible or intangible personal property—up to the amount sued for—in the hands of garnishees
named in the process.” Fed. R. Civ. P., Adm. Supp. R. B(1)(a). “Whenever property is arrested
or attached, any person claiming an interest in it shall be entitled to a prompt hearing at which
the plaintiff shall be required to show why the arrest or attachment should not be vacated or
other relief granted.” Adm. Supp. R. E(4)(f) (emphasis added). “Whenever process of maritime
attachment and garnishment or process in rem is issued[,] the execution of such process shall be
stayed, or the property released, on the giving of security, to be approved by the court or clerk, or
by stipulation of the parties, conditioned to answer the judgment of the court or of any appellate
court.” Adm. Supp. R. E(5)(a) (emphasis added). If the parties are unable to stipulate to the bond
amount, “the court shall fix the principal sum of the bond or stipulation at an amount sufficient to
cover the amount of the plaintiff’s claim fairly stated with accrued interest and costs.” Id.
“Federal admiralty law allows a plaintiff to seize assets and bring suit wherever such
assets may be found precisely because, while other assets may be available, plaintiffs may
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encounter difficulties in tracking them down.” Aqua Stoli Shipping Ltd. v. Gardner Smith Pty
Ltd., 460 F.3d 434, 444 (2d Cir. 2006), overruled on other grounds by Shipping Corp. of India
Ltd. v. Jaldhi Overseas Pte Ltd., 585 F.3d 58 (2d Cir. 2009). “The purpose of a Rule B
attachment . . . is two-fold: ‘first, to gain jurisdiction over an absent defendant; and second, to
assure satisfaction of a judgment.’” World Wide Supply OU v. Quail Cruises Ship Mgmt., 802
F.3d 1255, 1261 (11th Cir. 2015) (quoting Aqua Stoli, 460 F.3d at 437–38). The plaintiff has the
burden at a Rule E(4)(f) hearing to show the following: “(1) that they have a valid prima facie
admiralty claim against the defendant; (2) that the defendant cannot be found within the district;
(3) that the defendant’s property may be found in the district; and (4) that there is no statutory or
maritime bar to attachment.” Ms Adele Schifffahrtsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG v. Wonderland
Int’l Corp., No. 10-20963-CIV, 2010 WL 8932403, at *3 (S.D. Fla. Apr. 12, 2010) (citing Aqua
Stoli, 460 F.3d at 445). If the plaintiff fails to meet its burden, the district court must vacate the
attachment. See Aqua Stoli, 460 F.3d at 445. While the plaintiff is not required to prove its case,
it must meet a prima facie standard. See Chiquita Int’l Ltd. v. MV BOSSE, 518 F. Supp. 2d 589,
592 (S.D.N.Y. 2007).
The district court also has equitable discretion to vacate an attachment. See McDermott
Gulf Operating Co. v. Con-Dive, LLC, 371 F. App’x 67, 68–70 (11th Cir. 2010) (citing Aqua
Stoli to affirm the district court’s use of “an equitable exception to the general rule upholding
maritime attachments”); see also ProShipLine, Inc. v. Aspen Infrastructures, Ltd., 585 F.3d 105,
113 (2d Cir. 2009) (“Even with an attachment secured in conformity with Rule B, equitable
vacatur pursuant to Rule E may nonetheless be in order.”). While the scope of the district court’s
equitable vacatur power has not been defined by the Eleventh Circuit, the Second Circuit has
held that equitable vacatur is appropriate under any of the following conditions: “1) the
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defendant is subject to suit in a convenient adjacent jurisdiction; 2) the plaintiff could obtain in
personam jurisdiction over the defendant in the district where the plaintiff is located; or 3) the
plaintiff has already obtained sufficient security for the potential judgment, by attachment or
otherwise.” Aqua Stoli, 460 F.3d at 445; see also Williamson v. Recovery Ltd. P’ship, 542 F.3d
43, 52 (2d Cir. 2008) (stating that “we have not yet had occasion to determine the full scope of a
district court’s vacatur power”). “The inherent power to adapt an admiralty rule to the equities of
a particular situation is entrusted to the sound discretion of the district judge.” Greenwich
Marine, Inc. v. S. S. Alexandra, 339 F.2d 901, 905 (2d Cir. 1965). The defendant bears the
burden to establish any equitable grounds for vacatur. See Aqua Stoli, 460 F.3d at 445 n.5.
III.
ANALYSIS
A. Plaintiffs’ Prima Facie Admiralty Claim
Plaintiffs here have the burden to show the following: “(1) that they have a valid prima
facie admiralty claim against the defendant; (2) that the defendant cannot be found within the
district; (3) that the defendant’s property may be found in the district; and (4) that there is no
statutory or maritime bar to attachment.” Ms Adele Schifffahrtsgesellschaft, 2010 WL 8932403,
at *3 (citing Aqua Stoli, 460 F.3d at 445). The Court finds that Plaintiffs have met their burden.
First, Plaintiffs have shown a valid prima facie admiralty claim for breach of insurance
contract against Defendant. A contractual claim gives rise to admiralty jurisdiction under 28
U.S.C. § 1333 when “the principal objective of a contract is maritime commerce.” Norfolk S. Ry.
Co. v. Kirby, 543 U.S. 14, 25 (2004). The court must look to the contract to determine “whether
it has reference to maritime service or maritime transactions.” Id. at 24 (citation and internal
quotation marks omitted). “However, because prejudgement attachment is such a severe remedy,
it is important to first determine whether a contract is, in fact, a maritime contract warranting
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maritime attachment.” Williamson, 542 F.3d at 48. Plaintiffs here allege that Defendant breached
their maritime contract for maritime insurance. [ECF No. 1 ¶ 1]. “[I]t is well settled that a suit on
a contract of marine insurance falls within our federal admiralty jurisdiction.” Morewitz v. W. of
Eng. Ship Owners Mut. Prot. & Indem. Ass’n (Lux.), 896 F.2d 495, 498 (11th Cir. 1990); see
also New Eng. Mut. Marine Ins. Co. v. Dunham, 78 U.S. (11 Wall.) 1, 35 (1870) (finding that
federal jurisdiction exists over policies of marine insurance).
Here, the parties are in agreement that whether Plaintiffs have stated a valid prima facie
claim is governed by Venezuelan substantive law. [ECF No. 10 at 7]; [ECF No. 12 at 5].
Defendant argues that Plaintiffs have failed to state a valid prima facie claim because they have
failed to file suit in Venezuela or to indicate definite plans to do so. [ECF No. 10 at 9].
Defendant further argues that no claim in arbitration exists under the contract and that, therefore,
exclusive jurisdiction lies with the Venezuelan maritime courts [Id. at 10–11]. Finally, Defendant
argues that this Court’s attachment is void under Venezuelan law and public policy because it
was not approved by the Venezuelan insurance regulator and because Plaintiffs failed to submit
their petition for attachment within ten days to the Venezuelan maritime court. [Id. at 12–15].
The Court is not persuaded by any of these arguments, as they are procedural—not substantive—
rules that are not relevant to this Court’s determination of a valid contract claim for purposes of a
valid Rule B maritime attachment. It is clear from the record that Plaintiffs proposed arbitration
to Defendant on June 20, 2016, prior to filing this lawsuit, [ECF No. 12-1 at ¶ 6], and that
Plaintiffs have stated a prima facie claim for breach of insurance contract in their Complaint
[ECF No. 1]. Defendant’s arguments regarding arbitration claims, Venezuelan maritime courts,
and Venezuelan insurance regulators are unavailing with respect to this Court’s analysis of Rule
B.
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Second, Defendant Vivir Seguros cannot be found within the district. Third, Defendant’s
bank account through Intercontinental Bank has been found in the district. Finally, there appears
to be no statutory or maritime bar to the attachment in this case. Accordingly, Plaintiffs have met
their burden of showing a prima facie admiralty claim. The Court must next turn to Defendant’s
arguments for vacatur of the attachment.
B. Defendant’s Equitable Vacatur Claim
Even where the plaintiff has presented a prima facie claim for attachment, the district
court has discretion under its equitable powers to vacate the attachment. See McDermott, 371 F.
App’x at 68–70. The defendant bears the burden to establish any equitable grounds for vacatur.
See Aqua Stoli, 460 F.3d at 445 n.5. Equitable vacatur is appropriate in cases where “the plaintiff
can obtain in personam jurisdiction over the defendant in the district where the plaintiff is
located.” Id. at 445. Stated another way, vacatur “may be warranted when the defendant can
show that it would be subject to in personam jurisdiction in another jurisdiction convenient to
the plaintiff.” Id. at 444 (emphasis added).
Various district courts have extended this equitable vacatur power to situations where the
plaintiff and the defendant are both present in the same foreign jurisdiction and subject to its
jurisdiction as well. See, e.g., H.K. City-Dragon Shipping Co. v. Benxi Iron & Steel (Grp.) Int’l
Econ. & Trading Co., No. 09-5345, 2009 WL 2526219, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 19, 2009)
(vacating maritime attachment where both parties were present and subject to jurisdiction in
China); OGI Oceangate Transp. Co. v. RP Logistics PVT. Ltd., No. 06-9441, 2007 WL 1834711,
at *7 (S.D.N.Y. June 26, 2007) (vacating maritime attachment where both parties were present
and subject to jurisdiction in Kolkata, India); Transfield ER Cape Ltd. v. STX Pan Ocean Co.,
No. 09-1250, 2009 WL 691273, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 17, 2009) (vacating maritime attachment
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where both parties were present and subject to jurisdiction in Seoul, Korea); cf. McDermott Gulf
Operating Co. v. Con-Dive, LLC, No. 09-0206, 2009 WL 1537871, at *6 (S.D. Ala. May 29,
2009) (vacating maritime attachment where both parties were present and subject to jurisdiction
in Mexico), aff’d, 371 F. App’x 67 (11th Cir. 2010). But see ProShipLine Inc. v. Aspen
Infrastructures Ltd., 609 F.3d 960, 969 (9th Cir. 2010) (finding that Aqua Stoli’s “limited
scenario allows for equitable vacatur only when the plaintiff could obtain in personam
jurisdiction over the defendant in the federal district where the plaintiff has its most significant
presence”); Flame S.A. v. Indus. Carriers, Inc., 24 F. Supp. 3d 493, 511 (E.D. Va.) (“Equitable
vacatur does not permit a Court to vacate an attachment to a foreign jurisdiction.”), aff’d sub
nom. Flame S.A. v. Freight Bulk Pte. Ltd., 762 F.3d 352 (4th Cir. 2014).
The district court’s inherent equitable powers permit it to “adapt an admiralty rule to the
equities of particular situation.” See Greenwich Marine, 339 F.2d at 905. In adapting the
admiralty rules to the instant case, the Court first looks to the purpose of maritime attachment.
One of the primary reasons for Supplemental Rule B is that “[a] ship may be here today and gone
tomorrow, not to return for an indefinite period, perhaps never. Assets of its owner, including
debts for freights . . . within the jurisdiction today, may be transferred elsewhere or paid off
tomorrow.” Polar Shipping Ltd. v. Oriental Shipping Corp., 680 F.2d 627, 637 (9th Cir. 1982).
Indeed, “a ship’s ability to dock, unload cargo, and fill its hold with goods intended for another
destination—all within 24 hours—imposes tremendous pressure on creditors desiring to attach a
vessel or property located aboard.” Schiffahartsgesellschaft Leonhardt & Co. v. A. Bottacchi S.A.
De Navegacion, 732 F.2d 1543, 1547 (11th Cir. 1984), on reh’g, 773 F.2d 1528 (11th Cir. 1985).
“Federal admiralty law allows a plaintiff to seize assets and bring suit wherever such assets may
be found precisely because, while other assets may be available, plaintiffs may encounter
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difficulties in tracking them down.” Aqua Stoli, 460 F.3d at 444. “Maritime attachment is a
prejudgement mechanism used by parties in admiralty cases to secure jurisdiction over an absent
party and to obtain security for potential judgment where the absent party’s assets are transitory.”
Williamson, 542 F.3d at 48.
Here, Plaintiffs have not attached a transitory vessel. Instead, they have attached the bank
account of Defendant located in this district in an attempt to gain jurisdiction over Defendant and
ensure satisfaction of any judgment they may obtain regarding the insurance contract dispute.
See World Wide Supply OU, 802 F.3d at 1261 (citing Aqua Stoli, 460 F.3d at 437–38). While
Plaintiffs have notified Defendant of their intention to submit their claim to arbitration, they have
done little else—if anything—to prosecute their case in the Venezuelan court system. This case
involves the sinking of a Venezuelan Vessel owned by Venezuelan Plaintiffs insured by a
Venezuelan Defendant pursuant to a contract governed by Venezuelan law. While it is true that
“American courts have long and consistently held that admiralty jurisdiction was well-founded to
enforce the judgments of foreign admiralty courts,” Vitol, S.A. v. Primerose Shipping Co., 708
F.3d 527, 534 (4th Cir. 2013), there is no foreign judgment here to be enforced. Rather, the case
is in its earliest stages. Plaintiffs and Defendant are all present in the same jurisdiction, and
Defendant is subject to in personam jurisdiction in the maritime courts of Venezuela. Venezuela
is the most convenient jurisdiction for Plaintiffs because all of the events took place in
Venezuela and involved Venezuelan actors and witnesses. Balancing these equities, the Court
finds that vacatur of the writ is warranted.
IV.
CONCLUSION
Accordingly, it is
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Defendant’s Motion [ECF No. 10] is GRANTED
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as follows:
1. The attachment ordered on June 30, 2016 [ECF No. 6] is VACATED.
2. The Complaint is hereby DISMISSED without prejudice. Plaintiffs may proceed
with their claims in the appropriate Venezuelan Court.
3. This action remains CLOSED for administrative purposes, and any pending motions
are DENIED as moot.
DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Miami, Florida, this 24th day of January, 2017.
________________________________
DARRIN P. GAYLES
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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