Hallums v. Infinity Insurance Company et al

Filing 35

ORDER Adopting 21 Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation and Denying 5 Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim. Signed by Judge Federico A. Moreno on 9/21/2017. (lfs)

UN I
TED STA TES D I
STRI COU RT FOR TH E
CT
SO U TH ERN DISTRI OF FLO RI
CT
DA
M i m iDi s on
a
vi i

C as N um be 1 245 CI - O R EN O
e
r: 6- 07- V M
SHELI EA HA LLU M S,
TH

Pl i if
a ntf ,

I FI I m SUR ANC E CO M PAN Y a
N N TY
nd
I FI I A UTO I SUR AN CE CO M PAN Y,
N N TY
N
Def
endant
s.

O R DER AD O PTI M A G I
NG
STR ATE JU DG E' R EPO RT A N D RE CO M M EN DA TI N
S
O
A ND D ENY I G DE FEN DA NT S'M O TI N TO D I I
N
O
SM SS

TI E M ATTER was r f red t t Honor e J m J. O ' lva Unie Stt s
I
e e r o he
abl ol
Suli n, t d ae
M a sr t J e,f aRe ta Rec
gita e udg or
por nd
omm e ton o Def nda t ' oton t Dim is tl on
nda i n
e n s M i o s s , i ed

No
vember22.2016. The M a srt J
gitae udge fl aRe r a Re omme i ( E.21)on
ied
po t nd c
ndaton D.
June 2.2017. The Cour hasr e e t en ie f l and r c d. The Cour ha m a a de novo
t
evi w d he tr ie
e or
t s de

rviw oft is t tt ob e tonst t M a srt J
ee
he sues ha he j ci o he gitae udge' Re tand Re mme ton
s por
co ndai
p e e ,a be ng ot r i e f l a s d i t pr i es i i
r s nt nd i
he w s uly dvi e n he em s , t s
A DJU DG ED t t U nie St t M agit a e J
ha
t d a es
s r t udge J
ohn J. O ' lva s Re t a
Suli n'
por nd

Re m me ton i AFFI ED a ADO PTED.
co
nda i s
RM
nd
A NA LY SIS

Dee t ase tt tPl ntf Compli mus be dimis d wih prj c be a e
fndans sr ha ai ifs
ant t
s se t eudie c us
ea h cl i i ba e upon Pl i if s a l ton t tt Gr s Am e
c am s s d
a ntf lega i ha he ave
ndm e , 49 U. C.j301
nt
S.
06,
f ec os s t pos i lt of l s or labiiy and t e or t Le s Li lt Endor e e
or l e he
s biiy
e s i lt
her f e he s or abiiy
s m nt
consiut no addii
tt es
tonali ance cover
nsur
age.l s
n upportof t r m oton, De enda s m ak f
hei
i
f
nt
e our

p icp lag me s ( )t fld rt d crn p e ld sj dca r ve o r tswhc h v
rn ia r u nt: 1 he i -ae o tie r cu e u iil e iw f ae ih a e
e
be n ap ov by r a or a
e
pr ed
egult y gences s h as t Fl i Ofi e of l ur e Re aton
i uc
he orda fc
ns anc
gul i

(k R'; 2 t ed crn ofp i r a mi itaiej rs ito fvo sa j dc to o Pan ifs
i ' ( ) h o ti e rmay d nsrtv u id ci n a r d u iai n f litf'
O1 )
gre nce by t OI ( t Le s Li lt Endore ntpr desPl ntf a non-lus y
iva s he R; 3) he s or abiiy
s me ovi
ai if
il or

b n ft a d ( )Plitf c mz tp e alo h ru j s e rca e tcam ( u t1) b c u e a
e ei; n 4 anif a o rv i n e nu t n il n li Co n I e a s
m
c r cte s sbe wee Pl ntf a Def nda s
onta xi t t n ai i f nd
e nt .
1
.

Fied- e D octri
l Rat
ne

Defnda sc e t tPli ifscli mus bedimis d wih prj cebe aus t
e nt ontnd ha antf ams t
s se t eudi c e he
e s nc of e ch ofPl n if s c ai s i i f c a c le t t r as
se e
a
ai t f l m s n a t ha l nge o he e onabl nes oft pr m i
e s he e um
orr e c r d by D e e ntf aut obie i ur nce c r .Pl ntf c e st ts doe
at ha ge
f nda or om l ns a
ove age ai if ount r ha he s
no c l nge t pr m i am ountt tD e e nt c r f t Les orLi biiy Endor e e .
t hale
he e um
ha f nda s ha ge or he s
a lt
s m nt
Ra he ,Pl i ifc l nge t tDef nt c r s h pr m i st be n wih.
t r a ntf hale s ha
enda s ha ge uc e um o gi t

.Th fl r e docti r ogni s t twher a l sa u e ha e t ihed a s heme f
' e ied-at
rne ec ze ha
e egilt r s sabls
c
or
r e maki t rght oft r t pa i r ar t t r t he pad a ede i d by t s he e'
atng, he i s he ae- yer n eg d o he a e
i r fne
hat c m .'

S c o cov .P N o g n Ch s Ba k /.I, 9 F. D. 8 , 9 ( D. l. 01 )(iig F# ? v
a c c i .l l r a 'a e n V/.2 7 R. 6 3 6 2 S. Fa 2 4 ctn (/ / .
Soul r (W. 967 F. l
he n . ,
2d 483,1 192 ( 1h Ci.1 ' W hiet fl rt docrne woul
49 - 1 t r 992). l he ied-aed ti
)
d
ba cli s c le ng t a ualr e oft Les or Li lt Endor e e ,Pli if doe not
r am ha lngi he ct ats he
s
abiiy
s m nt a ntf
s
c le t r t is f Pl ntf cha l nges t ale
ha l nge he a e t el . ai i f le
he l ged il or na ur of t polc - na e y,
lus y t e
he i y
m l
whe he i pr des i u anc a a l l ke pi w ih pr e ntf om t s Coul and m a ot r
t r t ovi
ns r e t l. n e ng t ec de r
hi
'
t
ny he
cours t have consi ed t i ue,t Courtdeclnes t appl t f l r e docti E. ,
t hat
der he ss he
i
o
y he ied- at
r ne. g.

Al z v Seec Porf i Se vi n I . No.1 cvman ar . l t tolo r cig, nc,
4- 22586,2015 W L 1 50,at* ( D.
3591
2 S.
Fl M a . 201 , k onv US.Bank NA. 44 F.Supp.3 1 0 ( D.Fl.201 .Asnot
a. r 24, 5)Jac s .
.
, ,
d 21 S. a 4)
ed
by Magitae J
srt udge O' lva i hi Re ta Rec
Suli n n s por nd omme i ($
ndaton i
R&R',t is i not
' he sue s
)

wheherDef nt ca c r a s cii r t f ls or la lt cove a Ra he ,t is i
t
enda s n ha ge pe fc ae or e s ibiiy
r ge. t r he s ue s
wheherDef dant ca lgaly c r e f any ls orlabiiy cove age Ac or ngl t Cour
t
en s n e l ha g or
e s i lt
r . c di y, he
t
de est m oto ba ed on t f l d- a e doc rne.
ni he
in s
he ie r t
ti
II.

Doct ne of Pri ar A dm i s i Juri di i
ri
m y
ni tratve
s cton

De e
f ndant a g t t Pl i if s cl i s s d be di m i s d unde t doc r ne of
s r ue ha a ntf
a m houl
s se
r he
ti

prmar a nitai j iditon. dW hee t is s rie rquie t expets
i y dmi srtve urs ci û r he s ue asd e r he
rie

a miitaie a e ce ,fd rlc u t o n d ci e t e ecs t ej rs ito a d r f s t
d n srtv g n is e e a o rs he e ln o x rie h u idcin n eu e o
h a tecam b s donted crn o p i r j rs cin'T mpaI tr tt 7 Lt P ' i v
e r h li a e
h o tie f rmay u idito . a
'
n e sae 5 d s p .
h
Fl GasT ans si Co. 294 F.Supp.2d 1 1 ( . Fl 2003) Defnda snot t
a.
r mison ,
277, 279 M D. a.
. e nt e hat

teOl h sp i r j rs ito o e tes tigofis rn ertsa d Fo ialw r q ie t a
h R a rmay u id ci n v r h etn
n u a c ae n lrd a e urs h t
a i ur d c l
n ns e halenge a r e by pr di w rte no i t t i u a e c pa c pl ni t
at
ovi ng it n tce o he ns r nc om ny, om ai ng o

t OI a s ki rviw t ough Fl i s Ditit Cours of Appe .Se Fl Stt j
he R, nd ee ng e e hr
orda' src
t
al e a. a.
627. () Thus Dee
371 1.
, fndant a g t tt OI woul be be ts t t ha e Pli ifs
s r ue ha he R
d
s uied o ndl antf'
gre nce r ga di t Le s Li biiy Endor e e .The docti ofprma y a i sr i
iva
e r ng he s or a lt
s m nt
rne
i r dm nitatve

j rs it n i ia pl a l i t i c s b c u e a wi t e fld rt d crn ,t e Plitf s
u idci s n p i be n hs a e e a s , s t h ie -ae o tie h an if
o
c
h
c l nge i nott t Def nda s r t f t Le s Li lt Endor e e .The gr va e of
hale
s
o he
e nt ' a e or he s or abiiy
s m nt
a m n
Pl i t f s Com pl i i w he her t Les or Li biiy Endor e e cha ge by D e e
a n if
a nt s
t
he
s
a lt
s m nt r d
f ndant i
s s
per i s bl u rt Gr s A m end e ,notw he he Pl i if s c le
m s i e nde he ave
m nt
t r a ntf ha l nge i pr r a or ng
s ope cc di
t t a i s r tve pr e e r r d by Fl i l . A c or ngl t Cour deni s t
o he dm ni ta i
oc dur equie
orda aw
c di y, he
t
e he

motonbasdont docrneofprmaya nitai j iditon.
i
e
he ti
i r dmi sr tve urs ci
1
11.

W het t Lessor Li lt Endorsem entprovi Pl ntf a non-lus y benef t
her he
abiiy
des ai if
il or
i

D e e nt next ar
f nda s
gue t Pl i i fs c a m s m us be di m i s be aus t Le s
hat a ntf ' l i
t
s s ed c e he s or

Li lt Endore ntpr de covea ora t vey las abe i.Dee nt obec t t
abiiy
s me ovi s rge t he r e t neft fnda s j t o he
3

Re tan Re om me i be aus i ûf ed on whet ra e r
por d c
ndaton c e t ûoeus
he n xtemel na r i e pr tton
y row nt r e ai
oft polcy s
he i uppos dl r nde i i il or was plusbl i t a ta t w ihout a yi
e y e rng t lus y
a i e n he bsr c , t
ppl ng

Fo ia ssa d r sf ri u a ep iyitr rtto 'Ob . t (nena q o ain o te ) l
lrd ' tn a d o ns rnc ol nep eain. j a 5 i tr l u tto s mi d .n
c
'
t
es e e,De e nt as t sCour t a y t t ne sofFl i i ur nce c r tc tu ton
s nc
f nda s k hi
t o ppl he e t
orda ns a
ontac onsr c i
t a e s t s fi i y ofPl ntf s Compl i :d-he r l va quesi i whe he a sngl
o ddr s he u fcenc
ai if
ant s- e e nt
l
ton s
t r i e
s e ro e ssunde whih cove a c d be f
c na i xit
r c
r ge oul
ound unde t e s m e .'Ob . t
r he ndor e nt ' j a 4.
A t t m oton t dim i s s a t Cour ' a ys s i ge r ly lm ied t t f
he
i o s s t ge, he
ts nal i s ne a l i t o he our

c ne s oft c
or r
he ompl nta t at che e bis Gr s man v Natons
ai nd he ta d xhi t . o s
.
i bank 225 F. 1
,
3d 228,

1 1( 1hCi.2000) TheCou tmus ac e t non- ngpa t swelpl de fcsa tue
23 1 t r
.
r
t c pt he
movi ry' l- ea d a t s r
and co tue t compl nti t lg mos f vor bl t t tpary. Car lo v Am .Ai lne ,
nsr he
ai n he i ht
t a a e o ha
t
ave l .
ri s

l . 31 F.Supp.2d 1 46,1 ( D.Fl 2004)( tng Unie St e v Pe oAe o e l ,
nc, 5
3 348 S. a.
cii
td ats . mc r plx, nc.
1 F. 1 1 ( 1hCi.1 )(n b ) Tos vi amoton t dimis t c ant
95 3d 234, 236 1 t r 999) e anc. ur ve
i o s s ,he ompli
m us con an f cualalega i t noug t r s a rg t r if a
t ti a t
l tons û
e
h o aie i ht o ele bove t s c atve l l''
he pe ul i eve .

BelAtantcCor v Twombl 550 U. 5 555 (
l l i p .
y,
S. 44,
2007) fW he t r aewel- e d fcua
.s n hee r
lplade a t l
al gai ,aco ts d a s et i ve a iy a t n de e m i whehe t pl usbl gi
le tons
ur houl s um her r ct nd he t r ne
t r hey a i y ve

rs t a e tte n o rle. As c o v l b l 5 6U. 6 2 67 (0 )
ie o n n i me t f eif' h rh . q a , 5 S. 6 , 9 2 09 .
l
'
The quesi bef e t s Cour i whe he t wel- e de f t alega i i
ton
or hi
t s
t r he
lpla d acual l tons n
Pl i tf s Com pl ntpl us bl g ve r s t a e il m en ofr le . Att ssag t Cour' r e
a n if
ai a i y i i e o n ntte t e i f
hi t e, he
ts ol

i n tt is e ac v rg d caain.S e Ob.a 7 (i- h R&R s o d h v itrrtd te
s o o su o ea e e lr t
o e j t sf e
gl
h ul a e nep ee h
c r c asam at rofl ba e on islngua ,notPli ifs lgalconc usons' The Le s
onta t
te
aw s d
t a
ge
antf e
l i .'
)
sor
li biiy Endor e ents a e i pe tne pa t û s a tonalc r ge w ila y t da a
-a lt
sm
t t s n r i nt r : s
Thi ddii
ove a
l ppl o m ges
your l s bec es l ly oblga e t pa t t ars f om a a e l ly r l t d t a l s
es or om
ega l
i t d o y ha i e r
nd r ega l e a e o os

c rd unde yourpolc '(mpha i omit .AsM a srt J
ovee
r
iy. e
'
ss ted)
gitae udge O' lva noe u
Suli n td, nder

4

Pa4 A oft polc t i ur rwilonl pa da esf whih t i ur i S e l la e.
l
he i y, he ns e l y y mag or c he ns ed s i galy ibl '
l
'
R&R a 1 1 Thus i a a ci ntr s t i da a f whi t i ur i notl gal labl
t 2- 3.
, f n c de e uls n m ges or ch he ns ed s
e ly i e,
t n t Le s Libiiy Endor e e woul no ti rbec us i onl pr de c r e f
he he s or a lt
s m nt
d t rgge
a e t y ovi s ove ag or
da a s t kl s o be es l galy o i a e t pa t ta i e f om a a e l aly r l t t a
m ge he te s r com e l blg t d o y ha r s r
nd r eg l e a ed o

l sc rdunde ghelpolc 'I a l Aec di y,t Cour deni t Deenda s moton
os ovee
rt
iy. d. t 3. or ngl he
'
t es he f nt' i
t dimis be aus Pl ntf salegai t tt Le s Libiiy Endor e e i onl ti ge ed
o s s c e ai if l ton ha he s or a lt
s m nt s y rg r
whe t i ur i lgaly la e - t e vi a i t Gr ve Am e e - plusbl gi s
n he ns ed s e l ibl her by oltng he a s
ndm nt a i y ve
rs t a e il m e ofr le .
i e o n ntte nt e i f
A . W het t Lessor Li lt Endorsem ent i poses the dut t def
her he
abiiy
m
y o end,t
hereby
m aki t polcy non-lusory
ng he i
il

D e e nt a gue t t k n i t l s or la lt endor em e pr de no die t
f nda s r
ha '
eve f he e s i biiy
s nt ovi d
rc

c r f via i l s la lt i silc e sa be i i t ti pr e t t ls orfom
ove age or c rous es or ibiiy, t tl onf r
neft n ha t ot c s he e s r
t c tofde e ng s cli t ough t dut t def nd t ta ieswhe a cli i as e td
he os
f ndi uch a ms hr
he y o e ha rs
n am s s re
a i t a l s or' M oton a 1 Howe , r yi on Pl i ifs aleg i t t t Le s
gans
e s .'
i t 3.
ver el ng
antf ' l aton ha he s or
Li lt Endor e e w oul notcove a l s ' own neglge , i i pl usbl t tDe e nt
abiiy
s m nt
d
r es or s
i nce t s a i e ha f nda s
woul not be l galy oblga e t de e a cl i bas on t e
d
e l
i t d o f nd
am
ed
he ndor em e . A c r ngl t
s nt co di y, he
Cour d e t m oton bas on t dut t de end.
t eni s he
i
ed
he y o f

I
V. Unj te i
us nrchmentcai
lm

Fial De e d n s a g e t a Plitf s u j s e re me tcam mu tb ds s e
nl
y, fn a t r u h t an if n u t n ih n li
s e imis d
be aus t i ur nc polcy c tt es a con r c t t gove s t r g s be w e n t pa tes
c e he ns a e i onsiut
t a t ha
m he i ht t e he ri .

Ob . t2 Be a eteCo r fn ta aplu il se ro e sswh r b t Le s rLib ly
j a 0. c us h u t ids h t a sbe c nai xit ee y he so a ii
t
Endor em ent pr des no cover
s
ovi
age f l or labiiy, t n t e
or ess i lt he he ndore e woul no be
s m nt
d t

5

i u asp 4 oft conta t Ac di y,t Cour de e t moton ba e on De e nt '
nclded
al he
r c . cor ngl he
t nis he
i
sd
f nda s
a gum e ofa e s i conta t Acc di y,i i
r
nt n xi tng
r c . or ngl t s
A DJU DG ED t tD e e nt ' oton t D i m i s i DEN I .
ha f nda s M i o s s s
ED
DON E AN D ORD ER ED i Cha ber a M i i Fl i t s
n
m s t am , orda, hi

of Se e ber
pt m

2017.

FED ERI A .M O REN O
UN I
TED STA TES Dl R I J D G E
S CT U
Copi f ni he t
es ur s d o:
U nied St t s M agit a e J
t
ae
s r t udge J J O ' lvan
ohn . Suli
Couns ofr c d
el e or

6