Bollinger v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co.

Filing 43

ORDER DENYING 18 Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge K. Michael Moore on 1/12/2012. (rg1)

I THE I NI
N
J TED STATES DI
STRI COURT
CT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DI
STRI OF FLORI
CT
DA
Ca eNo.1 11 c 4257- M
s
: - v-1
KM
BETTY BOLLW GER,

Pl ntf,
ai if
VS.

STATE FARM M UTUAL AUTOM OBI
LE
I
NSUM NCE CO.
,
Defnda .
e nt
/
ORDER DENYI DEFENDANT' M OTI FO R SUM M ARY JUDG M ENT
NG
S
ON
-

THI CAUS c mebeo et Co r u o Dee d n' M o in f rS l r J d me t(
S
E a
f r he u t p n fn a ts to o l
mma y u g n ECF
No.1 ) Plitf fld aRepo e ( No.3 ) a d De e d n fld a Re l ( No 3 ) Th
8 . anif ie
s ns ECF
3 , n fn a t ie
p y ECF . 8 . e
M oto i no rpe f r r vi w. UPON CONSI
in s w i o e e
DERATI oft M o i , t Re pons Re y,t
ON
he ton he s e, pl he

pe tne pori oft r co d,a bei ot m ief ly a s d i t pr m ie , t Cour ent r t
ri nt tons he e r nd ng he s u l dvi e n he e s s he
t e s he
f l ng Or r
olowi
de .
I BACKGROUND I
@

On Ocobe 21,2008,Pl ntf Bety Boli rwas i ved i a m ot ve ce a ci ntwih
t r
ai if t
lnge
nvol
n
or hi l c de
t
Riha d Ar sr ng i Por St Luc e Fl i . Asa r s toft a i nt Boli ri ure physc l
c r m to n t . i , orda
e ul he ccde , lnge nc r d
ia

ij r p i a d s fei ,a d h d he e r ig a l y i ar d Ne ry ay a ltr t e a t mo ie
nu y, an n u frng n a r ann bit mp ie . al e r ae , h u o b l
i
la lt i tr nceca erf Ar sr t nde ed t Boli ra a mtequa t Ar tong' polc
ibiiy nsla
ni or m tong e r o lnge n mot
l o msr s iy
lmisi e hangef a f l a c
i t n xc
or ' l nd omplt r l s fo f ur la lt . Def ndan St t Fa m M ut l
u
e e eea e r m ut e i biiy
e
t ae r
ua

1Th fcsh r i aet k n fo De e d n ' Noieo Re v l( No 1;Pli ipsAme
e a t een r a e r m fn a ts tc f mo a ECF
) antf
nded
Co lit( No 4 ;Dee d n ' M oin f rS l r J d me t( No.1 ) a d P anifs
mpan ECF . ) fn a ts to o l
mma y u g n ECF
8 ; n litf
Res et Defnda ' M otonf SlmmayJ
pons o e nts i or l r udgme ( No.33) Al fcsaeco t edi t
nt ECF
. 1 a t r nsnz n he
.

lghtm os f vor bl t Pli tf.
i
t a a e o a n if

1

Aut o l l ur nce Compa
om bie ns a
ny,a t is r of Boli r s la lt i m a polc , a horz d
s he sue
lnge ' ibiiy ns nce iy ut i e

Boli rt ac e t ofera pr det Ar tonga f la c
lnge o c pt he f nd ovi o msr
ul nd omplt r l a e.
ee e e s
Boli er howe r di notbei ve t n
lng ,
ve , d
le he mountofmone r c ve fom Ar s
y e ei d r
m long' la lt
s ibiiy

i s rn ep o i rf ly c mp nstd h rf rt ij re s es san di t eOco e 21 2 0 mo o
n u a c r vde ul o e ae e o he nu is h u tie n h tb r , 0 8 t r
ve cl a c de . Cons que l Boli rtld a cai ag ns St t Fn m pur ua t a pr son f
hi e c i nt
e nty, lnge ie
l m ai t ae r
s nt o
ovii or

unn me /n ei me mo o itc v r g CC Co rg ' c n ane wi i h rla iiy is a c
is du d rns d t rs o ea e UM vea e' o ti d t n e iblt n m n e
)
h
polc On Nove r5,2009,Boli r sco els ntSt t Fa m apr
iy.
mbe
lnge ' uns e
ae r
opos d s tlm e pa ka t t
e e te nt c ge ha

ofer d t St t Fa m t a lt t s tl t cl m f $1 000- t polc lm i ofBoli rs UM
f e o ae r he biiy o e te he ai or 0,
he iy i t
lnge '
Cove a The s tlmen pac ge c ai d Bo lnge ' medialhit r , c r ntm e ca r c ds a
r ge.
e te t ka ont ne
li rs
c so y ure
di l e or , nd
a ls ofi ure m e ca expe e .
it nc r d di l
ns s
On Nove r 1 2009,St t Fa m r s
mbe 6,
ae r e ponde t Bo lnge ' pr pos d s tlm e by ofe i
d o li rs o e e te nt
f rng

t pa $50 t s tt Boli rscli a i tSt t Fn m . Appr ma ey one m o h lt r Boli e
o y 0 o etl
lnge ' am gans a e r
oxi t l
nt a e , lng r
fl d a lws tagans St t Fa m i Fl i sa e c tbe a e Boli rf ts wa t il d t t
ie a ui i t a e r n orda t t our c us
lnge el he s ntte o he

p lc lmi o t eUM Co ea e af r e b h rl bii i t a epoiy b sd o te ij re s
oiy i t f h
v r g fo d d y e i lt nst nc l m e n h nu is he
a y r
c
s t ne i t Oc obe 21 2008m ot ve ce a ci nt
usai d n he t r ,
or hi l c de .
Be we n J nua yandM a 201 Boli ra Stt Far e ha
t e a r
y
0, lnge nd ae m xc ngedva i uss tlm e ofer .
ro e te nt f s

On M a g 2 0 atrS aeFam ha rj ce a oh rp o o e s tlme tb Boln e , o n e f r
yl , 01 , fe tt r d ee td n te r p s d et n y lig r c u s l o
e
Boli e i onne Stt Fa m t tBoli erwo d bes eki e r con r t da a agans St t
lng r nf
d a e r ha
lng
ul
e ng xta tacual m ges i t a e
Fa m a t r s tup Stt Fa m f Boli rsba f ih c am . Thi s mst ha r onae w ih
r nd he eby e
a e r or lnge ' d at l i
s ee o ve es t d t
St t Fa m ,bec us a oxi el t ee wee l e ,St t Fn m ofe ed t pa Boli r t f l
ae r
a e ppr mat y hr
ks atr ae r
fr o y
lnge he ul

p lc l to $1 ,0 t s tl Boln e ' cam. On J l 1 , 01 Bo l g rrj ce S aeF r s
o iy i f 00 0 o e t lig rs li
mi
e
uy 2 2 0, li e ee td tt a m'
n
ofe a t c am pr e d t ti l
f r nd he l i oce de o ra .

On J n ay 1 , 01 ,aj r r tr e av r c i fvo o Boln e a a r e he d ma e
a u r 3 2 1 u y el n d edit n a r f lig r nd wad d r a g s
l
i t a ot of $ 0,
n he m mt 41 000. Due t s tofs t s n mtwa r duce t $31 764.4. On Jme 20,
o e - f , hi mot
s e d o 2, 8
t
2

2011 Pli if a nde he orgi lCompli t aleg a fr tpa t ba f t cl m ag ns St t
, antf me d r i na
ant o l e is - ry d aih ai
ai t ae
Fn m. On J y 20,
r
ul
2011 Stt Fa m r
, a e r emove t a ton t t sCour.
d he c i o hi
t
I .STANDARD OF REVI
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t ra s n he ec d, ncl ng postons
nt , e toni ly t r d nf ma i
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clr tons tpul to
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Nuc e r Ope ai Co. No.10- 96 2011 W L 1
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s u f a t s t e il f t s e a lme t f h li md r h
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ap i bl s t ntve lw whih m i hta f c t out ome oft ca e. Ale v.Tys Foods I ,
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s itl o e ie c i s p o to t e ( o mo a ts p sto wi be is t e t t ee mus b
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s- ry d at s es t n n ns a
ovier
a t i tr d. Seci 624. pr de t t E
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i urrwhe s hperon i da ed ...( t i urrnolatmptng i goodf ih t stl cai
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when,t r alt cr sanc s i coul a s d have done s , had i aced f il a hone ty
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sl

t r is i m ed a wih due r grd f he orhi i e e t .' J= cin 6 4.5 ltrsae t a,
owa d t ns
nd t
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or r
s ntr ss ' #.Se to 2 1 5 ae tts h t
* s a c tonpr ce ntt brngi a a ton unde t s s to , t de m e a t a horz d
*
A
ondii
e de o i ng n c i
r hi eci n he pm nt nd he ut ie
i tr rm us ha bee gi n 60 da 'wrte notce oft vi ai . . . on a f r pr ded by t
nsle
t ve n ve
ys itn i
he ol ton
o m ovi
he
de m e a s l sa e wih s ikiy .. . s h ot i or a i ast de rm e may r quie'
pm nt nd ha l tt t pecf t
uc her nf m ton he pa t nt
e r .'

I (mp ssa de )
d.e hai d d .
St t Far a g t t Boli r ha no fld a Ci lRe y N o i of I m e Vi a i
at m r ues ha
lnge s t ie
vi med
tce
ns r olton

Cç ' wi t eDe me to F n n ilS r ie o Stt Fnm. Ac o d n t S ae Fn m,fln
CRN' t h pm n f i a ca e vc s r ae r
) h
c r i g o tt r ii g
s h notc i a saut r condii pr ce ntt brngi a c us of a ton t r Fl i St t t s
uc
ie s tt oy
ton e de o i ng a e
c i mde orda a u e

j6 4.5 , n c n e u n l, u r j g n s o l b a r e i fv ro S aeFn m.Boln e
2 1 5 a d o s q e ty s mmay ud me t h ud e wad d n a o f tt r
lig r
r a l a t t ts ha notfld a CRN ,butar ue t ts hass tntaly comple wih Fl i
e diy dmis ha he s
ie
g s ha he
ubsn i l
id t orda

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a es 24.55, nd ha he çor lt
antf aiur o ie
houl
i
mpos d a i teihe Pli if BOLLI
e gans t r antf ,
NGER, Def nda , STATE FARM ,a bot pa teswe e a
or e nt
s h ri
r nd
ar we la r oft ver ciy ofbot cai s' Pl' Re p.De .sM ot Sum m . J, t1 (
e l wa e he a t
h l m . .s s
'
f'
.
.a 0 ECF No 3 )
. 7.
Boli ra tona l a guest tbe us s ton 624. 55 wasena t d tn t publc' i er s,' t s
lnge ddii ly r
ha ca e ec i
1
c e t he
i
i s nt e t ' hi
Cour s d fi r ly c tu 't saut t ç c
t houl t be al onsr e' he t t e o t ompls t pur e f whih i wmsena t d.' I
l
ac
ih he pos or c t
c e ' d.
at22.

I Ta a Entr ies l v. Aena Ca ualv a Str t Co. t Fl i Supr me Cour
n lt e nrs . nc.
t
s t nd lev
, he orda
e
t

e l tdt CRN rquie tunde Fl i Sttt j624.
vauae he
e rmen
r otda aues
155.TheCour noe t t
t td ha
e rc
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c ua
s ha n
e over d ol l
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hi i l e y
sa u e c nnotbe r co r d whe t r dy is fdoes notrpe i t i ur rpays
tt t a
e ve e
n he eme tel
i n f he ns e
wha i owed on t i ur nc polc durng t cte pe i . The sa u or c us of
ts
he ns a e iy i he tr rod
ttt y a e
ac i n f e r - ont a t ldn age s m pl ne r c es i o e s e e untle r ton
to or xt a c r c ua m s i y ve om nt xi t nc
i xpia i
oft sxt da wi
he i y- y ndow wihoutt pa e oft dn a owe unde t con r c .
t
he ym nt he m ges
d
r he ta t
W e fnd t t i c e tng t s sa ut y r dy f bad-at a i , t Legi l t r
i ha n r a i hi tt or eme or
f ih ctons he
sa u e
pr ded t s sxt da wi w asa l to rt t f r i tr r t compl wih t i
ovi
hi i p y ndo
as ppo tmiy o nsle s o
y t her
cai - ndlng oblgai whe a g
l m ha i
i tons
n ood-aih de ii by t i ur woul i c t
f t c son
he ns er
d ndi a e
t tc ta t lbe ft a eowe
ha on r c ua ne is r
d.

7 3So2 1 7 ,1 8 ( a 20 ) Ac od n t t eFlrd S p e Co r n c u eo a to e it
5 .d 2 8 2 4 F1 . 00 . c r i g o h o ia u r me u q o a s f cin x ss
untl i e ala,t CRN hasbe n fl wih t De rm e ofFi i Se vies a Stt Fa m .
i, ntr i he
e ied t he pa t nt
nancal r c nd ae r
n i i bec us the r m e is fdoe notrpe i t i tr rpa wha i owe on t i ur nc
s s a e s e dy tel
t
s
i n f he nsle ys
ts
d
he ns a e

polc durngt cleperod. I
iy i he tr
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Aril Il o t Unied Stt Consiuto r q r Cours t de i onl c es or
tc e I f he
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ti
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ci
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eemie eh r n su s ie o e iw, i h h kne s f h su s o u iil e iin
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a dteh r s pt t epat so wib o dn j iil e iw'a ea lz d.Mu h l v. TE HERE
n h ad hi o h ri f th li g udca rv e ' r nay e
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2 8 1 t r2 0 e h ss mitd ) t h in s r ng s y ial o c me t u sins f
h
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fna iy, fnie s , nd he xt nt o ch es u i
he le
pendsupon f t t tma
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.

d p ie te Plitf o a ij r ,j a 1 91 wll t e h r s i p o a ay e Et e c sst t e
e rv h an if f n n u y . t 2 , le h ad hp r ng n lz s çh o t o h
i
i
t
compl ni pa t ofde a ng r vi w un i c tonsf de i ng t c r ve s a e i al''I a
ai ng ry
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1 91 ( u tn Har l, 08F.da 1 5 ( mp a i o te l.
2 ) q oi g rel6 3 t 2 8 e h ss mitd )
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r ,he nie ss o n a e r o to e s s o tn e t p n 1 lig r ii g

wi t De a t n ofFn n ilSe vc s ()Boln e fl a CRN wih S ae F r a d ( )S ae
t he p rme t ia ca r ie , 2 l g r ii
h
i
ng
t tt a m, n 3 tt
Fa m r usngt cle t ç onta t lamountduet i ur a tral t polc c tonsha be n
r ef i o tr he G r cua
c
he ns ed fe 1 he iy ondii
ve e
f lild' wihi sxt da of be ng s r e wih t CRN . Ta a , 753 So. a 1 . Thes
utle ' t n i y ys
i e v d t he
lt
2d t 283
e
hypot tc c i nci a esgnii a ,a mi ult tt e iepur eoft CRN r quie nt
he ial ontnge es r i fc nt nd ndf ha he ntr
pos
he
e r me
a sxt da c epe i i t pr de Stt Fa m t a lt t r dy t st ton,t sCour c nnot
nd i y y ur rod s o ovi
a e r he biiy o eme he iua i hi
tn

sy ta Bolng rwils fe a ij r i s es c o s st t e tk t ao e n in d a o . To
a h t l e l u fr n n u y f h o h o e o md ra e he f r me to e di n
i
t c r y,Stt Fa m ha ng pai t polcy lmism oo st sc r ve s i ise ie y. ' ,t
he ontar a e r
vi
d he i i t
t hi onto r y n t ntr t l
hus he

i tn c s i n trp frrv e a dt ea p o raea t n i t d s s ti c s f rlc o s b e t
nsn t a e s o ie o e iw n h p r p it ci s o imis h s a e o a k f u j c
o
d
mi he pos
nd he e ut
matrj rs ito 2 Any c n l i t t contar woul under net pur ebehi t pr s i
te u id cin.
o cuson o he r y
-

r quie e a o y s r t e om agega e m a hi smia t t ts
e r m nt nd nl e ve o nc
m s ns p i lr o ha oughtt bepl d he e
o
aye r .

I CONCLUSI
V.
ON
Fort f r ng r as ,i i
he o egoi e ons t s

ORDERED AND ADJ
UDGED ta Dee da tsM oi nf rSu r J d me t( No. 8
h t fn n ' to o mmay u g n ECF
1)
i DENI
s
ED. I i f t r
t s urhe

ORDERED AND ADJ
UDGED ta Plitf s Ame d d Co lit (
h t anif
ne
mp an ECF No 4 i
. ) s

DI M I ED W I
S SS
THOUT PREJ CE p ru n t Fe ea Ru eo Cii Pr c d e1 ( ( )
UDI u s a t o d r l l f v l o e m 2b)1.
The Clr oft Cour i die t d t CLOSE t sca e.Al pendi motonsa eDENI A S
e k he
t s rce o
hi s
l
ng
i
r
ED
M O OT.

DO A O E E iC a est a ,lr ati-/ oJnay21.
NE ND RD R D n hmbraMi Foi ,h/ zy faur,02
mi d v

MI
CHAEL M OORE
UNI
TED STATES DI
STRI J
CT UDGE
.

c
c:

Al c
1 ouns lofr co d
e
e r

2A d tie a lsso te ç r s p'pr n i u n c sa y t i Co r c n t n o n p eu iil
eald nay i f h t d hi ' o g s n e e s r ; h s u t a hik f o rj d ca
ha
ha m t twoul r ul t et rpa t by fndi t i f ntaci n lnrpe.
r ha
d es t o ihe ry i ng he nsn
to l i
6