Ponce v. Life Insurance Company of North America
Filing
36
ORDER granting 30 Motion for Summary Judgment Signed by Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks on 9/28/2012. (sw)
UNI
TED STATES DI
STRI COURT
CT
SOUTHERN DI
STRI O F FLORI
CT
DA
CASE NO .II- O- V- I
8IIO CI M DDLEBRO OK SN I
TUNAC
LI
ZABETH PONCE,
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FE NSURANCE COM PANY OF
N ORTH AM ERI
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ON
ORDER O N DEFEND ANT' M OTI FOR SUM M ARY JUDG M ENT
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I . LEGAL STANDARDS
l
1 Su
. mmar Jud ntSt
y gme andar
d
z
Pu s a tt Fe e a Ru e o Ci i Pr c due 5 () a d src c u tsd cso t g a t
ru n o d rl l f vl o e r 6 c, itit o r' e iin o r n
s mmay u g n i a p o raewh r çh p e d n s d po iinsa west itro ao isa
u r j d me ts p r p it ee d e la i g , e sto , ns r o n er g t re , nd
t
a s i on tl, ogehe wiht a fda t ,i a s w t tt r i no ge nei s a t an
dmisons ie t t r t he fi vis f ny, ho ha he e s
nui s ue s o y
maeil a ta dt a t emo igp ry i e tte t aj d me ta amatro lm ' Fe R. v
tra fc n h t h vn a t s n ild o u g n s te f a ' d. Ci.
P. 6 c. is eo maeil a tsg n iewheet ee ie c i s c t a ara o a ej r c u d
5 ()An su f tra fc i e un
r h vd n e s u h h t e s n bl u y o l
rtm av r iti fv rofhen n mo ngpat. eM iev Jfe s nCf Bd o u . 9 F.d
eu
edc n a o t o - vi ry Se z . efr o f . fEd c, 3 3
y
7 9 7 2( 1hCi.1 9 )( u t Har tnv Gan s i eS nPu lg Co, F.d91 , 9( 1h
3 , 4 1 t r 9 6 q oi
ng iso . ie vl u b ' .9 3 3 91 1 t
l
Ci.1 9 ). n r l adsrc c r' c nr ln iywh n d tr n n wh te i s o l g a t
r 9 3) Ge e al itit ou ts e ta iqur e eemii g eh r t h u d rn
y,
amoin frsl l j d me ti S eh rte e ie ep e e t a s f intd sg e me tt
t o l
o
mmay u g n s ç t e h vd nc r sn s u ûce ia r e n o
wh
rqur s b s int aj r o wh te i i s o e sd dta o epat mu t r v ia ama tro
e ie u miso o uy r eh r t s o n -ie h t n ry s p e al s t f
e
lm 'An e s nv fie t Lob y I c, 7 U. 2 2 25 - 2( 9 6 .
a ' d r o . b ry b , n .4 7 S. 4 , 15 1 8 )
Ho v r i a ERI A b n ft d na c s ,h s mmayj d me ta ay i d fes a ûn
we e,n n S e e i e il a e te u r u g n n l ss ifr , s t
s
i
avey r als ns ,t dititco tst m o ea a a lat ti malt n asatilc t'Cu r
l e e e he src ur is r s n ppel e rbt
ha
ra our. r an
'
7
v Ke e Na. e v . n .No 0 - 4 9 , 05W L 8 5 40 a * ( 1hCi. r 1 , 05 .Th
. mb r tS r s I c, . 4 1 0 7 20
9 8 , t 7 1 t r Ma . 6 20 ) e
c t l s not tke e de e,but r t r e ua e t r s
our s
doe
a vi nc
, ahe , val t s he ea onablne s of an a i sr tve
e s
dm nitai
dee mi toni lght t r c dc
tr na i n i of he e or ompie b o et 'polc sa i sr t .I Thus i m oton
ld ef r he' iy' dm nitaor d
,$
a i
f rs mma yj d me i me eyt c n ut ob i telg l u sinb fr ted src c r a d
o u r u g nts r l he o d it rng h e a q e t eo e h itit ou t n
o
teu u le t o sl r u g n , u ha wh te ag n iedip t o mae ilfc e it, o
h s a tss f l
mmayj d me t s c s eh r e un s u e f tra a t x ss d
n t p y'T r e r Am. rie, n .N0 1 - 0 2 - V, 01 W L 1 4 07 ( D. a Ap . 1
o a pl. u n r . Ailn s I c, . 0 8 6 3 C1 2 1
'
5 2 8 S. Fl. r 2 ,
2 11 (u tn Cr mev M erpoia L4?l s Co, 7F. u p. 1 5 1 2( . Fl.0 6 )7
0 ) q o ig u . to ltn / n . .41 S p 2d 2 8, 27 M D. a2 0 ).
B.ERIA S a d r o ve
S t n a d fRe iw
Un e 2 U. C. 1 3 ()1( , patcp n o b n fcayi ab n ft p a ma ii ae
d r 9 S. j 1 2 a( )B) a riia t r e eiir n e eis ln y nt t
i
ac vi a ton t r c rbe isduet he u rt t r oft Polc a t e or orc a iy
i l ci o e ove neft
o r nde he e ms he iy, nd o nf ce l rf
he rght unde t t r soft polc W hie ERI doesnotpr desanda dsf r viwi
ri s
r he e m
he iy.
l
SA
ovi t r or e e ng
de sonsofpolc a nita o s t Supr meCour i Fie t ne Tie& Rubbe Co. Br h,
cii
i y dmi sr t r ,he
e
tn r so
r
r v. uc 489
U. 1 , 0 ( 98 ) stf rht red sic sa d r sf r o rswh nrv e n a ERI A poiy
S. 01 1 9 1 9 ,e o t h e itn t tn a d o c u t e e iwig n S l
c
a miitao ' d cso t 1 d n v wheet epa d e n t rn t ea mi itao ds rto ()
d n srtrs e iin:& ) e o o r h ln o s o g a th d nsrt r icein;2
(
abirr a c prci whee t pln grnt t admi srt dicei a ( hei e
r tay nd a i ous r he a a s he
nitaor s rton; nd 3) ghtned
a bir r a ca ii whe et pl ngr nt t admi sr t dic ei a t a i sr t ha
r ta y nd prc ous r he a a s he
nitaor s r ton nd he dm nita or s
ac n lc o itrs. Ca n v Aen L# I s Co, 9 F.d 1 8 ,1 9 ( 1hCi. 01 )(iig
o fit f n ee t' po e . ta
'
n . . 5 2 3 1 9 1 5 1 t r 2 0 ctn
Bu ke v Mer . # ,1 5F. d 9 6 9 9( 1hCi. 9 7 .Th Elv nhCic ie pa d do te
c ly . to L 1 3 3 , 3 1 t r 1 9 ) e e e t r ut x n e n h
Q he Cour not t tf onfitng e de on t q si ofdi a lt c tal
t es ha ç lci vi nce he ue ton
c
s biiy anno one
ce t a is eo fc p e ldn s mmayj d me t snc a a mi srtrsde iint a
rae n su f a t rcu ig u r u g n , i e n d nitao ' cso h t
rj csc ran e ie c a dc e t c n lcigp o fma n vet ls bera o a l . f
ee t e ti vd n e n rdis o fitn r o y e rhee s e s n b e' #.
'
8
Fie t t s, pr di a sx-tp an yss t gui ditit c t i r viwi a polc
r s one e t ovi ng
i se
al i o
de src ours n e e ng
iy
a i sr t ' dec son;
dm nita ors ii
()
1
Ap yted no osa d r t d tr n wh t e t ecam a mi itao '
pl h e v tn a d o ee mie eh r h li d nsrt r
s
b neisd nil d cso i S o g'(.. t c u td s g e s wih te
e ft- e a e iin s f n ' i , he o r ia r e t h
wr
e
a miitao ' d cso ) i i i n t t e e d t iq iy a d afr te
d n srtrs e ii n ; f t s o, h n n he n u r n fim h
d ii
ecson.
()
2
l t e a miitao ' d cso i fc i $ en v wr n , t nd tr ne
f h d nsrt r e iin n a t s $ o o o g' he eemi
s
#
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whe he he wa ve t d wih dic e i i r viwi cai s i not end
t r
s se
t s r ton n e e ng l m ' f ,
,
j dca iq iya drv ret ed cso
u iil n ur n e e s h e iin.
()
3
I t a mi srtrsd cso i L en v wr n 'a d h wa vet dwih
f he d nitao ' e ii n s Q o o o g' n e s se t
d
dic e i i e ewi l m s t nde e m i whehe S e s bl 'gr
s r ton nr vi ngcai ,he t r ne t r ç a ona e' ounds
r
s re i( nce r viw hi de sont rt mor defrnta abirr
uppo td t he , e e s cii mde he e ee il r ta y
a c ii sandad)
nd aprcous t r .
()
4
l n r a o a l g omd e it t n e t i ur a d r v re t e
f o e s n be r t s x s, he nd he nq iy n e es h
a i sr orsdecson;fr a ona egr
dm nitat ' ii i e s bl oundsdoexitt n de e mi i he
s ,he t r ne f
ope a e unde ac lc ofi e es.
rtd
r onfi t ntr t
()
5
I te ei n c n lc,he e dt iq iya d afr t d cso
f h r s o o fitt n n he n u r n fim he e iin.
()
6
lt eei ac n lc o itr s,h na pl h ihe dabi aya dc p iiu
fh r s o fit f nee tt e p y eg tne r t r n a rco s
r
rviw t t de son t afim orde i.
e e o he cii o fr
ny t
Ca n , 9 F. da 1 9 (iigWi imsv Belo t T lc mms,n .3 3F.d 1 3 1 3 ( 1h
po e 5 2 3 t 1 5 ctn l a . l u h ee o .I c, 7 3 1 2, 1 7 1 t
l
s
Ci. 00 :.
r2 4
Re enty,t El nt Cic tnme
c l he eve h r ui
nded t l tse oft a l s sdue t t Supr m e
he as t p he na y i
o he
e
Co r' d cso i Mer . # I s Co v Gln , 5 U. 1 5( 0 8 , ihC aldi oq eto
u ts e iin n to L n . . . e n 5 4 S. 0 2 0 )wh c s l nt u sin
c e
t Elve h Cicui' he g e d a bir r a c prci sanda d. Ca
he e nt r ts i ht ne r ta y nd a i ous t r ' pone,592 F.3d at11
'
95.
Unde t Elve h Cic ts n e d a o h,lhe e se e ofa c lc ofi t r ts d
r he e nt r ui' m nde ppr ac t xit nc
t
onfit n e es houl
m e ey be a f cor f t ditit c tt t ke i o a coun when de e m i ng whehe a
rl
a t or he src our o a nt c
t
t r ni
t r n
a nitaorsde ii wasa bir r andca i i .' d at1
dmi sr t ' c son
r ta y
prcous'I
360.M or ove ,ç hebur n r m ans
e r f
t
de e i
9
on t pl ntf t s
he ai if o how t de son wasar ta y;i i no t de e
he cii
bir r t s t he f ndant bur n t pr e is
' de o ov t
s
de ii wa nott i e by s fi e e t'I '
c son s
ant d
el-ntr s.' d.
1 1 DI
1 . SCUSSI
ON
W ih t a
t he bove- e i d r esand sa r i m i a no i t tt r çma i d
m ntone ul
t nda ds n nd, nd tng ha he e l y ndee
be un e ol d f cualis e de i t a i sr tve r or butt es t admi sr t '
r s ve a t s ues vi nt n he dm nita i ec d,
ml s he
nitaors
d cso wa wrng o a btaya dc p ii u ,he eis e wil o p e ld sl r u g n
e iin s o , r r i r n a rco s t s su s l n t rcu e l
r
mmayj d me t
a te n r l wo l, T r e v Pr de ta l s Co o , 1 - 6 5 201 W L 3 1 5 ,
s h y o mal ud' o rs . u ni l n . . fAm.No. 161 0 , 2
y
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00 1 6
a * ( D. l. uy2 2 2 (iigPit vAen L# l s Co , . 9 8 3 2 1W L 5 6 4 ,
t 3 S. F a J l 3, 01 ) ctn no . ta
n . .No 0 -01 9 , 01
34 3
a * ( . Fl. b. 5 2 1 , tr ot isa t o int d tr n whehe s
t 8 M D. a Fe 1 , 01 )Iu nt he n tn M to o eemie t r umma y u g n
r j d me t
i a o it .
s ppr pra e
I t i t ntc s LI
n he nsa a e, NA,asad i sr t oft Polc wa ve t d wih dic e i i
m nitaor he iy, s s e t s r ton n
rv e n cams S e( 3 - a 9 (il ee ly e mus p o i et eI s r n eComp n a
e iwi g li . e DE 2 1 t ) çg- mp o e ) t r v d h n u a c
-h
a y, t
hi orhe own e ns s tsa or pr ofDia lt beor be ft wilbepad.) T+pitv
s
r
xpe e, aifct y oof
sbiiy f e neis l
i ';
'
t .
Rein eS a d r f I s Co, 7F. d 1 2 , 23 - 4( 1hCi. 0 6 .Asars te e i ti
l c t n a dL e n . .45 3 2 7 1 33 1 t r 2 0 )
a
eul, v n f h s
Cour we et fnd t tLl ' de ii n wa denovowr
t r o i ha NA S c so
s
ong,t uli a equesi he e i whehe
he tm t
ton r s t r
û e s bl ' oundss
t a ona e'gr
r
uppore LW A ' uli t dec so or dif r ntywor d, t rLW A '
td
S tma e ii n; , fe e l
de whehe
S
fna denilofLTD b ft wa ç bir r a ca i ous' e Ca
i l a
ene is s ç ta y nd prci .'Se pone,592 F.3d a 11
ar
t 95.
l r a hi isd ii LI r le o t orgi r porsfom Dr Fa kast tsaedt r
n e c ng t ec son, NA e id n he i nal e t r
. r ha t t he e
wa not ng es Dr Fakasc d do frPli it t ts wasr ovei vey welfom he
s hi le . r oul
o antfl ha he
ec rng r l r
r
s g re , t ts o yc
ur e is and ha he nl ompli ofde a is es LI c i r d nor r ulst tc
aned
nt l s u . NA onsde e
mal es t ha nme
F ncePl ntf doesnota rt aleget Ll A' adm i s r ton oft Polc wasd ai ed
si
ai if
ppea o l hat N S
nit a i
he iy
' nt
t
by s fi er t' 1wilnotconsi whet t ewas a confi ofi e es .
el-nt es,' l
der
her her
ny
lct nt r t
1
0
fom t eecr
r he l tomyogr phya ne v conduci LI aloc i r Dr Fenrde ' concuson
a
nd r e
ton. NA s onsde ed . i i rs
l i
t t Pl i ifs c r lt me s ome wa ç i mal' M or ve ,LI S M e c Die t s
ha antf a pa ur l yndr
s s ni .
m
'
eo r NA'
di al r c or
r vi
e ewedt FCE a PA A,bot ofwhi h c m et t co l i t tPli ifwo d be a et
he
nd
h
c a o he ncuson ha antf ul
bl o
r t nt wor i as de a yposton.
e ur o k n e nt r
ii
I r i
na gu ngLm A' de sonunr a o bl Pl i if ele he l onDr Fa kas Aprl5,
s cii
e s na e, antf r i s aviy
. r ' i 2007
r por i whih Dr Fa ka opi t tPli tf i û ma l t aly dia ed. Event ni t
e t n c . r s nes ha a n if s d
per nenty ot l s bl '
'
ake n he
lg mos fvor bl t Pl ntf, . r 'r por ca
iht t a a e o ai if Dr Fa kas e t nnotbes i t tump t o ni ofLl A'
ad o r
he pi ons
N S
m e c ldie t s a Dr Far s r por do no t ke i t c i r ton t FCE a PAA.
di a r c or , s . ka ' e t es t a n o onsde a i he
nd
M or ve , sc uson i ba e pa ty on Pli ifsçps hi ti die s ' o whih hedoe not
eo r hi oncl i s s d rl
antf ç yc arc s a es n c
'
s
e a ae,a l r l on Pl i tf so c pli t ofpa n. Asnot d a
l bor t nd a gey
a n if wn om a n s
i
e bove,t bur n wa on
he de
s
Pli ift p ovi s tsac or pr ofPli ifsdia lt t LI
a ntf o r de a if t y oof
antf
s biiy o NA.
Alho h i ce t nl a
t ug t rai y ppea st tPli ifha s rousphysc ls m pt sr a i t he
r ha antf d e i
i a y om eltng o r
orgi di nos , ve t ngt e d ei t lg mos f vor bl t Pl ntf, NA wasf ce
i nal ag es e n aki he vi enc n he i ht t a a e o ai if LI
a d
wih contitng i or a i a t whehe Pl i ifwoul bea et r t nt wor i a s ntr
t
lc i nf m ton s o
t r antf
d
bl o e ur o
k n ede a y
c p ct .S eMil nv Ke rNa. r ie Pl na in Fl.1 F. u p. d 1 2 ,1 3 ( D.
a a iy e lma . mpe tSe vc s a tto , a, 47 S p 2 3 9 3 4 S.
F a 2 01 (ii J tv Ble Cr s t BleS ed o . I c, 9 F. d 1 3 1 4 ( 1h Ci.
l . 0 ) ct e , u o s t u hil fAl n .8 0 2 1 7, 1 0 1 t r
ng
,
1 8 ) (oligta ab n ft d na wa n tabtaya c p iiu d s t e ie c ta wo d
9 9 ) h dn h t e eis e il s o r i r nd a rco s epi vd n e h t ul
r
e
s p o t c n rr d cso ) Fu te , i t eci c le rsma h v c nr dce t efn i g
u p r a o tay e iin . rh r whl h l a rpo t y a e o ta itd h id n s
e
ni
o Dr Faka , NA' d cso t gv mo eweg tt t eo j ci d t i t eFCE,P a d
f . r s Ll S e ii n o ie r ih o h b e tve aa n h
AA, n
r viwsofisM edialDoc or i net ra bir y norc prci
e e
t
c
t s s ihe r tar
a i ous. See Gi s v Admi sr ie
p on .
nitatv
Co t eo laAi Lie , n .3 0F. p x3 9 3 ( 1hCi. 0 9 (iigBlc & De k r
mmie fDet r n s I c, 5 Ap ' 8 , 95 1 t r 2 0 ) ctn a k
t
ce
Dia îi Pl v No d, 3 U. 8 2, 3 ( 0 3)(t pa a mi itao h sn o lg to t gv
s blt an . r 5 8 S. 2 8 4 2 0 ) 6 ln d nsrt r a o b iain o ie
y
A
ate t p y iin so ii nmo eweg t'; e as Wa t v BelouhT lc mms, n .21 F.
r ai h sca ' pn o r i h.) s e lo ts . l t ee o .I c, 8
ng
'
s
Ap x 8 4, 5 ( 1hCi. 0 7 (l q eet ep a p t teb r e o tecama tt p o et a
p' 5 8 6 1 t r 2 0 ) i W h r h ln us h u d n n h li n o r v h t
s
s ei d sbld,ti i lcti t r q ie n o p o fta t e ie c b o j ci e' g Gi e
h s ia e i s mpii n he e u rme t f r o h t he vd n e e b e tv .
l. v n
t e f c s t sCo tc nnots y t tLl A' dec son t t r i t Pl i ifsLTD be ft wa
hes a t, hi ur a
a ha N S ii o e m na e antf
ne is s
um e ona e.
as bl
l CONCLUSI
V.
ON
Ha ngco i r dt a gum e t of hepa tes t r c d, ndt r l ntl a a horte ,
vi nsde e he r
n s t ri ,he e or a he eeva eg l ut ii s
t sCou tfndst tLl S de ii t de Pli tf ofLTD be isunde t Polc wasno
hi
r i ha NA' c son o ny a n if
neft
r he iy
t
ar ta y orc prci
bir r
a i ous.Furhe mor a lfnd t tLl Sde son t den Pl ntf LTD be t
t r e, s i ha NA' cii o y ai if
neks
wa ra o bl,u r j d me tnlm A' fv ri a p o rae a l e ln t a d e s h is
s e s na e s mmay u g n i w s a o s p r p it ,nd d ci e o d rs t e sue
oftmelnes
i i s.
Acc di y,ti he e
or ngl i s r by
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED t tDee d n ' Mo infrSu r J d me t DE 3 )
ha fn a ts to o mmay u g n ( 0
i GM NTED. The Cl k of Cour s l CLOSE t s c e. The Cae rCa ls he l d f
s
er
t hal
hi as
lnda l c du e or
Oc obe 3,201 i CANCELLED.
t r
2s
DO NE AND ORDERED i Cha be satW es Pa
n
m r
t 1
e h,F
ac
,t
hi
da of
y
Sep e
t mber 201
, 2.
ALD M . I
M DDLEBROOKS
UNI
TED STATES DI
STRI J
CT UDGE
Copi t Cot e ofRec d
es o: ms l
or
g or
M eover Inot t Lm A r vi
, e hat
e ewed Dr Far Aprl5 r tSwihoutdef encet pror
. kas' i epor i t
er
o i
r ews,'butneverhel smade isde er i i t i had çnotbeen pr ded wih t clni dat t
evi '
t es
t t m naton hat t
'
ovi
t he i cal a o
e ai wh E antflwoudbeu bl t pef m a t ge n ay lvel' ( 32- 1a 2)
xpl n y pli if l
na e o ror t he sde tr e l. DE 1 t .
'
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