Zurich American Insurance Company v. LCG Logistics, LLC et al
Filing
67
ORDER granting 59 Motion for Summary Judgment filed by Defendant/Third-Party Defendant Truck Centers, Inc.: For the reasons thoroughly articulated in the attached Memorandum and Order, the Court GRANTS TCI's motion for summary judgment (Doc. 59) as to all claims against TCI, including Count VII of Zurich's amended complaint (Doc. 40) and Counts I and II of LCG's amended third-party complaint (Doc. 54). The Clerk's Office shall "terminate" TCI as a party on the docket sheet. At the conclusion of the case, the Clerk's Office shall ENTER JUDGMENT in favor of TCI and against Zurich (on the main complaint) and in favor of TCI and against LCG (on the third-party complaint). This Order sets an August 15, 2 013 deadline for Zurich and LCG to take action as to Universal and Ceja/Nieto (see Order for details), or the claims against those parties will be dismissed for want of prosecution. Finally, the Order directs counsel for Zurich and LCG to consider c ontacting Judge Frazier's chambers to schedule a settlement conference (an opportunity they waived earlier). The discovery and dispositive motion deadlines have elapsed; trial remains set to commence at 9:00 am, September 30, 2013. Signed by Judge Michael J. Reagan on 7/23/13. (soh )
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
ZURICH AMERICAN INS. CO.,
)
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
vs.
)
)
LCG LOGISTICS, LLC,
)
UNIVERSAL CARRIERS, INC.,
)
SILVIA CEJA (d/b/a Nieto’s Transport), )
and TRUCK CENTERS, INC.,
)
)
Defendants. )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LCG LOGISTICS, LLC,
)
)
Crossclaim Plaintiff,
)
)
vs.
)
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UNIVERSAL CARRIERS, INC., and
)
SILVIA CEJA (d/b/a Nieto’s Transport), )
)
Crossclaim Defendants.
)
Case No. 12-cv-0635-MJR-PMF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LCG LOGISTICS, LLC,
Third-Party Plaintiff,
vs.
TRUCK CENTERS, INC.,
Third-Party Defendant.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
REAGAN, District Judge:
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A.
INTRODUCTION AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
This case involves a shipment of Eddie Bauer blue jeans which went missing in
Southern Illinois, en route from Texas to Ohio. Zurich American Insurance Company
sues as the subrogated insurer of Eddie Bauer’s successor, Everest Holdings, LLC.
Zurich’s December 2012 amended complaint names four Defendants:
(1) LCG
Logistics, LLC (LCG), (2) Universal Carriers, Inc. (Universal), (3) Silvia Ceja, d/b/a
Nieto’s Transport (Nieto), and (4) Truck Centers, Incorporated (TCI). Zurich alleges
that LCG, Universal, and Nieto were interstate motor carriers or freight forwarders,
within the scope of the Carmack Amendment. 1
This Court enjoys subject matter
jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. 1337 (based on the Carmack Amendment claims) and 28
U.S.C. 1367 (as to the related common law claims). See, e.g., Indemnity Ins. Co. of North
America v. Hanjin Shipping Co., 348 F.3d 628, 632 (7th Cir. 2003).
The amended complaint alleges as follows. LCG, a freight broker, contracted
with Eddie Bauer to transport 1652 cartons of blue jeans from Laredo, Texas to
Groveport, Ohio. The contract required LCG to maintain cargo liability insurance and
provided that LCG would be liable for the full actual loss resulting from any damage,
The Carmack Amendment, 49 U.S.C. 14706, “created a nationally uniform
rule of carrier liability concerning interstate shipments.” REI Transport, Inc. v.
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., 519 F.3d 693, 697 (7th Cir. 2008), quoting North
Am. Van Lines v. Pinkerton Sec. Sys., Inc., 89 F.3d 452, 454 (7th Cir. 1996). Under
the Carmack Amendment, a carrier of an interstate shipment is liable to “the
person entitled to recover under the receipt or bill of lading,” plain and simple.
The person entitled to recover can sue either the delivering carrier or the
originating carrier for the actual loss or injury to the property caused by any
carrier in the course of the interstate shipment, and the carriers can “accurately
gauge, and thus insure against, any liability” they may face in agreeing to carry
something. REI, 519 F.3d at 697, citing 49 U.S.C. 14706(a)(1).
1
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injury, or delay in the shipment.
Without Eddie Bauer’s knowledge, LCG hired
Universal to take the shipment from Texas to Eddie Bauer’s Ohio facility. Universal
received the shipment in good condition in Texas (see bill of lading, Exhibit C to
amended complaint at Doc. 40). LCG and/or Universal failed to deliver the shipment
to Eddie Bauer in Ohio.
The complaint further alleges that while hauling the shipment, the tractor (being
driven by Universal) broke down in Southern Illinois.
The “tractor unit was
transported to TCI … in Mt. Vernon” for repair (Doc. 40, p. 5). “On information and
belief,” Nieto took control of the container of jeans and transported it to the TCI facility,
without Eddie Bauer’s knowledge or consent (Id., p. 6).
While the container was at a
TCI lot (sometime between July 14 – 19, 2011), it was removed or stolen. Eddie Bauer
incurred roughly $260,000 in damages from LCG, Universal and Nieto’s failure to
deliver the shipment. LCG, Universal and Nieto refused demands to pay this amount
to Eddie Bauer.
Ultimately, Zurich paid this amount to Eddie Bauer’s successor
(Everest) under an insurance policy. Zurich seeks to recover that amount in this action.
Zurich’s amended complaint contains claims for breach of contract against LCG
(Counts I and II), breach of obligations under the Carmack Amendment by LCG,
Universal and Nieto (Counts III, IV and V), and breach of bailment by Nieto and TCI
(Counts VI and VII).
LCG filed a crossclaim against Universal and Nieto.
The
amended crossclaim (Doc. 41) alleges that Universal and Nieto failed to deliver the
shipment as required by a separate agreement, entitling LCG to roughly $260,000 or
indemnification if LCG is found liable to Eddie Bauer for the value of the lost shipment.
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LCG also filed a third-party complaint against TCI which, as amended March 11, 2013
(Doc. 54), asserts bailment and negligence/contribution claims (i.e., to the extent LCG is
found liable to Zurich, TCI is liable to LCG for contribution).
Jury trial is set before the undersigned District Judge on September 30, 2013, with
a final pretrial conference September 20, 2013. To date, no one has appeared, answered,
or otherwise responded on behalf of Universal or Nieto. Five months ago, LCG secured
a clerk’s entry of default, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(a), against
Universal and Nieto on its crossclaims against those two parties (see Docs. 51-53). 2
The discovery and dispositive motion deadlines have elapsed (see Doc. 20). One
motion is pending – TCI moves for summary judgment on both counts of the thirdparty complaint LCG filed plus Count VI of Zurich’s amended complaint (Doc. 59, with
supporting briefs at Docs. 60 and 65). LCG and Zurich filed memoranda opposing
TCI’s motion (Docs. 63 and 64). For the reasons stated below, the Court will grant TCI’s
motion. Analysis begins with the applicable legal standards.
B.
STANDARD GOVERNING SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 governs motions for summary judgment.
Summary judgment should be granted if “the movant shows that there is no genuine
dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of
law.” Anderson v. Donahoe, 699 F.3d 989, 994 (7th Cir. 2012), citing FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a).
The docket sheet does not reflect a Rule 55(a) motion for clerk’s entry of
default by Zurich on its claims against Universal and Nieto contained in the first
amended complaint (Doc. 40).
2
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A genuine issue of material fact remains “if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury
could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Serednyj v. Beverly Healthcare, LLC,
656 F.3d 540, 547 (7th Cir. 2011), citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248
(1986).
Summary judgment has been described as the “put up or shut up moment” in
the case, at which “the non-moving party is required to marshal and present the court
with the evidence she contends will prove her case,” evidence on which a reasonable
jury could rely. Porter v. City of Chicago, 700 F.3d 944, 956 (7th Cir. 2012), citing
Goodman v National Sec. Agency, Inc., 621 F.3d 651, 654 (7th Cir. 2010).
In assessing a summary judgment motion, the district court views the facts in the
light most favorable to, and draws all reasonable inferences in favor of, the non-moving
party. Anderson, 699 F.3d at 994; Righi v. SMC Corp., 632 F.3d 404, 408 (7th Cir. 2011);
Delapaz v. Richardson, 634 F.3d 895, 899 (7th Cir. 2011). Before the nonmovant can
benefit from this favorable view of the evidence, though, he must first actually place
some evidence before the court. Montgomery v. American Airlines, Inc., 626 F.3d 382,
389 (7th Cir. 2010).
C.
ANALYSIS OF TCI’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
TCI seeks summary judgment on LCG’s and Zurich’s bailment claims, plus
LCG’s contribution claim (labeled as a “negligence” claim in the amended third-party
complaint, Doc. 54, p. 3). Illinois common law defines a bailment as “the delivery of
goods for some purpose, upon a contract, express or implied, that after the purpose has
been fulfilled they shall be redelivered to the bailor, or otherwise dealt with according
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to his directions or kept [until] he reclaims them.” In re Midway Airlines, Inc., 383 F.3d
663, 671 (7th Cir. 2004), quoting Spirit of Excellence, Ltd. v. Intercargo Ins. Co., 777
N.E.2d 660, 670 n.1 (Ill. App. 2002). To prevail on a bailment claim, the plaintiff must
demonstrate each of the following: (1) an agreement to create a bailment, (2) the actual
delivery or transfer of exclusive possession of the property of the bailor to the bailee;
and (3) and acceptance of exclusive possession by the bailee. Midway, 383 F.3d at 671;
Accord Spirit, 777 N.E.2d at 670, n.1, citing Kirby v. Chicago City Bank& Trust Co., 403
N.E.2d 720, 723 (Ill. App. 1980).
In Indemnity Ins. Co. of North America v. Hanjin Shipping Co., 348 F.3d 628, 637
(7th Cir. 2003), the Seventh Circuit (applying Illinois law) articulated the necessary
elements of a prima facie case for bailment as: (1) an express or implied agreement to
create a bailment, (2) delivery of the property in good condition, (3) acceptance of the
property by the bailee, and (4) the bailee’s failure to return the property (or the return of
the property in damaged condition). Once the plaintiff has made this showing, “there
is a presumption of bailee negligence that may be rebutted if the defendant-bailee
presents ‘sufficient evidence to support a finding that the presumed fact did not exist
and that the defendant was free from fault.’” Indemnity, 348 F.3d at 637-38.
Turning to the case at bar, TCI contends that neither LCG nor Zurich has shown
that a bailment existed, and LCG has no proof that TCI was negligent (Doc. 59, p. 2).
TCI says neither LCG nor Zurich can establish the first, second, or third requirements of
a bailment. TCI tenders an affidavit from Julie Klebba, the general manager of TCI’s
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Mt. Vernon facility (Doc. 60-1). Ms. Klebba attests to the following facts, inter alia (id.,
emphasis added):
→
On July 14, 2011, a 2005 Freightliner Conventional was towed to
TCI’s Mt. Vernon facility due to a breakdown. “The tractor was not
connected to a trailer.” The tractor was owned by Universal Carrier.
→
TCI mechanics determined that the tractor needed a new or rebuilt
differential. Melissa Gomez of Universal was notified of the need for the
repairs, and she authorized the repairs.
→
TCI employees were not informed that a trailer being pulled by
Universal was going to be brought to the Mt. Vernon TCI facility. TCI
employees are trained to inform truck drivers that TCI takes no
responsibility for any trailers parked on the lot while tractors are serviced.
Additionally, at the relevant time, TCI’s service desk had a large sign that
cautioned drivers coming for repair work that TCI was not responsible for
items stolen from customer’s vehicles.
→
On July 19, 2011, the driver of the Universal tractor reported that a
trailer had been stolen from the TCI lot, and the police were called in to
investigate. This was the first notice that TCI had that the Universal
driver had brought a trailer on to TCI’s property.
LCG urges the Court to completely disregard the Klebba Affidavit, because it
does not contain evidence which would be admissible at trial. More specifically, LCG
asserts that Ms. Klebba failed to aver that she had personal knowledge of the facts and
policies delineated in the affidavit, that the affidavit contains inadmissible hearsay, and
that the affidavit was not notarized or made under penalty of perjury.
The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure governing summary judgment were
revised and reorganized in 2010. Rule 56(c)(4) no longer requires a formal affidavit to
be submitted, Jajeh v. County of Cook, 678 F.3d 560, 567-68 (7th Cir. 2012), but it does
require that any affidavit or declaration offered in support of summary judgment “be
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made on personal knowledge, [and] set out facts that would be admissible in evidence.”
Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(4). See also Johnson v. Holder, 700 F.3d 979, 982 (7th Cir. 2012)
(noting that Luster v. Illinois Dept. of Corrections, 652 F.3d 726 (7th Cir. 2011), held
that evidence offered to support or oppose summary judgment must be admissible at
trial, and affidavits or declarations must be made with personal knowledge). The
Court agrees that the Klebba Affidavit falls short of Rule 56(c)(4)’s requirements. The
inquiry does not end there, however, because LCG misconstrues its burden on the
pending motion.
As explained above, Rule 56 imposes an initial burden of production on the
movant for summary judgment – he must demonstrate that a trial is not needed.
Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). The Court of Appeals for the Seventh
Circuit has emphasized that, in the typical situation -- such as the case at bar -- where
the movant does not bear the burden of persuasion at trial, the requirements Rule 56
imposes on the movant are not onerous. Rule 56 “does not require the moving party to
‘support its motion with affidavits or other similar materials negating the opponent’s
claim.’” Modrowski v. Pigatto, 712 F.3d 1166, 1168 (7th Cir. 2013)(emph. in original).
Rather, the movant’s initial burden “may be discharged by ‘showing’ –
that is point[ing] out to the district court – that there is an absence of
evidence to support the nonmoving party’s case.”
Upon such a showing, the nonmovant must then “make a showing
sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s
case.” Id. at 322. The nonmovant need not depose her own witnesses or
produce evidence in a form that would be admissible at trial, but she must
“go beyond the pleadings” … to demonstrate that there is evidence “upon
which a reasonable jury could properly proceed to find a verdict” in her
favor.”
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Id., 712 F.3d at 1168-1169. See also Cincinnati life Ins. Co. v. Beyrer, -- F.3d --, 2013 WL
3379344 (7th Cir. July 8, 2013), citing Gordon v. FedEx Freight, Inc., 674 F.3d 769, 733 (7th
Cir. 2012)(“To survive a motion for summary judgment, ‘the nonmoving party must
establish some genuine issue for trial such that a reasonable jury could return a
verdict in her favor.’”); Marcatante v. City of Chicago, 657 F.3d 433, 439-40 (7th Cir.
2011) (Once the nonmovant challenges the factual support and legal soundness of the
plaintiffs’ claims, the plaintiffs acquire the burden of making a sufficient showing of
evidence for each element of their case that they bear the burden of proving at trial.).
In an unreported decision three months ago, the Seventh Circuit similarly
rejected an argument made by a party appealing from the district court’s grant of
summary judgment who faulted the district judge for granting summary judgment
when the movant did not support its motion with evidence:
This argument reflects a misunderstanding of the burden on the moving
parties at that stage of the proceedings. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
56 “does not require the moving party ‘to support its motion with
affidavits or other similar materials negating the opponent’s claim.’”… To
meet their initial burden, it was enough for [movants] to assert that
[plaintiff] lacked evidence substantiating [his claim]…. Once they pointed
out this perceived gap in his case, [plaintiff] was obliged to provide
evidence demonstrating that a jury reasonably could find in his favor.
Linne v. Adams, 2013 WL 1890646 (7th Cir. May 7, 2013)(unreported).
Here, TCI does not have to support its summary judgment motion with any
affidavits or evidence to negate LCG’s or Zurich’s claims. TCI’s initial burden may be
discharged by pointing out to the district court that there is an absence of evidence to
support the nonmoving party’s case. TCI has done so, obligating LCG (and Zurich) to
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make a showing sufficient to establish the essential elements of their claims.
Modrowski, 712 F.3d at 322. Neither LCG nor Zurich has met this burden.
In response to TCI’s summary judgment motion (which focuses on the lack of a
bailment agreement with TCI), LCG asserts that it has standing to sue as a third party
beneficiary of the bailment between TCI and Universal. LCG (apparently conceding the
absence of an express agreement) also reminds the Court that a bailment may be created
by implied agreement. And LCG reiterates that a presumption of negligence arises on
proof of delivery of property in good condition, shifting the burden to the bailee to
show it exercised due care (Doc. 63, pp. 7-10). These arguments are non-starters.
LCG sues TCI for breaching a duty to securely hold the trailer/shipment, but
LCG offers no evidence of any contract or agreement by which TCI agreed to take
control of or keep the trailer containing the shipment. No express agreement has been
identified, and no implied agreement has been shown. It is true that, in determining
whether an implied bailment exists, the court “may consider, inter alia, ‘the
circumstances surrounding the transaction, such as the benefits to be received by the
parties, their intentions, … and the opportunities of each to exercise control over the
property.’” Fuller’s Car Wash, Inc. v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 698 N.E.2d 237, 242 (Ill.
App. 1998), quoting Wall v. Airport Parking Co., 244 N.E.2d 190 (Ill. 1969). But LCG
has not offered any evidence (or even argument) on these factors – e.g., what were the
circumstances surrounding the alleged transaction with TCI, and what benefits would
TCI enjoy by keeping the trailer on its self-serve lot while the Universal tractor was
being repaired in the TCI shop?
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And LCG’s reliance on the presumption of bailee negligence (Doc. 63, p. 5-7) is
misplaced. That presumption is only triggered after the plaintiff has made a prima facie
case of a bailment. Indemnity, 348 F.3d at 637.
LCG has not offered evidence to
establish the necessary elements of that prima facie case.
As to the trailer containing the jeans, there is no proof whatsoever of an
agreement by or with TCI (express or implied) to create a bailment. Nor has LCG
shown actual delivery of the container of cargo to TCI, although this element of the case
presents a closer call. LCG submits a report from Mt. Vernon, Illinois police and a letter
from Silvia Ceja to LCG’s counsel as evidence of delivery. These materials do not
identify TCI as the place where Universal’s trailer was dropped.
They indicate that a tow-truck was called to haul the broken tractor to the repair
shop, while a friend of the Universal driver (“Jose” who worked for Nieto and
happened to be driving along behind the Universal driver, Armando, when the unit
broke down) hooked up the trailer (Doc. 63-1, p. 5), took it “to a freightline in Mount
Vernon, IL” (Doc. 63-2, p. 2), and parked it at “the freightliner” (id., p. 3). There are
several “Freightliner” businesses in the Mt. Vernon area, and nothing identifies TCI’s
lot as the one in question, but a broken seal was found several days later on the TCI lot
where the Nieto driver parked the trailer. If these facts and reasonable inferences
(generously construed) establish delivery, LCG has not shown a bailment, because there
is no proof of acceptance by TCI.
Assuming, arguendo, that LCG has demonstrated actual delivery or transfer of
the shipment of jeans from the alleged bailor (Universal) to the alleged bailee (TCI),
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LCG has not shown acceptance of exclusive possession of the property by the bailee
(TCI). See Midway, 383 F.3d at 671. See also Wright v. Autohaus Fortense, Inc., 472
N.E.2d 593, 595 (Ill. App. 1984) (“Among the necessary elements to prove a bailment
are … and (3) acceptance of exclusive possession by the bailee.”). This necessary
element is utterly missing here. LCG alleges that Nieto’s driver (Jose) moved the trailer
to TCI’s lot, and Universal’s driver (Armando) returned to find the shipment of jeans
missing, with a broken seal lying nearby (Doc. 54, pp. 2-3). But the record is devoid of
evidence that TCI accepted exclusive possession of the trailer from anyone.
As stated above, summary judgment is the moment in the case at which the nonmoving party is required to marshal and present to the court the evidence he contends
will prove his case, evidence on which a reasonable jury could rely. Porter, 700 F.3d at
956. Neither LCG nor Zurich has sustained its burden in response to TCI’s motion for
summary judgment. Neither LCG nor Zurich has made a prima facie case of bailment
as to TCI. “To recover under a bailment theory, a plaintiff must establish (1) an express
or implied agreement to create a bailment; (2) a delivery of the property in good
condition; (3) the bailee's acceptance of the property; and (4) the bailee's failure to return
the property or the bailee's redelivery of the property in a damaged condition.”
Wausau Ins. Co. v. All Chicagoland Moving and Storage Co., 777 N.E.2d 1062, 1068 (Ill.
App. 2002).
There is no evidence of an express or implied agreement (by or with TCI) to
create a bailment for the trailer. Assuming that the Universal trailer was delivered in
good condition by Nieto to TCI, there is no evidence at all of TCI’s acceptance of
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exclusive possession. Indeed, neither LCG nor Zurich has offered evidence that any
TCI employee was informed that a trailer of cargo being hauled by Universal was going
to be (or had been) parked at the TCI lot. And the record suggests the TCI lot where the
trailer allegedly was dropped by Nieto was more akin to the self-park lot in Wall than
the type of facility which would support the inference of “acceptance of exclusive
possession by the bailee.” Midway, 383 F.3d at 671. 3
Simply put, as to the bailment claims against TCI, the record does not contain
evidence on which a “reasonable jury could return a verdict in favor of the nonmoving
part[ies].” Harper v. C.R. England, Inc., 687 F.3d 297, 306 (7th Cir. 2012).
The same
holds true as to LCG’s negligence claim against TCI (Count II of the amended thirdparty complaint, Doc. 54). This claim rests on the theory that TCI’s negligence in
securing the container with the shipment of jeans renders TCI liable to LCG for
contribution as a joint tortfeasor.
The Illinois Joint Tortfeasor Contribution Act, 740 ILCS 100/1, et seq., provides a
remedy for a person who has paid more than his pro rata share of a common liability by
allowing him to seek contribution from a fellow joint tortfeasor. Ponto v. Levan, 972
N.E.2d 772, 784 (Ill. App. 2012). The Contribution Act provides that where two or more
persons “are subject to liability in tort arising out of the same injury to person or
In Wall, 244 N.E.2d at 193, the Illinois Supreme Court distinguished the
situation in which a vehicle owner delivers his car to a parking lot attendant and
leaves the keys from the situation in which the owner parks his own car on a lot
and keeps the keys. A bailment typically arises in the former circumstance but
not the latter. Id. (“We are of the opinion that use of self-service parking lots
… does not create a bailor-bailee relationship, and the lot operator is not
subject to the liability imposed by the rules relating to bailments.”).
3
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property, or the same wrongful death, there is a right of contribution among them….”
740 ILCS 100/2(a).
LCG failed to make a prima facie case of bailment (thus no breach of bailment by
TCI). That is the only negligence/tort alleged or identified in the third-party complaint
against TCI. And in response to summary judgment, LCG has not offered any evidence
as to another basis for contributory negligence by TCI – i.e., if no bailment has been
shown, under what legal theory did TCI owe LCG a duty to secure the Universal trailer
which Nieto placed on the parking lot? To prevail on a negligence claim under Illinois
law, the plaintiff must prove a duty owed by the defendant to the plaintiff, a breach of
that duty, and injury proximately caused to the plaintiff by the breach.
See, e.g.,
Wilkins v. Williams, -- N.E.2d --, 2013 WL 3086915 (Ill. June 20, 2013); Ward v. Kmart
Corp., 554 N.E.2d 223, 226 (Ill. 1990). LCG has failed to shoulder its burden of proving
a prima facie case of bailment or any other negligence claim or basis for tort liability
against TCI. So the contribution claim against TCI fails.
D.
CONCLUSION
Summary judgment is the “’put up or shut up’ time when a party ‘must show
what evidence it has that would convince a trier of fact to accept its version of events.’”
On-Site Screening, Inc. v. U.S., 687 F.3d 896, 899 (7th Cir. 2012), quoting Johnson v.
Cambridge Industries, Inc., 325 F.3d 892, 901 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 540 U.S. 1004 (2003).
LCG has not shown what evidence it has that would convince a trier of fact as to the
bailment and contribution claims.
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Zurich (who also asserts a bailment claim against TCI) candidly acknowledges
that its “cause of action is dependent on whether LCG proves its allegations of bailment
against TCI” (Doc. 64, p. 3).
LCG’s bailment claim against TCI does not survive
summary judgment. Nor does Zurich’s dependent claim.
Furthermore, LCG has not shown any negligence by TCI.
In response to
summary judgment, LCG has not marshaled and presented this Court with the
evidence LCG contends will prove its negligence claim against TCI. Goodman, 621 F.3d
at 654.
As to the bailment claims (brought by Zurich and LCG against TCI) and the
negligence claim (brought by LCG against TCI), the record reveals no genuine issue of
material fact, and TCI is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Thus, the Court
GRANTS TCI’s motion for summary judgment (Doc. 59) in its entirety.
The claims on which summary judgment is hereby granted are Count VII of
Zurich’s first amended complaint (Doc. 40) and Counts I and II of LCG’s first amended
third-party complaint (Doc. 54). No claims remain against TCI, so the Clerk’s Office
shall “terminate” TCI as a party on the docket sheet. At the conclusion of the case, the
Clerk’s Office shall enter judgment in favor of TCI and against Zurich (on the main
complaint) and in favor of TCI and against LCG (on the third-party complaint).
The dispositive motion deadline has elapsed, and this case is set for jury trial on
September 30, 2013 with a final pretrial conference on September 20, 2013. In the wake
of this Order, what remains are (a) Zurich’s claims against LCG, Universal and Nieto
plus (b) LCG’s crossclaim against Universal and Nieto. Given the fact that trial is fastPage | 15
approaching, the Court is concerned that the claims against Universal and Nieto are
stalled. Neither Universal nor Nieto responded to Zurich’s amended complaint or
LCG’s crossclaims (service of the former is unclear, service of the latter was made – see
clerk’s entry of default at Doc. 53, following Order of Judge Frazier at Doc. 52).
Accordingly, the Court SETS an August 15, 2013 DEADLINE by which Zurich
(on its amended complaint) and LCG (on its crossclaim) shall take action as to Universal
and Nieto – voluntarily dismiss the claims against them, move for clerk’s entry of
default or default judgment (as appropriate, under Rule 55), or file a Memorandum
showing why the claims against Universal and Nieto should not be dismissed for want
of prosecution.
Finally, the undersigned District Judge DIRECTS counsel for Zurich and LCG
(the parties “in” the case, now that the claims against TCI are gone) to consider
contacting Magistrate Judge Frazier’s chambers regarding a settlement conference – an
opportunity they waived previously, when the conference was set in April 2013.
A
settlement conference may merit rescheduling at this juncture, with all dispositive
motions resolved, discovery/motion deadlines elapsed, and trial eight weeks away.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED July 23, 2013.
s/ Michael J. Reagan
Michael J. Reagan
United States District Judge
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