Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company v. Clemens Coal Company et al
Filing
167
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER denying 159 Motion for Order. Signed by District Judge Carlos Murguia on 10/19/2017. (ydm)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF KANSAS
LIBERTY MUTUAL FIRE
INSURANCE COMPANY,
)
)
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
v.
)
)
THE CLEMENS COAL COMPANY, et al., )
)
Defendants.
)
)
Case No. 14-2332-CM
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This case involves a dispute over whether a worker’s compensation insurance policy (“the
Policy”) provided by plaintiff Liberty Mutual (“plaintiff”) to former defendant Clemens Coal
Company included coverage of a black lung disease claim (“the Spencer Black Lung Claim”) filed by
former defendant Clayton Spencer. Dennis Woolman (“defendant”), former president of Clemens
Coal, eventually became the sole remaining defendant in this case.
After a bench trial, this court granted declaratory judgment in favor of plaintiff. The judgment
declared that “the plain language of the Policy, as written, unambiguously does not provide coverage
for the Spencer Black Lung Claim.” (Doc. 154, at 22.) The court also rejected defendant’s estoppel
defense, (id.), and granted judgment as a matter of law to plaintiff on defendant’s negligence
counterclaim after a jury had found for defendant on that counterclaim, (doc. 153, at 4).
Defendant filed a motion “for stay of judgment pending post-trial motions and, if necessary, an
appeal.” (Doc. 159.) Defendant has not filed a notice of appeal from any of this court’s judgments.
For reasons discussed below, the court denies defendant’s motion.
-1-
Defendant seeks a stay of execution pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 62. “Rule 62, read in its
entirety, reflects the federal policy of providing a judgment creditor with security during the pendency
of an appeal.” Afrika v. New York, No. 12-CV-0537MAT, 2014 WL 1347762, at *2 (W.D.N.Y. Apr.
4, 2014) (citing Herbert v. Exxon Corp., 953 F.2d 936, 938 (5th Cir. 1993); Miami Int’l Realty Co. v.
Paynter, 807 F.2d 871, 873 (10th Cir. 1986)). “Courts have traditionally restricted application of Rule
62” to stays from money judgments. Afrika, 2014 WL 1347762, at *2 (citing Herbert, 953 F.2d at
938).
It is not clear which subsection of Rule 62 defendant seeks to invoke, but he refers to Rule
62(b) throughout his motion. Despite referring to subsection (b), defendant also uses language
reflective of the standards for subsections (c) and (d). The court therefore looks at each subsection to
determine whether it entitles defendant to relief.
Applicability of Rule 62(b)
Fed. R. Civ. P. 62(b) reads, “On appropriate terms for the opposing party’s security, the court
may stay the execution of a judgment—or any proceedings to enforce it—pending disposition of”
motions under Rules 50, 52(b), 59, or 60. “The conditional ‘may’” in this rule refers to the court’s
discretion in granting a stay, “not to the requirement of security.” Boardwalk Apartments, L.C. v. State
Auto Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., No. 11-2714-JAR, 2015 WL 265040, at *1 (D. Kan. Jan. 21, 2015). The
purpose of Rule 62(b) is “to preserve the status quo while protecting the prevailing party’s interest in
the judgment,” and thus “courts typically require security in the full amount of the judgment.” Gen.
Steel Domestic Sales, LLC v. Chumley, No. 10-CV-01398-PAB-KLM, 2013 WL 2634640, at *1 (D.
Colo. June 12, 2013). Rule 62(b) applies only to enforcement of a judgment. Underwood v. B-E
Holdings, Inc., 269 F. Supp. 2d 125, 143 n.3 (W.D.N.Y. 2003) (holding that movants could not invoke
-2-
Rule 62(b) where judgment had been stricken so that jury verdict could be readjusted according to
New York’s structured judgment statute).
Although case law is sparse addressing Rule 62(b) outside of the damages award context, other
courts have held that Rule 62(b) is inapplicable where the judgment at issue is neither monetary nor
injunctive. Smith v. Dell, Inc., No. 06-2496-B/V, 2007 WL 3232037, at *1 (W.D. Tenn. Oct. 31, 2007)
(finding Rule 62(b) not applicable to a judgment of dismissal because “no monetary or injunctive relief
has issued”); see also Afrika, 2014 WL 1347762, at *2 (holding Rule 62(b) inapplicable in the context
of a judgment rendered in a federal habeas corpus proceeding).
Rule 62(b) does not apply in this case. The plain language of Rule 62(b) shows that the rule
governs stays of “execution of a judgment—or any proceedings to enforce it,” as opposed to the
effectiveness of judgments themselves. Here, the court’s judgments require no execution or
enforcement proceedings to become fully effective. The parties’ rights and obligations under the
Policy are what the declaratory judgment states. The judgment as a matter of law this court granted on
defendant’s negligence counterclaim is effective without the need for execution or enforcement
proceedings. Defendant’s estoppel defense is rejected; plaintiff need not go through additional
proceedings to execute or enforce this denial. In short, these judgments became effective at the
moment this court issued them, and thus they are beyond the scope of Rule 62(b).
Applicability of Rule 62(c)
Fed. R. Civ. P. 62(c) states, “While an appeal is pending from an interlocutory order or final
judgment that grants, dissolves, or denies an injunction, the court may suspend, modify, restore, or
grant an injunction on terms for bond or other terms that secure the opposing party’s rights.”
Defendant has not explicitly invoked Rule 62(c), but both sides addressed the four-factor test
-3-
(discussed in more detail below) typically applied under the rule. The court therefore addresses Rule
62(c)’s applicability to this case.
The plain language of Rule 62(c) indicates that a court may issue a stay under this rule only
while an appeal is pending and only if the order or judgment appealed from is an injunction. Here,
defendant has not filed a notice of appeal. Moreover, the court’s judgments were not injunctions.
Instead, this court declared the rights of parties to a contract, granted judgment as a matter of law on a
negligence counterclaim, and rejected an estoppel defense. The plain meaning of Rule 62(c) indicates
that it does not apply in this case.
Applicability of Rule 62(d)
The requirement of an appeal
Fed. R. Civ. P. 62(d) states “If an appeal is taken, the appellant may obtain a stay by
supersedeas bond . . . . The bond may be given upon or after filing the notice of appeal or after
obtaining the order allowing the appeal.” The language of Rule 62(d) does not contain any provisions
for issuing a stay based on the “‘inevitability’ of an appeal.” See Supinski v. United Parcel Serv., Inc.,
No. 3:06-CV-00793, 2012 WL 2017936, at *1 (M.D. Pa. June 5, 2012) (holding that the defendant was
not entitled to stay under Rule 62(d) because it had not yet filed an appeal).
Rule 62(d) does not apply here. Defendant has not filed a notice of appeal or obtained an order
allowing an appeal. Defendant has only suggested that an appeal may be necessary in the future. But
the plain language of Rule 62(d) requires at least the filing of a notice of appeal, which defendant has
not done. Rule 62(d) does not apply.
The requirement of monetary judgment
If an appeal is taken, the decision whether to grant automatic stay pending appeal under Rule
62(d) “turns on whether the judgment is monetary or non-monetary” because “a bond may not
-4-
adequately compensate a non-appealing party for loss incurred as a result of the stay of a non-money
judgment.” Titan Tire Corp. of Bryan v. United Steel Workers of Am., Local 890L, No. 09-4460, 2010
WL 815557, at *1 (6th Cir. March 10, 2010) (citing Hebert, 953 F.2d at 938) (“[T]he applicability of
Rule 62(d) turns on whether the judgment involved is monetary or non-monetary.”). A declaratory
judgment can be considered monetary in certain circumstances. Hebert, 953 F.2d at 938 (determining
that a declaratory judgment that bound a party to pay a specific sum of money fell within the scope of
62(d)). But see Yankton Sioux Tribe v. S. Mo. Waste Mgmt. Dist., 926 F. Supp. 888, 889–91 (D.S.D.
1996) (holding that a declaratory judgment determining a jurisdictional boundary was not monetary for
purposes of Rule 62(d)).
Notwithstanding the fact that defendant has not filed an appeal, the judgment in this case is
nonmonetary, and therefore defendant would not be entitled to a stay under Rule 62(d) even if he had
filed a notice of appeal. The court’s judgment only declares that the Policy does not cover the Spencer
Black Lung Claim. The judgment does not require defendant to pay a specific sum of money. The
judgment does not direct defendant to do anything at all.
Applicability of Hilton four-factor test
Federal courts apply four so-called Hilton factors when determining whether to grant a stay
under Rule 62(c): “(1) whether the stay applicant has made a strong showing that he is likely to
succeed on the merits; (2) whether the applicant will be irreparably injured absent a stay; (3) whether
issuance of the stay will substantially injure the other parties interested in the proceeding; and (4)
where the public interest lies.” N. Nat. Gas Co. v. L.D. Drilling, Inc., No. 08-1400, 2011 WL 691621,
at *1 (D. Kan. Feb. 15, 2011) (citing Hilton v. Braunskill, 481 U.S. 770, 776 (1987); Sec. Inv’r Prot.
Corp. v. Blinder, Robinson & Co., 962 F.2d 960, 968 (10th Cir. 1992)). Defendant asks the court to
apply the test to find that a stay is warranted.
-5-
This court has declined to apply the Hilton four-factor test when a party has moved for a stay
under Rule 62(b) in reliance on Rule 62(c) grounds. Rajala v. Gardner, No. 09-2482, 2014 WL
4455038, at *2 n.4 (D. Kan. Sept. 10, 2014) (citing N. Nat’l Gas Co., 2011 WL 691621, at *1) (finding
the Hilton test inapplicable where “the case Defendants rely upon does not address stays under Fed. R.
Civ. P. 62(b) but instead addresses Fed. R. Civ. P. 62(c), which deals with an injunction pending an
appeal”). But see United States v. Melot, No. CV 09-0752 JH/WPL, 2012 WL 2914224, at *2 (D.N.M.
May 23, 2012) (raising the question whether equitable factors “should guide” the court’s discretion
under 62(b) but concluding that the court need not answer that question because the substantial money
judgement warranted a stay pending post-trial motion and appeal); United States v. Moyer, No. C 0700510 SBA, 2008 WL 3478063, at *6 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 12, 2008) (“Although it appears no court in the
Ninth Circuit has ever expressly considered what factors should be used to determine whether or not a
stay would be appropriate under Rule 62(b), this Court finds it proper to consider the same factors used
to determine whether or not to stay an action under Rule 62(c).”); Associated Elec. & Gas Ins. Servs.,
Ltd. v. Rigas, No. CIV.A.02-7444, 2004 WL 838140, at *2 n.1 (E.D. Pa. Apr. 7, 2004) (“Regardless of
which subsection Plaintiffs are invoking [either 62(b) or (c)], to obtain a stay they must” satisfy the
factors test.).
Regardless of whether the Hilton factors apply under Rule 62(b), Rule 62(c), or both, this court
need not consider the factors in this case. A prerequisite to invoking a court’s discretion to grant a stay
under Rule 62 is that the judgments be monetary or injunctive. If injunctive, then the party seeking the
stay must have filed an appeal. As discussed above, the judgments in this case were not monetary or
injunctive, and defendant has not filed an appeal from any of them. The court need not analyze the
four-factor test in this instance.
-6-
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Defendant Dennis Woolman’s Motion for Stay of
Judgment Pending Post-Trial Motions and, if Necessary, an Appeal (Doc. 159) is denied.
Dated this 19th day of October, 2017, at Kansas City, Kansas.
s/ Carlos Murguia______________
CARLOS MURGUIA
United States District Judge
-7-
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?