Crum & Forster Specialty Insurance Co v. Explo Systems Inc

Filing 164

MEMORANDUM ORDER granting 162 Plaintiffs' Motion to Deem Admitted its Second Set of Requests for Admissions. Signed by Magistrate Judge Karen L Hayes on 7/23/15. (crt,Crawford, A)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
SHREVEPORT DIVISION
CRUM & FORSTER SPECIALTY
INSURANCE CO.

:

CIVIL ACTION NO. 12-3080

VS.

:

JUDGE DONALD E. WALTER

EXPLO SYSTEMS, INC.

:

MAG. JUDGE KAREN L. HAYES

MEMORANDUM ORDER
Before the undersigned Magistrate Judge, on reference from the District Court, is a
motion to have certain facts deemed admitted [doc. # 162] filed by plaintiffs Crum & Forster
Specialty Insurance Company (“CFS”) and Seneca Specialty Insurance Company (“Seneca”).
The motion is unopposed. For reasons detailed below, the motion is GRANTED.1
Background
On October 15, 2012, there was a large explosion at Explo Systems, Inc.’s (“Explo”)
munitions storage facility at Camp Minden, Louisiana. On December 14, 2012, CFS filed the
instant complaint for declaratory judgment and rescission against its insured, Explo, seeking a
determination that CFS did not owe a duty to defend or indemnify Explo for any claims arising
out of the explosion, as well as rescission of the liability policy in effect at the time. See
Complaint. On December 27, 2012, Seneca joined the suit as a party plaintiff to obtain similar
relief against its insured, Explo. See 1st Amend. Complaint.

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As this motion is not one of the motions excepted in 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A), nor
dispositive of any claim on the merits within the meaning of Rule 72 of the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure, this ruling is issued under the authority thereof, and in accordance with the
standing order of this court. Any appeal must be made to the district judge in accordance with
Rule 72(a) and LR 74.1(W).

On August 12, 2013, however, Explo filed for bankruptcy protection, thus triggering the
automatic bankruptcy stay. (Notice of Bankruptcy [doc. # 81]). Pursuant to plaintiff’s motion,
this court lifted the stay on June 19, 2014. (June 19, 2014, Order [doc. # 121]). On October 8,
2014, counsel for Explo withdrew from the case, and John W. Luster, Explo’s Bankruptcy
Trustee, was added as a notification party for Explo. See doc. #s 130-131.
On March 31, 2015, plaintiffs propounded their Second Set of Requests for Admissions
to Explo, via John Luster. Plaintiffs also served the requests on former Explo officials/agents:
John Frazier, registered agent; David Fincher, president/director; and David Smith,
secretary/treasurer. (M/Deem Facts Admitted, Exh. C).
On May 6, 2015, John Luster responded to each of the requests for admission by stating
either that “Respondent is the Chapter Seven Trustee of the debtor and has no independent
knowledge of these facts,” it is “unknown to trustee,” or that it is “unknown except for what was
in the newspaper.” (Answers to 2nd Request for Admissions; M/Deem Facts Admitted, Exh. A).
Plaintiffs did not receive responses from any other source.
On June 26, 2015, plaintiffs filed the instant motion to have certain facts deemed
admitted. They contend that Explo’s responses are insufficient because Explo failed to make a
reasonable inquiry before claiming that it lacked requisite knowledge or information to respond.
Explo did not file an opposition to the motion, and the time to do so has lapsed. See Notice of
Motion Setting [doc. # 163]. Therefore, the motion is considered unopposed. Id.
Law
Rule 36 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedures provides that
a party may serve on any other party a written request to admit, for purposes of the
pending action only, the truth of any matters within the scope of Rule 26(b)(1)
relating to:
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(A) facts, the application of law to fact, or opinions about either; and
(B) the genuineness of any described documents.
Fed.R.Civ.P. 36(a)(1).
Rule 36 permits litigants to request admissions regarding a broad range of matters, including
ultimate facts and applications of law to fact. In re Carney, 258 F.3d 415, 419 (5th Cir. 2001)
(citations omitted). This discovery device permits the parties to reduce the issues for trial, and to
focus their attention on disputed matters. Id. Rule 36 further provides specific instructions for
answering a request for admission:
[i]f a matter is not admitted, the answer must specifically deny it or state in detail
why the answering party cannot truthfully admit or deny it. A denial must fairly
respond to the substance of the matter; and when good faith requires that a party
qualify an answer or deny only a part of a matter, the answer must specify the part
admitted and qualify or deny the rest. The answering party may assert lack of
knowledge or information as a reason for failing to admit or deny only if the party
states that it has made reasonable inquiry and that the information it knows or can
readily obtain is insufficient to enable it to admit or deny.
Fed.R.Civ.P. 36(a)(4).
A reasonable inquiry includes an investigation and inquiry of employees, agents, and others who
conceivably and realistically may have information which would enable the respondent to
fashion the appropriate response. Concerned Citizens of Belle Haven v. Belle Haven Club, 223
F.R.D. 39, 44 (D. Conn. 2004) (citing Henry v. Champlain Enters., 212 F.R.D. 73, 78
(N.D.N.Y.2003)).
Rule 36 authorizes the requesting party to move to determine the sufficiency of an answer
or objection. Fed.R.Civ.P. 36(a)(6). Moreover, “[u]nless the court finds an objection justified, it
must order that an answer be served. On finding that an answer does not comply with this rule,
the court may order either that the matter is admitted or that an amended answer be served.” Id.

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Discussion
Here, it is apparent that respondent failed to make reasonable inquiry before responding
to the discovery requests. There is no indication that Mr. Luster contacted Explo’s former
directors, officers, and other employees in an effort to uncover responsive information. As a
result, Explo cannot claim lack of knowledge/information as a basis for its professed inability to
admit or deny the discovery requests. Fed.R.Civ.P. 36(a)(4). Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED that plaintiffs’ motion to deem admitted its Second Set of Requests for
Admissions [doc. # 162] is hereby GRANTED. Fed.R.Civ.P. 36(a)(6).
In Chambers, at Monroe, Louisiana, this 23rd day of July 2015.

__________________________________
KAREN L. HAYES
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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