CHAPMAN v. STANDARD FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

Filing 15

REPORT OF PRE-FILING CONFERENCE UNDER LOCAL RULE 56 - Stipulation due by 4/30/2012. Simultaneous Memos on Statute of Limitations Issue due by 5/25/2012. Simultaneous Response Memos due by 6/11/2012. By JUDGE D. BROCK HORNBY. (mnw)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MAINE
HEATH M. CHAPMAN,
PLAINTIFF
v.
THE STANDARD FIRE
INSURANCE COMPANY,
DEFENDANT

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CIVIL NO. 1:11-CV-459-DBH

REPORT OF PRE-FILING CONFERENCE UNDER LOCAL RULE 56
Both parties believe that it would be useful to resolve the statute of
limitations issue before they expend resources on the underlying merits of this
3-count insurance claim (breach of contract; unfair claims settlement
practices; interest on overdue payments). They expect to be able to stipulate
all the material facts for that purpose. There appear to be three primary legal
issues:
1.

Whether incarceration time tolls the statute or the policy time

limits. They hope that public records will reveal what that amount of time is,
and then the plaintiff can also determine whether the amount of time is
material;
2.

Whether the notice of denial was specific enough to trigger the

statute of limitations; and

3.

Whether there is a longer statute of limitations for the two

statutory claims for unfair claims settlement practices and interest on overdue
payments.
By April 30, 2012, the parties shall file their stipulation. Probably it will
be composed of:
a.

The policy;

b.

The date of loss;

c.

The notice of loss;

d.

The denial letter (which includes its date);

e.

The commencement of the action in state court; and

f.

The dates of incarceration.

By May 25, 2012, the parties shall file their simultaneous memoranda of
law.
By June 11, 2012, they shall file their simultaneous responses.
SO ORDERED.
DATED THIS 18TH DAY OF APRIL, 2012
/S/D. BROCK HORNBY
D. BROCK HORNBY
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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