Soriano vs USAA Insurance Agency, Inc.

Filing 21

ORDER. IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff's 4 Motion to Remand to State Court is GRANTED. (Clerk Notes: Certified copy of this order and of docket sheet manually served on the Second Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada, 75 Court Street, Reno, NV 89501, on 6/25/2010.) Signed by Judge Robert C. Jones on 6/24/2010. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - KO)

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UNI E D STATES DI TR I T C O U R T T S C

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DI TR I T OF NEVADA SC

9 JOSE SORI NO, A

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1 USM I SURANCE AGENCY,I C. 2 N N,

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Thi i an ac i n agai s an i sur rf r deni lof a cl i . Pl i tf Jose Sorano ss to nt neo a am a n if i

(' litf )sued hi isur r Def ndantUSAA Gener lndemni Co.ODef ndann,nst t ' a nir p sn e, e aI t1 y e t) i a e
c ur f rbr ach o c ntac ,br ach oft e i pl d c venantof o to e fo r t e hmi o e good f ihand f i dealng, at ar i and

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u f i cai s p acies u de Ne ad Re ied St tt s jq 6 6 . 1 ets q. Def n an n ar l m r tc n r v a vs aue 8 A3 0 e ed t
r m oved t e c s t t i Cour. Pr sen l bef r t e Coul i Pl i t fs Moton t Remand e h a e o hs t e ty o e h ' s an i' t f io

(#) Defnd n fed a op ost n ( 1 )an Pl it f e l d ( 1 ) Th Co l h ar or l # . e a t i n p ii # 1 d a ni r p i # 3 . e t' e d a l o f e l t
ar um enton May 28,201 . The Coud now i sues t e f lowi g or er I I HEREBY g 0 s h ol n d.TS

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ORDERED t a Plitr Mo int Reman ( )i GRANTED. h t a ni s t o f o dM s
1 BACKGROUND , Pl i tf pur hased aut m obi i sur nce f rhi vehi l fom Def ndant Pli tf a n if c o ln a e os ce r e . a n if

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pur has dt evehil f r$35,00.Def ndantalegest atPlitf s ent$7,00t upgr de c eh ce o 0 e l h an if p 0o a
t e vehil . Pl i tf al ges hi vehi l wasst l n and des r yed.He notfed Def ndantof h c e a n if l e s ce oe to ii e IDef ndantass ds t ati was i pr pery sued as i e eht mo l : USAA I sur nce Agenc I c. na yn , ,

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1 t e al ged l ss on Januar 3,2009. Def ndanti ves i at d t e l ss and det r i ed t at hl e o y e n tg e h o emn h

2 Pl i tf had made m ir pr sent tons and c nceal d peri entf ct . Def ndantdeni d a n if se e ai o e tn as e e
3 Pl i t r cl i . a ni s a m f 4 Pl i tf sued Def ndant i st t cour f r br ach of cont act br ach oft e i pled a n if e n ae to e r ,e hmi

5 covenantofgood f ih and f i deal g ,and unf i cl i s pr c i es under Nevada Revi ed at ar i n ar am a tc s

6 Stt t s ââ 686A. 10 etseq. Pl itf asked f rdamages i exc ss of$10,00 and f r a ue 3 a n if o ne 0 o
7 punii e dam ages. O n Novem ber9, tv 2009, endantr m oved t t i C oud. Pl i tf m oved Def e o hs a n if 8 t r m and back t st t cour on Nov m ber 13, oe o ae l e 2009.

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On Novem ber3O, 2009,Def ndantti d t getPl i tl t stpui t t cap damages at e re o an i o i ae o

1 $75, 00. Pl i tf r f sed. 0 0 a n if e u
1l I. LEGAU STANDARD I

1 2 dfatanytmebef r fnaludgmentiappear t att edititcour Ickssubect t r ' l i oe i j t s h h src ta j mate 1 j rs iton,hecaseshalber manded. 28 U. . , 1 47( ) Remov lsatt sar srcl 3 u id ci t le ' ' S C j 4 c, a t u e e tity

1 c nsr e ag is r mo a j r dit n Ri he F UpJ h Co , 39F.d 1 1 , 31 ( t Ci. 4 o tu d a n t e v lu i ci . t y . o n .1 so c 3 3 3 1 6 9h r 1 1 98 .Gau k Mi s,9 0 F.d 5 4,5 6 (t Ci.1 92 . 'F der l u idit n mu tb 5 9) , s ' l 8 2 6 6 9 h r 9 ) de a j rs ci .e o se 1 rj ct d i t er i anydoubtas t t e rghtofr movali te frtist nce.' I .( uotng 6 ee e f h e s oh i e n h is n a ' d q i '
1 Lihar v Sanl Monia Da/y Co. 592 F.d 1062,1064 ( t Ci.979). The def ndant 7 b t, a c r , 2 9 h r1 ) e
1 al ays has t e bur en ofest blshi g t atr m ovals pr per Gause,98O F. d at566. 8w h d ain h e io. 2
19 11 ANAlYs1 1. -s

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Dier i j rsditon r quies tatt e amounti c ntover y exc ed $75,00. 28 v st u i ci e r h h y nor s e 0

21 U. . .j 1 3 ( ) W h n a pan i h s al ge a s e ic a oun i c nto ery i hi SC 3 2a . e lit f a l d p cf m t n o rv s n s f e i
22 c m pl it hi al gaton i gi en wei ht l ac i nsorgi al br ughti s at c ur, pl i ts o an, s l i s v e g . n to in l o y n t e o ta an i

2 h sn ic n iet ifaehsd ma est a he edv r i jrs it n. er f r ,f plit f 3 a o n e t o n lt i a g o c iv ie st u idc i Th eo e ia a n i v y o f
2 brngsan ac i n i s at cour andal gesanamounti contover ygr at r han t e mi i um 4 i to n t e t i e n r s e et h nm

25 f rdieriyj rsditon,adiere def ndantmayr movet fder ic ur unlsst er i a o v st u i c i vs e e oe a o t e h es
26 l gal c rai t t at pi i tf w i not r c v r an am ount above t e m i i um f r di er iy e e t ny h a n if l l eoe h nm o v st

27 jrsditon. Bec use a plitf mayifat hi damagest achive dier iyjrs iton i u i ci a an if nl e s o e v st u idci n
28 ac i ns orgi aly br ughti f der lcour ,i a pl i tf brngs an ac i n i f der lcour and to in i o ne a tf a n if i to n e a t
2

1 aleges i good f i an amount i c ntover y gr at r t an t e mi i um f r di er i l n at h nor s ee h h nm o v st y

2 jrsditon,he c ur mayonl dimist eacinit er i a Igal tit t atte plitf u i ci t o t y s s h to f h e s e cerany h h an if 3 wilnot r coveran amount above t e mi i um f r dier iy jrsditon. Sanc ez B. l e h nm o v st u i ci h 4 Monum entlLieI s.Co. 102 F.d 398, ( t Ci.1 96) a fn , 3 402 9 h r 9 .
5 W her a pl i tf has not al ged a specii am ounti cont over y,t e def ndant e a n if l e fc n rsh e

6 cli ig r movalj rsditon bear te bur en of est bl hig a sufiint amount i am n e u i ci sh d ain s fce n
7 con r ver yby a pr ponder nceoft eevi ence.l . t404. ccaa v M assac usetsM ut al to s e a h d da , M . h t u

8 Liels.Co.33O F,Supp. 11 3,1145( . 2004) Thedef ndantc nnotr l onbar în , 2d 4 D Nev. . e a ey e
9 al gatons. He mus pr duce evi ence t suppor a su fci ntamounti contover y f r li e to d o t fi e n r so

1 dieriyj rs iton. See Sarchez,1O2 F.d at405.Mccaa,33O F.Supp.2d at11 6.A 0 v st u id ci l 3 , 4

11 complitt atpr ysf rdamages 'nex essof$10,00.0'does nots eciyanamounti an h a o ic 0 0' pf n 1 contoverygr at rt antemii um f rdier i j rs itonandt usar movigdef ndant 2 r s e e h h n m o v st u id ci y h ene
1 bear t e bur en ofpr vi g a su fci ntam ounti c ntov r y by t e pr ponder nce oft e 3 sh d on fi e n o r es h e a h 1 evi ence. M cc aa,33O F.Supp.2d at11 6. Becaus Nev da I w does notal w a pl i tf 4 d 4 e aa l o a n if

1 t pl ad specii damages gr at rt an $10, 00,no adv r e i f r nc shoul be t ken fom 5 oe fc eeh 0 e s ne e e d a r

1 a pl i tf' f i r t speciialy pl ad damages above $10,00 butbel w t e mi i um f r 6 an i s al e o f u fc l e 0 o h nm o

1 dier iyj rsditon. I.a 1150. 7 v st u i ci d t
1 8 A pl itf' cai sf rpunii edamagesand a t r eysf esmaybei c u ed i t et t l a ni s l m o f tv to n ' e n ld n h o a

1 us d t satsf t e mi i um amountf rdier iyj rsditon. I .at1148-50. Howev r 9 e o i y h nm o v st u i ci d e,
20 def ndantm u tpr duc evi ence t show t atpl i tf i mor I el t an nott r cover e soed o h a n if s ei yh k oe 21 ptniie damages and ator eyf es./ .A def ndantmayuse t eamounta pl i t f tac ed l tv tn e J e h an i a t h f
2 t hi cl i i a setl m entdem and I teras evi ence t att e am ounti c nt over y exceeds 2 o s am n te et d hh no r s

2 t e mii u frdie st j rs it n Co n B Petm ar I c,2 1 F.d 83 ,8 O ( t Ci. 3 h nm m o v r i u idc i . h . s t n . 8 3 7 4 9 h r y o ,
.

24 2002) W hent esetlmentdemandi r asonabl andteplitfdoesnotcont ndt att e . h te se e h an if ehh
25 am ountassi ned t hi cl i i hi dem and I terw as i fat d ordi honest t e def ndant an g o s am n s et nl e s ,h e c

26 meethi bur en bas d on t e dem and Iteral ne. / . butsee Fi patik ? Dufor ,No. sd e h et o J; t rc , f d z

27 Ci. .5:5CV128,2006 W L 839513,at* -4 ( . .W .Va.Mar h 28,2006)( olig t at VA O 3 ND c h dn h 28 pl it#s's tl m entdemand f r$100, 00 was i sufi i ntt es abl h t att e am oun i a n i e te o 0 n fc e o t i h h s tn
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1 contovery ex eeds t e j rsditonalmii um when plitfs wer curenty demandig rsc h u i ci nm an if e r l n 2 $70,00) 0, 3 A pl i tf s r f salo s i ul t t cap damages at$75, 00 i notsu f i ntt es abl h a n ir e u t tp a e o 0s fi e o t i c s

4 r mo alu iditon.' l er a e s v r lea on whya pan i woul n tsiua e t t e e v j rs ci ' h e r e e a r s s F lit : d o t lt o h p
5 am ount i c nt over y, s t at a r f s lt stpul t , s andi g al ne, does not s ts y a nor s oh e u a o i ae t n o a if

6 def ndantsbur en o pr of' Slla b Nakr Cor .674 F.Supp.2d 1290,1293 ( . .Fl . e ' d f o . bi ' ' , l p, a MD a 7 2009)( iig Wiim s k BestBuy Co.I c.269 F.d 1316,1320( 1t Ci.2001)'see alo ctn la ' l . ,n , 3 1h r ) , s 8 9 1 0 1 1
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Wl on k Unin Securt Lie Is.Co.250 F.Supp,2d 1 60,1265 n, ( .laho 2003) To l'o s. i fn y , 2 8D d . al w adef ndantosupporr mov lursditonbyshowigt atteplit f i dt stpult l o e t te a j i ci n h h an i al o i a e le t damages under$75, 00 woul shitt e bur ent t e pl i tf. W i on,25O F. o 0 d fh d o h a n if l s Supp. at 2d 1265 n. .Butt e def ndantal ays bear t e bur enofest bl hig r movalurs iton. 8 h e w sh d ain e s j idc i
Def ndantmus est blshdier i j rsditon i hi petton f rr moval He cannot e t a i v st u i ci n s ii o e y .

1 Gause,980 F. d at566. 2 2
1 r l on m er conc usor al gatons i hi petton t att e am ounti contover y exc eds t e 4 ey e l yl i e n s ii h h n r s e h

1 j rs itonal ni um.Ther movigdef ndantmus r l onunderyigf csi hi petton. 5 u idc i mi m e n e t ey l n a t n s ii
1 How ev r t e di t i t c ur m ay, at i di cr ton,t eat f c s and ar um ent r i ed by a 6 e,h s rc o t t s ei s r at g as 1 def ndanti an opposii n t a m oton t r m and afer r m ovalas an am endm entt t e 7 e n to o i oe te oh

1 orgi alpettonf rr m oval Cohn, F.d at84O n. . 8 in ii o e . 281 3 1
1 9 Def ndant e essentalymak st o ar um ent agai str m and.Fist Def ndantar ues il ew g s ne r e g

20 t atPlitf' r questorpuniiedamagesi sufiintoest bishr mov lursditonbased h an i s e f f tv s fce t a i e a j i ci
21 ondier i becaus punivedamagesmayexceed$75,00.Sec nd,Def ndant guestat v st y e t i 0 o e ar h
22 Pli tf' r f salt stpul t t c p damages at$75, 00 i su#ii ntt est blsh r m ov l a n ifs e u o i a e o a 0s ce o a i e a

23 j rsditon.Bot ar ument f i.Def ndantbear t ebur enofest bl higt atteamount u i ci hg s al e sh d ain h h s 2 i contover y exc eds $75, 00 by a pr ponder nce oft e evi enc and cannot r l on 4n rs e 0 e a h de ey
25 concl sor al gatons. Pl i tf s r flalt stpul t t a damages cap does notalert e uyl i e a n if e ts o i a e o th

26 bur en.Themer possiiiyt atPlitC mayr coverpuniiedamagesi excessof 000 d e bi h a ni t e tv n $75,
27 i notenough t sats y Def ndan ' bur en. s o if e ts d
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De e dan r l sonCoe a t As ur ntIc , 63 F. p . 1 6 ( . v2 0 ) f n te i e lm n t s a , n .4 Su p 2d 1 4 D Ne 0 6 . 2

2 I Co/man,t e cour hel tati had r movalurs iton based on dier iy because te ne h t dh t e j id ci v st h
3 pl i tf as ered a cl i f rpunii e dam ages, ch m ay be unl ied i bad f ih i sur nc a n if s t am o tv whi it n m at n a e 4 ac i ns, to and because t e pl i tf r f sed t s i ul t t att e val e ofhi case w as l s t an h a n if e u o tp a e h h u s esh

5 $75, 00. 463 F.Supp.2d at1168. The cour,however appl d t e wr ng s andar . The 0 t , ih o t e d
6 courthel t at i m ustappeart a I galcerai t t att e pl i tf coul not r cover above dh t oe t ny h h a n if d e

7 $75,00 i or ert r mand. I .Thi t s wasrj ctd byt e Nit Cicui,See Sanc ez, 0 n d oe d set ee e h nh r t h 8 1 2 F.d298, ( t Ci.1996) The Nit Cicuir asoned: O3 403 9 h r . nh r t e 9 I qurviw ,applc ton oft e ' onver e l galc dait 't s i cases wher t e n e ia i h' c se e n y'e t n eh
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pl l tf ' com pl i t does not speci a pari ul r am ount of dam ages i a n ifs an f y ta c s I ' appr prat ,because i m ay r sul i an unw arant d expansi n off der l n o ie t e tn re o ea

ll

dier i j rsditon, Forexampl ,i a plitf act aly seeki g $10, 00 i v st u i ci y e f an if u l n 0n
w oul f r e t e f der lcoud t exer l e J rsdi ton even I t er w as onl a d oc h e a o cs u l c i fh e y

dam agesw er t fl a com pl i ti st t c ud w hi h di not eoi e an n ae o cd speci t e am ount fh y

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ofdamagessough , t e def ndantwer t t en r m ove t e c se t f der l t and h e eoh e h q oe a cour, iaton oft e ' onver e l gplc rpit 't s i t jse clcum s ances t appl i c hc se gl ny e t n h r t

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Iijlpossiii tatt e amouqti contovery exq qded (he j rsditonal e bly h h t n rs e t u i ci mll um) Thi r suli claryIconssent iht eI lswhihCongr s has nm , s e ts e l n it w t h l t c m es plced onbot r movaland dier iyjrsditon, a he v st u i ci
The cour i Col m an r led on t e Supr m e Cour case ofBel 1.Pr f red Lie tn e ei h e t l eer f

1 Assur Soc ofMontom er AI .32O U. . ( 943) Colm an,463 F.Supp,2d at1168. 7 .. g y a, S 238 1 , e 1 I Bel,he plit fi d hi c mpl iti f der l tand speciial ask d f r$200,00 8 n lt a ni fl s o a n n e a cour fe fc l e o y 0
1 i act al 9 n u and punii e dam ages. 320 U. ,at239- 0. The Supr m e Cour not d t at t v S .4 e teh

20 r cover ofacualdamageswasik l I i dt $1,00,belw t et en $3,00 mii um e y t ie y i t o 0 me ohh 0 nm
21 am ount i - ont over y r quiem ent l .at240, The Supr m e Cour hel t att e di t i t -n c r s e r .d e t d h h s rc

22 cour hadj rs iton unlsst e amounti c ntovery,o a Igalcedait ,wasbelw t u id ci eh nor s t e ny o

2 $ , 0 .I . t2 1.Be au e pu iv dama esc ul mee t ejrs it n l ni u ,h 3 30 0 d a 4 c s nt e i g od t h u idci a mi m m t e o 24 Supr me Cour r vered t e dititc ur' dimis loft e c sef rIckofj rsditon.I . e t e s h src o t s s a h a o a s u i ci d
25 at241-43. .

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The Supr m e Cour deal w ih a ver dif r ntsiuaton t an t e one i Col m an and e t tt y fe e tih h n e

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i cl ar t e c ur need notc nsi ert em . s e ,h o t odh

2Def ndantalor l sonsever l - fj rs itoncases.Because Nit Cicuilw e s ei e a outo -u id ci nh r ta
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1 t i case.laplitf pladsdamagesi exces oft ej rs itonal hs f an if e n s h u id ci amounti f der l t n e a cour,
2 hi good f ih al gatons ar gi en w ei htand di m i s l s onl appr prat i t er i a I gal s at l i e ev g s sai y o i e fh e s e

3 cerait t atheamountnc ntoveryi belw t ej rs itonal t ny h t i o r s s o h u id ci amount Sanc ez,1 2F.d . hO3
4 at402. l,as i Col m an and t i case,t e pl i t; pl ads an unspec fed am ounti s at f n e hs h ani e ii n te 5 c ur , t e def ndant m us pr ve t at t e am ount i con r ver y i i exc ss of t e oth e to hh n to s s n e h

6 jrsditonalmii um by apr ponder nceoft e evience t est bl hr movalursditon u i ci nm e a h d o ai e s j i ci
7 bas d on di er iy. I .a 404.Def ndanthas f ied t es abl h by a pr pon er nce t att e e v st d t e al o t i s e da hh

8 amoun -n- ontover yi gr at r han $75, 00.Ther f r , hi cas mus be r m andedt t e ti c r s s e e t 0 eoe t s e te oh
9 st t cour, ae t

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Ac or igl,T I ORDERED tat an i' Mot nt Rema d (4)sGRANTED. c dn y I S h Plitf fs i o o n/i /
DATED: s 241 day ofJune, 0 . Thi h 201

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r .Jon t U N I ED STA S DI T R I T JUD G E T SC

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