Pennsylvania National Mutual Casualty Insurance Company v. Beach Mart, Inc. et al

Filing 208

ORDER deferring ruling on 152 Motion in Limine; deferring ruling on 154 Motion in Limine; granting 156 Motion in Limine; granting 158 Motion in Limine; denying 160 Motion in Limine; granting 162 Motion in Lim ine; granting 164 Motion in Limine; deferring ruling on 166 Motion in Limine; denying 168 Motion in Limine; granting 170 Motion in Limine; granting 172 Motion in Limine; deferring ruling on 174 Motion in Limine; deferring ruling on 176 Motion in Limine; denying 178 Motion in Limine; denying 180 Motion in Limine; deferring ruling on 182 Motion in Limine; granting 184 Motion in Limine; denying 201 Motion for Protective Order. Counsel is reminded to read the order in its entirety for critical deadlines and information. Signed by District Judge Louise Wood Flanagan on 8/29/2023. (Collins, S)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
NORTHERN DIVISION
NO. 2:14-CV-08-FL
BEACH MART, INC.,
Plaintiff,
v.
PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL MUTUAL
CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY,
Defendant.

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ORDER

This order follows pretrial conference held August 28, 2023, where plaintiff appeared
through counsel Stephen F. Shaw, Jonathan Reid Reich, and John D. Wooten, IV, and defendant
appeared through counsel David L. Levy and John Larrimore Wright. At pretrial conference the
court heard argument on the plethora of pretrial motions then pending. Memorializing here
decisions made, without prejudice, as evidenced on the record of yesterday’s conference,1 the court
also comments on certain issues remaining and enumerates additional pretrial deadlines as follows.
A.

Motions

1. Plaintiff’s motions in limine numbers one to exclude opinions of counsel (DE 158),
and three to exclude unredacted versions of redacted documents (DE 162).
Granted as unopposed.

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Separate order will follow addressing several motions which the court is desirous of considering further.
These include plaintiff’s motion to supplement the pleadings to include additional factual allegations (DE 193), and
defendant’s motion to exclude lay opinions (DE 150).

2. Plaintiff’s motion in limine number two seeking exclusion of Adam Parsons
(“Parsons”) (DE 160). Denied.
3. Plaintiff’s motion in limine number 4 to exclude settlement negotiations (DE 164).
While unopposed and granted, disagreement was noted at conference regarding what
constitutes settlement negotiations, which may rear its head at trial and require further
address.
4. Plaintiff’s in limine number five to exclude evidence regarding the underlying
litigation case no. 2:11-CV-44-FL, between Beach Mart and nonparty L&L Wings
after October 3, 2014 (DE 166). Held in abeyance pending trial developments. To
provide guidance for the parties in their trial planning, however, the court foreshadows
that it is, based on the arguments presented at conference, inclined to rule in favor of
plaintiff.
5. Plaintiff’s motion in limine number 6 seeking wholesale exclusion of testimony by
David Harris (“Harris”) (DE 168). Denied.
6. Plaintiff’s motion in limine number 7 to limit testimony by David Paige (“Paige”)
to that of a rebuttal expert (DE 170). Granted. Whether Paige’s testimony will be
limited to address only of testimony of the plaintiff’s proposed expert witness, R. Bryan
Tilden, remains to be decided, if necessary, at trial.
7. Plaintiff’s motion in limine number eight to exclude defendant’s good faith
defense (DE 172). Granted by consent. It was also agreed by plaintiff at conference
not to use bad faith terminology in describing the actions of defendant.
8. Plaintiff’s motions in limine numbers nine to exclude reference to nonparty
Travelers Insurance Company (“Travelers”) (DE 174), and ten to exclude

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argument that plaintiff had a duty to mitigate damages (DE 176). Taken under
advisement. Parties are invited to supplement their briefing by September 1, 2023,
including with reference to Murphy-Brown, LLC v. ACE Am. Ins. Co., 2023 WL
5016162 (N.C. Super. Bus. Ct. Aug. 7, 2023) and Radiator Speciality Co. v. Arrowood
Indem. Co., 383 N.C. 387, 881 S.E.2d 597 (2022).
9.

Plaintiff’s motions in limine numbers 11 to exclude argument that plaintiff failed
to cooperate with defendant (DE 178), and 12 to exclude argument that plaintiff
failed to cooperate in discovery (DE 180). Denied.

10. Plaintiff’s motion in limine number 13 to exclude evidence regarding the L&L
Wing, Inc. chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, case no. 21-10795 (S.D.N.Y.) (DE 182).
Held in abeyance pending trial developments.
11. Plaintiff’s motion in limine number 14 to exclude customer satisfaction survey
research (DE 184). Granted. Upon further discussion at conference, the court
instructed that plaintiff is prohibited from introducing website(s) for the purpose of
“showing promises broken.” Upon request of plaintiff, the court held in abeyance
pending trial developments introduction of the same for the purpose of impeachment.
12. Plaintiff’s motion for protective order and to quash untimely document subpoena
(DE 201). The court determined defendant’s sought after production directed to
Visibility Corporation for “all billing statements and invoices related to work
performed on North Carolina Eastern District Civil Action No. 2:11-CV-44, Beach
Mart, Inc. v. L&L Wings, between the dates of November 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013”
can proceed and, as acknowledged at hearing, defendant immediately upon receipt of
response, if any, will provide copy of the same to plaintiff. It is incumbent upon

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plaintiff on receipt to raise specific issue(s), if any, immediately. To the extent the
court can address any issue before trial it is in the best interests of the parties.
13. Defendant’s omnibus motion in limine (DE 152). The day was long by the time this
motion came to the fore. The parties were encouraged to resolve those parts not already
decided by the court in relation to other motions, such as whether “denial” or “denied
claims” should be part of trial vernacular, in the joint statement of the case due
September 5, 2023.
14. Defendant’s motion regarding plaintiff’s damage claim (DE 154).

Held in

abeyance.
15. Defendant’s motion to strike David L. Levy as a witness (DE 156). Granted.
B.

Additional Pretrial Filings
1. The parties shall file revised proposed pretrial order not later than September 8, 2023.
The revised order will include exhibits enumerated as instructed by the clerk at pretrial
conference.
2. If additional conference with the court prior to trial is deemed helpful to the parties,

they may contact the clerk, Sandra Collins, with that request, providing several
mutually agreed to dates and times of availability for telephonic conference.
3. The parties are directed to file revised verdict forms reflecting case developments at

final pretrial conference on or before September 5, 2023.
SO ORDERED, this the 29th day of August, 2023.
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LOUISE W. FLANAGAN
United States District Judge

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