BITCO General Insurance Corporation v. Holliman et al
Filing
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ORDER by Judge Ronald A. White granting in part and denying in part motions to dismiss or in the alternative to stay ( 12 Motion to Dismiss ; 16 Motion to Dismiss), staying the case pending disposition of the pending cases in Seminole County and administratively closing the case for the duration of the stay (case terminated) (lal, Deputy Clerk)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
BITCO GENERAL INSURANCE
COMPANY,
Plaintiff,
v.
ASHLEY TODD HOLLIMAN, et al.,
Defendants.
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Case No. CIV-17-181-RAW
ORDER
Before the court are the motions of the defendants Twister Drilling Company
(“Twister”) and Joanne Lowe to dismiss or in the alternative motion to stay proceedings.1
Plaintiff brings this action for declaratory judgment to determine a controversy as to the
rights and obligations of the parties under policies of insurance related to a claim arising out
of a motor vehicle accident.
The complaint alleges as follows: the accident took place on or about May 15, 2013,
in Seminole County. Defendant Holliman, an employee of Twister, and his co-worker, John
H. Gilbert (“Gilbert”) were driving home in Holliman’s personal vehicle at their own
expense after completing a shift for Twister at a well site. Gilbert (who was driving) and Ty
Dwayne Lowe (“Lowe”), the driver of the other vehicle involved, were both killed.
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Twister filed an initial motion (#12) and Lowe adopted Twister’s motion (#16).
Holliman suffered injury. Holliman has filed a civil lawsuit against Twister, Gilbert’s estate,
Lowe’s estate, and others in the District Court of Seminole County, Case No. CJ-2013-104.
Defendant Joanne Lowe, individually and as representative of the Lowe estate and children,
has also filed a civil lawsuit against Twister, Gilbert’s estate, and others, in the same court,
Case No. CJ-2014-04.
Plaintiff BITCO issued a Commercial Auto Policy of insurance to Twister effective
November 6, 2012 to November 6, 2013. BITCO issued a Commercial Lines Policy of
insurance to Twister, effective November 6, 2012 to November 6, 2013.
Plaintiff BITCO alleges that Twister tendered the Seminole County lawsuits to
BITCO for defense and indemnity, as a result of which BITCO has defended Twister in those
lawsuits, subject to a reservation of rights. Plainitff alleges in the present complaint that it
has concluded no coverage is afforded to Twister or Gilbert under the policies of insurance.
Thus, plaintiff seeks a declaratory judgment that Twister and Gilbert’s estate are afforded no
coverage under the policies and that Twister and Gilbert’s estate are owed neither a defense
nor indemnity from the claims in the Seminole County lawsuits.
The present movants request dismissal or a stay of this action on the basis that
BITCO’s request for declaratory relief requires this court to determine the key fact issue
pending in the Seminole County actions. Movants argue that the key factual issue disputed
in the underlying state court action is whether Gilbert was acting in the scope of Twister’s
employment at the time of the accident. They represent that oral argument was held in state
court on May 10, 2017 and “[a] ruling on Lowe’s dispositive motion is expected at any
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time.” (#12 at 3-4).2 Of course, the state court might deny the motion, but that would still
appear to leave scope of employment as a fact question for the jury.
Generally, a federal court “should not entertain a declaratory judgment action over
which it has jurisdiction if the same fact-dependent issues are likely to be decided in another
pending proceeding.” St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Runyon, 53 F.3d 1167, 1170 (10th
Cir.1995). Factors for the district court to consider are (1) whether a declaratory action
would settle the controversy; (2) whether it would serve a useful purpose in clarifying the
legal relations at issue; (3) whether the declaratory remedy is being used merely for the
purpose of “procedural fencing” or “to provide an arena for a race to res judicata”; (4)
whether use of a declaratory action would increase friction between our federal and state
courts and improperly encroach upon state jurisdiction; and (5) whether there is an alternative
remedy which is better or more effective. State Farm Ins. & Cas. Co. v. Mhoon, 31 F.3d
979, 983 (10th Cir.1994).
Here, the court finds that the first three factors are largely inapplicable.3 While
theoretically this court’s issuance of a declaratory judgment would settle the controversy and
serve a “useful purpose” in that sense, this would be done by preempting an imminent ruling
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Interestingly, the Supreme Court of Oklahoma has answered the question as to this accident in the
affirmative. See Holliman v. Twister Drilling Co., 377 P.3d 133 (Okla.2016). That case involves the
Workers’ Compensation context, however, which is its own unique universe. The decision is not cited as
binding precedent as to interpretation of an insurance policy.
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“[T]he court initially seized of a controversy should be the one to decide the case . . . It should make
no difference whether the competing courts are both federal courts or a state and federal court with undisputed
concurrent jurisdiction.” Merrill Lynch, Pierece, Fenner & Smith v. Haydu, 675 F.2d 1169, 1173-74 (11th
Cir.1982).
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in state court. The fourth factor, however, is applicable considering how long the state court
proceedings have been pending. See Mhoon, 31 F.3d at 984 (stay of declaratory judgment
action proper where state court proceeding “quite far along”). As for the fifth factor, again
it appears the litigation in state court is close to reaching a conclusive point. There is no
reason to believe that a better or more effective remedy exists.
BITCO argues that a distinction exists in the case at bar. There is a policy exclusion
regarding whether Holliman’s personal vehicle, driven by Gilbert, was being “used in
[Twister’s] business” at the time of the accident. BITCO contends this is a distinct issue and
that no court has interpreted this policy language as a matter of Oklahoma law. Movants
disagree with the import of the issue, stating “[f]rom a practical standpoint, such
determination is very close, if distinguishable at all, to the issue of whether Gilbert was
acting in the scope of employment.” (#12 at 9). The court agrees with movants. In Union
Standard Ins. Co. v. Hobbs Rental Corp., 566 F.3d 950, 953 (10th Cir.2009), the court
approvingly cited Bamber v. Lumbermens Mut. Cas. Co., 680 A.2d 901, 903 (1996) for the
proposition that “an employee’s personal vehicle is a non-owned auto used in ‘connection
with [insured’s] business’ when used in the course and scope of employee’s employment
with the insured.” See also Nat’l Interstate Ins. Co. v. Morgan & Sons Weekend Tours, Inc.,
2013 WL 5430414, **8-9 (M.D.N.C.2013)(factor to consider in interpreting such a policy
provision is scope of employment). The court is persuaded the motions should be granted.
When there is a choice to stay or dismiss a case where there are contemporaneous
state and federal proceedings, the Tenth Circuit observes: “We think the better practice is to
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stay the federal action pending the outcome of the state proceedings.” Fox v. Maulding, 16
F.3d 1079, 1083 (10th Cir.1994). “In the event the state court proceedings do not resolve all
the federal claims, a stay preserves an available federal forum in which to litigate the
remaining claims, without the plaintiff having to file a new federal action.” Id. This court
will abide by this guidance and stay rather than dismiss this case.
It is the order of the court that the motions to dismiss or in the alternative to stay
(##12 & 16) are hereby granted in part and denied in part. The court orders a stay of this
case pending the disposition of the pending cases (CJ-2013-104 and CJ-2014-04) in
Seminole County.
It is further ordered that this case shall be administratively closed for the duration of
the stay. This administrative termination is without prejudice to the right of any party to file
a motion to reopen this case within 30 days after the entry of final judgments in the abovereferenced Seminole County cases.
ORDERED THIS 4th DAY OF AUGUST, 2017.
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