Blue Bird Body Co. v. Ryder Truck Rental, Inc.

419 F. Supp. 1225, 1976 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13141
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Mississippi
DecidedSeptember 21, 1976
DocketCiv. A. No. J74-124(R)
StatusPublished

This text of 419 F. Supp. 1225 (Blue Bird Body Co. v. Ryder Truck Rental, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Mississippi primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Blue Bird Body Co. v. Ryder Truck Rental, Inc., 419 F. Supp. 1225, 1976 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13141 (S.D. Miss. 1976).

Opinion

OPINION

DAN M. RUSSELL, Jr., Chief Judge.

In this diversity of citizenship case, the required jurisdictional amount being present, Blue Bird Body Company, Inc., a Georgia corporation, herein called Blue Bird, and Insurance Company of North America, a Pennsylvania corporation, herein called INA, filed this action against Ryder Truck Rental, Inc., a Florida corpora[1226]*1226tion, herein called Ryder, and Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, a Massachusetts corporation, herein called Liberty, seeking to recover that portion of money damages paid by INA in the settlement of two personal injury actions against Blue Bird and Ryder, paid by their liability carriers, INA and Liberty, respectively, which insurance companies contributed to the settlements equally, INA paying the sum of $42,500.00. Plaintiffs also seek to recover attorney fees and expenses incurred in defending the personal injury suits, in the sum of $5,619.52, for a total claim of $51,474.59. In making the personal injury settlements, INA and Liberty agreed each to pay one half without waiving their rights to litigate the issue of liability as between them.

In their answer the defendants deny any liability and have counterclaimed for that portion of the settlement paid by them in the sum of $42,500.00.

The case was tried to the Court without a jury.

For purposes of the trial the party entered into two stipulations of fact. The first stipulation is quoted as follows:

“1. On or about August 13, 1971 Bluebird and Ryder entered into a written rental or lease contract for the rental of a tractor by Ryder to Bluebird. A copy of the rental agreement may be introduced in evidence by any party.
2. On or about August 14, 1971 a motor vehicle accident occurred in or near Winona, Mississippi. A car owned and being driven by Charles W. Johnson collided with the right rear portion of a semitrailer owned by Bluebird. This semitrailer was attached to the tractor owned by Ryder which was described in the rental contract referred to in paragraph 1 above.
3. Prior to the execution of the aforesaid rental contract, Liberty had issued a certain policy of insurance to Ryder whereby, subject to the terms and provisions of the rental contract and said policy, bodily injury coverage with limits of $100,000-$300,000 was afforded Ryder and renters or lessees of equipment from Ryder, including Bluebird. This policy was in effect on the date of the aforementioned motor vehicle accident. Prior to the execution of the aforesaid rental contract, INA had issued a certain policy of insurance to Bluebird whereby, subject to the terms and provisions thereof, bodily injury coverage with limits of $100,-000-$300,000 was afforded Bluebird on trailers owned by Bluebird. This policy was in effect on the date of the aforementioned motor vehicle accident. A copy of either or both of said policies of insurance may be introduced by any party on the trial of this case without the original thereof being produced or the copy being identified. It is specifically understood that under this stipulation none of the parties are stipulating or agreeing that the aforesaid policies afforded coverage for the motor vehicle accident aforesaid, as this is a question or questions for determination by the Court.
4. Thomas Gregg, deceased, was riding as a passenger in the Charles W. Johnson ear which was involved in said motor vehicle accident and sustained fatal personal injuries as a result thereof. A suit was instituted in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Mississippi, styled Ida Gregg, Plaintiff, v. Charles W. Johnson, Ryder Truck Rental, Inc., Bluebird Body Company and James Edward Singleton, Defendants, and was Cause No. 4640 on the docket of said Court, wherein judgment was sought against the defendants for the alleged wrongful death of Thomas Gregg. Bluebird and INA tendered the defense of the case on behalf of Bluebird and Singleton to Ryder and Liberty, and when Ryder and Liberty refused to assume the defense, INA provided the defense of Bluebird and Singleton at the expense of INA. Hassell H. Whitworth represented as attorney Bluebird and James Edward Singleton, and Junior O’Mara represented as attorney Ryder in that suit. A voluntary nonsuit was entered in this case dismissing same as to Ryder Truck Rental, Inc. Thereafter that case was settled by the [1227]*1227payment of the total sum of $35,000 to Ida Gregg individually and as Administratrix of the Estate of Thomas Gregg, Deceased. INA paid one-half thereof, or $17,500, and one-half of the court costs. Ryder and Liberty paid one-half thereof, or $17,500, plus one-half of the court costs. These settlement payments were made with the understanding that the parties to the present litigation or case reserved the right to negotiate and litigate if necessary between themselves at a later date the questions of coverage, the question of which had the duty to defend the case, the duty to pay any settlement or any judgment rendered in said Gregg case, and no rights were waived by any parties with regard thereto. It was further agreed that the payment of the sum of $35,000 was a reasonable and fair settlement of the Gregg case. Any of the parties hereto may introduce on the trial of this case copies of all or any of the pleadings in the Gregg case, including copy of the release executed in consummation of the settlement, without producing or offering the original of said pleadings or release or certified copies of the pleadings.
5. A suit was first instituted in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Mississippi by Charles W. Johnson. That case was removed by the defendants to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Western Division. That suit in said Federal District Court was styled Charles W. Johnson, Plaintiff, v. Ryder Truck Rental, Inc., Bluebird Body Company, and James Edward Singleton, Defendants, and was Civil Action No. WC72 — 14(K) on the docket of said Federal District Court. Plaintiff therein sought judgment against the defendants for injuries and damages sustained as a result of the aforesaid motor vehicle accident. Bluebird and INA tendered the defense of the case on behalf of Bluebird and Singleton to Ryder and Liberty, and when Ryder and Liberty refused to assume the defense, INA provided the defense of Bluebird and Singleton at the expense of INA. Ryder filed motion for summary judgment. An order was entered sustaining said motion, and said suit was dismissed as to Ryder. Hassell H. Whit-worth represented Bluebird and James Edward Singleton as attorney, and Junior O’Mara represented Ryder as attorney in said suit. Thereafter, trial of said suit was begun and a settlement agreed on prior to completion thereof. The total sum paid in settlement of the Johnson suit was $50,000 plus court costs in the amount of $250.18. INA paid one-half of said settlement consideration, or $25,000, plus one-half of said court costs, or $125.09. Ryder and Liberty paid one-half of said settlement consideration, or $25,-000, and one-half of said court costs, or $125.09. Settlement of the Johnson case was made under the same agreement had by the parties hereto with regard to settlement of the Gregg case as set forth in paragraph No. 4 hereof. Any of the parties hereto may introduce copies of the pleadings filed in the Johnson case, including copy of the release executed in consummation of said settlement, without producing the originals thereof and without having copies of the pleadings certified to.

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Related

United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Mathis
236 So. 2d 730 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 1970)
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103 So. 2d 357 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 1958)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
419 F. Supp. 1225, 1976 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13141, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/blue-bird-body-co-v-ryder-truck-rental-inc-mssd-1976.