Budget Rent-A-Car Systems v. Bridgestone

203 P.3d 154
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedDecember 30, 2008
Docket27,877
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 203 P.3d 154 (Budget Rent-A-Car Systems v. Bridgestone) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Budget Rent-A-Car Systems v. Bridgestone, 203 P.3d 154 (N.M. Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

203 P.3d 154 (2008)
2009-NMCA-013

BUDGET RENT-A-CAR SYSTEMS, INC., Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
BRIDGESTONE Firestone North American Tire, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Defendant-Appellee.

No. 27,877.

Court of Appeals of New Mexico.

December 30, 2008.

*156 Civerolo, Gralow, Hill & Curtis, PA, William P. Gralow, Edward F. Messett, Denise Archuleta, Albuquerque, NM, for Appellant.

Keleher & McLeod, P.A., Arthur O. Beach, Lynn E. Mostoller, Albuquerque, NM, for Appellee.

OPINION

VIGIL, Judge.

{1} Plaintiff, Budget Rent-A-Car Systems, Inc. (Budget), appeals the district court's order dismissing its complaint against Defendant Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (Bridgestone). Bridgestone filed motions to dismiss Budget's complaint, arguing that Budget's claim was a subrogation claim, which was barred because it was not filed within the applicable statute of limitations. In response, Budget argued that its claim was for indemnity, not subrogation. The district court granted Bridgestone's motions to dismiss Budget's complaint. We reverse the district court order dismissing Budget's complaint against Bridgestone.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

{2} Two individuals (Underlying Plaintiffs) rented a truck from Budget. While driving the truck on July 6, 2003, Underlying Plaintiffs were involved in a rollover accident and suffered injuries as a result. At that time, Budget retained an expert to inspect the truck and determine the cause of the accident. On August 26, 2003, Budget's expert issued a report on the investigation of the accident. The report stated that the accident was caused by a defective tire, which was manufactured by Bridgestone. In early 2004, Budget informed Bridgestone about the findings of its expert. Bridgestone conducted its own inspection of the tire and determined that the failure of the tire was due to an "impact break" and not the result of "a defect in either materials or workmanship."

{3} On July 15, 2004, Underlying Plaintiffs filed suit against Budget for personal injuries suffered as a result of the accident. Underlying Plaintiffs alleged in pertinent part:

7. Defendant Budget owed a duty to [Underlying] Plaintiffs to provide them with a product—a rental truck-free of defects.
8. Budget breached this duty by providing [Underlying] Plaintiffs with a defectively designed or manufactured product.
*157 9. At all times the product was in substantially the same condition as when [Underlying] Plaintiffs received it.
10. [Underlying] Plaintiffs were using the product in the manner Budget intended and were unaware of any defects in the product making it unsafe for its intended use.
11. [Underlying] Plaintiffs' injuries were the direct and proximate result of their use of the product in its defective condition and [Underlying] Plaintiffs suffered damages and injuries in amounts to be determined at trial.
12. Budget also failed to exercise ordinary care in the inspection and maintenance of the vehicle, which was a duty owed to [Underlying] Plaintiffs.
13. As a direct and proximate result of this breach, [Underlying] Plaintiffs suffered injuries and damages in amounts to be determined at trial.
14. Budget also breached implied warranties of merchantability and fitness, because the product was not fit for its ordinary purpose and did not conform to standards of merchantability.
15. As a direct and proximate result of the breach of these warranties, [Underlying] Plaintiffs suffered damages in amounts to be determined at trial.

{4} Budget engaged in settlement negotiations with Underlying Plaintiffs; Bridgestone chose to not participate in those negotiations. Budget settled with Underlying Plaintiffs for $72,161.00, on March 30, 2006, and secured a "Release in Full of All Claims and Rights" from Underlying Plaintiffs. The Release discharges Budget, Continental Casualty Company, their agents, and their representatives. In addition, the Release signed by Underlying Plaintiffs states, "We understand that this is all the money we will receive as a result of this accident."

{5} On August 23, 2006, Budget filed suit against Bridgestone alleging strict products liability, breach of warranty, and negligent design and manufacture based on its claim that the tire on the rented truck was defective and that the defective tire was the cause of the accident. Budget sought "reimbursement" in the form of a judgment for the settlement amount paid to Underlying Plaintiffs, plus pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interest, fees, and costs. Bridgestone filed a motion to dismiss the counts listed in the complaint "to the extent they seek to recover for the personal injuries of [Underlying Plaintiffs]." Bridgestone claimed that Budget had asserted a subrogation claim and that such a claim for the personal injuries of Underlying Plaintiffs was barred because it was filed more than three years from the date of the accident. Bridgestone filed a second motion to dismiss Budget's complaint, again arguing that Budget had filed a subrogation claim, and adding that because Budget voluntarily settled with Underlying Plaintiffs without a contractual obligation to do so, it had no viable subrogation claim. Budget responded.

{6} The district court held a hearing at which Bridgestone and Budget generally repeated the arguments contained in their pleadings. The district court allowed the parties to file supplemental briefs regarding indemnification and contribution. After considering the arguments of the parties and all of the pleadings filed by the parties, the district court granted Bridgestone's motions. Budget appeals.

DISCUSSION

{7} Bridgestone presented its motions as motions to dismiss. During the course of the proceedings, however, the district court was presented with a number of exhibits, including the report filed by Budget's expert, reports filed by Bridgestone, affidavits, and letters written by both parties. When "matters outside the pleading are presented to and not excluded by the court, the motion shall be treated as one for summary judgment." Rule 1-012(B) NMRA; see Gulf Ins. Co. v. Cottone, 2006-NMCA-150, ¶ 7, 140 N.M. 728, 148 P.3d 814 (stating that an appellate court will treat a district court order as a summary judgment order when matters outside the pleadings are considered on a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim). Summary judgment is warranted if there are no genuine issues of material fact in dispute and the party moving for summary judgment is entitled to judgment as a matter *158 of law. Id. Bridgestone contends that Budget filed a subrogation claim and that the statute of limitations for such a claim prohibits the action at this time. Budget contends that its claim was one for indemnification and that the action remains viable.

Subrogation

{8} Dairyland Ins. Co. v. Herman, 1998-NMSC-005, ¶ 23, 124 N.M. 624, 954 P.2d 56 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted) states:

Subrogation . . . is an equitable remedy of civil law origin whereby through a supposed succession to the legal rights of another, a loss is put ultimately on that one who in equity and good conscience should pay it.

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Bluebook (online)
203 P.3d 154, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/budget-rent-a-car-systems-v-bridgestone-nmctapp-2008.