Chestnut Associates, Inc. v. Assurance Co. of America

17 F. Supp. 3d 1203, 2014 WL 1711579, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 59278
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedApril 29, 2014
DocketCase No. 8:13-CV-1755-T-17TBM
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 17 F. Supp. 3d 1203 (Chestnut Associates, Inc. v. Assurance Co. of America) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Chestnut Associates, Inc. v. Assurance Co. of America, 17 F. Supp. 3d 1203, 2014 WL 1711579, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 59278 (M.D. Fla. 2014).

Opinion

ORDER

ELIZABETH A. KOVACHEVICH, District Judge.

This cause is before the Court on:

[1207]*1207Dkt. 21 Motion for Summary Judgment Dkt. 28 Response

This case is an action for declaratory relief. Plaintiff Chestnut Associates, Inc. seeks a declaration of Plaintiffs rights and duties under the insurance policy issued to Plaintiff, the costs of suit, and other appropriate relief. Plaintiffs allege that Defendants refused to defend Plaintiff in a lawsuit filed against Plaintiff in Pasco County Circuit Court, Brian Jansen and Cheryl Jansen v. Chestnut Associates, Inc. d/b/a PINCH-A-PENNY, a Florida corporation, Case No. 51-2011-CA-1952-WS. The Complaint in that case includes two counts of intentional infliction of emotional distress, for which Brian Jansen and Cheryl Jansen seek a judgment for damages. Plaintiff has attached Defendants’ response to Plaintiffs claim, in which Defendants deny the duty to defend and the duty to indemnify. (Dkt. 2-1, pp. 55-56).

Defendants Assurance Company of America and Maryland Casualty Company (“Assurance”) move for entry of summary judgment, seeking a declaration that Assurance has no obligation to defend or indemnify Plaintiff for the above lawsuit for intentional infliction of emotional distress.

In the Response to Order to Show Cause (Dkt. 26), Plaintiff states this case is moot, due to non-prosecution of the underlying complaint. The Court has examined the court records of Pasco County Circuit Court, and notes that the underlying case is listed as an open case. The case has not been dismissed. The Court will therefore rule on the pending motions in this case.

I. Standard of Review

Summary judgment should be rendered if the pleadings, the discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c).

“The plain language of Rule 56(c) mandates the entry of summary judgment after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.”

Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

The appropriate substantive law will guide the determination of which facts are material and which facts are ... irrelevant. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). All reasonable doubts about the facts and all justifiable inferences are resolved in favor of the non-movant. See Fitzpatrick v. City of Atlanta, 2 F.3d 1112, 1115 (11th Cir.1993). A dispute is genuine “if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party.” See Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505. But, “[i]f the evidence is merely colorable ... or is not significantly probative ... summary judgment may be granted.” Id. at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. 2505.

II. Statement of Facts

Plaintiff does not disagree with any of the facts recited by Defendant.

1. Jansen filed suit against Chestnut in the Sixth Judicial Circuit in and for Pasco County, Florida, Case no. 51-2011-CA-1952-WS.

2. In the complaint, Jansen alleges that Chestnut’s pool service technician came to his house in Holiday, Florida to service the swimming pool.

[1208]*12083. Jansen alleges that “the pool service technician removed all of his clothes and entered the pool naked.” The technician then “sexually pleasured himself in the pool” and “brought this sexual behavior to conclusion by casting ejaculate into [Jansen’s] pool.”

4. Jansen alleges that Chestnut’s “pool service technician intended and knew or should have known that emotional distress would likely result of [Jansen] as a result of this subject behavior.”

5. Jansen seeks damages for emotional distress, mental anguish, embarrassment, humiliation, loss of dignity and diminution of the value of his house.

6. The only cause of action alleged in the underlying complaint is for intentional infliction of emotional distress.

7. Assurance Company of America issued a Precision Portfolio Policy to “Chestnut Associates, Inc DBA Pinch A Penny” as the named insured, bearing Policy No. PAS 43556472, and effective from 7/21/2010 through 7/21/2011.

8. The Policy provides:

SECTION I — Coverages
1.Insuring Agreement
a. We will pay those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of “bodily injury” or “property damage” to which this insurance applies. We will have the right and duty to defend the insured against any “suit” seeking those damages. However, we will have no duty to defend the insured against any “suit” seeking damages for “bodily injury” or “property damage” to which this insurance does not apply. We may, at our discretion, investigate any “occurrence” and settle any claim or “suit” that may result.
b. This insurance applies to “bodily injury” and “property damage” only if:
(1) The “bodily injury” or “property damage” is caused by an “occurrence” that takes place in the “coverage territory”;....

2.Exclusions

This insurance does not apply to:

a. Expected or Intended Injury
“Bodily injury” or “property damage” expected or intended from the standpoint of the insured.
f. Pollution
(1) “Bodily injury” or “property damage” arising out of the actual, alleged or threatened discharge, dispersal, seepage, migration, release or escape of pollutants”.

SECTION V — DEFINITIONS

3.“Bodily injury” means bodily injury, sickness or disease sustained by a person. This includes mental anguish, mental injury, shock, fright or death resulting from bodily injury, sickness or disease
13. “Occurrence” means an accident, including continuous or repeated exposure to substantially all the same general harmful conditions
15. “Pollutants” mean any solid, liquid, gaseous or thermal irritant or contaminant, including smoke, vapor, soot, fumes, acids, alkalis, chemicals and waste. Waste includes materials to be recycled, reconditions or reclaimed
17. “Property damage” means:
a. Physical injury to tangible property, including all resulting loss of use of that property. All such loss of use shall be deemed to occur at the time of the physical Injury that caused it; or
[1209]*1209b.

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Bluebook (online)
17 F. Supp. 3d 1203, 2014 WL 1711579, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 59278, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/chestnut-associates-inc-v-assurance-co-of-america-flmd-2014.