Duke Power Co. v. Indemnity Insurance

128 F. Supp. 262, 1955 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3660
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. North Carolina
DecidedJanuary 17, 1955
DocketCiv. A. No. 1021
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 128 F. Supp. 262 (Duke Power Co. v. Indemnity Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Duke Power Co. v. Indemnity Insurance, 128 F. Supp. 262, 1955 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3660 (W.D.N.C. 1955).

Opinion

WARLICK, District Judge.

This action was instituted in the Superior Court of Mecklenburg County, and on petition was removed to this court on account of a diversity of citizenship, under Title 28 U.S.C.A. § 1332. It is an action in which plaintiff seeks to recover of the defendant the sum of $27,-441.27, with interest, allegedly arising [263]*263from and under the terms of a policy of liability insurance issued by the defendant in favor of the plaintiff. This hearing arises under a motion made by plaintiff for Summary Judgment under Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 28 U.S.C.A. The facts generally are not disputed.

Findings of Fact

Plaintiff is a corporation organized under the laws of New Jersey and has its principal place of business in Charlotte, in Mecklenburg County, in the Western District of North Carolina. The defendant is a corporation organized under the laws of Pennsylvania with its principal business office in the City of Philadelphia.

Some time prior to October 1, 1952, plaintiff had begun the erection of a steam generating plant near Spencer in Rowan County, North Carolina, known as Buck Station, and in line with said construction entered into a written contract with Combustion Engineering-Superheater, Inc., with respect--to its furnishing and installing two C-E Controlled Circulation Steam Generators. The contract between plaintiff and Combustion provided among other things that Combustion would furnish protective liability insurance for the benefit of plaintiff with respect to the installation to be performed by it under said contract, and in compliance with said contract, the defendant herein issued to the plaintiff such policy of insurance, a photostatic copy thereof being attached to the complaint. The premium on said policy was paid by Combustion as the contract provided. That at the time of the loss herein complained of, said policy was in full force and effect.

In said contract of insurance plaintiff was provided protective public liability to any one individual of not more than $25,000 and a total limit for any one accident of not more than $50,000.

Wallace P. Jackson was employed by Combustion as its Foreman in connection with the work to be done for plaintiff under said contract by it and had full supervision of all of its means and methods.

That on December 22, 1952 Wallace P. Jackson was instantly killed by being struck by a long metal tube which had previously been suspended by Combustion in its installation work under the contract with plaintiff; said tube being one among several that had theretofore been installed as the work progressed. Prior to being struck and instantly killed, Jackson was on the basement floor of said plant, where the work of installation was being done, bending over and engaged in studying a set of the plans of construction which was spread out on the floor, undertaking to ascertain the next step in said installation to be done by his employer; at that time all work and the activity connected therewith had been suspended upon the express instruction of said Jackson, so that he might thereafter be familiar with the exact steps to be next taken and the work to be done. The metal tubing being then installed according to the plans, was to be mounted vertically on metal angle supports, with the bottom of each tube approximately 64 feet above the level of said basement floor. Each tube was approximately 60 feet in length and 1% inches in diameter, and all a part of the metal boilers then being installed under said contract by Combustion. At the time when Jackson was killed nine tubes had been securely mounted in their proper position in one of the sections of the tubing installation. While the work of Combustion had ceased at the direction of Jackson, one C. S. Burns, General Foreman of plaintiff, requested permission of Jackson to borrow and use the cable and hoist which was being used in the installation o.f the tubes by Combustion and which was at that time not in use while Jackson was familiarizing himself more thoroughly with the plans of construction, so that Burns as such foreman, and employee of plaintiff, could move three large heavy iron castings, which were on the basement floor from the place as then located, to another so that they would, [264]*264when moved, be out of the way of the work being done in the installation of the tubing. These three castings were the property of plaintiff and had no connection whatsoever with the work being done and performed by Combustion. On his request being granted, Burns, as foreman of plaintiff, then instructed one J. G. Zigler, another employee of plaintiff, to take the cable and fasten it to the castings and move them while he, Burns, would direct and give all necessary signals for a proper movement. Thereupon Burns signalled the hoist operator, S. S. Shepherd, an employee of Combustion, to operate the hoist and cable, thereupon moving each casting to a new place and out of the work area of that necessary to continue the placing of the tubes.

While so engaged Shepherd was operating under the direction, supervision and control of Burns. That while said castings were being moved, Burns and Zigler, in the course of their employment by plaintiff, and in furtherance of plaintiff’s work, carelessly and negligently caused, or if not so, permitted the cable attached to hoist, to come in contact with one or more of the suspended tubes, causing one of them to jerk or be pulled loose and drop approximately 64 feet to the basement floor and in falling, strike said Wallace P. Jackson on the back of his neck as he was then leaning over studying said plans, breaking his neck and spinal column, severing his jugular vein, and causing instant death.

Thereafter during July, 1953, Jackson’s personal representative instituted an action in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, against plaintiff, to recover for his wrongful death, seeking by way of damage a recovery in the alleged sum of $200,000.00; alleging among other things the negligence of plaintiff’s employees, which proximately caused Jackson’s death. In its answer plaintiff made certain admissions and denials, pleaded the North Carolina Workmen’s Compensation Act, G.S. § 97-1 et seq., and further set out in the answer by way of complete defense, that the deceased Jackson was guilty of and chargeable with contributory negligence and an additional defense of his having voluntarily assumed the risk incident to his employment.

Thereafter with the issues joined, and liability denied, plaintiff compromised said action prior to trial and paid to the personal representative of Jackson’s estate the sum of $25,000 together with costs, etc., and additionally paid its attorney fees, which sums paid totalled $2,411.67. These payments together with the judgment amounted to $27,-441.27, — the amount sought herein.

Prior to filing answer, plaintiff gave notice to the defendant, of said action pending against it, and requested that it make a defense thereto, — but on the defendant denying liability for lack of coverage under the terms of said policy and refusing to defend said action, plaintiff thereupon acted on its own initiative, filed answer, and ultimately compromised said claim in good faith, and paid said judgment in full, together with the incident costs.

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Bluebook (online)
128 F. Supp. 262, 1955 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3660, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/duke-power-co-v-indemnity-insurance-ncwd-1955.