Elbert v. Lumbermen's Mut. Cas. Co.

107 F. Supp. 299, 1952 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3791
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Louisiana
DecidedSeptember 4, 1952
DocketCiv. A. 3548
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 107 F. Supp. 299 (Elbert v. Lumbermen's Mut. Cas. Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Elbert v. Lumbermen's Mut. Cas. Co., 107 F. Supp. 299, 1952 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3791 (W.D. La. 1952).

Opinion

DAWKINS, Chief Judge.

Plaintiff, a citizen of Louisiana, invoking the jurisdiction of this court solely upon the ground of diverse citizenship, sues defendant, a “corporate citizen of the State of Illinois”, in tort, and for cause of action alleges:

“Petitioner shows that at all times herein mentioned the defendant had issued, and there was in full force and effect, a policy of public liability insurance issued by -the defendant to S. W.-' Bowen, 147 -Boulevard • Street, Shreveport, Louisiana, -by the terms of ' which the defendant insured and in- ’ demnified' and agreed 'to hold harmless the sáid S. W. -Bowen, the members -of ' 'his ■ household; including’his wife, and others operating' the below described, automobile with' his permission; ás pro-» ’ vided for in said policy, from all claims of judgments arising out of the ■ negligent operation of one certain 1949. Chrysler Sedan automobile owned by the said S. W. Bowen, which policy is made a part hereof by reference.
“Petitioner shows that on or about February 21, 1951, petitioner .was invited by Mrs. S. W. Bowen, wife of assured, to be her guest to take a ride with her in the aforesaid Chrysler automobile, Mrs. Bowen then and there operating the car with the permission of assured.
“That petitioner accepted said invitation; that said -Mrs. S. W. Bowen took petitioner for a ride and after having completed the same, stopped her car across the street in front of the driveway of petitioner’s home, being 234 Olive Street in the City of Shreveport, Parish of. Caddo, Louisiana. Petitioner shows that the said Mrs. S. W. Bowen stopped the car to permit petitioner to alight therefrom;. -Accordingly, petitioner proceeded to get out of the-car, stepped on the ground and proceeded to close the right front door of the car. However, before petitioner could get the door fully closed and her hand removed from the handle, the said Mrs. S. W. Bowen suddenly and without warning, started her car forward, catching petitioner’s coat sleeve in the handle of the car, dragging her and throwing her violently to the ground [301]*301and injuring her as hereinafter set forth.
“The accident and resulting injuries were caused proximately by the negligence of assured’s ¡wife, aforesaid, in the following non-exclusive particulars :
“a. Starting the car forward without' first ascertaining that petitionef was free and clear thereof.
“b. Starting the car forward while petitioner was outside thereof but in physical contact therewith.
“c. Operating the car in a careless and reckless manner, under the circumstances.
“Petitioner itemizes her injuries as follows:
“a. The large bone of her upper right leg was broken and- crushed where it fits into the hip joint socket.
“b. Injuries of undetermined nature to the bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, tissues and cartilage of her “1. Upper back.
“2. Lower back.
“3. Both hips.
“4. Both legs.
. “c. Aggravation and worsening of a preexisting but quiescent,. dormant, non-disabling and non-painful arthritis and dislocated disc.
“d. Bruises and contusions over entire body.”

Her prayer is for judgment in the total sum of $51,590.50, which includes “loss of enjoyment and use of -physical functions * * * pain and suffering. * . * * expenses of an attendant * * * medicine,, drugs and special foods * * * hospital bills * * * doctor bills * * * nursing and attendant bills accrued”. There is nothing alleged to show whether the .maximum coverage of the policy is more or less than the total amount claimed.

Defendant has moved to dismiss the complaint, contending there is no diversity of citizenship between the real parties to the controversy as to whose fault or negligence caused the alleged injuries and consequent damages.

The sole basis for invoking the jurisdiction of the Federal court here is the Act No. 55 of Louisiana Legislature of 1930 (now Act No. 541 of 1950, LSA-R.S. 22:655), which reads as follows:

“No policy or contract of liability insurance shall be issued or delivered in this state, unless it contains provisions to the effect that the insolvency or . bankruptcy of the insured, shall not re- ' ■ lease the insurer from the -payment of damages for injuries sustained or loss occasioned during the existence of the -policy, and any judgment which may be rendered ¿gainst the insured for which the insurer is liable which shall have become executory, shall be deemed prima facie evidence of the insolvency of the insured, and an action may thereafter be maintained within the terms and limits of the policy by the injured person or his or her heirs against the insurer. The injured person or his or her-heirs, at their option, shall have a right of direct action against the insurer within the terms and limits of the policy in the parish where the accident or injury occurred or in the parish where the insured has his domicile, and said action may be brought against the insurer alone or against both the insured and the insurer, jointly'and in solido. This right of direct action shall exist whether the policy of insurance sued upon was written or delivered in the State of- Louisiana or not and whether Or not .such 'policy ' contains a provision- forbidding such direct 'action," provided the accident or injury occurred within the State of Louisiana-. Nothing contained in this 'Section shall be construed to affect the provisions of "the policy-or contract if the same are not in violation of the laws of this state. It is the intent of this Section that any action brought hereunder shall be subject to all of the lawful conditions of the policy or contract and the defenses which could be urged by-the insurer to a direct action brought by the insured, provided the terms and conditions of such [302]*302policy or contract are not in violation of the laws of this state.”

As appears from the fourth article of the complaint quoted above, the policy sued upon was not one of general liability in favor of the public, or' any person' who might have a 'claim in tort against’the insured growing out of the use of the automobile covered. Nor did the'insurer undertake to defend any such action against its insured, but, according to the complaint, “by the terms of the policy” the defendant undertook to “indemnify and agreed to hold harmless the said’ insured and all others covered 'by the policy “from the claims or charges arising out of the negligent operation of the automobile involved”.

Opinion.

This is one of a large number of similar suits filed in this District, which has doubled the work in the Western District within the past few years, all by citizens of Louisiana alleging that the controversy is between citizens of different states. Here, as in others, the insured are citizens of Louisiana the same as the plaintiffs.' All of them present the question of whether the State Legislature can, by authorizing a direct action against the insurer alone, at the option of complainant, impose jurisdiction upon the Federal courts in a controversy which primarily and fundamentally is one between its own citizens.

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Related

Lumbermen's Mutual Casualty Co. v. Elbert
348 U.S. 48 (Supreme Court, 1954)
Elbert v. Lumberman's Mut. Cas. Co.
201 F.2d 500 (Fifth Circuit, 1953)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
107 F. Supp. 299, 1952 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3791, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/elbert-v-lumbermens-mut-cas-co-lawd-1952.