Eriko Morataya, Individually and on Behalf of His Minor Child, Steven Morataya, and Yerling Jarquin on Behalf of Her Minor Child, Steven Morataya Versus Mga Insurance Company, Inc., Marvin Garcia Salinas, and Jane Doe

• Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
• Decided: September 17, 2025
• Docket: 25-C-415
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

ERIKO MORATAYA, INDIVIDUALLY AND NO. 25-C-415 ON BEHALF OF HIS MINOR CHILD, STEVEN MORATAYA, AND YERLING JARQUIN ON FIFTH CIRCUIT BEHALF OF HER MINOR CHILD, STEVEN MORATAYA COURT OF APPEAL

VERSUS STATE OF LOUISIANA

MGA INSURANCE COMPANY, INC., MARVIN GARCIA SALINAS, AND JANE DOE

September 17, 2025

Linda Tran First Deputy Clerk

IN RE MGA INSURANCE COMPANY

APPLYING FOR SUPERVISORY WRIT FROM THE TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, DIRECTED TO THE HONORABLE DANYELLE M. TAYLOR, DIVISION "O", NUMBER 834-416

Panel composed of Judges Marc E. Johnson, Scott U. Schlegel, and Timothy S. Marcel

WRIT DENIED

Defendant/Relator, MGA Insurance Company, Inc. (“MGA”), seeks

supervisory review of the trial court’s denial of summary judgment in its favor on

July 17, 2025. MGA argues that the trial court erred by denying summary

judgment when MGA established that its insured, defendant, Marvin Garcia

Salinas (“Mr. Salinas”), presented undisputed evidence that in 2017, he registered

a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse in Louisiana and listed his primary address as Metairie,

Louisiana. MGA asserts that (1) this was a material misrepresentation by Mr.

Salinas; (2) Mr. Salinas breached the cooperation clause in the insurance policy;

and (3) the trial court further erred in failing to apply the burden-shifting

framework of La. C.C.P. art. 966(D)(4). In support of its motion for summary judgment, MGA primarily relies upon

the undisputed fact that the Chevrolet Traverse was registered in Louisiana in

2017. But this fact alone does not prove that Mr. Salinas made a material

representation when he applied for insurance from MGA, nor does it shift the

burden to plaintiffs. The Traverse was not added to his policy until January 29,

2022, over four years later. And Mr. Salinas initially insured another vehicle with

MGA on January 29, 2020, suggesting that he may have moved out of Louisiana

years after registering his vehicle in Louisiana.

Additionally, as it relates to MGA’s claim that Mr. Salinas has failed to

cooperate, this court finds “[f]rom the record before us we cannot tell if [Mr.

Salinas] is an uncooperative insured or simply an uninformed insured who has

moved and whose mail is not being forwarded.” See Williams v. Lowe, 02-355

(La. App. 5 Cir. 10/16/02), 831 So.2d 334, 337.

Thus, we find no error in the trial court’s denial of MGA’s motion for

summary judgment. Genuine issues of material fact exist.

Accordingly, the writ is denied.

Gretna, Louisiana, this 17th day of September, 2025.

SUS MEJ TSM SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL

CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT

SUSAN S. BUCHHOLZ FREDERICKA H. WICKER CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK JUDE G. GRAVOIS MARC E. JOHNSON STEPHEN J. WINDHORST LINDA M. TRAN JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR. FIRST DEPUTY CLERK SCOTT U. SCHLEGEL TIMOTHY S. MARCEL FIFTH CIRCUIT MELISSA C. LEDET JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053) DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF POST OFFICE BOX 489 GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400

(504) 376-1498 FAX www.fifthcircuit.org

NOTICE OF DISPOSITION CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE DISPOSITION IN THE FOREGOING MATTER HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 4-6 THIS DAY 09/17/2025 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, THE TRIAL COURT CLERK OF COURT, AND AT LEAST ONE OF THE COUNSEL OF RECORD FOR EACH PARTY, AND TO EACH PARTY NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:

25-C-415 E-NOTIFIED 24th Judicial District Court (Clerk) Honorable Danyelle M. Taylor (DISTRICT JUDGE) Paula J. Ferreira (Respondent) Miguel A. Elias (Respondent) Travis L. Bourgeois (Relator) Candace C. Chauvin (Relator)

MAILED Sidney W. Degan, III (Relator) Adam M. Klock (Respondent) Foster P. Nash, III (Relator) Robert E. Duhon (Respondent) Jill R. Menard (Relator) Robert D. Banks (Respondent) Attorney at Law Attorneys at Law 400 Poydras Street 4224 Williams Boulevard Suite 2600 Kenner, LA 70065 New Orleans, LA 70130