Evanston Insurance v. Premium Assignment Corp.

935 F. Supp. 2d 1300, 2013 WL 1233190, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42330
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedMarch 26, 2013
DocketCase No. 8:11-cv-2630-T-33TGW
StatusPublished

This text of 935 F. Supp. 2d 1300 (Evanston Insurance v. Premium Assignment Corp.) 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
Evanston Insurance v. Premium Assignment Corp., 935 F. Supp. 2d 1300, 2013 WL 1233190, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42330 (M.D. Fla. 2013).

Opinion

ORDER

. VIRGINIA M. HERNANDEZ COVINGTON, District Judge.

The Court held a two-day bench trial in this matter on January 14 and 15, 2013. At this point, the case has been narrowed down to Evanston Insurance Company’s claim against Premium Assignment Corporation (“PAC”) for equitable subrogation. After hearing from the parties and considering their written submissions (Doc. ## 87, 88, 89), the Court finds in favor of PAC. The Court’s analysis is set forth in its findings of fact and conclusions of law below.

I. Findings of Fact

A. The Policy

Evanston is a resident of the State of Illinois. (Doc. # 57, Ex. C, Stipulated Fact 1). PAC is a resident of the State of Florida. (Id. at Stipulated Fact 2). Evanston issued a Physicians, Surgeons and Dentists Professional Liability Insurance Policy, No. MM-805312, to Naresh B. Dave, M.D. (“Dr. Dave”) and N.B. Dave, [1302]*1302M.D., P.A. (“the Practice”) effective August 10, 2002. (the “Policy”). {Id. at Stipulated Fact 3). The agent who procured the insurance coverage was Douglas M. McArthur, the President of McArthur Insurance Agency, Inc. {Id. at Stipulated Fact 6).

The term of the Policy was for twelve months. {Id. at Stipulated Fact 4). The premium for the Policy was $36,153.70. {Id. at Stipulated Fact 5). Dr. Dave financed the Policy premium by borrowing from PAC. {Id. at Stipulated Fact 7). Dr. Dave paid the premium for the Policy by entering into a Premium Finance Agreement with PAC effective August 26, 2002. {Id. at Stipulated Fact 8). Evanston was paid in full for the premium it charged for the Policy. (Doc. # 84, Trial Tr. at 44:20-25).

The Premium Finance Agreement identified Naresh B. Dave, M.D. as the only Insured. (Doc. # 82, Ex. 3 at 1). The McArthur- Insurance Agency filled out the Premium Finance Agreement and did not identify the Practice as an insured. (Doc. #82, Ex. 3); (Doc. #84, Trial Tr. at 107:4-108:13). The McArthur Insurance Agency delivered the completed and executed Premium Finance Agreement to PAC. {Id.). The Premium Finance Agreement was signed by Dr. Dave individually and on a second line labeled as “If Insured is a corporation, or partnership, an authorized.” (Doc. # 82, Ex. 3 at l).1

The Premium Finance Agreement required Dr. Dave to pay 25% of the premium for the Policy. (Doc. # 57, Ex. C, Stipulated Fact 9). PAC advanced the 75% balance of the premium amount to Evanston on behalf of Dr. Dave. {Id. at Stipulated Fact 10). Dr. Dave was obligated under the Premium Finance Agreement to pay nine monthly installments of $3,134.68 to PAC to finance the premium advance. {Id. at Stipulated Fact 11). The finance charge by PAC for financing the $27,210.42 balance of Dr. Dave’s premium was 8.75%. (Doc. # 82, Ex. 3).

The Premium Finance Agreement contained an “attorney-in-fact” provision that authorized PAC to “cancel and give notice of cancellation of the Scheduled Policy of Insurance to the named Insurance companies for nonpayment of premium.” (Doc. # 57, Ex. C, Stipulated Fact 12). In the Premium Finance Agreement, Dr. Dave gave PAC his Power of Attorney to cancel and give notice of cancellation of the Policy to Evanston, among others, should there be nonpayment of any monthly payments, pursuant to the terms of the Premium Finance Agreement. {Id. at Stipulated Fact 13). In the Premium Finance Agreement, Dr. Dave granted a security interest in favor of PAC for “any and all unearned premiums which may become due under the policies.” (Doc. # 82, Ex. 3 at 1).

On September 3, 2002, PAC sent a Financed Premium Notice to Evanston informing Evanston that PAC was financing the premium for the Policy. (Doc. # 82, Ex. 4). The Financed Premium Notice identified the Insured as Naresh B. Dave, M.D., and requested Evanston to provide PAC “immediate notification if the above data, furnished by your agent, does not coincide with your records.” {Id.). Evanston did not return the Financed Premium Notice to PAC. (Id); (Doc. # 84, Trial Tr. at 77:2-80:2).

On November 4, 2002, PAC sent a second Financed Premium Notice to Evans-ton identifying the Insured as Naresh B. Dave, M.D., and again requesting Evans-ton to provide “immediate notification if the above data, furnished by your agent, [1303]*1303does not coincide with your records.” (Doc. # 82, Ex. 7). Evanston did not respond to the second Financed Premium Notice sent by PAC. (Doc. # 84, Trial Tr. at 80:7-14, 81:13-16). PAC and Evanston had no contractual relationship. (Doc. # 57, Ex. C, Stipulated Fact 14).

B. Death of Dr. Dave and Cancellation of the Policy

Dr. Dave died on January 5, 2003. (Id. at Stipulated Fact 15). Under the Premium Finance Agreement, Dr. Dave owed PAC a $3,134.68 installment payment that was due on or before January 10, 2003. (Id. at Stipulated Fact 16). The installment payment that was due on January 10, 2003, was never paid to PAC. (Id. at Stipulated Fact 17). On January 15, 2003, PAC mailed a Notice of Intent to Cancel the Policy to Dr. Dave and to the McArthur Insurance Agency. (Id. at Stipulated Fact 18). The January 15, 2003, Notice of Intent to Cancel the Policy was mailed to Dr. Dave at the address of his medical office, 701 West M.L.K. Blvd., Suite 4, Tampa, FL 33603, identified in the Premium Finance Agreement. (Doc. # 82, Ex. 9).

The address to which PAC mailed the Notice of Intent to Cancel the Policy was the same address that Evanston had on record for Dr. Dave. (Doc. # 84, Trial Tr. at 73:16-74:2). Dr. Dave was the “Owner/ Officer” of the Practice. (Doc. # 82, Ex. 76 at EIC 0567).

PAC’s Notice of Intent to Cancel was based upon Dr. Dave’s failure to pay the January 10, 2003, installment payment. (Doc. # 57, Ex. C, Stipulated Fact 19). Sometime between January 20 and 22, 2003, survivors of Dr. Dave contacted the McArthur Insurance Agency and informed the Agency they had received the Notice of Intent to Cancel the Policy sent by PAC. (Id. at Stipulated Fact 20). The survivors of Dr. Dave requested the McArthur Insurance Agency to cancel the Policy as of the date of Dr. Dave’s death, January 5, 2003. (Id. at Stipulated Fact 21).

On January 21, 2003, Kenneth and Norma Jean DeLorey sent a Notice of Intent to Initiate Claim for Medical Malpractice to Dr. Dave and the Practice. (Id. at Stipulated Fact 22). The survivors of Dr. Dave did not notify Evanston of the receipt of the DeLoreys’ Notice of Intent to Initiate Medical Malpractice Claim. (Id. at Stipulated Fact 23). On January 30, 2003, PAC faxed a Pending Cancellation Report on the Policy to the McArthur Insurance Agency. (Id. at Stipulated Fact 24). On February 4, 2003, PAC sent a Notice of Cancellation of the Policy to Dr. Dave, the McArthur Insurance Agency, Agency Marketing Services (the wholesale broker), and Evanston. (Id. at Stipulated Fact 25). The PAC Notice of Cancellation stated that the Policy was cancelled for nonpayment of the January 10, 2003, installment. (Id. at Stipulated Fact 26).

The PAC Notice of Cancellation specifically stated: “You are hereby notified that the policy described above is cancelled for non-payment of an installment in accordance with the conditions and terms of the Premium Finance Agreement, which incorporates a power of attorney.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
935 F. Supp. 2d 1300, 2013 WL 1233190, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42330, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/evanston-insurance-v-premium-assignment-corp-flmd-2013.