FIDELITY & GAUR. v. Succession of Smith

525 So. 2d 348, 1988 WL 35577
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedApril 19, 1988
DocketCW 87 1613
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 525 So. 2d 348 (FIDELITY & GAUR. v. Succession of Smith) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
FIDELITY & GAUR. v. Succession of Smith, 525 So. 2d 348, 1988 WL 35577 (La. Ct. App. 1988).

Opinion

525 So.2d 348 (1988)

FIDELITY & GUARANTY INSURANCE COMPANY
v.
SUCCESSION OF James Q. SMITH a/k/a James Smith, Sr., et al.

No. CW 87 1613.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.

April 19, 1988.

*349 James B. Supple, Bauer, Darnall & Boudreaux, Franklin, for petitioner.

Leo J. Landry, Jr., Judycki & Landry, Morgan City, for Richard Williams, II, et al.

Charles R. Prevost, Michael Thomas, Thomas & Thomas, Franklin, for Mrs. Pauline Williams Thomas, tutrix of the minor James Q. Smith, Jr.

Clyde R. Simien, Simien & Miniex, Lafayette, for Taulton Mouton, an unemancipated minor with no legal representative and Dawn Mouton, an unemancipated minor child with no legal representative.

Lawrence A. Arcell, Barker, Boudreaux, Lamy & Foley, New Orleans, for Donald McPherson, et al.

John W. Perry, Jr., Mathews, Atkinson, Guglielmo, Marks & Day, Baton Rouge, for Trinity Co.

David A. Hurlburt, Hurlburt, Privat & Monrose, Lafayette, for Viking Gen. Ins. Co. and Johnye M. Hamilton. Jarvis J. Claiborne, Opelousas, for Loretta Smith.

Before SHORTESS, LANIER and CRAIN, JJ.

LANIER, Judge.

This action is a concursus proceeding filed by the liability insurer of an alleged tort-feasor. Impleaded as parties are all potential tort claimants and a potential solidary tort-feasor and her insurer. The potential solidary tort-feasor and her insurer filed a dilatory exception raising the objection of prematurity and a peremptory exception raising the objection of no cause of action. The trial court overruled both exceptions. The potential solidary tort-feasor and her insurer applied to this court for supervisory relief. This court issued a writ of certiorari to review the rulings of the trial court. Herlitz Construction Company, Inc. v. Hotel Investors of New Iberia, Inc., 396 So.2d 878 (La.1981).

FACTS

No evidence may be introduced at any time to support or controvert the objection that the petition fails to state a cause of action. La.C.C.P. art. 931. The objection of no cause of action is tried on the face of the petition with all factual allegations contained therein accepted as true. McGowan v. Ramey, 484 So.2d 785 (La.App. 1st Cir. 1986).

On the trial of the objection of prematurity raised in the dilatory exception, evidence may be introduced to support or controvert the objection, when the grounds for the objection do not appear from the petition. La.C.C.P. art. 930. No evidence was introduced at the trial of this dilatory exception. In the absence of evidence, the objection of prematurity must be based upon the facts alleged in the petition and the exception, and all allegations thereof are accepted as true. Cf. Capital Drilling Company v. Graves, 496 So.2d 487 (La. App. 1st Cir.1986).

The pertinent facts alleged in the petition are as follows:

II.
On or about February 7, 1987 at approximately 5:00 a.m., Drew A. Minor was operating a 1984 Chevrolet Camero two door vehicle, Louisiana license numbered 195C360, which vehicle was owned by Gerald Minor and which vehicle was being operated by Drew A. Minor in a Westerly direction on Louisiana Highway 182 approximately l/10th of a mile from its intersection with Louisiana Highway 3211.
III.
On the same date, place and time and travelling in the same direction but behind *350 the vehicle driven by Drew A. Minor was the vehicle driven by Johnye M. Hamilton, a 1984 Chevrolet Chevette, four door, Louisiana license no. 3131970.
IV.
At the same date, place and time, James Q. Smith a/k/a James Smith, Sr. and Paulette Thomas Mouton a/k/a Paulette Smith were occupying and/or fighting on or near Louisiana Highway 182 on or near the lane of travel of the vehicles driven by Drew A. Minor and Johnye M. Hamilton.
V.
At the same date, place and time, through information and belief, Donald McPherson and Odessa Williams attempted to assist Paulette Thomas Mouton a/k/a Paulette Smith to her feet and/or stop James Q. Smith a/k/a James Smith, Sr. and Paulette Thomas Mouton a/k/a Paulette Smith from fighting when they were struck by the vehicle driven by Drew A. Minor. After James Q. Smith a/k/a James Smith, Sr., Paulette Thomas Mouton a/k/a Paulette Smith, Donald McPherson and Odessa Williams were struck by the vehicle driven by Drew A. Minor, through information and belief either one or all of them were again struck [by] the vehicle driven by Johnye M. Hamilton.
VI.
As a result of these collisions, James Q. Smith a/k/a James Smith, Sr., Paulette Thomas Mouton a/k/a Paulette Smith and Odessa Williams died.
VII.
As a result of the collision, Donald McPherson received personal injuries.
VIII.
On or about February 7, 1987, your petitioner, Fidelity & Guaranty Insurance Company, had in full force and effect a policy of public liability automobile liability insurance naming Gerald Minor as its insured, which policy is numbered 6DPA175090375 which policy is referred to herein by reference as if pled in extenso.
IX.
The heirs, surviving spouses and/or surviving parents and/or surviving children of James Q. Smith a/k/a James Smith, Sr., Paulette Thomas Mouton a/k/a Paulette Smith and Odessa Williams, as well as Donald McPherson and his spouse and children all have claims against your petitioner under the direct action statute of this State for the proceeds of the policy limits of the policy of USF & G issued in favor of Gerald A. Minor as stated in paragraph VIII hereinabove, for their damages, wrongful death and survival actions (as the case may be).
X.
Your petitioner shows that the total limit of its policy naming Gerald Minor as an insured is $100,000.00 and that it hereby admits its liability to all of the defendants for the full amount of its insurance coverage and desires leave of Court to deposit the amount thereof, ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND AND NO/100 ($100,000.00) DOLLARS, into the Registry of the Court, and to implead the defendants named herein to assert their respective claims to these funds, contradictorily with one another.
. . . .
XXI.
Your petitioner further avers that there are conflicting claims to the proceeds of the $100,000.00 policy issued by your petitioner as noted hereinabove between the four groups of claimants and there is a potential claim for indemnification and/or contribution that can be made by Johnye M. Hamilton should she be deemed to be liable to any or either of the McPherson group, Smith group, Mouton group or Williams group.
*351 XXII.
Your petitioner further avers that, at all material times, defendant, Viking General Insurance Company, had in full force and effect a policy of public automobile liability insurance issued in favor of Johnye M. Hamilton insuring her for any and all liability she may have for the operation of her vehicle up to the amount of said policy and, as such, Viking General Insurance Company, pursuant to that policy, may be liable to any and all of the McPherson group, Williams group, Smith group and Mouton group and, as such, will have a claim for contribution and/or indemnification from your petitioner.

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Bluebook (online)
525 So. 2d 348, 1988 WL 35577, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/fidelity-gaur-v-succession-of-smith-lactapp-1988.