Garrett v. New Hampshire Insurance

860 F. Supp. 2d 1203, 2012 WL 950221, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37432
CourtDistrict Court, D. Oregon
DecidedMarch 20, 2012
DocketNo. 3:11-cv-788-HZ
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 860 F. Supp. 2d 1203 (Garrett v. New Hampshire Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Garrett v. New Hampshire Insurance, 860 F. Supp. 2d 1203, 2012 WL 950221, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37432 (D. Or. 2012).

Opinion

OPINION & ORDER

HERNANDEZ, District Judge:

Plaintiff Wesley James Garrett brings this “statutory insurance claim” against defendant New Hampshire Insurance Company, pursuant to Oregon Revised Statute § (O.R.S.) 742.031. Plaintiff seeks payment of a judgment plaintiff obtained against Stanley Christopher Bailer as a result of injuries plaintiff suffered in an accident which occurred while plaintiff was a passenger in a truck driven by Bailer and owned by Warrenton Fiber Company. At the time of the accident, both plaintiff and Bailer worked for Warrenton Fiber, defendant’s insured.

Both parties move for summary judgment. I grant defendant’s motion. I grant plaintiffs motion on the issue of initial coverage; to the extent plaintiffs motion seeks summary judgment on the exclusion issue, I deny the motion.

BACKGROUND

The motor vehicle accident occurred on December 28, 2009, while plaintiff was a passenger in a 2006 Ford F-350 pickup truck. Ex. 3 to Dec. 7, 2011 Hendricks Decl. (Stipulated Facts) at ¶ 3. Defendant [1205]*1205issued a Commercial Automobile Policy, policy number 01-CA-015847348-1/000 (“the commercial policy”), to Warrenton Fiber, from September 3, 2009 to September 3, 2010. Id. at ¶ 4. Defendant also issued an Umbrella Policy to Warrenton Fiber, policy number 01-UD-015845293-1 (“the umbrella policy”), from September 3, 2009 to September 3, 2010. Id.

The 2006 Ford F-350 pickup is listed in the commercial policy as one of the automobiles owned by Warrenton Fiber. Id. at ¶ 5. Under the commercial policy, an individual qualifies as an insured if using a covered automobile owned by Warrenton Fiber with Warrenton Fiber’s permission. Id. at ¶ 6. Bailer, as the driver of the truck, was a permissive driver on the date of the accident and therefore, is an insured under the commercial policy and the umbrella policy. Id. at ¶ 1. The commercial policy provides that defendant will pay all sums an insured legally must pay as damages because of “bodily injury” to which the insurance applies, caused by an “accident,” and resulting from the use of a covered “auto.” Id. at ¶ 7.

Shortly after the accident, plaintiff filed for workers’ compensation benefits. Ex. 4 to Dec. 22, 2011 Verfurth Decl. Plaintiffs workers’ compensation claim was accepted by SAIF, the insurer, on February 18, 2010, with additional injuries accepted on March 12, 2010, and August 10, 2010. Ex. 6 to Dec. 22, 2011 Verfurth Decl. Plaintiff currently receives workers’ compensation benefits as a result of the injuries he sustained in the accident. Ex. 7 to Dec. 22, 2011 Verfurth Decl. (Plf. Depo.) at pp. 31, 33, 34.

Plaintiff sued Bailer for his injuries. Ex. 3 to Dec. 7, 2011 Hendricks Decl. at ¶ 8. Defendant did not provide a defense to Bailer. Id. at ¶ 12. A default judgment against Bailer was filed on April 25, 2011, in the amount of $1,865,120. Id. at ¶ 14; Ex. 4 to Dec. 7, 2011 Hendricks Decl.

STANDARDS

Summary judgment is appropriate if there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(a). The moving party bears the initial responsibility of informing the court of the basis of its motion, and identifying those portions of “‘the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any,’ which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986) (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)).

Once the moving party meets its initial burden of demonstrating the absence of a genuine issue of material fact, the burden then shifts to the nonmoving party to present “specific facts” showing a “genuine issue for trial.” Fed. Trade Comm’n v. Stefanchik, 559 F.3d 924, 927-28 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation omitted). The nonmoving • party must go beyond the pleadings and designate facts showing an issue for trial. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548.

The substantive law governing a claim determines whether a fact is material. Suever v. Connell, 579 F.3d 1047, 1056 (9th Cir.2009). The court views inferences drawn from the facts in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party and draws all reasonable inferences in that party’s favor. Long v. City & County of Honolulu, 511 F.3d 901, 905 (9th Cir.2007).

If the factual context makes the non-moving party’s claim as to the existence of a material issue of fact implausible, that party must come forward with more persuasive evidence to support his claim than [1206]*1206would otherwise be necessary. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986).

DISCUSSION

Plaintiff brings his claim under an Oregon statute which provides:

A policy of insurance against loss or damage resulting from accident to or injury suffered by an employee or other person and for which the person insured is liable ... shall contain within such policy a provision substantially as follows: “Bankruptcy or insolvency of the insured shall not relieve the insurer of any of its obligations hereunder. If any person or legal representative of the person shall obtain final judgment against the insured because of any such injuries, and execution thereon is returned unsatisfied by reason of bankruptcy, insolvency or any other cause, or if such judgment is not satisfied within 30 days after it is rendered, then such person or legal representatives of the person may proceed against the insurer to recover the amount of such judgment, either at law or in equity, but not exceeding the limit of this policy applicable thereto.”

O.R.S. 742.031. The statute serves to give plaintiff a direct right of action against the insurer. Kollman v. Nat’l Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pitts., No. CV-04-3106-CO, 2007 WL 865679, at *19 (D.Or. Mar. 15, 2007).

In disputes involving insurance policies, the insured has the initial burden of establishing conditions of coverage, and the insurer has the burden of establishing that the policy excludes coverage. Employers Ins. of Wausau v. Tektronix, Inc., 211 Or.App. 485, 509, 156 P.3d 105, 119 (2007). The parties have stipulated as follows: “Mr. Bailer was a permissive driver on 12/28/09 and is, therefore, an insured under the New Hampshire primary and excess policies and thus, is entitled to coverage for damages alleged by Mr. Garrett, subject to applicable exclusions to coverage found in the policies.” Ex. 3 to Dec. 7, 2011 Hendriks Dec. at ¶ 1.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
860 F. Supp. 2d 1203, 2012 WL 950221, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37432, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/garrett-v-new-hampshire-insurance-ord-2012.