Goldingay v. Progressive Cas. Ins. Co.

306 F. Supp. 3d 1259
CourtDistrict Court, D. Oregon
DecidedJanuary 25, 2018
DocketCase No. 3:17–cv–1491–SI (Lead Case); Case No. 3:17–cv–1494–SI (Trailing Case)
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 306 F. Supp. 3d 1259 (Goldingay v. Progressive Cas. Ins. Co.) 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
Goldingay v. Progressive Cas. Ins. Co., 306 F. Supp. 3d 1259 (D. Or. 2018).

Opinion

Michael H. Simon, District Judge.

Plaintiffs Roger Goldingay ("Goldingay") and Carol Otis ("Otis") (collectively, "Plaintiffs") are husband and wife. They each filed their own lawsuit in state court against Defendants Progressive Casualty Insurance Company ("Progressive") and Chevron U.S.A Inc. ("Chevron") (collectively, "Defendants"). Based on substantially identical factual allegations, Goldingay and Otis assert substantially identical legal claims based exclusively on state law. Defendants timely removed the two lawsuits to federal court, and the Court has consolidated these actions. Progressive has moved to dismiss all claims for failure to *1263state a claim. After answering, Chevron has moved for partial judgment on the pleadings against Plaintiffs' claim of financial elder abuse and Plaintiffs' claim for declaratory relief. Because the standard for a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is substantially identical to the standard for a motion for judgment on the pleadings under Rule 12(c), Progressive and Chevron's motions are evaluated together.

STANDARDS

A. Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim

A motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim may be granted only when there is no cognizable legal theory to support the claim or when the complaint lacks sufficient factual allegations to state a facially plausible claim for relief. Shroyer v. New Cingular Wireless Servs., Inc. , 622 F.3d 1035, 1041 (9th Cir. 2010). In evaluating the sufficiency of a complaint's factual allegations, the court must accept as true all well-pleaded material facts alleged in the complaint and construe them in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Wilson v. Hewlett-Packard Co. , 668 F.3d 1136, 1140 (9th Cir. 2012) ; Daniels-Hall v. Nat'l Educ. Ass'n , 629 F.3d 992, 998 (9th Cir. 2010). To be entitled to a presumption of truth, allegations in a complaint "may not simply recite the elements of a cause of action, but must contain sufficient allegations of underlying facts to give fair notice and to enable the opposing party to defend itself effectively." Starr v. Baca , 652 F.3d 1202, 1216 (9th Cir. 2011). All reasonable inferences from the factual allegations must be drawn in favor of the plaintiff. Newcal Indus. Inc. v. Ikon Office Sol. , 513 F.3d 1038, 1043 n.2 (9th Cir. 2008). The court need not, however, credit the plaintiff's legal conclusions that are couched as factual allegations. Ashcroft v. Iqbal , 556 U.S. 662, 678-79, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009).

A complaint must contain sufficient factual allegations to "plausibly suggest an entitlement to relief, such that it is not unfair to require the opposing party to be subjected to the expense of discovery and continued litigation." Starr , 652 F.3d at 1216. "A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged." Iqbal , 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (citing Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly , 550 U.S. 544, 556, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007) ).

B. Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings

A Rule 12(c)"motion for judgment on the pleadings faces the same test as a motion under Rule 12(b)(6)." McGlinchy v. Shell Chem. Co. , 845 F.2d 802, 810 (9th Cir. 1988). Dismissal for failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6)"is proper if there is a 'lack of a cognizable legal theory or the absence of sufficient facts alleged under a cognizable legal theory.' " Conservation Force v. Salazar , 646 F.3d 1240, 1242 (9th Cir. 2011) (quoting Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep't , 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir.1988) ). In addition, "to survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter to state a facially plausible claim to relief." Shroyer v. New Cingular Wireless Services, Inc. , 622 F.3d 1035, 1041 (9th Cir. 2010) (citing Ashcroft v. Iqbal , 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) ); see also Cafasso, United States ex rel. v. Gen.

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306 F. Supp. 3d 1259, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/goldingay-v-progressive-cas-ins-co-ord-2018.