IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO
MÓNICA E. GONZALEZ-LOPEZ, et al.
Plaintiffs CIVIL NO. 23-1278 (RAM) v. MUNICIPALITY OF SAN JUAN, et al.
Defendants
OPINION AND ORDER RAÚL M. ARIAS-MARXUACH, District Judge This matter comes before the Court on Defendant MAPFRE Praico Insurance Company’s (“MAPFRE” or “Defendant”) Motion for Partial Dismissal and/or Summary Judgment (“Motion”). (Docket No. 73). Having reviewed the parties’ submissions (Docket Nos. 73; 89; 93 and 103), the Court GRANTS Defendant’s Motion for Partial Dismissal and/or Summary Judgment at Docket No. 73. I. BACKGROUND This suit arises from the death of Plaintiffs Mónica E. Gonzalez-Lopez’s and José L. Rodríguez-Sánchez’s (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) son, Christian José Rodríguez-González (Rodríguez), who was shot and killed during a police chase carried out by Defendants Officer Alberto Robles-Concepción (“Robles”) and Officer Emanual Ramos-Pabón (“Ramos”) on July 15, 2022. (Docket No. 52 ¶ 15). Plaintiffs allege that their son’s death was preventable and assert that their son and his survivors suffered significantly as a result. Id. ¶¶ 15-16. Plaintiffs filed suit on May 30, 2023, followed by an Amended Complaint on September 18, 2024. (Docket Nos. 1 and 52). They bring
claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Puerto Rico law, asserting supplemental jurisdiction for the latter group of claims. (Docket No. 52 ¶ 4). Defendants include: (i) Ramos and Robles, the police officers involved in the shooting; (ii) Officers John Doe 1-5, police officers who allegedly arrived at the scene of the shooting and did not provide medical care to Rodríguez (“Officer Defendants”); (iii) Supervisory Officers John Doe 1 through 10 (“Supervisory Defendants”); (iv) the Municipality of San Juan (“Municipality”), who employed Robles, Ramos, the Officer Defendants and the Supervisory Defendants; (v) Miguel Romero-Lugo,
mayor of San Juan; (vi) Juan J. García, Commissioner of the Municipality police; and (vii) MAPFRE, an insurance company that provided insurance to the Municipality under Policy No. 1600228003214, which allegedly provides coverage for the types of claims and damages brought in the Amended Complaint. Id. ¶¶ 6-8. MAPFRE filed a Motion for Partial Dismissal and/or Summary Judgment on October 24, 2024. (Docket No. 73). MAPFRE sought to be dismissed from the instant case under Rules 12(b)(1), 12(b)(3), 12(b)(6), or 56(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, arguing that there is no subject-matter jurisdiction over MAPFRE, venue is improper, and that the plain terms of its insurance policy for the Municipality exempt it from providing coverage to the city here.
Id. at 1, 21. Plaintiffs filed their Motion in Opposition on November 15, 2024, noting MAPFRE’s confusion on the grounds for subject-matter jurisdiction and arguing that exclusions in MAPFRE’s insurance policy do not preclude coverage for Plaintiffs’ claims. (Docket No. 89 at 2-5). MAPFRE filed a Reply on November 22, 2024, omitting its jurisdictional arguments and reiterating that the plain language of various provisions in the Municipality’s insurance policy forecloses any recovery by Plaintiffs from MAPFRE. (Docket No. 93). Plaintiffs filed a Sur-Reply on December 13, 2024. (Docket No. 103). II. APPLICABLE LAW
The Court proceeds to evaluate the Motion under the standard for summary judgment to reach the parties’ arguments on their merits and does not reach MAPFRE’s Rule 12(b)(6) claim. As MAPFRE’s Motion was styled as a motion for summary judgment, the Court does not need to provide notice to the non-movants requesting them to defend against summary judgment. The Court also does not consider MAPFRE’s Rule 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(3) claims, both of which MAPFRE appears to have abandoned. (Docket Nos. 73 and 93). MAPFRE’s 12(b)(1) claim is premised on the mistaken assumption that the instant case is based on diversity jurisdiction, not federal question jurisdiction. (Docket Nos. 52 ¶ 4 and 73 at 9). Likewise, the 12(b)(3) claim is underdeveloped and reliant on the existence
of diversity jurisdiction. (Docket No. 73 at 1 n.2, 6-7); United States v. Zannino, 895 F.2d 1, 16 (1st Cir. 1990) (arguments not developed are waived). A. Summary Judgment Under Rule 56(a) Summary judgment is proper if (i) there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and (ii) the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). A dispute is “genuine” if the evidence about the fact is such that “a reasonable jury could resolve the point in the favor of the non-moving party.” Staples v. Gerry, 923 F.3d 7, 12 (1st Cir. 2019) (citing Meuser v. Fed. Express Corp., 564 F.3d 507, 515 (1st Cir. 2009) (citation omitted). A fact is “material” if it “has the potential of
affecting the outcome of the case.” Feliciano-Muñoz v. Rebarber- Ocasio, 970 F.3d 53, 62 (1st Cir. 2020) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). The movant “bears the burden of showing the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.” U.S. Dep't of Agric. v. Morales- Quinones, 2020 WL 1126165, at *1 (D.P.R. 2020) (citing Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986)). Next, the burden shifts to the non-movant to present at least one issue of fact which is “both ‘genuine’ and ‘material.’” Id. (citing Griggs-Ryan v. Smith, 904 F.2d 112, 115 (1st Cir. 1990) (citation omitted)). A non-movant must show “through submissions of evidentiary quality, that a trialworthy issue persists.” Robinson v. Town of
Marshfield, 950 F.3d 21, 24 (1st Cir. 2020) (quotation omitted). A court “must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party and give that party the benefit of any and all reasonable inferences.” Burke Rozzetti v. Ford Motor Co., 439 F.Supp. 3d 13, 18 (D.P.R. 2020) (citation omitted). Summary judgment may be proper if the nonmoving party’s case solely relies on improbable inferences, conclusory allegations and unsupported speculation. See id. (citation omitted). Furthermore, the existence of “some alleged factual dispute between the parties will not affect an otherwise properly supported motion for summary judgment.” Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 379 (2007) (quotation omitted). A court should thus review the record in its entirety
and refrain from making credibility determinations or weighing the evidence. See Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Prods., Inc., 530 U.S. 133, 150-51 (2000). A court should also “give credence to the evidence favoring the nonmovant” as well as “uncontradicted and unimpeached” evidence supporting the moving party, “at least to the extent that that evidence comes from disinterested witnesses.” Id. at 151 (citation omitted). Local Rule 56 also governs summary judgment. See L. Civ. R. 56. Per this Rule, a movant must provide a “separate, short, and concise statement of material facts, set forth in numbered paragraphs” showing there is no genuine issue of material fact and supported by a record citation. Id. at 56(b). A non-movant must
“admit, deny or qualify the facts supporting the motion for summary judgment by reference to each numbered paragraph of the movant’s statement of material facts.” Id. at 56(c). “Unless a fact is admitted, the reply shall support each denial or qualification by a record citation.” Id. A movant “replying to the opposition to a motion for summary judgment shall submit with its reply a separate, short, and concise statement of material facts, which shall be limited to any additional fact submitted by the opposing party.” Id. at 56(d). Facts within a supporting or opposing statement of material facts, “if supported by record citations” per Local Rule 56, “shall be deemed admitted unless properly controverted.” Id. at 56(e). The Court may disregard facts that are not sufficiently
supported by citations to the record and has “no independent duty” to consider portions of the record “not specifically referenced in the parties’ separate statement of facts.” Id. If a party opposing summary judgment fails to comply with the rigors that Local Rule 56(c) imposes, “a district court is free, in the exercise of its sound discretion, to accept the moving party's facts as stated.” Caban Hernandez v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., 486 F.3d 1, 7 (1st Cir. 2007). Thus, litigants ignore this rule at their peril. See Natal Pérez v. Oriental Bank & Trust, 291 F.Supp. 3d 215, 219 (D.P.R. 2018) (citations omitted). B. Insurance Contracts
The Insurance Code of Puerto Rico (the “Insurance Code”) governs insurance contracts, known as policies, in Puerto Rico. See P.R. Laws Ann. tit. 26, §§ 101 et seq. Under the Insurance Code, insurance contracts are to be “construed according to the entirety of its terms and conditions as set forth in the policy, and as amplified, extended, or modified by any lawful rider, endorsement, or application attached to and made a part of the policy.” Id. § 1125. As with any contract, clear terms in an insurance contract are enforced according to their plain meaning. However, because insurance contracts are “contracts of adhesion,” their ambiguities “are liberally interpreted in favor of the insured.” Metlife Cap. Corp. v. Westchester Fire Ins. Co., 224
F.Supp. 2d 374, 382 (D.P.R. 2002) (citations omitted). In particular, “exclusion clauses should be interpreted restrictively in order to comply with the policy's intent, that is to provide protection to the insured.” Id. (citation omitted); Gonzalez v. John Hancock Mut. Life Ins. Co., 927 F.2d 659, 660 (1st Cir. 1991) (noting that “[a] court should confine itself to a literal application of the unambiguous terms” of an insurance contract) (internal quotations and edits omitted). “Under Puerto Rican law, an agreement is ‘clear’ when it can ‘be understood in one sense alone, without leaving any room for doubt, controversies or difference of interpretation[.]’” Exec. Leasing Corp. v. Banco Popular de P.R., 48 F.3d 66, 69 (1st Cir. 1995); see also Heirs of Ramírez v. Superior Court, 81 P.R.R. 347,
351 (1959). With insurance contracts in particular, the District of Puerto Rico has held that although ambiguities arising from an insurance policy should “be resolved in the manner least favorable to the insurer […] this praxis does not compel or require courts to interpret a clear, unambiguous clause that favors the insurer in a manner that would benefit the insured.” Metlife Cap. Corp., 224 F.Supp. 2d at 382 (emphasis added). It is worth noting that “[a]mbiguity does not exist simply because the parties disagree about the proper interpretation of a policy provision.” Hoffman García v. Metrohealth, Inc., 246
F.Supp. 3d 527, 530 (D.P.R. 2017). Instead, ambiguity “may be found where the policy's language is susceptible to more than one rational interpretation.” Id. (quoting Clark School for Creative Learning, Inc. v. Phila. Indem. Ins. Co., 734 F.3d 51, 55 (1st Cir. 2013)). Moreover, whether an insurance policy's terms, conditions, and exclusions are clear and unambiguous is a matter of law for courts to determine. See Marina Aguila v. Den Caribbean, Inc., 490 F.Supp. 2d 244, 249 (D.P.R.2007) (citing Littlefield v. Acadia Ins. Co., 392 F.3d 1, 10 (1st Cir. 2004)). III. FINDINGS OF FACT To make findings of fact, the Court reviewed Defendant’s Motion for Partial Dismissal and/or Summary Judgment (Docket No. 73) and Reply (Docket No. 93), Plaintiff’s Motion in Opposition (Docket No. 89) and Sur-Reply (Docket No. 103), and a copy of the
Policy submitted by MAPFRE. (Docket No. 73-1). A. Lack of Compliance The Court notes that Plaintiffs failed to properly address Defendant’s assertions of fact as required by Rule 56(c), thus this Court may consider Defendant’s proposed facts as undisputed for purposes of the motion. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)(2). Rule 56(e) establishes that a party opposing summary judgment “‘must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.’” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242 (1986) (quoting First Nat’l Bank of Ariz. v. Cities Serv. Co., 391 U.S. 253, 288 (1968)).
Local Rule 56(e) provides that properly cited facts submitted by parties will be “admitted unless properly controverted.” L. CV. R. 56(e). Local Rule 56 is an “anti-ferret rule” meant to “protect the district court from perusing through the summary judgment record in search of disputed material facts and prevent litigants from shifting that burden onto the court.” Lopez-Hernandez v. Terumo P.R. LLC, 64 F.4th 22, 26 (1st Cir. 2023). Accordingly, “[u]nder Local Rule 56, a district court is free, in the exercise of its sound discretion to accept the moving party’s facts as stated . . . when the statements contained in the movant’s Statement of Uncontested Facts . . . are not properly controverted.” Id. Importantly, “[t]he First Circuit’s repeated
admonition on this issue in the last few years, places the Puerto Rico federal bar on clear notice that compliance with Local Rule 56 is a mandate, not a suggestion.” Ramirez-Rivera v. DeJoy, 693 F.Supp. 3d 210, 213 (D.P.R. 2023). Plaintiffs did not comply with Local Rule 56. L. CV. R. 56(c), 56(e). The Court thus admits MAPFRE’s proposed findings of fact that are uncontroverted and properly supported. B. Findings of Fact After crediting only statements of fact properly supported by the record, uncontroverted, and material to the resolution of MAPFRE’s Motion, the Court makes the following findings of fact:1 i. Background 1. MAPFRE is an insurance company that operates in Puerto
Rico. (Docket No. 52 ¶ 8). 2. MAPFRE issued a commercial general liability insurance policy, number 1600228003214, for the Municipality (“Policy”). (Docket Nos. 52 ¶ 8 and 73 at 2). 3. The Policy was active from June 30, 2022, to June 30, 2023. (Docket No. 73-1 at 1).
1 References to a Finding of Fact shall be cited as follows: (Fact ¶ _). 4. On July 15, 2022, Plaintiff’s son, Rodríguez, was driving a motorcycle when he was ordered to stop by Robles and Ramos, both police officers for the Municipality who were
in a police patrol vehicle nearby. Rodríguez fled and was pursued by Robles and Ramos. (Docket No. 52 ¶ 15, 19). 5. During the pursuit, Robles and Ramos shot at and hit Rodríguez. Rodríguez died of his injuries shortly afterwards without receiving medical care. Id. ¶ 15. ii. Policy Definitions 6. The Policy defines “bodily injury” as “bodily injury, sickness or disease sustained by a person, including death resulting from any of these at any time.” (Docket No. 73- 1 at 37). 7. The Policy defines “employee” as “includ[ing] a ‘leased worker’. ‘Employee’ does not include a ‘temporary worker.’”
Id. 8. The Policy defines “occurrence” as “an accident, including continuous or repeated exposure to substantially the same general harmful conditions.” Id. at 39. 9. The Policy defines “suit” as “a civil proceeding in which damages because of ‘bodily injury’, ‘property damage’ or ‘personal and advertising injury’ to which this insurance applies are alleged.” Id. at 40. The Policy continues to elaborate: ‘Suit’ includes:
a. An arbitration proceeding in which such damages are claimed and to which insured must submit or does submit with our consent; or b. Any other alternative dispute resolution proceeding in which such damages are claimed and to which the insured submits with our consent.
iii. Policy Coverage and Exclusions 10. “Section IV – Commercial General Liability Conditions” of the Policy’s “Commercial General Liability Coverage Form,” contains a section titled “Legal Action Against Us.” Id. at 35. The provision states: No person or organization has a right under this Coverage Part:
a. To join us as a party or otherwise bring us into a “suit” asking for damages from an insured; or b. To sue us on this Coverage Part unless all of its terms have been fully complied with.
A person or organization may sue us to recover on an agreed settlement or on a final judgment against an insured; but we will not be liable for damages that are not payable under the terms of this Coverage Part or that are in excess of the applicable limit of insurance. An agreed settlement means a settlement and release of liability signed by us, the insured, and the claimant or the claimant’s legal representative.
11. The Policy contains an exclusion named “Exclusion – Designated Professional Services,” Form CG 21 16 04 13, that modifies the Policy’s “Commercial General Liability Coverage” and applies to “any professional services of any kind or nature.” Id. at 50. The exclusion states:
With respect to any professional services shown in the Schedule the following exclusion is added to Paragraph 2. Exclusions of Section I – Coverage A – Bodily Injury And Property Damage Liability and Paragraph 2. Exclusions of Section I – Coverage B – Personal And Advertising Injury Liability:
This insurance does not apply to “bodily injury”, “property damage” or “personal and advertising injury” due to the rendering of or failure to render any professional service.
This exclusion applies even if the claims against any insured allege negligence or other wrongdoing in the supervision, hiring, employment, training or monitoring of others by that insured, if the “occurrence” which caused the “bodily injury” or “property damage”, or the offense which caused the “personal and advertising injury”, involved the rendering of or failure to render any professional service.
12. The Policy contains an exclusion named “Exclusion - Law Enforcement Activities,” Form CG 22 51 07 98, that modifies the Policy’s “Commercial General Liability Coverage”. Id. at 65. The exclusion states: The following exclusion is added to Paragraph 2., Exclusions of Section I – Coverage A – Bodily Injury And Property Damage Liability and Paragraph 2., Exclusions of Section I – Coverage B- Personal And Advertising Injury Liability:
This insurance does not apply to “bodily injury”, “property damage” or “personal and advertising injury” arising out of any act or omission resulting from law enforcement activities of your police department or any of your other law enforcement agencies, including their agents or “employees”.
13. The Policy contains a section on special conditions, including one named “Municipal Police Liability Exclusion,” Manuscript 07/22, that further modifies the Policy. Id. at 73. The exclusion states: It is hereby understood and agreed that the activities of Municipal Police, its individual members, and all claims for any and all "occurrences" arising there from; whether for or against them; whether the act, error or omission be legal or illegal, accidental, negligent, willful or otherwise, are excluded from coverage under this Policy-Contract, except “bodily injury” or “property damage” to third parties arising out of the use of:
A. pedaled one-man bicycles, or B. roller skating, whether inline or otherwise C. firing range only applicable when the activity is taken inside of a building designated for this purpose (not on an open space).
Both (A) and (B) while being used only during preventive patrolling and not in response to any official calls, whether emergency or routine. It is specifically understood that this exception applies only to the use of the aforesaid that constitutes passive patrolling for the sole purpose of establishing a police presence.
IV. ANALYSIS MAPFRE seeks dismissal from the case at bar, claiming that the Policy held by the Municipality expressly excludes the type of damages sought by Plaintiffs. (Docket No. 73). MAPFRE specifically points to three exclusions in the Policy: (i) the Exclusion – Designated Professional Services, (ii) the Exclusion - Law Enforcement Activities, and (iii) the Municipal Police Liability Exclusion. (Facts ¶¶ 11-13). Plaintiffs argue that ambiguities in the Policy and its exclusions, when construed in their favor, support an interpretation of the Policy that does not exclude their claims. (Docket No. 89). The Court finds it uncontroverted that Rodríguez’s death was an “occurrence” constituting “bodily injury” within the meaning of the Policy. (Facts ¶¶ 4-6, 8). This case is a civil suit seeking damages because of Rodríguez’s “bodily injury,” and is thus a “suit” as contemplated by the Policy. (Fact ¶ 8). The Court now examines the various exceptions and exclusions raised in the Policy. First, the Policy section titled “Legal Action Against Us” bars MAPFRE from being brought into a suit that is “asking for damages from an insured,” here, the Municipality. (Fact ¶ 10). Neither party addresses this section in their filings, and the Court notes that Plaintiffs were never a party to the initial contract between MAPFRE and the Municipality. (Docket Nos. 73; 89; 93 and 103). As Plaintiffs were not parties to the Policy,
fundamental contract law indicates that the “Legal Action Against Us” provision cannot be used to block Plaintiffs from bringing the instant suit. See, e.g., E.E.O.C. v. Waffle House, Inc., 534 U.S. 279, 294 (“It goes without saying that a contract cannot bind a nonparty.”). Second, the Court considers the “Exclusion – Designated Professional Services.” (Fact ¶ 11). The provision excludes instances of “bodily injury” “due to the rendering or failure to render any professional service.” Id. It further specifies that claims brought against the Municipality that “allege negligence or other wrongdoing in the supervision, hiring, employment, training, or monitoring of others by the insured” are excluded from the
Policy if the underlying “‘occurrence’ which caused the ‘bodily injury’” “involved the rendering of or failure to render any professional service.” Id. Plaintiffs’ Amended Complaint shows that MAPFRE is only a party to this suit because it insured the Municipality, and Plaintiffs claim the Municipality failed “to properly train, instruct, supervise, and control” the Officer Defendants, Ramos, and Robles. (Docket Nos. 52 ¶ 8 and 89 at 4). Any failure in training, supervision, or control of these Defendants by the Municipality indisputably falls under the language of the “Exclusion – Designated Professional Services.” (Fact ¶ 11). The only potential dispute is whether the “occurrence” leading to the “bodily injury” experienced by Plaintiffs’ son
“involved the rendering of or failure to render any professional service.” Id. If so, the exclusion applies and the Policy does not cover the type of claim brought by Plaintiffs. Plaintiffs contend that the Policy’s failure to define a “professional service” creates an ambiguity in the Policy that should be construed in their favor, preventing the exclusion from applying. (Docket No. 103). However, Plaintiffs wrongly assert that “[a]ny ambiguity” must be construed in their favor. (Docket No. 89 at 3). The Court cannot contort “clear, unambiguous clause[s] that favo[r] the insurer in a manner that would benefit the insured.” Metlife Cap. Corp., 224 F.Supp. 2d at 382. The Court finds it clear that Plaintiffs’ son died during a professional
service carried out by the police. Rodríguez was shot by Ramos and Robles while the officers were in a police patrol vehicle and actively pursuing Rodríguez, activities that require professional training specific to police officers. (Docket No. 52 ¶ 15); see, e.g., Tyler v. P.R. Convention Ctr. District Auth., 2022 WL 22895635, at *1 (D.P.R. 2022) (looking to the Puerto Rico Supreme Court’s definition of a professional service as “depend[ing] on whether the person acts by exercising the special training and acumen typical of a professional”). The alleged failure of Ramos, Robles, and the other Officer Defendants to summon medical care for Rodríguez arguably forms a “failure to render” a professional service, providing a second reason for this policy exclusion to
apply. (Docket No. 52 ¶ 15); (Fact ¶ 11). Neither party argues that Rodríguez’s death occurred outside the context of a professional activity. (Docket Nos. 52, 73; 89; 93 and 103). Plaintiffs misread the Policy, concluding that the Municipality must have engaged in or failed to render a “professional service” for the exclusion to apply. (Docket No. 103). Plaintiffs’ interpretation runs counter to a plain reading of the Policy and cannot be adopted by the Court. Any failure by the Municipality in the instant case “to properly train, instruct, supervise, and control” its officers is excluded under the clear language of the “Exclusion – Designated Professional Services” because the underlying occurrence that led to Rodríguez’s death
“involved the rendering of or failure to render any professional service.” (Docket No. 89 at 4); (Fact ¶ 11). The Municipality itself did not need to engage in a professional service for the Policy’s exclusion to apply; it is enough that the underlying events of Rodríguez’s death involved Municipality employees engaged in such a service. Third, the Court considers the “Exclusion – Law Enforcement Activities.” (Fact ¶ 12). The provision excludes instances of “bodily injury” “arising out of any act or omission resulting from law enforcement activities” of the Municipality’s police department or any other law enforcement agencies. Id. For the same reasons discussed in the previous exclusion, the Court concludes
that a plain reading of the Policy excludes the “bodily injury” suffered by Plaintiffs’ son during a police chase and shooting. See, e.g., Oquendo-Rivera v. Toledo, 736 F.Supp 2d. 434 (D.P.R. 2010) (suit brought over a police shooting carried out in the defendant officer’s course of work). Plaintiffs contend that the Municipality’s alleged actions- “in vigilando fault and/or negligence in failing to properly train, instruct, supervise, discipline, and control” Ramos, Robles, and the Defendant Officers- do not constitute “law enforcement activities.” (Docket No. 89 at 4). However, Plaintiffs misread the Policy. The plain language of the Policy excludes a claim for “bodily injury” like that brought by Plaintiffs if it arose from
“any act or omission resulting from law enforcement activities” of the Municipality police, such as the police chase and subsequent shooting that led to Rodríguez’s death. (Fact ¶ 12). The Municipality itself is not required to have acted to cause the harm to Plaintiffs. Id. Fourth, the Court considers the “Exclusion – Municipal Police Liability Exclusion.” (Fact ¶ 13). Beyond certain enumerated exceptions unrelated to Plaintiffs’ claims, the provision excludes “activities of the Municipal Police, its individual members, and all claims for any and all ‘occurrences’ arising there from,” regardless of the legality of any error or omission, or whether such an action is “accidental, negligent, willful, or otherwise.”
Id. The broad scope of this exclusion means that Plaintiffs’ claims against MAPFRE must fail, even assuming the previous two exclusions did not apply. While Plaintiffs assert any ambiguity in “activities of the Municipal Police” must be construed in their favor, the Court reads the exclusion to be unambiguous because it is simply excluding virtually all Municipality police activity from coverage under the Policy. (Docket No. 89 at 5). The Policy’s exclusions may be broad, but this does not make them ambiguous. Plaintiffs do not present a persuasive or plausible alternative reading of the Policy. (Docket Nos. 89 and 103). In sum, the Court concludes that the “Exclusion – Designated Professional Services,” “Exclusion – Law Enforcement Activities,”
and “Exclusion – Municipal Police Liability Exclusion” unambiguously exclude Plaintiffs’ claims from coverage. Plaintiffs have not shown that a trialworthy issue persists such that summary judgment would be inappropriate, even when given the benefit of any reasonable inferences. See Robinson, 950 F.3d at 24; Burke Rozzetti, 439 F.Supp. 3d at 18. While the Court is sympathetic to Plaintiffs’ loss, their disagreement about the proper interpretation of a policy provision does not make the Policy ambiguous nor create a “genuine dispute as to any material fact.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). See Hoffman García, 246 F.Supp. 3d at 530. The Policy’s plain language clearly shows that MAPFRE does not provide coverage to the Municipality for claims such as those
brought by Plaintiffs. As a result, there is no reason for MAPFRE to continue as a party to the case at bar. V. CONCLUSION In light of the foregoing, the Court GRANTS Defendant’s Motion for Partial Dismissal and/or Summary Judgment at Docket No. 73. Plaintiffs’ claims against Defendant MAPFRE Praico Insurance Company are DISMISSED. IT IS SO ORDERED. In San Juan, Puerto Rico, this 30th day of January 2025. S/ RAÚL M. ARIAS-MARXUACH United States District Judge