Guardian Insurance v. Khalil

63 V.I. 3, 2012 V.I. LEXIS 70
CourtSuperior Court of The Virgin Islands
DecidedJuly 26, 2012
DocketCivil No. ST-08-CV-494
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 63 V.I. 3 (Guardian Insurance v. Khalil) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of The Virgin Islands primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Guardian Insurance v. Khalil, 63 V.I. 3, 2012 V.I. LEXIS 70 (visuper 2012).

Opinion

CARROLL, Judge.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

(July 26, 2012)

The Court has before it several motions pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.1 Plaintiff Guardian Insurance Company has filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on its Complaint. For the [7]*7reasons stated herein, the Court will deny the Motion in part with respect to Guardian’s claim for breach of contract and will grant the Motion in part with respect to Guardian’s claims for indemnification and declaratory judgment. Guardian has also moved for summary judgment on Defendant Hani Khalil’S Counterclaims. Finding no genuine issue of material fact with respect to all of the asserted counterclaims, and that Guardian is entitled to judgment dismissing the counterclaims as a matter of law, the Court will grant the Motion for Summary Judgment on the Counterclaims. In addition, Khalil has filed a Motion for Summary Judgment as to Plaintiff’s Complaint. Khalil’s Motion for Summary Judgment is not properly before the Court, since he has failed to follow the Local Rules of Civil Procedure. However, since the Court has decided to grant in part and deny in part Guardian’s Motion for Summary Judgment on the Complaint, Khalil’s Motion for Summary Judgment will be denied as moot.

FACTS

Khalil owned a 1986 Mercedes Benz.2 On March 20, 2002, Guardian executed and delivered an insurance policy to Khalil, wherein Guardian agreed to provide insurance for Khalil’s vehicle for liability subject to the terms and conditions of the policy, for a term of one year, to expire on March 20, 2003.3 Under the terms of the policy, Khalil expressly agreed, in writing, that the policy would not apply to any claim or loss arising from accidents which occurred while the insured vehicle was being operated by a person under the age of twenty-six years.4 In addition, the policy exclusion form provided a space for Khalil to identify any underage drivers, and to pay an extra premium for coverage of any such persons, who would then be covered by the policy.5 Khalil signed the [8]*8exclusion form, but did not identify his son, Khalid Rahahleh, as an underage driver.6

On October 24, 2002, Khalil permitted Rahahleh, twenty-two years old at the time, to drive the Mercedes Benz.7 On that day, Rahahleh was involved in a motor vehicle accident with Lizette Santos, the owner and operator of the other vehicle. Santos’s son, aged seven, was a passenger at the time of the accident.8

Subsequently, Khalil filed a claim with Guardian for the damages to his vehicle along with an estimate of repairs dated November 7, 2002 for the cost of repairs to the Mercedes Benz.9 On November 14, 2002, Santos submitted a claim against Khalil to Guardian for the damages to her vehicle and for bodily injury.10 Guardian’s claims department completed the standard Automobile Loss Notice for Santos’s claim on November 14, 2002.11 On November 26, 2002, Guardian’s adjuster inspected the Mercedes Benz, took photographs thereof, and completed a Vehicle Appraisal Report.12

By letter dated November 21, 2002, Guardian advised Khalil that it was in receipt of a claim against Rahahleh, who had been identified as the person operating Khalil’s vehicle on the date of the accident. Moreover, Guardian noted that Rahahleh was under the age of twenty-six at the time of the collision and informed Khalil to contact Guardian to provide a statement regarding the circumstances surrounding the use of the vehicle by the underage driver.13 Guardian, by letter dated December 5, 2002, informed Khalil that the processing of his claim had been delayed because he had not provided a written statement.14 On December 18, 2002, Khalil provided a signed written statement to Guardian stating that on October 24, 2002, he gave Rahahleh permission to use the vehicle and that during [9]*9his use, Rahahleh was involved in an automobile accident.15 In addition, Rahahleh, on that same day, provided a signed written statement to Guardian stating that on October 24, 2002, he borrowed Khalil’s car and was involved in an automobile accident.

On January 29, 2003, Guardian completed Santos’s claim for property damage and paid her $7,468.56 and, in exchange thereof, Santos signed and delivered to Guardian a Property Damage Release, releasing Guardian and Khalil from any and all property damage claims.16 Subsequently, on March 27, 2003, Santos submitted another estimate for $167.94, which had not been included in her first repair estimate.17 On April 1, 2003, Guardian paid Santos an additional $167.94 for repairs to her vehicle.18

On July 2, 2003, both Santos and her son, Shane Santos, commenced a civil action against Khalil and Rahahleh in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands for bodily injury allegedly caused by the auto accident.19 By letter dated July 18, 2003, Guardian sought reimbursement from Khalil in the amount of $7,468.56, representing Guardian’s payment to Santos on her claim against Khalil’s policy.20 On August 4, 2003, Guardian retained the law firm of Bryant Barnes & Moss to defend Khalil and Rahahleh, and the attorneys filed an Answer to the Complaint in the civil case 21 In a letter dated August 12, 2003, Guardian notified Khalil again about the pending lawsuit in the Superior Court and informed Khalil that Guardian would seek reimbursement for further costs incurred on his behalf.22 On August 11, 2005, Guardian again notified Khalil about the pending litigation and that additional damages for bodily injury were being sought by Santos.23

On September 29, 2005, Guardian settled the civil matter with Santos and paid the sum of $10,000.00 to Santos in full and final settlement of [10]*10her bodily injury claims and obtained a release from further liability on behalf of Khalil and Rahahleh.24 Subsequently, on January 25, 2006, Guardian reached a settlement with Shane Santos, the minor, in the amount of $7,500.00 and obtained a release from further liability on behalf of Khalil and Rahahleh.25 Further, Guardian paid legal fees in the amount of $8,104.12 for Khalil and Rahahleh’s defense in the civil matter.26 Despite several demands for payment, Khalil has failed and refused to pay the claims for damages caused by Rahahleh.

Guardian commenced this action for damages, breach of contract, indemnity and declaratory judgment on October 21, 2008.

DISCUSSION

I. Summary Judgment Standard

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Bluebook (online)
63 V.I. 3, 2012 V.I. LEXIS 70, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/guardian-insurance-v-khalil-visuper-2012.