Liberty Corporate Capital Ltd. v. Peacemaker Nat'l Training Ctr., LLC

348 F. Supp. 3d 585
CourtUnited States District Court
DecidedOctober 24, 2018
DocketCIVIL ACTION NO.: 3:17-CV-25 (GROH)
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 348 F. Supp. 3d 585 (Liberty Corporate Capital Ltd. v. Peacemaker Nat'l Training Ctr., LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States District Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Liberty Corporate Capital Ltd. v. Peacemaker Nat'l Training Ctr., LLC, 348 F. Supp. 3d 585 (usdistct 2018).

Opinion

GINA M. GROH, CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Currently pending before the Court is the Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF No. 46], filed on August 31, 2018. On September 21, 2018, Peacemaker National Training Center, LLC and Peacemaker Property, LLC filed a Response in Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment and Cross Motion for Partial Summary Judgment Regarding Plaintiff's Duty to Defend. ECF No. 48. Plaintiff filed a Reply to Defendants' Response on October 5, 2018. ECF No. 49. For the reasons stated herein, the Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment [ECF No. 46] is GRANTED on all issues.

I. Background

Peacemaker National Training Center, LLC and Peacemaker Properties, LLC1 have been named as defendants in two lawsuits filed by Ben and Diane Goldstein2 , the other above-named Defendants. The first lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court of Berkeley County, West Virginia on September 21, 2015. The second lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court of Frederick County, Virginia on May 4, 2017.3 The *589underlying lawsuits both allege a noise nuisance4 by substantial and unreasonable interference with the use of the Goldsteins' property.5 Additionally, in both lawsuits the Goldsteins request equitable relief, specifically temporary and permanent injunctive relief regarding the hours of operation and maximum noise levels. The Goldsteins request noise abatement measures be implemented on the shooting range if Peacemaker fails to comply with the injunctions. Furthermore, if these forms of relief are not complied with, the Goldsteins request monetary damages for the cost of implementing reasonable and necessary noise abatement measures on their own property.

Liberty subscribed to various policies that provided Peacemaker with commercial general liability coverage ("the Policy"), subject to their terms.6 On March 17, 2017, Liberty filed a complaint for declaratory judgment in this Court specifically seeking a judicial determination that it has no obligation to defend or indemnify Peacemaker in the underlying lawsuits for some or all of the Goldsteins' claims. ECF No. 1. Additionally, Liberty moved for summary judgment as to all initial claims and Peacemaker's Counterclaims. ECF No. 46.

II. Standard of Review

Summary judgment as to a given subject is appropriate under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 when a dispute presents no genuine issue as to any material fact and the moving party is thus entitled to judgment in its favor as a matter of law. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). A genuine issue exists "if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). Therefore, the Court must conduct "the threshold inquiry of determining whether there is the need for a trial-whether, in other words, there are any genuine factual issues that properly can be resolved only by a finder of fact because they may reasonably be resolved in favor of either party." Id. at 250, 106 S.Ct. 2505.

The party opposing summary judgment "must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts." Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). That is, once the movant has met its burden to show an absence of disputed material facts, the party opposing summary judgment must then come forward with affidavits or other evidence demonstrating there is a genuine issue for trial. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c) ; Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323-35, 106 S.Ct. 2548 ; Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505. "If the evidence is merely colorable, or is not significantly probative, summary judgment may be granted."

*590Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249, 106 S.Ct. 2505 (citations omitted).

III. Applicable Law

In this case, the Policy does not contain a choice of law provision to govern disputes between the parties. However, there is a "service of suit" clause that states, "[i]t is agreed that in the event of our failure to pay any amount claimed to be due hereunder we will, at your request submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction within the United States." ECF No. 46-3 at 14. Under the "Erie doctrine," federal courts sitting in diversity apply state substantive law and federal procedural law. Erie R. Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64, 76, 58 S.Ct.

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Bluebook (online)
348 F. Supp. 3d 585, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/liberty-corporate-capital-ltd-v-peacemaker-natl-training-ctr-llc-usdistct-2018.