Maryland Casualty Co. v. Malone

90 F. Supp. 3d 1351, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 33200, 2015 WL 1088105
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Georgia
DecidedMarch 11, 2015
DocketCivil Action No. 1:13-CV-823-SCJ
StatusPublished

This text of 90 F. Supp. 3d 1351 (Maryland Casualty Co. v. Malone) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Maryland Casualty Co. v. Malone, 90 F. Supp. 3d 1351, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 33200, 2015 WL 1088105 (N.D. Ga. 2015).

Opinion

ORDER

STEVE C. JONES, District Judge.

This matter is before the court on Defendants Green and Nutragenomics, MFG, LLC’s motion to strike offer of judgment [58]; Plaintiffs motion for summary judgment [59]; Defendants Green and Nutra-genomics, MFG, LLC’s cross-motion for summary judgment [69]; and Defendants Green and Nutragenomics, MFG, LLC’s motion for leave to file cross-motion for summary judgment nunc pro tunc [84],

I. Background

A. Procedural History

On March 15, 2013, Plaintiff, Maryland Casualty Company, filed suit against Defendants Nutragenomics, MFG, LLC; Nu-tragenomics, LLC, a fictitious company; Thomas Malone, Jr.; and Drew Green, seeking to rescind the insurance policies issued by Maryland Casualty to Nutrage-nomics, LLC. In the alternative, Maryland Casualty seeks a declaration that it does not owe a duty to defend or a duty of coverage to Nutragenomics, LLC. Because it sought rescission of the insurance contracts, the same day Maryland Casualty filed its complaint, it also filed a motion to deposit funds — the insurance premiums— into the registry of the court. A month later, however, Maryland Casualty discovered that Nutragenomics, MFG, LLC had filed for bankruptcy. Because of the bankruptcy stay, Maryland Casualty withdrew its request to deposit funds into the registry of the court and stated it would not pursue a rescission claim in district court at that time. See Docket Entry [7]. Maryland Casualty’s motion, however, made clear that it would “seek guidance” from the bankruptcy court as to its rescission claim. Id. at 1-2. The court granted Maryland Casualty’s request to withdraw [1354]*1354the rescission claim. See Docket Entry [10].

Shortly thereafter, Maryland Casualty informed the court that the Trustee for Nutragenomics MFG’s bankruptcy estate had abandoned the liability insurance policies and thus the bankruptcy court had no jurisdiction over Maryland Casualty’s claims. See Docket Entry [20], at 1-2. Maryland Casualty then filed a motion to amend its complaint to re-assert the rescission claim noting that the bankruptcy court had lifted the automatic stay as to Maryland Casualty’s claims against Nutra-genomics MFG. See Docket Entry [26]. No opposition was filed to this motion and the court granted it on October 11, 2013. Maryland Casualty again sought leave to deposit the insurance premium funds into the registry of the court in conjunction with its renewed rescission claim. See Docket Entry [30], The court granted that motion. See Docket Entry [43].

Defendants Green and Nutragenomics MFG made an offer of judgment to Plaintiff on March 18, 2014 and filed it on the court’s docket. See Docket Entry [57]. Defendants then filed a motion to strike their offer of judgment stating that they recognize the offer should only be filed on the docket if it is accepted. Maryland Casualty does' not oppose the motion to strike. The court GRANTS Defendants Green and Nutragenomics, MFG, LLC’s motion to strike offer of judgment [58].

B. Facts

Maryland Casualty issued a liability policy to Nutragenomics, LLC for the policy period of May 3, 2010 through May 3, 2011 and renewed the policy for May 3, 2011 through May 3, 2012. Drew Green founded Nutragenomics MFG in December 2009. Thomas Malone joined Nutrage-nomics MFG after its founding and was a member until March 22, 2012, when he sold his membership interest to Green. Nutragenomics MFG filed for bankruptcy on October 8, 2012.

Prior to declaring bankruptcy, Nutrage-nomics MFG purchased and sold chemicals designed to mimic the effects of marijuana, known as synthetic cannabinoids. See Docket Entry [59], Ex. 6 (Plea Agreement of Thomas Malone, Jr., entered on Sept. 19, 2012) and Ex. 7 (Plea Agreement of Drew Green, entered on Sept. 7, 2012). If any particular chemical used by Nutrage-nomics MFG became a banned chemical, Defendants would replace it with a slightly altered chemical that had the same effects. Id. Nutragenomics MFG purchased these chemicals and prepared them for sale by inter alia packing and labeling them. Id. In response to Maryland Casualty’s Request for Admission No. 1 “Admit that Nutragenomics MFG packaged its products or those of any Person,” Defendants “admit[ ] that Nutragenomics MFG repackaged chemicals in foil bags only and that any further packaging that may have occurred was not done by Nutragenomics MFG.” See Docket Entry [59], Ex. 8, at 3-4 (response of Defendant Green), Ex. 9, at 3-4 (response of Defendant Nutragenom-ics MFG), Ex. 10, at 3-4 (response of Defendant Malone). Further, in response to Request for Admission No. 3 “Admit that Nutragenomics MFG labeled or relabeled its products or those of any Person,” Defendants admitted “that Nutrage-nomics MFG labeled products from China with name, lot, and expiration date. Defendant denies the remainder of this Request.” Id., at 4 (responses of all Defendants).

Nutragenomics MFG also developed its own blend of synthetic cannabinoids called Mr. Miyagi and provided custom formulations on request. See Docket Entry [59], Ex. 6 (Plea Agreement of Thomas Malone, Jr., entered on Sept. 19, 2012) and Ex. 7 (Plea Agreement of Drew Green, entered [1355]*1355on Sept. 7, 2012). Nutragenomics MFG sold synthetic cannabinoids throughout the United States and generated tens of millions of dollars in annual revenue. Id. Products containing these chemicals were sold under various names including potpourri, incense, and others. Id. Mr. Miya-gi was packaged as potpourri and its packaging contained the legend “Warning: Our Potpourri is not for human consumption ... [T]his product complies with all U.S. federal laws.” Id. However, Defendants actually intended for their products, such as Mr. Miyagi, to be smoked and knew that one or more of Nutragenomics MFG products were unsafe and illegal. Id.

On April 30, 2012, the State of West Virginia filed suit against Nutragenomics MFG and Green for claims relating to the sale of Nutragenomics MFG’s products. See Docket Entry [59], Ex. 11 (West Virginia complaint). The lawsuit alleges that Nutragenomics MFG’s products were: (1) sold under false labels; (2) harmful to humans; and (3) sold in violation of state criminal and consumer protection laws. Id. The lawsuit also alleges that Nutrage-nomics MFG and Green intentionally misrepresented that Nutragenomics MFG’s products were safe, legal, and “not intended for human consumption” when they knew that Nutragenomics MFG’s products were intended for human consumption despite their inherently unsafe and illegal nature. Id. Green and Nutragenomics MFG were served with the West Virginia lawsuit in May 2012, but did not provide notice to Maryland Casualty at that time.

On July 25, 2012, several law enforcement agencies raided Nutragenomics MFG’s offices in Georgia. See Docket Entry [59], Ex. 6 (Plea Agreement of Thomas Malone, Jr., entered on Sept. 19, 2012) and Ex. 7 (Plea Agreement of Drew Green, entered on Sept. 7, 2012). On September 4, 2012 Defendants Malone and Green were indicted in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana on sixteen counts, including conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance and conspiracy to introduce and cause to be introduced misbranded drugs into interstate commerce. See

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Bluebook (online)
90 F. Supp. 3d 1351, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 33200, 2015 WL 1088105, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/maryland-casualty-co-v-malone-gand-2015.