New Hampshire Insurance v. Greaves

110 F.R.D. 549, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 25640
CourtDistrict Court, D. Rhode Island
DecidedMay 12, 1986
DocketCiv. A. No. 85-0409 P
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 110 F.R.D. 549 (New Hampshire Insurance v. Greaves) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Rhode Island primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
New Hampshire Insurance v. Greaves, 110 F.R.D. 549, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 25640 (D.R.I. 1986).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

PETTINE, Senior District Judge.

1. Factual Background

On the evening of August 10, 1984, a 22 foot Boston Whaler owned and operated by defendant Charles F. Greaves (“Greaves”) collided with another boat on Narragansett Bay. On board at the time, among others, were Corrine Taylor and her daughter Lindsey. Both Corrine and Lindsey were thrown overboard and were struck by the bow of the second vessel, allegedly owned by Paul E. Pfanstiehl (“Pfanstiehl”). As a result of the accident, Corrine suffered severe injuries which resulted in her death. Lindsey suffered head injuries which required extensive medical treatment. David and Christopher Taylor were also passengers on Greave’s boat, but were not injured in the collision.

On July 31, 1985 David, Lindsey, and Christopher Taylor commenced an action in Providence County Superior Court against Greaves and Pfanstiehl. The action alleges wrongful death, tortious injury, loss of consortium, society, and companionship, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

On or about July 3, 1985, plaintiff New Hampshire Insurance Company (“Insurer”) filed the present action seeking a declaratory judgment pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201, 2202, as to the validity of a $300,000 liability insurance policy issued by insurer to Greaves. Insurer alleges that as a result of certain misrepresentations and concealments made by Greaves in connection with his application for insurance, the policy may properly be rescinded.

Presently before this Court are two separate motions, one brought by David, Lindsey, and Christopher Taylor and one brought by Pfanstiehl, to intervene, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.Pro. 24(a)(2), as defendants in this action. For the reasons discussed below, Taylor’s motion is granted and Pfanstiehl’s motion is denied.

II. Analysis and Reasoning

Rule 24(a) of the Federal Rules provides for intervention as of right as follows:

Upon timely application anyone shall be permitted to intervene in an action: (1) when a statute of the United States confers an unconditional right to intervene; or (2) when the applicant claims an interest relating to the property or transaction which is the subject of the action and he is so situated that the disposition of the action may as a practical matter impair or impede his ability to protect that interest, unless the applicant’s interest is adequately represented by existing parties.

Aside from instances in which there is an unconditional statutory right to intervene, Rule 24(a) creates a three-prong test for determining an individual’s right to intervene: intervention must be permitted if (1) the applicant claims an interest relating to the property or transaction that is the subject of the action, (2) the applicant is so situated that the disposition of the action may as a practical matter impair or impede his ability to protect that interest, and (3) the applicant’s interest is not adequately represented by existing parties. Moosehead San. Dist. v. S. G. Phillips Corp., 610 F.2d 49, 52 (1st Cir.1979); see also, Meyer Goldberg, Inc. v. Goldberg, 717 F.2d 290, 292 (6th Cir.1983); Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. v. Peninsula Shipbuilders’ Association, 646 F.2d 117, 120 (4th Cir.1981); 7A C. Wright & A. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1908 (1972).

A. The Taylors have an interest relating to the property or transaction that is the subject matter of the action.

This element of the three part intervention test presents the most difficult hurdle [551]*551for the perspective intervenors (“intervenors”). The text of Rule 24(a) does not specify or elaborate upon the type of interest sufficient to entitle a movant to intervention. “There is not as yet any clear definition, either from the Supreme Court or from the lower courts, of the nature of the ‘interest relating to the property or transaction which is the subject matter of the action’ that is required for intervention of right.” Wright, supra, § 1908. What constitutes an interest under the rule remains ambiguous. Meridian Homes Corp. v. Nicholas W. Prasses & Co., 683 F.2d 201, (7th Cir.1981). While the Supreme Court has said that the word interest “obviously” means “a significantly protectible interest,” Donaldson v. U.S., 400 U.S. 517, 531, 91 S.Ct. 534, 542, 27 L.Ed.2d 580 (1971), the phrase “significantly protectible interest” is not a term of art in the law and there is considerable disagreement as to what it means.

In 1966, Rule 24 was amended to provide a broader and more practical application of the rule, so that courts could be guided by the policies behind the interest requirement. 26 Fed.Proc., L.Ed. § 59:269 citing Piedmont Heights Civic Club Inc. v. Moreland, 83 F.R.D. 153 (N.D.Ga.1979) and Nuesse v. Camp, 385 F.2d 694 (D.C.Cir. 1967). While some courts have ruled that the 1966 amendments “broaden[ed] the kind of interests cognizable as a basis for intervention as of right,” Meridian, at 203, some commentators believe that “there is nothing in the amended rule or its attendant commentary to indicate that it effected a change in the kinds or type of interest required.” 26 Fed.Proc.L.Ed. § 59:269 citing Hobson v. Hansen, 44 F.R.D. 18 (D.C. D.C.1968).

While the Supreme Court in Donaldson interpreted interest to mean a “significantly protectible interest,” lower courts reaching the issue have used a different description of the interest requirement, defining it as a “direct, substantial legally protectible interest in the proceedings.” See e.g., Liberty Mutual Ins. Co., v. Pacific Indemnity Co., 76 F.R.D. 656 (W.D.Pa.1977). Some courts have held that “the right or interest which will authorize a third person to intervene must be of a direct and immediate character so that the intervenor will either gain or lose by the direct legal operation of the judgment.” 67A CJS 2nd Parties § 575. Numerous state courts have held that the interest is insufficient if it is indirect and contingent, remote, conjectural and indirect, consequential, or collateral. See id., and cases cited therein. The would-be intervenor must have a concern which is more than mere curiosity, or academic or sentimental desire. 59 Am.Jur.2d § 138. The issue at bar — an injured party’s right, without a judgment, to intervene in a coverage dispute between insurer and insured has not been decided by this court or any court in this circuit. Only three federal cases seem to address this identical issue — all district court decisions in other circuits. Two of these cases denied intervention because the movant’s tort claim was contingent upon ability to prevail at trial; the other case granted intervention since neither party objected. See Liberty Mutual, supra; Petrochemical v. Aetna Cas. and Sur. Co., 105 F.R.D. 106 (1985) (D.C.); and Great American Ins. Co. v. Dunn Corp., 580 F.Supp.

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Bluebook (online)
110 F.R.D. 549, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 25640, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/new-hampshire-insurance-v-greaves-rid-1986.