North American Specialty Insurance v. Bull River Marina, LLC

158 F. Supp. 3d 1351, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9549
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Georgia
DecidedJanuary 27, 2016
DocketCASE NO. CV412-146
StatusPublished

This text of 158 F. Supp. 3d 1351 (North American Specialty Insurance v. Bull River Marina, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
North American Specialty Insurance v. Bull River Marina, LLC, 158 F. Supp. 3d 1351, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9549 (S.D. Ga. 2016).

Opinion

ORDER

WILLIAM T. MOORE, JR., UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

Before the Court are Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 60), Defendant Mark. Allen Wells, Yvonne Wells, and Douglas Pitts’ Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 81), and Plaintiffs Motion for Oral Argument (Doc. 90).1 For the following reasons, Plaintiffs motion for summary judgment is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART and Defendants’ motion for summary .judgment is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART. Plaintiffs motion for oral argument is DISMISSED AS MOOT. The Court hereby DECLARES that Plaintiff is not required to defend or indemnify in Mark Allen Wells v. Bull River Marina, et al., Case No. STCV1100788, under the 50C policy. Also, Plaintiff is not required to defend or indemnify, in Mark Allen Wells v. Christopher Tanner, Case No: STCV1201595; Yvonne Wells v. Bull River Marina, et al., Case No. STCV1201594; or Douglas Pitts v. Bull River Marina, et al., Case No. STCV1201585, under either the 50C or 50M policies. However, Plaintiff is required to provide a defense in Mark Allen Wells v. Bull River Marina, et al., Case No. STCV1100788, under the 50M policy.

BACKGROUND

This case arises from a fishing tour gone awry. On September 18, 2009 Defendant Mark Allen Wells and Douglas Pitts, along with two other companions, booked an offshore fishing trip through Defendant Bull River Marina, LLC (“Bull River”), (Doc. 60, Attach. 1 ¶¶ 11-17.)' Defendant Bull River’s manager at the time was Chris [1354]*1354Tanner, who was the son of Defendant Bull River’s CEO and President, Fred Tanner. (Doc. 77 at 2.) Defendant Bull River agreed to provide the vessel and captain for the excursion and subsequently-chartered the Nauti-Dawg, a catamaran, from its owner Michael Dick.2 (Doc. 60, Attach. 1 ¶¶ 12, 13-15, 17.) Defendant Bull River selected Thomas Williams II as the captain for the excursion, and provided bait and the charter crew. (Id. ¶ 20.) Defendant Bull River agreed with Defendants Wells and Pitts that payment would be rendered at the conclusion of the trip. (Id. ¶ 17.)

The tour however, did not go as planned. Defendants allege that the Nauti-Dawg experienced rough waters during the fishing trip. (Id. ¶ 26.) At some point in time, the catamaran hit a large wave and the passengers, particularly Defendants Wells and Pitts, were vaulted up and out of their seats (id. ¶ 30), and slammed back down onto the bow seating (id. ¶¶ 30-31). As a result, Defendants Wells and Pitts sustained severe injuries to their backs and spines. (Id. ¶ 31.) As a result, the excursion was aborted and the Nauti-Dawg returned to shore so that Defendants Mark Wells and Pitts could obtain medical attention. Defendant Bull River Marina did not charge the passenger Defendants for the trip. (Doc. 76 at 2.)

At the time of the incident, Defendant Bull River was insured under two policies with Plaintiff North American Specialty Insurance Company (“NAIC”). The first policy-identified as the “50C” policy-was a commercial general liability policy, while the second policy-identified as the “50M” policy-was a Marina Operators Policy. (Doc. 60 at 4.) After the events of September 18, 2009, Defendant Bull River Marina contacted its insurance broker to determine potential coverage under these policies. (Doc. 70, Attachs. 3-5.) On November 12, 2009, the insurance broker forwarded a notice of the potential claim to Plaintiff NAIC. (Id.) Plaintiff NAIC assigned Cheryl Moore to act as the adjuster for the claim. (Doc. 70 at 8.) Ms. Moore spoke about the incident with Fred Tanner, who also faxed her written statements and the Coast Guard boarding report from the incident. (Id. at 6-7.) However, Plaintiff closed its file in May or June of 2010 because there was no further contact from Defendant Bull River regarding the incident. (Id. at 7.)

On April 7,2011, Defendant Wells filed a tort action in the State Court of Chatham County against Defendants Bull River and Williams.3 (Doc. 1, Attach. 1.) Once again, Defendant Bull River contacted Plaintiff and forwarded copies of the lawsuit to Plaintiff and Ms. Moore. (Doc. 70 at 8.) Ms. Moore again spoke with Fred Tanner regarding the suit. According to Ms. Moore, she indicated during this conversation that Plaintiff had concerns regarding coverage under the policies, but told Fred Tanner that she would assign the case to an attorney pending further investigation. (Id. at 9.) On May 19, 2011, Ms. Moore sent a reservation-of-rights letter to Defendant Bull River. (Doc. 67, Attach, 5.) This letter referenced only one of the two policies under which Defendant Bull River was insured-the 50C Policy. (Doc. 91, Attach. 4.) The letter stated that,

[d]ue to the allegations contained in the complaint, we need to undertake an in depth review of the policy to deter[1355]*1355mine if coverage is triggered under these circumstances. ... In the interim, we have assigned the law firm of Scrud-der, Bass, Quillian, Horlock, Taylor & Lazarus to enter an appearance in court on your behalf and to protect your interests in accordance with the terms of your policy. However, we are providing a defense of this action under a complete Reservation of Rights, including the right to withdraw from the defense should it be determined no coverage is afforded.
... [T]he preceding statement of the company’s position with respect to coverage is not intended, nor shall it be construed, as a waiver or relinquishment of any term, provision, exclusion or condition of any policy pertaining to this matter, nor of any other right or a defense the company may have under the circumstances.

(Doc. 67, Attach. 5.) The letter was sent to Bull River Marina, LLC c/o Fred Tanner at an address in “Beauford, Georgia” rather than “Buford, Georgia,” where Fred Tanner lived. (Id.) However, the address utilized the correct zip code. (Id.) Fred Tanner now testifies that he does not recall getting this letter, though his statement was not unequivocal. (Doc. 69 at 25-26.) He also noted that “there might have been” a letter. (Id.) Sometime after Plaintiff sent the reservation-of-rights letter, Fred Tanner asked that all mail relevant to Bull River Marina be sent to his home address in Buford, Georgia. (Doc. 70, Attach. 18 at 16; Doc. 77 at 8.)

On April 4, 2012, Plaintiff NAIC’s coverage counsel sent Defendant Bull River a second reservation-of-rights letter. (Doc. 67, Attach. 6.) This new letter applied to both policies and set forth in detail several reasons why Plaintiff NAIC believed Defendant Bull River was not entitled to coverage. (Id.) Plaintiffs coverage counsel sent this letter to Defendant Bull River’s Old Tybee Road address, where it was signed for by Gary Hill. (Id.) Mr. Hill would occasionally accept mail for Defendant Bull River and also manned the front desk. (Doc. 68 at 21.) Three days after the letter was sent, Defendant Bull River was sold in a short sale on April 7, 2012 following a filing of bankruptcy, earlier that year.4 (Doc. 77 at 3.)

After sending both reservation-of-rights letters, Plaintiff filed this declaratory judgment action on May 23, 2012 seeking a declaration that it has no duty to defend or indemnify5 Defendant Bull River Marina.6 (Doc. 1.) While Plaintiffs attorneys repeatedly requested that Defendants Wells and Pitt’s attorneys agree to stay the concurrently pending state court proceedings, Defendants’ counsel declined to respond to

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Bluebook (online)
158 F. Supp. 3d 1351, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9549, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/north-american-specialty-insurance-v-bull-river-marina-llc-gasd-2016.