Radle v. Allstate Insurance

758 F. Supp. 1464, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3395, 1991 WL 37668
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedMarch 8, 1991
DocketNo. 90-224-CIV-T-17(A)
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 758 F. Supp. 1464 (Radle v. Allstate Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Radle v. Allstate Insurance, 758 F. Supp. 1464, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3395, 1991 WL 37668 (M.D. Fla. 1991).

Opinion

ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

KOVACHEVICH, District Judge.

The cause is before the Court on Defendants DeeDee Jane Brown and Jim’s Hardware & Supply’s1 motion for summary judgment or, in the alternative, to stay action, filed August 27, 1990, and response thereto, filed September 18, 1990.

[1466]*1466This circuit clearly holds that summary judgment should only be entered when the moving party has sustained its burden of showing the absence of a genuine issue as to any material fact when all the evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Sweat v. The Miller Brewing Co., 708 F.2d 655 (11th Cir.1983). All doubt as to the existence of a genuine issue of material fact must be resolved against the moving party. Hayden v. First National Bank of Mt. Pleasant, 595 F.2d 994, 996-7 (5th Cir.1979), quoting Gross v. Southern Railroad Co., 414 F.2d 292 (5th Cir.1969). Factual disputes preclude summary judgment.

The Supreme Court of the United States held, in Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986):

In our view the plain language of Rule 56(c) mandates the entry of summary judgment, after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, against a party who fails to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. Id. at 322, 106 S.Ct. at 2552, 91 L.Ed.2d at 273.

The Court also said, “Rule 56(e) therefore requires that nonmoving party to go beyond the pleadings and by her own affidavits, or by the ‘depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file,’ designate ‘specific facts showing there is a genuine issue for trial.’ ” Celotex Corp., at p. 324, 106 S.Ct. at p. 2553, 91 L.Ed.2d at p. 274.

The amended complaint asserts that on or about February 27, 1986, Plaintiff Edward S. Radie was injured in an automobile accident involving his car and a vehicle driven by Defendant DeeDee Jane Brown, who was then employed by Jim’s Hardware & Supply. Plaintiffs allege that Ms. Brown was negligent in her operation of the vehicle, including: excessive speed, failure to manage and control vehicle, and failure to yield right of way.

Initially, Defendants assert that summary judgment should be entered because Plaintiffs are barred from proceeding in this cause under the doctrines of res judicata and/or collateral estoppel, based on proceedings in the state court of Wisconsin.

On February 24, 1989, these Plaintiffs filed suit in the circuit court of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, against Allstate Insurance Company, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company,2 Ms. Brown, and Jim’s Hardware & Supply. (Ex. 1 to motion).

In the most part the complaint was identical to the amended complaint filed in this district. The state court complaint alleged that Allstate Insurance had issued an insurance policy for the vehicle driven by Ms. Brown and involved in the accident with Edward Radie. Both the state court complaint and the federal amended complaint seek damages in the amount of $275,000.00 together with cost, disbursements, attorney’s fees and other relief deemed appropriate.

Defendants DeeDee Jane Brown and Jim’s Hardware & Supply filed a motion to dismiss the state court complaint based on lack of personal jurisdiction. On August 10, 1989, the state court judge entered an Order to Dismiss both defendants for lack of personal jurisdiction, but Defendant Allstate Insurance’s motion to dismiss was denied, which denial was upheld on appeal. (Exs. 9 and 12 to motion).

Thereafter, Plaintiffs’ case against Allstate when to jury trial in the state court. The jury verdict stated that DeeDee Jane Brown was negligent but that the accident of February 27, 1986, was not the cause of the injury suffered by Edward Radie. (Ex. 13 to motion).

Plaintiffs moved for new trial or judgment notwithstanding the verdict. The state court judge issued an order for judgment on June 18, 1990, and judgment on July 2, 1990. The judgment restated that the verdict that “Allstate Insurance Company’s insured’s negligence did not cause [1467]*1467the injuries of the plaintiff, Edward S. Ra-die.” (Ex. 17 to motion). There is no competent evidence that the judgment of the state court has been appealed. Thus, Defendants request that if the motion for summary judgment is not granted that the case be stayed pending resolution of any appeal in Wisconsin.

Plaintiffs deny that the issues or parties are identical in this action and the state court action; ask the Court to deny the motion for summary judgment; and assert that a stay is not in the interests of justice. Other than making the conclusory statement that res judicata does not lie, Plaintiffs do not address the issues raised by Defendants in the brief supporting their motion for summary judgment.

The doctrine of res judicata is that an existing final judgment or decree rendered on the merits, without fraud or collusion, by a court of competent jurisdiction, is conclusive of the rights, questions, and facts in issue, as to the parties and their privies in any other action in the same or in another court. To make a judgment res judicata as to a later action there must be: 1) identity in the thing sued for, 2) identity of the causes of action, 3) identity of the persons and parties to the actions, and 4) identity of the quality or capacity of the person for or against whom the claim is made. 32 Fla.Jur.2d, Judgments and Decrees, §§ 96, 107.

A federal court is bound by the full faith and credit doctrine, 28 U.S.C. § 1738, to give state court judgments the same preclusive effect as would the courts of the state in which the judgment was rendered. Stockton v. Lansiquot, 838 F.2d 1545 (11th Cir.1988); Krison v. Nehls, 767 F.2d 344, 348 (7th Cir.1985). Wisconsin has adopted a “transactional” approach in determining res judicata application. This approach focuses on the factual situation in which the actions arise: if the suits arise from the same “transaction, incident or factual situation” the second suit will normally be barred by res judicata. Id., at 349.

Plaintiffs have not disputed the finality of the judgment of the Wisconsin state court, nor have they raised any issues that there was fraud or collusion involved in the rendering of that judgment or that the forum was not competent. The only question raised is by Defendants, as to a rumor that Plaintiffs may have appealed that judgment, but no competent evidence has been asserted challenging the finality of the judgment.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
758 F. Supp. 1464, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3395, 1991 WL 37668, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/radle-v-allstate-insurance-flmd-1991.