Reisch v. McGuigan

745 F. Supp. 56, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10556, 1990 WL 118051
CourtDistrict Court, D. Massachusetts
DecidedAugust 10, 1990
DocketCiv. A. 85-3735-WF
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 745 F. Supp. 56 (Reisch v. McGuigan) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Reisch v. McGuigan, 745 F. Supp. 56, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10556, 1990 WL 118051 (D. Mass. 1990).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

WOLF, District Judge.

This case arises out of an automobile accident occurring October 4, 1984 in Quebec, Canada. Defendants, who are a Massachusetts resident and corporation, have moved for summary judgment on grounds that the Quebec Automobile Insurance Act (the “Act”) provides the exclusive remedy for plaintiffs’ injury. For the reasons stated below, the court holds that Massachusetts law applies to this suit and that the Act does not bar plaintiffs’ action in this court.

I. FACTS

The following facts are not in dispute. Plaintiffs Scott Reisch and his parents Albert and Pamela Reisch are all residents of New Jersey. Defendant James McGuigan is a resident of Massachusetts. Defendant W.P. Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a Substitute Rent-A-Car (“Substitute”), is a Massachusetts corporation doing business in Massachusetts. Complaint at MI 1-5 (October 4, 1985).

On October 6, 1984, Scott Reisch was picked up by McGuigan at Logan Airport in a car owned and rented by Substitute. Stipulation of Facts at ¶ 1 (September 11, 1986) (hereinafter “Stip.”). Reisch and McGuigan had previously met when double-dating with their girlfriends, who were roommates at a college in Massachusetts. Defendants’ Memorandum in Support of Their Motion for Summary Judgment at Ex. 2, p. 10 (Deposition of Scott Reisch) (November 26, 1986) (hereinafter “Def. Mem.”). Reisch was not a resident of or student in Massachusetts. Id. at pp. 10-11. Reisch and McGuigan proceeded to drive to Canada, where McGuigan was going to visit his relatives. While in the province of Quebec and while McGuigan was driving, the vehicle left the road and rolled down an embankment. Stip. at ¶ 2-4. Reisch was thrown from the vehicle and seriously injured. Reisch has incurred over $60,000 in medical expenses as a result of the accident, suffers permanent partial paralysis of his left shoulder and arm, and has sustained some memory loss. Id. at ¶ 6.

On October 4, 1985, plaintiffs filed the instant action in this court, alleging negligence and loss of affection. On October 28, 1986, defendants moved for summary judgment on the ground that plaintiffs were restricted to recovery under the Quebec Automobile Insurance Act. Plaintiffs opposed. On October 7, 1987, Reisch filed a claim for compensation under the Quebec Automobile Insurance Act, a comprehensive no-fault scheme whose provisions will be described in greater detail infra. Affidavit of David Hanrahan at 112(a) (November 1, 1989). Reisch has received $30,-323.44 (US) in compensation for lost earnings, travel expenses and permanent injuries under the Act. Id.

This court subsequently instructed the parties to brief whether plaintiffs’ recovery under the Act stripped them of standing to maintain this action. Memorandum and Order (September 2, 1988). The court expressed its belief in that order that Massachusetts law governs this action. Id. (citing O’Connor v. O’Connor, 201 Conn. 632, 519 A.2d 13, 22-26 (1986); Thomas v. Hanmer, 109 A.D.2d 80, 489 N.Y.S.2d 802, 803-07 (1985)). As explained at the hearing on June 7, 1990, the court has decided to reaffirm that belief and to conclude that plaintiffs’ recovery under the Act does not pre- *58 elude them from maintaining the instant action.

II. DISCUSSION

A. Legal Standard

In diversity actions such as this, federal courts must look to the forum state’s choice of law rules to determine the governing law. Klaxon Co. v. Stentor Electric Mfg. Co., 313 U.S. 487, 61 S.Ct. 1020, 85 L.Ed. 1477 (1941). Because there are no material facts in dispute on this question, the choice' of law issue can be decided on defendants’ summary judgment motion, as can any questions of Quebec law presented under Fed.R.Civ.P. 44.1. See, e.g., Freeman v. World Airways, Inc., 596 F.Supp. 841, 843 (D.Mass.1984) (determining choice of law on motion for partial summary judgment); Ali v. Playgirl, Inc., 447 F.Supp. 723 (S.D.N.Y.1978) (determining questions of foreign law in summary judgment proceeding).

B. The Quebec Automobile Insurance Act

The Act, which went into force in 1978, provides a no-fault, comprehensive plan of compensation for Quebec residents injured in automobile accidents in any location and nonresidents injured in automobile accidents in Quebec. R.S.Q. Ch. A-25. Indemnities are distributed by the Regie de 1’as-surance automobile du Quebec (the “Re-gie”) and cover lost income, medical expenses, injury, disfigurement, suffering and loss of enjoyment. Id. at §§ 19, 44, 45. Compensation for the last four categories is subject to a $20,000 (Can.) statutory cap. Id. at § 44.

Section 4 of the Act eliminates common law actions for compensation, subject to certain exceptions which will be discussed below. It provides, in relevant part:

The indemnities provided for in this title are in place and stead of all rights, recourses, and rights of action of any one by reason of bodily injury caused by an automobile and no action in that respect shall be admitted before any court of justice.

Section 7, however, provides that a Quebec resident who is injured outside of Quebec retains any rights to recovery he has under the law of the place of injury, and that the Regie is subrogated to such rights to the extent it has paid his claim:

The victim of an accident that occurred outside Quebec who is entitled to the compensation provided for in this title may benefit by it while retaining his rights of action with regard to the excess under the law of the place where the accident occurred.
Notwithstanding section 4, the Regie, where it compensates a victim under this section, is subrogated in the victim’s rights and is entitled to recover the compensation and the capital representing the pensions that the Regie is thereby required to pay from any person not resident in Quebec who, under the law of the place where the accident occurred, is responsible, and from any person liable for compensation for bodily injury caused in the accident by such non-resident.

Section 8 authorizes the compensation of a nonresident injured in Quebec, provided that he was not responsible for the accident and that his native government does not have an agreement with the Regie barring such indemnity.

Section 9 empowers the Regie to seek recovery from any nonresident who causes an accident in Quebec for any compensation the Regie has paid to victims of the accident. This subrogation clause provides in relevant part:

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
745 F. Supp. 56, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10556, 1990 WL 118051, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/reisch-v-mcguigan-mad-1990.