South Louisiana Ethanol, LLC v. Messer

932 F. Supp. 2d 735, 2013 WL 1136791, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36987
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Louisiana
DecidedMarch 18, 2013
DocketCivil Action Nos. 11-2715, 12-379
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 932 F. Supp. 2d 735 (South Louisiana Ethanol, LLC v. Messer) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
South Louisiana Ethanol, LLC v. Messer, 932 F. Supp. 2d 735, 2013 WL 1136791, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36987 (E.D. La. 2013).

Opinion

ORDER AND REASONS

LEMELLE, District Judge.

Before the Court are: Defendant 1 Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company’s (“Fireman’s Fund”) first Motion for Summary Judgment against the claims of South Louisiana Ethanol, L.L.C. (“SLE”); Defendants Commerce & Industry Insurance Company and Chartis Speciality Insurance Company’s (collectively, “C & I and Chartis”) Motion • for Summary Judgment against the claims of SLE; Third-party Defendant ENGlobal U.S., Inc.’s (“ENGlobal”) Motion for Summary Judgment against the claims of Fireman’s Fund; and Fireman’s Fund’s subsequent second Motion for Summary Judgment against both SLE’s and Intervenor Whitney Bank’s (“Whitney”) claims. (Rec. Docs. No. 30, 31, 53, & 64). Also before the Court are the Oppositions and Replies filed against and in support of the aforementioned motions. (Rec. Docs. No. 32, 33, 36, 69, 61, & 73). Also before the Court is Fireman’s Fund’s Motion to Strike exhibits attached to the opposition filed by SLE and Whitney regarding Fireman’s Fund’s first Motion for Summary Judgment, and the subsequent opposition to and reply in support of said' motion. (Rec. Docs. No. 34, 35, & 68). Accordingly, and for the reasons articulated below,

IT IS ORDERED that C & I and Chartis’ Motion for Summary Judgment (Rec. Doc. No. 31) is GRANTED.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Fireman’s Fund’s Second Motion for Summary Judgment (Rec. Doc. No. 64) is GRANTED. Accordingly,

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Fireman’s Fund’s First Motion for Summary Judgment and Motion to Strike (Rec. Docs. No. 30 & 34) are DISMISSED as moot in light of the foregoing Orders.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that EN-Global’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Rec. Doc. No. 53) is GRANTED.

Procedural History and Facts of the Case:

The instant action arises out of alleged damage to property belonging to SLE, while said property was in the care of its subcontractor, Precision Combustion Technology, L.L.C. (“PCT”). (Rec. Docs. No. 33 & 64-1 at 2, referring to Rec. Doc. No. 30-2 at 2-4). Because PCT filed for bankruptcy, SLE seeks recovery from individual members of PCT and PCT’s insurers, rather than from PCT itself. (Rec. Docs. No. 1-1 & 30-2 at 3). SLE initiated the action in state court, but the case was subsequently removed to federal court under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1452(a) and 1334(b), as it was related to the bankruptcy proceeding of SLE, already pending in federal Court.1 (Rec. Doci No. 1 at 2).

[737]*737- SLE entered into an engineering, procurement, and construction contract with ENGlobal in January 2007, for the retrofitting of an ethanol facility in Plaquemines Parish, within the Eastern District Louisiana. (Rec. Doc. No. 33 at 2). ENGlobal hired PCT as a subcontractor, and SLE sent several pieces of equipment to PCT’s yard in Gonzales, Louisiana for repair. Id. at 3; (Rec. Doc. No. 30-2 at 3). SLE alleges that while its equipment was in the possession of PCT, PCT negligently caused certain SLE equipment to be damaged by exposure to the elements, PCT negligently failed to warn/advise SLE that its equipment was in danger of seizure in satisfaction of debts owed by PCT to a third party, and PCT wrongfully sold equipment belonging to SLE to Southern Scrap Materials, Co., L.L.C. (“Southern Scrap”). (Rec. Doc. No. 33 at 6-7). SLE now seeks recovery against the-principals of PCT (Steven Zane Glaze, - Cynthia Ann Glaze, and Eric Jacob Messer), Southern Scrap, and PCT’s insurers, Fireman’s Fund and C & I and Chartis. Id. at 8. Whitney intervened in the matter asserting a first-ranking security interest in SLE’s property, having provided financing to SLE for its engineering work on the plant PCT was contracted to work on. (Rec. Doc. No. 33 at 8, n. 19).

At issue in the instant motions is ■ the extent of coverage, if any,. provided by Fireman’s Fund and C & I and Chartis for the property of SLE while in the care of PCT. (Rec. Docs. No. 30, 31, & 64). Also in dispute is Fireman’s Fund’s right to bring ENGlobal into the action as a third-party defendant. (Rec. Doc. No. 53).

Law & Analysis

A. Summary Judgment Standard

Summary judgment is proper if the pleadings, depositions, interrogatory answers, and admissions, together with any affidavits, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 327, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). A genuine issue exists if the evidence would allow a reasonable jury to return a verdict for the nonmovant. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). Although the Court, must consider the evidence with all reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, the nonmovant must produce specific facts to demonstrate that a genuine issue exists for trial. Webb v. Cardiothoracic Surgery Assocs. of N. Texas, 139 F.3d 532, 536 (5th Cir.1998). Because “only those disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the lawsuit under governing substantive law will preclude summary judgment,” questions that are unnecessary to the resolution of a particular issue “will not be counted.” Phillips Oil Co. v. OKC Corp., 812 F.2d 265, 272 (5th Cir.1987).

As to issues for which the non-moving party has the burden of proof at trial, the moving party may satisfy its burden by demonstrating the absence of evidence supporting the non-moving party’s claim. Celotex v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). Once the movant makes this showing, the burden shifts to the nonmovant to set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. Rivera v. Houston Indep. Sch. Dist., 349 F.3d 244, 247 (5th Cir.2003). The nonmovant must go beyond the pleadings and use affidavits, depositions, interrogatory responses, admissions, or other evidence to establish a genuine issue. Id. Accordingly, eonclusory rebuttals of the pleadings are insufficient to avoid summary judgment. Travelers Ins. Co. v. Liljeberg Enter., Inc., 7 F.3d 1203, 1207 (5th Cir.1993).

[738]*738B. SLE and Whitney’s Cause of Action against Fireman’s Fund

1. Louisiana law on insurance contracts

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932 F. Supp. 2d 735, 2013 WL 1136791, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36987, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/south-louisiana-ethanol-llc-v-messer-laed-2013.