TransAtlantic Lines LLC v. American Steamship Owners Mutual Protection & Indemnity Ass'n

253 F. Supp. 3d 725, 2017 A.M.C. 1293, 2017 WL 2334995, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 82211
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedMay 28, 2017
Docket17 Civ. 998 (JSR)
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 253 F. Supp. 3d 725 (TransAtlantic Lines LLC v. American Steamship Owners Mutual Protection & Indemnity Ass'n) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
TransAtlantic Lines LLC v. American Steamship Owners Mutual Protection & Indemnity Ass'n, 253 F. Supp. 3d 725, 2017 A.M.C. 1293, 2017 WL 2334995, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 82211 (S.D.N.Y. 2017).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

JED S. RAKOFF, U.S.D.J.

This case concerns the validity of a decision made pursuant to a voluntary but somewhat unusual alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”) process. Pursuant to that process, the Board of Directors of defendant American Steamship Owners Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association (“American Steamship”) denied an appeal from a partial denial of insurance coverage to plaintiff TransAtlantic Lines LLC (“TransAtlantic”) for certain of the losses arising out of a shipping accident. Before this Court, TransAtlantic challenges that decision, seeking de novo review of its underlying claims. By “bottom-line” order dated May 18, 2017, the Court granted American Steamship’s motion for summary judgment upholding the ADR decision, denying discovery, and dismissing the complaint. See Order dated May 18, 2017, ECF No. 25. This Opinion and Order explains the reasons for those rulings and directs the entry of final judgment.

A court may grant summary judgment “only where ‘there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.’” Darnell v. Pineiro, 849 F.3d 17, 22 (2d Cir. 2017) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a)). The court must “construe the evidence in the [728]*728light most favorable to the [non-moving party], drawing all reasonable inferences and resolving all ambiguities in [its] favor.” Id.

The relevant facts, undisputed except where noted, are as follows. American Steamship is a non-profit, mutual protection and indemnity insurance association that provides marine insurance. Defendant’s Statement of Material Facts Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 56.1 (“Def. 56.1”), ECF No. 17, ¶ 1; Plaintiffs Statement of Disputed and Undisputed Material Facts Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 56.1 (“Plf. 56.1”), ECF No. 20, ¶ 1. Because American Steamship is a mutual association, all its insureds—which are called “Members”— are also insurers. Def. 56.1 ¶ 5; Plf. 56.1 ¶ 5. Membership in American Steamship is governed both by insurance policies, called “Certificates of Entry,” and by American Steamship’s by-laws and rules.1 Def. 56.1 ¶ 15; Plf. 56.1 ¶ 15.

American Steamship provides what is known as protection and indemnity insurance, which requires Members to pay their defense costs in the first instance, and then to seek reimbursement from American Steamship. Def. 56.1 ¶¶ 6-7; Plf. 56.1 ¶¶ 6-7. The defendant’s day-to-day claims-processing business is conducted by its Manager, Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc. (“SCB”). Def. 56.1 ¶¶ 10-11; • Plf. 56.1 ¶¶ 10-11. Thus, Members submit claims to SCB, which makes coverage decisions in the first instance. Def. 56.1 ¶ 13; Plf. 56.1 ¶ 13.

Under the Rules, a Member can “appeal” a denial of coverage to American Steamship’s Board of Directors, which is principally composed of officers and representatives of American Steamship’s Members. Def. 56.1 ¶¶ 9, 14, 35; Plf. 56.1 ¶¶ 9, 14, 35. The Rules provide that, to appeal a decision, a Member must submit a Notice of Appeal, a brief not to exceed 20 pages, and any supporting evidence. See Procedures for Board Adjudication of Differences or Disputes (“Adjudication Procedures”), Fed.Appx. A to American Steamship Rules §§ 1, 5. SCB is required to respond in kind, and the Member is allowed a reply. Id. §§ 6-7. The appeal is considered at a regular meeting of the Board, which does not hold oral argument or otherwise allow in-person presentations from Members. Id. §§ 3, 10-11. In due course, but in no later than six months, the Board is required to issue a written decision adjudicating the appeal. Id § 12. The Rules provide that “[t]he decision of the Association’s Board of Directors is intended to be final and binding,” see American Steamship Rules 1.4.48(d), and that further review of the Board’s decision may be had in federal court under an “arbitrary and capricious” standard, see Adjudication Procedures, Further Appeal, § E.

TransAtlantic was a Member of American Steamship from at least 2009 to 2013, during which time it purchased insurance for a barge called the GUANTANAMO BAY EXPRESS. Def. 56.1 ¶ 17; Plf. 56.1 ¶ 17. In February 2013, while that ship was undergoing maintenance, TransAtlantic chartered the ATLANTIC TRADER from non-party McAllister Towing Co. Inc. (“McAllister”) and added that ship to its Certificate of Entry. Def. 56.1 ¶ 18; Plf. 56.1 ¶ 18.

On March 4, 2013, more than twenty shipping containers ’ fell off the ATLANTIC TRADER into the sea, and other containers and cargo aboard were dam[729]*729aged. Def. 56.1 ¶ 28; Plf. 56.1 ¶23. This incident led to a lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida in which TransAtlantic sued Portus Stevedoring LLC (“Portus”) for negligently loading the vessel. Def. 56.1 ¶ 24; Plf. 56.1 ¶ 24. Portus, in turn, brought claims against McAllister, alleging that it had provided an unseaworthy barge. Def. 56.1 ¶ 25; Plf. 56.1 ¶25. In April 2014, McAllister demanded that TransAtlantic defend it against Portus’s claims pursuant to the charter contract. Def. 56.1 ¶ 26; Plf. 56.1 ¶26. McAllister’s request was denied under somewhat disputed circumstances discussed infra. Def. 56.1¶ 27; Plf. 56.1 ¶27. After McAllister prevailed against Portus in the Florida suit, it demanded that TransAtlantic reimburse its attorney’s fees, and TransAtlantic paid McAllister $100,000 to settle this claim. Def. 56.1 ¶¶ 28-30; Plf. 56.1 ¶¶ 28-30.

On October 6, 2015, the district court in Florida, following a bench trial, found TransAtlantic 60% liable and Portus 40% liable for the shipping incident. See Declaration of Gudmundur Kjaernested in Opposition to Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment (“Kjaernested Decl.”), ECF No. 18, ¶ 30. The district court found that TransAtlantic incurred damages of $517,942.03. Id., Ex. E.

TransAtlantic submitted claims for the losses arising from the shipping incident to American Steamship. Def. 56.1 ¶ 31; Plf. 56.1¶ 31. SCB paid TransAtlantic’s claims in the amount of $516,728.39 for TransAtlantic’s “sue and labor” costs2 and the costs of pursuing the suit against Portus, but rejected TransAtlantie’s claims for (i) McAllister’s attorney’s fees, (ii) claims for losses of U.S. Government cargo, and (iii) costs TransAtlantic incurred in recovering perishable cargo. Def. 56.1 ¶¶ 32-33; Plf. 56.1¶¶ 32-33. On September 21, 2016 TransAtlantic filed a Notice of Appeal with the Board seeking review of SCB’s denial of coverage. Def. 56.1 ¶ 34; Plf. 56.1 ¶ 34. The appeal was fully briefed on November 10, 2016. Def. 56.1 ¶38; Plf. 56.1 ¶38. On December 12, 2016, the Board issued a 22-page decision upholding SCB’s denial of coverage. Def. 56.1 ¶ 41; Plf. 56.1 ¶ 41; see Directors’ Decision, Ex. H to Tsimis Decl.

This suit challenging the Board’s decision followed. See Complaint, ECF No. 1 On April 10, 2017, American Steamship moved for summary judgment upholding the Board’s decision, denying discovery, and dismissing the complaint. See Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendant American Steamship Owners Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association, Inc.’s Motion for Summary Judgment (“Def. Mem.”), ECF No. 14. On April 17, 2017, TransAtlantic filed papers opposing the defendant’s motion. See Plaintiff TransAtlantic Lines LLC’s Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment (“Plf. Mem.”), ECF No. 21. On May 2, 2017, American Steamship filed reply papers.

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253 F. Supp. 3d 725, 2017 A.M.C. 1293, 2017 WL 2334995, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 82211, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/transatlantic-lines-llc-v-american-steamship-owners-mutual-protection-nysd-2017.