Walls v. Sagamore Insurance

274 F.R.D. 243, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26633, 2011 WL 891015
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Arkansas
DecidedMarch 15, 2011
DocketNo. 07-CV-1020
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 274 F.R.D. 243 (Walls v. Sagamore Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Walls v. Sagamore Insurance, 274 F.R.D. 243, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26633, 2011 WL 891015 (W.D. Ark. 2011).

Opinion

ORDER

HARRY F. BARNES, District Judge.

Before the Court is the Report and Recommendation filed January 27, 2011, by the Honorable Barry A. Bryant, United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Arkansas. (ECF No. 114). Judge Bryant recommends that Plaintiffs’ Second Motion for Class Certification (ECF No. 88) be GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART. Defendant has responded with timely objections. (ECF No. 115). After reviewing the record de novo, the Court adopts Judge Bryant’s Report and Recommendation as its own.

First, Defendant asks the Court to clarify Judge Bryant’s ruling for the record. The class definition set forth by Plaintiffs in their Second Motion for Class Certification was altered during a hearing and later memorialized in Plaintiffs’ supplemental memorandum (ECF No. 111). Judge Bryant found that a class based on Plaintiffs revised class definition should be certified. Further, Judge Bryant found that Plaintiff Margie Walls cannot serve as a class representative and that the class cannot involve states outside of Arkansas. The Court agrees with Judge Bryant’s findings here. However, Judge Bryant’s recommended disposition was the granting of Plaintiffs Second Motion for Class Certification. However, his findings specifically reflect that the motion should be granted in part and denied in part. Thus, the Court’s order today will reflect that the motion is granted in part and denied in part. By clarifying the recommended disposition, the Court is in no way altering Judge Bryant’s findings.

Second, Defendants argue that Plaintiffs cannot propose an alternate class definition at the hearing and still fulfill their burden under Fed.R.Civ.P. 23. The Court disagrees. Judge Bryant provided Plaintiffs and Defendant additional time to provide supplemental briefs addressing the newly-proposed class definitions. The Court is satisfied that Judge Bryant conducted the rigorous analysis required to ensure that the class definition met the requirements of Rule 23. See Gen. Tel. Co. v. Falcon, 457 U.S. 147, 155, 161, 102 S.Ct. 2364, 72 L.Ed.2d 740 (1982).

The remainder of Defendant’s objections deal with Defendant’s arguments as to why the class should not be certified. Defendant raised these same issues either in its briefs or at the hearing before Judge Bryant. The Court has conducted the required de novo review of the portions of the Report and [248]*248Recommendation to which Defendant objects. That review satisfies the Court that Judge Bryant’s recommended disposition is correct and should be adopted. His Report and Recommendation is thorough, well reasoned, and supported by controlling legal principles. Accordingly, Defendant’s objections are overruled.

For reasons stated herein and above, as well as those contained in the Report and Recommendation (ECF No. 114), Plaintiffs Second Motion for Class Certification (ECF No. 88) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART. The Court certifies the Arkansas class of policyholders as defined in Plaintiffs’ Supplemental Brief (Doc. Ill) and in Judge Bryant’s Report and Recommendation (Doe. 114, p. 4). Further, the Court finds that Plaintiff Margie Walls cannot serve as a class representative.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

BARRY A. BRYANT, United States Magistrate Judge.

Before this Court is Plaintiffs’ Second Motion for Class Certification. ECF No. 88. This Motion was filed on March 22, 2010. Defendant Sagamore Insurance Company (“Defendant”) responded to this Motion on July 15, 2010. ECF No. 101. The Honorable U.S. District Judge Harry F. Barnes referred this Motion to the undersigned on September 22, 2010 pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 686(b)(1) and (3) (2009). ECF No. 105.

Thereafter, on December 3, 2010, this Court held a hearing on Plaintiffs’ Motion. ECF Nos. 109-110. In accordance with the referral from Judge Barnes, and after reviewing the arguments of counsel, this Court recommends Plaintiffs’ Motion be GRANTED.

1. Background,

On March 8, 2007, Plaintiff Margie Walls (“Walls”) filed her original class action complaint. ECF No. 1. Plaintiff Walls subsequently amended her original complaint on November 1, 2007. ECF No. 31. On July 31, 2008, Plaintiff Walls filed a motion for class certification pursuant to this amended complaint. ECF No. 57. Plaintiff Walls sought class certification pursuant to Rule 23(b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.1 Id. On March 31, 2009, Judge Barnes entered a detailed order denying her motion for class certification under this provision of Rule 23(b)(3). ECF No. 63. Thereafter, on January 19, 2010, more than two years after she filed her original complaint, Plaintiff Walls filed her Second Amended Complaint. ECF No. 81. Plaintiff Beatrice Eaton (“Eaton”) was also named as a plaintiff in this Second Amended Complaint. Id. Once their Second Amended Complaint was filed, Plaintiffs then filed a Second Motion for Class Certification. ECF No. 88. This Motion is currently before this Court. With this Motion, Plaintiffs seek class certification pursuant to Rule 23(b)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

The factual background of this ease was thoroughly outlined in the previous order on class certification from Judge Barnes. ECF No. 63. Since that time, Plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Complaint. ECF No. 81. According to the Second Amended Complaint, the pertinent facts are as follows.2 Plaintiff Walls contracted with Defendant for several years for automobile insurance and collision coverage. Pursuant to the policy, Defendant billed Plaintiff Walls for premiums on a monthly basis. Prior to each installment due date, Defendant sent Plaintiff Walls a Premium Installment Bill and Notice of Cancellation for Non Payment of Premium. Plaintiffs claim this notice essentially cancelled the policy as of the due date of the [249]*249installment if the installment was not paid by the due date.

Plaintiff Walls failed to make her installment payment. Thereafter, Defendant did not provide Plaintiff Walls with any additional cancellation notice. Instead, Defendant mailed to Plaintiff Walls a rewrite application along with a demand for a $25.00 policy “rewrite” fee. Plaintiff Walls paid this additional fee and submitted a rewrite application along with the premium. Thereafter, Plaintiff Walls was sent another a Premium Installment Bill and Notice of Cancellation for Non Payment of Premium. Plaintiff Walls did not pay her premium. Plaintiff Walls’s insurance was cancelled due to non-payment of premium. Plaintiff Walls no longer has insurance with Defendant. Plaintiffs claim Defendant’s practice of sending termination notice with the installment bill is illegal in Arkansas and violates Ark.Code Ann. § 23-89-304.

Plaintiff Eaton alleges the essentially the same conduct.

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274 F.R.D. 243, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26633, 2011 WL 891015, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/walls-v-sagamore-insurance-arwd-2011.