Woodring v. Robinson

892 F. Supp. 2d 769, 2012 WL 3811749, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 125054
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Mississippi
DecidedSeptember 4, 2012
DocketCivil No. 1:11-cv-00098-HSO-JMR
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 892 F. Supp. 2d 769 (Woodring v. Robinson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Mississippi primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Woodring v. Robinson, 892 F. Supp. 2d 769, 2012 WL 3811749, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 125054 (S.D. Miss. 2012).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT KGP LOGISTIC, INC.’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

HALIL SULEYMAN OZERDEN, District Judge.

BEFORE THE COURT is a Motion for Summary Judgment [128] filed by Defendant KGP Logistics, Inc. (KGP). Plaintiff has filed a Response [126], and KGP a Reply [131]. After consideration of the parties’ submissions, the record, the relevant legal authorities, and for the reasons [772]*772discussed below, the Court finds that the Motion should be granted.

I. BACKGROUND

This case arises from a collision between two motor vehicles, one driven by Plaintiff Melissa Woodring and the other driven by Defendant Walter Smith, which occurred on January 11, 2011, in Gulfport, Mississippi. Pl.’s Sec. Am. Compl. [114] at p. 3; KGP’s Answer [116] at p. 2. At the time of the accident, Smith was employed by Defendants Ira and Rebecca Robinson d/b/a R.A. Robinson. Answer of Ira and Rebecca Robinson and R.A. Robinson [118] at p. 4; Answer of Walter Smith [117] at p. 3. It is undisputed that Smith was operating the vehicle in the course and scope of his employment when the accident occurred.

Defendant KGP performs installation and engineering services for AT & T Services, Inc. (AT & T). KGP’s Mot. for Summ. J. [123] at pp. 2-3; Pl.’s Resp. [126] at p. 1. KGP hired R.A. Robinson as a subcontractor to build sites for AT & T’s U-verse cabinets, and to partially install the cabinets. KGP’s Mot. for Summ. J. [123] at pp. 3-4; Dep. of Ron Standifer [123-6] at p. 4, Ex. F. to KGP’s Mot. for Summ. J. [123]; Dep. of Ira Robinson [123-10] at p. 7, Ex. J to KGP’s Mot. for Summ. J. [123]. The vehicle collision in question occurred while Smith was traveling to an AT & T job site on behalf of R.A. Robinson. KGP’s Mot. for Summ. J. [123] at p. 3; PL’s Resp. [126] at p. 3.

KGP’s contract with AT & T required KGP to ensure that its subcontractors maintained business automobile liability insurance with a limit of at least $1,000,000.00 per accident. KGP-AT & T Agreement [123-4] at pp. 17-20, Ex. D. to KGP’s Mot. for Summ. J. [123], The subcontract between KGP and R.A. Robinson likewise required R.A. Robinson to maintain business automobile liability insurance with a limit of at least $1,000,000.00 per accident. KGP-R.A. Robinson Agreement [123-3] at p. 17, Ex. C to KGP’s Mot. for Summ. J. [123].

The automobile driven by Smith at the time of the accident was covered by an automobile insurance policy with liability limits of only $50,000.00 per person and $100,000.00 per occurrence. Policy [123-12], Ex. L to KGP’s Mot. for Summ. J. [123], Plaintiff alleges that she cannot be adequately compensated by this policy because she has incurred over $800,000.00 in medical costs and suffered millions of dollars in damages. PL’s Resp. [126] at pp. 10-11. She seeks damages from KGP as a third-party beneficiary to its contracts with R.A. Robinson and AT & T, alleging that she was damaged by KGP’s failure to ensure that R.A. Robinson maintained $1,000,000.00 automobile policy limits as required by those contracts. PL’s Sec. Am. Compl. [114] at pp. 5-6. She also claims that KGP is vicariously liable for the acts of Smith and Robinson pursuant to the doctrine of respondeat superior. Id. at p. 3.

II. DISCUSSION

A. The Court’s Subject Matter Jurisdiction

The Court has jurisdiction over this civil action because “the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs, and is between citizens of different States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1332. Plaintiff is a citizen of Mississippi. PL’s Sec. Am. Compl. [114] at p. 1. Smith is a citizen of Georgia. Answer of Walter Smith [117] at p. 2. R.A. Robinson is an unincorporated proprietorship, and its members, Ira and Rebecca Robinson, were citizens of Georgia at the time this action was filed. Answer of Rebecca Robinson [52] at pp. 1-2; Answer of Ira Robinson [53] at pp. 1-2; see Harvey v. Grey Wolf Drilling Co., 542 F.3d 1077, 1079-80 (5th [773]*773Cir.2008). KGP is a corporation organized under the laws of Minnesota, with its principal place of business in Minnesota. Answer of KGP [116] at p. 2. Plaintiff alleges damages in excess of $75,000.00, exclusive of interests and costs. Pl.’s Sec. Am. Compl. [114] at 1; PL’s Resp. [126] at pp. 10-11. Thus, the requirements of diversity jurisdiction are satisfied.

Where federal jurisdiction is based on diversity, the court applies state substantive law. Krieser v. Hobbs, 166 F.3d 736, 739 (5th Cir.1999); see Erie R.R. Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64, 78-79, 58 S.Ct. 817, 82 L.Ed. 1188 (1938). The parties agree that Mississippi substantive law governs this diversity case.

B. KGP’s Motion for Summary Judgment

1. Summary Judgment Standard

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(a) provides that summary judgment is appropriate “[i]f the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Crv. P. 56(a). The purpose of summary judgment is to isolate and dispose of factually unsupported claims or defenses. Melton v. Teachers Ins. & Annuity Ass’n of America, 114 F.3d 557, 560 (5th Cir.1997)(citing Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986)).

To rebut a properly supported motion for summary judgment, the opposing party must show, with “significant probative evidence,” that there exists a genuine issue of material fact. Hamilton v. Segue Software, Inc., 232 F.3d 473, 477 (5th Cir.2000). In deciding whether summary judgment is appropriate, the Court views facts and inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. RSR Corp. v. Int’l Ins. Co., 612 F.3d 851, 858 (5th Cir.2010). However, if the evidence is merely colorable, or is not significantly probative, summary judgment is appropriate. Cutting Underwater Techs. USA Inc. v. Eni U.S. Operating Co., 671 F.3d 512, 516 (5th Cir.2012)(citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986)). “[M]ere conclusory allegations are not competent summary judgment evidence, and such allegations are insufficient, therefore, to defeat a motion for summary judgment.” Eason v. Thaler,

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892 F. Supp. 2d 769, 2012 WL 3811749, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 125054, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/woodring-v-robinson-mssd-2012.