Zoller v. Zurich Am. Ins. Co.

356 F. Supp. 3d 598
District Court, E.D. Louisiana·Decided December 10, 2018·No. CIVIL ACTION CASE NO. 16-1837·Published

Opinion

NANNETTE JOLIVETTE BROWN, CHIEF JUDGE

Before the Court is Defendants Ray Cammack Shows' ("RCS") and T.H.E. Insurance Company's ("T.H.E.") "Motion for Summary Judgment."1 Having considered the motion for summary judgment, the memoranda in support and opposition, the record, and the applicable law, the Court will grant the motion dismissing Ray Cammack Shows and T.H.E.2 as parties in the case.

I. Background

A. Factual Background

This matter involves a motor vehicle accident that allegedly occurred on February 8, 2015. In the petition for damages, Plaintiff Ron Zoller ("Plaintiff") alleges that Defendant Charles Nikolauzyk ("Nikolauzyk") rear-ended him while traveling westbound on Interstate-12 in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana.3 At the time of the incident, Plaintiff alleges that Nikolauzyk was driving a motor vehicle owned by Defendants Larry Newsom and Linda Newsom (collectively, "the Newsoms").4 At that time, Nikolauzyk was allegedly employed by Defendant Newsom Trucking, Inc. ("Newsom Trucking").5 Plaintiff also alleges that at the time of the accident the motor vehicle Nikolauzyk was driving was hauling a trailer ("the Trailer") owned by either Schantz Manufacturing, Inc. ("Schantz") or RCS.6

B. Procedural Background

On February 2, 2016, Plaintiff filed a petition for damages against Nikolauzyk, *601the Newsoms, and the Newsoms' insurer Zurich American Insurance, Co. ("Zurich") in the 22nd Judicial District Court for the Parish of St. Tammany.7 On March 4, 2016, Nikolauzyk and Zurich removed the case to this Court.8 On March 9, 2016, Plaintiff filed a first amending and supplemental complaint naming Newsom Trucking as a defendant.9

On November 7, 2016, Plaintiff filed a second amending and supplemental complaint naming Hallmark Specialty Insurance Company ("Hallmark") as an insurer of Newsom Trucking.10 On July 31, 2017, Plaintiff filed a third amending and supplemental complaint alleging that T.H.E., the insurer of RCS, may have provided insurance coverage for the trailer being pulled by Nikolauzyk.11 On November 21, 2017, Plaintiff filed a fourth amending and supplemental complaint against RCS, Schantz, and Shantz's insurer Selective Insurance Company of South Carolina ("Selective").12

On November 6, 2018, RCS and T.H.E. filed the instant motion for summary judgment.13 On November 8, 2018, Hallmark filed an opposition to the motion.14 On November 12, 2018, Plaintiff filed an opposition.15 On November 18, 2018, Schantz filed an opposition.16 With leave of Court, RCS and T.H.E. filed a reply on November 21, 2018.17

II. Parties' Arguments

A. RCS and T.H.E.'s Arguments in Support of the Motion for Summary Judgment

RCS and T.H.E. urge the Court to grant summary judgment in their favor because they contend that the insurance policy T.H.E. issued to RCS (the "T.H.E. Policy") does not provide coverage for Plaintiff's claim.18 First, RCS and T.H.E. argue that RCS did not own the trailer and T.H.E.'s policy only covers vehicles owned by RCS.19 Next, RCS and T.H.E. assert that RCS cannot be held vicariously liable for the negligence of Nikolauzyk.20 Finally, RCS and T.H.E. argue that T.H.E.'s policy does not cover the driver of the truck owned by Newsom.21

1. Ownership of the Trailer

RCS and T.H.E. assert that before deciding who owns the trailer, the Court must determine which state's substantive law applies.22 RCS and T.H.E. argue that under Louisiana's conflict of laws statute, Illinois law applies because it is the state whose "policies would be most seriously impaired if its law were not applied to the issue of ownership."23 RCS and T.H.E.

*602contend that Schantz and RCS's only connection to Louisiana is the motor vehicle accident at issue in this case.24 Furthermore, RCS argues that its relationship with Schantz "is centered in Illinois."25 RCS and T.H.E. allege that Illinois is where the trailer was manufactured, Schantz is domiciled, and the bill of sale was executed.26 RCS and T.H.E. further argue that the purchase agreement for the trailer provides that any dispute between them regarding the construction and sale of the trailer will be governed by Illinois law."27

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Zoller v. Zurich Am. Ins. Co., 356 F. Supp. 3d 598 (E.D. La. 2018).

356 F. Supp. 3d 598 (Zoller v. Zurich Am. Ins. Co.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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