Case ID: f-appx_367/html/0563-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM: \n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Dennis DOUZART; Faith Seawright, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. BALBOA INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 09-60036.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Feb. 26, 2010.
    
      Margaret Parish Ellis, Pascagoula, MS, for Plaintiffs-Appellees.
    Edward Coleman Taylor, Kristi Rae Rogers, Daniel, Coker, Horton & Bell, Gulfport, MS, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Before BENAVIDES, DENNIS, and ELROD, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Balboa Insurance Company (Balboa) appeals the district court’s denial of its motion for summary judgment under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b). In its motion, Balboa asserted that the damage to Dennis Dou-zart and Faith Seawright’s (Douzarts) home caused by Hurricane Katrina was not covered under the Balboa policy because the damage to their home resulted from an excluded peril under the policy— windstorm damage — rather than an explosion, which is not excluded. In response to Balboa’s motion for summary judgment, the Douzarts supported their assertion that damage to their home was caused by an explosion resulting from the accumulation of air inside them home during the hurricane with an affidavit from Dr. Neil B. Hall. Dr. Hall concluded that “to trigger progressive failure and the complete destruction of the building due to hurricane wind, it is most likely that some portion of the building did ‘explode’ in a matter of seconds, followed by the progressive failure of the structure.”

The district court found that “there is a genuine issue of material fact regarding whether the [Douzarts] are entitled to coverage under the homeowner’s insurance policy issued to them by Balboa” and “that a genuine issue of material fact exists regarding whether Balboa had an arguable or legitimate basis for denying the [Dou-zarts’] claim.” More particularly, the district court concluded that Dr. Hall’s testimony “creates a genuine issue of material fact regarding whether all or part of the damage to the [Douzarts’] home was caused by an explosion that resulted from a windstorm.” In reaching its conclusion, the district court noted that Balboa has not submitted any evidence that it actually inspected the Douzarts’ home even after the Douzarts informed Balboa that its adjuster had inspected the wrong house. Furthermore, Balboa has failed to produce its own expert report or any other evidence contrary to Dr. Hall’s conclusions.

Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the district court essentially for the reasons stated in the district court’s careful and thorough order, dated October 14, 2008, denying Balboa’s motion for summary judgment. AFFIRMED. 
      
       Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.
     
      
      . This court granted leave to appeal from the district court's order denying Balboa's motion for summary judgment, entered on October 14, 2008, and the district court's order denying Balboa's motion for reconsideration under Rule 59(e), entered on November 25, 2008. Because Balboa did not seek judicial review of its Rule 59(e) motion before this court, we will not consider that issue. "An appellant abandons all issues not raised and argued in its initial brief on appeal.” Cinel v. Connick, 15 F.3d 1338, 1345 (5th Cir.1994) (citations omitted).