Case Title: Ex parte American Heritage Life Insurance Company. PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS: CIVIL (In re: Vernon Day v. American Heritage Life Insurance Company et al.)

Citation: 

Docket Number: 1080868

State: alabama

Court: Alabama Supreme Court

Date: 2010-03-26T00:00:00Z

Document:
R e l : 03/26/2010 
Notice: T h i s 
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p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance 
s h e e t s o f Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e Reporter of Decisions, 
Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 ((334) 229¬
0 6 4 9 ) , o f any t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may be made b e f o r e 
t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
OCTOBER TERM, 2009-2010 
1080868 
Ex p a r t e American H e r i t a g e L i f e Insurance Company 
PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS 
(In r e : Vernon Day 
v. 
American H e r i t a g e L i f e Insurance Company e t a l . ) 
( B u l l o c k C i r c u i t Court, CV-03-149) 
PARKER, 
J u s t i c e . 
A m e r i c a n 
H e r i t a g e 
L i f e 
I n s u r a n c e 
Company 
("AHLIC") 
p e t i t i o n s 
t h i s 
C o u r t f o r a w r i t o f mandamus 
d i r e c t i n g t h e 
1080868 
B u l l o c k 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t 
t o 
v a c a t e 
i t s M a r c h 
13, 
2009, 
o r d e r 
d e n y i n g A H L I C ' s m o t i o n t o s e v e r t h e c l a i m s a g a i n s t 
i t f r o m 
t h e 
c l a i m a g a i n s t D a v i d G a r t h , 
an i n m a t e who 
a t t a c k e d 
and 
i n j u r e d 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f , 
V e r n o n 
Day, 
a 
c o r r e c t i o n a l 
o f f i c e r , 
and 
t o 
s e v e r t h e 
c l a i m s . 
We 
g r a n t t h e 
p e t i t i o n 
and 
i s s u e t h e 
w r i t . 
B a c k g r o u n d and 
P r o c e d u r a l 
P o s t u r e 
On 
o r 
a b o u t 
J u n e 
19, 
2007, 
G a r t h , 
an 
i n m a t e 
a t 
t h e 
B u l l o c k C o u n t y C o r r e c t i o n a l F a c i l i t y , 
a l l e g e d l y a t t a c k e d 
Day, 
a c o r r e c t i o n a l o f f i c e r a t t h e 
f a c i l i t y . Day 
s u f f e r e d f r a c t u r e s 
t o h i s f a c i a l b o n e s and h i s n o s e and b r o k e n t e e t h . A t t h e 
t i m e 
o f t h e a t t a c k , Day 
had 
an 
" a c c i d e n t 
p l a n " 
i n s u r a n c e 
p o l i c y i n 
e f f e c t 
w i t h A H L I C . The 
p o l i c y c o v e r e d Day's 
f a m i l y , 
and, 
as 
t h e 
i n s u r e d , Day's c o v e r a g e 
i n c l u d e d $20,000 
f o r 
a c c i d e n t a l 
d e a t h o r d i s m e m b e r m e n t , $2,000 f o r a d i s l o c a t i o n o r f r a c t u r e , 
$100 
p e r 
day 
f o r h o s p i t a l c o n f i n e m e n t , $100 
f o r an 
a m b u l a n c e 
b e n e f i t , $250 maximum f o r m e d i c a l e x p e n s e s and $600 p e r month 
as a d i s a b i l i t y b e n e f i t . T h e s e amounts a r e s u b j e c t 
t o 
f a c t o r s 
t h a t 
d e p e n d 
on 
t h e 
i n j u r i e s 
s u f f e r e d . 
As 
a 
r e s u l t 
o f 
t h e 
a t t a c k , Day 
f i l e d 
a c l a i m f o r b e n e f i t s u n d e r t h e p o l i c y , 
and 
on 
J u l y 26, 
2007, AHLIC p a i d Day 
$ 3 0 0 .
1 
1The 
$2,000 b e n e f i t p a i d i n t h e e v e n t o f a d i s l o c a t i o n o r 
f r a c t u r e was 
s u b j e c t t o a f a c t o r o f 1 5 % i f t h e f r a c t u r e was 
t o 
2 
1080868 
On J u n e 26, 2008, Day, d i s s a t i s f i e d 
w i t h t h e amount o f 
t h e 
b e n e f i t 
he 
r e c e i v e d , 
s u e d 
A H L I C , 
G a r t h , 
a n d 
v a r i o u s 
f i c t i t i o u s l y named d e f e n d a n t s , c l a i m i n g t h a t AHLIC was g u i l t y 
o f b r e a c h o f c o n t r a c t , b a d - f a i t h r e f u s a l t o p a y a j u s t 
c l a i m , 
b a d - f a i t h r e f u s a l t o i n v e s t i g a t e a c l a i m , a n d n e g l i g e n t 
a n d / o r 
w a n t o n h i r i n g , t r a i n i n g , a n d / o r s u p e r v i s i o n . T h e s e were C o u n t s 
I , I I , I I I , a n d 
V, r e s p e c t i v e l y , i n 
h i s c o m p l a i n t . 
C o u n t I V 
o f 
t h e c o m p l a i n t a s s e r t e d a t o r t c l a i m a g a i n s t G a r t h f o r 
damages 
b a s e d on a s s a u l t a n d b a t t e r y . 
On A u g u s t 15, 2008, AHLIC 
f i l e d a m o t i o n t o s e v e r t h e 
t o r t c l a i m a g a i n s t G a r t h f r o m t h e c l a i m s a g a i n s t 
i t . 
I t a r g u e d 
t h a t 
t h e r e a r e no i s s u e s o f l a w o r f a c t common t o t h e c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t 
i t a n d t h e c l a i m a g a i n s t G a r t h . B e c a u s e t h e c l a i m s a r e 
s e p a r a t e a n d d i s t i n c t , AHLIC a r g u e d , t h e y were n o t s u b j e c t t o 
j o i n d e r 
u n d e r R u l e s 20, A l a . 
R. C i v . 
P.,
2 a n d i t s o u g h t a 
t h e b o n e s o f t h e f a c e o r n o s e , so t h a t h e r e AHLIC m u l t i p l i e d 
$2,000 by 0.15 t o y i e l d a payment o f $300. 
2 R u l e 20, A l a 
R. C i v . P., p r o v i d e s , i n p a r t : 
" ( a ) 
P e r m i s s i v e 
J o i n d e r . ... A l l p e r s o n s may be 
j o i n e d 
i n one 
a c t i o n 
as d e f e n d a n t s 
i f t h e r e i s 
a s s e r t e d 
a g a i n s t them j o i n t l y , 
s e v e r a l l y , o r i n t h e 
a l t e r n a t i v e , any r i g h t t o r e l i e f i n r e s p e c t 
o f o r 
a r i s i n g o u t o f t h e same t r a n s a c t i o n , o c c u r r e n c e , o r 
s e r i e s o f t r a n s a c t i o n s 
o r o c c u r r e n c e s a n d i f 
any 
q u e s t i o n 
o f l a w o r f a c t common t o a l l d e f e n d a n t s 
3 
1080868 
s e v e r a n c e u n d e r R u l e 2 1 , A l a . 
R. C i v . 
P.
3 I n i t s m o t i o n , AHLIC 
q u o t e d f r o m Ex p a r t e N o v a r t i s P h a r m a c e u t i c a l s C o r p . , 975 So. 
2d 297, 299 ( A l a . 
2 0 0 7 ) , t o s u p p o r t i t s 
a r g u m e n t : 
" ' I n 
o r d e r 
t o 
j o i n 
d e f e n d a n t s 
p u r s u a n t 
t o 
R u l e 
2 0 ( a ) , b o t h r e q u i r e m e n t s i m p o s e d by t h e r u l e must be 
m e t : 
(1) t h e p l a i n t i f f 
must 
a s s e r t 
a g a i n s t 
e a c h 
d e f e n d a n t 
a 
" r i g h t 
t o 
r e l i e f 
i n r e s p e c t o f o r 
a r i s i n g o u t o f t h e same t r a n s a c t i o n , o c c u r r e n c e , o r 
s e r i e s 
o f 
t r a n s a c t i o n s 
o r o c c u r r e n c e s , " and (2) 
t h e r e 
w i l l 
a r i s e i n t h e a c t i o n "any q u e s t i o n o f l a w 
o r 
f a c t 
common 
t o a l l 
d e f e n d a n t s . " 
A m i s j o i n d e r  
o c c u r s i f e i t h e r o f t h e R u l e 2 0 ( a ) r e q u i r e m e n t s i s 
 
n o t s a t i s f i e d . R u l e 21 ... p r o v i d e s f o r 
s e v e r a n c e o f 
c l a i m s i f j o i n d e r o f t h e c l a i m s was i m p r o p e r 
u n d e r 
R u l e 2 0 . ' " 
( S e c o n d e m p h a s i s a d d e d i n p e t i t i o n . ) 
AHLIC f u r t h e r a r g u e d t h a t i t 
c o u l d n o t be h e l d j o i n t l y o r 
w i l l 
a r i s e i n t h e a c t i o n . ... 
" ( b ) 
S e p a r a t e 
T r i a l s . The c o u r t may make 
s u c h 
o r d e r s 
as 
w i l l 
p r e v e n t 
a 
p a r t y 
f r o m 
b e i n g 
e m b a r r a s s e d , 
d e l a y e d , 
o r p u t t o e x p e n s e 
b y t h e 
i n c l u s i o n o f a p a r t y a g a i n s t whom t h e p a r t y a s s e r t s 
no c l a i m and who a s s e r t s no c l a i m a g a i n s t t h e p a r t y , 
and may o r d e r s e p a r a t e 
t r i a l s o r make o t h e r o r d e r s 
t o p r e v e n t d e l a y o r p r e j u d i c e . " 
3 R u l e 
2 1 , " M i s j o i n d e r and N o n m i s j o i n d e r 
o f 
P a r t i e s , " 
p r o v i d e s : 
" M i s j o i n d e r 
o f 
p a r t i e s 
i s n o t 
g r o u n d 
f o r 
d i s m i s s a l o f an a c t i o n . 
P a r t i e s may be d r o p p e d o r 
a d d e d by o r d e r o f t h e c o u r t on m o t i o n o f any p a r t y 
o r o f i t s 
own i n i t i a t i v e a t any s t a g e o f t h e a c t i o n 
and on s u c h t e r m s as a r e j u s t . Any c l a i m a g a i n s t a 
p a r t y may be s e v e r e d and p r o c e e d e d w i t h s e p a r a t e l y . " 
4 
1080868 
s e v e r a l l y 
l i a b l e f o r G a r t h ' s a t t a c k on Day. 
I n s u p p o r t o f t h e 
a r g u m e n t , AHLIC p r e s e n t e d t h e 
e l e m e n t s 
o f 
an 
a s s a u l t - a n d -
b a t t e r y c l a i m , w h i c h i t q u o t e d f r o m W r i g h t v. W r i g h t , 654 
So. 
2d 
542, 
544 
( A l a . 1 9 9 5 ) . 
I t a l s o 
q u o t e d 
t h e e l e m e n t s 
o f a 
b r e a c h - o f - c o n t r a c t c l a i m as d e f i n e d by t h i s C o u r t i n C o n g r e s s 
L i f e 
I n s u r a n c e Co. 
v. 
B a r s t o w , 
799 
So. 
2d 
931 , 937 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 1 ) , t o show t h a t t h e e l e m e n t s o f t h e c l a i m s do n o t o v e r l a p , 
n o r do t h e e l e m e n t s o f t h e a s s a u l t - a n d - b a t t e r y c l a i m 
o v e r l a p 
t h e 
e l e m e n t s 
o f a b a d - f a i t h 
c l a i m , 
as 
d e f i n e d 
i n 
N a t i o n a l 
S e c u r i t y 
F i r e & C a s u a l t y Co. v. Bowen, 417 
So. 2d 179 ( A l a . 
1 9 8 2 ) , f r o m w h i c h i t a l s o q u o t e d . As t o t h i s a r g u m e n t , A H L I C ' s 
m o t i o n t o s e v e r 
s t a t e s : 
" E l e m e n t s 
o f 
an 
A s s a u l t 
and 
B a t t e r y 
C l a i m 
 
( D e f e n d a n t 
G a r t h ) . 
I n A l a b a m a , 
t h e e l e m e n t s 
o f 
an 
a s s a u l t and b a t t e r y c l a i m a r e as 
f o l l o w s : 
" ' [ A ] n i n t e n t i o n a l , u n l a w f u l o f f e r t o t o u c h 
t h e p e r s o n o f a n o t h e r i n [ a ] r u d e o r a n g r y 
manner 
u n d e r 
s u c h 
c i r c u m s t a n c e s 
as 
t o 
c r e a t e 
i n t h e m i n d o f t h e p a r t y 
a l l e g i n g 
t h e 
a s s a u l t 
a 
w e l l f o u n d e d 
f e a r 
o f 
an 
i m m i n e n t b a t t e r y , c o u p l e d w i t h t h e a p p a r e n t 
p r e s e n t 
a b i l i t y 
t o e f f e c t u a t e t h e 
a t t e m p t 
i f 
n o t 
p r e v e n t e d . 
A 
s u c c e s s f u l 
a s s a u l t 
becomes a b a t t e r y , 
w h i c h 
c o n s i s t s 
o f 
t h e 
t o u c h i n g o f a n o t h e r i n a h o s t i l e manner.' 
" W r i g h t v. W r i g h t , 654 So. 2d 542, 544 
( A l a . 1 9 9 5 ) . 
" E l e m e n t s 
o f 
a 
B r e a c h 
o f 
C o n t r a c t 
C l a i m 
5 
1080868 
( D e f e n d a n t 
[ A H L I C ] ) . 
To 
e s t a b l i s h 
a 
b r e a c h 
o f 
c o n t r a c t 
c l a i m , 
a 
p l a i n t i f f 
must p r o v e : '(1) 
t h e 
e x i s t e n c e o f a v a l i d c o n t r a c t b i n d i n g t h e p a r t i e s i n 
t h e 
a c t i o n , 
(2) 
[ h i s ] own 
p e r f o r m a n c e 
u n d e r 
t h e 
c o n t r a c t , 
(3) t h e 
d e f e n d a n t ' s 
n o n p e r f o r m a n c e , 
and 
(4) damages.' C o n g r e s s 
L i f e I n s . Co. v. B a r s t o w , 
799 
So. 2d 931, 937 
( A l a . 2 0 0 1 ) . 
" E l e m e n t s 
o f 
a 
Bad 
F a i t h 
C l a i m 
( D e f e n d a n t 
 
[ A H L I C ] ) . 
I n 
a 
' n o r m a l ' 
c a s e 
o f 
b a d 
f a i t h , 
a 
p l a i n t i f f has t h e b u r d e n o f p r o v i n g : 
" ( a ) 
An 
i n s u r a n c e 
c o n t r a c t 
b e t w e e n 
t h e 
p a r t i e s 
and 
a 
b r e a c h 
t h e r e o f 
by 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t ; 
" ( b ) 
An 
i n t e n t i o n a l 
r e f u s a l 
t o 
p a y 
t h e 
i n s u r e d ' s 
c l a i m ; 
" ( c ) 
The 
a b s e n c e 
o f 
any 
r e a s o n a b l y 
l e g i t i m a t e 
o r 
a r g u a b l e 
r e a s o n 
f o r 
t h a t 
r e f u s a l 
( t h e 
a b s e n c e 
o f 
a 
d e b a t a b l e 
r e a s o n ) ; 
" ( d ) The 
i n s u r e r ' s a c t u a l k n o w l e d g e 
o f t h e 
a b s e n c e 
o f 
any 
l e g i t i m a t e 
o r 
a r g u a b l e 
r e a s o n ; 
[and] 
" ( e ) 
I f 
t h e 
i n t e n t i o n a l 
f a i l u r e 
t o 
d e t e r m i n e t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a l a w f u l 
b a s i s 
i s 
r e l i e d u p o n , t h e 
p l a i n t i f f must 
p r o v e 
t h e 
i n s u r e r ' s 
i n t e n t i o n a l 
f a i l u r e 
t o 
d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h e r e i s a l e g i t i m a t e o r 
a r g u a b l e r e a s o n t o r e f u s e t o p a y t h e c l a i m . 
"See N a t i o n a l S e c . F i r e & C a s . Co. v. Bowen, 417 
So. 
2d 179 
( A l a . 1 9 8 2 ) . " 
AHLIC a r g u e d 
i n i t s m o t i o n 
t o s e v e r 
t h a t , 
b e s i d e s t h e 
f a c t t h a t t h e r e i s no o v e r l a p b e t w e e n t h e c l a i m s a g a i n s t 
t h e 
6 
1080868 
two 
d e f e n d a n t s , 
t h e r e 
was 
no 
a l l e g a t i o n 
t h a t 
t h e 
two 
d e f e n d a n t s a c t e d i n c o n c e r t and i t s a l l e g e d m i s c o n d u c t h a d no 
l e g a l 
e f f e c t on Day's c a u s e o f a c t i o n 
a g a i n s t 
G a r t h . 
A H L I C 
t h e n q u o t e d t h e h o l d i n g o f t h e M i s s i s s i p p i Supreme C o u r t i n an 
a n a l o g o u s 
c a s e , Hegwood v . W i l l i a m s o n , 
949 So. 2d 728, 731 
( M i s s . 
2 0 0 7 ) : 
"'We 
f i n d 
t h a t 
t h e c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
s h o u l d 
h a v e 
s e v e r e d 
t h e 
c l a i m s . 
The 
t h i r d 
p a r t y 
t o r t 
c l a i m 
a g a i n s t 
W i l l i a m s o n 
a n d t h e 
f i r s t 
p a r t y 
b r e a c h o f 
c o n t r a c t 
and 
b a d 
f a i t h 
c l a i m s 
i n v o l v e 
d i s t i n c t 
l i t i g a b l e 
e v e n t s . 
The c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t W i l l i a m s o n 
and 
S t a t e 
Farm 
a r i s e o u t o f 
s e p a r a t e 
a l l e g a t i o n s o f 
w r o n g d o i n g o c c u r r i n g a t s e p a r a t e 
t i m e s . W h i l e i t 
i s 
t r u e 
t h a t t h e g e n e s i s 
o f b o t h 
c l a i m s 
a r o s e o u t o f 
t h e 
a c c i d e n t , 
t h e 
two 
c l a i m s 
i n v o l v e 
d i f f e r e n t 
f a c t u a l 
i s s u e s and d i f f e r e n t l e g a l 
i s s u e s . The c a r 
a c c i d e n t 
r a i s e s 
f a c t 
i s s u e s 
o f how 
t h e 
a c c i d e n t 
o c c u r r e d 
and 
l e g a l 
i s s u e s 
o f 
s i m p l e 
n e g l i g e n c e 
( d u t y , 
b r e a c h 
o f 
d u t y , 
p r o x i m a t e 
c a u s a t i o n , 
and 
d a m a g e s ) . 
The 
b r e a c h 
o f 
c o n t r a c t 
and 
b a d 
f a i t h 
c l a i m s 
r a i s e f a c t 
i s s u e s o f what 
o c c u r r e d 
b e t w e e n 
t h e two i n s u r a n c e 
a d j u s t e r s and how t h e y made 
t h e i r 
d e c i s i o n s 
and 
l e g a l 
i s s u e s 
o f 
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f 
i n s u r a n c e 
p o l i c i e s 
and b a d 
f a i t h 
u n d e r 
w h i c h 
an 
a w a r d 
o f 
p u n i t i v e 
damages 
may 
o r 
may 
n o t 
be 
a p p r o p r i a t e . The n e g l i g e n c e 
c l a i m w o u l d be p r o v e n b y 
d i f f e r e n t 
w i t n e s s e s 
( t h e two d r i v e r s , e y e w i t n e s s e s 
t o 
t h e 
a c c i d e n t , 
l a w 
e n f o r c e m e n t , 
and 
a c c i d e n t 
r e - e n a c t m e n t 
e x p e r t s ) 
f r o m 
t h a t 
o f t h e b a d 
f a i t h 
c l a i m 
( i n s u r a n c e 
a g e n t s and m a n a g e m e n t ) . ' " 
AHLIC a r g u e d i n i t s m o t i o n t o s e v e r t h a t a l t h o u g h t h e i n j u r i e s 
f o r w h i c h t h e c l a i m f o r b e n e f i t s was 
f i l e d a r o s e f r o m G a r t h ' s 
a t t a c k 
on Day, 
t h e 
c l a i m s 
i n v o l v e 
" d i f f e r e n t e l e m e n t s 
o f 
7 
1080868 
p r o o f , 
d i f f e r e n t d e f e n s e s , and d i f f e r e n t w i t n e s s e s . 
[AHLIC] 
s h o u l d 
be 
r e l i e v e d 
o f 
t h e 
p o t e n t i a l 
p r e j u d i c e 
and 
j u r y 
c o n f u s i o n , 
n o t t o m e n t i o n u n n e c e s s a r y e x p e n s e , o f h a v i n g 
t o 
d e f e n d [Day's] b r e a c h o f c o n t r a c t and b a d f a i t h c l a i m s i n t h e 
c o n t e x t 
o f a w h o l l y 
u n r e l a t e d 
v i o l e n t 
a s s a u l t 
and 
b a t t e r y 
c l a i m . " 
On November 3, 2008, Day r e s p o n d e d t o A H L I C ' s m o t i o n t o 
s e v e r , 
s a y i n g 
t h a t h i s c a s e i s u n l i k e N o v a r t i s , i n w h i c h t h e 
p l a i n t i f f s s u e d 73 s e p a r a t e 
d e f e n d a n t s t h a t h a d " p a r t i c i p a t e d 
i n 
' u n r e l a t e d ' 
a c t s 
t h a t were 
' c o i n c i d e n t a l l y s i m i l a r , ' 
... 
b u t , 
i n s t e a d 
[Day] j o i n e d two d e f e n d a n t s whose 
a c t i o n s were 
p a r t o f t h e same s e r i e s o f t r a n s a c t i o n s o r o c c u r r e n c e s 
t h a t 
i n j u r e d 
[ D a y ] . As s u c h , t h e j o i n d e r i s p r o p e r . " 
F u r t h e r m o r e , 
Day q u o t e d Ex p a r t e R u d o l p h , 515 So. 2d 704, 706 ( A l a . 
1 9 8 7 ) , 
t o a r g u e t h a t t h e r e " i s 
no a b s o l u t e 
r u l e f o r d e t e r m i n i n g 
what 
c o n s t i t u t e s 
'a 
s e r i e s 
o f 
t r a n s a c t i o n s 
o f 
o c c u r r e n c e s . ' 
G e n e r a l l y , 
t h a t i s d e t e r m i n e d on a c a s e b y c a s e b a s i s and i s 
l e f t t o t h e d i s c r e t i o n o f t h e t r i a l 
j u d g e . " Day a r g u e d 
t h a t 
w h e t h e r h i s i n j u r i e s were c a u s e d b y an a c c i d e n t i s a 
q u e s t i o n 
o f 
f a c t common t o b o t h 
c a s e s , 
as a r e t h e 
e x t e n t 
o f h i s 
i n j u r i e s , t h e amount o f t h e m e d i c a l 
b i l l s , 
and w h e t h e r 
t h o s e 
8 
1080868 
b i l l s 
r e s u l t f r o m G a r t h ' s a c t i o n s . Day a r g u e d i n 
h i s r e s p o n s e 
t h a t G a r t h s e t 
i n 
m o t i o n a s e r i e s o f e v e n t s t h a t i s 
t h e b a s i s 
f o r 
t h e a c t i o n a n d t h a t A H L I C ' s a c t i o n s a r e m e r e l y 
a n o t h e r 
e v e n t i n t h e s e r i e s , as e n v i s i o n e d by R u l e 20. C i t i n g 
B r o o k s  
v. 
P a u l k & Cope, I n c . , 176 F. Supp. 2d 1 2 7 1 , 1276 (M.D. A l a . 
2 0 0 1 ) , Day a r g u e d t h a t R u l e 20 does n o t r e q u i r e a b a s i s f o r 
j o i n t 
l i a b i l i t y , 
b u t a l s o 
a l l o w s 
j o i n d e r on t h e b a s i s o f 
s e v e r a l 
l i a b i l i t y . 
On November 5, 2008, AHLIC 
s u p p l e m e n t e d i t s m o t i o n t o 
s e v e r , 
a r g u i n g 
t h a t 
t h e r e was no q u e s t i o n 
o f f a c t o r l a w 
common t o t h e c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t i t 
a n d t h e t o r t 
c l a i m 
a g a i n s t 
G a r t h . 
A c c o r d i n g 
t o A H L I C , Day's 
a l l e g a t i o n t h a t t h e i s s u e 
w h e t h e r t h e a s s a u l t on h i m was an a c c i d e n t , 
w h i c h , he 
s a y s , 
g i v e s t h e c l a i m s 
t h e i r 
c o m m o n a l i t y , was s e t t l e d when AHLIC 
made payment u n d e r t h e a c c i d e n t 
p o l i c y . The e x t e n t o f Day's 
i n j u r i e s i s 
n o t a common i s s u e o f f a c t b e c a u s e , AHLIC a r g u e d , 
t h e 
p o l i c y 
l i m i t s 
d e f i n e A H L I C ' s 
l i a b i l i t y 
a t $2,000 f o r 
a 
d i s l o c a t i o n o r a f r a c t u r e , a d j u s t e d t o 15% o f t h a t amount f o r 
f r a c t u r e o f t h e b o n e s o f t h e f a c e o r t h e n o s e . 
On M a r c h 13, 2009, t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t d e n i e d A H L I C ' s m o t i o n 
t o s e v e r 
w i t h o u t 
e x p l a n a t i o n . 
T h i s 
p e t i t i o n 
f o l l o w s . 
9 
1080868 
I n i t s 
p e t i t i o n , AHLIC 
s t a t e s t h e i s s u e as w h e t h e r t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e x c e e d e d i t s 
d i s c r e t i o n when i t d e n i e d 
A H L I C ' s 
m o t i o n t o s e v e r Day's c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t i t 
f r o m Day's t o r t 
c l a i m 
a g a i n s t 
G a r t h . AHLIC a r g u e s t h a t Day d i d 
n o t c a r r y h i s b u r d e n 
u n d e r R u l e 2 0 ( a ) , A l a . 
R. C i v . 
P., t o d e m o n s t r a t e b o t h t h a t he 
had a r i g h t t o r e l i e f f r o m b o t h d e f e n d a n t s a r i s i n g o u t o f t h e 
same 
t r a n s a c t i o n 
o r 
o c c u r r e n c e 
and 
t h a t 
t h e r e 
e x i s t e d 
a 
q u e s t i o n o f l a w o r f a c t common t o b o t h d e f e n d a n t s . B e c a u s e o f 
t h e 
a l l e g e d 
f a i l u r e , AHLIC c l a i m s 
t h a t i t 
h a s a c l e a r 
l e g a l 
r i g h t t o t h e r e l i e f s o u g h t . AHLIC c l a i m s 
t h a t i t 
h a s no 
o t h e r 
a d e q u a t e remedy b e c a u s e , i t s a y s , 
u n l e s s mandamus 
r e l i e f i s 
g r a n t e d , 
i t 
w i l l be f o r c e d t o d e f e n d t h e c l a i m s i n a t r i a l i n 
w h i c h 
t h e j u r y 
w i l l 
h e a r 
e v i d e n c e 
o f p a i n 
and 
s u f f e r i n g 
r e l a t e d t o a v i o l e n t a s s a u l t t h a t i s t h e b a s i s o f Day's 
c l a i m 
a g a i n s t 
G a r t h and t h a t i s o t h e r w i s e 
u n r e l a t e d t o h i s c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t A H L I C . AHLIC c l a i m s 
t h a t i t 
w i l l be p r e j u d i c e d i f t h e 
c a s e p r o c e e d s w i t h o u t a s e v e r a n c e . 
S t a n d a r d o f R e v i e w 
"'"Mandamus 
i s 
a 
d r a s t i c 
and 
e x t r a o r d i n a r y w r i t , t o be i s s u e d o n l y where 
t h e r e 
i s (1) a c l e a r 
l e g a l 
r i g h t 
i n t h e 
p e t i t i o n e r 
t o t h e 
o r d e r 
s o u g h t ; 
(2) an 
i m p e r a t i v e 
d u t y 
upon 
t h e 
r e s p o n d e n t 
t o 
p e r f o r m , a c c o m p a n i e d by a r e f u s a l t o do s o ; 
10 
1080868 
(3) t h e l a c k o f a n o t h e r 
a d e q u a t e 
remedy; 
and 
(4) p r o p e r l y 
i n v o k e d 
j u r i s d i c t i o n o f 
t h e 
c o u r t . " ' 
"Ex 
p a r t e 
P e r f e c t i o n S i d i n g , I n c . , 
882 So. 2d 307, 
309-10 ( A l a . 
2003) 
( q u o t i n g Ex p a r t e 
I n t e g o n 
C o r p . , 
672 So. 2d 497, 499 ( A l a . 
1 9 9 5 ) ) . 
'A p e t i t i o n f o r 
a 
w r i t 
o f mandamus 
i s t h e 
a p p r o p r i a t e 
means f o r 
c h a l l e n g i n g a 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
r u l i n g on a m o t i o n t o 
s e v e r c l a i m s . ' Ex p a r t e A l f a L i f e I n s . 
C o r p . , 923 So. 
2d 272, 273 ( A l a . 2 0 0 5 ) . " 
Ex p a r t e N o v a r t i s Pharms. C o r p . , 975 So. 2d a t 299. " [ A ] w r i t 
o f 
mandamus 
w i l l 
n o t be 
g r a n t e d 
u n l e s s 
t h e r e 
i s a 
c l e a r 
s h o w i n g o f e r r o r on t h e p a r t o f t h e t r i a l 
j u d g e . 
Ex 
p a r t e 
H a r r i n g t o n M f g . Co., 414 So. 2d 74 
( A l a . 
1 
9 8 2 ) . " 
Ex 
p a r t e 
F i n a n c e A m e r i c a C o r p . , 507 So. 2d 458, 460 ( A l a . 1 9 8 7 ) . 
A n a l y s i s 
R u l e 2 0 ( a ) , A l a . 
R. C i v . 
P., p r o v i d e s , i n p e r t i n e n t p a r t : 
" A l l 
p e r s o n s 
may 
be 
j o i n e d 
i n one 
a c t i o n 
as 
d e f e n d a n t s i f 
t h e r e i s a s s e r t e d a g a i n s t them 
j o i n t l y , 
s e v e r a l l y , o r i n 
t h e a l t e r n a t i v e , any r i g h t t o r e l i e f 
i n r e s p e c t o f o r a r i s i n g o u t o f t h e same t r a n s a c t i o n , 
o c c u r r e n c e , o r s e r i e s o f t r a n s a c t i o n s o r 
o c c u r r e n c e s 
and 
i f any q u e s t i o n o f l a w o r f a c t common t o a l l 
d e f e n d a n t s 
w i l l 
a r i s e i n t h e a c t i o n . " 
T h i s C o u r t 
r e c e n t l y a d d r e s s e d 
a s i m i l a r 
i s s u e , s a y i n g : 
" R u l e 2 0 ( a ) a u t h o r i z e s j o i n d e r o f a l l 
p e r s o n s ' i n 
one 
a c t i o n as d e f e n d a n t s i f t h e r e i s a s s e r t e d 
a g a i n s t 
them ... a n y r i g h t t o r e l i e f i n r e s p e c t o f o r a r i s i n g 
o u t o f t h e same t r a n s a c t i o n , o c c u r r e n c e , o r s e r i e s o f 
t r a n s a c t i o n s o r o c c u r r e n c e s 
and i f any q u e s t i o n o f 
l a w o r f a c t common t o a l l d e f e n d a n t s 
w i l l 
a r i s e i n 
11 
1080868 
t h e 
a c t i o n . ' 
( E m p h a s i s 
added.) 
P r o p e r 
j o i n d e r 
r e q u i r e s 
s a t i s f a c t i o n o f b o t h p r o n g s o f R u l e 
2 0 ( a ) . 
Ex p a r t e N o v a r t i s Pharms. C o r p . , 975 So. 2d 297 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 7 ) . 
" ' T h i s 
C o u r t h a s p r e v i o u s l y s t a t e d t h a t 
" t h e r e 
i s no a b s o l u t e r u l e f o r 
d e t e r m i n i n g what c o n s t i t u t e s 
'a s e r i e s o f t r a n s a c t i o n s o r o c c u r r e n c e s ' u n d e r R u l e 
20. 
G e n e r a l l y , t h a t i s d e t e r m i n e d on a c a s e b y c a s e  
b a s i s a n d i s l e f t 
t o t h e d i s c r e t i o n o f t h e 
t r i a l  
j u d g e . " ' 
N o v a r t i s , 975 So. 2d a t 300 
( q u o t i n g Ex  
p a r t e 
R u d o l p h , 
515 So. 2d 704, 70 
6 
( A l a . 
1987 
) 
( e m p h a s i s 
a d d e d ) ) . 
See a l s o 7 C h a r l e s 
A. 
W r i g h t , 
A r t h u r R. M i l l e r , 
& M a r y K. Kane, F e d e r a l P r a c t i c e  
and P r o c e d u r e § 1652, a t 396 (3d e d . 2 0 0 1 ) . " 
W h i t e Sands G r o u p , L.L.C. v . PRS I I , L L C , 998 So. 2d 1042, 
1057-58 
( A l a . 2 0 0 8 ) . 
Day p r e s e n t s two c a s e s i n s u p p o r t o f h i s p o s i t i o n t h a t t h e 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t AHLIC a n d t h e c l a i m a g a i n s t 
G a r t h 
a r i s e 
f r o m 
one s e r i e s o f o c c u r r e n c e s 
a n d t h a t a common q u e s t i o n o f l a w 
w i l l 
a r i s e i n t h e a c t i o n . Day f i r s t 
c i t e s Ex p a r t e 
J e n k i n s , 
510 So. 2d 232 ( A l a . 1 9 8 7 ) , i n s u p p o r t o f h i s p o s i t i o n 
t h a t 
h i s 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t b o t h 
G a r t h a n d AHLIC 
a r i s e 
f r o m t h e same 
s e r i e s 
o f 
o c c u r r e n c e s . 
I n 
J e n k i n s , 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
d e n i e d 
a 
p e t i t i o n f o r 
a w r i t o f mandamus t h a t w o u l d have d i r e c t e d t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
t o v a c a t e 
i t s j o i n d e r o f 
m e d i c a l - m a l p r a c t i c e 
c l a i m s a g a i n s t d o c t o r s who h a d t r e a t e d t h e p l a i n t i f f 
a f t e r h i s 
w o r k p l a c e 
i n j u r y . We 
s a i d : 
12 
1080868 
"The 
c l a i m s 
a s s e r t e d b y G a s t o n a r o s e o u t o f t h e same 
s e r i e s o f o c c u r r e n c e s t h a t b e g a n w i t h h i s i n j u r y a t 
h i s 
p l a c e 
o f e m p l o y m e n t 
a n d 
c o n t i n u e d 
w i t h h i s 
r e s u l t i n g 
h o s p i t a l i z a t i o n a n d t r e a t m e n t 
f o r t h a t  
o r i g i n a l 
i n j u r y . The a c t i o n f i l e d b y G a s t o n 
p r e s e n t s 
f a c t u a l 
q u e s t i o n s 
common 
t o a l l 
d e f e n d a n t s 
w i t h 
r e g a r d t o damages a n d p r o x i m a t e c a u s e . Thus, 
u n d e r 
t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f R u l e 2 0 ( a ) , 
[ A l a . ] R. C i v . P., t h e 
p l a i n t i f f s may j o i n t h e d e f e n d a n t s i n one a c t i o n . " 
510 So. 2d a t 234 ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) . 
I n J e n k i n s , t h e p l a i n t i f f 
s u f f e r e d p h y s i c a l 
i n j u r i e s i n 
h i s 
w o r k p l a c e 
a c c i d e n t , 
a n d t h o s e 
i n j u r i e s 
were 
a l l e g e d l y 
e x a c e r b a t e d 
by t h e a c t i o n s 
o f t h e m e d i c a l 
p e r s o n n e l 
who 
t r e a t e d 
h i m 
f o r 
t h o s e 
i n j u r i e s . 
J e n k i n s 
i s 
c l e a r l y 
d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e f r o m t h i s c a s e , i n t h a t A H L I C ' s a l l e g e d b r e a c h 
o f c o n t r a c t o r b a d - f a i t h 
f a i l u r e t o p a y o r t o i n v e s t i g a t e h a d 
no 
e f f e c t on Day's 
i n j u r i e s , 
t h e b a s i s 
f o r 
p e r m i s s i b l e 
j o i n d e r i n J e n k i n s . 
Day n e x t c i t e s G u t h r i e v. B i o - M e d i c a l 
L a b o r a t o r i e s , 
I n c . , 
442 So. 2d 92 ( A l a . 1 9 8 3 ) , i n s u p p o r t o f h i s p o s i t i o n t h a t t h e 
" i s s u e o f damages common t o a l l d e f e n d a n t s 
[ w i l l make] t h e 
j o i n d e r p r o p e r e v e n i f 
t h e c l a i m s 
i n v o l v e d d i f f e r e n t t h e o r i e s 
o f 
l i a b i l i t y . " 
Day's b r i e f , a t 8. I n G u t h r i e , t h e p l a i n t i f f 
s u e d 
j o i n t l y 
a l a b o r a t o r y a n d g r o u p o f p h y s i c i a n s 
who h a d 
t r e a t e d t h e p l a i n t i f f d u r i n g h e r p r e g n a n c y , a l l e g i n g t h a t t h e y 
13 
1080868 
had 
f a i l e d t o p r e v e n t an Rh i n c o m p a t i b i l i t y b e t w e e n h e r and 
h e r 
c h i l d 
t h a t 
r e s u l t e d i n b r a i n 
damage t o t h e c h i l d . 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
s e v e r e d 
t h e a c t i o n s , 
b u t 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
h e l d 
t h e 
j o i n d e r o f t h e d e f e n d a n t s 
p r o p e r : 
" I n t h e c a s e a t b a r , t h e p l a i n t i f f s were c l e a r l y 
e n t i t l e d t o j o i n t h e d e f e n d a n t s i n one a c t i o n . (1) 
The 
c o m p l a i n t 
a l l e g e d 
t h a t 
e a c h 
d e f e n d a n t 
was 
n e g l i g e n t 
and 
t h a t 
as a 
p r o x i m a t e 
r e s u l t 
A n d r e a 
s u f f e r e d 
b r a i n damage. (2) The c l a i m s 
a l l a r o s e o u t 
o f t h e same s e r i e s o f o c c u r r e n c e s , 
t o - w i t , 
A n d r e a ' s 
c o n c e p t i o n , 
g e s t a t i o n , and b i r t h . 
(3) T h e r e was b u t  
a 
s i n g l e , 
i n d i v i s i b l e 
i n j u r y t o A n d r e a , 
w h i c h was  
a l l e g e d l y c a u s e d by t h e n e g l i g e n c e o f one o r more o f  
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s . T h e r e f o r e , 
t h e r e i s a f a c t u a l 
i s s u e  
common t o a l l d e f e n d a n t s , t h e i s s u e o f damages. 
" [ A l a . R. C i v . P.] 20 was 
i n t e n d e d t o 
a b o l i s h 
t h e 
t e c h n i c a l 
o b j e c t i o n s 
t o 
j o i n d e r 
p r e v i o u s l y 
e x i s t i n g , 
i n o r d e r 
t o p r e v e n t 
a 
m u l t i p l i c i t y 
o f 
a c t i o n s 
and 
a l l o w 
a l l p a r t i e s 
i n t e r e s t e d 
i n a 
c o n t r o v e r s y 
t o p r o c e e d i n one a c t i o n . See C o m m i t t e e 
Comments t o R u l e 20. F o r c i n g t h e p l a i n t i f f s t o p u r s u e 
two 
a c t i o n s f o r 
A n d r e a ' s i n j u r i e s w o u l d c r e a t e a r i s k 
o f 
i n c u r r i n g 
i n c o n s i s t e n t 
j u d g m e n t s . 
R e q u i r i n g a l l 
t h e 
p a r t i e s 
t o p r o c e e d 
i n a 
s i n g l e 
a c t i o n 
w i l l 
p r o m o t e 
c o n s i s t e n c y 
o f r e s u l t s as w e l l as 
j u d i c i a l 
economy. 
" A l t h o u g h 
f a c t u a l l y a c c u r a t e , 
t h e d e f e n d a n t s ' 
a r g u m e n t t h a t B i o - M e d i c a l ' s 
a l l e g e d m i s t y p i n g h a d no 
e f f e c t on t h e c a r e a n d t r e a t m e n t p r o v i d e d b y D o c t o r s 
B i r d s o n g , Ray, and O'Rear i s 
u n p e r s u a s i v e . N o t h i n g i n 
t h e 
r u l e s o f c i v i l p r o c e d u r e r e q u i r e s t h e a l l e g e d l y 
n e g l i g e n t 
a c t s 
o f a l l t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s 
t o be 
so 
i n t e r t w i n e d . I t i s n o t e s s e n t i a l t o a l l e g e 
t h a t t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s 
j o i n t l y c o m m i t t e d a s i n g l e 
t o r t i n o r d e r 
f o r 
t h e p l a i n t i f f ( s ) 
t o p r o p e r l y 
j o i n 
them i n one 
a c t i o n . I t i s s u f f i c i e n t t o a l l e g e 
t h a t 
s u c c e s s i v e 
14 
1080868 
t o r t s 
c o n c u r r e d 
i n p r o d u c i n g 
t h e same 
i n d i v i s i b l e 
 
i n j u r y . Brown v . M u r d y , 78 S.D. 367, 102 N.W. 
2d 664, 
667 
( 1 9 6 0 ) ; Shawd v . Donohoe, 97 O h i o App. 252, 125 
N.E. 2d 368, 369 
( 1 9 5 4 ) . " 
442 So. 2d a t 96 
( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) . T h u s , f o r j o i n d e r t o be 
p r o p e r , 
t h e 
f a c t s 
u n d e r l y i n g 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t 
d i s p a r a t e 
d e f e n d a n t s must d e m o n s t r a t e 
" s u c c e s s i v e 
t o r t s 
t h a t 
c o n c u r r e d 
i n p r o d u c i n g 
t h e same i n d i v i s i b l e 
i n j u r y . " 
H e r e , 
t h e r e 
i s l i t t l e , 
i f any, c o m m o n a l i t y b e t w e e n t h e 
c l a i m 
a g a i n s t 
G a r t h 
and 
t h o s e 
a g a i n s t 
A H L I C .
4 
The 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t AHLIC 
a s s e r t 
c l a i m s 
s o u n d i n g i n c o n t r a c t , w h i l e t h e 
c l a i m a g a i n s t G a r t h s o u n d s i n t o r t . The g e n e s i s o f Day's c l a i m 
a g a i n s t G a r t h i s G a r t h ' s t o r t i o u s a s s a u l t and b a t t e r y on Day, 
w h i l e 
t h e 
g e n e s i s 
o f 
t h e 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t 
AHLIC 
i s Day's 
p u r c h a s e o f t h e a c c i d e n t - p l a n i n s u r a n c e 
p o l i c y f r o m A H L I C . The 
a c t i o n a b l e o c c u r r e n c e 
c o n s t i t u t i n g t h e c l a i m a g a i n s t G a r t h i s 
t h e 
a s s a u l t 
and 
b a t t e r y , 
w h i l e 
t h e a c t i o n a b l e 
o c c u r r e n c e s 
c o n s t i t u t i n g t h e c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t AHLIC were i t s a l l e g e d b a d -
4Some o f t h e c l a i m s 
Day 
a s s e r t e d 
a g a i n s t AHLIC i n h i s 
c o m p l a i n t 
were b a s e d on i t s a l l e g e d f a i l u r e t o p a y h o s p i t a l 
b e n e f i t s 
f o r h i s s o n , a c l a i m 
u n r e l a t e d t o t h e a s s a u l t b y 
G a r t h . 
He " c o n c e d e [ d ] 
t h a t h i s c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t 
[AHLIC] b a s e d 
upon f a i l u r e t o p a y f o r h o s p i t a l b e n e f i t s f o r h i s s o n on t h e 
same p o l i c y do n o t r e l a t e t o c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t 
[ G a r t h ] . " Day's 
b r i e f , a t 5 n.1. AHLIC makes no a r g u m e n t t o t h i s C o u r t a b o u t 
Day's c l a i m s 
r e l a t i v e t o h i s s o n . 
15 
1080868 
f a i t h 
r e f u s a l 
t o 
i n v e s t i g a t e 
and 
t o p a y 
Day's 
c l a i m 
i n 
v i o l a t i o n o f t h e t e r m s o f t h e i n s u r a n c e 
c o n t r a c t . 
U n l i k e t h e 
c h i l d i n G u t h r i e , who 
s u f f e r e d b r a i n damage as t h e r e s u l t o f 
t h e n e g l i g e n c e 
o f m u l t i p l e d e f e n d a n t s , Day s u f f e r e d an a s s a u l t 
and 
b a t t e r y a t t h e h a n d s o f G a r t h and an a l l e g e d b r e a c h o f 
c o n t r a c t a t t h e h a n d s o f A H L I C . 
The h o l d i n g s i n J e n k i n s and G u t h r i e 
t h a t f o u n d j o i n d e r t o 
be p r o p e r were b a s e d on t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n o f more 
t h a n 
one 
d e f e n d a n t t o " t h e same i n d i v i s i b l e 
i n j u r y . " 442 So. 2d a t 96. 
We h o l d , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t t h e j o i n d e r i n t h i s c a s e was i m p r o p e r 
b e c a u s e 
Day 
s u f f e r e d 
no 
i n d i v i s i b l e 
i n j u r y t o w h i c h 
b o t h 
d e f e n d a n t s 
c o n t r i b u t e d . 
C o n c l u s i o n 
B e c a u s e t h e c l a i m s 
a s s e r t e d 
a g a i n s t AHLIC and t h e c l a i m 
a s s e r t e d 
a g a i n s t 
G a r t h do n o t meet t h e c r i t e r i a 
f o r j o i n d e r 
s e t 
f o r t h i n R u l e 
2 0 ( a ) , 
A l a . R. C i v . P., 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e r r e d i n d e n y i n g A H L I C ' s m o t i o n t o s e v e r t h e c l a i m s . B e c a u s e 
AHLIC 
has 
d e m o n s t r a t e d 
a 
c l e a r 
l e g a l 
r i g h t t o t h e 
r e l i e f 
s o u g h t , we i s s u e t h e w r i t and d i r e c t t h e B u l l o c k C i r c u i t 
C o u r t 
t o v a c a t e i t s o r d e r d e n y i n g t h e m o t i o n t o s e v e r t h e c l a i m s and 
t o e n t e r an o r d e r 
s e v e r i n g t h e c l a i m s and t h e p a r t i e s p u r s u a n t 
16 
1080868 
t o R u l e 2 1 , A l a . R. C i v . 
P. 
P E T I T I O N GRANTED; WRIT 
ISSUED. 
S t u a r t , S m i t h , 
B o l i n , a n d M u r d o c k , J J . , c o n c u r . 
Cobb, C . J . , 
a n d L y o n s , W o o d a l l , a n d Shaw, J J . , d i s s e n t . 
17