Title: Patton v. Hampton Insurance Agency

State: alabama

Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court

Document:

REL:11/18/2011 
N o t i c e : 
T h i s 
o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l 
r e v i s i o n b e f o r e 
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) 
2 2 9 - 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, 2011-2012 
1101211 
Ex p a r t e Hampton Insurance Agency and Ginger A. Spencer 
1101226 
Ex p a r t e Acceptance Indemnity Insurance Company and Ashland 
G e n e r a l Agency, 
Inc. 
PETITIONS FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS 
( I n r e : Mary A l i c e P a t t o n d/b/a Hole i n 
the 
Wall Lounge 
v. 
Hampton Insurance Agency e t 
a l . ) 
(Hale C i r c u i t Court, CV-09-900045) 
SHAW, 
J u s t i c e . 
I n 
s e p a r a t e 
p e t i t i o n s , 
Hampton 
I n s u r a n c e 
A g e n c y 
("Hampton") a n d G i n g e r A. S p e n c e r 
( c a s e no. 1101211) a n d 
A c c e p t a n c e 
I n d e m n i t y 
I n s u r a n c e Company 
( " A c c e p t a n c e " ) a n d 
A s h l a n d G e n e r a l A g e n c y , I n c . 
( " A s h l a n d " ) 
( c a s e no. 1 1 0 1 2 2 6 ) , 
t h e d e f e n d a n t s i n 
an a c t i o n f i l e d i n 
t h e 
H a l e C i r c u i t C o u r t b y 
M a r y A l i c e P a t t o n d/b/a 
H o l e i n 
t h e 
W a l l Lounge a l l e g i n g 
t h a t 
t h e y f a i l e d t o 
p r o c u r e i n s u r a n c e c o v e r a g e , p e t i t i o n t h i s C o u r t 
f o r 
w r i t s o f mandamus d i r e c t i n g t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t t o t r a n s f e r 
t h e u n d e r l y i n g a c t i o n t o 
t h e 
T u s c a l o o s a C i r c u i t C o u r t . B e c a u s e 
o f t h e i d e n t i c a l n a t u r e o f 
t h e 
mandamus r e l i e f s o u g h t , we h a v e 
c o n s o l i d a t e d t h e 
two p e t i t i o n s f o r t h e 
p u r p o s e o f i s s u i n g one 
o p i n i o n . 
We g r a n t t h e p e t i t i o n s a n d i s s u e t h e w r i t s . 
F a c t s a n d P r o c e d u r a l H i s t o r y 
I n 
November 
2008, 
P a t t o n 
p u r c h a s e d 
f r o m 
S p e n c e r , an 
i n d e p e n d e n t 
i n s u r a n c e 
a g e n t 
who was 
d o i n g 
b u s i n e s s i n 
T u s c a l o o s a 
C o u n t y 
as H a m p t o n ,
1 
i n s u r a n c e c o v e r a g e 
f o r h e r 
l o u n g e l o c a t e d i n 
H a l e C o u n t y . 
A t t h e 
h e a r t o f 
t h e u n d e r l y i n g 
1 A c c o r d i n g t o S p e n c e r , she " s h o p s " a c l i e n t ' s 
r e q u e s t e d 
c o v e r a g e 
f r o m 
s e v e r a l 
d i f f e r e n t 
c a r r i e r s 
f r o m whom she 
c a n 
o b t a i n c o v e r a g e q u o t e s b u t w i t h whom she h a s no c o n t r a c t u a l 
r e l a t i o n s h i p . 
2 
1 1 0 1 2 1 1 , 
1 1 0 1 2 2 6 
d i s p u t e 
i s t h e 
n a t u r e 
and 
e x t e n t o f 
t h e 
c o v e r a g e 
P a t t o n 
s o u g h t . 
P a t t o n ' s 
p o l i c y , 
w h i c h 
was 
o b t a i n e d 
by 
Hampton 
t h r o u g h 
A s h l a n d , 
a 
s u r p l u s - l i n e s 
a g e n c y 
t h a t 
s e r v e s as 
a 
g e n e r a l a g e n t f o r A c c e p t a n c e , i n c l u d e d o n l y 
l i q u o r - l i a b i l i t y 
and 
g e n e r a l - l i a b i l i t y 
c o v e r a g e . 
I n 
May 
2009, 
t h e b u i l d i n g 
i n w h i c h P a t t o n o p e r a t e d t h e 
l o u n g e was d e s t r o y e d by 
f i r e . 
Upon f i l i n g an i n s u r a n c e c l a i m 
a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e damage t o t h e l o u n g e , P a t t o n was i n f o r m e d 
t h a t 
h e r 
i n s u r a n c e 
p o l i c y 
d i d 
n o t 
i n c l u d e 
c o v e r a g e 
f o r 
p r o p e r t y damage. 
As a r e s u l t , on A u g u s t 18, 2009, P a t t o n s u e d 
Hampton 
and 
f i c t i t i o u s l y 
named 
" D e f e n d a n t s 
A, 
B, 
and 
C,"
2 
a l l e g i n g t h a t t h e " D e f e n d a n t s w e r e n e g l i g e n t a n d / o r w a n t o n i n 
t h e i r p r o c u r e m e n t 
o f 
f u l l 
c o v e r a g e i n s u r a n c e f o r [ P a t t o n ] on 
h e r 
l o u n g e 
b u i l d i n g 
and 
i t s c o n t e n t s . "
3 
Hampton 
r e s p o n d e d 
w i t h a m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 1 2 ( b ) ( 3 ) , A l a . R. 
C i v . 
P., 
o r , i n t h e a l t e r n a t i v e , t o t r a n s f e r t h e c a s e on t h e 
g r o u n d t h a t H a l e C o u n t y 
c o n s t i t u t e d an i m p r o p e r v e n u e . 
More 
2 P a t t o n ' s 
c o m p l a i n t 
i d e n t i f i e d 
t h e 
f i c t i t i o u s l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t s 
as 
" t h o s e 
p e r s o n s , 
f i r m s , 
p a r t n e r s h i p s , 
c o r p o r a t i o n s , a n d / o r 
e n t i t i e s d o i n g b u s i n e s s as o r on 
b e h a l f 
o f 
o r who 
a s s i s t e d , 
and 
f a i l e d t o p r o c u r e ... 
f u l l 
c o v e r a g e 
i n s u r a n c e . " 
3 T h e r e c o r d r e f l e c t s t h a t t h e H o l e i n t h e W a l l Lounge was 
l o c a t e d i n a m o d i f i e d m o b i l e home. 
3 
1 1 0 1 2 1 1 , 1 1 0 1 2 2 6 
s p e c i f i c a l l y , Hampton's m o t i o n a l l e g e d t h a t Hampton i s a s o l e 
p r o p r i e t o r s h i p whose 
o n l y 
o f f i c e 
i s l o c a t e d 
i n T u s c a l o o s a 
C o u n t y . 
I n s u p p o r t o f i t s m o t i o n , Hampton a t t a c h e d S p e n c e r ' s 
a f f i d a v i t 
r e f l e c t i n g t h a t Hampton i s an u n i n c o r p o r a t e d e n t i t y 
o p e r a t e d by S p e n c e r 
as a s o l e 
p r o p r i e t o r s h i p i n T u s c a l o o s a 
C o u n t y , w h e r e S p e n c e r 
r e s i d e s . 
P a t t o n s u b s e q u e n t l y amended h e r c o m p l a i n t t o add numerous 
a d d i t i o n a l c o u n t s and t o name S p e n c e r , A s h l a n d , and A c c e p t a n c e 
as d e f e n d a n t s . 
T h e r e a f t e r , Hampton r e n e w e d i t s i n i t i a l 
m o t i o n 
s e e k i n g a t r a n s f e r o f t h e c a s e t o T u s c a l o o s a C o u n t y , 
w h i c h 
S p e n c e r , 
A c c e p t a n c e , and A s h l a n d j o i n e d . 
Hampton, 
S p e n c e r , 
A c c e p t a n c e , and A s h l a n d a l s o s u b s e q u e n t l y -- and r e p e a t e d l y -¬
f i l e d 
s u p p l e m e n t a l 
m a t e r i a l s , 
i n c l u d i n g 
b o t h 
i n f o r m a t i o n 
d i s c l o s e d d u r i n g d i s c o v e r y and r e c e n t l y r e l e a s e d d e c i s i o n s o f 
t h i s C o u r t , i n s u p p o r t o f t h e r e q u e s t e d t r a n s f e r , w h i c h P a t t o n 
c o n t i n u e d t o 
o p p o s e .
4 
4 S p e c i f i c a l l y , as n o t e d i n 
Hampton and S p e n c e r ' s 
p e t i t i o n , 
a l t h o u g h t h e i n i t i a l m o t i o n t o t r a n s f e r was b a s e d on § 6-3-6, 
A l a . Code 1975, once " t h i s C o u r t , i n Ex p a r t e Hughes, [51 So. 
3d 
1016 
( A l a . 2 0 1 0 ) , ] 
c l a r i f i e d 
t h a t 
t h e 
p r o p e r 
v e n u e 
p r o v i s i o n 
a p p l i c a b l e t o a s o l e p r o p r i e t o r s h i p i s A l a . 
Code § 
6-3-2[,] Hampton and S p e n c e r 
s u p p l e m e n t e d 
t h e i r 
M o t i o n s t o 
T r a n s f e r b a s e d on t h i s 
c l a r i f i c a t i o n i n t h e l a w . " Hampton and 
S p e n c e r ' s 
p e t i t i o n , a t p. 10 n.19. 
4 
1 1 0 1 2 1 1 , 1101226 
On 
J u n e 
15, 
2011, 
f o l l o w i n g a h e a r i n g , 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e n t e r e d 
an 
o r d e r 
d e n y i n g t h e r e q u e s t e d t r a n s f e r b a s e d on i t s 
c o n c l u s i o n 
t h a t v e n u e i n H a l e C o u n t y was 
p r o p e r 
a t 
t h e 
t i m e 
P a t t o n 
o r i g i n a l l y 
f i l e d 
h e r 
a c t i o n 
a g a i n s t 
Hampton. 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
c o n c l u d e d 
t h a t 
§ 6-3-6, 
A l a . 
Code 
1 
975 ,
 
5 
and 
t h i s 
C o u r t ' s 
d e c i s i o n s 
i n 
Ex 
p a r t e 
 
G r e e n e t r a c k , 
I n c . , 
25 
So. 
3d 
449 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 9 ) , 
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 
( A l a . 2 0 0 3 ) , 
and 
Ex 
p a r t e 
S w i f t L o a n 
& F i n a n c e 
Co., 
667 
So. 
2d 
706, 
707 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 5 ) ,
6 c o n t r o l l e d . 
I n f u r t h e r s u p p o r t o f 
i t s d e c i s i o n , 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
o r d e r 
d e n y i n g 
t h e 
r e q u e s t e d 
t r a n s f e r 
i n c l u d e d 
t h e 
f o l l o w i n g : 
"Hampton 
I n s u r a n c e 
A g e n c y 
a n d / o r 
G i n g e r 
A. 
S p e n c e r c o n d u c t e d b u s i n e s s 
i n H a l e C o u n t y 
i n 
t h a t 
t h e y s o l d a t l e a s t f i v e 
(5) p o l i c i e s o f i n s u r a n c e 
i n 
H a l e C o u n t y , t h e y i n s p e c t e d 
t h e p r o p e r t i e s t h a t were 
i n s u r e d , 
a d v e r t i s e d 
i n 
a 
phone 
book 
o f 
g e n e r a l 
p u b l i c a t i o n and 
d i s t r i b u t i o n 
i n H a l e C o u n t y and 
t h e 
p o l i c y 
i n q u e s t i o n 
i n 
t h i s 
c a s e was 
d e l i v e r e d 
v i a 
U n i t e d 
S t a t e s 
P o s t a l 
S e r v i c e 
r e g u l a r 
m a i l 
i n 
H a l e 
C o u n t y . 
The 
a c t u a l 
p o l i c y a t 
i s s u e 
i n 
t h i s 
m a t t e r 
5 S e c t i o n 
6-3-6 
p r o v i d e s 
t h a t 
an 
" [ a ] c t i o n 
a g a i n s t 
an 
u n i n c o r p o r a t e d 
o r g a n i z a t i o n o r a s s o c i a t i o n may 
be commenced i n 
any 
c o u n t y 
where 
s u c h 
o r g a n i z a t i o n 
o r 
a s s o c i a t i o n 
d o e s 
b u s i n e s s o r has 
i n e x i s t e n c e 
a b r a n c h o r l o c a l 
o r g a n i z a t i o n . " 
6 T h e t h r e e 
c a s e s 
c i t e d 
by 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
c o n c e r n v e n u e 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n s 
i n 
a c t i o n s 
i n 
w h i c h 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s 
were 
c o r p o r a t i o n s . 
5 
1 1 0 1 2 1 1 , 1101226 
was 
s o l d by Hampton a n d / o r 
G i n g e r S p e n c e r , 
B r o k e r e d 
t h r o u g h A s h l a n d and w r i t t e n by 
A c c e p t a n c e . " 
The 
i n s t a n t p e t i t i o n s were 
f i l e d on 
J u l y 21, 2 0 1 1 ; 
t h i s 
C o u r t o r d e r e d a n s w e r s and 
b r i e f s . 
S t a n d a r d o f R e v i e w 
"'"The q u e s t i o n o f p r o p e r v e n u e f o r an a c t i o n i s 
d e t e r m i n e d 
a t t h e commencement o f t h e 
a c t i o n . " ' 
Ex 
 
p a r t e P i k e F a b r i c a t i o n , 
I n c . , 859 So. 2d 1089, 
1091 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 2 ) ( q u o t i n g Ex p a r t e P r a t t , 
815 So. 2d 
532, 
534 
( A l a . 2 0 0 1 ) ) . 
I f v e n u e 
i s 
i m p r o p e r 
a t 
t h e 
o u t s e t , t h e n upon m o t i o n o f t h e d e f e n d a n t , t h e c o u r t 
must 
t r a n s f e r 
t h e 
c a s e 
t o a c o u r t where v e n u e i s 
p r o p e r . 
Ex 
p a r t e 
P i k e 
F a b r i c a t i o n , 
859 
So. 
2d 
a t 
1091. 
I f t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s m o t i o n 
i s d e n i e d , t h e n 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t 
i s 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
s e e k 
r e v i e w 
o f 
t h i s 
d e c i s i o n by 
p e t i t i o n i n g 
f o r a w r i t 
o f mandamus. 
Ex  
p a r t e A l a b a m a G r e a t S o u t h e r n R.R., 
788 
So. 
2d 
886, 
888 
( A l a . 2 0 0 0 ) . 
"'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 ; 
(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 I n t e g o n 
C o r p . , 
672 So. 2d 497, 
499 
( A l a . 1 9 9 5 ) . T h i s C o u r t 
r e v i e w s 
mandamus 
p e t i t i o n s 
s e e k i n g 
r e v i e w 
o f 
a 
v e n u e 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n 
by 
a s k i n g 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 
i n g r a n t i n g o r d e n y i n g 
t h e 
m o t i o n 
f o r a c h a n g e o f v e n u e . Ex p a r t e S c o t t B r i d g e  
Co., 
834 
So. 
2d 
79, 
81 
( A l a . 2002 
) . 
A l s o , 
i n 
c o n s i d e r i n g s u c h a mandamus p e t i t i o n , 
t h i s C o u r t i s 
l i m i t e d 
t o t h o s e 
f a c t s 
t h a t were b e f o r e t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t . 
Ex 
p a r t e 
P i k e 
F a b r i c a t i o n , 
859 
So. 
2d 
a t 
10 9 1 . " 
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 a t 3 0 9 - 1 0 . 
6 
1 1 0 1 2 1 1 , 
1101226 
D i s c u s s i o n 
I n 
t h e i r 
r e s p e c t i v e 
p e t i t i o n s , t h e p e t i t i o n e r s c o n t e n d 
t h a t 
v e n u e 
was 
i m p r o p e r 
i n H a l e 
C o u n t y 
a t t h e t i m e t h e 
u n d e r l y i n g 
l i t i g a t i o n 
commenced a n d t h a t t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t , 
t h e r e f o r e , 
e r r e d 
i n d e n y i n g 
t h e i r 
m o t i o n s t o t r a n s f e r t h e 
a c t i o n t o T u s c a l o o s a C o u n t y . 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , 
r e l y i n g on 
t h i s 
C o u r t ' s 
r e c e n t 
d e c i s i o n i n Ex p a r t e 
Hughes, 51 So. 3d 1016 
( A l a . 
2 0 1 0 ) , t h e y m a i n t a i n 
t h a t § 6-3-2, A l a . Code 1975, 
t h e 
v e n u e 
p r o v i s i o n 
a p p l i c a b l e t o a c t i o n s 
a g a i n s t 
i n d i v i d u a l s , 
c l e a r l y 
a p p l i e s t o s o l e p r o p r i e t o r s h i p s 
s u c h as Hampton a n d 
t h a t , 
t h e r e f o r e , v e n u e i s p r o p e r i n T u s c a l o o s a C o u n t y where 
S p e n c e r r e s i d e s a n d where a l l a c t i o n s 
r e l a t e d t o p r o c u r e m e n t 
o f 
t h e 
s u b j e c t 
i n s u r a n c e 
i n d i s p u t a b l y 
o c c u r r e d . 
The 
p e t i t i o n e r s 
f u r t h e r c o n t e n d t h a t t h e s u b s e q u e n t amendment o f 
P a t t o n ' s 
c o m p l a i n t 
t o 
name 
A c c e p t a n c e 
a n d 
A s h l a n d 
as 
d e f e n d a n t s , w h i c h amendment t h e y a r g u e was n o t i n k e e p i n g 
w i t h 
t h e 
r u l e s o f f i c t i t i o u s - p a r t y 
p r a c t i c e , was i n s u f f i c i e n t t o 
c u r e t h e i m p r o p e r v e n u e a t t h e b e g i n n i n g 
o f t h e a c t i o n a n d , 
t h u s , d i d n o t d e f e a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s mandate t o t r a n s f e r t h e 
a c t i o n p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 8 2 ( d ) , A l a . 
R. C i v . P.,
7 t o T u s c a l o o s a 
7 R u l e 
8 2 ( d ) ( 1 ) 
p r o v i d e s : 
"When an a c t i o n i s commenced 
l a y i n g v e n u e i n 
t h e w r o n g c o u n t y , t h e c o u r t , on t i m e l y m o t i o n 
7 
1 1 0 1 2 1 1 , 1101226 
C o u n t y . 
P a t t o n c o u n t e r s t h a t v e n u e i n H a l e C o u n t y was 
p r o p e r 
a t 
t h e 
t i m e 
o f 
commencement 
o f 
t h e 
a c t i o n 
b e c a u s e , 
she 
c o n t e n d s , h e r amended c o m p l a i n t a d d i n g A c c e p t a n c e and A s h l a n d 
r e l a t e s b a c k 
t o t h e 
f i l i n g o f h e r 
o r i g i n a l 
c o m p l a i n t ; t h u s , 
she s a y s , § 6 - 3 - 7 ( a ) ( 3 ) , A l a . Code 1 9 7 5 ,
8 n o t § 6 - 3 - 2 ( a ) ( 3 ) , 
c o n t r o l s 
and 
b e c a u s e 
v e n u e 
i s p r o p e r 
i n H a l e 
C o u n t y 
as 
t o 
A c c e p t a n c e and A s h l a n d , i t i s a l s o p r o p e r t h e r e as t o Hampton. 
See 
R u l e 
8 2 ( c ) , 
A l a . R. 
C i v . P. 
("Where s e v e r a l 
c l a i m s o r 
p a r t i e s 
h a v e b e e n 
j o i n e d , 
t h e 
s u i t 
may 
be 
b r o u g h t 
i n 
any 
c o u n t y i n w h i c h any one o f t h e c l a i m s c o u l d p r o p e r l y have b e e n 
b r o u g h t . " ) . 
We d i s a g r e e . 
"As t h i s C o u r t has f r e q u e n t l y h e l d , p r o p e r v e n u e 
f o r 
an 
a c t i o n i s d e t e r m i n e d a t t h e commencement o f  
t h e 
a c t i o n . Ex p a r t e M i t c h e l l , 
690 So. 2d 356 ( A l a . 
1 9 9 7 ) ; Ex p a r t e P a r k e r , 413 So. 2d 1105 
( A l a . 1 9 8 2 ) ; 
o f 
any d e f e n d a n t , 
s h a l l 
t r a n s f e r t h e a c t i o n t o t h e c o u r t i n 
w h i c h t h e a c t i o n m i g h t have b e e n p r o p e r l y 
f i l e d 
and t h e 
c a s e 
s h a l l p r o c e e d as t h o u g h 
o r i g i n a l l y 
f i l e d 
t h e r e i n . " 
8 S e c t i o n 
6 - 3 - 7 ( a ) ( 3 ) , w h i c h 
p r e s c r i b e s 
v e n u e 
o f 
c i v i l 
a c t i o n s 
a g a i n s t 
b o t h 
f o r e i g n 
and 
d o m e s t i c 
c o r p o r a t i o n s , 
p r o v i d e s 
t h a t v e n u e i s p r o p e r " [ i ] n 
t h e c o u n t y i n w h i c h 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
r e s i d e d . " 
N o t a b l y , 
P a t t o n 
i s p r o c e e d i n g 
u n d e r 
s u b s e c t i o n 
( a ) ( 3 ) 
as 
o p p o s e d 
t o 
s u b s e c t i o n 
( a ) ( 1 ) , 
w h i c h 
p r o v i d e s 
t h a t v e n u e a g a i n s t a c o r p o r a t e d e f e n d a n t 
w i l l l i e 
" [ i ] n 
t h e c o u n t y i n w h i c h a s u b s t a n t i a l p a r t o f t h e e v e n t s o r 
o m i s s i o n s g i v i n g 
r i s e t o t h e c l a i m o c c u r r e d 
" 
S i m i l a r l y , 
P a t t o n 
does 
n o t 
a r g u e 
i n h e r 
r e s p o n s e 
t h a t 
t h e 
e v e n t s 
o r 
o m i s s i o n s 
g i v i n g 
r i s e 
t o t h e u n d e r l y i n g 
c l a i m s o c c u r r e d i n 
H a l e 
C o u n t y . 
8 
1 1 0 1 2 1 1 , 1101226 
Ex p a r t e W i l s o n , 408 So. 2d 94 ( A l a . 
1 9 8 1 ) ; s e e a l s o 
R u l e 
8 2 ( d ) ( 1 ) , A l a . R. 
C i v . P. 
I f v e n u e 
i s n o t 
p r o p e r a t t h e commencement o f an a c t i o n , t h e n , upon 
m o t i o n 
o f 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t , 
t h e 
a c t i o n 
must 
be 
t r a n s f e r r e d t o a c o u r t where v e n u e w o u l d be 
p r o p e r . 
P a r k e r , s u p r a ; R u l e 
8 2 ( d ) ( 1 ) , A l a . R. C i v . P. 
" S e c t i o n 6-3-2, A l a . 
Code 1975, g o v e r n s v e n u e o f 
a c t i o n s 
a g a i n s t 
i n d i v i d u a l s . 
I t p r o v i d e s 
t h a t 
s u c h 
an 
a c t i o n must 
be 
b r o u g h t 
i n t h e 
c o u n t y 
o f t h e 
d e f e n d a n t ' s 
r e s i d e n c e o r ' i n 
t h e c o u n t y i n w h i c h t h e 
a c t 
o r o m i s s i o n c o m p l a i n e d 
o f may h a v e b e e n done o r 
may 
have 
o c c u r r e d . ' 
§ 
6 - 3 - 2 ( a ) ( 3 ) ; 
s e e a l s o 
R u l e 
8 2 ( b ) ( 1 ) ( A ) , A l a . R. C i v . P." 
Ex p a r t e O v e r s t r e e t , 748 So. 2d 1 
94 , 1 
96 ( A l a . 1 
999) 
( e m p h a s i s 
a d d e d ) . 
T h i s 
C o u r t , 
i n 
d e t e r m i n i n g 
t h e 
a p p r o p r i a t e 
v e n u e 
p r o v i s i o n i n a c t i o n s i n i t i a t e d a g a i n s t a s o l e p r o p r i e t o r s h i p , 
s t a t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g i n Ex p a r t e Hughes, 
s u p r a : 
"Hughes 
t e s t i f i e d a t t h e h e a r i n g on h i s m o t i o n 
t o 
t r a n s f e r 
t h a t he 
o p e r a t e d 
RBM 
T r a n s p o r t 
as an 
u n i n c o r p o r a t e d 
e n t i t y . Hughes 
t e s t i f i e d t h a t he h a d 
no p a r t n e r s i n t h e e n d e a v o r , and i t 
a p p e a r s t h a t RBM 
T r a n s p o r t h a d no d i s t i n c t 
l e g a l e x i s t e n c e o t h e r 
t h a n 
i t s 
o p e r a t i o n by Hughes. 
F o r 
l e g a l 
p u r p o s e s , 
RBM 
T r a n s p o r t 
Company must 
t h e r e f o r e be 
c o n s i d e r e d 
a 
s o l e p r o p r i e t o r s h i p . See B l a c k ' s Law D i c t i o n a r y 1427 
( 8 t h 
e d . 2004) 
( d e f i n i n g 
' s o l e p r o p r i e t o r s h i p ' as 
' [ a ] 
b u s i n e s s 
i n w h i c h 
one 
p e r s o n 
owns 
a l l t h e 
a s s e t s , owes a l l 
t h e 
l i a b i l i t i e s , 
and o p e r a t e s i n 
h i s 
o r h e r p e r s o n a l c a p a c i t y ' ) . I n C a r o l i n a C a s u a l t y  
I n s u r a n c e 
Co. v. W i l l i a m s , 945 So. 2d 1030 , 
1035 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 6 ) , t h i s C o u r t r e c o g n i z e d t h a t 'Alabama l a w 
makes no 
d i s t i n c t i o n 
b e t w e e n an 
i n d i v i d u a l 
and a 
s o l e p r o p r i e t o r s h i p o p e r a t e d b y t h e i n d i v i d u a l . They 
a r e c o n s i d e r e d t h e same f o r l e g a l p u r p o s e s . ' 
( C i t i n g 
9 
1 1 0 1 2 1 1 , 1101226 
C l a r d y v. S a n d e r s , 
551 So. 2d 1057, 1059-60 ( A l a . 
1 9 8 9 ) . ) A c c o r d i n g l y , w h e t h e r ' J e s s e Hughes d/b/a RBM 
T r a n s p o r t Company' i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d as an i n d i v i d u a l 
o r a s o l e p r o p r i e t o r s h i p t h e e n d r e s u l t i s t h e same 
— 
[ t h e ] 
b r e a c h - o f - c o n t r a c t a c t i o n must be v i e w e d as 
one a g a i n s t an i n d i v i d u a l , and v e n u e i s a c c o r d i n g l y 
g o v e r n e d 
by § 6 - 3 - 2 ( a ) , 
w h i c h by i t s 
t e r m s 
a p p l i e s 
t o 
' p r o c e e d i n g s 
o f 
a 
l e g a l 
n a t u r e 
a g a i n s t 
i n d i v i d u a l s ' 
( e m p h a s i s 
a d d e d ) . " 
51 So. 3d a t 1018-19 
( f o o t n o t e o m i t t e d ) . 
I n 
t h e 
p r e s e n t 
c a s e , 
S p e n c e r 
p r e s e n t e d 
u n d i s p u t e d 
a f f i d a v i t 
t e s t i m o n y 
d e m o n s t r a t i n g 
t h a t 
Hampton 
i s 
an 
u n i n c o r p o r a t e d e n t i t y she o p e r a t e s as a s o l e p r o p r i e t o r s h i p i n 
T u s c a l o o s a 
C o u n t y , where she 
a l s o 
r e s i d e s . 
T h a t 
e v i d e n c e 
b r i n g s 
t h i s 
c a s e 
s q u a r e l y w i t h i n 
t h i s 
C o u r t ' s h o l d i n g i n Ex  
p a r t e Hughes. B e c a u s e Hampton, a s o l e p r o p r i e t o r s h i p , was t h e 
o n l y named d e f e n d a n t 
a t t h e t i m e t h e a c t i o n was 
f i l e d , 
t h e 
v e n u e p r o v i s i o n s g o v e r n i n g i n d i v i d u a l s a p p l i e d , a n d v e n u e was 
p r o p e r 
e i t h e r 
" i n t h e c o u n t y 
o f 
[ S p e n c e r 
d/b/a 
Hampton's] 
r e s i d e n c e 
o r i n t h e c o u n t y 
i n w h i c h 
t h e a c t o r 
o m i s s i o n 
c o m p l a i n e d o f ... o c c u r r e d . " 
§ 6 - 3 - 2 ( a ) ( 3 ) . 
U n d e r e i t h e r o f 
t h e 
f o r e g o i n g 
a l t e r n a t i v e s , 
v e n u e 
was 
c l e a r l y 
p r o p e r 
i n 
T u s c a l o o s a 
C o u n t y , 
where 
P a t t o n 
p u r c h a s e d 
t h e 
a l l e g e d l y 
d e f i c i e n t i n s u r a n c e c o v e r a g e , n o t i n H a l e 
C o u n t y . 
10 
1 1 0 1 2 1 1 , 1101226 
H a v i n g d e t e r m i n e d 
t h a t , a t t h e t i m e o f P a t t o n ' s 
o r i g i n a l 
f i l i n g , 
v e n u e was i m p r o p e r 
i n H a l e 
C o u n t y , 
we now 
c o n s i d e r 
w h e t h e r P a t t o n ' s amendment s u b s t i t u t i n g A c c e p t a n c e and A s h l a n d 
as named d e f e n d a n t s 
r e l a t e d b a c k t o t h e commencement o f h e r 
a c t i o n a n d was, t h e r e f o r e , 
s u f f i c i e n t t o r e n d e r H a l e C o u n t y a 
p r o p e r v e n u e f o r 
t h e a c t i o n . 
We c o n c l u d e 
t h a t i t 
was n o t . 
As 
n o t e d a b o v e , 
" [ t ] h e 
q u e s t i o n o f p r o p e r v e n u e f o r an 
a c t i o n i s d e t e r m i n e d a t t h e commencement o f t h e a c t i o n . " 
Ex 
p a r t e P r a t t , 815 So. 2d 532, 534 ( A l a . 2 0 0 1 ) . 
I t i s a l s o 
w e l l 
e s t a b l i s h e d 
t h a t 
" [ l ] a t e r amendments t o t h e c o m p l a i n t t o add p a r t i e s 
o r 
c l a i m s , 
w i t h 
t h e e x c e p t i o n o f s u b s t i t u t i n g t h e  
t r u e name o f a 
f i c t i t i o u s l y 
named 
p a r t y , 
a r e n o t 
c o n s i d e r e d i n d e t e r m i n i n g w h e t h e r v e n u e i s i m p r o p e r 
a t 
t h e 
commencement 
o f 
t h e 
a c t i o n . 
See 
R u l e 
1 5 ( c ) ( 4 ) [ , 
A l a . R. 
C i v . P.] 
( ' r e l a t i o n 
b a c k i s 
p e r m i t t e d 
b y 
p r i n c i p l e s 
a p p l i c a b l e 
t o 
f i c t i t i o u s 
p a r t y 
p r a c t i c e p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 
9 ( h ) [ , A l a . 
R. 
C i v . 
P . ] ' ) . " 
Ex p a r t e Lugo de V e g a , 65 So. 3d 886, 892 ( A l a . 2 0 1 0 ) . 
See 
a l s o O v e r s t r e e t , 
748 So. 2d a t 197 ( r e c o g n i z i n g 
t h a t , 
" [ i ] n Ex  
p a r t e S m i t h , 423 So. 2d 844 ( A l a . 1 9 8 2 ) , 
t h i s C o u r t h e l d 
t h a t 
t h e 
s u b s t i t u t i o n o f a p a r t y 
f o r a 
f i c t i t i o u s l y named 
p a r t y 
w o u l d 
r e l a t e b a c k t o t h e d a t e o f t h e commencement o f t h e 
a c t i o n 
f o r t h e 
p u r p o s e 
o f 
d e t e r m i n i n g 
p r o p e r 
v e n u e " ) . 
11 
1 1 0 1 2 1 1 , 1101226 
However, i n o r d e r 
f o r t h e 
r e l a t i o n - b a c k d o c t r i n e t o a p p l y , 
a 
p a r t y must c o m p l y w i t h t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f R u l e 9 ( h ) , A l a . 
R. 
C i v . 
P. 
See 
C o l u m b i a Eng'g 
I n t ' l , 
L t d . v. E s p e y , 429 
So. 
2d 
955, 
958-59 
( A l a . 1983) 
("[A] 
p l a i n t i f f , 
i n o r d e r 
t o 
i n v o k e 
t h e r e l a t i o n b a c k p r i n c i p l e s 
o f R u l e s 9(h) 
and 
1 5 ( c ) , 
[ A l a . R. 
C i v . 
P.,] 
must meet t h e 
f o l l o w i n g 
c r i t e r i a : 
1) 
P l a i n t i f f must 
s t a t e 
a c a u s e o f a c t i o n a g a i n s t 
t h e 
f i c t i t i o u s 
p a r t y 
i n 
t h e 
b o d y 
o f 
t h e 
o r i g i n a l 
c o m p l a i n t ; 
and 
2) 
p l a i n t i f f 
must 
be 
i g n o r a n t o f t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h e 
f i c t i t i o u s p a r t y , i n t h e s e n s e 
o f 
h a v i n g 
no 
k n o w l e d g e 
a t 
t h e 
t i m e 
o f 
t h e 
f i l i n g 
t h a t 
t h e 
l a t e r 
named 
p a r t y 
was 
i n 
f a c t 
t h e 
p a r t y 
i n t e n d e d 
t o 
be 
s u e d . " ) . 
As 
e x p l a i n e d 
i n Ex 
p a r t e 
G r i f f i n , 
4 
So. 
3d 
430 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 8 ) , a c a s e P a t t o n 
c i t e s 
i n h e r r e s p o n s e t o t h e 
p e t i t i o n s : 
" T h i s 
C o u r t 
has 
h e l d 
w i t h 
r e g a r d 
t o R u l e 
9(h) 
and 
t h e r e l a t i o n - b a c k p r i n c i p l e s 
o f R u l e 1 5 ( c ) , A l a . 
R. 
C i v . 
P., 
t h a t 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f must 
s t a t e 
a c a u s e 
o f 
a c t i o n 
a g a i n s t 
t h e 
f i c t i t i o u s l y named p a r t y 
i n 
t h e 
b o d y o f t h e o r i g i n a l c o m p l a i n t ; 
t h a t t h e 
p l a i n t i f f ' s 
i g n o r a n c e o f t h e t r u e i d e n t i t y o f t h e p a r t y 
i n t e n d e d 
t o be s u e d i s ' i n t h e s e n s e o f h a v i n g 
no 
k n o w l e d g e ' 
o f 
t h e 
p a r t y ' s 
i d e n t i t y 
a t 
t h e 
t i m e 
t h e 
c o m p l a i n t 
was 
f i l e d ; and 
t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f must have u s e d 
due 
d i l i g e n c e i n a t t e m p t i n g 
t o d i s c o v e r t h e 
i d e n t i t y 
o f 
t h e 
f i c t i t i o u s l y named p a r t y . 
C o l u m b i a Eng'g 
I n t ' l 
 
L t d . 
v. E s p e y , 429 
So. 
2d 
955, 
958 
( A l a . 1 9 8 3 ) . 
To 
be 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
t h e 
b e n e f i t 
o f 
t h e 
r e l a t i o n - b a c k 
p r i n c i p l e s , 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
must 
a c t 
w i t h 
due 
12 
1 1 0 1 2 1 1 , 1101226 
d i l i g e n c e 
t o 
a s c e r t a i n 
t h e 
f i c t i t i o u s l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t ' s 
t r u e 
name 
and 
t o 
p r o m p t l y 
amend 
t h e 
c o m p l a i n t 
t o c o r r e c t l y i d e n t i f y t h a t d e f e n d a n t . 
The 
d u e - d i l i g e n c e 
s t a n d a r d , 
as s t a t e d i n D a v i s v. Mims, 
510 
So. 
2d 
227, 
229 
( A l a . 
1 
9 8 7 ) , 
' i s w h e t h e r 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
knew, 
o r 
s h o u l d 
h a v e 
known 
o r 
was 
on 
n o t i c e , t h a t t h e s u b s t i t u t e d d e f e n d a n t s were i n f a c t 
t h e p a r t i e s d e s c r i b e d 
f i c t i t i o u s l y . ' " 
4 So. 
3d a t 436. 
See 
a l s o McGhee v. M a r t i n , 
892 
So. 
2d 
398, 
410-11 
( A l a . C i v . 
App. 
2004) 
( n o t i n g 
t h a t R u l e 
9(h) 
a l l o w s 
r e l a t i o n 
b a c k 
o n l y 
f o r 
t h e 
b e n e f i t 
o f 
" ' [ t ] h e 
d i l i g e n t 
p l a i n t i f f who 
i s t r u l y i g n o r a n t o f t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s i d e n t i t y 
a t 
t h e 
t i m e 
o f 
f i l i n g 
t h e 
o r i g i n a l 
c o m p l a i n t 
'" 
( q u o t i n g 
K i n a r d v. C.A. 
K e l l y & Co., 
4 
68 So. 
2d 133, 
135 
( A l a . 1 9 8 5 ) ) ) . 
P a t t o n a d d e d A c c e p t a n c e and A s h l a n d as d e f e n d a n t s 
a f t e r 
Hampton's 
i n i t i a l m o t i o n s e e k i n g 
a c h a n g e o f v e n u e was 
f i l e d . 
A l t h o u g h 
P a t t o n 
c o n t e n d s , 
i n 
h e r 
r e s p o n s e 
t o 
t h e 
i n s t a n t 
p e t i t i o n s , t h a t " [ s h e ] was 
i g n o r a n t o f t h e i d e n t i t y o f A s h l a n d 
and 
A c c e p t a n c e 
a t 
t h e 
t i m e 
o f 
t h e 
f i l i n g 
o f 
t h e 
o r i g i n a l 
c o m p l a i n t , " 
we 
f i n d 
t h a t 
c l a i m 
u n t e n a b l e . 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , 
we 
n o t e , as do t h e p e t i t i o n e r s , t h a t A c c e p t a n c e was 
i d e n t i f i e d 
on 
t h e 
f a c e 
o f 
P a t t o n ' s 
o r i g i n a l 
c o m p l a i n t 
as 
t h e company f r o m 
whom Hampton p r o c u r e d 
t h e s u b j e c t c o v e r a g e on P a t t o n ' s 
b e h a l f . 
T h e r e f o r e , 
we a g r e e w i t h t h e p e t i t i o n e r s t h a t t h e r e can be 
no 
a r g u m e n t 
t h a t 
P a t t o n 
e i t h e r 
" ' h a [ d ] 
no 
k n o w l e d g e ' 
o f 
13 
1 1 0 1 2 1 1 , 1101226 
[ A c c e p t a n c e 
a n d / o r A s h l a n d ' s ] 
i d e n t i t [ i e s ] 
a t 
t h e 
t i m e 
t h e 
c o m p l a i n t 
was 
f i l e d " 
o r 
t h a t 
she 
" u s e d 
due 
d i l i g e n c e 
i n 
a t t e m p t i n g 
t o d i s c o v e r t h e 
i d e n t i t [ i e s ] 
o f t h e 
f i c t i t i o u s l y 
named p a r t [ i e s ] . " 
G r i f f i n , 
4 So. 
3d a t 
436. 
I n 
a d d i t i o n , we n o t e 
t h a t , as r e f l e c t e d on 
d o c u m e n t a t i o n 
a t t a c h e d t o h e r amended c o m p l a i n t , a p o l i c y - c h a n g e e n d o r s e m e n t 
r e i n s t a t i n g 
P a t t o n ' s 
p o l i c y , 
d a t e d 
A p r i l 
27, 
2009 -- 
w h i c h 
d a t e i s b e f o r e t h e 
f i r e 
a t P a t t o n ' s l o u n g e 
and t h e 
r e s u l t i n g 
l i t i g a t i o n 
-- 
i d e n t i f i e d 
A c c e p t a n c e 
as 
P a t t o n ' s 
i n s u r a n c e 
company 
and 
A s h l a n d 
as 
A c c e p t a n c e ' s 
" a u t h o r i z e d 
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e . "
9 
F u r t h e r m o r e , 
as a c k n o w l e d g e d 
i n 
P a t t o n ' s 
o r i g i n a l c o m p l a i n t , n o t o n l y d i d t h e f a c e o f t h e p o l i c y , 
w h i c h 
was 
p r o v i d e d 
t o P a t t o n 
f o l l o w i n g 
h e r 
p u r c h a s e 
o f 
i n s u r a n c e 
c o v e r a g e , 
i d e n t i f y A c c e p t a n c e 
as h e r i n s u r e r , b u t S p e n c e r a l s o 
t e s t i f i e d 
t h a t when P a t t o n 
i n i t i a l l y 
t e l e p h o n e d 
h e r 
o f f i c e 
f o l l o w i n g t h e f i r e , P a t t o n was 
r e f e r r e d d i r e c t l y t o A s h l a n d t o 
i n q u i r e a b o u t m a k i n g a f o r m a l c l a i m . 
9The p e t i t i o n e r s c o n t e n d t h a t , as d e m o n s t r a t e d 
t h r o u g h 
t h e 
d e p o s i t i o n t e s t i m o n y o f S p e n c e r and a c e r t i f i e d - m a i l 
r e c e i p t , 
c o p i e s 
o f 
a l l i n f o r m a t i o n 
p e r t i n e n t 
t o 
P a t t o n ' s 
p o l i c y , 
i n c l u d i n g d o c u m e n t s i d e n t i f y i n g b o t h A c c e p t a n c e 
and 
A s h l a n d , 
were p r o v i d e d t o P a t t o n ' s 
i n i t i a l c o u n s e l o f r e c o r d on J u l y 
8, 
2009, b e f o r e h e r 
o r i g i n a l c o m p l a i n t was 
f i l e d . 
14 
1 1 0 1 2 1 1 , 1101226 
M o r e o v e r , 
a l t h o u g h 
P a t t o n 
c o n t e n d s 
t h a t 
h e r 
amended 
c o m p l a i n t 
p r o p e r l y 
s u b s t i t u t e d 
A c c e p t a n c e 
and A s h l a n d f o r 
f i c t i t i o u s l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t s 
i n c l u d e d 
i n h e r 
o r i g i n a l 
c o m p l a i n t , t h e l a n g u a g e o f h e r amended c o m p l a i n t 
a p p e a r s t o 
b e l i e P a t t o n ' s a r g u m e n t i n t h i s r e g a r d . 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , i n 
h e r 
b r i e f 
t o t h i s 
C o u r t , 
P a t t o n 
s t a t e s t h a t " [ o ] n O c t o b e r 
16, 
2009, 
a p p r o x i m a t e l y 
two 
months 
a f t e r 
t h e 
f i l i n g 
o f t h e 
o r i g i n a l 
c o m p l a i n t , 
[ P a t t o n ] 
f i l e d 
an 
amended 
c o m p l a i n t 
s u b s t i t u t i n g A c c e p t a n c e 
... 
, A s h l a n d ... 
, and ... S p e n c e r f o r 
t h e 
f i c t i t i o u s 
p a r t i e s 
a l l e g e d i n t h e o r i g i n a l 
c o m p l a i n t . " 
P a t t o n ' s 
r e s p o n s e 
b r i e f , 
a t p. 2. 
However, t h e p l e a d i n g 
r e v e a l s 
t h a t a l t h o u g h 
A c c e p t a n c e 
and A s h l a n d were a d d e d as 
d e f e n d a n t s and numerous c a u s e s o f a c t i o n were a s s e r t e d a g a i n s t 
them, t h e r e i s n o t h i n g t o s u g g e s t 
t h a t 
t h e i r 
a d d i t i o n was a 
s u b s t i t u t i o n 
o f 
t h e 
t r u e 
names 
o f 
f i c t i t i o u s l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t s A-C, as P a t t o n a r g u e s . 
I n f a c t , we n o t e b o t h t h e 
a b s e n c e o f any l a n g u a g e i n t h e amended c o m p l a i n t 
e x p r e s s i n g 
t h e a l l e g e d i n t e n d e d " s u b s t i t u t i o n " and t h e f a c t t h a t , d e s p i t e 
t h e p u r p o r t e d s u b s t i t u t i o n , 
f i c t i t i o u s l y named d e f e n d a n t s 
A-C 
r e m a i n e d as p a r t i e s i n P a t t o n ' s amended c o m p l a i n t . 
Thus, as 
o f t h e f i l i n g o f t h a t amended p l e a d i n g , a l l d e f e n d a n t s 
t h a t 
15 
1 1 0 1 2 1 1 , 1101226 
were p u r p o r t e d l y 
f i c t i t i o u s l y 
named 
a t 
t h e commencement 
o f 
P a t t o n ' s 
s u i t 
were 
s t i l l 
a p p a r e n t l y 
unknown 
t o 
P a t t o n . 
T h e r e f o r e , 
w h a t e v e r 
a r g u m e n t s 
P a t t o n 
may 
a d v a n c e 
i n 
t h i s 
r e s p e c t , 
h e r 
amended 
c o m p l a i n t 
seems 
t o 
s u p p o r t 
t h e 
p e t i t i o n e r s ' 
a r g u m e n t 
t h a t 
h e r 
amendment 
d i d 
n o t 
e f f e c t 
a 
s u b s t i t u t i o n 
o f named d e f e n d a n t s 
f o r p r e v i o u s l y 
i d e n t i f i e d 
f i c t i t i o u s l y named d e f e n d a n t s b u t , 
r a t h e r , m e r e l y a d d e d 
new 
d e f e n d a n t s . 
See 
O v e r s t r e e t , 
748 
So. 
2d 
a t 197 
( h o l d i n g 
" t h a t 
t h e 
a d d i t i o n 
o f 
a 
new 
p a r t y , 
as 
d i s t i n g u i s h e d 
f r o m 
t h e 
s u b s t i t u t i o n 
o f 
a 
p a r t y 
f o r 
a 
p r e v i o u s l y named 
f i c t i t i o u s 
 
p a r t y , 
w o u l d 
n o t 
r e l a t e b a c k 
f o r 
p u r p o s e s 
o f 
d e t e r m i n i n g 
p r o p e r v e n u e " ) . 
See 
a l s o Ex 
p a r t e 
P a r k e r , 
413 
So. 
2d 
1105, 
1106 
( A l a . 1982 ), and Ex p a r t e W i l s o n , 
4 
08 So. 
2d 94, 
97 
( A l a . 
1 9 8 1 ) . 
E v e n 
a s s u m i n g , 
h o w e v e r , 
t h a t 
P a t t o n 
t o o k 
t h e 
p r o p e r 
p r o c e d u r a l 
s t e p s 
t o 
s u b s t i t u t e A c c e p t a n c e 
and 
A s h l a n d 
f o r 
d e f e n d a n t s d e s c r i b e d 
f i c t i t i o u s l y 
i n h e r 
o r i g i n a l 
c o m p l a i n t , 
we 
c o n c l u d e t h a t P a t t o n p o s s e s s e d , b e f o r e 
t h e 
f i l i n g d a t e 
o f 
t h a t p l e a d i n g , 
s u f f i c i e n t 
i n f o r m a t i o n 
t o p u t 
h e r 
on 
n o t i c e , 
w i t h 
t h e 
e x e r c i s e 
o f 
due 
d i l i g e n c e , 
t h a t 
A c c e p t a n c e 
and 
A s h l a n d were t h e p a r t i e s "who 
a s s i s t e d [ H a m p t o n ] , and 
f a i l e d 
16 
1 1 0 1 2 1 1 , 1101226 
t o p r o c u r e 
... 
f u l l c o v e r a g e i n s u r a n c e . . . . " 
See s u p r a n.2. 
I t 
i s 
u n d i s p u t e d 
t h a t 
P a t t o n 
was 
p r o v i d e d 
d o c u m e n t a t i o n 
i d e n t i f y i n g b o t h A c c e p t a n c e and A s h l a n d 
b e f o r e 
she 
f i l e d 
h e r 
o r i g i n a l c o m p l a i n t . 
We, 
t h e r e f o r e , d i s a g r e e w i t h t h e a r g u m e n t 
t h a t 
she 
was 
" t r u l y 
i g n o r a n t " 
a t 
t h e 
t i m e 
h e r 
i n i t i a l 
c o m p l a i n t 
was 
f i l e d 
o f 
t h e i r 
i d e n t i t i e s 
o r o f 
t h e i r 
r o l e 
i n 
i s s u i n g h e r 
p o l i c y . 
See 
a l s o P e a r s o n 
v. B r o o k s , 
883 
So. 
2d 
185, 187-88 ( A l a . 2003) ( c o n c l u d i n g t h a t , b a s e d on 
p l a i n t i f f ' s 
k n o w l e d g e o f names and j o b t i t l e s o f c o w o r k e r s , 
she " c o u l d n o t 
h a v e 
r e a s o n a b l y 
b e e n 
i g n o r a n t 
o f 
t h e i r 
i d e n t i t i e s " ) , 
and 
M i l l e r 
v. Norwood 
C l i n i c , 
I n c . , 
577 
So. 
2d 
8 
60 , 
8 
65 
( A l a . 
1991) 
( c o n c l u d i n g 
t h a t 
m e d i c a l 
r e c o r d s 
i n 
p l a i n t i f f ' s 
p o s s e s s i o n 
p r i o r 
t o 
f i l i n g 
o f 
o r i g i n a l 
c o m p l a i n t 
r e v e a l e d 
k n o w l e d g e s u f f i c i e n t 
t o i d e n t i f y s u p p o s e d 
f i c t i t i o u s l y named 
d e f e n d a n t s 
as 
" p a r t i e s 
i n t e n d e d 
t o 
be 
s u e d " ) . 
I n s t e a d , 
i t 
a p p e a r s 
t h a t , a t 
t h e 
t i m e 
o f h e r 
i n i t i a l 
c o m p l a i n t , 
P a t t o n 
knew t h e i d e n t i t i e s o f b o t h A c c e p t a n c e and A s h l a n d , as w e l l 
as 
t h e i r 
r e s p e c t i v e r o l e s 
i n t h e 
i s s u a n c e 
o f 
t h e 
p o l i c y 
t h a t 
a l l e g e d l y p r o v i d e d i n s u f f i c i e n t i n s u r a n c e c o v e r a g e , 
o r , a t t h e 
v e r y 
l e a s t , 
t h a t , 
i n 
t h e 
e x e r c i s e 
o f 
due 
d i l i g e n c e , 
t h a t 
i n f o r m a t i o n was 
e a s i l y a s c e r t a i n a b l e by P a t t o n . 
C f . Ex 
p a r t e 
17 
1 1 0 1 2 1 1 , 1101226 
N a t i o n w i d e 
I n s . Co., 
991 
So. 
2d 
1287, 
12 
91 
( A l a . 2008 
) 
( " c o n c l u d [ i n g ] 
t h a t 
[ p l a i n t i f f ' s ] 
amendment 
t o 
s u b s t i t u t e 
N a t i o n w i d e f o r a f i c t i t i o u s l y named d e f e n d a n t [ d i d ] 
n o t r e l a t e 
b a c k t o t h e d a t e o f h e r o r i g i n a l c o m p l a i n t b e c a u s e she knew o r 
s h o u l d have known 
N a t i o n w i d e ' s 
i d e n t i t y " 
as h e r i n s u r e r o r 
" c o u l d have d i s c o v e r e d N a t i o n w i d e ' s i d e n t i t y and t h e e x i s t e n c e 
o f ... c o v e r a g e s i m p l y by e x a m i n i n g h e r p o l i c y " ) , and Ex p a r t e 
I s m a i l , [Ms. 110072 6, Aug. 12, 2011] 
So. 3d 
, 
( A l a . 
2011) 
( f i n d i n g 
t h a t , 
where 
p l a i n t i f f s 
p o s s e s s e d 
m e d i c a l 
r e c o r d s 
i d e n t i f y i n g 
t r e a t i n g 
p h y s i c i a n 
b e f o r e 
t h e y 
f i l e d 
o r i g i n a l c o m p l a i n t , " [ t h e y ] d i d n o t e x e r c i s e due d i l i g e n c e ... 
b e f o r e 
f i l i n g 
t h e i r c o m p l a i n t , i n i d e n t i f y i n g 
[ p h y s i c i a n ] as 
t h e p r o p e r p a r t y t o be s u e d " ) . 
G i v e n t h o s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , we 
c o n c l u d e , 
as 
we 
d i d 
i n 
P e a r s o n , 
s u p r a , 
t h a t 
i t 
was 
" u n r e a s o n a b l e 
t o 
b e l i e v e 
t h a t 
[ P a t t o n ] 
was 
i g n o r a n t 
o f 
[ A s h l a n d ' s ] 
and 
[ A c c e p t a n c e ' s ] 
i d e n t i t i e s 
as 
r e q u i r e d 
t o 
p r o c e e d u n d e r t h e f i c t i t i o u s - p a r t y 
p r a c t i c e 
a l l o w e d b y 
R u l e 
9 ( h ) . " 
883 So. 2d a t 188. 
B e c a u s e 
A c c e p t a n c e 
and 
A s h l a n d 
were 
n o t 
p r o p e r l y 
s u b s t i t u t e d 
f o r f i c t i t i o u s l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t s 
i n c l u d e d i n 
P a t t o n ' s 
o r i g i n a l 
c o m p l a i n t , 
f o r p u r p o s e s 
o f 
e s t a b l i s h i n g 
18 
1 1 0 1 2 1 1 , 1101226 
v e n u e P a t t o n ' s amendment d i d 
n o t r e l a t e b a c k t o t h e d a t e o f 
h e r 
o r i g i n a l 
c o m p l a i n t a n d d i d n o t r e n d e r 
H a l e 
C o u n t y , 
an 
i m p r o p e r v e n u e a t t h e commencement o f t h e a c t i o n , a p r o p e r 
v e n u e . 
I n s t e a d , f o r p u r p o s e s 
o f e s t a b l i s h i n g v e n u e a t t h e 
commencement o f t h e i n s t a n t 
a c t i o n , 
Hampton was t h e 
s o l e 
d e f e n d a n t . 
B e c a u s e , 
u n d e r § 6-3-2, v e n u e i n H a l e C o u n t y was 
i m p r o p e r as t o Hampton, a s o l e p r o p r i e t o r s h i p , 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 i n 
d e n y i n g t h e 
m o t i o n s t o t r a n s f e r t h e 
c a s e t o T u s c a l o o s a C o u n t y , where v e n u e was p r o p e r . 
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 a t 3 0 9 - 1 0 . 
I n l i g h t o f 
t h e f o r e g o i n g , we c o n c l u d e 
t h a t t h e p e t i t i o n e r s h a v e met t h e 
r e q u i r e m e n t s 
f o r t h e i s s u a n c e o f t h e r e q u e s t e d 
w r i t s o f 
mandamus; t h e r e f o r e , t h e t r i a l c o u r t i s 
d i r e c t e d 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 s t o t r a n s f e r a n d t o e n t e r an o r d e r 
g r a n t i n g t h o s e m o t i o n s a n d t r a n s f e r r i n g t h e u n d e r l y i n g a c t i o n 
t o t h e T u s c a l o o s a C i r c u i t 
C o u r t . 
1101211 -- P E T I T I O N GRANTED; WRIT ISSUED. 
1101226 -- P E T I T I O N GRANTED; WRIT ISSUED. 
M a l o n e , C . J . , 
a n d S t u a r t , 
P a r k e r , a n d W i s e , J J . , c o n c u r . 
19