Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-4_09-cv-00460/USCOURTS-ared-4_09-cv-00460-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 350
Nature of Suit: Motor Vehicle Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Tort/Motor Vehicle (P.I.)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

RICHARD SHEPPARD ARNOLD UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

500 W. CAPITOL, ROOM D444

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS 72201-3325

(501) 604-5140

Facsimile (501) 604-5149

January 5, 2011

Mr. Roger A. Glasgow 

Wright, Lindsey & Jennings - Little Rock 

200 West Capitol Avenue 

Suite 2300 

Little Rock, AR 72201-3699 

Mr. Richard Blakely Glasgow 

Wright, Lindsey & Jennings - Little Rock 

200 West Capitol Avenue 

Suite 2300 

Little Rock, AR 72201-3699 

Mr. Clark S. Brewster 

Boswell Law Firm 

Post Office Box 798 

Bryant, AR 72089-0798 

RE: Schultz v. Walker, 4:09-cv-00460-WRW

Dear Counsel,

The facts of this case may present a question of first impression. 

Plaintiff contends, as I understand it, that Defendant’s insurance company’s payment of $40,450 to

Plaintiff’s insurance company was a voluntary payment, and therefore should not be credited against

a judgment. Alternatively, Plaintiff argues that evidence of the payment should be excluded under

the collateral source doctrine. 

Was there any kind of agreement between Defendant’s insurance company and Plaintiffs insurance

company (as there were in other cases along this line)? Was there any pertinent language on the

check or draft payable from Defendant’s insurance company to Plaintiff’s insurance company?

Does a setoff such as this have to be pled by the Defendant? I do not see that it has been pled in (am

I overlooking something?).

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As a practical matter, it is hard for me to view this as “voluntary” since the payment undoubtedly

would not have been paid if Defendant didn’t anticipate being held liable. Am I on the wrong track

in this line of thinking?

I realize that a decision on this issue is overripe, but I guess I’m like the judge who had a seven year

old son that he had not yet named—couldn’t make a decision.

Please submit short, simultaneous letter briefs regarding the above by 5 p.m., January 12, 2010.

Cordially,

Wm. R. Wilson

CC: Mr. James W. McCormack, Clerk of the Court

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