Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-02184/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-02184-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Injunctive &amp; Declaratory Relief

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

----oo0oo----

THE TRAVELERS INDEMNITY

COMPANY OF CONNECTICUT, a

Connecticut corporation; and 

TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY 

COMPANY OF AMERICA, a Connecticut 

corporation,

Plaintiffs,

v.

BUZZ OATES CONSTRUCTION, INC., a 

California corporation; ELITE

READY-MIX, LLC, a California

limited liability company;

FINANCIAL PACIFIC INSURANCE

COMPANY, a California corporation; 

RON NURSS, INC dba BLUELINE 

CONSTRUCTION, a California 

Corporation and DOES 1 through 10, 

inclusive,

Defendants.

No. 2:24-cv-02184 WBS AC

ORDER RE: MOTION TO STAY

----oo0oo----

Defendant Buzz Oates Construction, Inc. (“Buzz Oates” 

or “defendant”) is also a defendant in an action pending in the 

Case 2:24-cv-02184-WBS-AC Document 33 Filed 11/20/24 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

Sacramento County Superior Court, in which the plaintiff in that 

case asserts twelve causes of action for breach of contract, 

breach of warranties, negligence, indemnity, product liability, 

and declaratory relief in connection with alleged construction 

defects in a concrete slab which defendant entities poured for a 

new building. Defendants in that action have also asserted 

various cross-complaints. PW Fund B Development, LLC v. Buzz 

Oates Construction, Inc., No. 34-2022-00322887 (Cal. Super. July 

5, 2022).

In the present action in this court, plaintiffs 

Travelers Indemnity Company of Connecticut and Travelers Property 

Casualty Company of America (collectively, “Travelers”) seek to 

determine Travelers’ coverage obligations as the insurer of Buzz 

Oates and its co-defendants (Docket No. 15). The matter is now 

before the court on Buzz Oates’ motion to stay this action 

pending resolution of the pending state court case (Docket No. 

12).

Upon consideration of the arguments on both sides, and 

the applicable case law, the court is persuaded that it will best 

promote the orderly course of justice to allow the state court 

action to proceed to final resolution before resolving the 

question of whether and to what extent Travelers may be obligated 

to indemnify or pay for any damages awarded in that action. 

However, the court is not persuaded that in order to protect the 

interests of both sides it is necessary to stay progress of all 

pretrial proceedings in this case while the state court action is 

being litigated.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that defendant’s motion to stay 

Case 2:24-cv-02184-WBS-AC Document 33 Filed 11/20/24 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3

this action (Docket No. 12) be, and the same is, hereby DENIED, 

with the following proviso. The court will delay deciding any 

and all issues relating to insurance coverage in this action 

until after final resolution of the underlying state court 

action. Upon such resolution, the parties shall promptly notify 

this court.

Dated: November 20, 2024

Case 2:24-cv-02184-WBS-AC Document 33 Filed 11/20/24 Page 3 of 3