Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01326/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01326-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Insurance Contract

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GREAT WEST CASUALTY COMPANY,

Plaintiff,

v.

GENERAL FIRE & CASUALTY COMPANY,

Defendant.

 

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1:06-cv-1326 OWW SMS

SCHEDULING CONFERENCE ORDER 

Cross-Motions for Summary

Judgment Filing Deadline:

6/7/07

Oppositions to CrossMotions for SJ Filing

Deadline: 7/3/07

Replies to Cross-Motions

for SJ Filing Deadline:

7/17/07

Hearing on Cross-Motions

for SJ: 7/30/07 10:00 Ctrm.

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Pre-Trial Conference

Date: 9/10/07 11:00 Ctrm. 3

Trial Date: 10/16/07 9:00

Ctrm. 3 (CT-2 days)

I. Date of Scheduling Conference.

February 7, 2007.

II. Appearances Of Counsel.

Lossing & Elston by Lawrence G. Lossing, Esq., appeared on

behalf of Plaintiff.

Harrington, Foxx, Dubrow & Canter, LLP by James Lo, Esq.

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appeared on behalf of Defendant. 

III. Summary of Pleadings. 

1. This action arises out of a motor vehicle accident

(passenger car versus tractor-trailer rig) that occurred on

December 17, 2004, in rural Fresno County, California. The

driver of the passenger vehicle was killed and her two minor

children were injured in that accident. The personal injury

litigation arising out of that accident is now pending in Fresno

County, California Superior Court.

2. The Plaintiff in this action, Great West Casualty

Company, issued a policy of commercial auto liability insurance

to Juan Mendez dba Mendez Trucking, the operator of the tractortrailer rig involved in the accident. The Great West policy

provides coverage to Mendez with indemnity limits of $1 million.

3. The defendant in this action, General Fire & Casualty

Company, issued to the owner of the trailer, OHK Transport, LLC,

a multi-coverage commercial insurance policy which includes

property insurance, business interruption insurance and legal

liability insurance; the latter includes commercial automobile

coverage. The maximum liability coverage limits of the General

Fire policy are $15 million per occurrence. However, General

Fire contends that its policy provides for different indemnity

limits under different circumstances, and that for undeclared

drivers, like Mendez in this situation, the policy has coverage

limits of $50,000 with respect to liability arising out of

“trailers.”

4. The relief sought by Plaintiff Great West is a judicial

declaration that the full $15 million coverage limits of the

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General Fire policy apply to Mendez’s potential liability in the

underlying action. The relief sought by Defendant General Fire

is a judicial declaration that its policy’s sub-limit of $50,000

applies to Mendez.

5. Both policies provide for a defense of covered claims,

and each party to this action also seeks a judicial determination

of the extent of its own duty, and that of the other party, to

defend Mendez in the underlying action.

IV. Orders Re Amendments To Pleadings.

1. The parties do not anticipate filing any amendments to

the pleadings at this time. 

V. Factual Summary.

A. Admitted Facts Which Are Deemed Proven Without Further

Proceedings. 

1. Plaintiff, Great West Casualty Company, is

incorporated in the State of Nebraska and its principal place of

business is in Nebraska. It is licensed to conduct casualty

insurance business in the State of California.

2. General Fire & Casualty Company is incorporated in

the State of Idaho and its principal place of business is in

Idaho. General Fire & Casualty Company is licensed to do

insurance business in the State of California.

3. The parties agree that Plaintiff Great West

Casualty issued commercial auto liability insurance policy number

GWP19641A to Juan Mendez dba Mendez Trucking, a proprietorship.

4. General Fire & Casualty Company issued multicoverage commercial insurance policy number RM00961-03 to the

owner of a trailer that was part of the tractor-trailer rig

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involved in the accident to OHK Transport LLC. 

B. Contested Facts.

1. All remaining facts are contested.

VI. Legal Issues.

A. Uncontested.

1. Jurisdiction exists under 28 U.S.C. § 1332. 

2. Venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1391.

3. As to supplemental claims, the parties agree that

the substantive law of the State of California provides the rule

of decision in this diversity action. 

B. Contested. 

1. Whether General Fire & Casualty Company’s policy

sub-limit for “vehicle liability - undeclared drivers” is

“conspicuous, plain and clear” and applicable and enforceable as

to Mendez. 

2. Interpretation of the General Fire policies with

respect to applicability and enforcement of different coverage

limits for losses arising out of the use of different vehicles

and specifically whether a $50,000 coverage limit for “trailers”

is applicable and here enforceable.

3. Liability under contract, if any.

4. The nature and amount of damages, if any.

5. The extent to which defense costs should be shared

and ultimately allocated as between Plaintiff and Defendant in

the underlying case.

VII. Consent to Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction.

1. The parties have not consented to transfer the 

case to the Magistrate Judge for all purposes, including trial.

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VIII. Corporate Identification Statement.

1. Any nongovernmental corporate party to any action in

this court shall file a statement identifying all its parent

corporations and listing any entity that owns 10% or more of the

party's equity securities. A party shall file the statement with

its initial pleading filed in this court and shall supplement the

statement within a reasonable time of any change in the

information. 

IX. Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment.

1. The parties shall file cross-motions for summary

judgment on June 7, 2007. 

2. Responses thereto are due July 3, 2007. 

3. Replies shall be filed on or before July 17, 2007.

4. The hearing on the cross-motions for summary judgment

is July 30, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom 3. The Court has

reserved extended time for oral argument. 

X. Pre-Trial Conference Date.

1. September 10, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. in Courtroom 3, 7th

Floor, before the Honorable Oliver W. Wanger, United States

District Judge. 

2. The parties are ordered to file a Joint PreTrial Statement pursuant to Local Rule 281(a)(2). 

3. Counsel's attention is directed to Rules 281 

and 282 of the Local Rules of Practice for the Eastern District

of California, as to the obligations of counsel in preparing for

the pre-trial conference. The Court will insist upon strict

compliance with those rules.

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XI. Trial Date.

1. October 16, 2007, at the hour of 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom

3, 7th Floor, before the Honorable Oliver W. Wanger, United

States District Judge. 

2. This is a non-jury trial.

3. Counsels' Estimate Of Trial Time:

a. 2 days.

4. Counsels' attention is directed to Local Rules

of Practice for the Eastern District of California, Rule 285. 

XII. Request For Bifurcation, Appointment Of Special Master, 

Or Other Techniques To Shorten Trial. 

1. None. 

XIII. Related Matters Pending.

1. There is a related matter entitled Jose Villalobos, et

al. v. Juan Jose Mendez Cobian, Fresno County Superior Court

Action Number 05CECG03445-MBS. 

XIV. Compliance With Federal Procedure.

1. The Court requires compliance with the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure and the Local Rules of Practice for the

Eastern District of California. To aid the court in the

efficient administration of this case, all counsel are directed

to familiarize themselves with the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure and the Local Rules of Practice of the Eastern District

of California, and keep abreast of any amendments thereto.

XV. Effect Of This Order.

1. The foregoing order represents the best

estimate of the court and counsel as to the agenda most suitable

to bring this case to resolution. The trial date reserved is

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specifically reserved for this case. If the parties determine at

any time that the schedule outlined in this order cannot be met,

counsel are ordered to notify the court immediately of that fact

so that adjustments may be made, either by stipulation or by

subsequent scheduling conference. 

2. Stipulations extending the deadlines contained

herein will not be considered unless they are accompanied by

affidavits or declarations, and where appropriate attached

exhibits, which establish good cause for granting the relief

requested. 

3. Failure to comply with this order may result in

the imposition of sanctions. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 7, 2007 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

emm0d6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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