Source: https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/alabama/alndce/2:2015cv01772/156766/60
Timestamp: 2017-05-23 03:39:58
Document Index: 537830742

Matched Legal Cases: ['ART 50', 'ART 50', '§ 6', '§ 6', '§ 3', '§ 206', '§ 204', '§\n6', '§ 6']

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING IN PART and DENYING IN PART 50 MOTION to Dismiss Second Amended Complaint as set out herein for Sabbah et al v. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company et al :: Justia Dockets & Filings Log In
Sabbah et al v. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company et al
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING IN PART and DENYING IN PART 50 MOTION to Dismiss Second Amended Complaint as set out herein. Defendants may file a new Motion to Dismiss, no later than May 31, 2017, which addressed ONLY the Statute of Limit ations Claims. Any Response brief should be filed no later than June 14, 2017. The Movant's Reply brief may be filed no later than 7 days after the date on which the Response brief was due. Signed by Judge Virginia Emerson Hopkins on 5/11/2017. (JLC)
2017 May-11 AM 11:38
IBRAHIM SABBAH, and SABBAH
BROTHERS ENTERPRISES, INC,
doing business as 14th Street BP,
) Case No.: 2:15-CV-1772-VEH
This is a civil action filed by the Plaintiffs, Ibrahim Sabbah (“Sabbah”), and
Sabbah Brothers Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a 14th Street BP (“SBE”), against the
Defendants, Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company (“NMFIC”) and Nationwide
Mutual Insurance Company (“NMIC”). (Doc. 47). The 113 page Second Amended
Complaint was filed on September 7, 2016. The following counts for relief are
alleged therein: negligent/wanton failure to settle by NMFIC (Count One);
negligent/wanton failure to settle by NMIC (Counts Two and Three); bad faith failure
to properly investigate, defend, and settle by NMFIC (Count Four); bad faith failure
to properly investigate, defend, and settle by NMIC (Counts Five and Six); bad faith
failure to indemnify by NMFIC (Count Seven); bad faith failure to indemnify by
NMIC (Counts Eight and Nine); breach of the enhanced duty and obligation of good
faith by NMFIC (Count Ten); breach of the enhanced duty and obligation of good
faith by NMIC (Count Eleven); breach of contract by NMFIC (Count Twelve); breach
of contract by NMIC (Count Thirteen); declaratory judgment against NMFIC (Count
Fourteen); and declaratory judgment against NMIC (Count Fifteen). All counts arise
out of judgments obtained against Sabbah and SBE in four underlying lawsuits, and
the instant Defendants’ refusal to indemnify SBE and Sabbah as to those judgments.
The case comes before the Court on the Defendants’ Motion To Dismiss
pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. (Doc. 50). For the
reasons stated herein the Motion To Dismiss will be GRANTED in part and
Generally, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require only that the complaint
provide “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled
to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). However, to survive a motion to dismiss brought under
Rule 12(b)(6), a complaint must “state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.”
Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007) (“Twombly”).
A claim has facial plausibility “when the plaintiff pleads factual content that
allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the
misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Twombly,
550 U.S. at 556) (“Iqbal”). That is, the complaint must include enough facts “to raise
a right to relief above the speculative level.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555 (citation and
footnote omitted). Pleadings that contain nothing more than “a formulaic recitation
of the elements of a cause of action” do not meet Rule 8 standards, nor do pleadings
suffice that are based merely upon “labels or conclusions” or “naked assertion[s]”
without supporting factual allegations. Id. at 555, 557 (citation omitted).
Once a claim has been stated adequately, however, “it may be supported by
showing any set of facts consistent with the allegations in the complaint.” Id. at 563
(citation omitted). Further, when ruling on a motion to dismiss, a court must “take the
factual allegations in the complaint as true and construe them in the light most
favorable to the plaintiff.” Pielage v. McConnell, 516 F.3d 1282, 1284 (11th Cir.
2008) (citing Glover v. Liggett Group, Inc., 459 F.3d 1304, 1308 (11th Cir. 2006)).
The Second Amended Complaint contains the following factual allegations:
On or about April 5, 2007, SBE purchased and/or renewed a
business owners liability insurance policy (Policy No.
77-BO-762-940-3001) (hereinafter the “NMIC Policy”) issued by
NMIC. (see Exhibit A1). On the same date, SBE purchased and/or
renewed a commercial general liability insurance policy with liquor law
liability coverage (Policy No. 77 PR 762-940-3007) (hereinafter the
“NMFIC Policy”) issued by NMFIC. (see Exhibit B2). The policy period
for both policies was April 5, 2007 to April 5, 2008.
The [NMIC] Policy listed SABBAH BROTHERS
ENTERPRISES INC. as the named insured and the NMFIC Policy
listed SABBAH BROTHERS ENTERPRISES INC., d/b/a 14TH
STREET BP as the named insured. (Ex. A, p.1; Ex. B, p.1). Both
policies describe SBE's business as convenience store. The NMFIC
Policy lists 14TH STREET BP as the name of the covered convenience
store and both policies list the covered address as “600 14th Street,
Bessemer, Alabama, 35023.”3
10. The NMFIC Policy provided liquor liability coverage in the sum
of $1,000,000 for each occurrence and $1,000,000 in the aggregate. The
NMFIC Policy will pay for “bodily injury” caused by “the selling,
serving or furnishing of any alcoholic beverage” at “premises you own,
“Exhibit A” is document 47-1 in the Court’s CM/ECF system. Attachments to a
complaint are properly considered in ruling on a motion to dismiss made pursuant to Rule
12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Halmos v. Bomardier Aerospace Corp., 404 F.
App'x 376, 377 (11th Cir. 2010) (citing Tellabs, Inc. v. Makor Issues & Rights, Ltd., 551 U.S.
308, 322, 127 S.Ct. 2499, 2509, 168 L.Ed.2d 179 (2007) and Bryant v. Avado Brands, Inc., 187
F.3d 1271, 1278 (11th Cir.1999)).
“Exhibit B” is document 47-2 in the Court’s CM/ECF system.
The Court has reviewed both policies and notes, for clarification, that the NMIC policy
lists “600 14th Street, Bessemer, Alabama 35026” as the address for the location of the covered
business. (Doc. 47-1 at 2) (emphasis added). The NMFIC policy lists “600 14th Street, Bessemer,
Alabama 35023” as the “location of all premises you own, rent, or occupy.” (Doc. 47-2 at 8)
rent or occupy.”4
11. The NMIC Policy provided business owners liability coverage in
the sum of $1,000,000 for each occurrence and $2,000,000 in the
aggregate. The NMIC Policy will pay for “bodily injury” caused by “an
occurrence” and “personal injury” caused by an offense arising out of
your business, that takes place in the “coverage territory” and during the
policy period. The NMIC Policy defines an occurrence as an accident,
and the coverage territory as the United States.
12. At all relevant times, the premises of the 14TH STREET BP
were owned by SBE and the store was operated pursuant to a lease
between SBE (lessor) and Nineteenth Street5 (lessee). SBE is a related
entity to Nineteenth Street. SABBAH is employee, owner, sole
shareholder, officer, and director of SBE and SBE is the sole
shareholder of Nineteenth Street. SABBAH is also an officer and
director of Nineteenth Street.
The Underlying Accident and Litigation
13. On or about May 2, 2007, an automobile accident occurred in
which three teens were severely and permanently injured and another
died. Those teens alleged that the accident was caused by alcohol
consumption and that the employee at the 14TH STREET BP located
at 600 14th Street, Bessemer had illegally sold alcohol to intoxicated
14. Through various pleadings and amendments, claims were brought
against Nineteenth Street, SBE, 14TH STREET BP and SABBAH by
the injured parties in the following Alabama state court civil actions, in
the Circuit Court for Jefferson County, Bessemer Division:
The Second Amended Complaint notes that emphasis was added here.
The legal name of this entity is “Nineteenth Street Investments.” It is referred to by the
parties, and this Court, as “Nineteenth Street,” and sometimes as “NSI.”
Sharon Robertson, et al. v. Brittany Caffee, et al.,
68-CV-2007-000633. (Plaintiff represented by Pat Lavette
of Davenport Lavette and Cleckler)
Tammy Hardin, Mother of Brittany Caffee v. Nineteenth
Street Investments, CV-2007-000633. (Plaintiff represented
by Don McKenna and Ashley Peinhardt of Hare Wynn
Newell & Newton)
Susan Green, et al. [Jennifer Vickery] v. Brittany Caffee,
et al., CV-2007-000783. (Plaintiff represented by Ralph
Bohanan of Bohanan and Associates)
Tisha Owens and Bobby Waldrop [Michael Waldrop] v.
Brittany Caffee, et al., CV-2007-00797. (Plaintiff
represented by Edward Tumlin, Esq.)
15. The state court lawsuits alleged that Nineteenth Street, SBE,
14TH STREET BP, and SABBAH were responsible for the deaths and
injuries of the minors pursuant to Alabama’s “Dram Shop” laws. The
basic allegation by the “dram shop Plaintiffs” (hereinafter collectively
referred to as the “Claimants”) was that Nineteenth Street illegally sold
alcoholic beverages to Brittany Caffee, a minor, from its “14th Street
BP” convenience store in Bessemer, Alabama. Claimants alleged that
Caffee became intoxicated as a consequence of these illegal sales and
that she later crashed the vehicle she was driving, killing one passenger
and injuring the others. Additionally, each of the lawsuits alleged that
SBE, 14TH STREET BP, and SABBAH were liable for any judgment
rendered against Nineteenth on equitable veil-piercing and/or alter-ego
grounds. Claimants made claims that SABBAH was “an officer,
director, and shareholder” of SBE.
The Claim Management, Handling, and Adjusting
SBE d/b/a 14TH STREET BP, SABBAH, and Nineteenth Street
requested that NMFIC and NMIC provide it defense and indemnity for
each of the above lawsuits under the terms of the Policies. . . .
18. While NMFIC issued the NMFIC Policy to SBE d/b/a 14TH
STREET BP, on information and belief, NMFIC and/or NMIC
handled all aspects of managing, handling, and adjusting the claim. The
correspondence regarding the claims were sent from employees of
Nationwide on behalf of both NMFIC and NMIC. On information and
belief, NMFIC is the alter-ego of NMIC in that NMIC, at all relevant
times, exercised total dominion and control over NMFIC and NMIC
voluntarily undertook the management, handling, and adjusting of
claims against the NMFIC Policy. On information and belief, NMIC
voluntarily undertook certain duties to be performed by NMFIC and
NMIC acted on behalf of NMFIC to perform the services related to the
management, handling, and adjusting of claims against the NMFIC
Policy. Also, during the course of the underlying litigation, employees
and agents of NMFIC acted on behalf of NMIC to perform the services
related to the management, handling, and adjusting of claims against the
NMIC Policy.
19. During the course of the litigation, defense counsel on the
underlying claims against SBE, 14TH STREET BP, and SABBAH
provided regular updates and correspondence to NMFIC and NMIC,
including commercial claims specialist Kelly Jackson and Kevin
Paschall. These letters were directed to “Nationwide Insurance
Company” and not specifically NMFIC or NMIC, making it impossible
to determine which company [was] responsible for managing, handling,
and adjusting the claims. According to the Alabama Department of
Insurance, there is no such corporate entity named “Nationwide
Insurance Company.” Upon information and belief, “Nationwide
Insurance Company” is a conflation of NMFIC and NMIC intended to
permit either entity to act on behalf of and/or as the alter-ego of the
other in performing the services related to the management, handling,
and adjusting of claims against each insurer's policies.
On July 2, 2007, Kori Clement (“Clement”) wrote to Kelly
Jackson6 of “Nationwide Insurance Company” to “confirm and
acknowledge [her] assignment of the defense of Sabbah Brothers
Enterprises.” (see Exhibit C7). The letter provided no other clarification
of whether NMFIC, NMIC, or both entities was assigning the defense
of the action. Likewise, the very same day, Clement sent a letter to SBE
advising of her firm’s retention and instructing him to not speak with
anyone other than someone from her firm or “a representative of
Nationwide Insurance Company.” (see Exhibit D8). Despite [the fact
that] they were paying her bill, based on the correspondence to and from
Clement, it is clear that she made no distinction between the
non-existent entity of “Nationwide Insurance Company” and NMFIC
and/or NMIC.
21. On July 17, 2007, Clement sent an initial case evaluation to Kelly
Jackson of “Nationwide Insurance Company.” (see Exhibit E9). Despite
both NMFIC and NMIC issuing policies at issue, Kelly Jackson was
not noted in this letter to be employed by either NMFIC or NMIC.
[Clement . . . informed . . . Jackson . . . that a coverage defense
trying to pin all of the liability on the non-named insured (Nineteenth
Street) would not exculpate the named insureds. [sic] Counsel stated that
we may “seek to avoid liability by arguing that [Nineteenth Street],
rather than SBE, sold the beverages to Ms. Caffee. [Nineteenth Street]
operated the 14th Street BP station and it held the liquor license to the
property … [but] … even if we could prove that [Nineteenth Street], and
not SBE, provided the liquor to Ms. Caffee, the plaintiff could arguably
still hold SBE liable by showing that [Nineteenth Street] is basically
merely the alter ego of SBE. Plaintiff could accomplish this by showing
The Court notes that the letter refers to Jackson as a “Commercial Claims Specialist.”
(Doc. 47-3 at 2).
“Exhibit C” is document 47-3 in ths Court’s CM/ECF system.
“Exhibit D” is document 47-4 in the Court’s CM/ECF system. The Court notes that the
letter was addressed to “Sabbah Brothers Enterprises, Inc. c/o Ibrahim Sabbah.” (Doc. 47-4 at 2).
“Exhibit E” is document 47-5 in the Court’s CM/ECF system.
that SBE owns all of [Nineteenth Street]'s issued stock, which we
understand it does. … Therefore, we believe it is unlikely that we will
prevail by showing that [Nineteenth Street], and not SBE, dispensed the
liquor, but we will pursue the facts regarding that argument." (see
Exhibit E).10]11
[On] July 19, 2007 - Kelly Jackson sent a letter to SBE and SABBAH
on behalf of both NMFIC and NMIC denying coverage on the claims
and offering a “courtesy defense” to SBE on behalf of those entities.
(see Exhibit F12). . . .13
23. On January 26, 2009, following several amendments by the
Claimants to underlying complaints, Kevin Paschall14 sent SBE dba
14th Street BP15 a letter on behalf of NMFIC [stating] that [NMFIC]
The Court has omitted the following argument from this paragraph:
This letter clearly warned NMFIC and NMIC about the clear risk to the insureds
in 2007—eight years before final judgment was entered. Moreover, this letter
clearly informed both NMIC and NMFIC that SBE could be liable as the alter-ego
of Nineteenth, even if SBE was not the entity that sold the alcohol. Such liability
is unquestionably covered under both the NMIC and NMFIC Policies.
Bracketed material pulled from paragraph 28 of the Second Amended Complaint.
“Exhibit F” is document 47-6 in the Court’s CM/ECF system.
The Court has excluded from its recitation of the pleaded facts the following
conclusion: “Therefore, it is clear that both NMIC and NMFIC were participating in the defense
of Plaintiffs.” Similarly, the following has been omitted:
The allegations, as contained in the "four corners" of the Claimants'
complaints, clearly alleged covered claims by both policies against the named
insured SBE and the clear definitional insured -- SABBAH.
The Court notes that the letter identifies Pascall as from the “Claims Department” of
“Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company.” (Doc. 47-7 at 2).
The Court notes that the letter was sent to “Attn Ibrahim Sabbah.” (Doc. 47-7 at 2).
was investigating the claim against SBE and indicated that “It is
possible that the value of this claim will be more than the limits of your
policy. Because of this possibility, you may want to consider consulting
with an attorney at your own expense.” (see Exhibit G16).
24. On February 23, 2009, . . . NMFIC and NMIC sent a letter to
SABBAH disclaiming coverage, but affording a “courtesy defense.”
(see Exhibit H17). The letter specifically disclaimed coverage under the
NMIC Policy18 because “no liquor liability coverage was purchased for
this policy, there is no coverage for this claim.”19 . . .20
On April 3, 2009, . . . NMFIC21 sent SBE and SABBAH22 a
“Exhibit G” is document 47-7 in the Court’s CM/ECF system.
“Exhibit H” is document 47-8 in the Court’s CM/ECF system.
The Court notes that the letter referenced and discussed coverage under both policies at
issue in this case, as well as others. It appears that the Plaintiffs are trying to convey that, in the
portion of the letter discussing the NMIC policy the letter specifically disclaimed overage as to
that policy, based on that fact that “no liquor liability coverage was purchased for [that] policy.”
(Doc. 47–8 at 3).
The Court notes that the letter references the following “insureds”: Sabbah Brothers
Enterprises, Inc., Sabbah Brothers Enterptises, Inc. d/b/a Red Rock 2, Sabbah Brothers
Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a Liberty Convenience Store, and Sabbah Brothers Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a
14th Street BP. (Doc. 47-8 at 2).
The following argument was deleted from this paragraph by the Court: “This disclaimer
of coverage was factually incorrect because the NMIC Policy only excluded coverage for liquor
liability if SBE was ‘in the business’ of manufacturing, distributing, selling, serving or furnishing
alcoholic beverages.”
The Court notes that the letter specifically stated that “Nationwide Mutual Fire
Insurance Company (‘Nationwide’) has examined the claim made against you by the
above-referenced claimant.” (Doc. 47-9 at 1). It referenced as the “insured”: Sabbah Brothers
Enterprises Inc DBA: 14th Street BP. (Doc. 47-9 at 1). It also referenced both policies at issue in
this case. See doc. 47-9 at 1 (“Nationwide has reviewed the relevant information, including the
Nationwide policy numbers, 77 PR 762940-3007 and 77 BO 762940-3001 (the ‘policies’)”).
The Court notes that the letter was addressed to “Ibrahim Sabbah Sabbah Brothers
Enterprises, Inc.” (Doc. 47-9 at 1).
Reservation of Rights letter (“ROR”). (see Exhibit I23). The letter
indicated that NMFIC examined both the NMFIC Policy and the NMIC
business owner's policy. The letter noted that “the claim presented by
this claimant may not be covered under the policies,” and that whether
coverage is provided will hinge on “issue[s] that will ultimately be
determined by a court of law.” (Emphasis added). . . .24 The letter states:
The coverage issues related to each cause of action against
you include, but are not limited to:
The business owner’s liability coverage form excludes
coverage for liquor liability, and the liquor liability
coverage form excludes coverage when there is no liquor
license in effect. SBE did not have a liquor license in effect
when this loss occurred.
The following excerpts from your coverage form will help
to explain the coverage issues.
26. Regarding the NMFIC Policy, NMFIC cites the following
exclusion in the policy:
“Injury” arising out of any alcoholic beverage sold, served
or furnished while any required license is not in effect.
“Exhibit I” is document 47-9 in the Court’s CM/ECF system.
The Court has omitted the following argument from this paragraph: “Thus, an adjuster
acting on behalf of NMFIC was managing, handling, and adjusting the claims under both the
NMFIC Policy and the NMIC Policy and lumped the analyses of these policies into one letter.”
(Ex. B, p.20-21). . . .25 Nineteenth Street held a valid liquor license, SBE
held a valid business license and the subject sale was made pursuant to
that legal authority.
27. In the same letter, NMFIC asserted that the NMIC Policy
excluded coverage for liquor liability citing the following exclusion in
the NMIC Policy:
Applicable To Business Liability Coverage
"Bodily injury" or "property damage"
for which any insured may be held
liable by reason of:
(1) Causing or contributing to the
intoxication of any person;
(2) The furnishing of alcoholic
beverages to a person under the legal
drinking age or under the influence of
NMFIC ignored the undisputed fact that a valid liquor license was “in effect” for
the subject alcohol sale at the 14th Street BP and erroneously and in bad faith
sought to apply the above exclusion. NMFIC disregarded the fact that the policy
exclusion language did not require that the liquor license be in the name of the
named insured, but rather, the policy merely excludes coverage when “any
required license is not in effect” -i.e. an illegal sale of alcohol by an unlicensed
(3) Any statute, ordinance or regulation
relating to the sale, gift, distribution or
This exclusion applies only if you are
in the business of manufacturing,
distributing, selling, serving or
furnishing alcoholic beverages.
(Ex. I).26 NMFIC also states in the letter “While we argue that SBE did
not and could not have furnished any alcoholic beverages to Brittany
Caffee because SBE does not operate the business that would have done
so, this is an issue that will ultimately be determined by a court of law.
The applicable policy exclusions will depend on the ultimate finding.”27
29. . . . [O]n April 26, 2010, NMFIC and/or NMIC28 sent another
letter [to Sabbah and SBE] that reaffirmed the ROR defense and the fact
that coverage will hinge on issues that will be decided by a court of law.
The Second Amended Complaint notes that emphasis was added here. (Doc. 47 at 14,
¶ 27).
The position taken by NMFIC that SBE did not operate the convenience store and
did not have a liquor license (in support of its possible exclusion of coverage
under the NMFIC policy) clearly triggers coverage for such claims under the
NMIC policy where coverage for such claim was excluded “only if you are in the
business of” selling alcohol. Ironically, NMFIC contradicts itself in its attempts to
disclaim coverage under both policies when coverage under both policies should
have been accepted by NMFIC and NMIC.
The letter states that “Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company (‘Nationwide’) has
examined the claims made against you by the above-referenced claimant.” (Doc. 47-10 at 2). It
discusses both policies at issue in this case.
After April 26, 2010, no additional coverage letters or ROR letters were
ever sent by NMFIC and/or NMIC to PLAINTIFFS. (see Exhibit J29;
also at Doc. 1-2).30
32. In the years following the accident, the Claimants made several
offers to settle and would have settled all of their claims against the
PLAINTIFFS for an amount within the $1,000,000 limits of either
policy. Such offers to settle were communicated orally and in writing on
33. Specifically, on March 3, 2011, Claimants, by and through one of
their counsel Patrick M. Lavette, notified NMFIC and/or NMIC in
writing via a letter to PLAINTIFFS’ counsel (in the underlying case)
Kori Clement that Claimants would accept the available $1,000,000
policy limits in order to settle all of the Claimants claims against
PLAINTIFFS. (see Exhibit K31; also at Doc. 1-3).
In this letter, Mr. Lavette points out the following critical facts:
The Defendants’ motions for summary judgment have been
denied and the court has indicated that all issues –
“Exhibit J” is document 47-10 in the Court’s CM/ECF system.
The Court has omitted the following conclusory statements from the statement of facts:
Pursuant to the policy language in both policies, it is undisputed
that SBE was a named insured and the subject claims made by the Claimants were
that SABBAH was an insured as defined in the definitional section of the policy
and the subject claims made by the Claimants were covered.
“Exhibit K” is document 47-11 in the Court’s CM/ECF system.
including the corporate identity issues – will go to trial.
All living plaintiffs ([C]laimants) will testify that alcohol
was illegally purchased by Caffee from the 14th Street BP
convenience store. It is undisputed that she became
intoxicated from that alcohol and crashed as a result of her
intoxication. She was underage, was not carded, and the
sale was illegal.
One of the largest verdicts in Jefferson County history
arose from a liquor liability action in the same court, the
Bessemer cut off. In that case [Chambliss v. Applebee's],
CV-96-744, a Bessemer jury returned a $13,000,000
judgment against Applebee’s for overserving a 20-year-old
girl who later died in a single-vehicle car crash.
This case is even more tragic in that a 13-year-old boy was
killed, 2 other teenagers were seriously injured, and there
is a potential for multiple large verdicts.
The case for disregarding the corporate form is especially
strong considering Mr. Sabbah regularly commingles
assets among the various corporations and uses whichever
corporate entity is more advantageous or convenient in
certain circumstances. For example, SBE makes all the oil
and gas purchases for 19th Street yet 19th Street claims
these expenses for income tax purposes. SBE claims to
own all of the shares of 19th Street yet for personal income
tax purposes Mr. Sabbah claims that he owns all the shares.
Money is regularly moved from one corporation to another
and Sabbah regularly draws money out of both
Corporations. Bills of one corporation are regularly paid by
the other. Little accounting work appears to have been
done to distinguish between the corporations. The evidence
is clear that Mr. Sabbah operates all of these corporations
for his own benefit and that he, SBE, and 19th are
essentially one and the same.
Sabbah and SBE are clearly covered by the
Nationwide insurance policy.
The parties clearly obtained dram shop liability coverage
for the convenience store operating at the 600 14th Street
the defense posture in this case is that the 2 insured entities
– Sabbah and SBE – have no liability in this matter and the
entity that sold the alcohol – Nineteenth St. – has no
insurance. Although this might be a favorable result for
Nationwide, it is a potentially disastrous result for
Nineteenth Street and for Mr. Sabbah.
All of the plaintiffs agree to accept the $1 million policy
limits available and to dismiss all claims.
35. Based on the legal and factual posture of the case, the trial court
[in the underlying cases] decided that a bifurcated trial was necessary.
The first trial would be against Nineteenth Steet Investments, the named
operator of the 14TH STREET BP, and a jury would decide whether
the operator of the store was liable pursuant to the Dram [S]hop Acts for
the subject accident and the resulting damages suffered. If the Claimants
prevailed in the jury trial against the operator, then a bench trial would
be conducted several months later to determine the liability of SBE and
SABBAH for the previously issued judgment against the operator.
36. Despite attempts by the Claimants to settle the case within limits
prior to the first trial, NMFIC and NMIC refused to ever make an offer
under either policy.
The Verdicts and Appeal
37. On or about February 8, 2013, the Claimants received a jury
verdict totaling Fifteen Million, One Hundred Fifty Thousand and
no/100 Dollars ($15,150,000.00) against Nineteenth (1st phase of trial)
Sharon Robertson [obo] Andrew Robertson
38. On March 14, 2013, despite having just received a $15,150,000
jury verdict against Nineteenth, Claimants, by and through one of the
counsel of record Patrick M. Lavette, notified NMFIC and NMIC in
writing that Claimants would accept the available $1,000,000 policy
limits in order to settle all of the Claimants claims against all of the
insureds--Nineteenth, SBE and SABBAH. It was known at this time that
a separate bench trial would occur later that year which would decide as
a matter of law and fact whether Nineteenth’s corporate veil should be
pierced and judgment entered against SBE and SABBAH. (See Exhibit
L32; also at Doc. 1-4).
39. On April 10, 2013, SABBAH and SBE made demand upon
NMFIC and NMIC in writing via a letter to Kori Clement that NMFIC
and/or NMIC must pay the available $1,000,000 policy limits in order
to settle all of the Claimants’ claims and in order to protect the insureds.
No offer was ever made.
40. On November 1, 2013, the Claimants and PLAINTIFFS
concluded the second phase of the trial (non-jury) which encompassed
four days of testimony and evidence.
41. On December 20, 2013, the trial court entered a Final
Consolidated Judgment in which it used its equitable powers to bind
SBE and [SABBAH] to the judgments against Nineteenth. The trial
court then entered a $15,150,000 judgment against SABBAH, SBE, and
42. Despite the Claimants’ and PLAINTIFFS’ demands for
settlement, neither NMFIC or NMIC ever made a single offer under
The Court notes that “Exhibit L” is the March 14, 2013, letter from Lavette to Clement.
either policy to settle these cases.
43. On July 31, 2014, PLAINTIFFS filed a notice of appeal of the
underlying court’s judgment.
44. Instead of protecting PLAINTIFFS by posting a full supersedeas
bond (or seeking a lesser bond from the Alabama Supreme [C]ourt to
secure the judgment through appeal) to cover the judgment and
post-judgment interest as required by Alabama Rule of Appellate
Procedure 8(a)(1), NMFIC and NMIC refused to post a bond and failed
to honor the language in both policies that required that a bond be
posted. The posting of the required bond would have secured the
judgment, protected the insureds, and staved off collection efforts by
Claimants during the pendency of the appeal. Instead, the failure to post
a bond has left PLAINTIFFS exposed to the multi-million dollar
45. On November 20, 2015, the Alabama Supreme Court affirmed the
judgments without opinion.
(Doc. 47 at 3-20) (emphasis and italics in original except where otherwise noted).
Judge Acker’s Opinion
In a December 16, 2015, Order, Judge William M. Acker, Jr., to whom this
case was originally assigned, wrote:
“[A] cause of action arising out of a failure to settle a third-party claim
made against the insured does not accrue unless and until the claimant
obtains a final judgment in excess of the policy limits.” Evans v. Mut.
Assur., Inc., 727 So. 2d 66, 67 (Ala. 1999). However, a cause of action
for “a first-party claim wherein . . . the insurer had, in bad faith, refused
to pay a legitimate claim made by the insured on his own policy . . .
accrues the moment the insurer refuses, in bad faith, to honor the claim,
and that the insurer cannot absolve itself of liability by subsequently
tendering payment.” Id. at 68. Under both tort theories, the applicable
statute of limitations is two years. ALA. CODE. § 6-2-38.
In this case, plaintiffs argue that their claims contained in Counts
I, II, and III of their complaint are third-party bad faith claims where “a
liability insurance carrier[] fail[s] to protect its insured from a third-party
claim.” (Doc. 11 at 7). See Chavers v. Nat'l Sec. Fire & Cas. Co., 405
So. 2d 1, 5 (Ala. 1981) (“third[-]party actions involv[e] . . . recovery
against the insurer in situations where the insurer wrongfully refuses,
either negligently or intentionally, to settle the third[-]party claim within
policy limits and where, as a result, the insured incurs a judgment
against him in an amount in excess of the policy”). Therefore, judgment
having been entered against plaintiffs on December 20, 2013 by the
Circuit Court of Jefferson County (Doc. 1 at 5-6, 13) and post-judgment
motions having been denied on June 20, 2014 by the Supreme Court of
Alabama (Doc. 1 at 13; Doc. 11 at 5), Counts I, II, and III were timely
filed on October 13, 2015 within the two year statute of limitations.
(Doc. 16 at 3) (footnote omitted). In an important footnote, Judge Acker also wrote:
A close reading of plaintiffs’ complaint suggests that as to at least one
defendant, Counts I, II, and III do not arise from refusal to settle with
third-party claimants in favor of going to trial, but rather appear to arise
from refusal to settle because plaintiffs were not covered by the policy.
(Doc. 1 at 8-11); see Fed. Ins. Co. v. Travelers Cas. & Sur. Co., 843 So.
2d 140, 143 (Ala. 2002) (finding third-party liability arises from the
insured relinquishing control of the defense and settlement of the action
to the insurer because “reliance on the abilities and good faith of the
insurer is therefore necessarily at a maximum”). Specifically, plaintiffs
allege defendants refused to ever defend or indemnify Nineteenth Street
“[b]ecause it was not listed as the named insured.” (Doc. 1 at 7).
Additionally, plaintiffs allege defendants initially denied coverage for
plaintiffs while still offering “a ‘courtesy defense’ wherein it agreed to
pay for counsel but expressly refused coverage and denied any
indemnity whatsoever.” (Doc. 1 at 8). Plaintiffs allege that defendants
later replaced this arrangement with “a defense under a reservation of
rights . . . [where plaintiffs] ‘may not be covered under the policies.’”
(Doc. 1 at 8). While plaintiffs contend Counts I, II, and III are
third-party liability claims, the facts contained in their complaint and
attached insurance policy language and communications instead may
support only first-party claims for bad faith refusal to pay by an insurer;
however, plaintiffs’ conflation of both defendants, and defendants’
limited grounds for its motion to dismiss, make adjudication of these
issues not ripe for review.
(Doc. 16 at 3, n. 2) (emphasis added).
The Bankruptcy of Nineteenth Street and the Adversary Proceeding
On September 9, 2011, Nineteenth Street filed a Petition for Relief under
Chapter 7 of the United States Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the
Northern District of Alabama, Southern Division. (Doc. 1-1 at 1). On September 23,
2015, Andre M. Toffel, in his capacity as trustee of the bankruptcy estate of
Nineteenth Street, filed an adversary proceeding against NMIC, Patricia Donaldson,
and the Pat Donaldson agency. Asserting many of the same allegations as are set out
in the instant case, Toffel alleged liability for: Negligent/Wanton Failure To Procure
Insurance Coverage (Count One); Breach of Contract (Count Two); and Bad Faith
Refusal To Defend, Indemnify, and Settle (Count Three).
District Judge Karon O. Bowdre withdrew the reference of the case from the
bankruptcy court and, on August 15, 2016, dismissed the case. As to the bad faith
claim she wrote:
Under Alabama law, “ ‘[t]he statute of limitations for bad faith
claims arising on or after January 9, 1985, is two years.’ ” Jones v. Alfa
Mut. Ins. Co., 875 So. 2d 1189, 1193 (Ala. 2003) (quoting ALFA Mut.
Ins. Co. v. Smith, 540 So. 2d 691, 692 (Ala. 1988)); see also Ala. Code
§ 6-2-38. “ ‘The cause of action for bad faith refusal to honor insurance
benefits accrues upon the event of the bad faith refusal, or upon the
knowledge of facts which would reasonably lead the insured to a
discovery of the bad faith refusal.’ ” Jones, 875 So. 2d at 1193 (quoting
Safeco Ins. Co. of America v. Sims, 435 So. 2d 1219, 1222 (Ala. 1983)).
A letter denying insurance coverage should be sufficient to “put a
reasonable mind on notice of the possible existence of fraud” and, thus,
to trigger the running of statute of limitations for a bad faith refusal
claim. Farmers & Merchants Bank v. Home Ins. Co., 514 So. 2d 825,
831-32 (Ala. 1987).
In the instant case, Nationwide's July 19, 2007 letter denying
coverage was sufficient to put Nineteenth Street on notice of
Nationwide's possible bad faith. Nationwide’s denial is the event that
forms the basis for Toffel's bad faith claim. Therefore, the court finds
that the statute of limitations for Toffel’s bad faith refusal to defend
claim began to run on July 19, 2007 and expired on July 19, 2009.
Toffel's bad faith claim asserted in the adversarial proceeding filed on
September 6, 2013 was untimely.
Toffel argues in response that[] his claims are not barred by the
statute of limitations because Nineteenth Street’s claims did not accrue
until a final judgment was entered against it in the state court lawsuits.
Toffel contends that the Defendants have failed to recognize the
distinction between first-party and third-party insurance cases, and that
in third-party insurance cases, the cause of action does not accrue until
a final judgment is entered against the insured.
In support of this argument, Toffel cites third-party failure to
settle cases. In the context of third-party failure to settle cases, Alabama
courts have held that “a cause of action arising out of a failure to settle
a third-party claim made against the insured does not accrue unless and
until the claimant obtains a final judgment in excess of the policy
limits.” [Evans v. Mut. Assur., Inc., 727 So. 2d 66, 67 (Ala. 1999)].
In his original Complaint, Toffel did not assert a failure to settle
claim. Rather, Toffel asserted claims for negligent failure to procure
insurance and bad faith refusal to defend, indemnify, and settle. Toffel
argues, without citing any case law, that the distinction made between
first-party and third-party claims in the failure to settle context applies
to claims for negligent procurement and bad faith refusal to defend as
well. Alabama courts, however, have not pronounced this distinction as
broadly as Toffel suggests.
Additionally, this case is distinguishable from the third-party
cases that hold that a claim does not accrue until final judgment. For
example, in Evans, a doctor was sued in a wrongful death action. 727
So. 2d 66. The doctor’s malpractice insurer undertook to represent him
with a reservation of rights in the wrongful death action. The case went
to trial, and the jury returned a verdict against the doctor. While the case
was on appeal, the malpractice insurer settled the case for an amount in
excess of the doctor's $1 million coverage limit. The doctor alleged that
his insurer should have settled the case before trial within his $1 million
policy limit. No dispute existed in Evans as to whether the doctor's claim
was covered. Id.
In the instant case, however, Nineteenth Street knew that
Nationwide did not intend to provide any coverage for its claim or
defend it in the state court lawsuits as of the date it sent Nineteenth
Street the denial letter, July 19, 2007. Unlike the insurance company in
Evans, Nationwide did not agree that Nineteenth Street’s claim was
covered and did not undertake to defend the suits against it.
Moreover, in the typical liability insurance contract, “the insured
expressly relinquishes to the insurer the right to control the defense and
settlement of any action arising under the contract. The insured’s
reliance on the abilities and the good faith of the insurer is therefore
necessarily at a maximum.” Federal Ins. Co. v. Travelers Cas. & Sur.
Co., 843 So. 2d 140, 143 (Ala. 2002). When a third-party files a claim
against the insured, the insured sends that claim to the insurer, and the
insurer accepts coverage and controls the defense and settlement of the
insured’s case. The insured will not be injured, if at all, until the insurer
fails to settle the case within the insured's policy limits.
In the present case, Nationwide never agreed to defend Nineteenth
Street in the state court lawsuits. Nationwide did not take control of the
defense and settlement of the state court lawsuits. Therefore, the policy
concerns implicated in the typical third-party failure to settle case are
not present in the instant case. Nineteenth Street was injured, and its
cause of action accrued, on the date that Nationwide denied coverage of
its claim, even though the full extent of its damages were not known
until the state court entered judgments against it. See Chandiwala v.
Pate Constr. Co., 89 So. 2d 540, 543 (Ala. 2004) (“A cause of action
accrues as soon as the claimant is entitled to maintain an action,
regardless of whether the full amount of the damage is apparent at the
time of the first legal injury.”) (citations omitted). The statute of
limitations on Nineteenth Street’s claim began to run on the date
Nationwide denied it coverage. The third-party failure to settle cases
cited by Toffel are inapplicable to the present case.
Therefore, the court finds that Toffel’s claims against the
Defendants are due to be dismissed because they are barred under the
applicable statutes of limitations.
Toffel v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., No. 2:15-CV-01669-KOB, 2016 WL 4271837, at
*7–8 (N.D. Ala. Aug. 15, 2016). Judge Bowdre also refused to allow Toffel to amend
the complaint to add a claim for negligent/wanton failure to settle, writing:
Toffel's new claim for negligent/wanton failure to settle would likewise
be barred under the applicable statute of limitations. As discussed
previously, Nineteenth Street was injured when Nationwide refused to
provide it with coverage. The accrual rule stated in third-party failure to
settle claims is inapplicable to this case because Nationwide did not
agree to defend Nineteenth Street, and Nineteenth Street never
relinquished its control or ability to settle the state court lawsuits.
Therefore, the statute of limitations period for Toffel’s negligent failure
to settle claim would have expired as of July 19, 2009 – two years from
the date that Nationwide denied coverage of Nineteenth Street’s claim.
Toffel’s adversary proceeding filed in 2013 was untimely.
Toffel, 2016 WL 4271837, at *9.
On September 12, 2016, Toffel filed a motion, pursuant to Rule 59(e), to alter
or amend Judge Bowdre’s final judgment. (Doc. 24 in Toffel v. Nationwide Mutual
Ins. Co., et al., 2:15-cv-01669-KOB). As of the date of this opinion, that motion
remains pending before Judge Bowdre.
This Court’s Order of September 7, 2016 [Doc. 46]
In this Court’s Order of September 7, 2016, the Court denied a then-pending
motion to dismiss, allowed the Plaintiffs to file a Second Amended Complaint, and
otherwise wrote:
The Court has thoroughly examined the record and notes that there is an
issue as to whether at least some of the Plaintiffs’ claims are barred by
the applicable statute of limitations. Although this potential issue was
noted in the footnote to Judge Acker’s opinion, and the Defendants
purport to “renew their motion to dismiss due to the lapse of the
applicable limitations period” (doc. 19 at 18), there is no real argument
on this point by either side in the most recent briefs. Further, the court
is inclined to reconsider Judge Acker’s order to the extent that it impacts
these issues. Too, although it was inappropriate to reassign this case to
Judge Bowdre (doc. 44), the Court would be remiss if it did not at least
consider why her ruling should not persuade this Court’s approach. This
point has not been addressed by the parties.
(Doc. 46 at 19) (footnotes omitted). The Court then allowed the filing of another
amendment, in part to allow for “a more thorough analysis” of these issues. (Doc. 46
at 20).
The Defendants first argue that “it is apparent from the face of the Second
Amended Complaint that Plaintiffs’ claims are first-party claims” . . . “barred by the
applicable statutes of limitations.” (Doc. 50 at 10) (emphasis added). The Court will
address in more detail below distinctions between first-party and third[-]party claims.
However, it notes first that there are fifteen separate counts in the Second Amended
Complaint. They can be categorized as follows: claims asserting negligent/wanton
failure to settle (Counts One, Two, and Three); claims asserting bad faith (Counts
Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, and Nine); claims asserting “breach of the enhanced
duty and obligation of good faith” (Counts Ten and Eleven); claims alleging breach
of contract (Counts Twelve and Thirteen); and claims requesting a declaration as to
coverage (Counts Fourteen and Fifteen). The general reference by the Defendants to
the Plaintiffs’ “claims,” without distinguishing among them, is unhelpful to the Court.
Nevertheless, without citing to authority, the Defendants argue that all of the
claims in the Second Amended Complaint are “first-party refusal to pay” claims, and
insist that “first-party claims for refusal to pay, whether alleging breach of contract,
bad faith, negligence or wantonness, begin to run when an insurer disclaims
coverage.” (Doc. 50 at 11; see also, doc. 50 at 16 (“Whether founded upon breach of
contract, bad faith or negligence/wantonness . . . the claims are necessarily in the
first-party insurance context[.]”). The Plaintiffs also lump all of their claims together
when they state that their “claims[] arise out of the fiduciary duties an insurer owed
its insured with respect to a third-party liability claim.” (Doc. 54 at 6) (emphasis
added).33
The Court deems it more appropriate to analyze whether the statute of
limitations has run as to each category of claim asserted.
“First-Party” vs. “Third-Party” Claims
It is appropriate to first step back and clarify what is meant by “first-party” and
“third-party” claims. The terms are most often defined in the context of the law of bad
In a footnote to this statement, the Plaintiffs cite to the following language from State
Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Hollis, 554 So. 2d 387, 391–92 (Ala. 1989): “The insurer has a
fiduciary duty to look after the insured’s interest at least to the same extent as its own.” Hollis
was a negligent failure to settle case, not a bad faith case. Accordingly, Hollis cannot stand for
the proposition that all of the categories of the Plaintiffs’ claims arise from the fiduciary duty
recognized in Hollis.
Lawyers and judges tend to use the term “third-party bad faith” loosely
to refer to bad faith cases involving liability insurance policies. In most
cases, this usage causes no harm. To be accurate, however, one should
reserve the term “third-party bad faith” for bad faith cases based on a
liability insurer's failure to accept a third-party claimant's offer to settle
his claim against the insured.
Stephen S. Ashley, Bad Faith Actions: Liability & Damages § 3:1 (2d ed.) (emphasis
added). “[T]hird-party common law bad faith consists of conduct by a liability insurer
which exposes its insured to an excess judgment when the insurer could have and
should have settled [a] claim against its insured within policy limits.” 14 Steven Plitt,
et al., Couch on Ins. § 206:8. “Unlike the third-party case, first-party bad faith
inherently involves the insurer's refusal to pay a claim of its own insured on the
ground that it is not within the coverage, is overstated, or has not yet been adequately
proved.” 14 Steven Plitt, et al., Couch on Ins. § 204:28.
In Alabama, third-party claims sound in both bad faith and negligence. The
Alabama Supreme Court first recognized such third-party claims in Waters v. Am.
Cas. Co. of Reading, Pa., 261 Ala. 252, 73 So. 2d 524 (1953). In Waters, the Plaintiff,
Waters, owned a theater in Birmingham, Alabama in which a patron was injured. The
patron and her husband sued Waters for their respective injuries.34 Waters had $5,000
in liability insurance with American Casualty Company of Reading, Pennsylvania
The husband’s claim was for loss of consortium.
(“American Casualty”). After damage awards totaling $18,500 were obtained against
Waters, American Casualty paid the $5,000 it owed under the policy. Waters then
sued American Casualty for the difference, alleging negligence “in that: Defendant,
its servants, agents and attorneys negligently failed or refused to settle said claim for
damages against this defendant for the sum of $5,000 within the limits of said
policy,” and bad faith in that
the defendant failed to perform the duty it owed this plaintiff and the
exercise of good faith in the negotiations for the settlements of said
claims and suits, but, on the contrary, wrongfully and in bad faith, and
acting for its own interests, wrongfully failed, declined or refused to
settle said claim after the institution of said suits against this plaintiff.
Waters, 73 So. 2d at 528.
The Alabama Supreme Court ruled that liability under such circumstances may
be based on either negligence or bad faith. On rehearing, the Court wrote:
There is a field of operation for both aspects of liability: that is,
negligence in one, and bad faith in the other. We cannot set aside the
principle of liability for negligently performing a contract as set forth in
the opinion supra. It may arise when an insurer is engaged in performing
his contractual duty owing to the insured to defend the suit. The law
raises a duty not contractual, but by reason of the contract, to exercise
ordinary diligence in doing so. A failure to exercise ordinary diligence
proximately causing damage to the insured is actionable in tort. The
contract of insurance gives the insurer the exclusive right to make a
settlement of the claim against insured. That right imposes a
corresponding duty raised by law to observe ordinary diligence in
performing that power, when in the exercise of it. So that, when an
opportunity is presented to the insurer to make a settlement of the claim
in an amount not more than the limit of liability, the law raises a duty on
his part to use ordinary care to ascertain the facts on which its
performance depends if he has not already done so. If the insurer
neglects to exercise ordinary diligence in ascertaining these facts, if he
has not already done so, and as a proximate result of such neglect he
fails to make such a settlement, which is available, and when such
knowledge would have caused a reasonably prudent person to do so, and
a verdict and judgment are rendered against insured in an amount more
than the limit of liability in the policy, the insurer should be held liable
to the insured for the full amount of the judgment.
If the insurer has already made the investigation and ascertained
the facts, to which we have referred supra, and refuses to make such
proffered settlement, if such refusal is due to the honest judgment of
insurer that the facts do not warrant such a settlement, and the insurer
was not negligent in the manner of defending the suit, he would not be
liable to insured for an amount in excess of the limit of liability provided
in the policy, although the verdict and judgment were in excess of it. But
if such refusal to settle under those circumstances is the proximate result
of bad faith on the part of the insurer, he would be liable for the full
amount of the judgment, notwithstanding it is in excess of the limit fixed
Id. at 531–32 (emphasis added).
Some years later, in Hartford Acc. & Indem. Co. v. Cosby, 277 Ala. 596, 173
So. 2d 585 (1965) the Alabama Supreme Court, discussing third-party bad faith,
“In our opinion the insurer cannot escape liability by acting upon what
it considers to be for its own interest alone, but it must also appear that
it acted in good faith and dealt fairly with the insured. The insurer, as it
had a right to do under the policy, assumed exclusive control of the
claim against the insured, and took unto itself the power to determine for
the insured all questions of liability, settlement, of defense and
management before and during trial, and of appeal after final judgment.
We are of [the] opinion that this relationship imposes upon the insurer
the duty, not under the terms of the contract strictly speaking, but
because of and flowing from it, to act honestly and in good faith toward
the insured. It was open to the jury to find that the insurer did not
perform this duty.”
Cosby, 173 So. 2d at 592–93 (emphasis added) (quoting Am. Mut. Liab. Ins. Co. of
Boston, Mass. v. Cooper, 61 F.2d 446, 448 (5th Cir. 1932)). One year later, in
Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co. v. Smith, 280 Ala. 343, 194 So. 2d 505 (1966), the Alabama
Supreme Court asked, somewhat rhetorically:
[W]ould not the refusal of an insurer, after diligent investigation of the
facts, and having under the insurance contract exclusive control of the
litigation and sole right of settlement, be negligent if under all the facts
the offer of settlement was one which an ordinarily prudent person
would accept under like or similar circumstances? And would not a
refusal to settle under such circumstance negative in law a claimed
exercise of ‘honest judgment,‘ and raise a question of fact for
submission to a jury.
Smith, 194 So. 2d at 512 (emphasis added).
In 1989, the Alabama Supreme Court seemed to answer its question from Smith
in State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Hollis, 554 So. 2d 387. In Hollis, the cause of
action was “negligent or wanton failure to settle.” The Alabama Supreme Court,
quoting Waters, again noted that when “the contract of insurance gives the insurer the
exclusive right to make a settlement of the claim against insured . . . [t]hat right
imposes a corresponding duty raised by law to observe ordinary diligence in
performing that power, when in the exercise of it.” Hollis, 554 So. 2d at 389 (quoting
Waters, 73 so. 2d at 531). The court also noted that “the Waters criteria” was
reaffirmed in Smith, and quoted the above referenced passage from Smith. Id. at 391.
The Bad Faith Claims [Counts Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight,
and Nine]
The Bad Faith Claims in the Instant Case Are FirstParty Claims.
Based on the case law set out above, the Court agrees with the general
propositions stated by both Judge Acker35 and Judge Bowdre that, when an insurer
expressly disclaims coverage and the Plaintiffs, not the insurers, control all aspects
of the underlying litigation, the bad faith claims are first-party claims. This
conclusion is buttressed by the rationale for, and genesis of, third-party bad faith and
negligence claims discussed above, all of which have the common threads of no
denial of coverage and the insurer controlling the litigation. See also, Fed. Ins. Co.
The Plaintiffs argue that Judge Acker “has already decided the statute of limitations
issue,” and “his determination is ‘law-of-the-case’ and should not be disturbed.” (Doc. 54 at 7, n.
4). First, it can hardly be said that Judge Acker “decided” the statute of limitations issue. Indeed,
he specifically stated that “plaintiffs’ conflation of both defendants, and defendants’ limited
grounds for its motion to dismiss, make adjudication of these issues not ripe for review.” (Doc.
16 at 3-4, n. 2) (emphasis added). Cf. Hamilton v. Florida, 793 F.3d 1261, 1264-65 (11th Cir.
2015) (“A decision not to decide a question is not a decision of the question.”). Second, even if
Judge Acker had made such a determination, the “law-of-the-case” doctrine would not apply to
prevent this Court from taking a second look. “‘Under the law of the case doctrine, both district
courts and appellate courts are generally bound by a prior appellate decision in the same case.’”
Newman v. Ormond, 456 F. App'x 866, 867 (11th Cir. 2012) (emphasis supplied) (quoting
LeBlanc v. Unifund CCR Partners, 601 F.3d 1185, 1285-1286 (11th Cir.2010)). There has been
no appeal in this case.
v. Travelers Cas. & Sur. Co., 843 So. 2d 140, 143 (Ala. 2002) (noting that one of the
rationales behind the creation of the third-party bad faith action was that “[i]n a
typical insurance contract, the insured expressly relinquishes to the insurer the right
to control the defense and settlement of any action arising under the contract. The
insured's reliance on the abilities and the good faith of the insurer is therefore
necessarily at a maximum.”).
On July 17, 2007, the Defendants sent a letter to both SBE and Sabbah denying
coverage on the claims and offering a “courtesy defense” to SBE. (Doc. 47 at 10, ¶21;
doc. 47-6). In that same letter, the Defendants stated that SBE
will be responsible for any settlement offers, responses to settlement
offers and any judgment(s) rendered in this matter. Furthermore, [SBE]
will be in charge of the defense of this matter, [we] will merely pay the
fees associated with the defense.
(Doc. 47-6).36 The Second Amended Complaint also alleges that on February 23,
2009, the Defendants sent Sabbah a letter expressly disclaiming coverage. (Doc. 47
at 11, ¶24; doc. 47-8 at 3). In that same letter, the Defendants wrote:
[Y]ou will be responsible for any settlement offers, responses to
settlement offers and any judgment(s) rendered in this matter.
Furthermore, you will be in charge of the defense of this matter, [we]
Document 47-6 is a copy of the letter, which was also attached as an exhibit to the
Second Amended Complaint. “[O]n a motion to dismiss, [the district court] may consider not
only the complaint but also the exhibits attached to it.” Gross v. White, 340 F. App'x 527, 533
(11th Cir. 2009) (citing Grossman v. Nationsbank, N.A., 225 F.3d 1228, 1231 (11th Cir.2000)).
will merely pay the fees associated with the defense.
(Doc. 47-8 at 9). These letters clearly reflect that the Defendants were disclaiming
coverage and would not be taking control over the underlying litigation.
All of the Bad Faith Claims Are Bad Faith “Refusal to
Honor Insurance Benefits” Claims
The Plaintiffs argue that this case is factually distinguishable from Toffel
because in that case “Judge Bowdre’s opinion focused on [the] bad faith failure to
defend claim,” and, in the instant case, “multiple bad faith theories are presented.”
(Doc. 54 at 9) (citing chart of claims at doc. 54-1 at 2).37 First, the bad faith claim
before Judge Bowdre was bad faith “Refusal to Defend, Indemnify and Settle.” Toffel,
2016 WL 4271837, at *2. Regardless, she determined that, based on the facts alleged
in the complaint before her, the claim was actually a claim for bad faith refusal to
honor insurance benefits. See id at *7. The Court agrees with Judge Bowdre’s
approach. Despite the fact that the claims in the instant case are called bad faith
“failure to properly investigate, defend, and settle” (Counts Four, Five, and Six) or
The Plaintiffs also argue that “Judge Bowdre’s [opinion] in Toffel hinged on four
specific circumstances that might have applied to [Nineteenth Street], but [do not apply] to
Plaintiffs.” (Doc. 54 at 7). Then, over three plus pages of their brief they discuss the fact that: 1)
Nineteenth Street was not a named insured on the policy; 2) the Defendants completely rejected
coverage as to Nineteenth Street; 3) the Defendants completely refused to defend Nineteenth
Street; and 4) Nineteenth Street was immediately injured on July 2, 2007, when it was refused a
defense. (See, doc. 54 at 7-9). As noted above, Judge Bowdre based her opinion that the bad faith
claims in her case were first-party claims on the fact that the insurers disclaimed coverage and
relinquished control of the defense. Those same facts are present here.
bad faith “failure to indemnify” (Counts Seven, Eight, and Nine), all allegations in
each count arise out of the Defendants’ initial disclaimer of coverage. This makes
each count a claim for bad faith refusal to honor insurance benefits.38
The Statute of Limitations on the Bad Faith Claims Has
The statute of limitations for a bad faith refusal to honor insurance benefits
claim “accrues upon the event of the bad faith refusal, or upon the knowledge of facts
which would reasonably lead the insured to a discovery of the bad faith refusal.”
Jones v. Alfa Mut. Ins. Co., 1 So. 3d 23, 30 (Ala. 2008) (internal quotations and
citations omitted). In Toffel, Judge Bowdre correctly held that a letter sent to
Nineteenth Street, which was similar to the ones sent to the instant Plaintiffs, “was
sufficient to put Nineteenth Street on notice of [the Defendants’] possible bad faith.
[The] denial is the event that forms the basis for [the] bad faith claim.” Toffel, 2016
WL 4271837, at *7. The same is true in this case.
The Court holds that the statute of limitations for the Plaintiffs’ bad faith
claims began to run on July 19, 2007, when Kelly Jackson sent a letter to SBE and
Alternatively, if the Court treats the bad faith claims as third-party claims, they are due
to be dismissed pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) because the facts as pled do not support such claims
which are not viable when the insurers have expressly disclaimed coverage and relinquished
control of the defense of the case.
Sabbah denying coverage. The statute expired two years later, on July 20, 200939.
Assuming that all of the bad faith claims, filed in any version of the Complaint, relate
back to the original Complaint filed on October 13, 2015, they are untimely and due
to be dismissed.40
The Negligent/Wanton Failure To Settle Claims [Counts One,
Two, and Three]
As noted, the parties treat the negligence and bad faith claims together. This
is unfortunate because “these are in fact two distinct claims.” Mut. Assur., Inc. v.
Schulte, 970 So. 2d 292, 296 (Ala. 2007). However, as noted above, the Alabama
Supreme Court in Hollis confirmed that the same standard for third-party liability
applicable to bad faith cases also applies to negligence cases. See Hollis, 554 So. 2d
at 389–90. Judge Bowdre’s opinion in Toffel recognized this fact when she refused
to allow an amendment to add a claim for “negligent/wanton failure to settle.” She
found any such amendment would be futile because
Two years exactly would have been July 19, 2009, which was a Sunday.
The bad faith claims are still untimely if the Court assumes that the statute did not run
for Sabbah until February 23, 2009, when NMFIC and NMIC sent a letter to him disclaiming
coverage. That statute expired on February 23, 2011, well before the initial Complaint was filed
in this case (on October 13, 2015).
Therefore, the statute of limitations period for Toffel's negligent failure
the date that Nationwide denied coverage of Nineteenth Street's claim.
Toffel's adversary proceeding filed in 2013 was untimely.
Toffel, 2016 WL 4271837, at *9. Thus, Judge Bowdre’s opinion implicitly and
correctly recognized that all of the claims by Nineteenth Street, whether based on bad
faith, negligence, or wantonness, were first-party claims subject to a two year statute
of limitations which began to run when the Defendants first disclaimed coverage.41
This Court agrees with Judge Bowdre’s approach and holds that it is equally
applicable to the Plaintiffs in the instant case. In Alabama, “[t]he statutory limitations
period for filing a negligence action is two years.” Singer Asset Fin. Co. v.
Connecticut Gen. Life Ins. Co., 975 So. 2d 375, 382 (Ala. Civ. App. 2007) (citing §
6-2-38). “A negligence cause of action accrues as soon as the claimant is entitled to
maintain an action, regardless of whether the full amount of damages is apparent at
the time of the first legal injury.” Gilmore v. M & B Realty Co., 895 So. 2d 200, 208
(Ala. 2004) (quoting Koch v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., 565 So.2d 226, 231
The case before Judge Bowdre also included a claim for breach of contract which was
omitted from the proposed amended complaint. Accordingly, Judge Bowdre found that claim to
be “no longer at issue.” Toffel, 2016 WL 4271837 at *6.
(Ala.1990)). Despite the nomenclature used by the Plaintiffs,42 the essence of Counts
One, Two, and Three is that the Defendants failed to do anything for the Plaintiffs
because the Defendants claimed there was no coverage. As noted previously,
coverage was disclaimed in the July 17, 2007, and February 23, 2009, letters the
Defendants sent to the Plaintiffs. At that time, the negligence claims accrued.
Therefore, the statute of limitations for the Plaintiffs’ negligence claims began to run,
at the latest, on February 23, 2009, with the letter to Sabbah, and expired on February
23, 2011. Even assuming that all of the negligence claims, filed in any version of the
Complaint, relate back to the original Complaint filed on October 13, 2015, they are
untimely and due to be dismissed.
Breach of Contract [Counts Twelve and Thirteen]
As noted herein,43 in Toffel, Judge Bowdre did not have a breach of contract
claim. There are two such claims in the instant case–Counts Twelve and
Thirteen–both based on the Defendants’ failure to indemnify the Plaintiffs. As noted
by the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals:
Under Alabama law an insurance contract is governed by the same
general rules as other contracts. Auto-Owners Ins. Co. v. Culpepper, 426
So.2d 435 (Ala.Civ.App.1983); Southern Guaranty Ins. Co. v. Rhodes,
Counts One, Two, and Three are entitled “Negligent/Wanton Failure [T]o Settle.”
See, supra, note 41.
46 Ala.App. 454, 243 So.2d 717 (1971). . . . Therefore, the applicable
statute of limitations is six years. Culpepper; § 6-2-34(4), Ala.Code
1975. “The statute of limitations on a contract action runs from the time
a breach occurs rather than from the time actual damage is sustained.”
AC, Inc. v. Baker, 622 So.2d 331 (Ala.1993).
Hackleburg Church of Christ v. Great Am. Ins. Companies, Inc., 675 So. 2d 1309,
1311 (Ala. Civ. App. 1995); see also, Ex parte Stonebrook Dev., L.L.C., 854 So. 2d
584, 588 (Ala. 2003) (“[In] a contract action . . . the cause of action accrues at the
time of breach even if no actual damage is sustained[.]”) (citing Bass Pecan Co. v.
Berga, 694 So.2d 1311 (Ala.1997)).
As noted previously, the Defendants’ argument as to these claims suffers from
being lumped in with the negligence and bad faith claims. In their motion to dismiss,
the Defendants discuss the statute of limitations applicable to contract claims in
Alabama (see doc. 50 at 11), and assert that the claims for breach of contract should
also be analyzed under the first-party/third-party framework set out above (see doc.
50 at 16). However, they offer no argument or authority that the above analysis
applies to claims for breach of contract. Because their argument is underdeveloped,
the Court will deny their motion to dismiss the breach of contract claims based on the
running of the statute of limitations, but will order further briefing on this issue.
The Breach of the Enhanced Duty and Obligation of Good
Faith Claims [Counts Ten and Eleven]
The Alabama Supreme Court has noted that the enhanced duty of good faith
recognized in L & S Roofing Supply Co. v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Co., 521
So.2d 1298 (Ala.1988),
arises under the insurance contract, because no reservation of rights
would take place without the underlying duty of the insurer to defend
the insured, and that duty is created by that contract. Because the
enhanced duty arises from the contract, it follows that claims alleging a
breach of the enhanced duty of good faith are contract claims.
Twin City Fire Ins. Co. v. Colonial Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 839 So. 2d 614, 616 (Ala.
2002) (emphasis added). Accordingly, these claims as well are subject to a six year
The first-party/third-party analysis conducted as to the other claims is
inapplicable to these claims because, unlike the claims discussed thus far, these
claims are not based on the disclaimer of coverage. Instead, they are based on the
conduct of the Defendants and the Plaintiffs’ counsel regarding the “courtesy
defense” provided to the Plaintiffs in the underlying cases. Unfortunately, because the
Defendants lump all of the Plaintiffs’ claims together, they do not address this
distinction. In their reply brief, the Defendants do argue that the six year statute of
limitations applicable to these claims began to run in 2007 because “Plaintiffs allege
that Defendants and Plaintiffs’ counsel in the underlying suit ‘ignored the obvious
conflicts and violations of L & S Roofing’ beginning in 2007.” (Doc. 55 at 7)(quoting
and citing doc. 54 at 11-12). This argument is not sufficient. Sapuppo v. Allstate
Floridian Ins. Co., 739 F.3d 678, 683 (11th Cir. 2014) (noting that arguments raised
for the first time in a reply brief should not be considered).44 To the extent that the
motion to dismiss argues that these counts are untimely, it will be denied.
The Declaratory Judgment Counts [Counts Fourteen and
Fifteen]
The Defendants make no argument that these counts are untimely filed. To the
extent that the motion to dismiss can be read to argue that these counts are untimely
filed, it will be denied.
There Is No Breach of the Enhanced Duty and Obligation of Good
Faith Here
Where, as in the instant case, an insured accepts the defense of an action under
reservation of rights, but never relinquishes control of the lawsuit, including
settlement negotiations, to the insured, the insurer does not have an “enhanced
obligation of good faith” to its insureds. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Mitchell Bros., 814
So. 2d 191, 196 (Ala. 2001) (The criteria for complying with the enhanced obligation
of good faith “necessarily assume that the insurer is controlling the investigation, the
defense of the lawsuit, and settlement negotiations.”). The motion to dismiss is due
to be granted as to Counts Ten and Eleven.
The Court ultimately determines that this claim is due to be dismissed.
The Plaintiffs’ Argument that the Defense of the Underlying Cases
Was De Facto Controlled by the Defendants
The Plaintiffs argue that, despite the clear statements from the Defendants that
Sabbah and SBE each would be in charge of their own defense, the Defendants
actually controlled the defense, and thus the claims in this case are third-party
claims.45 (Doc. 54 at 10). This argument is based on the fact the Defendants
“assigned the defense of SBE and Sabbah to Clement, who also undertook the
defense of NSI by separate agreement,” and that the Defendants controlled the
defense because they “controlled Clement.” (Doc. 54 at 11; see also doc. 54 at 12
(“Defendants . . . controlled the defense through Clement[.]”)). More specifically, the
Plaintiffs argue that the Defendants
controlled Clement, relying on her for the coverage opinion in this case
that resulted in the initial denials, and later on, the reservation of rights
about coverage. ([Doc. 47 (Second Amended Complaint)] at ¶¶68 (dd),
120.) After the original coverage opinion, Defendants continued to keep
Clement involved in coverage issues throughout the litigation, copying
her on both reservation of rights letters authored by Defendants. (Id. at
¶¶115, 116; Docs. 47-9, 47-10.)
(Doc. 54 at 11; see also generally, doc. 54 at 11-16).
This argument appears in the section of the Plaintiffs’ brief which addresses the
applicable statute of limitations as to first-party versus third-party claims. Thus, the Court
assumes that it is directed toward that aspect of the Plaintiffs’ argument. However, to the extent
that the Plaintiff is arguing that the Defendants’ control over the litigation, through Clement,
violated their enhanced duty of good faith, the Court finds, as shown infra, that there are no facts
alleged in the Complaint which plausibly establish that there in fact was any such control.
The “coverage opinion” cited by the Plaintiffs is Clement’s July 17, 2007, letter
to the Defendants where she states, among other things: “We may also seek to avoid
liability by arguing that NSI, rather than SBE, sold the beverages to Ms. Caffee;” and
“we believe it is unlikely that we will prevail by showing that NSI, and not SBE,
dispensed the liquor, but we will pursue the facts regarding that argument.” (Doc. 54
at 12) (quoting from doc. 47-5 at 8-9). The Plaintiffs then argue:
What could be stronger evidence of control than Clement plotting with
Defendants to seek to avoid liability for SBE (the named insured) by
arguing and putting liability on the uninsured NSI (also her client). She
even goes so far as to state that “we will pursue the facts regarding this
argument.” Just two days after Clement’s letter, Defendants sent the
letter to SBE denying coverage but offering the “courtesy defense.”
(Doc. 54 at 13). The Plaintiffs also argue that the March 3, 2011, letter from counsel
for the Claimants, to Clement, evidences that Clement actually implemented this
plan.46 The Plaintiffs cite no authority for the proposition that such interactions
between counsel and the insurer can convert a first-party claim into a third-party
claim, and the Court is aware of none.
In that letter, counsel for the Claimants wrote Clements, among other things, that
It appears that the defense posture in this case has been to take the position that
the two insured entities-Sabbah and SBE-have no liability in the matter, while
also taking the position that the entity which sold the alcohol-Nineteenth
Street-has no insurance. Although this might be a favorable result for Nationwide,
it is a potentially disastrous result for Nineteenth-and for Mr. Sabbah.
(Doc. 47-11 at 4).
Regardless, the letter merely outlines Clement’s strategy. Furthermore, the
Plaintiffs allege no facts which support an allegation that Clements employed this
strategy at the request of the Defendants. They merely argue that
[t]hese well-pleaded factual allegations support the claims of
Defendants’ bad faith and improper control of the defense of SBE and
Sabbah and are asserted throughout the Complaint. For instance,
Plaintiffs allege that Defendants “wrongfully, and in bad faith,
fabricated a defense strategy,” “fabricated alleged coverage defenses to
create a negotiating strategy,” “implemented this strategy through the
use of counsel,” “attempted to wrongfully manipulate the attorneys for
the Claimants … [by] fraudulently encourag[ing] the Claimants to walk
away from their claims,” and used these strategies “to wrongfully
manipulate” Plaintiffs. (Doc. 47 at ¶¶ 67, 68, 68(g), 73, 73(g), 68(h),
73(h)).
(Doc. 54 at 14). These are mere “labels or conclusions” or “naked assertion[s]”
without supporting factual allegations. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557.
Also, in the third-party context the insurer retains “exclusive control of the
claim against the insured, and . . . the power to determine for the insured all questions
of liability, settlement, of defense and management before and during trial, and of
appeal after final judgment.” Cosby, 173 So. 2d at 592–93. Clement’s letter does not
evidence that type of control by the Defendants. Indeed, as the Plaintiffs note, it was
after this letter, on July 19, 2007, that Kelly Jackson sent a letter to SBE and
SABBAH on behalf of both NMFIC and NMIC denying coverage on the claims and
offering a courtesy defense to SBE on behalf of those entities. It was that letter in
which the Defendants stated that
Sabbah Brothers Enterprises, Inc. will be responsible for any settlement
offers, responses to settlement offers and any judgment(s) rendered in
this matter. Furthermore, Sabbah Brothers Enterprises, Inc. will be in
charge of the defense of this matter, Nationwide will merely pay the fees
associated with the defense.
(Doc. 47-6 at 7). While it can be reasonably inferred that Clement’s letter of July 17,
2007, might have influenced the Defendants’ decision to deny coverage, no plausible
inference can arise from that letter that the Defendants controlled the litigation. No
other facts are alleged which demonstrate that the Defendants actually maintained
control over the litigation, or that, if the Plaintiffs had wanted to settle, or go to trial,
or do anything else, that the Defendants would have interfered. Indeed, the allegations
in the Complaint make it clear that the Defendants did nothing in this regard,
including refusing to make a single offer of settlement (doc. 47 at 20, ¶42), and
refusing to post an appeal bond (doc. 47 at 20, ¶44).47
The Plaintiffs also argue:
By directly involving Clement in the coverage discussions and defense, rather than
creating a wall between the coverage issues and the defense, Defendants ignored the
obvious conflicts and violations of [L & S Roofing Supply Co. v. St. Paul Fire &
Marine Ins. Co., 521 So. 2d 1298 (Ala. 1987)] implicit in such joint representation
(Id. [at ¶¶115, 116; Docs. 47-9, 47-10]) Defendants had frequent inappropriate
correspondence with Clement about matters bearing on coverage, interfered with and
affected her defense of the insureds, and completely failed to heed their enhanced
obligation of good faith which required them to allow counsel to represent only her
client. (Id.) As stated in the Complaint, “it is clear that both NMIC and NMFIC were
participating in the defense of Plaintiffs.” (Doc. 47 at ¶ 21.) Defendants not only
controlled the defense through Clement, but did so in such a way to the absolute
Finally, and importantly, even if somehow Clement was “controlled” by the
Defendants, that would still not convert this action into a third-party action. As this
Court noted above, the rationale for, and genesis of, third-party bad faith and
negligence claims is the insurer’s control over the litigation where the insurer agrees
there is coverage. Under such circumstances “[t]he insured’s reliance on the abilities
and the good faith of the insurer is therefore necessarily at a maximum.” Fed. Ins.
Co., 843 So. 2d at 143. There are no facts alleged by the Plaintiffs which would
support any allegation that they were relying on the Defendants’ to “abilities” and
“good faith” to handle the case for them. Indeed, such an allegation would be
implausible considering the fact that the Defendants expressly denied coverage and
also expressly stated that SBU and Sabbah were solely responsible for the defense of
detriment of its insureds.
(Doc. 54 at 11-12). They continue:
Defendants improperly participated in the defense, in direct violation of L & S
Roofing and the required enhanced obligation of good faith; failed to hire competent
defense counsel for the insureds that owed a duty of undeviating loyalty to her client;
and inappropriately corresponded with counsel about matters bearing on coverage
and Defendants’ position on coverage issues. (Doc. 47 at ¶¶115, 116.)
(Doc. 54 at 14). This is merely a rehash of the de facto control argument. The Plaintiffs have
cited no authority that a breach of any obligation set out in the L & S Roofing case is grounds for
converting a first-party case into a third-party case.
The Reservation of Rights Letters
The Plaintiffs argue:
Defendants also subsequently accepted the defense of Plaintiffs under
a reservation of rights. (Doc. 47 at ¶¶25, 29.) The ROR letters informed
Plaintiffs that Defendants “will need your full cooperation as provided
in the policies.” (Docs. 47-9 at 7; 47-10 at 8.) Plaintiffs cooperated and
fulfilled all duties and obligations under both policies. (Doc. 47, ¶¶
16-17.) Hoping to circumvent these facts, Defendants assert the
subsequent ROR letters did not “purport to revoke the prior coverage
disclaimers[,]” and did not “provide that Defendants assumed control of
settlement decisions … .” (Doc. 50 at 15.) This argument makes no
sense. If Defendants’ coverage position had not changed since 2007,
then why were the ROR letters issued in the first place? The April 26,
2010 letter clearly references “more amended complaints [that] have
now been filed” and acknowledges that “additional information” can
change NW’s coverage position. (Doc 47-10 at 1, 7.) Clearly, these new
complaints implicated coverage. Moreover, if the coverage denial was
still in place, then why was that critical denial position not clearly
reiterated in the ROR letters (particularly in light of the new amended
complaints referenced)? Finally, and perhaps most persuasively, if the
coverage denial was still in place then why do the ROR letters say that
NW “reserves the right. . . . .to limit or preclude coverage” based on
issues that “will ultimately be determined by a court of law”? (Id. at 3,
7.) Obviously, there would be no reason to notify the insured that their
coverage may be “limited or precluded” if it has already been denied!
(Doc. 54 at 14-15) (footnotes omitted).
The two letters referred to by the Plaintiffs were dated April 3, 2009, and April
26, 2010. (Docs. 47-9, 47-10). Importantly, the Plaintiffs cite no language (because
there is none) in the letters which states that there is coverage or states that the
Defendants have changed their mind about their previous denial of coverage.48 The
Plaintiffs cite no language in the letters (again, because there is none) where the
Defendants state that they are assuming control over the litigation and defense of the
case against the Plaintiffs, or that they have changed their minds regarding their
previous relinquishment of that control. Finally, the Plaintiffs cite no conduct by the
Defendants, after the letters were sent, inconsistent with their earlier denial of
coverage and relinquishment of control. Indeed, the Plaintiffs specifically allege that
nothing changed after these letters were sent that “[d]espite attempts by the Claimants
to settle the case within limits prior to the first trial, [the Defendants] refused to ever
make an offer under either policy.” (Doc. 47 at 18, ¶ 36). Finally, as with the
Plaintiffs’ argument regarding de facto control, the Plaintiffs cite no authority, and
the court is aware of none, for the proposition that a reservation of rights letter from
an insurer revokes an earlier denial of coverage.49, 50
In fact, in the April 3, 2009, letter the Defendants stated: “Based on [their] review,
Nationwide has determined that the claim presented by this claimant may not be covered under
the policies.” (Doc. 47-9 at 2) (emphasis added). The same language appears in the letter of
April 26, 2010. (Doc. 47-10 at 2).
Even if it did, it is undisputed that, on May 2, 2013, the Defendants again denied
coverage. (Doc. 47 at 32, ¶68(k)). If all else fails, the statute of limitations for the first-party tort
claims would have begun to run on that date, and would have expired on May 2, 2015. The
instant action was not filed until October 13, 2015. (Doc. 1). In response to this argument, the
Plaintiffs note:
Notably, this communication was after the $15M verdict but before the “veil
piercing” part of the trial had occurred. It did not create any change in Defendants’
All Other Arguments for Dismissal
To recap, thus far the Court has found that all claims in this case are due to be
dismissed except the breach of contract claims against NMFIC and NMIC (Counts
Twelve and Thirteen), which the Court has stated might have been filed beyond the
applicable statute of limitations, and the claims for declaratory judgment against
NMFIC and NMIC (Counts Fourteen and Fifteen). The court also notes that, thus far,
it has not addressed the Defendants’ additional grounds for dismissal which include
ongoing actions toward its insureds because Defendants continued to provide and
control the defense of the case. Filing a bad faith claim would have been
premature at best because Plaintiffs could have won the “veil piercing” argument.
(Doc. 54 at 16, n. 7). This argument is without merit. As this Court has shown, in the “firstparty” context, the claim accrues upon the denial of coverage, not when the Plaintiffs were
damaged (when the veil was pierced).
Moreover, the approach that Defendants would have this Court adopt would require
every insured to immediately initiate a claim for bad faith upon receipt of a
reservation of rights letter, or, indeed, any letter that offered anything less than an
irrevocable full defense and indemnity to the insured. This situation would not only
violate the public policy against a multiplicity of lawsuits . . . , but would simply be
impracticable and unworkable, given the overall number of insurance claims made
and the routine nature of reservation of rights letters. It is probably not an
overestimate to say that millions of such letters are sent by insurance companies
every year. The accrual rules for third-party bad faith cases . . . are based on sound
practical and policy grounds.
(Doc. 54 at 16-17). The Court rejects this argument. As noted above, the practical and policy
grounds for the creation of the third-party bad faith claim do not exist in this case. The Plaintiffs in
the instant case, and all such plaintiffs in first-party cases, must file their action within the applicable
statute of limitations, which begins to run upon the initial denial of coverage.
that: there is no coverage under the policies (doc. 50 at 17-25; doc. 55 at 7-22); the
liquor liability exclusion applies to exclude coverage (doc. 50 at 25-28); Sabbah is
not an insured under the policies (doc. 50 at 28-29); and the Plaintiffs’ “alter-ego”
claims lack merit (doc. 50 at 29-31).
It seems that if the breach of contract claims are also due to be dismissed as
untimely filed, the issue as to coverage (and thus the need for declaratory relief on
that point) becomes moot.51 Thus, judicial resources would be best spent reviewing
further briefing on the statute of limitations issue, as applied to the breach of contract
claims, before delving into coverage issues. All coverage/exclusion based grounds
for dismissal cited by the Defendants will therefore be DENIED without prejudice.
Based on the foregoing it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and
DECREED as follows:
The motion to dismiss is DENIED as to the breach of contract claims
against NMFIC and NMIC (Counts Twelve and Thirteen), and the
claims for declaratory judgment against NMFIC and NMIC (Counts
Under Alabama law, an insurer's duty to defend is more extensive than its duty to
indemnify. Mid-Continent Cas. Co. v. Advantage Med. Elecs., LLC, 196 So. 3d 238, 243 (Ala.
2015). That does not seem to be an issue in this case, however, as the Defendants provided the
Plaintiffs with a defense.
Fourteen and Fifteen).
As to all other counts in the Second Amended Complaint (Counts One
through Eleven), the motion is hereby GRANTED. Counts One through
Eleven in the Second Amended Complaint are hereby DISMISSED
No later than May 31, 2017, the Defendants may file a new motion to
dismiss which addressed ONLY: 1) whether the statute of limitations
has run as to the breach of contract claims; and 2) whether a decision
that the statute of limitations has run as to the breach of contract claims
moots the claims for declaratory relief. The initial brief may be no
longer than 10 pages, double spaced, in 14-point type. Any response
brief should be filed no later than June 14, 2017, and is subject to the
same typeface and page limitations as the initial brief. The movant’s
reply brief may be filed no later than 7 days after the date on which the
response brief was due. The reply is subject to the same typeface
limitations as the initial and response briefs, but may not exceed 5 pages
DONE and ORDERED this 11th day of May, 2017.