Opinion ID: 1837384
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Gary Maddox v. Jack Muirhead

Text: ¶ 5. On January 20, 1995, Empire Truck Sales, Inc. held its annual sales meeting at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Jackson, Mississippi. After dining at the hotel, several of Empire's customers, vendors and employees (including Muirhead) walked across the parking lot to the 1001 Restaurant and Bar where Empire opened a bar tab. One of Empire's employees, Alan Salter, became intoxicated and began making a scene. A vice-president at Empire asked Muirhead to take Salter away from the bar. Muirhead took Salter to the parking lot and both entered Muirhead's vehicle. At this point, Greg Maddox, another patron of the 1001, approached Muirhead's vehicle to get the license number. Muirhead contends Maddox was using profane and threatening language while both he and Salter were still inside the vehicle. Both men exited the vehicle and a fight ensued in which Muirhead severely beat Maddox, leaving him with serious damages including a broken leg. ¶ 6. Nine months later, Maddox sued Muirhead and the Ramada Plaza Hotel. Without consulting or even informing Empire or its insurance carrier, Muirhead employed attorney Joe Moss to defend him. Muirhead and Moss discussed and considered  but decided against  placing Empire and its insurance carrier, Great River, on notice of the suit. [3] When later asked about this unusual decision, Moss testified that Muirhead instructed him not to contact Empire or its insurance company. ¶ 7. Maddox amended his complaint in April 1996, to add Salter and Empire as defendants. In his amended complaint, Maddox made identical claims against Salter and Muirhead, claiming they were acting within the scope of their employment when they assaulted him, thus rendering Empire liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior. Empire turned the suit over to its liability carrier, Great River, who employed Mark Carlson and Derrick Jones, both attorneys with the law firm McCoy, Wilkins, Stephens & Tipton, P.A. (the McCoy Firm) to defend Empire. ¶ 8. Although Muirhead made no contact with Great River to request a defense in the lawsuit or insurance coverage for the claim against him, Great River's claim manager made the following notation in April 1996, in the claims diary: I QUESTION OUR OBLIGATION TO DEFEND THE EMPLOYEES. WE NEED TO KNOW THE FACTS. I WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ON THE COVERAGE ISSUE UNTIL WE DETERMINE THE INSUREDS SIDE OF THE STORY TO INCLUDED [SIC] THE TWO EMPLOYEES. The record contains no evidence that Great River, at any time prior to the conclusion of the trial, consulted the McCoy Firm, or any other outside counsel, for advice or an opinion regarding its obligation to provide a defense to Muirhead. ¶ 9. Prior to trial, both Salter and Empire filed motions seeking dismissal from the suit. The issues were briefed and argued to trial judge James Graves (now a justice on this Court). As to Salter, Judge Graves held that the statute of limitations had run on the assault claim and that the negligence claim did not state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Thus, Judge Graves dismissed Salter from the litigation, and the dismissal was not appealed. ¶ 10. Judge Graves also granted summary judgment to Empire, holding there was no genuine issue as to any material fact, that plaintiffs have no claim against Defendant Empire Truck Sales, Inc., and that [Empire was] entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Because at least one of the theories of recovery against Empire was respondeat superior, the trial court's ruling was tantamount to a finding, as a matter of law, that Muirhead and Salter were not acting within the course and scope of their employment when the altercation occurred with Maddox. Empire's summary judgment was not appealed. [4] ¶ 11. At trial, Maddox pursued a negligence claim against the Ramada, and an assault and battery claim against Muirhead. Maddox did not request or submit a jury instruction on any negligence claim against Muirhead. The trial court instructed the jury that it could consider a claim of negligence against the Ramada, and a claim of assault and battery against Muirhead. ¶ 12. In furtherance of his claim that his assault upon Maddox was an attempt to defend himself and Salter, Muirhead requested, and the trial court granted, an instruction which would have exonerated him from liability, had the jury found that he used reasonable force to defend himself and his property against unprivileged and unjustified contacts, attacks or intrusions which he reasonably believed another [was] about to inflict. Muirhead also requested, and the trial court granted, a similar jury instruction concerning his alleged defense of Salter. The jury rejected Muirhead's self-defense and defense of others claims, and found him liable for assaulting Maddox. Although Maddox appealed the jury verdict, seeking additur, Muirhead did not appeal. After the defendants accepted this Court's additur, the total judgment for Maddox was $12,320 plus interest from the date of judgment. [5]