Opinion ID: 2395338
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Judge Milliken's Post-Trial Order

Text: The second appeal addresses the timeliness of Nationwide's Motion to Alter or Amend Judgment and the inclusion of Ms. Vaughan's loss of consortium claim within the limit of Nationwide's $100,000 maximum liability. After judgment was entered in the amount of $200,000, pursuant to the jury verdict, the Vaughans filed a timely notice of appeal of Judge Wynn's Order. Despite the fact that their appeal was noted, they attached Nationwide's bank account for the full $200,000 judgment, which included Ms. Vaughan's claim for loss of consortium, less the $74,576.71 that Nationwide had submitted in satisfaction of its obligation. [15] Nationwide's motion sought to amend the judgment to reflect the limit of Nationwide's liability at $100,000 less any workers' compensation received by Mr. Vaughan and to quash the attachment of the bank account. The Vaughans maintain that Nationwide's motion, filed more than three months after judgment was entered, was untimely as a matter of law. They argue that the motion was properly a Rule 59 motion which is subject to a 10-day time limit. See D.C.Super. Ct. Civ. R. 59. It is further argued that the first time Nationwide addressed the validity of Ms. Vaughan's loss of consortium claim was in the post-trial motion. Because Nationwide did not assert this argument until the post-trial pleadings, the Vaughans argue that the defense effectively was waived. Accordingly, they argue that Judge Milliken erred in granting Nationwide's motion and in quashing the attachment of Nationwide's bank account. The Vaughans' argument, however, overlooks the fact that the other defendants were involved in this lawsuit. There was no reason for Nationwide to move to amend the judgment after the jury verdict because Judge Wynn's Order controlled the matter and was binding on all parties. Therefore, Nationwide's responsibility already was defined by that Order. Notwithstanding the fact that Nationwide's liability was limited to the terms of the insurance policy, the Vaughans were, and indeed still are, free to collect the remainder of the judgment from the actual tortfeasors involved. The Vaughans already have defaults against these defendants and may obtain judgments against them and attach their bank accounts, obtain a lien on any property owned by them or initiate any other applicable collection proceedings to recover the remainder of the judgment. Rule 59(e) provides that a motion to alter or amend judgment must be filed within 10 days after judgment is entered. The ten day limitation may not be extended. Frain v. District of Columbia, 572 A.2d 447 (D.C. 1990). The time limitations of Rule 60 are, at the minimum, a year; for some subsections of Rule 60 no limitations are prescribed so long as the motion is filed within a reasonable time. Judge Milliken concluded that the matter was properly considered by the court pursuant to Rule 60(b)(6) since the judgment as pursued by plaintiffs runs counter to Judge Wynn's pretrial order. [16] At oral argument, counsel for Nationwide relied primarily on Rule 60(b)(5), which provides for relief from judgment when the judgment has been satisfied, released, or discharged, or a prior judgment upon which it is based has been reversed or otherwise vacated, or it is no longer equitable that the judgment should have prospective application. D.C.Super. Ct. Civ. R. 60(b)(5). Nationwide also argued that subsections of D.C.Super. Ct. Civ. R. 60, namely 60(a), (b)(1) and (b)(6), are applicable as well. [17] Nationwide did not waive its rights by failing to move for an amended judgment pursuant to Rule 59. While it may have been more precise if Nationwide's trial counsel specifically had sought to insure that the judgment included the limitation ordered by Judge Wynn, on these facts counsel's failure to do so should not lead to a change in Nationwide's liability nor alter the binding effect of Judge Wynn's Order. All parties knew Nationwide's limitations with respect to the judgment as they were expressly defined in Judge Wynn's Order. By attaching Nationwide's bank account despite the pending appeal, the Vaughans' counsel ignored Judge Wynn's Order. Nationwide had no reason to expect that it would be liable beyond the amount set in Judge Wynn's Order, and therefore had no reason legally to move to amend the judgment prior to the attachment of the bank account. The judgment for $200,000 in and of itself is valid and should not be amended. As recognized by Judge Milliken, neither the jury award nor the entry of judgment changed Judge Wynn's prior ruling. The Vaughans may recover the balance not obtained from Nationwide from the defaulted defendants. Additionally, Nationwide believed reasonably and in good faith that it had satisfied the judgment with respect to its liability by submitting the check to the Vaughans' counsel. It was not error to consider Nationwide's motion pursuant to Rule 60. The Vaughans' final argument is that Nationwide did not address the validity of Ms. Vaughan's loss of consortium claim until the post-trial motion to alter or amend and, because the issue was untimely, Nationwide should be compelled to pay an additional $50,000 to satisfy Ms. Vaughan's loss of consortium claim. Moreover, they argue, the issue was not raised in Judge Wynn's Order limiting Mr. Vaughan's claim to $100,000, less benefits received pursuant to the Disability Act. Nationwide argues that Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan together were subject to the $100,000 limit in the policy pursuant to the language of the insurance contract. As explained in their brief: The Nationwide policy provides a $100,000 `[b]odily injury' limit `for any one person' (Mr. Vaughan, the only `person' here who sustained `bodily injury') `for all legal damages claimed by anyone' (including Mrs. Vaughan) `for bodily injury' (Mr. Vaughan's claim) `or loss of services of one person' (Mrs. Vaughan's claim) `as a result of one occurrence' (the motorcycle accident). We agree with Nationwide that the language of the policy is clear and that the claims of the Vaughans are considered to be one. [18] Affirmed.