Opinion ID: 1668615
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Continental's Motion for a Judgment as a Matter of Law

Text: When reviewing a ruling on a motion for a JML [judgment as a matter of law], this Court uses the same standard the trial court used initially in deciding whether to grant or deny the motion for a JML. Palm Harbor Homes, Inc. v. Crawford, 689 So.2d 3 (Ala.1997). Regarding questions of fact, the ultimate question is whether the nonmovant has presented sufficient evidence to allow the case to be submitted to the jury for a factual resolution. Carter v. Henderson, 598 So.2d 1350 (Ala.1992). The nonmovant must have presented substantial evidence in order to withstand a motion for a JML. See § 12-21-12, Ala.Code 1975; West v. Founders Life Assurance Co. of Florida, 547 So.2d 870, 871 (Ala.1989). A reviewing court must determine whether the party who bears the burden of proof has produced substantial evidence creating a factual dispute requiring resolution by the jury. Carter, 598 So.2d at 1353. In reviewing a ruling on a motion for a JML, this Court views the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmovant and entertains such reasonable inferences as the jury would have been free to draw. Id. Regarding a question of law, however, this Court indulges no presumption of correctness as to the trial court's ruling. Ricwil, Inc. v. S.L. Pappas & Co., 599 So.2d 1126 (Ala.1992). Waddell & Reed, Inc. v. United Investors Life Ins. Co., 875 So.2d 1143, 1152 (Ala.2003). Continental argues that Plantation failed to present substantial evidence indicating that the contamination at the Elliott's Creek site fell within the scope of Continental's insurance coverage. Continental contends that this case is similar to State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. Shady Grove Baptist Church, 838 So.2d 1039 (Ala.2002), in which this Court held that the policyholder had failed to prove by substantial evidence that the collapse of a roof fell within the coverage of State Farm's insurance policy. This Court held that offering speculative testimony of several possible theories on the reason for the collapse of the roof was not substantial evidence. 838 So.2d at 1046. Thus, we reversed the trial court's judgment because the trial court had erred in denying State Farm's motion for a judgment as a matter of law. Continental's primary argument is that Plantation failed to prove that the contamination discovered in 1999 resulted from the 1972 leak because no one testified that the 1972 leak caused the contamination. Continental also argues that the report of the 1972 leak, dated January 13, 1972, stated that a small amount of petroleum product had escaped. Continental contends that the contamination plume discovered in 1999 [3] was far from the site of the 1972 leak (extending 1,200 to 1,250 feet from the pipeline to the Elliott's Creek site) and far wider and deeper (650 feet wide and 40 feet below the ground surface) than could have been possible from a small release. Continental also points out that Plantation's expert testified that the contamination was consistent with a leak that occurred between 1962 and 1979; the expert did not testify that the 1972 leak caused the contamination. Finally, Continental argues that Plantation failed to prove that no other leaks occurred at the Elliott's Creek site and that Plantation's employees admitted that undetected and unreported leaks had occurred. Plantation, however, did present substantial evidence indicating that the contamination discovered in 1999 at the Elliott's Creek site was the result of the 1972 leak. Plantation's expert testified on direct examination and on cross-examination that he believed that the 1972 leak caused the contamination. He admitted that given the chemical composition of the contaminant, it is possible that the leak could have occurred between 1962 and 1979. He testified further, however, that based on the 1972 leak report and on the chemical composition of the contaminant, he believed the 1972 leak was the source of the contamination. The memorandum reporting the 1972 leak states that it is estimated that only 4 or 5 barrels escaped from the line until it was repaired. Continental argues that Plantation failed to show how such a relatively small leak could cause such a large area of contamination. Plantation's expert testified that the amount reported in a leak report is usually lower than the actual leakage amount and that he believed the 1972 leak was actually larger than stated in the report. The leak report itself indicates that the amount was an estimate. One of the witnesses for Plantation also testified that a small amount of petroleum products can disperse to a wider area just as a single drop of dye can disperse in a tub full of water. On a large map of the area, [4] witnesses showed the jury the 1972 leak site in relation to the contamination site, and Plantation employees testified that no other leaks were reported in that area. Plantation's witnesses testified that leaked petroleum product usually soaks into the ground, moves downward and sideways, travels with underground water once it reaches the water, and moves 10 to 30 feet per year away from the original leak site. A Plantation witness testified that the contamination area discovered in 1999 was approximately 600 to 800 feet from the pipeline, which, we note, is within the range suggested by Plantation's witness. Continental's statement that Plantation's employees testified that undetected and unreported leaks occurred is not supported by any of Continental's citations to the record. Plantation's employees testified only that undetected leaks could have occurred. No one testified that Plantation's employees failed to report any discovered leaks or that there was reason to believe that in fact any undetected, unreported leaks had occurred. Unlike the plaintiff in Shady Grove Baptist Church, Plantation offered one theoryi.e., that the contamination discovered in 1999 was the result of a leak in the pipeline that occurred in 1972and its evidence supports that theory. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Plantation, the nonmovant, we conclude that it has offered substantial evidence supporting its case. The trial court therefore did not err in denying Continental's motion for a judgment as a matter of law.