Court Opinion

ID: 9907536
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-12-06 17:12:09.828173+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:59:45.969009
License: Public Domain

VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT                                                                     CIVIL DIVISION
Washington Unit                                                                         Case No. 21-CV-01859
65 State Street
Montpelier VT 05602
802-828-2091
www.vermontjudiciary.org

Estate of James Alger by Virginia Alger, Administrator v. United Ohio Insurance Co.

                                ENTRY REGARDING MOTION
Title:           Motion to Bifurcate (Motion: 8)
Filer:           Susan J. Flynn
Filed Date:      October 04, 2023

      Defendant seeks to bifurcate the issue of insurance coverage from the issue of Plaintiff’s
damages. The motion is not opposed.
        Per Vt. R. Civ. P. 42, the Court may bifurcate issues for trial. The Court’s discretion in
considering such a request is “broad.” Gardner v. Hokenson, No. 2019-410, 2021 WL 2545407,
at *5 (Vt. Feb. 5, 2021) (non-precedential 3-Justice Opinion). The Court can consider many
concerns in connection with a motion to bifurcate. See 9A C. Wright, et al., Fed. Prac. & Proc.
Civ. § 2388 (3d ed.). In this instance, the Court perceives that the issue of coverage is wholly
separate from the question of Plaintiff’s damages, information concerning the latter may well
prejudice the consideration of the former, and examination of damages would also take
additional time and be potentially difficult evidence for all involved.
         The Court agrees with Plaintiff that bifurcating these issues is the path most “likely to
result in a just and expeditious final disposition of the litigation.” Gardner, 2021 WL 2545407,
at *5 (internal quotation omitted); accord Mowry v. Badger State Mut. Cas. Co., 385 N.W.2d
171, 183 (Wis. 1986) (endorsing notion of separating insurance coverage and damages issues).
        Electronically signed on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, per V.R.E.F. 9(d).

                                                            _______________________
                                                             Timothy B. Tomasi
                                                             Superior Court Judge

Entry Regarding Motion                                                                            Page 1 of 1
21-CV-01859 Estate of James Alger by Virginia Alger, Administrator v. United Ohio Insurance Co.