Court Opinion

ID: 9649262
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 14:47:08.10769+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:12:09.478003
License: Public Domain

Tom Glaze, Justice, concurring. I concur. For me, the difficult issue in this appeal is the due process question raised by RLI. As pointed out by the majority, RLI had notice of the pending lawsuit, but relied upon the insured’s and the primary carrier’s (Farmers Insurance’s) attorney, G. William Lavender, to keep RLI apprised as to the progress of the case. The majority opinion correctly details the facts leading to Lavender’s failure to inform RLI of the insured’s and Farmer’s settlement with the plaintiff, Jackie Coe. Nor did Lavender inform RLI of the March 23, 1989, trial that resulted in the eight million dollar judgment entered on April 20, 1989. Coe, Farmers and the insured were aware that RLI had the excess coverage in this case and therefore had a personal stake in its outcome. Nevertheless, as already noted, RLI was never notified of the March 23 trial by Coe, Farmers, Lavender or the insured, even though RLI’s excess coverage was unquestionably in jeopardy. If these were the only events that had occurred, I would question whether adequate notice had been provided RLI. The record is not clear as to when RLI became aware of the April 20, 1989 judgment, but it is clear RLI was aware of that judgment by June 7,1989. On that date, RLI wrote the trial judge notifying him that RLI had been sued in federal court by Coe based upon certain rights she obtained under the April 20 judgment. RLI also asked the court not to take further action in the Coe lawsuit without notice being given RLI. By letter dated June 13, 1989, the judge advised RLI’s counsel that he knew of nothing pending in Coe’s portion of the lawsuit, but the other two plaintiffs’ claims would be tried in the future. He further advised that, if RLI intended to defend against those claims, RLI should enter its appearance in the proceedings. At this point in time, RLI was fully apprised that Coe’s claim was one of three involved in the same lawsuit, that Coe’s claim had been reduced to judgment and that two parties’ claims were still pending. Coe’s judgment, however, was not a final one, as can be discerned by reading ARCP Rule 54(b), which provides as follows: (b) Judgment Upon Multiple Claims or Involving Multiple Parties. When more than one claim for relief is presented in an action, whether as a claim, counterclaim, cross-claim or third-party claim, or when multiple parties are involved, the court may direct the entry of a final judgment as to one or more but fewer than all of the claims or parties only upon an express determination that there is no just reason for delay and upon an express direction for the entry of judgment. In the absence of such determination and direction, any order or other form of decision, however designated, which adjudicates fewer than all the claims or the rights and liabilities of fewer than all the parties shall not terminate the action as to any of the claims or parties, and the order or other form of decision is subject to revision at any time before the entry of judgment adjudicating all the claims and the rights and liabilities of all the parties. (Emphasis added.) Here, the trial court made no express finding in its April 20 judgment that Coe’s claim should be made final because there was no just reason for its delay. As a consequence, the trial court’s decision was subject to revision at any time prior to the other parties’ claims being adjudicated. In sum, if RLI had acted to intervene in Coe’s and the other parties’ lawsuit in June 1989, it could have timely raised the objections it later attempted to raise after August 11, 1989 — the date the trial court entered a judgment in Coe’s behalf that complied with the requisites of Rule 54. In sum, Coe’s judgment was not final until August 11th, not April 20th. This court has emphasized that it is the duty of a litigant to keep himself informed of the progress of his case. Midwest Timber Products Co., Inc. v. Self, 230 Ark. 872, 327 S.W.2d 730 (1959); Trumbell v. Harris, 114 Ark. 493, 170 S.W. 222 (1914); Meisch v. Brady, 270 Ark. App. 652, 606 S.W.2d 112 (1980). In the present case, RLI had ample notice and opportunity to have raised and litigated the issues below that it now argues on appeal. While RLI’s grievance with Farmers and its attorney may have some merit concerning the latters’ failure to keep RLI informed as agreed, Coe owed no such duty. RLI was, in my view, entitled to procedural due process, which included notice of the pending lawsuit and an opportunity to be heard. The record reflects RLI was afforded such due process. Therefore, I join in the majority’s decision upholding Coe’s judgment.