Court Opinion

ID: 2784387
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-03-05 21:01:19.354801+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:02:59.196509
License: Public Domain

Case: 14-11954   Date Filed: 03/05/2015    Page: 1 of 3

                                                          [DO NOT PUBLISH]

            IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                    FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                      ________________________

                            No. 14-11954
                        Non-Argument Calendar
                      ________________________

                  D.C. Docket No. 0:13-cv-62374-WPD

CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYD'S, LONDON
THAT SUBSCRIBE TO CERTIFICATE NO. SUA 4215
AND/OR CERTIFICATE NO. SUA 3905,

                                               Plaintiff - Appellant,

                                 versus

COASTAL STATES MORTGAGE CORPORATION,
FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION,
FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION,

                                               Defendants - Appellees.

                      ________________________

               Appeal from the United States District Court
                   for the Southern District of Florida
                     ________________________

                             (March 5, 2015)

Before MARCUS, WILLIAM PRYOR and BLACK, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
               Case: 14-11954     Date Filed: 03/05/2015    Page: 2 of 3

      Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London that Subscribe to Certificate No.

SUA 4215 and/or Certificate No. SUA 3905 (Underwriters) appeal from the

district court’s order granting Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation’s motion

to dismiss for failure to state a claim. Before the district court, Underwriters

asserted claims for common law rescission and declaratory judgment. The district

court dismissed Underwriters’ suit, initially without prejudice and allowing leave

to amend in accordance with its order, but ultimately with prejudice after

Underwriters appealed and allowed the time to amend to lapse.

      After reviewing the record and the parties’ briefs de novo, Spain v. Brown &

Williamson Tobacco Corp., 363 F.3d 1183, 1187 (11th Cir. 2004) (reviewing a

district court’s grant of a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a

claim de novo), we affirm for the reasons stated in the district court’s well-

reasoned order entered on April 18, 2014. Specifically, Underwriters are unable to

overcome the rule in Florida that knowledge of a wrongdoer is not imputed to a

corporation to defeat fidelity bond coverage. Miami Nat’l Bank v. Pa. Ins. Co.,

314 F. Supp. 858, 865 (S.D. 1970) (explaining “the customary rule to the effect

that knowledge of an agent or officer of a corporation is imputed to the corporation

is not applicable under fidelity bond claims” (citing Phoenix Indemn. Co. v. Union

Fin. Co., 54 So. 2d 188, 190 (Fla. 1951))). Further, accepting Underwriters’

arguments of rescission and non-coverage would effectively nullify Insuring

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               Case: 14-11954     Date Filed: 03/05/2015     Page: 3 of 3

Clause 6, a result contrary to Florida law. See Premier Ins. Co. v. Adams, 632

So.2d 1054, 1057 (Fla. 5th Dist.Ct.App.1994) (“[A]n interpretation which gives a

reasonable meaning to all provisions of a contract is preferred to one which leaves

a part useless or inexplicable.”); Howard v. Am. Serv. Mut. Ins. Co., 151 So. 2d

682, 686 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1963) (“We must assume that [each clause] was

inserted in the policy for a purpose.”); Stuyvesant Ins. Co. v. Butler, 314 So.2d 567,

570 (Fla. 1975) (“[C]ontracts of insurance should be construed so as to give effect

to the intent of the parties and if uncertainty is present in a policy, it should be

construed against the insurer and in favor of the insured.”).

      AFFIRMED.

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