JOHN M. GERRARD, District Judge.
This matter is before the Court on three motions filed by the plaintiff, National Independent Truckers Ins. Co. (hereinafter, National): a motion for summary judgment as to one defendant, Bruce W. Larson (filing 85); a motion for summary judgment as to the other defendant, Kelly Gadway (filing 90); and a motion to dismiss Gadway's counterclaim (filing 53) with prejudice (filing 92). National's motions are denied as set forth in this memorandum and order.
The underlying events of this case are essentially undisputed. Gadway, an over-the-road trucker, filed an application with National, a New Jersey insurance company, for commercial insurance coverage. See filing 1 at 1, filing 1-1. Gadway was the sole proprietor of his trucking operation, and Larson was his employee. See, filing 1 at 2; filing 1-2 at 26; filing 81-2 at 4; filing 95-3 at 9. The policy was to cover two Peterbilt tractors: one garaged in Hershey, Nebraska, where Gadway lived, and the other garaged in Tucson, Arizona, where Larson lived. See filing 1-1 at 5, 7. The drivers reported for the policy were Gadway and Larson. See, filing 1-1 at 7; filing 1-2 at 21.
A "Supplemental Questionnaire" attached to the policy instructed Gadway to list the date, place, driver, and description for "all accidents, regardless of fault, that occurred during the past 5 years involving the applicant and any person who will be listed as a driver." Filing 1-2 at 33. Gadway wrote "none" on the form, and signed and dated it on January 15, 2009. Filing 1-2 at 33.
Gadway had, however, been involved in an automobile accident in Ohio on September 2, 2008. See filing 95-5. The Toledo Police Division Traffic Crash Report establishes that Gadway's tractor-trailer had attempted a right turn from the center westbound lane of a five-lane divided street, despite being in a straight-only lane. See filing 95-5 at 3. Gadway's tractor-trailer struck a passenger vehicle that had been stopped in the right lane. See filing 95-5 at 3. Gadway was cited for a traffic violation. See, filing 95-4; filing 95-5 at 1; see also, Toledo, Ohio Municipal Code § 331.09(a) (2011); Ohio Revised Code § 4511.33 (2004). After initially failing to appear, Gadway pled guilty in Toledo Municipal Court on October 10 and was sentenced to fines and costs. See filing 95-4.
The evidence establishes that had National been informed of the Ohio accident, the policy for which Gadway applied would not have been issued. National's underwriting guidelines for the policy at issue provide that an applicant must have no at-fault accidents within the 3-year period preceding the application; if an accident is
Nonetheless, the policy was issued effective January 16, 2009. See filing 1-1 at 1. An MCS-90 endorsement was attached to the policy.
Larson has made no appearance in this case, and Gadway is appearing pro se. As a result, the pleading and discovery stages of this proceeding have not passed without complication. As pertinent, Gadway filed a "Brief for Evidence" and "Supporting Brief (filing 46) which were construed by the Magistrate Judge as Gadway's answer to the complaint. See filing 55. Gadway then filed a "Motion for Relief from Court Concerning Lack of Sufficient Premium Refund" (filing 53) which the Magistrate Judge construed as a counterclaim for refund of premiums paid before cancellation of the policy. See filing 55.
National served requests for admissions, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 36, on both Gadway and Larson. Larson did not respond. See filing 71-1. Gadway responded (filing 73), although he did not always clearly admit or deny the matters National asked him to admit; his responses can be fairly characterized as admitting most of the material facts that have been alleged, but offering his own interpretation of many of them. See filing 73. National moved the Court to deem each of its requests for admissions to have been admitted; the Magistrate Judge granted the motion with respect to Larson, but denied the motion with respect to Gadway. See filings 74 and 83.
Finally, National filed the motions for summary judgment and to dismiss counterclaim that are the subject of this memorandum and order. See filings 85, 90, and 92. Neither defendant filed a brief in opposition, so National's motions are now ripe for disposition.
The Court's analysis begins with some well-established propositions. Summary judgment is proper if the pleadings, the discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)(2). The movant bears the initial responsibility of informing the Court of the basis for the motion, and must identify those portions of the record which the movant believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Torgerson v. City of Rochester, 643 F.3d 1031, 1042 (8th Cir.2011) (en banc). If the movant does so, the
On a motion for summary judgment, facts must be viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party only if there is a genuine dispute as to those facts. Id. Credibility determinations, the weighing of the evidence, and the drawing of legitimate inferences from the evidence are jury functions, not those of a judge. Id. But the nonmovant must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts. Id. In order to show that disputed facts are material, the party opposing summary judgment must cite to the relevant substantive law in identifying facts that might affect the outcome of the suit. Quinn v. St. Louis County, 653 F.3d 745, 751 (8th Cir. 2011). The mere existence of a scintilla of evidence in support of the nonmovant's position will be insufficient; there must be evidence on which the jury could conceivably find for the nonmovant. Barber v. C1 Truck Driver Training, LLC, 656 F.3d 782, 791-92 (8th Cir.2011). Where the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the non-moving party, there is no genuine issue for trial. Torgerson, supra, 643 F.3d at 1042.
Rule 56 also allows the Court to grant summary judgment as to some issues but not as to others. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). Upon doing so, the Court may "enter an order stating any material fact — including an item of damages or other relief — that is not genuinely in dispute," and thereby treat such a fact "as established in the case." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(g). And after giving notice and a reasonable time to respond, the Court may take other actions dictated by its findings — it may grant summary judgment for a nonmovant, grant the motion on grounds not raised by a party, or consider summary judgment on its own after identifying for the parties material facts that may not be genuinely in dispute. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(f).
The Court begins with National's motion for summary judgment as to Gadway, because that motion presents most of the substantive issues that will be important to disposing of National's other motions. This analysis is controlled by Nebraska's substantive law.
Under Nebraska law, National's claim is for equitable rescission based upon fraud in the inducement. See, generally, Gonzalez v. Union Pacific R.R. Co., 282 Neb. 47, 803 N.W.2d 424 (2011). Fraud in the inducement goes to the means used to induce a party to enter into a contract. The contract may be voidable if the party's consent was obtained by false representations — for instance, as to the nature and value of the consideration, or other material
National relies upon the proposition that "[a] misrepresentation is material if the insurer would not have issued the policy had it been aware of the true facts." Lowry v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 228 Neb. 171, 421 N.W.2d 775, 778 (1988). But curiously, National does not cite the preceding sentence from Lowry, which provides that in order for an insurer to avoid liability on an insurance policy, "the insurer must plead and prove (1) that the misrepresentation was made knowingly with intent to deceive, (2) that the insurer relied and acted upon such statement, and (3) that the insurer was deceived to its injury."
The evidence presented establishes, as a matter of law, that the misrepresentation in this case was material — that is, that National relied and acted upon Gadway's misrepresentation, and was deceived to its injury. But the evidence does not establish, as a matter of law, that Gadway made the misrepresentation knowingly with intent to deceive. In his "answer," Gadway alleged that he had not disclosed the Ohio accident because his "agent at the time said it was a `non-event'" and it "never crossed [his] mind again until after 8-16-10 when lawyers were contacting me...." Filing 46. He further explained his failure to disclose the Ohio accident in his response to National's requests for admissions, which National has submitted as evidence supporting its motion for summary judgment. See filing 95. Generally, Gadway explained that he did not believe the Ohio accident was his fault, and that the other driver was responsible and trying to "scam" his insurance company. See filing 95-3. He denied that he "lied" on the application for the policy, accusing the other driver in the Ohio accident of trying to "totally screw the insurance company in spite of all the facts." Filing 95-3 at 6.
Granted, the questionnaire on which Gadway failed to report the Ohio accident asked for "all accidents, regardless of fault, that occurred during the past 5 years...." Filing 95-2. Had Gadway answered the question accurately, he would have disclosed the Ohio accident. But the evidence does not negate the possibility that Gadway misunderstood the requirements of the questionnaire. And the Nebraska
The Nebraska Supreme Court identified the crucial question as "whether it can be said as a matter of law that decedent concealed these facts knowingly and with the intent to deceive." Id. at 779. The Court emphasized that "when `an applicant makes an untrue statement with respect to a material fact peculiarly within his knowledge, the finder of fact may, from the mere occurrence of the false statement, conclude it was made knowingly with intent to deceive.'" Id. (emphasis in original). But, the Court explained,
Id.
Likewise, in this case, the Court finds it difficult to believe Gadway was unaware that by not disclosing the Ohio accident, he was withholding information that fell within the scope of National's questionnaire. It would be interesting to know why Gadway had apparently decided to change insurance companies just a few months after the Ohio accident. But the Court is bound by Nebraska law on this issue, and given Lowry, the Court's skepticism does not permit it to conclude, as a matter of law, that Gadway acted knowingly with intent to deceive National. Questions of subjective intent can rarely be decided by summary judgment. See Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 102 S.Ct. 2727, 73 L.Ed.2d 396 (1982). In this case, Gadway's intent presents a genuine issue of material fact that precludes summary judgment.
Regardless of whether National might be able to rescind the policy, there is also a question presented as to whether National can avoid liability for an already-incurred loss — most pertinently, the Maryland accident. It is well recognized by courts to have confronted the question that where motor vehicle insurance is compulsory, statutorily required coverage cannot be rescinded ab initio after an injury has occurred. See, e.g., Palisades Safety & Ins. Ass'n v. Bastien, 175 N.J. 144, 814 A.2d 619 (2003); Harkrider v. Posey, 24 P.3d 821 (Okla.2000); Progressive Northern Ins. Co. v. Corder, 15 S.W.3d 381 (Ky.2000); Munroe v. Great American Ins. Co., 234 Conn. 182, 661 A.2d 581 (1995); Van Horn v. Atlantic Mut. Ins. Co., 334 Md. 669, 641 A.2d 195 (1994); Continental Western Ins. Co. v. Clay, 248 Kan. 889,
Generally, these courts have reasoned that compulsory insurance schemes were enacted to protect innocent members of the public from uninsured drivers, transforming what had been a private insurance arrangement into "a quasi-public obligation." Harkrider, supra, at 830; see, e.g., Bastien, supra; Corder, supra; Van Horn, supra; Munroe, supra. Although many of those cases arise out of different statutory enactments, they reflect the common policy of providing financial protection for those injured in automobile accidents. Munroe, supra. Permitting post-loss rescission of statutorily required coverage, however, would thwart the statutory protection afforded to innocent third parties. See, Harkrider, supra; Corder, supra. Therefore, it has been held that where a loss must be borne by an innocent third party or by an insurance company which has written a policy pursuant to a compulsory insurance statute, it should be the insurance company that bears the loss up to the minimum statutory limits. See id.
The Nebraska Supreme Court has not directly confronted that issue. See Glockel, supra (noting but avoiding issue). Nonetheless, Nebraska has a compulsory insurance scheme, see Neb.Rev.Stat. §§ 60-310 and 60-387 (2010), and the Court has little doubt that were the Nebraska Supreme Court to directly confront the issue, it would likewise conclude that statutorily required automobile insurance coverage cannot be voided ab initio when an innocent third party has already been injured. See State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Armstrong, 949 F.2d 99 (3d Cir.1991) (explaining duty to predict state court's resolution of issue and deciding Pennsylvania would reject common-law right to rescind compulsory automobile insurance); cf. Scow v. Bankers' Fire Ins. Co., 109 Neb. 241, 190 N.W. 858 (1922) (recognizing, in dicta, proposition that rescission will not be granted when the rights of third parties have intervened). Thus, the Court finds no merit to National's request for a declaration that the policy is void ab initio, and that there is no insurance coverage under the policy for the Maryland accident. Given the public policy determination reflected by the Nebraska statutes, the Court concludes that the policy is effective, as to existing losses, up to the statutorily required minimum coverage.
National's request for a declaration that it is not obligated to make payment of any settlement or judgment entered against the defendants also implicates the validity of the MCS-90 endorsement attached to the policy. The operation and effect of the MCS-90 endorsement is a matter of federal law. See, Canal Ins. Co. v. Distrib. Servs., Inc., 320 F.3d 488 (4th Cir.2003); Great West Cas. Co. v. General Cas. Co. of Wisconsin, 734 F.Supp.2d 718 (D.Minn. 2010).
Federal law provides that the Secretary of Transportation may register a motor carrier only if the registrant files a bond,
It is generally established that an MCS-90 endorsement operates as a surety, rather than a modification of the underlying policy. See, Yeates, supra; Great West Cas. Co., supra. In other words, the endorsement is a safety net in the event other insurance is lacking. See, Yeates, supra; Great West Cas. Co., supra. An MCS-90 insurer's duty to pay a judgment arises not from any insurance obligation, but from the endorsement's language guaranteeing a source of recovery in the event the motor carrier negligently injures a member of the public on the highways. Yeates, supra.
Significantly, the MCS-90 endorsement, and any of its terms that supersede any limitation in the underlying insurance policy, are implicated only as between a member of the public and the insurer. See id. The "peculiar nature" of the MCS-90 endorsement grants a creditor the right to demand payment from the insurer, and simultaneously grants the insurer the right to demand reimbursement from the insured. Canal Ins. Co. v. Underwriters at Lloyd's London, 435 F.3d 431, 442 n. 4 (3d Cir.2006); accord Yeates, supra.
National alleges that the MCS-90 endorsement attached to the policy is ineffective because it provides coverage for "the insured." According to National, because the policy should be voided, there is no "insured" and the MCS-90 endorsement is also void. But National's argument is inconsistent with the purpose of the MCS-90 endorsement and express provisions of federal law. To begin with, the MCS-90 endorsement specifically identifies Gadway as the person to whom the endorsement was issued. See filing 1-2 at 16. And operation of an MCS-90 endorsement does not rest on the underlying insurance policy — it is, in fact, well understood that the MCS-90 endorsement is not triggered unless the underlying policy does not provide liability coverage for an accident. See Yeates, supra. The MCS-90 expressly provides that "no condition, provision, stipulation, or limitation contained in the policy, this endorsement, or any other endorsement thereon, or violation thereof, shall relieve the company from liability or from the payment of any final judgment...." Filing 1-2 at 16; see 49 C.F.R. § 387.15, Illustration I.
And because the MCS-90 defines "the insurer's public financial responsibility obligation," Yeates, supra, at 884 (emphasis in original), an MCS-90 endorsement remains in effect until the insurance company terminates the endorsement in the manner provided by federal law. See, Waters v. Miller, 564 F.3d 1355 (11th Cir. 2009); Republic Western Ins. Co. v. Rockmore, 2005 WL 57284 (N.D.Tex. Jan. 10, 2005). The purpose of requiring an MCS-90 certification, or other proof of financial responsibility, is to ensure that the public is adequately protected from the risks created by a motor carrier's operations and to ensure the collectability of a judgment against the motor carrier. Great West Cas. Co., supra. To that end, the Federal
As with the state compulsory financial responsibility schemes discussed above, it would defeat the purpose of the federal statutes and regulations at issue if an insurer could escape its obligations pursuant to an MCS-90 endorsement simply by seeking rescission of the underlying insurance policy. The Court concludes that as to injured members of the public, the MCS-90 endorsement attached to the policy remains in effect at least until the notice requirement of 49 C.F.R. § 387.313(d) has been satisfied. And in this case, there is no evidence of when, if at all, such notice was given. Therefore, National is not entitled to a declaration that coverage is unavailable under the MCS-90 endorsement.
For the foregoing reasons, National's motion for summary judgment as to Gadway (filing 90) is denied. Further findings with respect to the issues discussed above will be set forth later in this memorandum and order.
With respect to the substantive legal issues — rescission, compulsory insurance, and the MCS-90 endorsement — Larson's legal position with respect to the accident is mostly indistinguishable from Gadway's. In fact, Gadway's liability for the Maryland accident, if any, is almost certain to be based on the doctrine of respondeat superior, which allows an employer to be held vicariously liable for the tortious conduct of its employee when that employee was acting within the scope of the employment relationship.
The important procedural difference arises from the fact that Gadway responded to National's requests for admissions, while Larson did not. Therefore, as discussed above, National's requests for admissions have been deemed admitted as to Larson. These admissions include that "Gadway lied on the application" for the policy, that Gadway "fraudulently filled out the application," that "every statement or allegation contained in [National's] Petition is true and correct," and that "Larson has no defense at law or in equity to the claims made by [National] herein." Filing 81-3.
Taken on their face, these admissions would essentially concede National's case. Fed.R.Civ.P. 36(a)(1) permits a party to serve a request to admit "facts, the application of law to fact, or opinions about either." And a matter admitted under Rule 36 is conclusively established unless withdrawn or amended. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 36(b). But the rule does not authorize requests for admissions of law unrelated to the facts of the case. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 36 advisory committee's note.
The complication is that to the extent that National is seeking rescission of the policy, that claim for relief does not lie against Larson, for the obvious reason that Larson wasn't a party to the contract. The policy is either rescinded as to its actual parties, or it isn't. But if Gadway
Nor can the Court accept that the broad admissions proffered by National are fatal to all of the defenses to its claim for relief. As noted above, a proper request for admission does not authorize admissions of law unrelated to the facts of the case. And it is unclear, for instance, whether the admission that "Larson has no defense at law or in equity" encompasses factual or legal admissions. The basic facts of the case — who did what, and when — are essentially undisputed, and no admissions are necessary to establish those facts. The Court's determination of the issues discussed above — the state-law compulsory insurance requirement and federal MCS-90 endorsement — rests on legal conclusions that Larson cannot be compelled to admit, even by failing to respond.
The Court recognizes that if facts admitted under Fed.R.Civ.P. 36 are dispositive of the case, then it is proper to grant summary judgment. See, Praetorian Ins. Co. v. Site Inspection, LLC, 604 F.3d 509 (8th Cir.2010); Quasius v. Schwan Food Co., 596 F.3d 947 (8th Cir.2010). But the Court cannot find Larson's admissions to be dispositive here, under the facts of this case. Larson cannot be deemed to have admitted legal conclusions that contradict the conclusions of the Court which, as explained above, preclude summary judgment in National's favor. Nor can Larson's factual admissions with respect to Gadway's misrepresentation be dispositive of National's claim for rescission when Larson was not a party to the policy, and he cannot be sued for rescission.
In all other respects, National's arguments for summary judgment as to Larson are without merit for the same reasons they were without merit as to Gadway. Therefore, National's motion for summary judgment as to Larson (filing 85) is also denied.
Finally, the Court denies National's motion to dismiss Gadway's counterclaim (filing 92). Although captioned as a "Motion to Dismiss with Prejudice," National's motion can more accurately be characterized as an offer to confess judgment on the counterclaim should judgment be rendered in National's favor on its own claims for relief. In its motion, National states that it is "able and willing to tender payment to Gadway in full satisfaction of this `Counterclaim' upon entry of Judgment by the Court." See filing 92 at 1. Essentially, National's motion is a concession that if the policy is rescinded, and voided ab initio, then National would owe Gadway a full refund of premiums paid, plus interest.
But as discussed above, National has not yet proven that the policy should be rescinded. Nor has National shown that it can completely escape liability for the Maryland accident even if the policy is rescinded. The Court does not hold National to its concession of the counterclaim in light of these conclusions, because the Court reads National's concession as conditioned upon a complete rescission and discharge of liability.
And furthermore, even if the policy is rescinded, there remains an issue of material fact as to the amount Gadway should be refunded. Under Nebraska law, refund of consideration upon rescission of a contract is based upon liability for money had and received, see Gonzalez, supra, and an action in assumpsit for money had and received may be brought where a party
In order to maintain such an action, a plaintiff (in this case, a counterclaimant) must show that (1) the defendant received money, (2) the defendant retained possession of the money, and (3) the defendant in justice and fairness ought to pay the money to the plaintiff. Id. Given the possibility that rescission of the policy would not discharge National's liability for the Maryland accident, the Court finds that there is a genuine issue of material fact as to how much of the premiums paid on the policy ought to be, "in justice and fairness," repaid to him. See id. at 712. As such, the Court denies filing 92, National's motion to dismiss the counterclaim.
For the reasons stated above, the Court denies each of National's pending motions. As pertinent, the Court finds that summary judgment is precluded by the following genuine issues of material fact, as explained in more detail above:
Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(g) provides that if a court does not grant all the relief requested by a motion for summary judgment, it may enter an order stating any material fact that is not genuinely in dispute and treating the fact as established in the case. As explained in more detail above, the Court finds that the following material facts are not genuinely in dispute:
Furthermore, Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(f) provides that after giving notice and a reasonable time to respond, a court may grant summary judgment for a nonmovant, and consider summary judgment on its own after identifying for the parties material facts that may not be genuinely in dispute. Given the Court's legal conclusions, explained above, it appears to the Court that summary judgment against National might be appropriate with respect to its liability for the insurance coverage required by Nebraska's compulsory insurance scheme, and with respect to National's liability under the MCS-90 endorsement.
IT IS ORDERED:
