MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

WILLIAM E. CASSADY, Magistrate Judge.

This is a declaratory judgment action arising out of a motor vehicle accident in which two brothers—Plaintiff, Jonathan Rabon, and Defendant, Lee Rabon—were traveling in a truck driven by Lee Rabon when it was hit by a train.1 In a separate state court action, Jonathan Rabon brought suit for his injuries against Lee Rabon and the train company. (Doc. 1-1, ¶ 10.) Progressive Specialty Insurance Company ("Progressive") denied liability coverage for Lee Rabon, and the state court ultimately entered a default judgment against Lee Rabon in the amount of $500,000.00. (Id., ¶¶ 13-14.) Jonathan Rabon subsequently filed this action seeking a declaratory judgment that, pursuant to the insurance policy entered into between Progressive and Cindy Rabon, the mother of Jonathan and Lee Rabon, Progressive was obligated to defend Lee Rabon in the underlying suit and is obligated to indemnify Lee Rabon by paying Jonathan Rabon the $500,000.00 default judgment entered against his brother. (Id., ¶¶ 16-19.)2

After completing discovery, Progressive filed a motion for summary judgment (doc. 32), which has been fully briefed by the parties (docs. 37 and 39). The undersigned has considered the record, the parties' pleadings, and the arguments presented in the briefs, and for the reasons set forth herein, the undersigned has determined that Progressive's motion for summary judgment is GRANTED.3

RELEVANT UNDISPUTED FACTS

In November and December 2007, and the months prior, Cindy Rabon, her husband, Darroll Rabon, and her adult sons, Lee and Jonathan Rabon, all resided together at 112 Forest Avenue, in Castleberry, Alabama. (Doc. 32-10 at 15-18; 32-11 at 3-5.) Lee and Jonathan Rabon did not have any other residence at that time. (Doc. 32-10 at 15-18; 32-11 at 3-5.)

On November 12, 2007, Cindy Rabon applied for an automobile insurance policy with Progressive for insurance covering her Ford F-150. (Doc. 32-2.) The insurance application included a "Drivers and household residents" section where the applicant needed to identify "all household residents 15 years of age or older, all regular operators of the [Ford F-150], and all children who live away from home who drive [the Ford F-150], even occasionally." (Doc. 32-2 at 1 (emphasis in original).) Ms. Rabon only identified herself and her husband in that section of the application. (Id.) She did not identify Lee and Jonathan Rabon, even though they were residents of her household and were over the age of 15. (Id.; doc. 32-6 at 13-14.) Later in the application, Ms. Rabon initialed a sentence confirming that "all household residents 15 years of age or older . . . [have] been disclosed in the `Drivers and household residents' section[.]" (Doc. 32-2 at 3.) Finally, Ms. Rabon signed the application, which included a verification that "the statements contained [in the application] are true to the best of [her] knowledge and belief." (Id. at 3-4.)

On November 13, 2007, Progressive issued an insurance policy covering the Ford F-150 from November 12, 2007, to May 12, 2007. (Doc. 32-7 at 1.) Cindy Rabon and her husband, Darroll Rabon, are the only individuals listed on the policy. (Id.) The policy included liability coverage, including coverage for bodily injury to others with limits of $25,000 per injured person and $50,000 per accident. (Id.) The policy further provides in pertinent part that liability coverage, "including [Progressive's] duty to defend, will not apply to any insured person for: . . . bodily injury to you or a relative." (Id. at 5-6 (emphasis in original).) An "insured person" is defined in the policy as "you or a relative with respect to an accident arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of an auto or trailer." (Id. at 5 (emphasis in original).) "You" is defined in the policy as "a person shown as a named insured on the declarations page; and . . . the spouse of a named insured if residing in the same household." (Id. (emphasis in original).) A "relative" is defined in the policy as "a person primarily residing in the same household as you, and related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption, and includes a ward, stepchild, or foster child." (Id. (emphasis in original).)

On December 8, 2007, Jonathan Rabon was riding as a passenger in the Ford F-150 when his brother, Lee Rabon, drove said vehicle across railroad tracks and in front of an oncoming train. (Doc. 32-1 at 1-2.) The train collided into the passenger side of the truck causing injuries to Jonathan Rabon. (Id.) Progressive denied liability coverage for the incident, (doc. 32-9), Jonathan Rabon sued Lee Rabon and the train company to recover for his injuries, (doc. 32-3), and a default judgment was entered against Lee Rabon in the amount of $500,000, (doc. 32-4).

Summary Judgment Standard

Summary judgment is proper "if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a); see Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247-248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2510, 91 L. Ed. 2d 202 (1986) ("The mere existence of some alleged factual dispute between the parties will not defeat an otherwise properly supported motion for summary judgment."); Garczynski v. Bradshaw, 573 F.3d 1158, 1165 (11th Cir. 2009) ("[S]ummary judgment is appropriate even if `some alleged factual dispute' between the parties remains, so long as there is `no genuine issue of material fact.'").

The party seeking summary judgment has the initial responsibility of informing the court of the basis for the motion and of establishing, based upon the discovery instruments outlined in Rule 56(c), that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2553, 91 L. Ed. 2d 265 (1986); see also Allen v. Bd. of Pub. Educ., 495 F.3d 1306, 1313 (11th Cir. 2007) ("The moving party bears the initial burden of showing the court, by reference to materials on file, that there are no genuine issues of material fact that should be decided at trial."). Once this initial demonstration is made, the "responsibility then devolves upon the non-movant[s] to show the existence of a genuine issue . . . [of] material fact." Fitzpatrick v. City of Atlanta, 2 F.3d 1112, 1116 (11th Cir. 1993); see also Allen, 495 F.3d at 1314 ("`When a moving party has discharged its burden, the non-moving party must then "go beyond the pleadings," and by its own affidavits, or by "depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file," designate specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.'"); see Comer v. City of Palm Bay, 265 F.3d 1186, 1192 (11th Cir. 2001) ("Once the moving party discharges its initial burden of showing that there is an absence of evidence to support the non-moving party's case, the non-moving party must specify facts proving the existence of a genuine issue of material fact for trial confirmed by affidavits, `"depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file."'").

Resolution Trust Corp. v. Dunmar Corp., 43 F.3d 587, 592 (11th Cir. 1995) (internal citations omitted), cert. denied sub nom. Jones v. Resolution Trust Corp., 516 U.S. 817, 116 S.Ct. 74, 133 L. Ed. 2d 33 (1995); see also LaChance v. Duffy's Draft House, Inc., 146 F.3d 832, 835 (11th Cir. 1998) ("[The nonmoving party] must raise `significant probative evidence' that would be sufficient for a jury to find for that party."). In other words, there is no genuine issue for trial "[w]here the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the non-moving party[.]" Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 1356, 89 L. Ed. 2d 538 (1986); see Comer, 265 F.3d at 1192 ("Summary judgment is required where the non-moving party's response to a motion is merely `a repetition of his conclusional allegations' and is unsupported by evidence showing an issue for trial.").

In considering whether Progressive is entitled to summary judgment in this case, the Court has viewed the facts in the light most favorable to the Plaintiffs. Comer, 265 F.3d at 1192 ("We view the evidence and all factual inferences raised by it in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, and resolve all reasonable doubts about the facts in favor of the non-moving party.").

Garczynski, 573 F.3d at 1165 (internal citations omitted).

DISCUSSION

Progressive argues that summary judgment should be granted in its favor for the following reasons: (1) the insurance policy covering the Ford F-150 was void because Cindy Rabon made material misrepresentations regarding the members of her household when she submitted her insurance application; and (2) liability coverage for injuries to relatives living in Cindy Rabon's household was specifically excluded by Progressive's insurance policy. (Doc. 32 at 7-16.) Because the undersigned has concluded that summary judgment should be granted in Progressive's favor based on the terms of the policy, which specifically excluded liability coverage associated with the injuries to Jonathan Rabon, the undersigned need not address Progressive's argument that the policy was void due to Cindy Rabon's misrepresentations.4

QBE Ins. Corp. v. Whispering Pines Cemetary, LLC, Civil Action No. 12-0054-KD-C, 2013 WL 673492, at *4 (S.D. Ala. Feb. 25, 2013).

As stated above, the insurance policy covering the Ford F-150 excluded liability coverage for bodily injuries sustained by "a person primarily residing in the same household as [Cindy Rabon], and related to [Cindy Rabon] by blood, marriage, or adoption, . . . includ[ing] a ward, stepchild, or foster child." (Doc. 32-7 at 5.) Based on the testimony of Jonathan and Cindy Rabon, it is clear that Jonathan Rabon is Cindy Rabon's son and that he was primarily residing in Cindy Rabon's household at the time at issue. (Doc. 32-10 at 15-18; 32-11 at 3-5; see doc. 32 at 2-6.) The Plaintiffs do not dispute those facts. (See doc. 37 at 2.) Furthermore, the Plaintiffs do not contend that the household exclusion is ambiguous or otherwise dispute that, based on the terms of the policy and the household exclusion provision, coverage did not apply for injuries to Jonathan Rabon. (See doc. 37.) Based on a plain reading of the insurance policy and the exclusions contained therein, the undersigned finds that, because Jonathan Rabon is a relative who was residing in the same household as the insured, the insurance policy did not cover the injuries he sustained during the December 8, 2007 motor vehicle accident.

The Plaintiffs argue that the household exclusion is invalid because vehicles in Alabama are required to be covered by automobile liability insurance, pursuant to sections 32-7A-4 and 32-7A-6 of the Mandatory Liability Insurance Act ("MLIA") and section 32-7-6(c) of the Motor Vehicle Safety-Responsibility Act ("MVSRA"). (Id. at 7-8.) Section 32-7A-4 provides in pertinent part as follows:

§ 32-7A-4. Liability insurance required.

Ala. Code § 32-7A-4. Section 32-7A-6 requires "every operator of a motor vehicle subject to the provisions of Section 32-7A-4 [to] carry within the vehicle evidence of insurance." Ala. Code § 32-7A-6(a). Section 32-7A-6 also requires that insurers issue insurance cards for every motor vehicle insured, § 32-7A-6(b), and that the insurance policy associated with said card must comport with the requirements of section 32-7A-4, § 32-7A-6(e).

The Plaintiffs do not explain how the household exclusion violates the aforementioned statutory provisions, (see doc. 37 at 7-8), and the undersigned finds nothing in those statutory provisions that invalidates the household exclusion or otherwise renders it unenforceable. Although the MLIA requires that motor vehicles in Alabama be covered by liability insurance and that the coverage not be limited to an amount less than $25,000 for bodily injury to one person in any one accident, the MLIA does not specifically prohibit exclusions in an automobile liability insurance policy. See § 32-7A-4. In Alfa Specialty Ins. Co. v. Jennings, the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals addressed the issue of whether the MLIA, and its mandatory coverage provisions, rendered an exclusion in an insurance policy unenforceable. 906 So.2d 195, 200-03 (Ala. Civ. App. 2005) (concluding that, even though liability coverage is mandatory pursuant to the MLIA, coverage did not apply when the motor vehicle accident occurred in connection with a criminal act because coverage for that type of accident was excluded by the terms of the insurance policy at issue).6 After reviewing the MLIA, the court concluded that the Alabama Legislature contemplated that there would be some circumstances when automobile liability insurance policies would not provide coverage. Id. at 200. The court continued:

Id. at 200-01 (emphasis added).

The undersigned follows this interpretation of the MLIA by the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals8 and concludes that the MLIA did not abrogate insurance policy exclusions, such as the household exclusion in this case, which have been recognized as valid and enforceable under Alabama law,9 Hutcheson v. Ala. Farm Bureau Mut. Cas. Ins. Co., 435 So.2d 734, 736 (Ala. 1983) ("[T]his Court finds very persuasive a string of cases decided by the Supreme Court which have consistently upheld the validity of household and similar exclusions contained in policies of liability insurance, so long as they do not conflict with statutory law or public policy. . . . The Supreme Court of Alabama has consistently upheld the validity of the [household exclusion before the Court], confirming as judicial policy of the state that insurance companies may by appropriate exclusions and exclusionary definitions protect themselves through a valid contract." (citations omitted)); id. at 738 ("In conclusion, this Court finds the [household] exclusion considered herein to be a valid exercise of [the insurance company's] contractual rights, which is contrary to neither statutory law nor public policy. Therefore, the Plaintiff's request that the [insurance company] be required to defend, indemnify or pay any judgment rendered against the [driver] is without merit."); see Am. Fire & Cas. Co. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 273 So.2d 186, 188 (Ala. 1973) (concluding that, in light of household exclusion provision in automobile insurance policy, the policy did not cover injuries to relatives residing in the same household as the insured); Blow v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 228 So.2d 4, 8-9 (Ala. 1969) (same); Hogg v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 162 So.2d 462, 463 (Ala. 1964) (same); Holloway v. State Farm Mut. Auto Ins. Co., 151 So.2d 774, 774-75, 778 (Ala. 1963) (same).

In Hutcheson, the Alabama Supreme Court confirmed that a household exclusion in an automobile liability insurance policy did not contravene the MVSRA or the public policy of Alabama. Hutcheson, 435 So. 2d at 737-38. As the supreme court explained, the purpose of household exclusions is "to exempt from coverage those persons to whom the insured, on account of close family ties, would be apt to be partial in case of injury" and that purpose "has long been approved by the courts of Alabama." Id. at 737. The supreme court further stated that, "to accept the Plaintiff's contention [that the MVSRA nullified the household exclusion] would do violence to long established principles of law." Id.10

Based on the foregoing, the undersigned finds that the household exclusion in Progressive's insurance policy does not violate Alabama statutory provisions or Alabama public policy. As such, it is valid and enforceable, and Progressive was not obligated to defend or indemnify Lee Rabon in connection with the injuries to Jonathan Rabon. Thus, summary judgment in this declaratory judgment action should be granted in Progressive's favor.

CONCLUSION

For the reasons set forth above, Progressive's motion for summary judgment (doc. 32) is GRANTED. The Plaintiffs are to have and take nothing from Progressive, and this declaratory judgment action (doc. 1-1) is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.

DONE and ORDERED.