KELLY, Circuit Judge.
Plaintiff-appellant Barbara Williams appeals the district court's denials of two motions to remand; grant of judgment on the pleadings in favor of the defendant-appellees Employers Mutual Casualty Company, Capitol Indemnity Insurance Co., and Owners Insurance Company; and grant of consent judgment in favor of the defendant-appellee The Collier Organization, Inc. We affirm.
The Collier Organization, Inc. (Collier) was the owner of Autumn Hills Mobile Home Park (Autumn Hills) in Old Monroe, Missouri. From 1998 to 2009, Collier purchased commercial general liability insurance policies from three different insurance companies: Employers Mutual Casualty Company (Employers), Capitol Indemnity Insurance Company (Capitol), and Owners Insurance Company (Owners) (collectively, the Insurers). Employers issued three year-long policies, covering the period from March 13, 1999, to March 13, 2002. Capitol issued two year-long policies, covering the period from April 1, 2003, to April 1, 2005. Owners issued four year-long policies, covering the period from April 1, 2005, to April 1, 2009. Each policy provided that the relevant insurance company had a duty to defend and indemnify Collier for "bodily injury and property damage" resulting from "occurrences."
On March 5, 2008, Michelle Pratt brought a class-action lawsuit (Original Action) in Lincoln County, Missouri Circuit Court on behalf of the residents of Autumn Hills against Collier and two other entities that are not parties in this case. Williams was later substituted as class representative. The state court certified a class of Autumn Hills residents.
The complaint alleged that from 1999 to 2008, the two wells that supplied Autumn
Collier informed each of the Insurers of the complaint, and demanded indemnity and defense. Each of the Insurers declined. Thereafter, Williams entered into an agreement with Collier, which provided that Collier would assign the rights to its insurance proceeds to Williams, as class representative. In exchange, Williams agreed that if the class obtained judgment against Collier, the class' recovery would be limited to those insurance proceeds. This type of agreement is specifically authorized by Missouri law.
The state court held an evidentiary hearing to determine liability. At the hearing, Williams dismissed all claims except for the negligence claim, and orally amended the pleadings to add a claim for trespass. Shortly after the hearing, the state court entered findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a judgment in favor of the class. Specifically, the state court concluded that Collier "pump[ed] water with levels of combined Radium 226 and Radium 228 and Gross Alpha Particle Activity levels that exceeded the established maximums." The state court also concluded that the class suffered bodily injury and property damage as a result of the Radium and alpha particle activity in the water. On August 28, 2013, after a separate hearing on damages, the state court awarded the plaintiffs $70,085,000 for medical monitoring, and $11,952,000 for the loss in value to their homes.
On October 18, 2013, Williams filed an equitable garnishment action in state court against the Insurers and Collier pursuant to Missouri Revised Statute § 379.200, which provides that if a plaintiff's judgment against a defendant is not satisfied within thirty days, "the judgment creditor may proceed in equity against the defendant and the insurance company to reach and apply the insurance money to the satisfaction of the judgment." The complaint stated that Williams was bringing the equitable garnishment action "as class representative, by and through class counsel."
The Insurers removed the case to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, asserting jurisdiction under the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA), 28 U.S.C. § 1332(d). Williams moved to remand, arguing that the equitable garnishment action was not a "class action" as defined by § 1332(d)(1)(B). The district court
The Insurers each moved for judgment on the pleadings. Each argued that it was not obligated to defend or indemnify Collier, because none of the claims asserted in the Original Action were covered by the policies issued to Collier. The district court granted judgment on the pleadings in favor of the Insurers on March 2, 2015. First, it concluded as a matter of law that the allegations that Autumn Hills' drinking water supply contained illegal levels of Radium, alpha particle activity, and conform bacteria fell within a pollution exclusion contained in each policy. Second, it concluded as a matter of law that the allegations that Collier failed to build promised amenities at Autumn Hills were not covered by the policies because the policies did not provide coverage for breach of contract.
At that point, Collier still had not been served with process. On March 3, 2015, the district court ordered Williams to show cause as to why Collier should not be dismissed without prejudice pursuant to Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Williams responded, explaining that if she filed an appeal before obtaining service on Collier, the Eighth Circuit might deem the appeal premature, and remand it to the district court. Williams then served Collier. Collier failed to appear, and Williams moved for a default judgment, which was granted on August 25, 2015. On October 8, 2015, the court set aside the default judgment against Collier and allowed Collier to file a motion to dismiss, which it then denied.
On October 21, 2015, the district court entered a "Consent Judgment" in favor of Collier. The order stated, "The only remaining defendant in this equitable garnishment action is Collier. Collier is a nominal but necessary party under Missouri's equitable garnishment statute. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 379.200. Based on its prior ruling, the Court finds no relief can be obtained against Collier under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 379.200 and the Court must enter judgment in favor of Collier." Counsel for Collier and Williams both signed the judgment. Williams filed a notice of appeal on November 2, 2015.
Williams appeals the district court's denials of her two motions to remand, as well as the district court's grant of judgment on the pleadings in favor of the Insurers, and grant of consent judgment in favor of Collier. Before we reach Williams' arguments, we must consider the Insurers' contention that we lack jurisdiction over this appeal.
As an initial matter, the Insurers contend that we lack jurisdiction to consider this appeal. They argue that a consent judgment is not appealable, that the March 2, 2015, judgment on the pleadings was a final judgment, and that the district court erred in granting Williams an extension of time to file a notice of appeal to the judgment on the pleadings. The Insurers previously moved to dismiss this appeal on
First, the Insurers argue that a consent judgment like the one the district court entered in favor of Collier is not appealable. They further argue that all of the district court's orders prior to the consent judgment merge into the consent judgment, and, therefore, are likewise not appealable. We have previously held that appellate jurisdiction exists over all "final decisions," regardless of what form they take.
However, there is a non-jurisdictional limitation on appeals from consent judgments: Generally, where a party consents to a judgment, it has waived its right to appeal the claims disposed of by that judgment.
Next, the Insurers argue that we have no jurisdiction over the appeal of the March 2, 2015, judgment on the pleadings entered in favor of the Insurers. According to the Insurers, the judgment on the pleadings was a final, appealable order, and the district court abused its discretion in granting Williams an extension of time to file its notice of appeal of the judgment. Thus, the Insurers argue, the notice of appeal of the judgment on the pleadings was filed out of time, depriving this court of jurisdiction.
A judgment that disposes of claims against some, but not all, defendants is generally not considered to be final and appealable. Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(b). However, it is not "necessary for the district court to have disposed of [an unserved party] to make the judgment entered ... final and appealable" because an unserved party is not a "party" under the meaning of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(b).
But "[a] district court decision is not final, and thus not appealable, unless there is some clear and unequivocal manifestation by the trial court of its belief that the decision made, so far as [the court] is concerned, is the end of the case."
Williams appeals the district court's denials of her two motions to remand the present action to state court. She argues that the district court did not have jurisdiction over the present action because it is not a "class action" as defined by CAFA. We review the district court's interpretation of CAFA de novo.
Section 1332(d)(2) of Title 28 of the United States Code states that federal district courts have jurisdiction over any "civil action in which the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $5,000,000, exclusive of interest and costs, and is a
In the motions to remand, Williams argued that the present action is not a class action because it was not "filed under" Rule 23 or a state-law analogue. The parties do not dispute that the complaint in the Original Action referred to Missouri Rule of Civil Procedure 52.08, or that Rule 52.08 is analogous to Rule 23. But, Williams points out, the complaint in the present action does not refer to Rule 52.08; rather, it refers only to Missouri Revised Statute § 379.200 — the equitable garnishment statute that allows a plaintiff to satisfy a judgment against a tortfeasor's insurer.
The district court concluded that, although labeled otherwise, the present action is a class action because it is a class action in substance. In the district court's view, the fact that Williams brought the present action in her capacity as class representative "necessarily implies application of procedural rules that certified the class (and authorized plaintiff to act on behalf of that class) in the first place." In reaching this conclusion, the district court relied on
In
Williams argues that
In support of her interpretation of CAFA, Williams cites cases from other circuits that have found no CAFA jurisdiction where a plaintiff brings a lawsuit in a representative capacity and cites a state statute or rule that is not analogous to Rule 23. For example, the Third Circuit held that there was no CAFA jurisdiction over a case brought under Rule 2152 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure, which allows members of an unincorporated association to sue on behalf of the association.
Williams argues that, like the plaintiffs in the cases she cites, she is entitled to bring suit under whatever law she chooses. And, she argues, like those plaintiffs, she has chosen to bring suit pursuant to a state statute that is not analogous to Rule 23 — Missouri's equitable garnishment statute. However, the circumstances of this case distinguish it from the line of cases Williams relies on. In each of those cases, the plaintiff cited some rule or statute that purportedly allowed the plaintiff to proceed as the representative of a group of people, but that otherwise was not sufficiently similar to Rule 23 for purposes of CAFA. Here, the equitable garnishment statute includes no provision authorizing a plaintiff to bring suit on behalf of others. Rather, it is clear from the pleadings that Williams can bring this case only because of her status as the representative of the class certified under Rule 52.08, an undisputed analogue of Rule 23.
Williams suggests that this fact is irrelevant, because the present case does not involve class-related questions. She notes that the complaint in the present action does not seek class certification, and asserts that there are no "notice, opt-out, or court approval issues involved" in the present case. And, she points out, the district court did not actually resolve any class-related questions in its disposition of the case. Thus, she argues, even though she is proceeding on behalf of a class, that circumstance has no bearing on this case. We disagree. Even if recertification is unnecessary,
In other words, although the complaint omits reference to Rule 52.08, it is clear from the face of the complaint that Rule 52.08 is the precise rule under which Williams proceeds in her effort to enforce the judgment obtained for the benefit of the class. Thus, because Rule 52.08 is undisputedly analogous to Rule 23, we conclude that this action was "filed under" a state-law analogue to Rule 23, and is a class action for purposes of CAFA jurisdiction. To hold otherwise would prioritize a complaint's use of magic words over its factual allegations.
Additionally, we note that our conclusion is in line with the legislative intent behind CAFA. In enacting CAFA, Congress expressed concern about lawyers who "`game' the procedural rules and keep nationwide or multi-state class actions in state courts whose judges have reputations for readily certifying classes and approving settlements without regard to class member interests." S. Rep. No. 109-14, at 4 (2005). Thus, Congress emphasized that "class action" should be "interpreted liberally."
Finally, Williams argues that another provision of CAFA prohibits removal of an action to enforce a judgment on behalf of a previously certified class. Section 1332(d)(8) states, "[Section 1332(d)] shall apply to any class action before or after the entry of a class certification order by the court with respect to that action." In Williams' view, the phrase "with respect to that action" establishes that CAFA jurisdiction exists only over class actions in which a class has been or will be certified. But this interpretation is at odds with the plain language of § 1332(d)(8); it refers to "a" class certification order, not "the" class certification order. This phrasing may imply "an expectation that a class will or at least may be certified eventually," but it does not limit federal jurisdiction to cases in which a class certification order is actually issued. Cunningham Charter Corp. v. Learjet, Inc., 592 F.3d 805, 806 (7th Cir. 2010). Furthermore, to hold that § 1332(d)(8) limits jurisdiction in that way would be at odds with our decision in Buetow v. A.L.S. Enterprises, Inc., in which we noted that federal jurisdiction over a class action continues even after a district court has denied class certification. 650 F.3d 1178, 1182 n.2 (8th Cir. 2011) (citing Learjet, Inc., 592 F.3d at 806). Accordingly, it is apparent that § 1332(d)(8) merely clarifies when it is permissible to remove a case, and does not impose prerequisites
In sum, because Williams brought this action on behalf of a class previously certified under a state-law analogue to Rule 23, the action was necessarily "filed under" Rule 23 or a state-law analogue, even though the complaint omits explicit reference to such a rule. The district court therefore had jurisdiction over the present matter.
Next, Williams appeals the district court's grant of judgment on the pleadings to the Insurers, arguing that the district court erred in concluding that the Insurers had no duty to defend or indemnify Collier in the Original Action. We review de novo the grant of a motion for judgment on the pleadings under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c).
The district court compared the complaint in the Original Action with the insurance policies, and concluded that the Insurers had no duty to defend Collier. First, the district court concluded that the allegations that Autumn Hills' water contained illegal levels of Radium, alpha particle activity, and coliform bacteria did not give rise to a claim potentially within the policies' coverage, because each policy contained a provision excluding coverage for bodily injury or property damage caused by pollutants. Second, the district court concluded that the allegations that Collier failed to build promised amenities did not give rise to claims potentially within the policies' coverage because the policies did not cover breaches of contract. Williams contests both of these conclusions. The parties agree that Missouri law applies to the interpretation of the insurance policies.
Under Missouri law, if an insurer unjustifiably refuses to defend a claim because it is outside the policy, the insurer will be "liable to the insured for all resultant damages from that breach of contract."
An insurer's duty to defend "arises whenever there is a potential or possible liability to pay based on the facts at the outset of the case and is not dependant on the probable liability to pay based on the facts ascertained through trial."
In construing insurance policies, Missouri courts apply "the meaning which would be attached by an ordinary person of average understanding if purchasing insurance, and resolves ambiguities in favor of the insured."
Williams first contends that the pollution exclusion contained in each insurance policy does not, as a matter of law, bar coverage for the claims that Autumn Hills' water had illegal levels of Radium, alpha particle activity, and coliform bacteria. Each of the policies Employers issued to Collier provided that the policy would not cover "`[b]odily injury' or `property damage' arising out of the actual, alleged or threatened discharge, dispersal, seepage, migration, release or escape of `pollutants'... [a]t or from any premises, site or location which is or was at any time owned or occupied by, rented or loaned to, any insured." Each of the policies issued by Owners contained an identical provision. Each of the policies issued by Capitol provided that the policy would not cover "`[b]odily injury' or `property damage' which would not have occurred in whole or part but for the actual, alleged or threatened discharge, dispersal, seepage, migration, release or escape of `pollutants' at any time." All of the policies contained a provision stating, "`Pollutants' mean any solid, liquid, gaseous or thermal irritant or contaminant, including smoke, vapor, soot, fumes, acids, alkalis, chemicals and waste. Waste includes materials to be recycled, reconditioned or reclaimed."
The district court determined as a matter of law that the pollution exclusions applied to Williams' claims that Autumn Hills' water contained illegal levels of Radium, alpha particle activity, and coliform bacteria. First, the district court noted that alpha particles are emitted by Radium during the decay process, that alpha particles can travel only very short distances away from Radium, and that Radium is indisputably a solid. In so concluding, the district court cited an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fact sheet. The district court further determined that Radium and alpha particles are contaminants under the plain meaning of that word. Next, the district court concluded that coliform bacteria are also solid, liquid, gaseous, or thermal, and that they are contaminants under the plain meaning of the word. Thus, the district court explained, "There can be no dispute that the contaminants at issue here are pollutants under the policy." Williams contends that the district court erred in reaching this conclusion as a matter of law.
As an initial matter, Williams argues that the district court erred in relying on an EPA fact sheet to determine that Radium is a solid that emits alpha particles. Williams contends that the district court did not take judicial notice of the EPA fact sheet, and that, even if the district court had done so, such judicial notice would have been inappropriate.
On a motion for judgment on the pleadings, matters outside the pleadings generally cannot be considered without converting the motion to one for summary judgment. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(d). However, courts may "consider `matters incorporated by reference or integral to the claim, items subject to judicial notice, matters of public record, orders, items appearing in the record of the case, and
Here, it is clear that the district court took judicial notice of the fact that Radium is a solid that emits alpha particles.
Furthermore, the district court did not abuse its discretion in taking judicial notice of the fact that Radium is a solid that emits alpha particles. Williams contends that judicial notice was inappropriate because there were disputed matters at hand. We disagree. Although Williams disputes that alpha particles are solid, liquid, gaseous, or thermal, she does not meaningfully dispute that Radium is a solid, or that alpha particles are emitted by Radium. And there can be no reasonable dispute on those points, upon which numerous widely available sources demonstrate broad consensus.
Next, Williams argues that the district court erred in concluding that the pollution exclusion applies because alpha particles are not, as a matter of law, "pollutants" under the policy. Specifically, Williams argues that there is a question of fact as to whether alpha particles are solid, liquid, gaseous, or thermal, and that the terms "irritants" and "contaminants" are ambiguous and arguably do not apply to alpha particles. But Williams frames the issue too narrowly. The policies exclude coverage for bodily injury or property damage either "arising out of" the dispersal
As explained above, Radium is indisputably a solid at room temperature. Thus, we turn to the question of whether Radium is, as a matter of law, an irritant or contaminant. In Williams' view, the terms "irritant" and "contaminant" are ambiguous, because virtually any substance can be an irritant or contaminant in some contexts, and alpha particle activity is naturally occurring and not always harmful. Thus, Williams argues, we are required to construe these terms against the Insurers and decline to apply the pollution exclusion.
Where a particular term is not defined in an insurance policy, Missouri courts look to the "ordinary meaning of the word, as set forth in the dictionary."
Missouri courts have held that the term "contaminant" is ambiguous in some circumstances, and unambiguous in others, depending on the purported pollutant and the circumstances of its dispersal. The relevant question is not whether the term "contaminant" "might be found ambiguous regarding some other substance in a different factual setting," but whether the term is ambiguous as applied to the particular substance in the factual setting at issue.
We conclude that in the factual context of this case, Radium is unambiguously a contaminant. Williams may be correct that there are circumstances in which Radium and its emissions might not be harmful. But here, the complaint alleges that illegal levels of Radium were present in the water supply, creating a serious risk to the health of Autumn Hills residents, which required them to relocate or purchase alternative sources of water. Additionally, the complaint in the Original Action itself refers to Radium and its emissions as "radiological contaminants" throughout, and alleges that the levels of Radium in the water exceeded the "Maximum Contaminant Level" set forth by Missouri's Department of Natural Resources. Thus, in the context of the allegations set forth in
Williams next argues that the district court erred in concluding as a matter of law that coliform bacteria are pollutants. As with the Radium and alpha particles, Williams argues first that there is a genuine dispute of fact as to whether coliform bacteria are solid, liquid, gaseous, or thermal, and second that coliform bacteria are not unambiguously contaminants.
First, in Williams' view, to be a pollutant as defined by the policies, a substance must exist in a purely solid, liquid, gaseous, or thermal form. Williams points out that coliform bacteria are living organisms, and do not fit into any one of those categories. But read as a whole, the definition of "pollutants" in each policy encompasses substances that contain a combination of solid, liquid, gaseous, and thermal elements. The provision lists examples of pollutants including, among other things, "smoke" and "waste." We take judicial notice of the fact that smoke is a mixture of solid and liquid particles suspended in gas.
Next, Williams argues that coliform bacteria are not contaminants, arguing that the term is ambiguous, and that it arguably does not apply to coliform bacteria, which occur naturally and are not necessarily harmful in every context. But our reasons for concluding that Radium is a contaminant apply with equal force to coliform bacteria: The coliform bacteria are alleged to have posed a health risk to Autumn Hills residents, and to have exceeded "contamination levels" set by Missouri's Department of Natural Resources. Accordingly, we conclude as a matter of law that the pollution exclusion contained in each policy bars coverage for damages resulting from the presence of coliform bacteria in Autumn Hills' water supply.
Williams next contends that the district court erred in concluding as a matter of law that the Insurers had no duty to defend Collier against the class' claims for negligence and breach of contract based on the allegations that Collier failed to build various promised amenities, including a picnic area, basketball court, and softball diamond, at Autumn Hills.
The district court determined that these allegations did not give rise to claims potentially within the policies' coverage, because the policies cover only "bodily injury and property damage" resulting from "occurrences." The Eighth Circuit has previously concluded that Missouri law does not consider breaches of contract to be occurrences.
Williams does not dispute that none of the insurance policies cover damages resulting from breach of contract. However, she argues that the district court erred in finding that her negligence claim was actually a breach of contract claim. Williams points out that under Missouri law, the same set of facts may give rise to both a breach of contract claim and a negligence claim.
The district court concluded that because the Insurers had no duty to defend Collier, they likewise had no duty to indemnify Collier. Williams contends that this was an error. She points out that while the duty to defend is determined by examining the complaint, the duty to indemnify is determined by examining the facts ultimately established at trial.
Under Missouri law, if the allegations of a complaint give rise to a potential claim for coverage, but the facts ultimately proven at trial do not give rise to a claim for coverage, then an insurer will have a duty to defend, but not indemnify, the insured.
In sum, because the Insurers had no duty to defend or indemnify Collier for the claims asserted in the Original Action, the district court did not err in granting judgment on the pleadings to the Insurer.
We affirm the judgment of the district court.