Case 1:12-cv-24105-FAM Document 86 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/18/2013 Page 1 of 5

UN I TED STATES DI STRI CT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DI STRI CT OF FLORI DA Mi a m iD i vi s i on

C as e N um ber : 1224105Cl VM O REN O

ELI ASBAQUERO,
Pl a i nt i f f ,
VS.

LAN CET I N D EM I N TY RI SK RETEN TI ON GRO UP,I NC. De f e ndant .

ORDER DENYI NG CROSSM OTI O NS FOR RECONSI DEM TI ON Thi sc a us ecomesbef o r et he Cour ton t he Pa r t i e s ' Cr os s M ot i onsf orRe c ons i de r a t i on. On Se pt e mbe r1 7, 201 3, t heCour t deni e dbo t ht hePl ai nt i f fsandt heDe f e ndan t ' sM ot i onsf orSum ma r y J udgm e nt . On Se pt e mbe r23, 201 3, Pl a i nt i f ff i l e di t sM ot i onf orRe cons i de r a t i on' , on Se pt e mbe r24, t he Def enda ntdi dt hes a m e. Ne i t he rpa r t yha sde mons t r at e dt ha tt he i rmot i onsa r ec ons i s t e ntwi t h t hee xpl i ci tpup os e sofm ot i o nsf orr e c ons i der a t i on. Thus , t heCour t her e by DENI ES bot h Pa r t i e s ' M ot i onsf orRec ons i de r a t i on.
1.Anal ysi s

' ' Thepur pos eofam ot i on f orr ec ons i de r a t i on i st o co r r e c tma ni f es te r r or sofl a w orf ac tor t opr es e ntne wl ydi s cove r e devi de ncc. ' ' Z. K. M ar i ne , I nc . v . M/vAr c hi ge t i s, 8 08F. Su pp. 1 561 ,1 563

( S. D. Fl a.1 992)( c i t i ngHar s c oCor p.v . Zl ot ni ck i , 779F. 2d906,909( 3dCi r .1 985) ) .M ot i onsf or
r e c ons i de r a t i on a r ea ppr opr i a t ewhe r e, f ore xampl e ,t heCour tha spa t e nt l y mi s unde r s t ood apa r t y,
whe r et he r ei sa ni nt er ve ni ng c hange i n cont r ol l i ng l a w ort he f ac t s of a ca s e,or w he r et he r ei s

ma n i f e s t i n j u s t i c e. S e ei d . , ' Co mpa gn o n i v . Un i t e dst a t e s , 1 9 9 7W L 41 6 4 8 2, a t * 2( S. D. Fl a . Ma y1 3 ,

1 997) .
' ' A m ot i on f orr e c ons i de r a t i on s houl d not beus e da sa ve hi cl et o pr e s e nt aut ho r i t i e sa va i l a bl e

Case 1:12-cv-24105-FAM Document 86 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/18/2013 Page 2 of 5

a tt het i meoft hef i r s tde ci s i onort or e i t e r a t ea r g um e nt spr evi ous l y ma de.' ' Z. K. M ar i ne , I nc. v .M/ V Ar c hi get i s ,8 08 F.Supp.a t1 563.l nt he i rM ot i onsf orRe c ons i de r a t i on, bot h par t i ess ubs t ant i al l y

r e p e a tt h ea r g u me n t st h e Co u r tr e j e c t e di ni t sOr d e rd e n yi n gs u mma r yj u d g me n t . Ho we v e r ,t h e
pa r t i e snow i t al i c i z e, u nde r l i ne , orem bol den t het ex toft he i ra r gum e nt . As t hea r gument s , f a c t s , a nd l a wr e m ai nt he s a m e,t he Cour t ' sde ci s i on i s notaf f e c t e d by t he s er e newed pl e as . l ndee d,' ' g i ti sa n

i mp r ope rus eof jt hemot i ont or e c ons i de rt oa s kt heCour tt or e t hi nk wha tt heCour t. . .al r e a dy
t houghtt hr ough- r i gh t l y orw r ongl y.' ' I d( q u o t i n gAb o v et h eBe l t , I n c . v . Me l Bo h a n n a nRo o hn g,

I nc . ,99F. R. D.99,l 01( E. D.Va.1 983) .

Ne ve r t he l es s , one ar gum e nt t ha t m er i t sa ddr es s i ng i s Def e nda nt ' s at t e m pt t o co nt l a t e

Ri t e ca r e' sc op or a t eknowl e dgewi t h Dr . Hos s e i nJ ouka r ' spe r s onal knowl e dge . De f e nda nti scor r e c t
t ha tcor p or a t i ons a c tt hr o ugh t he i ra ge nt sa nd e m pl oyee s. Se eDi s c ove r Pr o p.& Ca s .I ns .Co.

Le xi ngt o nl ns . Co. 664F. supp. zd1 296,1 301( S. D. Fl a . 2009) . Kno wl e dgeofage nt sc a nbei mput e d
t ot he c op or a t i on. Se ei d.Howe ve r ,Def e nda nta t t e mpt st oi nve r tuncon t r ove r s i a lp r o pos i t i onst o

i mpe r mi s s i bl ebounds . De f e nda n t ' sa r gume nt sca nbei nt e r pr e t e di nt wowa ys: ( 1 ) t ha t t heknowl e dg e
of o ne ag en tf o ra c op o r a t i on ea n be i m put e dt oa not he ra ge nt , or ( 2)t ha tc or por a t i ons ha ve

kno wl edget ha tc a n bei mput edt oi ndi vi d ua l s. Ne i t he roft he s ear ec or r ec ti nt hec ont e xtoft hi sca s e. The gi s toft hea r gum e ntt ha tDef e nda ntr epe at st h z oughouti t sbr i ef i ng docu me nt si st ha t , be ca us et heNovembe r20a nd De ce mb er1 5l e t t e r swe r es e ntt oRi t ecar ea nd r e c ei vedbyRi t ecar e, Ri t eca r e ha d knowl e dge oft he pot e nt i alcl a i m s whe n Ri t ecar ef i l l e d ou tt he St at eme ntofNo
Know n Cl a i ms , and t hus , Ri t e car em adem i s r epr e s ent a t i onst hat r e m ove dt hi sc l ai mf r om c ove r age. Thef unda me nt al f l aw ofD e f e ndan t ' sl ogi c al r oa dm a pi st ha tR i t eca r e di d nots i gn t he St a t e me ntof N o Know n Cl a i ms , Dr . J oukardi d. Thef a c t sa spr e s e nt e dt ot heCour t a r et ha ts om e body a tRi t eca r e

s i gne df ort he l e t t e r s ,a nd t ha tt hel e t t e r swe r enota ddr es s e dt o Dr . J ouka r ,butwer e addr e s s e dt o pos i t i ons he he l d.Howe ver ,Dr .J ouka r has r e pe a t e dl yt es t i f i e dt ha the di d no ts ee t he l e t t e r s .
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2-

Case 1:12-cv-24105-FAM Document 86 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/18/2013 Page 3 of 5

Re ga r di ngt heSt a t e me ntofNoKnownCl a i mst he onl y pe r s on

,

i ndi vi dualorc or por at e, w ho coul d

ma kea r e pr es e nt a t i on ata l lwasD r .J ouka r . Thi sc onc l us i on i si ne vi t a bl eba s e d ont hel angua geof t heSt a t e men t .I nde e d, t heSt a t e me nt i sr e pl e t ewi t hl a ngua get h at c anonl ybec ons t r u edaspe r t a i ni ng

t oa ni ndi vi dual .I tbegi ns' ' M ys i gna t u r e bel ow conf i r m st ha t ...' ' Thes i gna t ur ei snotofRi t ecar e
i ti sofDr . J ouka r .l nde ed,Ri t e ca r e asa cor por a t ee nt i t yi snot ment i oned on t hedoc um e nt . Fur t he r , ea c hs t a t e me nta ti s s ue be gi nswi t ht h e' ' 1 . ' ' St a t e me nt1 be gi ns' ' Iha ve no known
l os s e sorcl a i ms ' ands t a t e ment s2, 3, y' a nd 4be gi n' ' Iha venok nowl edge
.

' ' Thus , t hi sCou r t c a n dr a w

.

noot h erc oncl us i on ot hert ha nt heonl y knowl e dgebei ng s oughti nt ha tdoc um e ntwasDr
know l e dge. l fLa nc e thaddes i r edawa r r a nt yf orf a c t sout s i d

J ouka r ' s

eofDr . J ouka r ' ss ub j ec t i vek nowl edge ,

em ent ,as

i tcoul d ha ve p hr a s ed t hem i ns uch awa y. I nde ed,La nce tkne w how do dr a f ts uc h as t a t s t a t e men t5r ea ds' ' M ys i gnat ur ebel ow c onf i r m st ha t. . p

l n j op r i o rp r o f e s s i o n a l l i a b i l i t yc a r r i e rh a s
,

REFUSED c ove r a ge f or NED t oa cc e pta r epor tofa me di c ali , orDECLI nci de nt ,t h r ea tofcl a i m l e t t e rofi nt e nt s a nd a dve r s er e s ul tnot i c e orat t or ne yc ont r a c t
.

' 'Eve r y ot he rs t at e me ntt ha tLa nc et

.

Thus , La nc e ti si nc or r e c ti na r gui ng t ha thi sper s onalk nowl e dge i snotr el e va nt . W hi l e La nc e ti sc or r e ct t ha tDr . J ouka r ' sa c t i onsbi nd Ri t e ca r ei tdoe snott he nf ol l ow t ha tDr
,
.

r e qui r edDr . J ouka rt oa f f i r m wa sc ouc he di nt heexpl i c i tl angua geofhi spe r s onalk nowl edge

J ouka raut om a t i c a l l yknew

.

o n De ce mbe r29 s ome t hi ng t ha tot he rpe opl e wi t hi n Ri t e ca r e mi ghtha ve known

The c as e sc i t e d by Def enda ntdo not r e qui r e a di f f er entr es ul t . l n Cor e gi sl ns . Co. v . Mc col l um,t h epol i c yc ont ai ne d an e xc l us i on wher et hepol i cydi d nota ppl yt o' ' a ny cl a i ma r i s i ng outofa ny a c t , e r r or , omi s s i ono rpe r s onali n j u r yocc uni ngpr i ort ot heef f e c t i vedat eoft hi spol i c y i fa ny I ns ur ed a tt he e f f e c t i ve da t e kne w orc oul d have r e as onabl yf or e s e e nt ha ts uc h ac t
,

er ror ,

o mi s s i o no rp e r s o n a l i n j u r ymi g h t b ee x p e c t e dt ob et h eb a s i sof a cl ai m ors ui t

.

' ' Cor e gi sI ns . Co.

v .M c col l um ,96l F.supp.1572, 1 575( M. D.Fl a.1 997) .l nt ha tc as e

t he c our tent e r ed s um m ar y

j u d g me n t i nf a v o ro ft h epl a i n t i f fi n s u r e rwh oh a dgi v e nd ef enda nta m a l pr ac t i c ei ns ur a nc e pol i c y

Case 1:12-cv-24105-FAM Document 86 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/18/2013 Page 4 of 5

f ord ef e nda nt ' s1 a wf i r m. I da t1 57 4. Pr i ort ot hef i l i ngofam a l pr ac t i c es ui ta ndpr i ort ot hee f f e c t i ve da t eoft hepol i c y, a nas s oci a t ea tt he51 7 : 1 hadm i t t e n am e mo f ort he f i l epr e di ct i ngt hepos s i bi l i t y
ofa m a l pr ac t i c es ui t . 1 d.a t1 579. The pa r t ne ra ti s s ue c l ai m ed he ne vers a wt he m e m or a ndum . l d The Cour thel dt ha t' ' i ti sal s oi r r e l e van tw he t he rM ccol l um hi ms e l fkne w of a pos s i bl ec l a i m o r e ven kne w ofJ ohns on' sm e m or a ndum . The l a ngua ge oft he e xcl us i on cont a i ne dwi t hi n Pl ai nt i f fs pol i c ye xpl i c i t l ys t at e st ha tc ove r agew i l l bee xcl uded i fan yi ns ur e d unde rt he pol i cy kne w orc oul d ha ve r e as ona bl yf or e s e e n a pos s i bl ec l ai m. ' ' l dl nt he c as ea tba r , t he l a ngua ge di f f er ss ubs t a nt i a l l y f r om t hat i n M ccol l u m. By s i gni ng t heSt a t e m en t , but t he s t a t em e nt ' sown expr e s st e nns , Dr . J ouka r onl y conf i r m ed t ha t he hi ms el f had ' l no know l e dge or i nf or ma t i on r e l a t i ng t o a M ED I CAL

I NCI DENTwhi c hc oul dr e as ona bl yr e s ul ti nc l ai ms ' ' a nd' i noknowl e dgeofANY REQUEST FOR
M ED I CA L RECORD S whi c hm i gh tr es ul ti nac l ai m. ' ' Si mi l a r l y, De f e ndant poi nt st o Bar ne t tv . Ok e ec hobe eH o s p.f ort hepr i nc i pl et ha ta pr ope r l y m ai l e dl e t t e r was r e c ei ve d.I nt ha tca s e ,a cl a i ma ntf i l e d ame di c alm a l pr ac t i c ea c t i on a gai ns tt he

De pa r t me ntofVe t e r a n' sAf f a i r s( ' ' VA' ' ) . Bar ne t tv .Oke e chobe eHos y ,283F. 3d 1 232,1 23 4( 11 t b Ci r . 2002) . Thecl ai ma nts e ntaf or mt ot heVA aswa sr e qui r e d, a ndt heVA pr ovi deda f f i da vi t sf r om

e mpl oye ess t a t i ngt ha t t he yhadnotr e c ei ve di t . I d. a t1 235 36. TheCour t not e dt ha ti k g a)c our t c oul d
n otr e l y on t he ba r e as s e r t i on ofone m em be roft he of f i c et ha tt he m a i lw a s notr e ce i ved,s i nc et he ma i lm i ght ha ve bee nr e ce i ve d by a not he r . ' 'l d. a t1 241 .The 11 t h Ci r cui tf ur t her not ed t ha tt he

par t y' sf a i l ur et o unco ve ra ni t e m ,whi c hi twaspr es um e dt oha ver ec e i ve d, doesno tmea nt ha ti t

ne ve rr e c ei ve dt he i t e m and doe s notr e butt he pr es um p t i o n of de l i ve r y. ' '1 d.D e f enda ntus e st hi s l a ng ua get os uppor t i t sa r g um e nt t ha t Ri t ecar er e c ei ve dt he l e t t e r s , a ndt husRi t ecar eha d know l e dge

oft he r e ques t sf ormedi ca lr e c or ds .Aga i n,t hi si snott he pr ope ra na l ys i s .The St a t eme ntofNo
Know n Cl a i m sa s ke ds ol el yf ort h es i gne r ' sper s ona l know l e dg ew i t hr e s pe c t t o al 1 s t a t e m en t sexc e pt s t a t e me nt5. Thus , i ti sno te nough t ha tt he r ei sar e but t a bl epr e s um pt i on t ha tR i t eca r er e c ei ve dt he
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Case 1:12-cv-24105-FAM Document 86 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/18/2013 Page 5 of 5

l e t t e r s ,i tmus tbe s hown t ha tDr . J oukarkne w oft he l et t e r swhe n he s i gne dt he St a t e me ntofNo

Know n Cl a i ms .

Si mi l ar l y, i nGRG Tr an s p. , I nc . v, Ce r t ai nUnde r wr i t e r sat Ll o yd' s, 8 96So. 2d922( Fl a. Di s t .

Ct . Ap p. 2 0 0 5 ) , t h ec o u r t u p h e l ds u mma r yj u d g me n t wh e r et h ei ns u r a nc ea p pl i c a t i o na s k e dt s l l a sa n y
i ns ur erwi t hi nt hepas t5 ye ar sr ef us ed t or ene w orca nc el l ed i ns ur a ncet oa ppl i ca nt , ' ' a nd t he i ns ur ed

a ns we r e d$ ; No' ' when i thada c t ualknowl e dgeofapr e vi ousca nc el l a t i on.G#G Tr an s p. , 896 So. 2 d 9 23.Agai n,t ha tc as ei sdi s t i ng ui s ha bl ef r om t he c a s ea tba r ,whe r et he St a t e m entofN o Known
Cl a i m sw a se xpl i c i t l yl i mi t e d by i t s own t e nnst o Dr . J ouka r ' s pe r s onalknow l e dge .
II.Concl usi on

TH I S CA USE c a m e be f or et he Cour tupon t he Pl ai nt i f ps a nd D e f e nda nt ' s M ot i ons f or

Re c ons i de r a t i on ( D. E.No.75 and 76) ,f i l ed onSe pt e m ber23.201 3a ndSept e m ber24.201 3,

r e s pe c t i ve l y.

THE COURT ha sc ons i de r e dt hemot i ons , r e s po ns es , a ndt hepe r t i ne ntpor t i onsoft her e c or d,
a nd be i ng ot he r wi s ef ul l ya dvi s e di nt he pr em i s es , i ti s ADJU D G ED t ha tt he m ot i o ns a r e D EN I ED .

DON E AN D O RD ERED i n Cham be r sa tM i a mi , Fl or i da ,t hi s

L
'

da y ofO c t obe r ,201 3.

/ . V V Y W R O

. ' . '' '.

* ' Y' 'D .''- 1

FED I CO A .M O REN O UN I TED STA TES D I STRI CT J U D GE

Copi espr ovi ded t o: Couns elofRe c or d