-BWC Aviva Ltd. v. Carter Machinery Co., Inc., No. 6:2011cv00030 - Document 30 (W.D. Va. 2012)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Norman K. Moon on May 31, 2012. (sfc)

Download PDF

eLERK' oFFg u,.51 coue . cc : st . ATk , ,. YNcHnuRq V A . .,. . .. ., I THE UNI STATESD I TRI C OURT N TED S CT FoR THE W ESTERN D I CT OF V I NI STRI RGI A LYNCHBURG Dl s oN vl l FI LED . MA 3 l2 1 t 22 JULt .' ). 'C RK t :out' 1 > * % : BY j ; DEPUW MLR EK . Cl LA CTI N O. 11 cvvl ON 6: - 00030 AVI LTD. VA, , Pl n;f ait f V. M EM OM NDUM OPN ON CARTER M ACHI NERY CO. I , , NC. M Dee d n. JUDGE N ORM AN K . OON fn a t Plitf Avv Lt i te s l o ro t eM I Chaa e (lo t Ã§ h rd ' a 1 3' an if ia d. s h oe wne f h Y rd as he f aa e), 5 m ot ya htr git r d i t Ca n Il nds De e ntCa tr M a hi r i e ge i t or c e se e n he yma sa . f nda re c ne y s nga d n he bus ne s ofr paii m a nt i ng,a ove ha i m a i engi s a i l at d i Lync i s e rng, i a ni nd r ulng r ne ne , nd s oc e n hbur g. The c pl i ,ale ng br a h of c r c a ne i nc i a a ialy a m a ii e cl i om a nt l gi ec ont a t nd glge e, s n dm r t nd r tm am wi n t me nng o Ru e 9h o t Fe ea Rue o Cii o e u e a d i wihn t i t he a i f l () f he d rl ls f v lPr c d r n s t i hs hi c u tsa miat j rs ito p s a tt 28U. C. 1 3 . o r' d rly u idcin uru n o S. j 3 3 Def nda tl d a m oton t di m i s t ne i nce co ,on t gr und t t Pl i if s e nt i e i o s s he glge unt he o ha a ntf ale d e onom i l s s a e notr ove a e i t tbe us t ove ha e e ne t ha a e t l ge c c os e r ec r bl n or ca e he r ul d ngi s t t r he t s b e to panifsd ma edam' aeEh o j c o te c n rc, a tusPlitf c n s e u j c f li tf' a g i ' r t e b e t f h o ta t' nd h t ' an if a u onl f r br a h ofc r c . Them oton ha be n f lybref d a he r a i rpef de ii y o ec ont a t i s e ul i e nd a d nd s i or cson. Be us Pl i if has ale ca e a ntf l ged da a t t Cha a is f e iel a r f om t a l ge m ge o he r de t el, ntr y pa t r he le d da a t t ove haul e nes t m oton w ilbe de e . m ge o he r ed ngi , he i l ni d On Se e be 3,2008,Pli ifwied $1 000. t De e nt acceptng D ef ndants ptm r antf r 5, 00 o f nda , i e ' ofe ofAugus 28,2008, o c fr t t onduc a i hul ove ha oft Ca e pilr3304 Ge Se e i s t n n- l r ul wo t r la n t ng ne on t Cha a . Pli if al ge t t i e e e i o t s c r c ba e on De e nts he r de a ntf le s ha t nt r d nt hi onta t s d f nda ' r pr s nttonst ti wa f l quaii d and c pe e t pr ry r buid t Cha a s t e e e ai ha t s uly lfe om t nt o ope l e l he r de' wo ge r t r ,but t t De e nt tf ie t pe f r t wor i a worc nlke m a r'a ne a o s ha f nda tal d o ro m he k n lma i nne ' nd, td u t ful wo k ns i o t pa t fd fnd n ,hepo4a sabo r g n rt r o MI t l e o a t r ma h p n he r o ee a t t l nd tr ad e eao s f Y l y Cha a w e e da a d a ha ha a o ot rde e t a con i ng ove - ons pton ofoi r de r m ge nd ve d, m ng he f c s, tnui r c um i 1 Pr bl m o e ' ' Purua t Fed.R.Ci P. 1 b)6 , Defnda mo s t dimis Co t l,whih s nt o v. 2( ( )1 e nt ve o s s un 1 c ale ne i enc Cii Eas RierS. Co p.P Tr s lges glg e. tng t v S. r : an amerc Del al I . 476 U . 858, ia av , nc , S. 8 -2 (98 ) De e d n c ne dsta tth r i n t tr me y i maii lw f rp r l 717 1 6 , fn a t o tn h t t j ee s o or e d n rtme a o u ey l glge ror nc onta t or of sonal s r i e e vc s econom i l s sem m i fom ne i nt pe f m a e of a c r c f pr es i c os t ng r wher t es r i sa er l t d t t r parofave s .'l Defnda ' viw,t hef c ne s e hos e vce r e a e o he e i s el' n e nts e t our or r t oft Ame ed Compl ntm a cla t t i CountI,pl ntf i a t i t r cove pur l he nd ai kes e r ha , n 1 ai if s temptng o e r ey e nom i l s sse i fom Ca tr sa lge neglge pe f m a e oft r parc nta t' co c os e t mm ng r re ' le d i nt ror nc he e i o r c .' Plitf c u tr t a Co nt 1o t ec mp an t le e fv ( )dfee tn g ie ta t an if o n es h t u 1 f h o lit t lg s ie 5 ifr n e lg n cs a 1W he consderng am otont dim isf f l e t sa eacl m upon w hi r i can begr nt lappl n i i i o s s or aiur o tt ai ch elef a ed, y tepla i sa dadr fn dbyBel l i v Two y, 0U. 5 ( 7) a dAs c otv I ba , 56 h e dng tn r e ie lAt c . mbl 55 S. 44 200 , n h r. . q l 5 ant f U. 6 ,1 9S. .1 ( 09 .Se aloFe R. v. 1 b)6) Fe R. v. 8.Plitfsmus al g S. 62 2 Ct 937 20 ) e s d. Ci P. 2( ( , d. Ci P. anif tle e f ct t tsat a cl m t r left i pl bl on isf ' ie,f st Ã§havenudge t rcl m sa os a s hat Ã§t e ai o e i hat s ausi e t ace,' .. act hat Ã§ d hei ai cr s t lne fom concei c t plusi e.' Twom bl 550 U . at570. A c am i pl i e i t com pl nt he i r vabl o a bl ' y, S. l i s ausbl f he ai cont i lf ualcont t alow st cour t dr t r as ans Ã§act ent hat l he t o aw he e onabl i er e t t def nda i labl e nf cnc hat he e nt s i e f t m i onduct alege ' and i t e i Ã§ or t a s er pos i lt t a def ndant has a ed or he sc l d,' f her s Ã§ e han m he s biiy hat e ct unlw f l ' I a uly.' qbal 556 U . a , S. t ,129 S.Ct a 1949. The f l i l hel r e silsands Ã§l .t olow ng ong- d ul tl t : Ã§n e lai aRue 1 b)6)moin t ds s,ac r a c pt a1welpldf csa tuea c nsr st s vau tng l 2( ( to o imis ou t c e s 1 l- e a t s r nd o tue he e f t i t lghtm os f abl t t pl ntf i w eghi t l ac s n he i t avor e o he ai if n i ng he egals fci y oft c pl nt' N e et uf i enc he om ai .' m Che r ltLt v Co s me af r.o I c, 1F. 25 25 ( t Ci. 09)( iainso te . v oe, d. . n u rfaisc m, n .59 3d 0, 5 4h r 20 ctto mi d) t whih we e t die t a pr m ae ca e of da a t Pli if' pr pe t ' I Pl ntf ' c r he r c nd oxi t us m ge o antf s o ry.' n ai ifs z vi w , G t Ri e i i pplca e t t c s a ba be us i does not add e s neg i nt e G Eas v r s na i bl o he a e t r ca e t rs lge pe f r a e ofs r c s r l t d t t r pa r ofa ve s .' r o m nc e vi e e a e o he e i s el' As Pl i ifpoi s out i Ea Ri e t pe ii r s a ntf nt , n st v r he ttone s oughtt hol t r ponde s rc l o d he es nt t i ty la e f r de i de e s i t hi pr s ur t r ne r ponde de i i bl o sgn f ct n he gh- e s e u bi s es nt sgned,m a a u e and nuf ct r d, i t l d. 47 U . a 859,8 . The Su e e Cour r c ze a ge r lt r of labiiy f r ns ale 6 S. t 61 pr m t e ogni d ne a heo y i lt e neg i nc i a ia t l , but s lge e n dm r ly aw ought t de er i whe he a ialy al o t nc po a es o t m ne t r dm r t s t or r t i prnc pl of pr i i es oduc s labii i udi s r c la lt ' 1 a 8 (mp a i a d d . The t i lt ncl ng ti t i biiy.' d. t 65 e h ss d e ) y, Co t l t t d t rsa e i ne i nceorsrctla lt nopr ur hed ha, t he tt d n glge whe ti i biiy, oducs labii c am le i t-i lt l i is n y 2Par gr ph 31 oft a ended com pl ntsat t idef a a he m ai t es hat Ã§ endanthad t dut t us r onabl c e a he y o e eas e ar nd conductt wor i accor he k n dancewih gener l acce edpr tces'and Par aph 32 sat t t aly pt ac i y' agr t es hat Ej o c h u a r p i wo k pe fr d b dee a twa c duce ne ie ty a the v r a l nd e ar r ro me y fnd n s on td glg n l s f l s: olow ()pat weeno a s mblda c r i t s e iiai i patc a ,h i etwa a rs r t se e c o dng o p cfc ton,n riulr te ns r s l tt hi r uli i a i pr ry s i cylnderhea gas t and t pi on lne ef oo gh es tng n n m ope l ealng i d ke , he st i r pr r i dif encese otuson fer xceeded alow ed t e ancesperm a act ers fcai ; l olr nuf ur pecii tons ( ma hiewo kwa i o rypef r do c ntrb e, ndc une bo ewa b) c n r s mpr pel rome n ou e or a o tr r s cl ned by m ea ofs ng padson a dyegrnde ; ea ns andi i r ( )gflt e i wa n ds nte p irt und ra i t wo kalwi c s b -c he ngne s ot ima ld ro o e tkng he r lo ng at Ã§ io fln t fl bewe nt j u na a dbe rngs ra e r n iigs o al t e he o r l n ai u f c ; ()q lt c tol sn manti ds hta wa t c s io flng weealwe c uaiy onr wa ot i ane uc h t se a tr n ii s r lo d t contm i et parsand m art s f s'and o a nat he t he urace , ( t e i wa n ce n dpr ryatrterpar d) he ngne s ot la e opel fe h e i. Paa rp 33sae t tÃ§thi n gie c wa tedie ta dpoxmaec us o d ma e t pli ifs rg a h tts ha <l s e l n e s h rc n r i t a e f a g s o antf g g p o et, a paa rph 3 sae ta,Ã§b yr a o oftea o , antf h sb e da g d i te s o r p ry' nd rg a 4 tts h t Ã§ l e s n h b ve pli if a e n ma e n h um f ' g $195, nopa tofwhi ha beenpai at 023, r ch s d lhough dul de a y m nded.' ' Paa rp 9o tec mpli sae ta,toj S ptmbe 2 2 8 d fn nt e a (he e gn o eh u rg a h f h o ant tts h tt n e e r , 00 , e e da b g n t l n ie v r a l l wor .. .but f l t per or t wor i a wor anlke m a r A 1 ove haul pa t w e e i ale by k aied o f m he k n km i nne . l r ed rs r nst ld def endant Fr t tm et over . om he i he haulw a c pl ea t s pw a putba i se vi ,i w a clart tdef t s om et nd he hi s ck n r ce t s e ha ecs e sed. xit ' ' a miat whe t e o y ij r came i e o o cl s. d a 8 6 (mp a i a de ) Th d r ly n h nl n u y li d s c n mi o s' . t 7 e h ss d d . e '1 Cou tnot t e do notr c t i s w he he a ca e ofa t o c n e r be s a e i a ialy r ed, t W ea h he s ue t r us c i n a ve t t d n dm r t w he t o y da a s n he nl m ges oughtar e no i ' 1 a 871 n.6. e co m c. d. t ' Pl i if m a nt i t t i E a ntf i a ns ha t t does not c e t def nda neglge l des g d o ont nd hat e nt i nty i ne r m a a t r a pr nuf c u ed ny oduct'a t ,be a e i t snota s ri a pr ' nd hat c us t t i s e tng oduc s la lt cl m ,'t t-ibiiy ai ' he i t ntm a t rE sc e ry di tngu s bl f om Ea tRi n' ns a te t l a l s i i ha e r i s ve ' I r pons ,Defnda poi s o t t i Eas Ri r t Supr m e Cour sa e t tta n es e e nt nt ut ha, n t ve , he e t tt d ha $ m a a ur r i a co m e c a r a i hi has no d y unde e t r a neglge nuf ct e n m r i l el tons p ut r ihe i nce or s rc ti t p o ucsl b l yt e l t p e e tap o uc fo ij rn is l. 1 a 8 . Dee d n a d , r d t i ii h oy o rv n r d t r m n u ig tef' d. t 71 fn a t d s a t ' t so wh r a p o uc,ie,o j c ofa c n rc,c u e d ma e o y t is l,a a g iv d d l , ee r d t .. b e t l o ta t a s s a g s nl o tef n g re e pa t s ul us br a h of conta t a w a r nt a i . Cii Eas Ri er 476 U . a 8 ry ho d e e c r c nd r a y ctons' tng ' t v , S. t 72. Dee d n sae ta,tint ec s a ba,h o jc o tec nr c wa t r p i o g n rtr fn a t tts h t < j h a e t r te be t f h o ta t s he e ar f e eao s g a di i to eg n r tr t a aet es be t fp anifsd ma ecam . n t s h s e eao s h t r h u jc o litf' a g li ' ' I I. Ã§a j e a pr d t t j e is l be a s o o i c mp n n p rs i d fcie a Ã§W h n l o uc i urs tef c u e ne f t o o e t a t s ee t , n s v plr l ec m i l s r s t t t owne f w hi h no a ton i t tw ille ' Se se e r v ze y ono c os e uls o he r or c c i n or l i .' n nbr nne . Ru t Orig & Ne l,Ar h tcs I c,2 6Va 41 4 4 ( 98 )(ii Ea tRie ,4 6U. a s, ln ae c ie t, n . 3 . 9, 2 1 8 ct ng s v r 7 S. t 8 9 8 4. tf e e o o c l sd crn s r e a abai' f rdsi us ngbewe n dams 6 , 71) t h c n mi os o tie e v s s ss' o it ihi t e i ng s undi i t tand t e s o ng n or hos oundi i c r ct Pr nc s Cr s s I v Ge r El t i Co. ng n onta . i e s ui e , nc. . ne al ec r c , 9 0 F. u p.1 1 1 6 ( D. .1 6 , e W o o h rgr u d ,1 3 F.d 8 ( t Ci.1 9 ) 5 S p 5 , 5 E. Va 99 ) r v n t e o n s 4 3 28 4h r 9 8 ; s ealoMaeskLi Lt v Car ,271F.Supp. 81 823( D. 2003) e s r ne d. . e 2d 8, E. Va. . Tor l w i not de i d ...t c pe a e pa te f l s s s f r d a a r s t ta s s gne o om ns t ri s or os e uf e e s e ul of a br a h of dutes a s ec i s umed onl by a e m e . Tha t of c y gr e nt t ype ompe ai n ns to ne e s t t s a a l i of t da a s whi h w e e w ihi t co e pl t o of c s ia e n na ys s he m ge c r t n he nt m a i n t pa te w he f a i t i a e m e . I r m ai t pari ul r pr vi e of he ri s n r m ng he r gr e nt t e ns he tc a o nc t l w ofc r c s he a ont a t . Se e e , Va.a 425( t i omitd) ns nbrnner 236 t ciaton te . l a pl ntf doe not a l ge a br a h of a dut out i t t i pos d by t c r t f ai if s le ec ny y s de ha m e he ontac , n rd ma et a p o e t o a ohe ij r oh rt a d ma et t o j c o t ec nr c, o a g o ny r p ry r ny t r nu y te h n a g o he b e t f h o ta t t n t pli ifmus Ã§sek r ovey unde t c nta t Any ot r r ul ( d)f rhe he he antf t te ec r r he o rc. he es t woul u t r diut qt r eofcontac lw i olrlgals tm. M ae s ,271F.Supp.2d a 823,s ealo l el he ol r t a n z e yse ' ' rk t .e s Nat e Shi n I v Ge al e .Co.I ,932 F. 366,368( t Ci.1 )( aitf' hanil ppig, nc. . ner Elc , nc. 2d 5h r 991 pl nifs rg t ao ei c n rc,h n n g ie c cam) ih s r s n o ta tt us o e lg n e li . I ti c s ,t e Ch rd i no alg d t h v <ij r l) is l b c us o e o is n hs a e h aa e s t l e o a e Ã§ nu ed tef e a e n f t e s c ompo ntpa t ( s defci ';rt r t Cha a is l i aleg t ha bee ha dby ne rs wa ) e tve' ahe, he r de tef s l ed o ve n nne D e e nt s def c i ha i of one ofis c pone pa t . Pl i i falege ha m s c us d by f nda ' e tve ndlng t om nt rs a ntf l s r a e br c s of dute not c em pl t d by t c r c ,pa tcul r y alegi ha m s done t t ea he is ont ae he ont a t ri a l l ng r o he Vchaa so rtons't t ma q'ofti a atnton fo t c pti a hi ce ' Ã§ rde' peai , he Ã» ndl' tme nd te i r m he a an nd s rw,' ' de t t et idla c l' fEh o rsus a d e j y n o t ey c t't eÃ§ u pl'o d d iin l h t n rn e'o s e wne ' e n no me t f h a h , h t p y' f t dto a h t ' s a oi . . . d t t ove c um pton' a l ge y c us d by D e e nt s ne i nc t r ve t l ue o he r ons i ' le dl a e f nda ' glge e, t a l o t r pa r s t s a de e nt s r que t' a t Ã§ e i ie t f nda ' e s ,' nd he t docka ,el c r ca ,a s r c 'r uie td i ge e t i l nd e vi e' eq r d t ur ng r par. As I pr viusy obs r e Count 1 of t c ai t lge fve () difrnt e is' ' e o l e v d, 1 he ompl nt t e s i 5 fee al neg i nta t whih we e t diec a pr xi t c us of da a t Pli ifspr pe y ' lge c s c r he r t nd o ma e a e m ge o a ntf o r ' 3 a e bisa tc d t t c nd xhi t ta he o he ompli a e iil i op or t d by r e e i o t a nded ant nd xplcty nc ae efr nce nt he me c pl i doc e t da a s t t do no a a t ha bee t ihi t cont m pl ton of om a nt um nt he m ge ha t ppe r o ve n t t n he w e ai 3se n. 2,su e pra. tepate wh n fa n t era e n . S n e b e e ,2 6 Va a 42 ( i t n o te ) h ris e rmi g h i pe me t' e s n rnn r 3 . t 5 ct i mitd . ' ao The eda ge aes ii asf l s ma s r pecfed olows: ttrvelt Fl i at( e nts rqu tf rpar t ya o grda Defnda 'j e es or e is l t be ma ,'Sg oc el ( ( lcrca & ( al sr ce d i ( fnda 'j r par,' o de' tdj kag %1 eqe ti l dliy e vi urng Dee nts e is' t ad i o lolc t'tad ii n lma - o mo i rn c t'( l dto a ma ho rce nng t j dt na i os, t j d to a n h ur nt ig os ' a d iin l n- u la i l i 'l o c t'a tlj tonalc r ce ce ni t rmoves . os ' nd taddii onta td la ng o e oot' ' l s ,a conta y t Def nda ' as e to Pl i if s ne i nce c ai doe not s e n um nd rr o e nt s s r i n, a nt f ' glge lm s ek e o mi ls e frd ma et t eg neao st a weet eo j c oft erparc n rc; ah r c no c o s s o a g o h e rtr h t r h b e t h e i o ta t r te , Pl i if ha a l ge da a t t Cha a is l ,e iel a r f om t a l ged da a t t a ntf s le d m ge o he r de t e f ntr y pa t r he le m ge o he ove ha ed e nes Acc di y, Pl i if has s fci nty a l ged neg i nc t s v ve r ul ngi . or ngl a ntf uf i e l le lge e o ur i D e e nts m oton t dim i s c f nda ' i o s s ount1 oft a e 1 he m nded c pl i . om a nt 111 . Fort sae ras ,t moton ( ke no.21 t dimiscount1 oft ame d he ttd e ons he i doc t )o s s 1 he nde c pl i w ilbe de ed. An a o i t or ra o pa e t sm e o a om a nt l ni ppr pr a e de cc m ni s hi m r ndum o ni pi on. En e e t s31 tda ofM a 201 t r d hi s y y, 2. NO K .M OO UNI TED STA TES D I STRI J GE CT UD

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.