General Insurance Company of America v. Nunez ( 2022 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF Case No. 1:20-cv-01435-JLT-BAM AMERICA, 12 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Plaintiff, REGARDING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR 13 DEFAULT JUDGMENT AGAINST v. DEFENDANTS RITA IRENE NUNEZ, 14 MELCHOR TATIA, AND ISAAC QUIROZ RITA IRENE NUNEZ, MELCHOR 15 TATIA, ISAAC QUIROZ, PAUL LOPEZ, (Doc. 26) VERONICA LOPEZ, and DOES 1 to 10, 16 Defendants. 17 FOURTEEN (14) DAY DEADLINE 18 19 On November 16, 2021, Plaintiff General Insurance Company of America (“Plaintiffs”), 20 filed two motions for default judgment. First, against Rita Irene Nunez, Melchor Tatia, and Isaac 21 Quiroz (collectively the “Insured Defendants”). (Doc. 26.) Second, against Paul and Veronica 22 Lopez (the “Lopez Defendants”). (Doc. 27.)1 Rita Irene Nunez, Melchor Tatia, Isaac Quiroz, Paul 23 Lopez and Veronica Lopez (collectively “Defendants”) are all of the named defendants. The 24 Court deemed the matter suitable for decision without oral argument pursuant to Local Rule 25 230(g) and vacated the hearing set for January 7, 2022. (Doc. 28.) Defendants have not appeared 26 in this action or otherwise filed a timely opposition to the motion. 27 1 Plaintiff’s motion for default judgment against Defendants Paul and Veronica Lopez will be handled by 28 separate order. 1 This order is limited to the Motion for default judgment filed against Defendants Nunez, 2 Tatia, and Quiroz. Having considered the moving papers and the Court’s file, the Court 3 RECOMMENDS that Plaintiff’s motion for default judgment be GRANTED and that judgment 4 be entered against Defendants Rita Irene Nunez, Melchor Tatia, and Isaac Quiroz. 5 I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND 6 This is an action for declaratory judgment that Plaintiff General Insurance Company of 7 America has no duty to defend or indemnify Defendants Isaac Quiroz, Melchor Tatia, or Rita 8 Irene Nunez stemming from an underlying action, where Defendant Quiroz was charged with 9 providing Alexander Davila (“Decedent”) with a controlled substance resulting in Davila’s 10 death, in the action filed on February 5, 2021. (Doc. 1.) Plaintiff is the issuer of a homeowner’s 11 insurance policy for Defendant Nunez. (Doc. 1, ¶ 11.) Defendant Nunez is the holder of the 12 policy and resides with her husband, Defendant Tatia, and her son, Defendant Quiroz. 13 (Defendants Nunez, Tatia, and Quiroz are collectively “the Insured Defendants”). (Doc. 1, ¶7 4- 14 5.) Plaintiff alleges it has no duty to defend or indemnify the Insured for any litigation brought 15 against it arising out of or related to the underlying claim based on the terms of the homeowner’s 16 policy. (Doc. 26 at 2.) 17 The Insured Defendants were served with copies of the summons and complaint but failed 18 to appear or otherwise respond. (See Doc. 26.) On July 7, 2021, Plaintiff filed a request for entry 19 of default for Defendants Nunez, Tatia, and Quiroz. (Doc. 15.) The Clerk of Court entered 20 default against Defendants Nunez, Tatia, and Quiroz on July 8, 2021. (Docs. 16, 17, 18.) On 21 November 16, 2021, Plaintiff filed the instant motion for default judgment. (Docs. 26.) By the 22 motion, Plaintiff requests declaratory relief as follows: (1) a declaration and order that Plaintiff 23 has no duty, and never had a duty, to defend the Insured against the underlying third-party 24 liability claims, (2) a declaration and order that Plaintiff has no duty, and never had a duty, to 25 indemnify the Insured in the underlying claim, and (3) a declaration and order that the Insured 26 are obligated to reimburse Plaintiff all defense fees and costs it has incurred in providing them 27 with a defense in the underlying claim. 28 /// 1 II. DISCUSSION 2 A. Service of Process In deciding whether to grant or deny a default judgment, a court should assess the 3 adequacy of the service of process on the party against whom default is requested. See, e.g., 4 Farmers Automobile Insurance Ass’n v. Long, 2014 WL 12773793 at *1 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 13, 5 2014); Coach, Inc. v. Diva Shoes & Accessories, 2011 WL 1483436 at *2 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 19, 6 2011); Katzakian v. Check Resolution Service, Inc., 2010 WL 5200912 at *2 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 15, 7 2010). 8 9 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4 sets forth the requirements for serving an individual 10 within a judicial district of the United States. An individual may be served by: 11 (1) following state law for serving a summons in an action brought in courts of general jurisdiction in the state where the district court is located or where service 12 is made; or 13 (2) doing any of the following: 14 (A) delivering a copy of the summons and of the complaint to the individual personally; 15 (B) leaving a copy of each at the individual's dwelling or usual place of 16 abode with someone of suitable age and discretion who resides there; or 17 (C) delivering a copy of each to an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process. 18 Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(e). 19 20 California law, in turn, permits substituted service upon an individual by: 21 “leaving a copy of the summons and complaint . . . at his or her usual mailing 22 address . . . with the person who is apparently in charge thereof, and by thereafter mailing a copy of the summons and complaint by first-class mail.” 23 Cal. Code Civ. P. § 415.20(a). 24 According to the proofs of service on file, Defendants Nunez and Quiroz were served 25 personally at their address of 539 Lynn Ave., Dinuba, CA, 93618. (Docs. 10, 11.) According to 26 the proof of service on file, Defendant Tatia was served by substitute service by leaving copies 27 with his spouse, Defendant Nunez, also a resident of the home, at their address of 539 Lynn Ave., 28 1 Dinuba, CA, 93618. (Doc. 12.) Accordingly, the Court finds that Plaintiffs properly served the 2 Insured Defendants pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(e)(1) and (2)(A)-(B). 3 B. The Eitel Factors Weigh in Favor of Default Judgment 4 Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(b)(2), a plaintiff can apply to the court for 5 a default judgment against a defendant that has failed to plead or otherwise defend against the 6 action. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2). “Upon default, the well-pleaded allegations of a complaint 7 relating to liability are taken as true.” Dundee Cement Co. v. Howard Pipe & Concrete Prods., 8 Inc., 722 F.2d 1319, 1323 (7th Cir. 1983); TeleVideo Sys., Inc. v. Heidenthal, 826 F.2d 915, 917- 9 18 (9th Cir. 1987). 10 Factors which may be considered by courts in exercising discretion as to the entry of a 11 default judgment include: (1) the possibility of prejudice to the plaintiff; (2) the merits of 12 plaintiff’s substantive claim; (3) the sufficiency of the complaint; (4) the sum of money at stake in 13 the action; (5) the possibility of a dispute concerning material facts; (6) whether the default was 14 due to excusable neglect; and (7) the strong policy underlying the Federal Rules of Civil 15 Procedure favoring decisions on the merits. Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471-72 (9th Cir. 16 1986); PepsiCo, Inc. v. Cal. Sec. Cans, 238 F.Supp.2d 1172, 1174 (C.D. Cal. 2002). As 17 discussed below, the Court finds that these Eitel factors weigh in favor of granting default 18 judgment. 19 1. Possibility of Prejudice to Plaintiff 20 The first factor considers whether a plaintiff would suffer prejudice if default judgment is 21 not entered. See PepsiCo, Inc., 238 F.Supp.2d at 1177. Generally, where default has been entered 22 against a defendant, a plaintiff has no other means by which to recover against that defendant. 23 Id.; Moroccanoil, Inc. v. Allstate Beauty Prods., 847 F.Supp.2d 1197, 1200-01 (C.D. Cal. 2012). 24 Here, the Court finds Plaintiff would be prejudiced if default judgment is not granted and this 25 factor weighs in favor of default judgment. 26 2. Merits of Plaintiff’s Claims and Sufficiency of the Complaint 27 The second and third Eitel factors, taken together, “require that [the] plaintiff[s] state a 28 claim on which [they] may recover.” PepsiCo, Inc., 238 F. Supp. 2d at 1175. Notably a 1 “defendant is not held to admit facts that are not well-pleaded or to admit conclusions of law.” 2 DIRECTV, Inc. v. Hoa Huynh, 503 F.3d 847, 854 (9th Cir. 2007). 3 a. Duty to Defend: The Underlying Claim Does not Fall Within the Insuring 4 Agreement 5 In determining whether a particular policy provides coverage and a duty to defend, courts 6 interpretate the insurance policy as a question of law. Waller v. Truck Ins. Exchange, Inc, 11 7 Cal.4th 1, 18 (1995). In interpreting the policy, the court looks at the language of the contract to 8 ascertain its plain meaning. Waller, 11 Cal. 4th at 18. Courts need to consider both the occurrence 9 language in the policy and any endorsements that may expand the coverage. Id. Contract 10 provisions will be interpreted for their ordinary and popular meaning, unless otherwise specified. 11 Id. However, a provision may be considered ambiguous if there is more than one possible 12 construction that is reasonable. Id. 13 A duty to defend arises when the insurer becomes aware of, or if the third-party lawsuit 14 pleads, facts that could potentially fall under the coverage of the insuring agreement. Gray v. 15 Zurich Ins., Co., 65 Cal.2d 263, 276 (1966). Nonetheless, where there is no possibility that the 16 facts plead would be covered, there is no duty to defend. Waller, 11 Cal.4th at 19 (citing Fire Ins. 17 Exchange v. Abbott, 204 Cal.App.3d 1012, 1029 (Cal. Crt. App. 6th 1988). The determination of 18 whether there is a duty to defends is made by first comparing the allegations of the complaint 19 with the terms of policy. Id. Facts that are extrinsic to the complaint may give rise to a duty to 20 defend if they reveal there is a possibility of coverage, conversely, if the extrinsic facts eliminate 21 the potential for coverage an insurer may decline to defend even when the allegations in the 22 complaint imply liability. Id. 23 The underlying claim is based on an incident where Defendant Quiroz provided the 24 decedent with a controlled substance, fentanyl, which the decedent ingested resulting in his death. 25 (Doc. 26 at 6.) On October 29, 2020, the Lopez Defendants brought a claim against the Insured 26 Defendants seeking damages for the death of their son. (Doc. 26 at 9.) The underlying claim 27 alleged that on or about May 29, 2020, at the Insureds Defendants’ residence, Defendant Quiroz 28 provided the decedent a drug that was laced with fentanyl, the ingestion of which resulted in the 1 decedent’s death. (Id.) During Plaintiff’s investigation of the underlying claim, the Lopez’s 2 counsel informed Plaintiff that Defendant Quiroz had admitted to providing the fentanyl to the 3 decedent and was charged with criminal negligence and felonious furnishing of fentanyl by the 4 District Attorney. (Id.) 5 Here, the policy states: “If a claim is made or a suit is brought against any insured for damages 6 because of bodily injury or property damage caused by an occurrence to 7 which this coverage applies, we will provide a defense at our expense by counsel of our choice even if the allegations are groundless, false or 8 fraudulent.” 9 (Doc. 26-1, Exh. A at 33.) The policy also explicitly excludes the following from coverage: 10 “[Personal liability and Medical payment to others] do not apply to bodily injury or property damages which is expected or intended by any insured or 11 which is the foreseeable result of an act or omission intended by any 12 insured; this exclusion applies even if (1) such bodily injury or property damage is of a different kind or degree than expected or intended, or (2) 13 such bodily injury or property damage is sustained by a different person, or persons, than expected or intended.” 14 (Id.) Further, the policy provides definitions for both bodily injury and occurrence as follows: 15 “’Bodily injury’ means bodily harm, sickness or disease, including required 16 care, loss of services and death resulting therefrom.” 17 “’occurrence’ means an accident, including exposure to conditions which results in (1) bodily injury, or (2) property damage.” 18 (Doc. 26-1, Exh. A at 43, 44.) Furthermore, the policy addresses coverage where a criminal act is 19 involved: 20 “[Personal liability and Medical payment to others] do not apply to bodily 21 injury or property damages which results from violation of criminal law committed by, or with the knowledge or consent of any insured. This 22 exclusion applies whether to not any insured is charged or convicted of a 23 violation of criminal, or local or municipal ordinance.” 24 (Doc. 26-1, Exh. A at 33.) Even more specifically, the policy addresses the sale and transfer of 25 controlled substances: 26 “[Personal liability and Medical payment to others] do not apply to bodily 27 injury or property damages arising out of the use, sale, manufacture, delivery, transfer or possession by any person of a controlled substance(s) as 28 defined by the Federal Food and Drug Law at 21 U.S.C.A. Sections 811 and 1 812. Controlled substance includes but are not limited to cocaine, LSD, marijuana and all narcotic drugs.” 2 3 (Doc. 26-1, Exh. A at 36.) Fentanyl is a schedule II drug. 21 U.S.C. § 812. 4 Plaintiff argues that Defendant Quiroz’s actions cannot be considered an accident or 5 occurrence under the policy because his actions were deliberate. The Court agrees. Defendant 6 Quiroz provided the decedent with a controlled substance which caused the decedent’s death. 7 Under the policy, coverage does not extend to a bodily injury, including death, which is a 8 foreseeable result of an act of the insured. Death caused by taking a controlled substance is a 9 foreseeable result of providing another with that controlled substance. Further, the policy also 10 excludes any bodily injury that is of a different kind or degree than was intended or expected. 11 Therefore, even if Defendant Quiroz did not intend that the decedent die from ingesting the 12 fentanyl that was provided, it was foreseeable that death could be a result. 13 Furthermore, Defendant Quiroz’s actions would be a violation of criminal law. The policy 14 excluded bodily injury which results from violation of a criminal law by an insured. As fentanyl is 15 a controlled substance under 21 U.S.C. § 812, its distribution is a criminal act under 21 U.S.C. § 16 841. Therefore, under the terms of the policy, Plaintiff would not have a duty to defend. 17 b. Duty to Indemnify 18 “The duty to indemnify and the duty to defend are correlative.” Certain Underwriters at 19 Lloyds of London v. Superior Court, 24 Cal.4th 945, 958 (2011) (citing Ryan v. Royal Ins. Co. of 20 America, 916 F.2d 731, 735 (1st Cir. 1990). However, the duty to indemnify is only triggered 21 after the amount of damages are fixed and only entails the payment of money. Certain, 24 Cal.4th 22 at 958 (citing Aerojet-General Corp. v. Transport Indemnity Co., 17 Cal.4th 38, 46 and 56 23 (1997)). The duties are also different in scope, as the duty to defend must be broader than the duty 24 to indemnify, as such where there is no duty to defend there can be no duty to indemnify. Id.; see 25 also Aerojet-General, 17 Cal.4th at 59; see also Buss v. Superior Court, 16 Cal.4th 35, 47, fn. 10 26 (1997). 27 Here, there is no duty to defend as the policy, by its terms, does not cover death where the 28 1 decedent was provided with a controlled substance by an insured which caused the death. 2 Therefore, there can be no duty to indemnify in this case. 3 c. Reimbursement of Defense Fees and Costs 4 For claims that may at least potentially be covered by a policy, an insurer cannot seek 5 reimbursement of costs and fees incurred by providing a defense, as such costs are bargained in the 6 contract and covered by premiums. Buss, 16 Cal.4th at 50. However, where there is no duty to 7 defend because the claim would not even potentially be covered by a policy, an insurer may seek 8 reimbursement for defense costs. Id. (citing Hogan v. Midland National Ins. Co., 3 Cal. 3d 553, 9 563-564 (Cal. Sup. Crt. 1970)). “’California law clearly allows insurers to be reimbursed for 10 attorney’s fees’ and other expenses ‘paid in defending insureds against claims for which there was 11 no obligation to defend.’” Id. (quoting Omaha Indem. Ins. Co. v. Cardon Oil. Co., 687 F.Supp. 502, 12 504 (N.D. Cal. 1988)). 13 Here, Plaintiff seeks a declaration that it is entitled to reimbursement of defense costs and fees by the insured incurred in the underlying claim. As there is no duty to defend in this case, 14 because the underlying claim is not even potentially covered by the insuring policy, Plaintiff may 15 seek reimbursement. 16 For the reasons set forth above, the Court finds that the second and third Eitel factors 17 weigh in favor of default judgment. 18 19 3. The Sum of Money at Stake in the Action 20 Under the fourth factor cited in Eitel, “the court must consider the amount of money at 21 stake in relation to the seriousness of Defendant’s conduct.” PepsiCo, Inc., 238 F Supp.2d at 22 1176; see also Philip Morris USA, Inc. v. Castworld Prods., Inc., 219 F.R.D. 494, 500 (C.D. Cal. 23 2003). Here, Plaintiff does not seek any monetary damages. Plaintiff only seeks declaratory 24 relief. Accordingly, this factor does not weigh against entry of default judgment. 25 4. The Possibility of a Dispute Concerning Material Facts 26 The facts of this case as they pertain to Insured Defendants are straightforward, and 27 Plaintiff has provided the Court with a complaint that contains well-pled allegations and 28 declarations and exhibits in support. Following the clerk’s entry of default, the Court may assume 1 the truth of well-pled facts in the complaint and, thus, there is no likelihood that any genuine issue 2 of material fact exists as to the facts that relate to the Insured Defendants. Further, the Insured 3 Defendants’ failure to file an answer in this case or a response to the instant motion supports the 4 conclusion that the possibility of a dispute as to material facts is minimal. See, e.g., Elektra 5 Entm’t Grp. Inc. v. Crawford, 226 F.R.D. 388, 393 (C.D. Cal. 2005) (“Because all allegations in a 6 well-pleaded complaint are taken as true after the court clerk enters default judgment, there is no 7 likelihood that any genuine issue of material fact exists.”). This factor therefore weighs in favor 8 of default judgment. 9 5. Whether the Default Was Due to Excusable Neglect 10 The sixth Eitel factor considers the possibility that Defendants’ default resulted from 11 excusable neglect. PepsiCo, Inc., 238 F.Supp.2d at 1177. Courts have found that where a 12 defendant was “properly served with the complaint, the notice of entry of default, as well as the 13 paper in support of the [default judgment] motion,” there is no evidence of excusable neglect. 14 Shanghai Automation Instrument Co. v. Kuei, 194 F.Supp.2d 995, 1005 (N.D. Cal. 2001). 15 Upon review of the record, the Court finds that the default was not the result of excusable 16 neglect. See PepsiCo, Inc., 238 F. Supp. 2d at 1177. The Insured Defendants were properly 17 served with the complaint. (Docs. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.) Plaintiffs mailed a copy of the motion for 18 default judgment to the Insured Defendants’ mailing addresses. (Docs. 26 at 30.) Despite ample 19 notice of this lawsuit and Plaintiff’s intention to seek default judgment, the Insured Defendants 20 have not appeared to date. Thus, the record suggests that Insured Defendants have chosen not to 21 participate in this action, and not that the default resulted from any excusable neglect. 22 Accordingly, this factor weighs in favor of the entry of a default judgment. 23 6. The Strong Policy Favoring Decisions on the Merits 24 “Cases should be decided upon their merits whenever reasonably possible.” Eitel, 782 25 F.2d at 1472. However, district courts have concluded with regularity that this policy, standing 26 alone, is not dispositive, especially where a defendant fails to appear or defend itself in an action. 27 PepsiCo, Inc., 238 F.Supp.2d at 1177; see also Craigslist, Inc. v. Naturemarket, Inc., 694 28 F.Supp.2d 1039, 1061 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 5, 2010). Although the Court is cognizant of the policy 1 favoring decisions on the merits, that policy is unavailable here because the Insured Defendants 2 have not responded. Accordingly, the Court finds that this factor does not weigh against entry of 3 default judgment. 4 Upon consideration of the Eitel factors as delineated above, the Court concludes that 5 Plaintiff is entitled to the entry of default judgment against Defendants Rita Irene Nunez, Melchor 6 Tatia, and Isaac Quiroz. The Court therefore will recommend that Plaintiff’s Motion for Default 7 Judgment (Doc. 26) be GRANTED. 8 V. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 9 Accordingly, based on foregoing, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that: 10 1. Plaintiff’s motion for default judgment (Doc. 26) be granted; 11 2. Default judgment be entered in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendants Rita Irene 12 Nunez, Melchor Tatia, and Isaac Quiroz; and 13 3. The Court declare Plaintiff’s rights as follows: 14 a. Plaintiff has no duty, and never had a duty, to defend the Insured Defendants 15 against the underlying third-party liability claims, 16 b. Plaintiff has no duty, and never had a duty, to indemnify the Insured 17 Defendants in the underlying claim, and 18 c. the Insured Defendants are obligated to reimburse Plaintiff all defense fees and 19 costs it has incurred in providing them with a defense in the underlying claim. 20 /// 21 /// 22 /// 23 /// 24 /// 25 /// 26 /// 27 /// 28 1 These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to the United States District 2 Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within 3 fourteen (14) days after being served with these Findings and Recommendations, the parties may 4 file written objections with the Court. The document should be captioned “Objections to 5 Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” The parties are advised that failure to file 6 objections within the specified time may result in the waiver of the “right to challenge the 7 magistrate’s factual findings” on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th Cir. 2014) 8 (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)). 9 IT IS SO ORDERED. 10 11 Dated: April 11, 2022 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _ UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28