Bradfield v. Mid-Continent Casualty Co.
Bradfield v. Mid-Continent Casualty Co.
Opinion of the Court
Okder
This matter is before the Court on Plaintiffs Joseph and Patricia Bradfield’s (“the Bradfields”) Amended Motion for Protective Order (Doc. 49) relating to documents that they contend were inadvertently produced to Defendant Mid-Continent Casualty Company (“Mid-Continent”) by a third-party pursuant to a subpoena. Mid-Continent has filed a response in opposition. (Doc. 57). For the following reasons, the Bradfields’ Motion (Doc. 49) is due to be DENIED.
I. Background
On August 29, 2012, Plaintiffs sued Hor-go Signature Homes, Inc., (“Horgo Signature”) and Winfree Homes, Inc. (‘Win-free”) in state court seeking damages for alleged structural defects in the construction of their custom home (the “Underlying Complaint”).
The Bradfíelds then filed the instant action against Mid-Continent seeking damages in the principal amount of $696,108.00 and declaratory relief that Mid-Continent was obligated to defend Horgo Signature, and Winfree in the Underlying Act; that due to its actions and/or inactions Mid-Continent waived its right to control the defense and is therefore bound by the Mediated Settlement Agreement and Consent Final Judgment; and that Mid-Continent is obligated to satisfy the Consent Final Judgment.
At issue here are documents produced in response to a Subpoena directed to Edward G. Milgrim, P.A. (“Milgrim”), counsel of record in the underlying action for both Horgo Signature and Winfree. On October 22, 2013, Mid-Continent served on the Bradfíelds a Notice of Production of Non-Party, wherein it sought inter alia all documents and communications related to the mediation settlement agreement and consent final judgment. (Doc. 57-2). The Bradfíelds did not file an objection and instead served a request for copies. (Doc. 57-3).
In his initial response on November 7, 2013, Milgrim produced 113 pages and objected in part on grounds that Mid-Continent was seeking “documents containing confidential settlement communications.” (Doc. 57-4). According to Mid-Continent’s counsel, Milgrim agreed to amend his response and to produce the various drafts of the Mediated Settlement Agreement and Consent Final Judgment, along with email communications between Mil-grim and counsel for the Bradfíelds. On November 18, 2013, Milgrim served an amended response no longer asserting that the documents contained “confidential settlement communications” and producing more than 1,000 pages of documents.
The Bradfíelds contend that it was discovered at the January 23, 2014 deposition of Richard Higo that certain documents were inadvertently produced by Milgrim that are protected by the work product and mediation privileges. (Doc. 49 at 1-2; Doc. 57-6, Deposition of Richard Higo, 117). Then, in a letter dated February 11, 2014, Milgrim advised counsel for Mid-Continent that his office had “inadvertently included various documents that are protected by the work product and media
II. Discussion
Plaintiffs, as the party asserting privilege, bear the burden of proof. See e.g., Tyne v. Time Warner Entertainment Co., L.P., 212 F.R.D. 596, 599 (M.D.Fla. 2002). Plaintiffs, however, have failed to meet their burden. The Bradfíelds simply assert without any discussion that “[e]learly, the draft and unexecuted versions of settlement agreements and mediation agreements, as well as correspondence related thereto are privileged and work product.” (Doc. 49 at 3).
With respect to work product, it is defined as material “prepared in anticipation of litigation or for trial.” See Fed. R.Evid. 502(g)(2). Plaintiffs have failed to offer any explanation as to how drafts of settlement and mediation agreements were prepared “in anticipation of litigation.” Likewise, to the extent Plaintiffs contend that the documents are protected by attorney client privilege, they fail to even state that in their Motion. Accordingly, Plaintiffs have failed to meet their burden to establish that these documents are protected by either work product or attorney client privilege.
In addition, although Plaintiffs mention the mediation privilege
Assuming Plaintiffs are relying on the mediation privilege, it appears that several of the documents on Milgrim’s list predate the February 21, 2014 mediation conference. At the deposition of Richard Higo (the principal of Horgo Signature and Hor-go Enterprises, Inc.), counsel for the Brad-fields “stipulated that disclosure of any documents predating the mediation conference would not be covered by the mediation privilege because the mediation conference had not yet been conducted.” (Doc. 57-6, Deposition of Richard Higo, 116-17). Accordingly, to the extent any of the documents on Milgrim’s list predate the mediation conference, they are not protected by the mediation privilege.
Moreover, even if the mediation privilege (or any privilege for that matter) is applicable to documents identified on Milgrim’s list, the Court finds that Plain
When, as here, a party seeks to recover under a so-called Coblentz agreement,
If Plaintiffs introduce evidence as to the reasonableness of the Mediation Settlement Agreement and Consent Final Judgment and as to the lack of bad faith&emdash; as they must to prevail&emdash;Plaintiffs cannot then hide behind the shield of privilege to prevent Mid-Continent from effectively challenging such evidence.
Accordingly, Plaintiffs’ Amended Motion for Protective Order (Doc. 49) is DENIED.
. A copy of the Underlying Complaint is filed at Doc. 28-1.
. Mid-Continent contends that Horgo Signature was not an insured. See e.g., Doc. 57 at 1. The insurance policy attached to the Complaint identifies the named insured as "Horgo
. Plaintiffs failed to attach the letter to their Amended Motion, but it is attached to the initial motion (Doc. 47, Exhibit A).
. Although Mid-Continent claims to have filed all of the pertinent documents under seal, the Court has not attempted to identify each of the documents included on Milgrim's list.
.Pursuant to Florida Statute § 44.405, all mediation communications shall be confidential, and participants shall not disclose a mediation communication to a person other than another mediation participant or a participant's counsel.
.The term “Coblentz agreement" refers to a settlement agreement entered into between an insured and a claimant in order to resolve a lawsuit in which the insurer has denied coverage and declined to defend. Trovillion Const. & Development, Inc. v. Mid-Continent Cas. Co., No. 6:12-cv-914-Orl-37TBS, 2014 WL 201678, at *3 n. 2. (M.D.Fla. Jan. 17, 2014)(citing Coblentz v. Am. Sur. Co. of N.Y., 416 F.2d 1059 (5th Cir. 1969)). In a traditional Coblentz agreement, the insured enters into a consent judgment establishing its liability and fixing damages; and assigns any cause of action it has against its insurer to the claimant. See id.
. For example, at his deposition, Higo asserted the mediation conference privilege when asked if prior to entering into the settlement agreement he had seen an estimate prepared by the Bradfields’ expert regarding the repair costs for the home. (Doc. 57-6, Higo Deposition at 127-28). Likewise, counsel for the Bradfields, Edward P. Jordan, II, asserted the mediation privilege when asked what documents were relied upon to reach the $671,050 figure in the consent judgment. (Doc. 57-7, Jordan Deposition at 31).
. The Court is making no comment on the ultimate admissibility of such evidence.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Joseph BRADFIELD and Patricia Bradfield v. MID-CONTINENT CASUALTY COMPANY
- Cited By
- 11 cases
- Status
- Published