Ticknor v. Rouse's Enterprises, LLC
Ticknor v. Rouse's Enterprises, LLC
Opinion of the Court
ORDER AND REASONS
Before the Court are motions for summary judgment filed by Evanston Insurance Company
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Plaintiffs filed suit against Rouse’s on May 7, 2012, alleging that in April and May 2012, they each purchased groceries from Rouse’s, the operator of a chain of local grocery stores.
Plaintiffs seek relief under the “Receipt Provision” of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (“FACTA”), 15 U.S.C. § 1681c(g)(3).
(g) Truncation of credit card and debit card numbers
Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, no person that accepts credit cards or debit cards for the transaction of business shall print more than the last 5 digits of the card number or the expiration date upon any receipt provided to the cardholder at the point of the sale or transaction.
15 U.S.C. § 1681c(g)(l).
FACTA imposes civil liability for violations of the law’s provisions, including the Receipt Provision. A negligent violation of the Receipt Provision entitles a plaintiff to recover actual damages suffered as a result of the violation. Id. at § 1681o(a)(l). Statutory damages are not available for negligent violations. Id. A willful violation of the Receipt Provision also entitles a plaintiff to recover actual
Plaintiffs do not claim to have suffered any actual damage as a result of the alleged violations. Instead, plaintiffs claim the fact that Rouse’s “knowingly, willfully, intentionally, and reckless violated and continues to violate” the Receipt Provision entitles them to statutory damages under 15 U.S.C. § 1681n, as well as punitive damages, costs, and attorneys’ fees.
On December 14, 2012, Evanston filed a separate suit against Rouse’s, seeking a declaration that Evanston has no duty to defend Rouse’s for the plaintiffs’ lawsuit and owes no coverage to Rouse’s under the insurance policy between Evanston and Rouse’s.
Evanston and Starr both filed both motions for summary judgment that the insurance policy Evanston issued to Rouse’s provides no coverage for the claims made by the plaintiffs and that neither insurance company owes a duty to defend those claims. The policy Starr issued to Rouse’s is an excess liability insurance policy that follows the policy issued by Evanston to Rouse’s. Thus, Starr’s obligations hinge upon whether Evanston’s policy provides coverage.
Summary judgment is appropriate when “the pleadings, the discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)(2); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); Little v. Liquid Air Corp., 37 F.3d 1069, 1075 (5th Cir. 1994). When assessing whether a dispute as to any material fact exists, the Court considers “all of the evidence in the record but refrains from making credibility determinations or weighing the evidence.” Delta & Pine Land Co. v. Nationwide Agribusiness Ins. Co. 530 F.3d 395, 398 (5th Cir. 2008). All reasonable inferences are drawn in favor of the nonmoving party, but “unsupported allegations or affidavits setting forth ultimate or conclusory facts and conclusions of law are insufficient to either support or defeat a motion for summary judgment.” Galindo v. Precision Am. Corp., 754 F.2d 1212, 1216 (5th Cir. 1985) (internal quotations and citations omitted).
If the dispositive issue is one on which the moving party will bear the burden of proof at trial, the moving party “must come forward with evidence which would ‘entitle it to a directed verdict if the evidence went uncontroverted at trial.’ ” Int’l Shortstop, Inc. v. Rally’s Inc., 939 F.2d 1257, 1263-64 (5th Cir. 1991). The nonmoving party can then defeat the motion by either countering with sufficient evidence on its own, or “showing that the moving party’s evidence is so sheer that it may not persuade the reasonable fact-finder to return a verdict in favor of the moving party.” Id. at 1265.
If the dispositive issue is one on which the nonmoving party will bear the burden of proof at trial, the moving party may satisfy its burden by merely pointing out that the evidence in the record is insufficient with respect to an essential element of the nonmoving party’s claim. See Celo-tex, 477 U.S. at 325, 106 S.Ct. 2548. The burden then shifts to the nonmoving party, who must, by submitting or referring to evidence, set out specific facts showing that a genuine issue exists. See id. at 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548. The nonmovant may not rest upon the pleadings, but must identify specific facts that establish a genuine issue for trial. Id. at 325, 106 S.Ct. 2548; see also Little 37 F.3d at 1075 (“Rule 56 ‘mandates the entry of summary judgment, after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.’ ”) (citing Celo-tex, mi U.S. at 332,106 S.Ct. 2548).
LAW AND ANALYSIS
A. The Policy
The parties disagree over whether coverage is provided under the “personal or advertising injury” portion of the policy, and, if so, whether any exclusions apply. The “personal and advertising injury” portion of the policy relied on by Rouse’s and the plaintiffs provides coverage for “[o]ral or written publication, in any manner, of material that violates a person’s right to privacy[.]”
Coverage B — Personal and Advertising Injuiy Liability
1. Insuring Agreement
a. We will pay those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay*889 as damages because of “personal and advertising injury” to which this insurance applies. We will have the right and duty to defend the insured against any “suit” seeking those damages. However, we will have no duty to defend the insured against any “suit” seeking damages for “personal and advertising injury” to which this insurance does not apply. We may, at our discretion, investigate any offense and settle any claim or “suit” that may result.
2. Exclusions
This insurance does not apply to:
a.Knowing Violation of Rights of Another
“Personal and advertising injury” caused by or at the direction of the insured with knowledge that the act would violate the rights of another and would inflict “personal and advertising injury. ”
p. Distribution of Material in Violation of Statutes
“Personal and advertising injury” arising directly or indirectly out of any action or omission that violates or is alleged to violate:
(1) The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), including any amendment of or addition to such law; or
(2) The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, including any amendment of or addition to such law; or
(3) Any statute, ordinance or regulation, other than the TCPA or CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, that prohibits or limits the sending, transmitting, communicating or distribution of material or information.
Section V — Definitions
14. “Personal and advertising injury” means injury, including consequential “bodily injury”, arising out of one or more of the following offenses:
a. False arrest, detention or imprisonment;
b. Malicious prosecution;
c. The wrongful eviction from, wrongful entry into, or invasion of the right of private occupancy of a room, dwelling or premises that a person occupies, committed by or on behalf of its owner, landlord or lessor;
d. Oral or written publication, in any manner, of material that slanders or libels a person or organization or disparages a person’s or organization’s goods, products or services;
e. Oral or written publication, in any manner, of material that violates a person’s right of privacy;
f. The use of another’s advertising idea in your “advertisement”; or
g. Infringing upon another’s copyright, trade dress or slogan in your “advertisement.”19
As stated earlier, as a follow-form policy, Starr’s policy adopts the conditions and agreements of the underlying primary liability insurance policy issued by Evans-ton.
B. The Parties’ Arguments
i. Insurers’ Arguments
Evanston argues its policy does not provide coverage because Rouse’s alleged FACTA violations are not “personal or advertising injuries” arising out of “[o]ral or written publication, in any manner, of material that violates a person’s right to privacy[.]”
Starr’s motion for summary judgment is almost identical to Evanston’s motion.
ii. Oppositions
Both plaintiffs and Rouse’s filed oppositions to Evanston’s and Starr’s motions.
With respect to the exclusion for “personal and advertising injuries” which arise out of alleged statutory violations, the plaintiffs and Rouse’s argue the exclusion is ambiguous because it effectively excludes coverage for all “oral or written publication,” leads to absurd consequences, and should be read in favor of coverage. Regarding the exclusion for “personal and advertising injuries” which arise out of “willful” acts of the insured, plaintiffs and Rouse’s point out that a determination has not yet been made regarding whether or not Rouse’s conduct was “willful,” and, as a result, Evanston and Starr cannot deny coverage on that basis.
Plaintiffs further argue the exclusion in Evanston’s policy for statutory violations
In addition to the above mentioned arguments, plaintiffs also assert Evanston and Starr’s motions for summary judgment are premature, and plaintiffs ask the Court to deny the motions to allow additional discovery.
C. Governing Law
Louisiana law governs the dispute over the interpretation of Evanston’s policy. Although plaintiffs’ claims are based on FACTA and federal question jurisdiction, Starr and Evanston’s suits for declaratory judgment are based on diversity jurisdiction.
D. Policy Coverage
i. Applicable Law
Under Louisiana law, “an insurance policy is a contract that must be construed in accordance with the general rules of interpretation of contracts set forth in the Louisiana Civil Code.” Coleman v. Sch. Bd. of Richland Parish, 418 F.3d 511, 516 (5th Cir. 2005) (citing Am. Int’l Specialty Lines Ins. Co. v. Canal Indem. Co., 352 F.3d 254, 262 (5th Cir. 2003)). When interpreting insurance contracts, the Civil Code requires the court to “ascertain the common intent of the parties to the contract.” Coleman, 418 F.3d at 516 (citing Mayo v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 869 So.2d 96, 99 (La. 2004)). As a contract, “[w]ords and phrases used in an insurance policy are to be construed using their plain, ordinary and generally prevailing meaning, unless the words have acquired a technical meaning.” Cadwallader v. Allstate Ins. Co. 848 So.2d 577, 580 (La. 2003) (internal citations omitted). “An insurance policy should not be interpreted in an unreasonable or strained manner so as to enlarge or restrict its provisions beyond what is reasonably contemplated by the terms or so as to achieve an absurd conclusion.” Carrier v. Reliance Ins. Co., 759 So.2d 37, 43 (La. 2000).
With respect to coverage, an insured bears the burden of proving that the
With respect to providing a defense, an insurer’s duty to defend is broader than its duty to indemnify. See Lamar Adver. Co. v. Cont’l Cas. Co., 396 F.3d 654, 660 (5th Cir. 2005); Selective Ins. Co. of S.E. v. J.B. Mouton & Sons, Inc., 954 F.2d 1075, 1077 (5th Cir. 1992). “The insurer’s duty to defend suits brought against its insured is determined by the allegations of the injured plaintiffs petition, with the insurer being obligated to furnish a defense unless the petition unambiguously excludes coverage.” Yount v. Maisano, 627 So.2d 148, 154 (La. 1993). An insurer’s duty to defend depends on “whether any facts pleaded in the complaint possibly fall within matters covered under the insuring clause.” Martco Ltd. P’ship v. Wellons, Inc., 588 F.3d 864, 872 (5th Cir. 2009) (citing Doerr v. Mobil Oil Corp. 774 So.2d 119, 124 (La. 2000), modified on other grounds, 782 So.2d 573 (La. 2001)). The insured bears the burden on this point. Id. The court must look only to the factual allegations in the complaint, and “statements of conclusions in the complaint that are unsupported by factual allegations will not trigger a duty to defend.” Jensen v. Snellings, 841 F.2d 600, 612 (5th Cir. 1988) (citing Guidry v. Zeringue, 379 So.2d 813, 816 (La.Ct.App. 1980)). “The duty to defend is determined solely from the plaintiffs pleadings and the face of the policy without consideration of extraneous evidence.” Exposition Dist. v. BFS Diversified Prods., LLC, 49 So.3d 49, 51 (La.App. 2010). Furthermore, “allegations in the complaint are liberally interpreted to determine whether they establish the insurer’s duty to defend.” Jensen, 841 F.2d at 612.
If the complaint alleges a potentially covered event triggering an insurer’s duty to defend under the policy, the insurer then has the burden of proving that the complaint states only facts that fall within an exclusion from coverage. Doerr, 774 So.2d at 124; La. Maint. Servs., Inc. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyds, 616 So.2d 1250, 1253 (La. 1993). To prevail, the insurer must show the allegations in the complaint unambiguously fall within one of the exclusionary clauses. Alert Centre,
ii. FACTA Receipt Provision Violations as “Publication”
The “personal and advertising injury” portion of the policy relied on by Rouse’s and the plaintiffs provides coverage for “[o]ral or written publication, in any manner, of material that violates a person’s right to privacy[.]”
In Creative Hospitality, the insurer’s policy contained a policy provision for “personal and advertising injury” identical to Evanston’s provision.
Evanston and Starr also point to Whole Enchilada, in which the Western District of Pennsylvania interpreted a policy providing coverage for “personal and advertising injury” defined as including injuries “arising out of ... oral, written or electronic publication of material that appropriates a person’s likeness, unreasonably places a person in a false light or gives unreasonable publicity to a person’s private life.” 581 F.Supp.2d at 693.
Plaintiffs and Rouse’s both encourage this Court to adopt a broader definition of “publication.” They argue “publication” is also defined as “to produce or release for publication; specifically: print” and does not require publication to a third party.
The purpose of the TCPA is to protect the privacy of individuals from receiving unsolicited faxed advertisements. See, e.g., Park University Enterprises, Inc. v. American Cas. Co. 442 F.3d at 1249. As a result, no publication to a third party is necessary for the right of privacy to be violated. W. Rim Inv. Advisors, Inc., 269 F.Supp.2d at 864-47 (finding an intrusion upon seclusion can violate an individual’s right to privacy, and thus a privacy violation does not necessarily require a publication to a third party). The cases cited by the plaintiffs and Rouse’s held that sending unsolicited faxed advertisements constitutes “publication” because the advertisements were disseminated to the public and “made generally known” in violation of the recipients’ privacy right to
Unlike blast faxing, the transactions giving rise to the plaintiffs’ FACTA claims do not involve mass distribution of material to the general public or an intrusion into an individuals’ right to be left alone. The transactions at issue were initiated by the plaintiffs, the receipts were provided only to the customer, and the receipts contained information the plaintiffs already possessed. The plaintiffs’ right to be left alone was not intruded upon by Rouse’s alleged FACTA violations.
[the insured] allegedly violated FACTA by issuing a credit card receipt to a costumer that contained more than five digits of the consumer’s credit card number or the card’s expiration date. The receipt is a contemporaneous record of a private transaction between [the insured] and the customer, and [the insured] neither broadcasted nor disseminated the receipt or the credit card information to the general public. Indeed, [the insured] provided the receipt only to the customer (who already knows the credit card number and its expiration date). Additionally, unlike the unsolicited “blast-faxes” at issue in [a TCPA case], the aggrieved customer initiated the transaction by paying for his meal with a credit card. In sum, providing a customer a contemporaneous record of a retail transaction involves no dissemination of information to the general public and does not constitute publication within the meaning of [the insurer’s] policy.
Creative Hospitality, 444 Fed.Appx. at 376. The broad definition of “publication” used by some courts in the context of TCPA violations is not applicable in this case.
Plaintiffs and Rouse’s alternatively maintain the term “publication” is ambiguous and, as a result, the Court is required to interpret the policy against the insurers and in favor of coverage. Courts utilize a “strict construction rule” in Louisiana and a policy is construed against the insurer and in favor of coverage only when an “ambiguous policy provision is susceptible to two or more reasonable interpretations.” Cadwallader, 848 So.2d at 580 (emphasis added). For the rule of strict construction to apply, the insurance policy must be not only susceptible to two or more interpretations, but each of the alternative interpretations must be reasonable. Id. Whether or not a term in an insurance policy is ambiguous is a question of law. La. Ins. Guar. Ass’n v. Interstate Fire & Cas. Co., 630 So.2d at 764.
An insurer’s failure to define a term in a policy does not automatically render it ambiguous. Sumner v. Mathes, 52 So.3d 931, 935 (La.Ct.App. 2010). “The rules of construction do not authorize a
Although the decisions in Whole Enchilada and Creative Hospitality are not binding on this Court, they are instructive. Both courts examined the exact issue presented by Evanston’s and Starr’s motions — whether alleged FACTA violations involving receipts provided only to the card holders amount to “publication.” Furthermore, although the policy discussed in Whole Enchilada had a slightly different provision regarding “violation of a person’s right to privacy,”
The parties do not cite, and the Court cannot find, any other cases discussing coverage of similar FACTA violations under similar policy provisions. Plaintiffs and Rouse’s do not point to any cases which contradict Whole Enchilada and Creative Hospitality. Nor do they point to any Louisiana decisions defining or interpreting the word “publication” for insurance coverage purposes.
The Louisiana Supreme Court instructs courts to give words their plain, ordinary, and generally prevailing meaning. See Cadwallader, 848 So.2d at 580. The plain and generally accepted meaning of the term “publication” is found under the dictionary definition of “publish”; “1. a.: to make generally known b.: to make public announcement of; 2. a.; to disseminate to the public b.: to produce or release for distribution.” Merriam Webster Dictionary, Online Ed. (2014)(last visited January 22, 2014). Black’s Law Dictionary defines “publication” as “[generally, the act of declaring or announcing to the public.” Black’s Law Dictionary, 9th Ed. (2009). Accordingly, this Court holds that for there to be “publication” under the “personal and advertising” provision of the Ev-anston insurance policy, the material must be made generally known, announced publicly, disseminated to the public, or released for distribution. Only the plaintiffs and the putative class members were provided receipts and only for their own personal transactions.
Because the Court has determined the term “publication” as used in the Evanston policy is unambiguous and does not provide coverage unless there is publication to a third party, Rouse’s alleged FACTA violations are not covered by the “personal or advertising injury” provision in Evanston’s policy. As there is no coverage, there is
E. Additional Discovery
In their oppositions, plaintiffs suggest a ruling on Evanston’s and Starr’s motions would be premature because plaintiffs need additional time to conduct more discovery. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(d),
Plaintiffs have not shown how the requested discovery will enable them to defeat the summary judgment motions. Plaintiffs’ counsel attached a declaration stating that plaintiffs’ discovery requests “bear on the central issue” of coverage.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, IT IS ORDERED that Evanston’s motion for
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Starr’s motion for summary judgment be and hereby is GRANTED.
. R. Doc. 70.
. R. Doc. 81.
. R. Doc. 77, R. Doc. 94.
. R. Doc. 76, R. Doc. 93.
. R. Doc. 84, R. Doc. 106, R. Doc. 107.
. R. Doc. 1 at pp. 8-9.
. Id.
. Plaintiffs moved for class certification on December 24, 2013 (R. Doc. 86).
. R. Doc. 1 at pp. 12-13.
. The United States Supreme Court in Safe-co Ins. Co. of Am. v. Burr, 551 U.S. 47, 127 S.Ct. 2201, 167 L.Ed.2d 1045 (2007) interpreted "willful violations” under § 168In to include any violations in reckless disregard of the provision. As a result, a violation of FAC-TA in reckless disregard of the law is a willful violation, and a plaintiff in such a case is entitled to seek statutory or actual damages, as well as punitive damages, costs, and attorney’s fees.
. R. Doc. 1 at p. 13.
. Id. at p. 14.
. 12-2964, R. Doc. 1.
. R. Doc. 32.
. R. Doc. 41.
. R. Doc. 44.
. Starr’s policy provides: “We will pay on behalf of the Insured, the ‘Ultimate Net Loss’ in excess of the ‘Underlying Insurance’ .... the coverage provided by this Policy shall follow the terms, definitions, conditions and exclusions of the applicable First Underlying Insurance Policy(ies) ...” R. Doc. 81-2, p. 11 (Starr Policy No. SISCSEL01603011). The “First Underlying Insurance Policy(ies)” includes Evanston's general commercial liability policy. See R. Doc. 70-2, p. 7 (Declarations, listing Evanston's Policy No. 3C30306 as a “First Underlying Insurance Policy”).
. R. Doc. 70-2, p. 28.
. See R. Doc. 70-1. Emphasis added.
. See, supra note 17.
. R. Doc. 70-2, p. 28.
. R. Doc. 70-2, p. 22.
. R. Doc. 70-2, p. 21.
. R. Doc. 81.
.R. Doc. 76 (plaintiffs’ opposition to Evans-ton’s motion); R. Doc. 77 (Rouse’s opposition to Evanston's motion); R. Doc. 93 (plaintiffs' opposition to Starr’s motion); R. Doc. 94 (Rouse's opposition to Starr’s motion).
.The plaintiffs seek information from Ev-anston relating to the circumstances in which it provides coverage for "personal and advertising injuries" for "oral or written publications, in any manner, that violate a person’s right to privacy” under the policy. (See R.Doc. 78) Evanston filed a motion for a protective order to prevent the plaintiffs from discovering this information (R.Doc. 71) that is pending before Magistrate Judge Wilkinson.
. Evanston is incorporated and has its principal place of business in Illinois. Starr is incorporated in Texas and has its principal place of business in New York. Rouse’s is a LLC and both of its members are Louisiana citizens. Thus, under 28 U.S.C. § 1332, this Court has subject matter jurisdiction over Ev-anston and Starr’s claims.
. See R. Doc. 70-2, p. 13; R. Doc. 81-2, p. 4.
. R. Doc. 70-2, p. 28.
. The policy in Creative Hospitality defined "personal and advertising injury” as: "oral or written publication, in any manner, of material that violates a person’s right of privacy ...” 444 Fed.Appx. 370, 371 (11th Cir. 2008)
.Both the plaintiffs and Rouse's point out that the policy provision in Whole Enchilada is distinguishable from the provision in Ev-anston’s policy. The Court acknowledges the differences, however, Whole Enchilada’s discussion of the term “publication” is helpful.
. See, e.g., Hooters of Augusta, Inc. v. Am. Global Ins. Co., 157 Fed.Appx. 201, 207 (11th Cir. 2005)
. See W. Rim Inv. Advisors Inc. v. Gulf Ins. Co., 96 Fed.Appx. 960 (5th Cir. 2005) (unpub.), aff'g W. Rim Inv. Advisors Inc. v. Gulf Ins. Co., 269 F.Supp.2d 836, 847 (N.D.Tex. 2003); Universal Underwriters Ins. Co. v. Lou Fusz Auto. Network, Inc., 401 F.3d 876 (8th Cir. 2005); Hooters of Augusta, Inc. v. Am. Global Ins. Co., 157 Fed.Appx. 201 (11th Cir. 2005); Park University Enterprises, Inc. v. American Cas. Co., 442 F.3d 1239 (10th Cir. 2006); Zurich Am. Ins. Co. v. Fieldstone Mort. Co., 2007 WL 3268460 (D.Md. Oct. 26, 2007).
. To the contrary, the Seventh and Fourth Circuits have held violations of the TCPA do not fall within an insurer’s policy covering "publication” that "violates a person's right to privacy” because TCPA violations do not involve divulging or sharing of private information to third parties. Those courts recognized an individuals’ privacy right to be left alone, but declined to extend the definition of "publication” to circumstances in which information was not shared with a third party. See Resource Bankshares Corp. v. St. Paul Mercury Ins. Co., 407 F.3d 631, 640-41 (4th Cir. 2005); Am. States Ins. Co. v. Capital Assocs. of Jackson County, Inc., 392 F.3d 939, 942-43 (7th Cir. 2004).
. The Court notes that FACTA was enacted to prevent intrusions into consumers’ privacy and identity theft. However, the plaintiffs do not claim their identity was stolen as a result of Rouse's alleged FACTA violations.
. Although the decisions in Whole Enchilada and Creative Hospitality are not binding on this Court, the fact that neither of these courts found the term "publication" ambiguous is also persuasive. See Whole Enchilada, 581 F.Supp.2d at 697; Creative Hospitality, 444 Fed.Appx. at 376.
. Evanston's policy covers "personal and advertising injury” arising from "oral or written publication, in any manner, of material that violates a person’s right to privacy.” The policy at issue in Whole Enchilada covered “personal and advertising injury” arising out of "oral, written or electronic publication of material that appropriates a person's likeness, unreasonably places a person in a false light or gives unreasonable publicity to a person’s private life.”
.R. Doc. 1, pp. 9, 12.
. Rule 56 was amended in 2010, and subsection 56(d) carries forward without substantial change the provisions of former subsection 56(f).
. Although plaintiffs did not submit a separate motion for a continuance under Rule 56(d), it is settled that because of the “precautionary nature of the rule ... technical, rigid scrutiny of a Rule 56(d) motion is inappropriate.” Union City Barge Line v. Union Carbide Corp., 823 F.2d 129, 136 (5th Cir. 1987). A Rule 56(d) continuance may be justified if the nonmovant identifies the need for a continuance in a brief and not in an affidavit. See Arters v. Univision Radio Broad. TX, L.P., 2009 WL 1313285, at *8 n. 19 (N.D.Tex. May 12, 2009). Therefore, Evanston's and Starr's argument that plaintiffs’ 56(d) request should be denied because it was not brought by separate motion is not persuasive. The Court notes that the language of Rule 56(d) does not require a separate motion and plaintiffs attached an affidavit complying with the procedural requirements of the Rule.
. R. Doc. 93-2.
. See R. Doc. 71. Evanston filed a motion for a protective order to prevent the plaintiffs from discovering such information.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Robert TICKNOR v. ROUSE'S ENTERPRISES, LLC
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published