Salgado v. Employers Insurance
Salgado v. Employers Insurance
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM and ORDER
On March 2, 1971 this Court ordered the dismissal of the complaint
The Court cannot accept plaintiff’s argument. The wording of the «statute and its legislative history indicate that the bill was passed to place a further restriction on the grant of diversity jurisdiction. Its purpose was “to amend section 1332(e) of title 28, United States Code, so as to eliminate under the diversity jurisdiction of the U. S. district courts, suits on certain tort claims in which both parties are local residents, but which, under a State “ ‘direct action’ statute, may be brought against a foreign insurance carrier without joining the local tort-feasor as a defendant,” 1964 U.S.Cong. and Adm.News p. 2778.
The case of Lumbermen’s Casualty Co. v. Elbert (1954) 348 U.S. 48, 75 S.Ct. 151, 99 L.Ed. 59 is inapplicable to the facts before us. There the Court in disregarding the tort-feasor’s citizenship in a direct action against the insurer upheld federal jurisdiction under section 1332(a) of title 28 U.S.C.
It is of no consequence whatsoever that the insured cannot be joined because the statute of limitations bars an action against him. What is important as far as the 1964 proviso is involved is that the insured has not been joined as a party-defendant, for whatever reason, in the direct action. Otherwise, the restrictive provision contained in the 1964 amendment could easily be overcome by merely letting the statute of limitations
In view of the foregoing, the Motion is granted and the complaint is hereby dismissed.
. Said order followed a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction dated January 20, 1971 which was heard on February 11, 1971 and granted in open court. The written order was filed and entered on March 2, 1971.
. See: Plaintiff’s Motion under Rule 60 (b), F.R.Civ.P.
. The 1964 amendment added the proviso that “in any direct action against the insurer of a policy or contract of liability insurance, whether incorporated or unincorporated, to which action the insured is not joined as a party-defendant, such insurer shall be deemed a citizen of the State of which the insured is a citizen, as well as of any State by which the insurer has been incorporated and of the State where it has its principal place of business.”
. There is no dispute on the fact that the insured is a citizen of Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
. “The district courts shall have original jurisdiction of all civil actions where the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $3,000 exclusive of interest and costs, and is between—
(1) Citizens of different States * $ * ”
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Jose Raul SALGADO, etc. v. EMPLOYERS INSURANCE OF WAUSAU
- Status
- Published