Snapping Shoals Electric Membership Corp. v. RLI Insurance

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Snapping Shoals Electric Membership Corp. v. RLI Insurance, 216 F. App'x 829 (11th Cir. 2007)

Snapping Shoals Electric Membership Corp. v. RLI Insurance

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Plaintiff Snapping Shoals Electric Membership Corporation (SSEMC) appeals the district court’s grant of summary judgment to RLI Insurance Corporation (RLI). RLI issued a performance bond guaranteeing Cayenta Canada, Inc.’s (“Cayenta”) performance of a construction contract between SSEMC and Cayenta.

We previously issued a jurisdictional question in this case. Having reviewed the parties’ responses to that question, we conclude that we do have jurisdiction to hear the appeal.

After a thorough review of the briefs on the merits and the record on appeal, we find no reversible error in the grant of summary judgment. By the plain language of the bond, RLI’s obligations to SSEMC did not arise until SSEMC de *830 dared Cayenta in default and “formally terminated [Cayenta’s] right to complete the contract.” (R.l-5 at Ex. D, ¶ 3.2.) Furthermore, the terms of the bond incorporate the terms of the construction contract (R.l-5 at Ex. D, ¶ 1), and the construction contract states, “[U]nder no circumstance shall the Bond remain in force later than May 30, 2003.” (R.l-5 at Ex. C.)

There is no record evidence that SSEMC declared Cayenta in default of the construction contract and terminated Cayenta’s right to complete the contract prior to May 30, 2003. There is evidence to the contrary. Namely, on June 15, 2004, SSEMC sent Cayenta and RLI a letter which stated, “[SSEMC] hereby gives notice to [Cayenta] and Cayenta’s surety, RLI insurance Company ... of Cayenta’s default of its obligations____[SSEMC] has allowed Cayenta more than 12 additional months within which to cure its failure to deliver....” (R.l-5 at Ex. E.)

For the foregoing reasons, as a matter of law, RLI breached no obligation to SSEMC. Summary judgment for RLI was appropriate.

AFFIRMED.

Reference

Full Case Name
SNAPPING SHOALS ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION, Plaintiff-Counter Defendant-Appellant, v. RLI INSURANCE CORPORATION, Defendant-Third Party Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Cayenta Canada Corporation, Defendant-Third Party Defendant-Counter Claimant, Amanda Sims, Et Al., Defendants
Status
Unpublished