Opinion
3:22-cv-03609
06-20-2023
MARTHA CLOMAN v. STATE FARM FIRE & CASUALTY CO., ET AL.
JAMES D. CAIN, JR. JUDGE
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
KATHLEEN KAY, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
On March 2, 2023, defendants State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., State Farm General Insurance Co., and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. filed a Motion to Dismiss seeking dismissal of this matter because, they claim, McClenny Moseley & Associates, PLLC (“MMA”), the law firm who filed suit on behalf of Martha Cloman, never had the authority to do so. Doc. 10. Defendants have submitted the affidavit of Lisa Michele Deen, Claim Team Manager for all defendants, who states under oath that she has searched the records of all named defendants and that Martha Cloman informed defendants on May 17, 2022, that she was not represented by MMA. Doc. 10, att. 3, p. 2. Plaintiff later confirmed that she had not retained counsel on May 24, 2022, by letter to State Farm Insurance Company Agent Tasha Sanders. Id. and doc. 10, att. 3, p. 20. This confirmation occurred several months before MMA filed this suit on August 24, 2022 [doc. 1], but apparently after MMA had contacted State Farm on plaintiff's behalf.
This matter is one of multiple matters filed by attorneys with the MMA firm. Courts in both the Western and Eastern Districts of Louisiana have found multiple irregularities in numerous cases. And this appears to be yet another instance where MMA failed to take the slightest care in filing a complaint.
Grant Gardiner, who was employed by MMA at the time this action commenced and has since resigned, was signatory to this complaint and to numerous other complaints against defendants herein that prompted defendants to move for dismissal on the same basis as asserted in this matter-that MMA lacked authority to file a lawsuit on behalf of the named plaintiff. Doc. 1. After determining that sanctions could be in order under Fed.R.Civ.P. Rule 11(b)(2) or Rule 11(b)(3) if the allegations of defendants' motions proved true, the court sua sponte ordered Mr. Gardiner to appear and show cause on June 14, 2023, why he should not be sanctioned for filing this lawsuit. Doc. 15. The court also ordered that plaintiff personally appear to help the court understand how respondent could have filed this lawsuit on behalf of an individual MMA never represented if, in fact, that is the case. Id. Martha Cloman did not appear in court on June 14, 2023.
Mr. Gardiner has updated his firm association and contact information with the court.
At hearing on June 14, 2023, Mr. Gardiner appeared and was not able to show cause why he should not be sanctioned. The court notes that Mr. Gardiner was admitted to the bar less than one year before the complaint in this matter was filed and was employed by MMA for only eight months. Having reviewed Mr. Gardiner's sworn statement concerning this matter, attached hereto, the related declaration of MMA principal Zach Moseley, and the file materials attached to the latter, attached hereto under seal, and having examined respondent at hearing, the court recommends that he be sanctioned in the amount of $100, to be deposited with the court, for violation of his obligations under Rule 11. Specifically, the undersigned finds, and recommends that the district judge find, that respondent-by his own admission-failed to make personal contact with Martha Cloman in advance of filing the complaint, failed to review the limited information on file concerning Martha Cloman, and thereby failed to make “an inquiry reasonable under the circumstances” that “the factual contentions have evidentiary support or, if specifically so identified, will likely have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 11(b)(2). These findings are not intended as an adjudication on the merits of this matter and are merely an assessment of the respondent's efforts to fulfill his obligations under Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
For the foregoing reasons, it is RECOMMENDED that Grant Gardiner be sanctioned in the amount of $100, to be deposited with the court, and that Mr. Gardiner complete this payment by December 1, 2023. The clerk is directed to mail a copy of this Report and Recommendation to plaintiff at the address provided by MMA and on file with the court.
Under the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636 and Rule 72 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, parties have fourteen (14) days from receipt of this Report and Recommendation to file written objections with the Clerk of Court. A party may respond to another party's objections within fourteen (14) days after being served with a copy thereof. Failure to file written objections to the proposed factual findings and/or the proposed legal conclusions reflected in this Report and Recommendation within fourteen (14) days following the date of receipt shall bar an aggrieved party from attacking either the factual findings or the legal conclusions accepted by the District Court, except upon grounds of plain error. See Douglas v. United States Automobile Ass'n., 79 F.3d 1415, 1429-30 (5th Cir. 1996).