Justia Alabama Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

Hosea O. Weaver & Sons, Inc. appealed a jury verdict in favor of Ira Balch, personal representative of the Estate of Danny Balch, and Melvin Balch, personal representative of the estates of Bernard Balch and Armie Balch. The matter stemmed from a road-resurfacing project conducted by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT). ALDOT hired Weaver to complete the project. The Balches were traveling on the portion of the road resurfaced by Weaver when the vehicle they were riding in was hit head-on by a tractor-trailer. Their personal representatives filed wrongful-death actions against Weaver and others, alleging that Weaver negligently performed the resurfacing project, and that negligent performance caused the deaths of the Balches. The trial court denied Weaver's prejudgment motions, and the jury returned a verdict in the estates' favor. Weaver appealed the denial of its postjudgment motion, and alleged multiple errors at trial in its argument to the Supreme Court. Upon review, the Supreme Court concluded that Weaver owed no duty to the decedents, and therefore was entitled to judgment as a matter of law. The Court reversed the trial court and entered a judgment in favor of Weaver. View "Hosea O. Weaver & Sons, Inc. v. Balch" on Justia Law

Defendants U.S. Innovations Group, Inc. (and several others) petitioned the Supreme Court for a writ of mandamus to order the trial court to dismiss claims filed against it by Judy Hawke and Carolyn Grimes. Defendants argued that because the claims arose on a federal enclave subject to exclusive federal jurisdiction, the trial court lacked jurisdiction to hear the claims. Finding that defendant did not demonstrate the trial court lacked jurisdiction or that they had a clear right to have those claims dismissed, the Supreme Court denied their petitions for the writ. View "Hawke v. U.S. Centrifuge Systems, LLC" on Justia Law

Southern Natural Gas Company (Sonat) sued Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's London and Certain London Marketing Insurance Companies (Phase III), alleging breach of numerous umbrella and excess liability policies. Sonat contended the insurance companies failed to pay certain environmental-remediation costs. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the insurers based on prior trials in Phases I and II of the case; Sonat appealed, and the insurers cross-appealed Phase III's outcome. Finding no abuse of the trial court's discretion, the Supreme Court affirmed. View "Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London v. Southern Natural Gas Company " on Justia Law

The Utilities Board of the City of Opp appealed a circuit court's order that denied its motion to dismiss a third-party complaint filed by Shuler Brothers, Inc. The Alabama Electric Company (AEC) had filed suit against Shuler Brothers seeking recovery for services performed and for breach of contract when Shuler Brothers refused to pay an invoice for repairs AEC made to some equipment. Shuler Brothers argued that the repairs did not solve its equipment issue. Shuler Brothers alleged the Utilities Board was negligent in maintaining power lines going to its facility that was part of its equipment troubles. In its motion to dismiss, the Utilities Board argued that a two-year statute of limitations applied to Shuler Brothers' claim, and that the alleged negligence was not discovered until AEC served Shuler Brothers with its complaint. Upon review of the matter, the Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court's judgment to deny the Utilities Board's motion to dismiss; reversed the circuit court's decision denying Shuler Brothers' breach-of-contract claim; and reversed the circuit court's denial of the Board's motion to dismiss Shuler Brothers' negligence claim. View "Utilities Board of the City of Opp v. Shuler Brothers, Inc. " on Justia Law

Joe Robertson appealed a circuit court order that held his claims against Mount Royal Towers were subject to an arbitration agreement and compelled him to arbitrate those claims. Finding that Robertson had not met his burden of showing that the arbitration agreements he signed were not applicable in this case, the Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's decision. View "Robertson v. Mount Royal Towers" on Justia Law

USA Water Ski, Inc. sought a writ of mandamus to direct the trial court to vacate its discovery order compelling the production of a report that it deemed privileged under the work-product doctrine. Finding that USA Water Ski adequately explained that it's hired expert's post-incident report was prepared because of prospective litigation, the Supreme Court found USA Water Ski had shown the trial court exceeded its discretion in ordering production of the report. Accordingly the Court granted the petition and issued the writ. View "Ewing v. USA Water Ski, Inc." on Justia Law

Petitioner Tonya Cate sought a writ of mandamus to direct the trial court to vacate its order requiring her to submit for a mental examination. She was indicted for capital murder and did not use the not-guilty-by-reason-of-mental-defect defense. At the onset, a mitigation expert was concerned Petitioner had not been subjected to the exam to determine her competency to stand trial. Petitioner's attorney filed a motion for a continuance for his client to be examined, but did not specify that the exam was only to determine competence. The State filed a motion to have Petitioner examined for both current mental condition and competency to stand trial. Petitioner claims to have not been served with a copy of the trial court's order that granted the State's motion, and objected. In her motion to avoid the exam, Petitioner asked in the alternative that if the exam took place, her attorney be present to advise her of her constitutional rights. Before the court ruled on the motion, Petitioner withdrew her original motion, citing the mitigation expert's concerns had been allayed. The court entered its order requiring Petitioner to submit to the examination for then-current mental state and at the time of the alleged crime. Petitioner argued that after withdrawing her own motion for an examination, she could not be compelled to submit for examination. Because Petitioner did not use the mental-defect defense, the Supreme Court concluded that she could not be compelled to submit to the examination. Accordingly the Court granted the petition and issued the writ. View "Cate v. Alabama " on Justia Law

Plaintiff SafetyNet Youth Systems, LLC sued Defendants Guarantee Insurance Company, Patriot National Insurance Group, Randy Thomas, and Paul Harper in Dallas County Circuit Court. Defendants sought the writ of mandamus to direct the Dallas court to grant their motion for a transfer of venue to Lee County. Upon review, the Supreme Court concluded Dallas County was an inappropriate forum, and granted defendant's petition and issued the writ. View "Safetynet Youth Systems, LLC v. Guarantee Insurance Co." on Justia Law

Timmy and Stephanie Blackmon sued Eddie Powell (d/b/a Powell Plumbing Company) for negligence, wantonness, breach of implied warranties and breach of contract following a water-line rupture that caused extensive flooding and water damage. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of Powell, and the Blackmons appealed. Finding the evidence in the trial court record supported the motion for summary judgment, the Supreme Court affirmed. View "Blackmon v. Powell" on Justia Law

Raymond Patterson appealed the grant of summary judgment in favor of Jai Maatadee, Inc. (d/b/a, R.C. Quick Stop) and its owners. Patterson visited the R.C. Quick Stop to buy gasoline. He stepped on a metal drain cover in between the gasoline pumps and the adjacent interstate and fell. Jai Maatadee argued it owed no duty to Patterson because the grate was on a public right-of-way owned by the State. Jai Maatadee also argued that even if the grate was on its property, it was an open and obvious hazard Patterson should have seen. Upon review, the Supreme Court found that the grant of summary judgment had not considered all of the owners (and former owners) named in Patterson's complaint. The Court concluded that the trial court abused its discretion in certifying Jai Maatadee's judgment as final because the former owners' claims were so intertwined as to make summary judgment inappropriate. The Court dismissed the appeal and remanded the case for further proceedings. View "Patterson v. Jai Maatadee, Inc." on Justia Law