Starstone National Insurance Company v. Golf Argonomics Supply & Handling Co., Golf Agronomics Sand & Hauling, Inc., and Amber Chafin, individually and in her capacity as a legal and natural guardian of her minor sons J.S. and J.R.

Summary

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida adopts a magistrate judge’s Report and Recommendation and grants StarStone National Insurance Company’s motion for judgment on the pleadings. The Court holds that the StarStone excess policy’s automobile exclusion is unambiguous and precludes coverage for liability arising from the underlying motor vehicle accident. The Court enters declaratory judgment that StarStone has no duty to defend or indemnify any party for the accident or underlying claims and directs the Clerk to close the case.

Holdings

1. A party's wholesale incorporation of a prior response, without specifically identifying the challenged findings or reasoning in the Report and Recommendation, constitutes a general objection that the district court need not consider.
2. The Starstone excess policy's automobile exclusion is unambiguous and excludes all liability, damage, loss, cost, or expense arising out of the August 2020 motor-vehicle accident.
3. Starstone was entitled to judgment on the pleadings declaring that it had no duty to defend or indemnify any party for the accident and was not liable under the excess policy for any amount of the underlying judgment.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Chafin's amended objection to the magistrate judge's Report and Recommendation was sufficiently specific to require review of arguments incorporated from her prior response.
2. Whether Starstone's excess policy automobile exclusion was unambiguous and precluded coverage for liability and damages arising from the August 2020 motor-vehicle accident.
3. Whether Starstone had a duty to defend or indemnify any party, or liability for any amount of the underlying judgment, under the excess policy.

Disposition

other