A federal judge who previously threatened to impose sanctions against renowned storm attorney Steve Mostyn for bringing factually unsupported hail suits recently threatened to sanction yet another hail attorney.
U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez set a hearing for May 6, asking Houston attorney Matthew Zarghouni to show cause on why the court should not impose Rule 11 sanctions against him for presenting a less than factual motion.
Alvarez
Through Zarghouni, plaintiff Mirosalva Cantu filed suit against Allstate and an adjuster on Dec. 17 in Hidalgo County, alleging the insurer refused to compensate her for damages caused by a March 2015 hailstorm.
The inspection report found that damages were below the policy deductible, court records show.
Cantu’s suit shows she seeks more than $200,000 in damages. She further accused the defendants of malice and deceptive practices, entitling her to exemplary damages.
However, when the case was removed to federal court in February, Cantu and her attorney soon filed a motion to remand, arguing the court lacks diversity jurisdiction since the amount in controversy does not exceed $75,000.
Allstate responded to the motion to remand on March 21, pointing out that Cantu seeks recovery of actual, mental anguish, and exemplary damages, and statutory treble damages, attorneys’ fees, and interest.
“Finally Plaintiff, in a statement required under Texas rules, seeks monetary relief of between $200,000 and $1,000,000,” the company's response states.
“On the face of the petition’s allegations … taken together with the relief requested (treble damages, 18 percent per annum pre-judgment interest, exemplary damages, and more), it is apparent with reference only to the petition itself that the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.”
In the motion to remand, Zarghouni asserted that a binding stipulation filed with the original petition prior to removal was effective to avoid federal jurisdiction.
“As previously noted, this case was removed to this Court on February 19, 2016, yet the referenced stipulation, which was attached to the motion to remand, is dated March 1, 2016,” Alvarez writes in her April 28 order.
“Furthermore, Defendant argues in its response to the motion to remand that the stipulation is in fact a 'postremoval stipulation.' Mr. Zarghouni is reminded that he has an obligation pursuant to Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure that by presenting a written motion, he certifies that the factual contentions have evidentiary support.
“The Court therefore sets Matthew Zarghouni for a hearing on May 6, 2016 at 9 a.m. pursuant to Rule 11 to show cause why the Court should not impose Rule 11 sanctions.”
Allstate is represented by Rosemary Conrad-Sandoval and Jordan Riley, attorneys for the McAllen law firm Roerig, Oliveira & Fisher.
Case No. 7:16-cv-00084