BEPCOLP v. SANTA FE MINERALS INC et al Complaint
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Transcript of BEPCOLP v. SANTA FE MINERALS INC et al Complaint
8/7/2019 BEPCOLP v. SANTA FE MINERALS INC et al Complaint
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Case 1:11-cv-00132-DDD-JDK Document 1 Filed 01/27/11 Page 1 of 12 PageID #: 1
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
ALEXANDRIA DIVISION
BEPCO, L.P.,
Plaintiff
VERSUS
SANTA FE MINERALS, INC.,
15375 MEMORIAL CORPORATION,
ENTITIES HOLDINGS, INC., GLOBAL
SANTA FE CORPORATION AND
TRANSOCEAN WORLDWIDE, INC.,
Defendants/Third-Party Plaintiffs
VERSUS
GE PROPERTY & CASUALTY
INSURANCE COMPANY;
AID INSURANCE COMPANY;
CENTRAL NATIONAL INSURANCE
COMPANY OF OMAHA;CONTINENTAL INSURANCE
COMPANY; EMPLOYERS MUTUAL
CASUAL TY COMPANY; FEDERAL
INSURANCE COMPANY; INSURANCE
CORPORATION OF NEW YORK;
INSURANCE COMPANY OF
NORTH AMERICA; INSURANCE
COMPANY OF THE STATE OF
PD.46873!2.!
CIVIL ACTION NO.
SECTION
JUDGE
MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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Case 1:11-cv-00132-DDD-JDK Document 1 Filed 01/27/11 Page 2 of 12 PageID #: 2
PENNSYLVANIA; INTERNATIONAL
INSURANCE COMPANY; NATIONAL
UNION FIRE INS. COMPANY OF
PITTSBURGH, PA; OLD REPUBLIC
INSURANCE COMPANY;PENNSYL VANIA LUMBERMANS
MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY;
PROGRESSIVE CASUALTY
INSURANCE COMPANY; RANGER
INSURANCE COMPANY; STAR
INDEMNITY & LIABILITY CO.;
SAINT PAUL SURPLUS LINES
INSURANCE COMPANY;
STONEWALL INSURANCE
COMPANY; TWIN CITY FIREINSURANCE COMPANY;
UNITED STATES FIRE INSURANCE
COMPANY; CERTAIN
UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYD'S
LONDON AND THE LONDON
MARKET INSURERS,
Third-Party Defendants
NOTICE OF REMOVAL OF ICAROM, PLC, FORMERLY KNOWN AS INSURANCE
CORPORATION OF IRELAND, PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.c. §§1441(d) AND 1446
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that third-party defendant, !carom pIc, formerly Imown as The
Insurance Corporation of Ireland ("!carom"), by and through its attorneys, hereby submits this
notice of removal of the state court action described below to the United States District Court for
the Western District of Louisiana, Alexandria Division, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§1441(d)
and 1446. In support of its notice of removal, Icarom states as follows:
PD.4687312.1 2
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Case 1:11-cv-00132-DDD-JDK Document 1 Filed 01/27/11 Page 3 of 12 PageID #: 3
1.
an or about April 29, 2008, BEPCa, L.P. ("BEPCa") filed a Petition in the 12th Judicial
District Court for the Parish of Avoyelles, State of Louisiana, bearing Docket No. 2008-2006
entitled "BEPCO, L.P. v. Santa Fe Minerals, Inc., et al. ("the state court action"), against
Santa Fe Minerals, Inc. and "Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London and London Market
Companies." A First Supplemental and Amending Petition was filed by BEPCa in the state
court action on or about March 11, 2010 adding as defendants 15375 Memorial Corporation,
Entities Holdings, Inc., Global Santa Fe Corporation, Transocean Worldwide, Inc. (collectively
referred to hereinafter as "upstream parent companies") and several insurers. I A Second
Supplemental and Amending Petition was filed by BEPCa in the state court action on or about
December 15, 2010 adding only Argonaut Insurance Company as a defendant.
2.
In the state court action, plaintiff, BEPCa, alleges that defendants, Santa Fe
Minerals, Inc.; 15375 Memorial Corporation; Entities Holdings, Inc.; Global Santa Fe
Corporation; and Transocean Worldwide, Inc., and the defendant insurers, are responsible for
alleged impacts to property in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana as a result of oil and gas activities on
that property.
Mentor Insurance Limited; Skandia Insurance Company Limited; Phoenix Assurance Company, Ltd.;
Polaris Assurance A/S; Hansa Marine (U.K.); Hansa Marine Ins. Co.(U.K.) Ltd. "T" Alc; Vesta (U.K.);
Vesta (U.K.) Ins. Co. Ltd. "T" A/c; Minster No.2 alc; Minster No.3 alc; Minster Insurance Company Ltd.
No.3 a/c; Minster Insurance Company Ltd.; Vesta, Bergen; Vesta Insurance Company Ltd.; Vesta Insurance
Company, Bergen; ContinentallMOAC U.K.; Northbrook Insurance Company; Insurance Company of
North America; Northern Maritime Insurance Company, Ltd.; United States Fire Insurance Company; Fireman's
Insurance Company of Newark, New Jersey, U.K. Branch; and First State Insurance Company.
PD.4687312.1 3
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3.
On or about December 15, 2010, defendants in the state court action, Santa Fe Minerals,
Inc.; 15375 Memorial Corporation; Entities Holding, Inc.; Global Santa Fe Corporation; and
Transocean Worldwide, Inc., filed Cross-Claims against the defendant insurers, as well as
Third-Party Demands against a number of additional insurers, including Insurance Corporation
ofIreland.
4.
In the state court action, cross-plaintiffs, Santa Fe Minerals, Inc.; 15375 Memorial
Corporation; Global Santa Fe Corporation; and Transocean Worldwide, Inc., allege that the
defendant insurers, and the third-party defendant insurers including Insurance Corporation of
Ireland, should be held responsible to pay the cross-plaintiffs' defense costs in the state court
action and any damages which plaintiff BEPCO proves an entitlement to recover from Santa Fe
Minerals, Inc. and its upstream parent companies.
5.
Removal of this action, and this Court's jurisdiction, are expressly authorized and
conferred, respectively, by 28 U.S.C. §1441(d), which provides, in pertinent part: "[a]ny civil
action brought in a State against aforeign state as defined in section J603(a) of this title may be
removed by the foreign state to the district court of the United States for the district and division
embracing the place where such action is pending" (emphasis added).
6.
28 U.S.C. §1603(a) defines a "foreign state as, inter alia, "an agency or instrumentality
of a foreign state as defined in sub-section (b)." Subsection (b) of §1603, in turn, defines "an
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Case 1:11-cv-00132-DDD-JDK Document 1 Filed 01/27/11 Page 5 of 12 PageID #: 5
agency or instrumentality of a foreign state" as "an entity" that (l ) "is a separate legal person,
corporate or otherwise"; (2) "is an organ of a foreign state or political subdivision thereof, or a
majority of whose shares or other ownership interest is owned by a foreign state or political
subdivision thereof'; and (3) "is neither a citizen of a State of the United States ... nor created
under the laws of any third country." ld. §1603(b).
7.
On March 15, 1985, Icarom was acquired by the Republic of Ireland. Ownership of all
shares was transferred from Allied Irish Banks ("Allied")to
Sealuchais Arachais Teoranta
("SAT"), a new holding company formed by the Republic of Ireland to hold the shares of Icarom
in trust for the Irish Minister for Finance by high-ranking civil servants in the Irish Government.
In April 2008, SAT transferred all shares of Icarom directly to the Irish Minister for Finance.
8.
Icarom meets all of the criteria for a "foreign state" within the meanlllg of
28 U.S.C. § 1603(a). First, it is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the
Republic of Ireland. Second, as discussed above, it is an agency or instrumentality of the
Republic of Ireland, an organ of the Republic of Ireland, and/or an entity whose majority shares
are owned by the Republic of Ireland. Third, Icarom is neither a citizen of the United States nor
created under the laws of any third country. Icarom is therefore a "foreign state" within the
meaning of28 U.S.C. §1603(a) and (b).
9.
As a "foreign state" against which a civil action has been brought, !carom may remove
the entire state court action to the United States District Court for the Western District of
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Case 1:11-cv-00132-DDD-JDK Document 1 Filed 01/27/11 Page 6 of 12 PageID #: 6
Louisiana, Alexandria Division, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1441(d), without regard to the
citizenship of any other party, without regard to the amount in controversy, and without the
consentof
any other party,as
noneof
these thingsis
required for removal under
28 U.S.C. §1441(d).
10.
Icarom does not claim immunity from suit under 28 U.S.C. §§1605-07 or any
international agreement in connection with the matters giving rise to the state court action. This
Court, therefore, also has original jurisdiction of this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1330(a).
11.Removal to the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana,
Alexandria Division, is proper under 28 U.S.C. §1441(d) because that district (and division)
includes Avoyelles Parish where the state court action is now pending.
12.This Notice of Removal is filed within thirty (30) days after !carom received a copy of
the Cross-Claims and Third-Party Demands that brought Icarom into the state court action as a
third-party defendant.
13.
Filed herewith as Exhibit "A" are copies of all processes, pleadings, and orders served on
third-party defendant, !carom, in this matter.
14.
Promptly after filing this Notice of Removal, written notice thereof will be given to all
parties, a copy of this Notice of Removal will be filed with the Clerk of the aforesaid state court
to effect removal of the state court action to this Honorable Court, as provided by law, and a
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Case 1:11-cv-00132-DDD-JDK Document 1 Filed 01/27/11 Page 7 of 12 PageID #: 7
copy of this Notice of Removal will also be sent to the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal
before which several writ applications emanating from the state court action are pending.
15.
Any further process, pleadings and orders will be provided pursuant to
28 U.S.C. §1446(a) and/or §1447(b) as this Honorable Court advises and directs.
16.
In accordance with Local Rule 3.1, attached hereto as Exhibit "Boo is a listing and brief
discussion of another action that includes a portion of the subject matter of the state court action.
17.
Icarom reserves the right to amend and/or supplement this Notice of Removal, as
necessary.
WHEREFORE, third-party defendant, Icarom, pIc, formerly known as Insurance
Corporation ofIreland, prays that this Notice of Removal be accepted as good and sufficient, and
that the aforesaid state court action be removed from state court into this Court for trial and
determination as provided by law, and that this Court enter such orders and issue such process as
may be proper to bring before it copies of all records and proceedings in said state court action
from said state court, and thereupon proceed with this civil action as if it had been commenced
originally in this Court.
PD.4687312.1 7
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Case 1:11-cv-00132-DDD-JDK Document 1 Filed 01/27/11 Page 8 of 12 PageID #: 8
Respectfully submitted,
PHELPS DUNBAR LLP
BY: /s / Stephen P. Hall
Stephen P. Hall (Bar #1934)
Canal Place I365 Canal Street
Suite 2000
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130-6534
Telephone: 504-566-1311
Telecopier: 504-568-9130
Email: [email protected]
ATTORNEYS FOR THIRD-PARTY
DEFENDANT, ICAROM PLC, FORMERLY
KNOWN AS INSURANCE CORPORATION
OF IRELAND
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I do hereby certify that I have on this 27th day of January, 2011, served a copy of the
foregoing Notice of Removal on cOlmse1 for all known parties to this proceeding bye-mail and
pre-paid first class U.S. mail, as follows:
PD,46873!2.!
Phillip A. Wittman, Esq.
William D. Treeby, Esq.
Daria Burgess Diaz, Esq.
Mary L. Dumestre, Esq.
Jackie M. McCreaTY, Esq.
Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann LLC
546 Carondelet Street
New Orleans, LA 70130-3588(counsel for Plaintiff, BEPCO, L.P.)
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PDA687312.1
Richard S. Pabst, Esq.
Julie P. Silbert, Esq.
Kean, Miller, Hawthorne, D'Armond,
McCowan, & Jarmon, LLP
First Bank andTmst
Tower909 Poydras Street, Suite 1450
New Orleans, LA 70112
and
James P. Dare, Esq.
R. Benn Vincent, Esq.
Kean, Miller, Hawthorne, D'Armond,
McCowan, & Jarmon, LLP
P.O. Box 3513
18th Floor, One American Place
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
and
Rodney M. Rabalais, Esq.
Law Offices of Rodney M. Rabalais
122 East Market Street
P.O. Box 447
Marksville , LA 71351
(counsel for defendant, Santa Fe Minerals, Inc.)
J. Michael Parker, Esq.
Michael A. Crawford, Esq.
Edward D. Hughes, Esq.
Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips LLP
8th Floor, Chase Tower South
451 Florida Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
(counsel for defendant, 15375 Memorial Corporation)
9
C
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PD.4687312.1
Philip G. Eisenberg, Esq.
Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, LLP
3400 JP Morgan Chase Tower
600 Travis Street
Houston, TX 77002
and
Orner F. Kuebel, III, Esq.
Jason M. Cerise, Esq.
Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, LLP
60 I Poydras Street, Suite 2600
New Orleans, LA 70130
(counsel for defendants, Entities Holding, Inc., Global Santa Fe Corporation and
Transocean Worldwide, Inc.)
Stephen P. Hall, Esq.
Phelps Dunbar LLP
365 Canal Street
Suite 2000
New Orleans, LA 70130-6534
(counsel for defendants and cross-defendants "Certain Unidentified Underwriters
at Lloyd's, London" and "Certain London Market Insurance Companies")
Jay R. Sever, Esq.
Jonathan B. Womack, Esq.
Phelps Dunbar LLP
365 Canal Street
Suite 2000
New Orleans, LA 70130-6534
(counsel for defendant and cross-defendant United States Fire Insurance
Company)
Ethan N. Penn, Esq.
Musgrave, McLachlan, & Penn, LLC
1515 Poydras Street, Suite 2380
New Orleans, LA 70112
(counsel for defendant and cross-defendant Northbrook Insurance Company)
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PD.4687312.1
Gary M. Zwain, Esq.
Nicole M. Boyer, Esq.
Duplass, Zwain, Bourgeois, Pfister & Weinstein
Three Lakeway Center, Suite 2900
3838 North Causeway BoulevardMetairie, LA 70002
(counsel for defendant and cross-defendant First State Insurance Company and
third-party defendant Twin City Fire Insurance Company)
Winnstol D. Carter, Jr., Esq.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP1000 Louisiana Street, Suite 4000
Houston, TX 77002
and
Dawn S. Pittman, Esq.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLPOne Market, Spear Street Tower
San Francisco, CA 94105
(counsel for cross-plaintiffs, Santa Fe Minerals, Inc., 15375 Memorial
Corporation, Entities Holdings, Inc., Global Santa Fe Corporation and
Transocean Worldwide, Inc.)
Elton F. Duncan, III, Esq.
Kelley A. Sevin, Esq.
Duncan, Courington & Rydberg
400 Poydras Street, Suite 1200
New Orleans, LA 70130
(counsel for third-party defendant Navigators Insurance Company)
Celeste D. Elliott, Esq.
Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard
601 Poydras Street, Suite 2775
New Or/eans, LA 70130
(counsel for third-party defendant St. Paul Surplus Lines Insurance Company)
William T. McCall, Esq.
Guillory & McCall L.L.C.
P.O. Drawer 1607 (70602)
901 Lakeshore Drive, Suite 1030
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(counsel for third-party defendant Insurance Company of North America)
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PD.4687312.1
John P. Wolf f III, Esq.
Keogh, Cox & Wilson, Ltd.
P.O. Box 1151 (70821)
701 Main Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
(counsel for third-party defendant Federal Insurance Company)
Erin F. Parkinson, Esq.
McGlinchey Stafford, PLLC
12th Floor, 601 Poydras Street (70130)
P.O. Box 60643
New Orleans, LA, 70160-0643
(counsel for third-party defendant Employers Mutual Casualty Company
Glenn G. Goodier, Esq.
Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre L.L.P.
201 st. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70170-5100
(counsel for third-party defendants Continental Insurance Company and Harbor
Insurance Company)
Richard W. Bryan, Esq.
Jackson & Campbell, P.e.
One Lafayette Centre, 300 South Tower
1120 20th
Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036-3437
(counsel for third-party defendants AIU Insurance Company, Insurance
Company ofthe State of Pennsylvania, National Union Fire Ins. Company of
Pittsburgh, PA and New Hampshire Insurance Company)
Salvatore A. Pellegrino, Esq.
Clausen Miller PC
10 South LaSalle Street
Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60603-1002
(counsel for third-party defendant Old Republic Insurance Company)
Richard A. Cozad, Esq.
McAlpine & Cozad
365 Canal Street, Suite 3180
New Orleans, LA 70130-1112
(counsel for third-party defendant Houston Casualty Company)
/s /Stephen
P.Hall
Stephen P. Hall
12