Hendricks v. GEICO General Insurance Company

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

EASTERN DIVISION

JAMES HENDRICKS, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. ) CIVIL CASE NO. 3:24-cv-611-ECM

) [WO]

GEICO GENERAL INSURANCE )

COMPANY, )

)

Defendant. )

MEMORANDUM OPINION and ORDER

I. INTRODUCTION

Now pending before the Court is the Defendant Geico General Insurance

Company’s (“Geico”) motion to dismiss. (Doc. 3). The Plaintiff, James Hendricks

(“Hendricks”) brings two causes of action against Geico stemming from a contractual

dispute following an August 2018 motor vehicle accident: (1) breach of contract

(Count One) and (2) bad faith refusal to pay insurance claim (Count Two). (Doc. 1-1 at 2–

4, paras. 9–18).1 Geico argues that dismissal is proper on both Counts One and Two

because Hendricks “fails to comply with applicable Georgia law and seeks the recovery of

damages not permitted under Georgia law[.]” (Doc. 3 at 5). Although Hendricks fails to

substantively address Geico’s legal arguments, he nominally opposes the motion.2 (See

1 For clarity, the Court refers to the document and page numbers generated by CM/ECF.

2 Hendricks’ motion to dismiss response is deficient because he fails to adequately address Geico’s two

main contentions: (1) choice of law necessitates the application of Georgia law and (2) Hendricks’ two

claims fail as a matter of law. Hendricks’ response focuses on his motor vehicle accident and its procedural

history, rather than engaging in legal analysis. (See generally doc. 15). Despite Hendricks’ deficient

generally doc. 15).3 Geico’s motion to dismiss is fully briefed and ripe for review. For the

reasons that follow, Geico’s motion to dismiss (doc. 3) is due to be DENIED.

II. JURISDICTION AND VENUE

The Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the claims in this matter pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 1332. Personal jurisdiction and venue are uncontested, and the Court

concludes that venue properly lies in the Middle District of Alabama. See 28 U.S.C.

§ 1441(a).

III. STANDARD OF REVIEW

A Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss tests the sufficiency of the complaint against the

legal standard set forth in Rule 8: “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that

the pleader is entitled to relief.” FED. R. CIV. P. 8(a)(2). “To survive a motion to dismiss,

a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to

relief that is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting

Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)).

“Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for relief [is] . . . a

context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience

and common sense.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679 (citation omitted). The plausibility standard

briefing, “the Court will review the merits of [Geico’s] position and, if it is clearly incorrect or inadequate

to satisfy [Geico’s] initial burden, will deny the motion despite [Hendricks’] failure to respond.” Gailes v.

Marengo Cnty. Sheriff’s Dep’t, 916 F. Supp. 2d 1238, 1243–44 (S.D. Ala. 2013).

3 Geico filed its reply brief (doc. 6) before Hendricks filed his response (doc. 15). Despite Hendricks’ late

filing (see docs. 7, 8, 9, 14) Geico received Hendricks’ response via email on October 16, 2024, one week

before Geico filed its reply. (See doc. 6 at 2, para. 5 n.1). The Court understands Geico’s reply (doc. 6) to

address all the arguments raised in Hendricks’ response (doc. 15).

requires “more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Id. at 678.

Conclusory allegations that are merely “conceivable” and fail to rise “above the speculative

level” are insufficient to meet the plausibility standard. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555–56. This

pleading standard “does not require ‘detailed factual allegations,’ but it demands more than

an unadorned, the-defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678.

Indeed, “[a] pleading that offers ‘labels and conclusions’ or ‘a formulaic recitation of the

elements of a cause of action will not do.’” Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555).

IV. BACKGROUND4

On August 25, 2018, Hendricks, a Georgia citizen, was involved in a motor vehicle

accident while traveling on Interstate 85 in Chambers County, Alabama. (Doc. 1-1 at 1,

paras. 1, 4; doc. 1 at 3, para. 5). Wayne Askew, Jr. (“Askew”), while under the influence

of narcotics, crashed into Hendricks’ vehicle. (Doc. 1-1 at 1–2, para. 4). After the accident,

Hendricks filed insurance claims with Geico (Hendricks’ provider) and Askew’s insurance

company. (Id. at 2, para. 5). Hendricks’ Geico policy included “UIM” or “Uninsured

Motorist”5 coverage, with policy limits of $100,000 for “Each Person.” (Id. at 2, para. 6;

doc. 3-2 at 2). The insurance policy contains a choice-of-law provision. Under the policy,

4 At the motion-to-dismiss stage, the Court “must view the complaint in the light most favorable to the

[P]laintiff and accept all of the [P]laintiff’s well-pleaded facts as true.” Am. United Life Ins. Co. v. Martinez,

480 F.3d 1043, 1057 (11th Cir. 2007) (citation omitted).

5 Hendricks’ response refers to this coverage as both “UIM” and “UIN.” (Doc. 15 at 5). The Court uses

“Uninsured Motorist” coverage because it mirrors the language used in Hendricks’ Geico policy. (See doc.

3-2 at 2).

Georgia law governs.6 (Doc. 3-2 at 22, para. 17). Later, Hendricks filed suit against Askew

in state court. (Doc. 1-1 at 2, para. 7). Hendricks’ case against Askew proceeded to trial.

(Id. at 2, para. 8). “Geico opted out of the trial and a verdict was returned in the matter on

August 30, 2022, in the amount of $[1.5 million].” (Id.).

Two years later, on August 9, 2024, Hendricks sued Geico in the Circuit Court of

Chambers County, Alabama for breach of contract and bad faith refusal to pay insurance

claim. (Id. at 2–4, paras. 9–18). Hendricks alleges that Geico failed to “pay the $100,000”

in Uninsured Motorist coverage and “acted in bad faith in refusing to pay the full $100,000

. . . prior to trial.” (Id. at 2–3, paras. 11, 14). Geico timely removed the case to this Court

under 28 U.S.C. § 1332. (Doc. 1 at 1, para 1). Geico argues that Hendricks’ claims “must

be dismissed[] as a matter of law” for failure “to comply with applicable Georgia law and

[because he] seeks the recovery of damages not permitted under Georgia law[.]” (Doc. 3

at 5). Hendricks argues that Geico’s motion should be denied pursuant to Federal Rule of

Civil Procedure 12(d) “as it seems appropriate for [Hendricks] to present additional

information to the Court[.]” (Doc. 15 at 6).

6 The Court may consider a document attached to a motion to dismiss “without converting the motion into

one for summary judgment only if the attached document is: (1) central to the plaintiff’s claim; and

(2) undisputed.” Horsley v. Feldt, 304 F.3d 1125, 1134 (11th Cir. 2002). Here, the Court considers

Hendricks’ Geico policy because it is central to his claim and it is “[u]ndisputed[,]” meaning “the

authenticity of the document is not challenged.” Id. Additionally, Hendricks attached the insurance policy

to his complaint and referenced the Uninsured Motorist coverage provision. (See doc. 1-1 at 1, para. 3; id.

at 2, paras. 6–7).

V. DISCUSSION7

The Court considers Geico’s arguments as to Count One before turning to its

arguments as to Count Two.

A. Breach of Contract

1. Choice of Law

“A federal court sitting in a diversity action applies state law using the choice of law

rules of the forum state[.]” Travelers Prop. Cas. Co. of Am. v. Moore, 763 F.3d 1265, 1270

(11th Cir. 2014). “Alabama applies the traditional doctrine[] of lex loci contractus to

contract claims[,]” under which “a contract is governed by the laws of the state where it is

made except where the parties have legally contracted with reference to the laws of another

jurisdiction.” Colonial Life & Accident Ins. Co. v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 358 F.3d 1306,

1308 (11th Cir. 2004) (italics in original) (citing Cherry, Bekaert & Holland v. Brown, 582

So. 2d 502, 506 (Ala. 1991)). “To determine which law applies in contract disputes,

Alabama courts ‘first look to the contract to determine whether the parties have specified

a particular sovereign’s law to govern.’” Clanton v. Inter.Net Glob., L.L.C., 435 F.3d 1319,

1323 (11th Cir. 2006) (quoting Stovall v. Universal Constr. Co., Inc., 893 So. 2d 1090, 1102

(Ala. 2004)).

7 Without citation to legal authority, Hendricks attaches several new exhibits in response to Geico’s motion

to dismiss. (See, e.g., docs. 15-1, 15-3, 15-4, 15-5, 15-6, 15-7, 15-8, 15-9, 15-10). Hendricks did not attach

many of these documents to his complaint. The Court exercises its discretion and declines to consider any

exhibits (other than the insurance policy) attached to Hendricks’ response because he fails to articulate how

the documents are central to his claims. See Horsley, 304 F.3d at 1134; see also Prop. Mgmt. & Invs., Inc.

v. Lewis, 752 F.2d 599, 604 (11th Cir. 1985) (“The [C]ourt has discretion as to whether to accept material

beyond the pleading that is offered in conjunction with a 12(b)(6) motion.”).

Here, the relevant insurance policy contains a choice-of-law provision, which

selects Georgia law as governing. (Doc. 3-2 at 22, para. 17). “Contractual choice-of-law

provisions are generally enforceable under Alabama law, at least for breach-of-contract

claims.” Ala. Aircraft Indus., Inc. v. Boeing Co., 2022 WL 433457, *8 (11th Cir. 2022) (per

curiam).8 Because neither party argues that applying Georgia law to Hendricks’ breach of

contract claim “would be contrary to Alabama policy, [such that] the parties’ choice of law

will not be given effect and Alabama law will govern the agreement[,]” Georgia substantive

law governs. See Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, 582 So. 2d at 507.

2. Analysis

The elements of a breach of contract claim under Georgia law are “(1) a valid

contract; (2) material breach of its terms; and (3) damages arising therefrom.” Brooks v.

Branch Banking & Tr. Co., 107 F. Supp. 3d 1290, 1295 (N.D. Ga. 2015) (citation omitted);

see also Bates v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA, 768 F.3d 1126, 1130 (11th Cir. 2014) (citation

omitted). Additionally, “a plaintiff asserting a breach of contract claim must allege a

particular contractual provision that the defendant[] violated to survive a motion to

dismiss.” Brooks, 107 F. Supp. 3d at 1295 (citation omitted).

At the motion-to-dismiss stage, viewing the complaint in the light most favorable to

Hendricks, the Court finds that Hendricks has plausibly pleaded a claim for breach of

contract under Georgia law. First, Hendricks and Geico entered a valid automobile

insurance contract. (See doc. 3-2). Second, Geico breached the contract’s terms by failing

8 The Court here, and elsewhere in the Opinion, cites to nonbinding authority. While the Court recognizes

that these cases are not precedential, the Court finds them persuasive.

to pay him—the Uninsured Motorist coverage policy limit. (Doc. 1-1 at 2, para. 11). Third

and related, Geico’s failure to pay resulted in damages. (Id. at 2–3, paras. 11–12).

Geico contends Hendricks’ breach of contract claim must be dismissed as a matter

of law for two reasons: (1) Hendricks fails to identify a particular provision of the contract

that was breached and (2) he failed to plead “the fulfillment [of] any conditions precedent

imposed by the insurance contract of Georgia law[.]” (Doc. 3 at 10–11). At this stage, the

Court is not persuaded.

Hendricks states that Geico breached the contract’s “UIM insurance coverage”

clause. (Doc. 1-1 at 2, para. 10). Although Hendricks does not specifically cite that

provision by line and number, the parties’ agreement provides that:

Under the Uninsured Motorists Coverage [Geico] will pay

compensatory damages for bodily injury and property damage

caused by accident which the insured is legally entitled to

recover from the owner or operator of an uninsured motor

vehicle or hit-and-run auto arising out of the ownership,

maintenance or use of that motor vehicle as a motor vehicle.

(Doc. 3-2 at 18) (emphases omitted). Hendricks alleges he was legally entitled to recover

from Geico by pleading that he received a $1.5 million jury verdict in state court. (Doc. 1-

1 at 8). The Court finds Hendricks identified the relevant provision with enough specificity

to survive Geico’s motion to dismiss.

Geico’s second ground for dismissal relates to Hendricks’ purported failure to plead

conditions precedent imposed by the contract or Georgia law. Geico does not identify

which requirements of “Georgia’s Uninsured Motorist Act” Hendricks failed to “allege

compliance and conformance with[.]” (Doc. 3 at 10). The Court therefore cannot determine

that Hendricks failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Accordingly, the

Court denies Geico’s motion as to Count One.

B. Bad Faith Refusal to Pay Insurance Claim

1. Choice of Law

To determine which law governs Hendricks’ bad faith refusal to pay insurance

claim, “the [C]ourt must characterize the legal issue and determine whether it sounds in

torts, contracts, property law, etc.” Grupo Televisa, S.A. v. Telemundo Commc’ns Grp., Inc.,

485 F.3d 1233, 1240 (11th Cir. 2007). Under the law of the forum state—Alabama—a bad

faith refusal to pay insurance claim sounds in tort. See, e.g., Bowers v. State Farm Mut.

Auto. Ins. Co., 460 So. 2d 1288, 1290 (Ala. 1984) (characterizing the “bad faith refusal to

pay a contractual claim” as a “tort action”); see also State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v.

Brechbill, 144 So. 3d 248, 258 (Ala. 2013) (referring to a “bad-faith refusal to pay” claim

as a “tort”). Alabama applies the traditional doctrine of lex loci delicti to tort claims, which

requires the Court to “determine the substantive rights of an injured party according to the

law of the state where the injury occurred.” Colonial Life & Accident Ins. Co., 358 F.3d at

1308 (quoting Fitts v. Minn. Mining & Mfg. Co., 581 So. 2d 819, 820 (Ala. 1991)).

Hendricks argues that any injuries related to his bad faith refusal to pay insurance

claim occurred in Alabama because “efforts to resolve conflict between the parties over

bad faith issues . . . were with Alabama representative[s] of Geico within the State of

Alabama.” (Doc. 15 at 5). Geico disagrees, arguing that Hendricks’ complaint and

insurance policy confirm that he “was a Georgia resident at the time of the alleged accident

and continues to be a Georgia resident now.” (Doc. 3 at 9).

2. Analysis

Because the parties do not argue that the policy’s choice-of-law provision extends

to a bad faith refusal to pay insurance claim—the Court lacks a developed factual record

sufficient to determine where Hendricks’ bad faith injury occurred.9 “[N]umerous district

courts have refused to address a choice-of-law dispute at the motion to dismiss stage when

lacking a developed factual record.” Avago Techs. Ltd. v. Aigner, 2011 WL 13141507, at

*2 (M.D. Fla. Aug. 10, 2011). The Court declines to make an educated guess regarding

where Hendricks’ bad faith injury occurred.10 Geico cites Morse v. Life Insurance

Company of North America to support its argument that Georgia law governs Hendricks’

bad faith claim. 399 F. Supp. 3d 1236 (N.D. Ala. 2019). Morse is distinguishable because

there the plaintiff “d[id] not dispute” that his bad faith injury occurred in Michigan. See id.

at 1245. Here, Hendricks appears to contest that Georgia law applies to his bad faith claim.

(Doc. 15 at 5). Because the Courts finds that a developed factual record would assist in its

choice-of-law determination, the Court denies Geico’s motion to dismiss as to Count Two.

9 This conclusion is not inconsistent with the Court’s finding that Hendricks’ breach of contract claim is

governed by Georgia law. The policy’s choice-of-law provision reads: “The policy and any amendment(s)

and endorsement(s) are to be interpreted pursuant to the laws of Georgia.” (Doc. 3-2 at 22, para. 17).

Because “[a] choice of law provision that relates only to [an] agreement will not encompass related tort

claims” the policy’s provision is not dispositive, and the Court cannot on this basis determine whether

Georgia or Alabama law applies. Cooper v. Meridian Yachts, Ltd., 575 F.3d 1151, 1162 (11th Cir. 2009).

10 The Court acknowledges Hendricks’ request to deny Geico’s motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of

Civil Procedure 12(d) “as it seems appropriate for [Hendricks] to present additional information to the

Court[.]” (Doc. 15 at 6). Because the Court denies Geico’s motion to dismiss on other grounds, the Court

pretermits discussion regarding Hendricks’ Rule 12(d) argument.

VI. CONCLUSION

For the reasons discussed above, it is

ORDERED that Geico’s motion to dismiss (doc. 3) is DENIED without prejudice.

DONE this 15th day of September, 2025.

/s/ Emily C. Marks

EMILY C. MARKS

CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE