SALAZAR v. INDEMNITY INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH AMERICA et al Complaint

8/8/2019 SALAZAR v. INDEMNITY INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH AMERICA et al Complaint

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I N T H E C O U N T Y C O U R T A t L A W N U N W E RE L P A S O C O U N T Y T E X A S

ARMAND() SALAZAR,Plaintiff.

V S.

INDEMNITY INSURANCE COMP ANY OFNORTE I AMERICA an d SANDRIDGEENERGY, INC.Defendants .

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PLAINTIFF'S ORIGINAL PETITIONTO THE HONORABLE JUDGE OF SAID COURT:

COMES NOW ARMANDO SALAZAR (hereinafter referred to as "Plaintiff')compla in ing o f INDEMNITY INSURANCE COMP ANY OF NO RTH- AMERICA (here ina f te rreferred to as "Defendant INDEMNITY") and SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC. (hereinafterreferred to as "Defenda nt SAND RIDGE") and for a cause of a ct ion would respectfully show theCourt as Follows:

I .Discovery will he conducted in L evel II.

I I . .Plaintiff i s a resident of El Pa so County, Texas. P la in t i f f ' s las t three numbers of his Texas

Driver 's l icense are 366 an d the last three numbers of his Social Security number are 321.Defend ant SANDRIDGE ENERG Y, INC. is a Delaware Corpora t ion doing business in El

Paso County, Texas and may be served with process by serving its registered agent, C TCorporation System. Ste 2900, an d/or any other authorized officer or agent there' orth StPa ul Street, Dallas. TX. 75201 and /or wherever may be found.

P A U P E R ' S

Case 3:10-cv-00370-PRM Document 1-1 Filed 10/06/10 Page 33 of 41


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Defendant INDEMNITY INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH AMERICA is' a dulylicensed insurance company authorized to do business in the State of Texas and may be servedwith process by serving its registered agent, C T Corporation System, and/or any other authorizedofficer or agent therein at, 350 North St Paul Street, Ste 2900, Dallas. TX, 75201 and/or wherevermay he found.

On January 19, 2009, Plaintiff was employed by Defendant SANDRIDGE. In the courseand scope of his employment, under the supervision of Defendant. SANDRIDGE, PlaintiffSustained an on-the-joh injury.

IV .WRONGFUL DISCHARGE

Plaintiff would show that in connection with his on the job injuries, Plaintiff in good faith:a. Filed a claim for workers' compensation;b. Hired an attorney to represent him in a claim;c. Instituted or caused to be instituted a proceeding under the Texas Worker's

Compensation Act;d ..Testified or was about to testify in a proceeding under the Texas Worker'sCompensation Act;e.Prosecuted a claim under the Texas Worker's Compensation Act.Because of Plaintiffs actions, Defendant SANDRIDGE discharged Plaintiff from hisemployment and/or discriminated against Plaintiff on or about March of 2009 in violation of Labor

('ode. Section 451. et seq. It is also alleged that Plaintiff suffered from a hostile workenvironment as a result of his job injuries.

V .

At the time of his discharge, Plaintiff was an employee of DefendaiPlaintiff was earning approximately $1000.00 per week plus employmen



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After his discharge from the employ of Defen dan t SANDRIDGE, Plain tiff used reasonabledi l igence to f in d an other comparable job an d has had di ff iculty doing so.

V I .As a resul t of P la in t i f f bein g discharged from the employ of Defend an t SANDRIDGE,

Pla in t i f f has los t the sum of approximate ly $1000.00 in wages per week. Pla in t i f f has a lso los temployment ben efi ts . P la in t i f f has suffered menta l anguish and emot iona l dis t ress in the past an dwil l cont inue to suf fer menta l a nguish and emotional d is tress in the future . Pla in t i f f has suf fereddamage to his credit reputa t ion and wi l l cont inue to suffer dam age to his credi t reputa t ion,Pla intiff is enti t led to recover these sums as damages.

V I I .INSURANCE BAD FAITH CLAIM

Pla in t i f f would show that Defendan t INDEMNITY has engaged in unfa ir pract ices in thebusiness of insurance as def in ed by Art icle 21.21 et seq. of the Texas insuran ce Code. P lain t i f fwould show tha t the Defen dan t INDEMNITY has engaged in one or more of the fol lowing ways,

Den ying a claim without a reasona ble basis for such denial .2. Delaying payment of a c la im without a reasonable basis for such delay .3. Refusing to pay a c la im without conduct ing a reasona ble invest iga t ion based uponall available information.4. Compelling beneficiaries and claimants covered by the policy of insurance toinstitute suits to recover amounts due under the policy by offering nothing orsubstan tial ly less than the a mount s ult imately recovered. (Article 21.21-2, Section2(e).

5Fai l ing to a dopt and implement reasonable s tan dards for prompt inves t igat ions ofclaims a rising und er i ts policies Articles 21.21-2 Section 2(c).6. Not attemptin g in good faith to effectuate prompt, fair an d equitable sett lemen t ofclaims submitted in which l iabil i ty has become reasona ble clear.7. kngaging in unconscionable action Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act , 17.50(a)(3).8. Termina t ing benefi ts to which Pla in t i f f i s ent i t led.9. Other violat ions.3



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The conduct complained of was a producing cause ofPla in t i f fs actual dama ges . P la in t i f fwould further show the conduct of Defenda nt INDEM NITY wa s described in this pet i t ion wa scommitted knowingly.

Plaintiff is entitled to recover from Defendant INDEMNITY within the limits of thisCourt. together with costs of Court and-reason able at torn ey's fees.

V I I I .Alternatively. and withOut waiving the foregoing, Plaintiff would further show that

Defenda nt INDEMNITY has breached i ts covenant of good fa i th and fa ir deal ing in the handl ingof Plaintiffs claim. Defendant INDEMNITY has denied payment or delayed payment of theclaim without reasonable justification. Further Defendant INDEMNITY's actions have causedPla int i f f to he depr ived of f inan cia l assets and hea l th insurance causing enhanced pa in an d menta lan guish. Pla in t i f f is en t i t led to recover f rom Defenda nt INDEM NITY his actual dama ges, cos tsof court . an d post an d pre- judgment in terest.

I X .Defendant INDEMNITY is liable for fraud and misrepresentation for Plaintiffs actual

damages.X.

Defendan t INDEMNITY is l iable to P la in t i f f for in tent iona l inf l ic t ion of emot iona l dis t ressfor his actual dam ages.

X I .Defenda nt INDEMN ITY breached i ts contract with P la in t i f f for which they are l iable for

P la in t i f f s ac tua l dam ages an d a t torney 's fees .

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/s/ Daniela LabinotiDANIELA LABINOTIState Bar No.: 2405090()

X I I .Pla in t i f f would show that Defen dants a cted with mal ice . Specif ica l ly . Defendan t

SANDR1DGE had a specific inten t to cause substantia l injury to the Plain tiff when i t termina tedPla in t i f f in vio la t ion of Texas Labor Code 451.001. Defendant 's act ions in d ischarging P la in t i f ffrom i ts employ. was in wi l l fu l disregard of the r ights of P la in t i f f for which Pla in t i f f i s en t i t led torecover puni t ive dam ages.

X I I I .Pla intiff respectfully requests tr ial by jury of the issues in this case.WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Pla int i ff prays that Defen dan ts be ci ted to

appear and a nswer, and tha t on f in a l t r ia l , P la in t i f f have judgment aga inst Defen dan ts for a l l re l iefrequested. jointly an d severally, for costs, pre-judgmen t an d post judgmen t interest . punit ivedama ges. reinstatemen t. an d for such other relief, general a nd special . a t law or in equity, to whichPla in t i f f i s ent i t led

Respectfully submitted,LAW OFFICE OF DANIEI,A LABINOTI, P . C .Attorneys for P la in t i f f5912 Silver Springs, Bldg. 2El Paso, Texas 79912(915) 581-4600 voice(915) 845-4534 facsimile

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(',bFaT IT Y4,_ \) A - " _ _ _8Plaint iff,C i aI usqNo D1.0- ' 6vs .

ILEL;,-1!1Prc.Tn-'-IN THE COUNTY COURT/RTEL PASO, TEXT? r k l i c.; 3 0PH5 5Armando SalazarrE X AS .-Acetslet.' rDefendant .

AFFIDAVIT OF INABILITY /PAUPER'S OATHBEFORE ME. the undersigned authority, on this day personally appeared Armando

Salazar , who, known up to me upon oa th depose and sta te as fol low:-I am the Petitioner in the above entitled cause. I am unable to pay court costs in saidcause. My mon thly income is $0per month. My monthly expenses are $350.00. My debtsare approximately $1,500. I have $ 0in ca sh. I own no rea l estate , stocks, bonds, or otherproperty which might be disposed of to pay court costs. I am n ot able to borrow the f unds for courtcosts. We have n o other sources of income. At this t ime my son is helping me with a ll my bills . Ia lso receive food stamps to help feed me an d my fam ily .I therefore, respectfully request that we be relieved of our obligation to pa y court costs inthis cause.

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED BEFORE ME on this theCf"day of 4 -1 0 , / - , 2010, to certify which witness my hand an d-stial of office.

Notary PMState of Tems

PV; 1.6ERTIFYDisict Clerk

D E P U T Y

P A U P E R 'S O A

J o n a t h a n L . A . B a e z aN o t a r y P u b l ic , S t a t e o f T e x a s z. M y C o m m i ss io n E x p i re s :`44.it g ?O c t o b e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 3Case 3:10-cv-00370-PRM Document 1-1 Filed 10/06/10 Page 38 of 41


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-4411 1111 1 1 1 , 1 L u i s L u j a nRul e 106 : " - the c i ta ti on s a I be se rved by the o f f ice r de l i ve ri ng to each de fendant , i n pe rson , a t rue copyda te o f de l i ve ry endorsed the reon and w i th a copy o f the pe t i t ion a t tached the re to . "DISTRICT CLERK 17

8/31/2010 10*

Attest :GILBER T SA N C H EZD i s t ri c t C l e r kI -as ounty, Te xas

T H E S T A T E O F T E X A SNOTICE TO DEFENDANT: "You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you, or yourattorney, do not f i le a wri t ten answer with the clerk who issued this ci tat ion by 10:00 a.m. on the Mondaynext fo l lowing the expirat ion of twe nty days after you we re se rve d th is c i tat ion and pe t i t ion, a defaul tjudgme nt may be taken against you."

TO: IN D E M N I T Y IN S U R A N C E C O M P A N Y O F N O R T H A M E R I C A , who m ay be served w i th process byserv ing i ts registered agent Ct Corporation System , 350 North St Paul Street, Suite 2900, Dallas, Tx75201 or wherever he/she may be found.G r e e t i n g s :

You are h ereby comm anded to appe ar by f i l ing a w r i tten answer to the P la int if fs O r ig inal Pet i t ionat or be fore ten o 'c lock A .M. of the M onday next afte r the exp i ration of twenty days af te r the date ofserv ice of th is c i tat ion before the Honorable C o u n t y C o u r t N o . 5 , El Paso County, Texas, at the CourtHouse of s aid County in El P aso, Texas.

Said P lainti f fs Pe t i t ion was f i led in said court on 08/30/2010, by A ttorney at Law LA BINO TI,DA NIELA, 5915 SILVER SP RINGS BLDG 2, EL PASO TX 79 912, in this case numb ered 2010 -3329 o nthe d ocket of said court, and styled:

S A L A Z A R , A R M A N D O v s . I N D E M N I T Y IN S U R A N C E C O M P A N Y O F N O R T H A M E R I C A , e t a tThe nature of Plaint if fs dem and is ful ly show n by a true and corre ct copy of the P laint i f fs OriginalPe t i tion and F i rs t Se t of In te r rogator ies to De fendant and P r iv i lege Log, Reques t for Product ion ofDocum ents and Things to De fendant and P r iv i lege Log, Request for D isc losure accom panying th isci tat ion and m ade a p art hereof.The of f ice r e xecut ing th i s w r i t sha ll p romp t ly serve the sam e accord ing to requirem ents of law,and the mandates thereof, and m ake due return as the law d irects.Issued and g iven under m y hand and se al of sa id Cour t at El Paso, Texas, th is 31st day ofA u g u s t , 2 0 1 0 .

CLERK O F THE COU RTGILBERT SANCHEZ, District ClerkRm. 103 COUNTY COURTHOUSE500 E. SAN A NTONIOEL PA SO, TEXAS 7 9901



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NAME DATE T I M EM O N T HD A YYEAR HourMin..M . Place, and Course and DistanceF r o m C o u r t H o u s eI.

-41C r...S: 4t.srlk( S E A L )S U B S C R I BE D A N D S W O R N T O B E F O R E M E O N T H ED A Y O F N O T A R Y P U B L I C , S T A *R E T U R NC a m e o n h a n d o nd a y o f , 2 0, a to ' c l o c kM . ,a n d e x e c u t e d in C o u n t y , T e x a s , b y d e l i v e r in g t o e a c h o f t h e w i t h in - n a m e d d e f e n d a n t s , in p e r s o n , a t ru e c o p y o f th i s C i t a ti o n , h a v i n g f ir s t e n d o r s e d t h e r e o n t h ed a t e o f d e l iv e r y , t o g e t h e r w i th t h e a c c o m p a n y i n g t ru e a n d c o r r e c t c o p y o f t h e P l a in t i f fs O r ig i n a l P e t i ti o na n d F i rs t S e t o f I n te r r o g a t o r ie s t o D e f e n d a n t a n d P r iv i le g e L o g , R e q u e s t fo r P r o d u c t io n o f D o c u m e n t s a n dT h i n g s t o D e f e n d a n t a n d P r iv i le g e L o g , R e q u e s t fo r D i s c l o s u r e , a t t h e fo l lo w in g t im e s a n d p l a c e s , t o - w i tA n d n o t e x e c u t e d a s t o t h e d e f e n d a n t , t h e d i l ig e n c e u se d i n f in d i n g sa id d -Xe 9 r i D A Na n d t h e c a u s e o f fa i lu r e t o executMpr ess IS:ca n d t h e i n fo r m a t io n r e c e i v e d a s toterfaAG rels eindant, b e i n g F E E S S E R V 1 N Gcop/ t S h e r i f f C o u n t y , T e x a sT o t a lBy , D e p u t yC E R T I F IC A T E O F D E L I R YI d o h e r e b y c e r t i fy t h a t 1 d e l iv e r e d t o o n t h eay of 20, ato ' c lo c k _ m . th i s c o p y o f t h is i n s t ru m e n t ., S h e r i f f / A g e n t C o u n t y , T e x a sBy D e p u t y / A g e n tCase 3:10-cv-00370-PRM Document 1-1 Filed 10/06/10 Page 40 of 41


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EMTY C O U R TBYE L P A S O' C A SA R M A N D O S A L A Z A RV S .Further the Affian t says not.

Lee H. RussellPP S # SCH 1081S U B S C R I BE D A N D SW O R N T O BY Lee H. Russell on this the 8th day ofSeptember 2010, to a t test wi tnesses my han d an d sea l of oA ll ce.. . A / A .1 , 0 1wrgA Ti- OPY; I CERTIFYG fii D iS tf id C le r k4 1 '1 Purr

FILED011..FS.FRT SVICIIEZ

C A U S E N O .: 24n-M913 p n3 05I N DE M N I T Y IN S U R A N C E C O .O F N O R T H A M E R I C A , E T A LC O U R T N O . 5AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICEI, Lee H. Russell , having been d uly sworn do state that the followin g is true and correct:That I am over the age of eighteen , not a party to this suit , and ha ve no in terest in theoutcome of the suit . I have met the cri teria an d I am a n a pproved P rocess Server authorized bythe Supreme Court of the State of Texas an d remain in good stan ding.That on 3 September 2010 at 1:45 p.m., I received a Citat ion a nd P eti t ion to bedelivered to Indemn ity Insurance Compa ny of North America by delivery CT CorporationSystem as registered agent at 350 N. St. Pa ul, Dallas, TX 75201 in Da llas County, Texas.

That on 8 Septem ber 2010, at 11:25 a.m., I delivered said documents to Ind emn ityInsurance C ompan y of North America by delivery to CT Corporation System as registeredagent by leaving wi th Sandy G al ic ia i t s designa ted agent a t 350 N. St . Paul Dal las, TX 75201in Dallas Coun ty, Texas.


SALAZAR v. INDEMNITY INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH AMERICA et al Complaint

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