American Reliable Insurance v. Navratil

WIENER, Circuit Judge:

Plaintiff-Appellant American Reliable Insurance Company (“ARIC”) appeals the district court’s summary judgment dismissing ARIC’s malpractice claim against Defendant-Appellee, Boris Navratil, a lawyer whom ARIC had retained to defend it and its insured against a third-party’s lawsuit in state court. As the state law question on which the instant case turns is neither covered by statute nor yet addressed by the highest court of Louisiana, the district court had to make an “Erie guess,” 1 as must we, de novo, on appeal. 2 We disagree with the district court’s determination…