{"attribution":{"source":"legal.exploreworldai.com","canonical":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:ca5-24-30646-2025-10-03","cite_as":"NovaCopilot, legal.exploreworldai.com (https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:ca5-24-30646-2025-10-03)","license":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/revision","version":"legal-2026-10-23","fingerprint":"ewai:us:a8382b","proof":"sha256:60b4bf441b367cd942d9f9f8529e6ea0476ea1ad3e1a6497a944df3ee0015588","jurisdiction":"us","lang":"en","publisher":"NovaCopilot by ExploreWorld Legal","terms":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/om"},"brand_source":"Source: NovaCopilot","item":{"schema_version":"1.0.0","id":"us:ca5-24-30646-2025-10-03","jurisdiction":"us","lang":"en","brand_source":"Source: NovaCopilot","brand":{"product":"NovaCopilot","platform":"ExploreWorldAI","infrastructure":"ExploreWorld Legal","infrastructure_url":"legal.exploreworldai.com","legal_entity":"Valkiv Ventures AB","permanent_url":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/novacopilot","source":"Source: NovaCopilot","powered_by":"Powered by NovaCopilot","license":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/licensvillkor"},"sections":[{"title":"Front matter","paragraphs":["para_1","para_2","para_3","para_4","para_5","para_6","para_7","para_8","para_9","para_10","para_11","para_12","para_13","para_14","para_15","para_16","para_17","para_18","para_19","para_20","para_21","para_22","para_23","para_24","para_25","para_26","para_27","para_28","para_29","para_30","para_31","para_32","para_33","para_34","para_35","para_36","para_37","para_38","para_39","para_40","para_41","para_42","para_43","para_44","para_45","para_46","para_47","para_48","para_49","para_50","para_51","para_52","para_53","para_54","para_55","para_56","para_57","para_58","para_59","para_60","para_61","para_62","para_63","para_64","para_65","para_66","para_67","para_68","para_69","para_70","para_71","para_72","para_73","para_74","para_75","para_76","para_77","para_78","para_79","para_80","para_81","para_82","para_83","para_84","para_85","para_86","para_87","para_88","para_89","para_90","para_91","para_92","para_93","para_94","para_95","para_96","para_97","para_98","para_99","para_100","para_101","para_102","para_103","para_104","para_105","para_106","para_107","para_108","para_109","para_110","para_111","para_112","para_113","para_114","para_115","para_116","para_117","para_118","para_119","para_120","para_121","para_122","para_123","para_124","para_125","para_126","para_127","para_128","para_129","para_130","para_131","para_132","para_133","para_134","para_135","para_136","para_137","para_138","para_139","para_140","para_141","para_142","para_143","para_144","para_145","para_146","para_147","para_148","para_149","para_150","para_151","para_152","para_153","para_154","para_155","para_156","para_157","para_158","para_159","para_160","para_161","para_162","para_163","para_164","para_165","para_166","para_167","para_168","para_169","para_170","para_171","para_172","para_173","para_174","para_175","para_176","para_177","para_178","para_179","para_180","para_181","para_182","para_183","para_184","para_185","para_186","para_187","para_188","para_189","para_190","para_191","para_192","para_193","para_194","para_195","para_196","para_197","para_198","para_199","para_200","para_201","para_202","para_203","para_204","para_205","para_206","para_207","para_208","para_209","para_210","para_211","para_212","para_213","para_214","para_215","para_216","para_217","para_218","para_219","para_220","para_221","para_222","para_223","para_224","para_225","para_226","para_227","para_228","para_229","para_230","para_231","para_232","para_233","para_234","para_235","para_236","para_237","para_238","para_239","para_240","para_241","para_242","para_243","para_244","para_245","para_246","para_247","para_248","para_249","para_250","para_251","para_252","para_253","para_254","para_255","para_256","para_257","para_258","para_259","para_260"],"kind":"front_matter"}],"paragraphs":[{"text":"United States Court of Appeals","paragraph_id":"para_1"},{"text":"for the Fifth Circuit","paragraph_id":"para_2"},{"text":"____________","paragraph_id":"para_3"},{"text":"No. 24-30646","paragraph_id":"para_4"},{"text":"____________","paragraph_id":"para_5"},{"text":"Kimberly Williams, Individually and on behalf of all others similarly","paragraph_id":"para_6"},{"text":"situated; Nicholas Jenkins, Individually and on behalf of all others","paragraph_id":"para_7"},{"text":"similarly situated; Felita Wright,","paragraph_id":"para_8"},{"text":"Plaintiffs—Appellants,","paragraph_id":"para_9"},{"text":"versus","paragraph_id":"para_10"},{"text":"GoAuto Insurance Company; GoAuto Management","paragraph_id":"para_11"},{"text":"Services, LLC; GoAuto, LLC; Auto Premium Assistance","paragraph_id":"para_12"},{"text":"Company, LLC; Go Card, LLC; Health Reform Insurance,","paragraph_id":"para_13"},{"text":"LLC,","paragraph_id":"para_14"},{"text":"Defendants—Appellees.","paragraph_id":"para_15"},{"text":"______________________________","paragraph_id":"para_16"},{"text":"Appeal from the United States District Court","paragraph_id":"para_17"},{"text":"for the Middle District of Louisiana","paragraph_id":"para_18"},{"text":"USDC No. 3:21-CV-92","paragraph_id":"para_19"},{"text":"______________________________","paragraph_id":"para_20"},{"text":"Before Higginbotham, Jones, and Southwick, Circuit Judges.","paragraph_id":"para_21"},{"text":"Leslie H. Southwick, Circuit Judge:","paragraph_id":"para_22"},{"text":"This appeal requires us to analyze a Louisiana statute governing the","paragraph_id":"para_23"},{"text":"cancellation of insurance policies because of nonpayment to the company","paragraph_id":"para_24"},{"text":"that financed the premiums. Former insureds claim that the insurance","paragraph_id":"para_25"},{"text":"company’s cancellation procedures did not comply with the statute, resulting","paragraph_id":"para_26"},{"text":"in misrepresentations and breach of good faith and fair dealing. The district","paragraph_id":"para_27"},{"text":"United States Court of Appeals","paragraph_id":"para_28"},{"text":"Fifth Circuit","paragraph_id":"para_29"},{"text":"FILED","paragraph_id":"para_30"},{"text":"October 3, 2025","paragraph_id":"para_31"},{"text":"Lyle W. Cayce","paragraph_id":"para_32"},{"text":"Clerk","paragraph_id":"para_33"},{"text":"Case: 24-30646 Document: 55-1 Page: 1 Date Filed: 10/03/2025","paragraph_id":"para_34"},{"text":"No. 24-30646","paragraph_id":"para_35"},{"text":"2","paragraph_id":"para_36"},{"text":"court held there was no statutory violation and dismissed all claims with","paragraph_id":"para_37","court_paragraph":2},{"text":"prejudice. We AFFIRM.","paragraph_id":"para_38"},{"text":"FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND","paragraph_id":"para_39"},{"text":"Plaintiffs Kimberly Williams and Felita Wright are former insureds of","paragraph_id":"para_40"},{"text":"GoAuto Insurance Company. A third GoAuto insured, not a party here, was","paragraph_id":"para_41"},{"text":"involved in an accident with Plaintiff Nicholas Jenkins. Williams, Wright,","paragraph_id":"para_42"},{"text":"and the driver involved in Jenkins’s accident each financed their GoAuto","paragraph_id":"para_43"},{"text":"insurance policy through an agreement with American Premium Assistance","paragraph_id":"para_44"},{"text":"Company, LLC (“APAC”). APAC would pay GoAuto the entire premium","paragraph_id":"para_45"},{"text":"in return for monthly installment payments from the insureds.","paragraph_id":"para_46"},{"text":"Each financing agreement granted APAC a power of attorney","paragraph_id":"para_47"},{"text":"authorizing it to cancel the insurance policies upon a failure to pay the","paragraph_id":"para_48"},{"text":"premiums. Each policy was cancelled as a result of nonpayment.","paragraph_id":"para_49"},{"text":"Williams and Jenkins filed a class action lawsuit against GoAuto and","paragraph_id":"para_50"},{"text":"APAC in a Louisiana state court, alleging GoAuto had not effectively","paragraph_id":"para_51"},{"text":"cancelled their policies and had failed to act in good faith. Wright became an","paragraph_id":"para_52"},{"text":"additional plaintiff when an amended complaint was filed. GoAuto removed","paragraph_id":"para_53"},{"text":"the case to the United States District Court for the Middle District of","paragraph_id":"para_54"},{"text":"Louisiana. The parties filed motions for summary judgment related solely to","paragraph_id":"para_55"},{"text":"whether GoAuto’s procedure for cancelling the financed insurance policies","paragraph_id":"para_56"},{"text":"satisfied Louisiana law. The district court granted GoAuto’s motion for","paragraph_id":"para_57"},{"text":"summary judgment, holding that GoAuto’s procedures complied with state","paragraph_id":"para_58"},{"text":"law. As a result, the district court dismissed all claims against GoAuto with","paragraph_id":"para_59"},{"text":"prejudice.","paragraph_id":"para_60"},{"text":"Williams, Jenkins, and Wright appealed.","paragraph_id":"para_61"},{"text":"Case: 24-30646 Document: 55-1 Page: 2 Date Filed: 10/03/2025","paragraph_id":"para_62"},{"text":"No. 24-30646","paragraph_id":"para_63"},{"text":"3","paragraph_id":"para_64"},{"text":"DISCUSSION","paragraph_id":"para_65","court_paragraph":3},{"text":"The Plaintiffs contend the district court erred by (1) finding that the","paragraph_id":"para_66"},{"text":"statutory procedures for delivery of the notice of cancellation were followed,","paragraph_id":"para_67"},{"text":"(2) finding GoAuto properly received the cancellation requests, and (3)","paragraph_id":"para_68"},{"text":"denying their motion for partial summary judgment. To address these","paragraph_id":"para_69"},{"text":"arguments, we begin by setting out Louisiana law for the cancellation of","paragraph_id":"para_70"},{"text":"financed insurance policies, then examine GoAuto’s procedures for","paragraph_id":"para_71"},{"text":"complying with that law.","paragraph_id":"para_72"},{"text":"Under Louisiana law, an insurance-premium finance company may","paragraph_id":"para_73"},{"text":"request cancellation of an insurance policy upon an uncured default “by","paragraph_id":"para_74"},{"text":"sending to the insurer, by depositing in the mail or with a private carrier, or","paragraph_id":"para_75"},{"text":"via electronic mail . . . a copy of the notice of cancellation together with a","paragraph_id":"para_76"},{"text":"statement certifying” the following:","paragraph_id":"para_77"},{"text":"(i) The premium finance agreement contains a valid power","paragraph_id":"para_78"},{"text":"of attorney as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.","paragraph_id":"para_79"},{"text":"(ii) The premium finance agreement is in default and the","paragraph_id":"para_80"},{"text":"default has not been timely cured.","paragraph_id":"para_81"},{"text":"(iii) Upon default, a notice of cancellation was sent to the","paragraph_id":"para_82"},{"text":"insured as provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection,","paragraph_id":"para_83"},{"text":"specifying the date of sending by the premium finance","paragraph_id":"para_84"},{"text":"company to the insured.","paragraph_id":"para_85"},{"text":"(iv) Copies of the notice of cancellation were sent to all","paragraph_id":"para_86"},{"text":"persons shown by the premium finance agreement to have an","paragraph_id":"para_87"},{"text":"interest in any loss which may occur thereunder, specifying the","paragraph_id":"para_88"},{"text":"names and addresses of any governmental agencies, holders of","paragraph_id":"para_89"},{"text":"a security interest in the insured property, or third parties to","paragraph_id":"para_90"},{"text":"whom the insurance premium finance company has sent notice","paragraph_id":"para_91"},{"text":"of cancellation.","paragraph_id":"para_92"},{"text":"La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3550(G)(3)(a)(i)–(iv).","paragraph_id":"para_93"},{"text":"Case: 24-30646 Document: 55-1 Page: 3 Date Filed: 10/03/2025","paragraph_id":"para_94"},{"text":"No. 24-30646","paragraph_id":"para_95"},{"text":"4","paragraph_id":"para_96"},{"text":"“Louisiana courts require strict adherence to these statutory","paragraph_id":"para_97","court_paragraph":4},{"text":"requirements when a finance company exercises its power of attorney to","paragraph_id":"para_98"},{"text":"cancel an insurance policy.” Delatte v. Lemotte, 633 So. 2d 686, 689 (La. App.","paragraph_id":"para_99"},{"text":"1 Cir. 1993). “[A]ny defect in this process results in an ineffective","paragraph_id":"para_100"},{"text":"cancellation of the policy.” Eaglin v. Champion Ins. Co., 558 So. 2d 284, 287","paragraph_id":"para_101"},{"text":"(La. App. 3 Cir. 1990). Strict adherence to the statute “serves two functions:","paragraph_id":"para_102"},{"text":"(1) it provides a clear method of fixing the exact time and date of cancellation,","paragraph_id":"para_103"},{"text":"and (2) it grants a minimum time during which the default may be cured.”","paragraph_id":"para_104"},{"text":"Britten v. Reavis, 503 So. 2d 1149, 1154 (La. App. 3 Cir. 1987).","paragraph_id":"para_105"},{"text":"GoAuto follows the following procedures in order to cancel a policy.","paragraph_id":"para_106"},{"text":"When an insured fails to make timely payment, APAC sends notice to the","paragraph_id":"para_107"},{"text":"insured that their policy will be cancelled if no payment is submitted within","paragraph_id":"para_108"},{"text":"ten days. If no payment is submitted by midnight on the tenth day, APAC’s","paragraph_id":"para_109"},{"text":"computer system automatically sends GoAuto an e-mail with a copy of the","paragraph_id":"para_110"},{"text":"notice of cancellation along with a request for cancellation.","paragraph_id":"para_111"},{"text":"The request for cancellation is sent on APAC’s letterhead and states","paragraph_id":"para_112"},{"text":"the following:","paragraph_id":"para_113"},{"text":"APAC certifies that:","paragraph_id":"para_114"},{"text":"(1) The Premium Finance Agreement contains a valid","paragraph_id":"para_115"},{"text":"power of attorney.","paragraph_id":"para_116"},{"text":"(2) The Premium Finance Agreement is in default and the","paragraph_id":"para_117"},{"text":"default has not been timely cured.","paragraph_id":"para_118"},{"text":"(3) Upon default, a Ten Day Notice of Cancellation was","paragraph_id":"para_119"},{"text":"sent to the insured. Copies of the notices are enclosed and","paragraph_id":"para_120"},{"text":"the affidavit proof of mailing is available upon request.","paragraph_id":"para_121"},{"text":"(4) Copies of the Ten Day Notice of Cancellation were sent","paragraph_id":"para_122"},{"text":"to all persons shown by the Premium Finance Agreement","paragraph_id":"para_123"},{"text":"to have an interest in any loss which may occur there under.","paragraph_id":"para_124"},{"text":"Case: 24-30646 Document: 55-1 Page: 4 Date Filed: 10/03/2025","paragraph_id":"para_125"},{"text":"No. 24-30646","paragraph_id":"para_126"},{"text":"5","paragraph_id":"para_127"},{"text":"Upon receipt of that notice, GoAuto’s computer system cancels the","paragraph_id":"para_128","court_paragraph":5},{"text":"policy. Later in the morning after cancellation, an APAC employee affixes a","paragraph_id":"para_129"},{"text":"signature stamp to the printed cancellation documents. Prior to 2017, an","paragraph_id":"para_130"},{"text":"APAC employee would physically take the documents to a filing cabinet","paragraph_id":"para_131"},{"text":"shared by GoAuto and APAC.1 Since 2017, the signed cancellation","paragraph_id":"para_132"},{"text":"document is physically taken to a GoAuto employee who stamps the","paragraph_id":"para_133"},{"text":"document as “received” and places it in a shared filing cabinet.","paragraph_id":"para_134"},{"text":"I. Strict Adherence to the Statute","paragraph_id":"para_135"},{"text":"We now consider whether these procedures comply with the","paragraph_id":"para_136"},{"text":"Louisiana law we discussed. Key to the Plaintiffs’ argument is that no","paragraph_id":"para_137"},{"text":"signature is on APAC’s certification until soon after, but clearly after, the","paragraph_id":"para_138"},{"text":"policy is canceled automatically. The Plaintiffs interpret the statutory","paragraph_id":"para_139"},{"text":"requirement of “certifying” by the premium insurer as requiring a signature","paragraph_id":"para_140"},{"text":"before there can be a cancellation.","paragraph_id":"para_141"},{"text":"The statute makes no explicit reference to a signature. La. Rev.","paragraph_id":"para_142"},{"text":"Stat. § 9.3550(G)(3)(a). If there is a need for one, the word “certifying”","paragraph_id":"para_143"},{"text":"would have to create such a requirement. With an exception we will discuss,","paragraph_id":"para_144"},{"text":"no Louisiana judicial opinion considering insurance-premium finance","paragraph_id":"para_145"},{"text":"companies’ procedures under the statute has addressed the need for a","paragraph_id":"para_146"},{"text":"signature. One court’s paraphrase of the statutory requirement was that","paragraph_id":"para_147"},{"text":"there must be “a statement certifying compliance with” the statute. KMJ","paragraph_id":"para_148"},{"text":"Servs., Inc. v. Hood, 12-757, p.5 (La. App. 5 Cir. 4/10/13), 115 So. 3d 34, 37.","paragraph_id":"para_149"},{"text":"Another allowed cancellation “[u]pon receipt of such notice of cancellation","paragraph_id":"para_150"},{"text":"and statement from the premium finance company.” Hodges v. Colonial","paragraph_id":"para_151"},{"text":"_____________________","paragraph_id":"para_152"},{"text":"1 APAC and GoAuto are separate legal entities that operate out of a shared","paragraph_id":"para_153"},{"text":"business office. Employees performing services for both companies are employed by","paragraph_id":"para_154"},{"text":"GoAuto Management Services, LLC. For purposes of this appeal, we refer to employees","paragraph_id":"para_155"},{"text":"assigned to either business as employees of that company.","paragraph_id":"para_156"},{"text":"Case: 24-30646 Document: 55-1 Page: 5 Date Filed: 10/03/2025","paragraph_id":"para_157"},{"text":"No. 24-30646","paragraph_id":"para_158"},{"text":"6","paragraph_id":"para_159"},{"text":"Lloyd’s Ins., 546 So. 2d 898, 901–02 (La. App. 1 Cir. 6/20/89). Other","paragraph_id":"para_160","court_paragraph":6},{"text":"opinions are similarly unhelpful on this question. See, e.g., Lewis v. Julien,","paragraph_id":"para_161"},{"text":"20-152, p. 9–10 (La. App. 5 Cir. 12/16/20), 309 So. 3d 842, 848–50.","paragraph_id":"para_162"},{"text":"One court of appeal opinion mentioned a lack of a signature in a","paragraph_id":"para_163"},{"text":"discussion of that notice’s shortcomings: the “‘notice of cancellation’ does","paragraph_id":"para_164"},{"text":"not identify any particular employee of [the premium finance company] that","paragraph_id":"para_165"},{"text":"prepared the document, is not signed by any individual, and does not purport","paragraph_id":"para_166"},{"text":"to ‘certify’ any of the statements contained therein.” Benitez v. Elsayed, 19-","paragraph_id":"para_167"},{"text":"122, p. 10 (La. App. 5 Cir. 12/4/19), 285 So. 3d 572, 579. That court did not","paragraph_id":"para_168"},{"text":"hold the absence of a signature would by itself disqualify the cancellation if","paragraph_id":"para_169"},{"text":"other elements were present.","paragraph_id":"para_170"},{"text":"As in Benitez, the notices in this record do not identify any particular","paragraph_id":"para_171"},{"text":"employee by printed name or by signature. Unlike in Benitez, each notice","paragraph_id":"para_172"},{"text":"“certifies” the relevant information. Without clearer Louisiana authority,","paragraph_id":"para_173"},{"text":"we see no reason that a company cannot certify information without a named","paragraph_id":"para_174"},{"text":"employee being identified. The statutory section itself states it is “the","paragraph_id":"para_175"},{"text":"insurance premium finance company” who effects cancellation by","paragraph_id":"para_176"},{"text":"“certifying” certain information in a notice. La. Rev. Stat. §","paragraph_id":"para_177"},{"text":"9:3550(G)(3)(a). “Strict adherence” to the procedures for cancellation is not","paragraph_id":"para_178"},{"text":"an invitation for courts to add to the procedures. We conclude that Louisiana","paragraph_id":"para_179"},{"text":"law does not require a signature on the notice sent by the premium finance","paragraph_id":"para_180"},{"text":"company to the insurer.","paragraph_id":"para_181"},{"text":"The Plaintiffs also contend GoAuto’s procedures do not strictly","paragraph_id":"para_182"},{"text":"adhere to the statute because GoAuto never received a cancellation request.","paragraph_id":"para_183"},{"text":"The statute provides that “[u]pon receipt of such notice of cancellation and","paragraph_id":"para_184"},{"text":"statement from the premium finance company, the insurer shall consider that","paragraph_id":"para_185"},{"text":"cancellation . . . has been requested . . . and the insurer may proceed to cancel","paragraph_id":"para_186"},{"text":"such contract.” La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3550(G)(3)(b)(i). Prior to 2017, the","paragraph_id":"para_187"},{"text":"Case: 24-30646 Document: 55-1 Page: 6 Date Filed: 10/03/2025","paragraph_id":"para_188"},{"text":"No. 24-30646","paragraph_id":"para_189"},{"text":"7","paragraph_id":"para_190"},{"text":"shared filing room where the printed requests were stored belonged to","paragraph_id":"para_191","court_paragraph":7},{"text":"GoAuto Management Services, not GoAuto. Since 2017, according to the","paragraph_id":"para_192"},{"text":"Plaintiffs, GoAuto does not receive the requests because the employee who","paragraph_id":"para_193"},{"text":"affixes the stamp is an APAC employee. They contend the legislature’s use","paragraph_id":"para_194"},{"text":"of the word “receipt,” as opposed to simply requiring the request be sent,","paragraph_id":"para_195"},{"text":"requires GoAuto take possession of the notice before cancelling the policy.","paragraph_id":"para_196"},{"text":"The Louisiana Supreme Court has not defined “receipt” as used in","paragraph_id":"para_197"},{"text":"the statute, and the statute itself has no definition. A leading law dictionary","paragraph_id":"para_198"},{"text":"defines “receipt” as “[t]he act of receiving something, esp[ecially] by taking","paragraph_id":"para_199"},{"text":"physical possession,” and “receive” as “[t]o take (something offered, given,","paragraph_id":"para_200"},{"text":"sent, etc.); to come into possession of or get from some outside source.”","paragraph_id":"para_201"},{"text":"Receipt, Black’s Law Dictionary (12th ed. 2024); Receive, Black’s","paragraph_id":"para_202"},{"text":"Law Dictionary (12th ed. 2024). We accept these definitions and","paragraph_id":"para_203"},{"text":"conclude that GoAuto may cancel a policy once it takes possession, delivery,","paragraph_id":"para_204"},{"text":"or custody of a request for cancellation.","paragraph_id":"para_205"},{"text":"As we explained, once the e-mailed notice is received in early morning","paragraph_id":"para_206"},{"text":"hours by GoAuto’s computer system, that computer system cancels the","paragraph_id":"para_207"},{"text":"policy. A GoAuto deponent explained how an APAC computer system","paragraph_id":"para_208"},{"text":"interacts with a GoAuto web service:","paragraph_id":"para_209"},{"text":"For instance, during the cancellation process, the APAC","paragraph_id":"para_210"},{"text":"process . . . makes a call to a GoAuto web service to request","paragraph_id":"para_211"},{"text":"cancellation or perform cancellation for a policy that is","paragraph_id":"para_212"},{"text":"canceling on that particular date. . . .","paragraph_id":"para_213"},{"text":"Basically, a web service is like a listener. It’s always listening,","paragraph_id":"para_214"},{"text":"waiting to be called, and when it hears its name when it’s","paragraph_id":"para_215"},{"text":"called, it says, well, tell me what you want to do, and if it","paragraph_id":"para_216"},{"text":"understands it, it performs the activity.","paragraph_id":"para_217"},{"text":"Case: 24-30646 Document: 55-1 Page: 7 Date Filed: 10/03/2025","paragraph_id":"para_218"},{"text":"No. 24-30646","paragraph_id":"para_219"},{"text":"8","paragraph_id":"para_220"},{"text":"No person is involved until later in the morning after the GoAuto","paragraph_id":"para_221","court_paragraph":8},{"text":"computer system effects cancellation. At that later time, an APAC employee","paragraph_id":"para_222"},{"text":"uses a signature stamp on the printed cancellation documents.","paragraph_id":"para_223"},{"text":"We summarize our earlier quoting of the statute. What is necessary","paragraph_id":"para_224"},{"text":"prior to cancellation is that the insurer had “receipt” of notice of cancellation","paragraph_id":"para_225"},{"text":"sent by the premium finance company. La. Rev. Stat.","paragraph_id":"para_226"},{"text":"§ 9:3550(G)(3)(b)(i). This is a modern statute set in current times, and","paragraph_id":"para_227"},{"text":"company computers do much that individuals once did. GoAuto’s method","paragraph_id":"para_228"},{"text":"of receiving the notice and reacting to it satisfies the statute.","paragraph_id":"para_229"},{"text":"We mention that the district court held GoAuto’s cancellation","paragraph_id":"para_230"},{"text":"procedures complied with the statute in a different way: “the APAC","paragraph_id":"para_231"},{"text":"employee who delivers the notices of cancellation neatly fits the definition of","paragraph_id":"para_232"},{"text":"private carrier.” The district court recognized an absence of Louisiana case","paragraph_id":"para_233"},{"text":"law interpreting “private carrier” and found analogous a panel of this court’s","paragraph_id":"para_234"},{"text":"explanation of when a railroad was a private carrier. See Huntley v. Bayer","paragraph_id":"para_235"},{"text":"MaterialScience, L.L.C., 452 F. App’x 453, 457 (5th Cir. 2011). The district","paragraph_id":"para_236"},{"text":"court’s definition of “private carrier” was both imaginative and","paragraph_id":"para_237"},{"text":"unconventional. Because we find the e-mail satisfies the statute, we will not","paragraph_id":"para_238"},{"text":"consider the validity of the definition.2","paragraph_id":"para_239"},{"text":"II. Certification","paragraph_id":"para_240"},{"text":"The Plaintiffs request we certify these issues of statutory","paragraph_id":"para_241"},{"text":"interpretation to the Louisiana Supreme Court. They contend the proper","paragraph_id":"para_242"},{"text":"interpretation of the statutory terms is important to Louisiana’s insurance","paragraph_id":"para_243"},{"text":"industry and statutory scheme.","paragraph_id":"para_244"},{"text":"_____________________","paragraph_id":"para_245"},{"text":"2 The Plaintiffs also contend the district court erred in denying their motion for","paragraph_id":"para_246"},{"text":"summary judgment. Because GoAuto’s procedures comply with the statute, the district","paragraph_id":"para_247"},{"text":"court did not err in denying their motion.","paragraph_id":"para_248"},{"text":"Case: 24-30646 Document: 55-1 Page: 8 Date Filed: 10/03/2025","paragraph_id":"para_249"},{"text":"No. 24-30646","paragraph_id":"para_250"},{"text":"9","paragraph_id":"para_251"},{"text":"“As a general proposition we are chary about certifying questions of","paragraph_id":"para_252","court_paragraph":9},{"text":"law absent a compelling reason to do so; the availability of certification is such","paragraph_id":"para_253"},{"text":"an important resource to this court that we will not risk its continued","paragraph_id":"para_254"},{"text":"availability by going to that well too often.” Jefferson v. Lead Indus. Ass’n,","paragraph_id":"para_255"},{"text":"106 F.3d 1245, 1247 (5th Cir. 1997). That a term has not yet been defined by","paragraph_id":"para_256"},{"text":"a state supreme court “is not sufficient to warrant certification.” Id. 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