Known Litigation Holdings, LLC v. Navigators Ins.
Known Litigation Holdings, LLC v. Navigators Ins.
Opinion of the Court
In this action, Plaintiff Known Litigation Holdings, LLC, the successor assignee of Domestic Bank, seeks to recover insurance proceeds from Defendants Navigators Insurance Company, Navigators Management Ltd., and certain interested underwriters of Lloyd’s of London (collectively “Defendants” or “Navigators”), in its capacity as loss payee under several insurance policies Defendants issued to New England Cash Dispensing (“NECD”) and its affiliate, Integrated Merchant Systems (“IMS”). Pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) and 12(b)(7), Defendants now move [Doc. # 25] to dismiss Plaintiffs Amended Complaint [Doc. #24] in its entirety. Defendants argue (1) that Plaintiff lacks standing because it is not a named insured under the Courier Risks Policy, (2) that Plaintiffs claims are time-barred by the suit limitation clause in the Courier Risks Policy, (3) that Plaintiff has failed to join NECD and IMS, who are necessary parties to the suit, (4) that Plaintiffs estoppel claims should be dismissed because Connecticut does not recognize an affirmative cause of action for equitable or promissory estoppel, and (5) that Plaintiff fails to state a claim for which relief can be granted. For the following reason, Defendants’ motion is denied.
I. Factual Background
A. The NECD Agreement
Plaintiff is the successor assignee of certain claims of Domestic Bank arising out of Domestic Bank’s status as a loss payee on several insurance policies underwritten by Defendants. (See Am. Compl. [Doc. # 24] ¶ 1.) Beginning in March 2000, Domestic Bank entered into an agreement with NECD (the. “NECD Agreement”), pursuant to which NECD was responsible for servicing Domestic Bank’s ATMs. (See id. ¶¶ 17-18; NECD Agreement, Ex. A to Am. Compl.). On May 12, 2006, Domestic Bank entered into a second agreement with NECD and IMS (the “Courier Agreement”), pursuant to which NECD and IMS were responsible for transferring cash owned by Domestic Bank (the “Bank Cash”) to and from Domestic Bank’s ATMs. (See Am. Compl. ¶¶ 19-20; Courier Agreement, Ex. B to id.) Under the terms of the Courier Agreement, NECD and IMS were responsible for loss to Domestic Bank resulting from any malfeasance On the part of NECD’s or IMS’s employees:
Except in respect to shortages of Bank’s currency which are determined to be the result of ATM hardware or software malfunction, Couriers shall be responsible for any shortage or loss of Bank’s currency, resulting from embezzlement or theft by any third party or employee or agent of Couriers, from any act of God or insured peril, from any terrorist act, from any mysterious unexplained disappearance or from any other cause, whether known or unknown; and Couriers shall reimburse Bank for any such shortage or loss. Such reimbursement shall be made forthwith upon notice by Bank to Couriers of any such shortage or loss.
(Courier Agreement ¶ 3.) Thus, as a part of the . Courier Agreement, NECD- and IMS were required to maintain insurance for the services they provided to Domestic Bank:
At all times while Couriers are providing services to Bank as herein set forth, Couriers shall maintain insurance with coverage in amounts and with deductibles as are set forth in the schedule of*413 insurance which is Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof or with such other carriers, with such higher amounts of coverage and/or such other deductibles as Bank may require from time to time hereafter. In all such insurance, Bank will be named as. loss payee. Each insurance policy shall require not less than 30 days advance notice to Bank of cancellation of the policy and, if available to Couriers, with not less than 30 days advance notice of non-renewal of such policy. The term non-renewal shall include non-renewal by Couriers as well as by the insurance carrier. The insurance carrier or Couriers’ agent shall provide to Bank each year a certificate evidencing the existence of such insurance forthwith upon renewal thereof.
(Id. ¶ 2; see also Am. Compl. ¶¶ 21-24.)
B. The Courier Risks Policy
In February 2006, NECD purchased an insurance policy underwritten by Defendants, insuring NECD for certain courier risks (the “Courier Risks Policy”). (See Am. Compl. ¶¶ 26-29; Courier Risks Policy, Ex. C to Am. Compl.) This policy included coverage for the embezzlement of funds by NECD employees:
Notwithstanding any thing [sic] herein contained to the contrary, it is noted and agreed that: The Insured property is also covered against loss caused by dishonesty and/or embezzlement committed by any employees of the Assured provided that such losses are discovered within 30 (thirty) days of their occurrence ...
(Courier Risks Policy; see also Am. Compl. ¶ 29.) In April 2006, a Loss Payment Rider was added to the Courier Risks Policy, which identified Domestic Bank as a potential designated loss payee:
In the event that the insured is entitled to any payment under this policy, it is agreed that the insured may designate, in writing, a customer to whom the payment or any part thereof shall be made. It is further understood and agreed that insured’s designee has no rights under the contract of insurance. The only right conferred is the right to receive direct payment in accordance with this rider but in no event shall payments made under this policy exceed the applicable coverage limit.
(Loss Payment Rider, Ex. D to Am. Compl.; see also Am. Compl. ¶ 30.) A Cancellation Clause was also added, stating: “It is understood and agreed that this policy may be cancelled by either side subject to 30 days[’] notice in writing to Domestic Bank.” (Cancellation Clause, Ex. E to Am. Compl.; see also Am. Compl. ¶ 31.) In July 2006, an Armored Car Cargo Liability Policy endorsement was also included as a part of the Courier Risks Policy. (See Armored Car Cargo Liability Policy, Ex. F to Am. Compl.; see also Am. Compl. ¶¶ 32-34.)
On September 26, 2006, Domestic Bank contacted the overseas broker for Defendants requesting additional clarification regarding NECD’s coverage under the Courier Liability Policy. (See Am. Compl. ¶ 35-37; Ex. G to id.) Specifically, Domestic Bank inquired as to the nature of the coverage for losses arising from employee malfeasance:
The policy specifically states that there is coverage for acts or omissions of the insured or any of its employees. Thus, I would assume that there is coverage under this policy for theft of Domestic Bank’s money by an employee of NEC[D] and the condition of 30 days’ •notice is not applicable in this policy.
(Ex. G. to" Am. Compl.; see also Am. Compl. ¶ 35.) On October 9, 2006, Defendants’ agent replied that Domestic Bank’s understanding was “basically ... correct”
C. The Bank Loss
On February 9, 2010, Domestic Bank became aware that the government was investigating the alleged theft and conversion of Bank Cash from the ATMs serviced by NECD and IMS. (See Aim Compl. ¶ 42.) Domestic Bank demanded an accounting of Bank Cash from NECD in light of this investigation, but on February 23, 2010, the CEO of NECD and IMS, Joseph Sarlo, confessed to Domestic Bank that a proper accounting could not be supplied, and that he was aware of a shortage of Bank Cash totaling at least $1 million. (See id. ¶ 43.) Prior to this confession, neither NECD nor IMS had disclosed any potential shortage of Bank Cash, and Domestic Bank had no reason to suspect that any of its funds were unaccounted for. (See id. ¶ 44.) Upon this revelation, Domestic Bank conducted its own investigation and audit of the ATMs serviced by NECD and determined that there was a shortage of Bank Cash in excess of $5 million. (See id. ¶ 46.) This shortage resulted from a scheme to defraud Domestic Bank perpetrated by the employees of NECD and IMS between 2006 and 2010. (See id. ¶ 47.)
On March 31, 2010, Domestic Bank made written demand on NECD and IMS for immediate reimbursement of the missing Bank Cash, but Domestic Bank has yet to receive any -compensation for its loss resulting from this scheme. (See id. ¶¶ 47-48.) A copy of this demand was forwarded to Defendants, and was the first notice Defendants received of the loss. (See id. ¶ 49.) On August 31, 2010, Defendants issued a Reservation of Rights letter regarding Domestic Bank’s claim against the Courier Risks Policy (see id. ¶ 40; Ex. O to id.), and on November 29, 2010, Defendants rescinded the Courier Risks Policy ab initio as a result of misstatements made by NECD in procuring the policy (see id. ¶ 51; Ex. P to id.). To date, neither Domestic Bank nor Plaintiff has received any payment pursuant to the policies, nor has the refund of any premiums been made to Domestic Bank or Plaintiff. (See Am. Compl. ¶ 52.)
II. Legal Standard
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), a court may dismiss a complaint for “failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.” Fed. R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). “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, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)). Although detailed allegations are not required, a claim will be found facially plausible only if “the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937. Conclusory allegations are not sufficient. Id. at 678-79, 129 S.Ct. 1937.
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(7) a court may also dis
A person who is subject to service of process and whose joinder will not de- . prive the court of subject-matter jurisdiction must be joined as a party if in that person’s absence, the court cannot accord complete relief among existing parties; or that person claims an interest relating to the subject of the action and is so situated that disposing of the action in the person’s absence may as a practical matter impair or impede the person’s ability to protect the interest; or leave an existing party subject to substantial risk of incurring double, multiple, or otherwise inconsistent obligations because of the interest.
Fed.R.Civ.P. 19(a). In reviewing a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 19, the Court determines whether an ■ absent party is “necessary” under Rule 19(a) as a threshold requirement-before undertaking a Rule 19(b) analysis as to whether the party is also “indispensable” such that dismissal would be required in its absence. “A party cannot be indispensable- unless it is a ‘necessary part/ under Rule 19(a).” Jonesfilm v. Lion Gate Int’l, 299 F.3d 134, 139 (2d Cir. 2002).
III. Discussion
Defendants claim the following grounds in support of their motion to dismiss: (1) Plaintiff lacks standing because it is not a named insured under the Courier Risks Policy, (2) Plaintiffs claims are time-barred by the suit limitation clause in the Courier Risks Policy, (3) Plaintiff has failed to join NECD and IMS, who are necessary parties to the suit, (4) Plaintiffs estoppel claims should be dismissed because Connecticut does not recognize an affirmative, cause of action for equitable or promissory estoppel, and (5) Plaintiff fails to state a claim for which relief can be granted.
A. Choice of Law
The parties agree that pursuant to the choice-of-law provision in the Courier Risks Policy (see Ex. B to Am. Compl.), this dispute is governed by Connecticut law. Therefore, the Court will apply Connecticut law to the instant dispute. Under Connecticut law, “[a]n insurance policy is to be interpreted by the same general rules that govern the construction of any written contract.” Connecticut Medical Ins. Co. v. Kulikowski, 286 Conn. 1, 5, 942 A.2d 334 (2008) (internal quotations and citations omitted). “In accordance with those principles, the determinative question is the intent of the parties, that is, what coverage the insured expected to receive and what the insurer was to provide’ as disclosed by the provisions’ of'the policy.” Id. (internal quotations and citations omitted). “When interpreting an insurance policy, [courts] must look at the contract as a'whole, consider all relevant portions together, and if possible, give operative effect to every provision in order to reach a reasonable overall result.” Id. at 6, 942 A.2d 334 (internal quotations and citations omitted). “If the terms of the policy are
B. Standing
Defendants argue that because Plaintiff is only a loss payee, and not an insured,
Defendant relies on two District of New Jersey cases, Carteret Ventures, LLC v. Liberty Mutual Ins. Co., No. 09-2831(JLL), 2009 WL 3230844 (D.N.J. Oct. 2, 2009), and In re Tri-State Armored Serv.’s, Inc., 366 B.R. 326 (D.N.J. 2007), for the proposition that a loss payee on a fidelity bond lacks standing to pursue a claim directly against an insurer. In TriState, customers of Tri-State, an armored car company, filed breach of contract claims against Tri-State’s insurer pursuant to a fidelity insurance policy issued by the insurer on which the customers had been listed as loss payees. The district court, citing New Jersey law, found that the loss payees did not have a direct right of action against the insurer under the policy, because the policy clearly stated that it “provide[d] no rights or benefits to any other person or organization,” other than the named insured, Tri-State. TriState, 366 B.R. at 335, 345.
Similarly, in Carteret, the plaintiff sued an insurer directly under a fidelity insurance policy in its capacity as loss payee. The loss payee rider at issue in that case stated: “This insurance is for [the insured’s] benefit only. It provides no right or benefits to any other person or organization including the Loss Payee, other than payment of loss as set forth in this endorsement.” Carteret, 2009 WL 3230844, at *2. The policy also provided that “[a]ny claim of loss that is covered under this insurance must be presented by [the insured].” Id. The district court concluded, under New Jersey law, that according to the clear and unambiguous terms of the policy, Carteret did not have any rights under the policy as loss payee, and was not entitled to payment until the insured submitted a claim under the policy. See id. at *4. Thus, Carteret had no standing to sue until the insured triggered a loss under the policy by submitting its claim. Because the Courier Risks Policy contains similar language in its Loss Payment Rider (see Ex. C to Am. Compl.), Defendants urge this Court to follow the reasoning of the Tri-State and Carteret courts and conclude that Plaintiff lacks standing to bring this action. However, these cases are based on the application of New Jersey law, and thus are not controlling authority.
Plaintiff counters with several Connecticut cases that have concluded that loss payees do have standing to sue insurers directly for breach of an insurance
Defendants attempt to distinguish these cases as involving liability insurance policies rather than fidelity insurance policies, where some of the parties were secured creditors under mortgage loss payable clauses, and thus actually constituted named insureds under the terms of those clauses.
Under Connecticut law, “the ultimate test to be applied in determining whether a person has a right of action as a third party beneficiary is whether the intent of the parties to the contract was that the promisor should assume a direct obligation to the third party beneficiary.” Grigerik v. Sharpe, 247 Conn. 293, 311-12, 721 A.2d 526 (1998) (internal quotations and emphasis omitted). “[The parties’] intent is to be determined from the terms of the contract read in the light of the circumstances attending its making, including the motives and purposes of the parties.” Id. at 312, 721 A.2d 526 (internal quotations and emphasis omitted). Under the terms of the Loss Payment Rider, a loss payee has “the right to receive direct payment in accordance with this rider,” and NECD identified Domestic Bank as a potential designated loss payee under the rider. (Ex. D to Am. Compl.) Thus, by the unambiguous terms of the rider, Defendants and NECD intended to create a direct obligation from Defendants to Plaintiff. Defendants argue that because the loss payee rider states that “that insured’s designee has no rights under the contract of insurance,” (id.) the parties to the policy cannot have intended for Plaintiff to be a beneficiary under the policy. However, this language is not relevant to the 'third-party beneficiary inquiry under Connecticut law, because as the Connecticut Supreme Court has recognized, “the intent to confer a benefit is irrelevant to the determination of whether the plaintiff was. a third party beneficiary, rather the appropriate inquiry is whether the parties intended to create a direct obligation from one party to a third party.” Grigerik, 247 Conn. at 313, 721 A.2d 526. Because the terms of the Loss Payment Rider clearly state that a designated loss payee has a right to direct payment from Defendants, the Court concludes that Plaintiff has pled sufficient facts to allege that it was a third-party beneficiary of the Courier Risks Policy, and has standing to pursue this suit directly against Defendants.
C. Timeliness
Defendants also argue that Plaintiff failed to comply with the suit-limitation provision in the Courier Risks Policy, and that this action is therefore time-barred. Regarding the time limit for bringing suit for recovery of loss, the policy provides as follows:
The- insured, upon knowledge of any loss, shall give immediate notice thereof to the police or other peace authorities having jurisdiction and shall as soon as practicable report to Insurers every loss or damage which may become a claim under this policy, and shall file with Insurers without delay a detailed sworn proof of loss.
Legal proceedings for recovery of any loss under this policy shall not be brought after the expiration of two years. If any limitation embodied herein is prohibited by any law controlling the construction thereof such limitation shall be deemed to be amended so as to be equal to the minimum period of limitation permitted by law.
(See Courier Risks Policy, Ex. C to Am. Compl. ¶ 26.) Defendant argues that because it is undisputed that the CEO of NECD and IMS knew of the loss as early as 2006, and this action did not commence until 2012, the suit is untimely as outside the policy’s two-year suit-limitation clause. While, Plaintiff does not contest that such a clause may be valid under Connecticut law, see Craig v. Colonial Penn Ins. Co., 335 F.Supp.2d 296, 302 (D.Conn. 2004)
D. Known Loss Doctrine
Defendants argue that the “known loss” or “loss-in-progress” doctrine applies to this case. While Connecticut appellate courts have not addressed this doctrine, the District Court and a Connecticut trial court narrowed its construction to circumstances “where the insured was aware of actual losses, not potential losses prior to purchasing the policy.”
E. Promissory Estoppel
Defendants argue that Count Three should be dismissed because Connecticut does not recognize promissory estoppel as an affirmative cause of action. While the Connecticut Appellate Court has recognized that “estoppel is generally not considered a cause of action,” Covey v. Comen, 46 Conn.App. 46, 48, 698 A.2d 343 (1997); see also Allstate Ins. Co. v. Jean-Pierre, No. 3:10-cv-506(VLB), 2011 WL 3837085, at *5-6 (D.Conn. Aug. 30, 2011) (“Under Connecticut law, waiver and estoppel are properly plead [sic] as special defenses, not affirmative claims.”), where promissory estoppel, as distinguished from equitable estoppel, was claimed, the Connecticut Supreme Court recognized it as an afBrmative cause of action, see D’Ulisse-Cupo v. Bd. of Directors of Notre Dame High School, 202 Conn. 206, 520 A.2d 217 (1987). In contrast, where the promissory estoppel-equitable estoppel distinction is not made, affirmative claims have failed. See, e.g., Summerhill, LLC v. City of Meriden, No. CV106002388S, 2012 WL 1004298, at *4-5 (Conn.Super.Ct. Mar. 5, 2012) (“Since, in this complaint, the
Alternatively, Defendants, misconstruing Plaintiffs promissory estoppel claim, assert that even if Connecticut does recognize a cause of action for promissory estoppel, a plaintiff may not use it to expand insurance coverage beyond the express terms of the policy. See Heyman Assocs. No. 1 v. Ins. Co. of State of Pa., No. 397087, 1993 WL 57740, at *9 (Conn.Super.Ct. Feb. 24, 1993) aff'd, 231 Conn. 756, 767 n. 12, 653 A.2d 122 (“The courts of most jurisdictions agree that waiver and estoppel are not available to broaden the coverage of a policy so as to protect the insured against risks not included therein or expressly excluded therefrom.... Since the plaintiffs claim is barred by the defendants’ pollution exclusion clauses, the plaintiff, as a matter of law, should not be allowed to use the remedies of waiver and estoppel to create coverage where no exists.” (internal citations omitted)). However, Plaintiff does not purport to use its promissory estoppel claim to expand the policy beyond its terms or to avoid an express exclusion, only to assert that Defendants are estopped from raising any defense of fraud on the part of NECD because their agent represented to Plaintiff that Defendants ■ had properly audited NECD before issuing the policy.. Defendants’ motion to dismiss is therefore denied with respect to Count Three.'
F. Failure to Join
Defendants argue that NECD and IMS, as parties to the Courier Risks Policy, are necessary parties to this suit within the meaning of Rule 19(a), and thus Plaintiffs Amended Complaint should be dismissed for failure to join them in the action, pursuant to Rule 19(b). See McKeon v. Guardian Ins. & Annuity Co., No. 3:07-cv-425 (WWE), 2007 WL 4169115, at *3 (D.Conn. Nov. 20, 2007) (“It is well established that a party to a contract which is the subject of-the litigation is considered a ‘necessary’ party.”). In the alternative, Defendants argue that the Court should order that NECD and IMS be joined in' this action. Under Rule 19, a party is considered necessary to a litigation if:
(A) in that person’s absence, the court cannot accord .complete relief among existing parties; or (B) that person claims an interest relating to the subject of the action and is so situated that disposing of the action in the person’s absence may: (i) as a practical matter impair or impede the person’s ability to protect the interest; or (ii) leave an. existing party , subject to a substantial risk of incurring double, multiple, or otherwise inconsistent obligations because of the interest.
Fed.R.Civ.P. 19(a)(1). In response, Plaintiff relies on Phoenix Ins. Co., 169 S.E.2d at 649, in which the Georgia Court of Appeals found that the insured was not a necessary party under Georgia law (which mirrors Rule 19) because the insured had designated the plaintiff as the sole loss payee under the insurance policy under an endorsement that stated: “It is agreed that any loss payable hereunder shall be paid to the Phoenix Insurance Company,” id. at 646-47, and under the policy “[the defendant’s] liability [would be] discharged when payment [was] made to the loss payee,” id. at 649.
In contrast, the Loss Payment Rider to the Courier Risks Policy here states: “In
G. Failure to State a Claim
Defendants’ motion claiming that Plaintiff fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted merely reiterates its argument that Plaintiff lacks standing or is not a third-party beneficiary under the Courier Risks Policy. However, as discussed above (see supra Part II.B), under Connecticut law, Plaintiff has pled sufficient facts to allege that it is a third-party beneficiary to the policy and Defendants’ motion to dismiss on this basis is denied.
IV. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, Defendants’ Motion [Doc. #25] to Dismiss is DENIED. Plaintiff is directed to join NECD and IMS in this action.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
. In deciding the instant motion, the Court will consider the documents attached as exhibits 1 and 2 to Defendant’s memorandum [Doc. # 26] of law in support of its motion to dismiss. See Int’l Audiotext Network, Inc. v. American Tel. & Tel. Co., 62 F.3d 69, 72 (2d Cir. 1995) ("[W]hen a plaintiff chooses not to attach to the complaint or incorporate by -■reference a document Upon which it solely relies and which is integral to the complaint, the court may nevertheless take the document into consideration in deciding the defendant’s motion to dismiss, without converting the proceeding into one for summary judgment.”).
. Plaintiff does not argue that Domestic Bank’s status as a loss payee under the Courier Risks Policy rendered it an additional insured under the policy, and agrees that under Connecticut law its rights as a loss payee's "[a]re no better than those acquired under the policy by [the insured].” See Pavano v. Western Nat'l Ins. Co., 139 Conn. 645, 649, 96 A.2d 470 (1953).
. In Vernon, the court also held that the intervening plaintiff, as a secured creditor of Vernon Foodliner, was a named insured pursuant to the terms of the mortgage loss payable clause. See 1 Conn.App. at 597, 474 A.2d 468. While Plaintiff was not a mortgagee in the case at bar, the property covered under the Courier Risks Policy belonged to Domestic Bank, rather than to NECD or IMS, and thus Plaintiffs status is arguably more similar to the cases cited by Plaintiff than Defendants recognize.
. One other state court, the Georgia Court of Appeals, has determined that loss payees may be third-party beneficiaries under a fidelity contract. See Phoenix Ins. Co. v. Aetna Cas. & Surety Co., 120 Ga.App. 122, 169 S.E.2d 645, 649 (1969) (holding that the plaintiff, as a loss payee under a fidelity insurance policy, had standing to sue the insurer directly).
. Plaintiff argues that even if the Court concluded that the clause was unambiguous, the suit would not be time-barred because Plaintiff commenced this action within two years of its notifying Defendants of the loss, and within two years of the accrual of the loss. Plaintiff assumes that the loss could not have accrued before Plaintiff requested and was denied an accounting of its funds from NECD in 2010. At oral argument, counsel for Defendants argued that the loss accrued when NECD first had knowledge of the scheme to defraud, but Plaintiff claims that attributing knowledge of NECD's malfeasance to Plaintiff, an innocent third-party, would be unconscionable. Because the Court finds the terms of the suit-limitation clause ambiguous, it cannot decide timeliness on a motion to dismiss.
Plaintiffs additional argument, that, if the clause is found to be unambiguous and Plaintiff's suit is untimely, the policy time limitation should be tolled, lacks merit because tolling doctrines are inapplicable to contractual suit-limitation provisions unless the contract provides for tolling of the limitation period, which the Courier Risks Policy does not. See Air Brake Systems, Inc. v. TUV Rheinland of N. Am., Inc., 699 F.Supp.2d 462, 474 (D.Conn. 2010) ("[P]eriods of limitation that the parties create by contract are not susceptible to statutes, and doctrines that toll the relevant period of limitation that arises by statute.” (emphasis in original)).
. Despite Plaintiff's claims that it would be "unconscionable” to apply this doctrine against an innocent third-party beneficiary, under Connecticut law, a loss payee has no greater rights than the insured under an insurance policy, and is subject to the same defenses as the insured. See Pavano, 139 Conn. at 649, 96 A.2d 470 ("Although the plaintiff had the right to sue the insurer on the contract, his substantive rights were río better than those acquired under the policy by the [the insured]. Any defenses good against [the insured] are good against the plaintiff.”) Therefore, if NECD and IMS are subject to . the known loss doctrine, so, is Plaintiff.
. At oral argument, counsel for Plaintiff withdrew Count Four of the Amended Complaint, which alleged equitable estoppel. Thus, the Court only addresses Defendants’ arguments related to promissory estoppel.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- KNOWN LITIGATION HOLDINGS, LLC v. NAVIGATORS INS. CO., Navigators Management (UK) Ltd, and Certain Interested Underwriters of Lloyd's of London
- Cited By
- 6 cases
- Status
- Published