Continental Casualty Co. v. Marshall Granger & Co.
Continental Casualty Co. v. Marshall Granger & Co.
Opinion of the Court
OPINION AND ORDER
Before the Court are Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment, (Doc. 71), and Defendants-Intervenors’
I. BACKGROUND
A. Factual Background
The following facts are set forth on the basis of the parties’ Local Rule 56.1 Statements, declarations and exhibits, and are undisputed except where noted.
Defendant Marshall Granger & Company, LLC (“Marshall Granger”) was a certified public accounting firm owned and managed by Laurence M. Brown and Ronald J. Mangini. (P’s 56.1 ¶¶ 1, 5, 28.)
This Policy consists of the Declarations, the Policy form, all endorsements attached to the Policy, the completed and signed application and all supplementary information and statements you have provided to us.
By acceptance of this Policy you agree that all of the information and statements provided to us by you are true, accurate and complete. This Policy has been issued in reliance upon the truth and accuracy of those representations. No concealment, misrepresentation or fraud shall avoid or defeat recovery under this Policy unless such concealment, misrepresentation or fraud was material. Concealment, misrepresentation or fraud in the procurement of this Policy which if known by us would have led to refusal by us to make this contract or provide coverage for a claim hereunder will be deemed material.
(Burrows Deck Ex. B (“Policy”), at C00071.)
Question 1: Does your firm or any owner, partner or officer render services or conduct any business activities under any other name?
Question 10.a: Within the past year has your firm, firm affiliates or their personnel ... [rjendered financial planning, asset management, or investment advisory services?
Question 12: Within the past year has your firm, firm affiliates or their personnel ... a. [organized, promoted, solicited on behalf of or procured participants for investment ventures? b. [p]rovided management services for investment ventures? [or] c. [Unvested in any non-public investment venture that a client has also invested in?
Question 13: Within the past year has your firm or firm affiliates rendered services, other than tax, for any client in which firm personnel, or the spouse of firm personnel, owned or received an equity interest or served as an officer, director, partner, manager or other member of a client’s governing body?
Question 21.c: After inquiry of all owners, partners, officers and professionals of the firm and firm affiliates, within the past year have any past or present personnel ... become aware of any act, omission, circumstance or fee dispute which might be expected to be the basis of a claim or suit?
(P’s 56.1 ¶¶ 20-23; see App. 1-3.) Brown answered “No” to each of these questions. (P’s 56.1 ¶¶ 20-23; see App. 1-3.)
The above answers Brown provided on the Application were false. At the time he submitted the Application, Brown was in the midst of perpetrating a securities fraud scheme, duping several of his accounting clients into participating in a nonexistent investment opportunity. (P’s 56.1 ¶¶ 1-7; see, e.g., Ashmore Decl. Ex. N (minutes of Brown’s plea of guilty to related criminal charges).)
Contrary to these assertions, however, neither Brown nor Mangini owned any portion of Infinity, nor was either of them an officer of that company. Infinity was actually solely owned by Joseph J. Bough-ton, Jr., one of Marshall Granger’s accounting clients, and Infinity’s only asset— the pipeline — had been inactive and non-revenue producing for years. (P’s 56.1 ¶¶ 4, 8.) In May 2010, Mangini informed Boughton that Brown was holding himself out as an officer of Infinity and soliciting investments based on false representations regarding Infinity’s operations. (Id. ¶ 8.) Boughton subsequently reported the allegations to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which initiated an emergency enforcement action against Brown and Mangini in this Court on July 22, 2010.' (Id. ¶ 10.) The SEC alleged that Brown and Mangini had been selling
On August 81, 2010, Boughton and his investment entity, Northstar Investment Group, Ltd. (collectively, the “Boughton Entities”), sent a letter to Mangini asserting several claims of accounting malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty against Marshall Granger. (King Decl. II Ex. A.)
On November 1, 2010, Continental sent a letter to Mangini (the “November 1 Letter”) in which it denied coverage for claims relating to the Infinity scheme and expressly reserved its right to rescind the Policy on the basis that Brown had made material misrepresentations on the Application. (Burrows Deck Ex. C; see id. at 5 (“Continental reserves its right to rescind the Policy, or to deny coverage for the Infinity Reserves claims, to the extent that the application for the Policy contained one or more material misrepresentations.”).) As the basis for this denial, Continental stated, “In this case, Mr. Brown misappropriated client investment funds prior to the Policy’s effective date of April 1, 2010 .... Accordingly, by April 1, 2010, Mr. Brown indisputably was aware of acts or omissions ... which a reasonable person would expect to be the basis of a claim against him and/or Marshall Granger.” (Id. at 5.) The November 1 Letter gave Marshall Granger thirty days in which to bring to Continental’s attention any information that might be relevant to Continental’s assessment of rescission and coverage. (Id. at 1.) The letter also informed Mangini that Continental would be advancing defense costs in connection with the regulatory investigation as required under the Policy. (Id. at 8-9.)
Later in November 2010, Mangini submitted two requests to make ministerial changes to the Policy: one to change the address of record for Marshall Granger, and the other to change the name of the insured entity from “Marshall Granger & Company, LLP” to “Mangini & Company PLLC” to reflect that the company had changed its name. (Ds’ 56.1 ¶¶ 43-57.) These requests were handled by Aon Insurance Services (“Aon”), Continental’s national administrator. (Burrows Deck ¶ 5.)
On January 24, 2011, Continental sent another letter to Mangini (the “January 24 Letter”). (King Deck I Ex. D.) In this letter, Continental acknowledged receiving additional information relevant to its investigation, including at least one fax transmission from Mangini and information from several Marshall Granger clients directly. (Id. at 1.) Continental also indicated that it had received evidence that apart from the Infinity scheme, Brown and his daughter had allegedly misappropriated $1.6 million from a separate investment made by the Boughton Entities. (Id. at 8.) The letter states that Continental was treating that misappropriation as related to the Infinity scheme for coverage purposes and that the misappropriation “provides additional support for Continental’s conclusion that the Policy is subject to rescission.” (Id.) The letter concludes by again giving Mangini another thirty days in which to submit additional information, while “continu[ing] to reserve all of [Continental’s] rights under the Policy and applicable law, including [the] right to rescind the Policy.” (Id. at 6.)
On February 4, 2011, Continental sent another letter to Mangini (the “February 4 Letter”), stating that “This notice is being sent to advise you that upon expiration of your Accountants Professional Liability Policy, ... the Policy will not be renewed. The Policy will expire on April 1, 2011, and there will be no coverage available after that date.” (Burrows Deck Ex. G, at 1.) The February 4 Letter also offered the sale of Extended Claim Reporting Period Coverage (which Continental contends it was required to offer under New York insurance law). (Id. at 1-2.) The letter reiterated that in the November 1 Letter, “Continental noted the failure to disclose a claim and/or potential claim regarding the Infinity Reserves Scheme in response to Question 21 of the Application.... In addi: tion, Continental is investigating the response ... to Question 10(a), ... [and] 12(a), (b) and (c) ... ” (Id. at 2-3.) Finally, with respect to the issue of rescission, the letter stated the following:
Finally, we wish to emphasize that this Notice of Nonrenewal also is intended to provide notice that, in the event it is ultimately determined that Continental is entitled to rescind the Policy, rescission shall be effective immediately, and the Policy will be void ab initio, including any Extended Reporting Period. If Continental rescinds the Policy, it will provide notice to Marshall Granger & Company and will return the premium paid for the Policy and any Extended Reporting Period. As such, this Notice of Nonrenewal is not intended nor may it be construed as a determination by Continental not to rescind the Policy or as an admission of any kind regarding Continental’s rights with respect to rescission. Continental continues to reserve its rights generally and specifically with respect to rescission of the Policy. Please note that nothing herein is intended or shall be construed as a waiver*388 of any of Continental’s rights or defenses under the Policy, at law or in equity. Therefore, Continental reserves all of its rights and remedies under the Policy. We wish to provide you with sufficient advance notice of the nonrenewal of the Policy in order to enable you to obtain coverage through another carrier.
(Id. at 3.)
On February 24, 2011, the SEC moved for summary judgment in the civil enforcement action against Brown and Mangini, submitting into the public record a significant amount of evidence relating to the Infinity scheme. (See SEC v. Brown, No. 10-CV-5564, Docs. 36-41 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 24, 2011).) On June 9, 2011, Continental’s counsel sent a letter to Mangini notifying him of its final decision to seek rescission of the Policy and tendering a full refund of the premium. (Ashmore Decl. Ex. Q.) On June 11, Mangini responded to Continental’s counsel by email, refusing the tendered refund and contesting the rescission. (Id. Ex. R.) On June 13, Continental initiated the present action for rescission. (See Compl.) On September 8, 2011, Brown pleaded guilty to the criminal charges of securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. (P’s 56.1 ¶¶ 13-14; see Ashmore Decl. Ex. N; United States v. Brown, No. 10-CR991, Minute Entry of Sep. 8, 2011 (S.D.N.Y Sep. 8, 2011).)
B. Procedural Posture
Continental initiated this action on June 13, 2011, seeking a declaratory judgment against Marshall Granger, Brown, and Mangini declaring that: (1) Continental is entitled to rescind the Policy on the basis of material misrepresentations in the Application; and (2) Continental therefore has no obligation to provide coverage to or defend Marshall Granger, Brown, Mangini, or any other insured in connection with claims asserted by third parties relating to the Infinity scheme. (Compl. ¶ 3.) On November 3, 2011, the Boughton Entities intervened in this case after Mangini assigned all of his rights under the Policy to them. (Doc. 13.) On January 20, 2012, Continental obtained a partial default judgment that it is entitled to rescind the Policy with respect to Brown. (Doc. 21.)
On March 9, 2012, before any discovery had occurred, Defendants filed Motions to Dismiss, (Docs. 24, 34), and Plaintiff filed a Motion for Summary Judgment, (Doc. 27). In an Opinion and Order dated January 31, 2013, 921 F.Supp.2d 111 (S.D.N.Y. 2013) (Doc. 58), I denied Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss and denied Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment without prejudice to renewal following limited discovery as to: (1) communications between Aon and Continental regarding the Application; and (2) Continental’s underwriting file and decision-making process with respect to the Application. (Id. at 28.) On February 22, 2013, the Boughton Entities filed an Amended Answer and Counterclaim, (Doc. 61), asserting a counterclaim for breach of contract against Continental based on Continental’s failure to pay the Boughton Entities’ claims under the Policy. Marshall Granger filed an Answer on May 10, 2013. (Doc. 68.) After completion of the limited discovery mandated by my Opinion and Order of January 31, 2013, the parties filed the instant Motions for Summary Judgment. (Docs. 71, 78.)
II. LEGAL STANDARD
Summary judgment is appropriate when “the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). “[T]he dispute about a material fact is ‘genuine’ ... if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). A fact is “material” if
“A party asserting that a fact cannot be or is genuinely disputed must support the assertion by ... citing to particular parts of materials in the record, including depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations (including those made for purposes of the motion only), admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials.... ” Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(c)(1). Where an affidavit is used to support or oppose the motion, it “must be made on personal knowledge, set out facts that would be admissible in evidence, and show that the affiant ... is competent to testify on the matters stated.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)(4); see Major League Baseball Props., Inc. v. Salvino, Inc., 542 F.3d 290, 310 (2d Cir. 2008). In the event that “a party fails ... to properly address another party’s assertion of fact as required by Rule 56(c), the court may,” among other things, “consider the fact undisputed "for purposes of the motion” or “grant summary judgment if the motion and supporting materials — including the facts considered undisputed — show that the movant is entitled to it.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e)(2), (3).
III. DISCUSSION
New York law entitles an insurer to rescind an insurance policy — and the policy is deemed void ab initio — “if it was issued in reliance on material misrepresentations.” Fid. & Guar. Ins. Underwriters, Inc. v. Jasam Realty Corp., 540 F.3d 133, 139 (2d Cir. 2008); see Interboro Ins. Co. v. Fatmir, 89 A.D.3d 993, 933 N.Y.S.2d 343, 345 (App.Div. 2011). A misrepresentation in an application for insurance is a false “ ‘statement as to past or present fact, made to the insurer by ... the applicant for insurance ... as an inducement to the making thereof.’ ” Fid. & Guar. Ins. Underwriters, 540 F.3d at 139 (quoting N.Y. Ins. Law § 3105(a)). “If an insurer can show that it was induced to accept an application that it might otherwise have refused it is entitled to rescind the policy.” In re WorldCom, Inc. Sec. Litig., 354 F.Supp.2d 455, 465 (S.D.N.Y. 2005); see Interboro, 933 N.Y.S.2d at 345 (“A misrepresentation is material if the insurer would not have issued the policy had it known the facts misrepresented.”). Further, “[e]ven an innocent misrepresentation, if material, will support rescission.” WorldCom, 354 F.Supp.2d at 465; see Vella v. Equitable Life Assurance Soc’y, 887 F.2d 388, 391 (2d Cir. 1989) (“So long as a misrepresentation is material, it is no defense to an
A. Material Misrepresentation
It is clear — and Defendants do not seriously dispute — that Brown made misrepresentations in the Application that he submitted to Continental in April 2010 on behalf of Marshall Granger. Brown has admitted that during the relevant time period, he was in the midst of perpetrating a securities fraud on Marshall Granger clients, {see, e.g., Ashmore Deck Ex. N), and he thus gave inaccurate answers to several questions designed to assess the risk to which Continental would be exposed should it issue the Policy.
In dispute, however, is whether Continental has carried its burden of showing that the misrepresentations were material under New York law. An insurer seeking rescission has the burden of proving the existence of a misrepresentation in the procurement process and the materiality of that misrepresentation — that is, that the insurer’s knowledge of the truth would have resulted in refusal to issue the policy in the first instance. Vella, 887 F.2d at 391; Landmark Am. Ins. Co. v. S & S Pub, No. 10-CV-2982, 2011 WL 5825143, at *3 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 14, 2011); see Interboro, 933 N.Y.S.2d at 345 (“A misrepresentation is material if the insurer would not have issued the policy had it known the facts misrepresented.”). “The test does not require the insurer to show that it would not have issued any policy at all to the insured — only that it would not have issued the policy in question.” Kantrowitz v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., No. 95-CV-2204, 1997 WL 128463, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 19,1997).
Under New York law, materiality is usually a question of fact for the jury. See Am. Int’l Specialty Lines Ins. Co. v. Towers Fin. Corp., No. 94-CV-2727, 1997 WL 906427, at *7 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 12,1997) (report and recommendation). “To establish materiality of misrepresentations as a matter of law, the insurer must present documentation concerning its underwriting practices, such as underwriting manuals, bulletins or rules pertaining to similar risks, to establish that it would not have issued the same policy if the correct information had been disclosed in the application.” Curanovic v. N.Y. Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 307 A.D.2d 435, 762 N.Y.S.2d 148, 151 (App.Div. 2003). “Conclusory statements by insurance company employees, unsupported by documentary evidence, are insufficient.” Id.; see generally World-Com, 354 F.Supp.2d at 465.
In an attempt to satisfy its burden to produce documentary evidence of its underwriting practices, Continental has submitted excerpts from a document entitled “Aon Underwriting Authority — Renewals” (the “Aon Authority Guidelines”), (Burrows Decl. Ex. J), which Continental’s motion papers refer to as “Continental’s underwriting guidelines,” {see, e.g., P’s Mem. 14).
The Aon Underwriting Authority ... govern[s] Aon’s evaluation of applications submitted by insureds seeking the issuance of Accountants Professional Liability coverage.... Per the terms of the Guidelines, Aon has the authority to bind coverage and issue renewal policies when certain criteria are met. The Guidelines specify when Aon is required to refer applications to CNA. If Aon refers an application to CNA CNA also consults the Guidelines, as appropriate, in making its underwriting decisions. The Guidelines are the only underwriting guidelines applicable to the evaluation of an underwriting determination regarding the Marshall Granger Policy at issue in this litigation.
(Burrows Decl. ¶ 6) (emphasis added). Relying on the Aon Authority Guidelines, Continental contends that “Continental’s underwriting guidelines ... definitively establish that the Policy terms would have been different if Marshall Granger had provided accurate Application answers.” (Id.)
As Defendants point out, however, Ms. Burrows’ deposition testimony contradicts, in some respects, the statements she makes in her affidavit:
Q. [D]oes CNA keep any written manuals or guidelines regarding the underwriting of accountants professional liability insurance?
A. We have an authority document that’s provided to Aon. And that’s the only real document that we have
Q. Ms. Burrows, are you familiar with this document?
A. Yes.
Q. What is it?
A. It’s Aon’s underwriting authority, what they can do, what their authority is on our program.
Q. These are instructions to Aon; correct?
A. Yes.
Q. At various places throughout this authority, Aon is to refer the business to CNA; is that correct?
A. Yes.
Q. In those situations, this authority doesn’t dictate what CNA does with a referral, does it?
A. It does not.
(King Decl. I Ex. C, at 33, 95-98.) Furthermore, when asked whether she consulted the Aon Authority Guidelines at any point while reviewing and approving the specific Application at issue in this case, Ms. Burrows testified, “I do not believe I did.” (Id. at 100.)
It is clear from the face of the Aon Authority Guidelines document — indeed, from the document’s very title — that its purpose is to delineate which underwriting decisions Aon has authority to make on its own and which it must forward to Continental. (See Burrows Decl. ¶ 6.) The excerpts submitted to this Court do not appear to include any guidelines regarding Continental’s own underwriting decision-making process. “It is well settled in this [C]ircuit that a party’s affidavit which contradicts his own prior deposition testimony should be disregarded on a motion for summary judgment.” Mack v. United States, 814 F.2d 120, 124 (2d Cir. 1987); accord Wiggins v. Hain Pure Protein Corp., 829 F.Supp.2d 231, 235 n. 2 (S.D.N.Y. 2011). I therefore decline to consider the portion of Ms. Burrows’ affidavit suggesting that the Aon Authority Guidelines guided Continental’s decision to underwrite the Policy. There is no other
Nevertheless, I conclude that Brown’s misrepresentations were material as a matter of law. Based on all the evidence presented, no rational finder of fact could possibly conclude otherwise. See Anderson, 477 U.S. at 250-52, 106 S.Ct. 2505 (summary judgment appropriate where no reasonable jury could render a verdict after trial in favor of the non-movant). Ms. Burrows states:
There is no specific underwriting guideline in the Guidelines regarding whether to issue a policy where an insured is engaged in an ongoing fraudulent enterprise. In my view, such a guideline is unnecessary because it is patently obvious that [such] a policy should not be issued.... To my knowledge, CNA has never issued coverage to a prospective insured ... who has acknowledged involvement in ongoing dishonest and criminal conduct. Indeed, in my view, it is inconceivable that CNA or any other insurance carrier would write [such] coverage.
(Burrows Decl. ¶ 24) (emphasis in original).
The validity of this reasoning is inescapable. A similar situation was presented in Chi Ins. Co. v. Fasciana, No. 04-CV-7934, 2006 WL 3714310, at *5-6 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 13, 2006). At the time he applied for insurance, the insured in that case was also in the midst of perpetrating a criminal fraud that he did not disclose on the application. Id. at *5. Applying New York law, the Fasciana Court concluded — solely on the basis of an affidavit from the insurer’s underwriter similar to the one here — that the failure to disclose the fraudulent scheme was material as a matter of law:
The facts here are clear.... [B]ecause of the gravity of [the insured’s] conduct, [the underwriter’s] affidavit is [a] sufficient basis for a finding of materiality. It is not a conclusory statement but sets out the facts and the conclusion to be drawn from those facts. No reasonable factfinder would find [the insured’s] misstatement on the ... application not to be material, and no reasonable factfin-der would find that an insurance company would have issued the policy [that the insurer] issued had it known of the true facts. Accordingly, I find [the insured’s] misstatement to be material as a matter of law.
Id. at *6; see also Equitable Life Assurance Soc’y of U.S. v. O’Neil, 67 A.D.2d 883, 413 N.Y.S.2d 714, 716 (App.Div. 1979) (“Although a question whether ... such misrepresentation was material, would normally be for a fact-finder, the indisputable misrepresentations here are material as a matter of law.... The conclusion is irresistible that had plaintiff been aware of the true facts the [terms of the contract would have been different], and in these circumstances there is no need ... to introduce evidence of the insurer’s underwriting rules or practices.”).
The same conclusion is warranted here. Common sense dictates that it is simply impossible to believe that, had the full facts regarding Brown’s fraudulent scheme been disclosed on the Application, Continental would still have issued the Policy on the same terms. While in many cases the question of whether the insurer would have issued the policy on the same terms depends heavily on the insurer’s precise underwriting practices, this is not such a case. “It may be a question of fact as to whether [the insurer] would have entered this arrangement under the same terms
B. Waiver of Right to Rescind
The existence of a material misrepresentation on the Application does not end the inquiry. Defendants argue that Continental has waived its right to seek rescission of the Policy because, after learning of sufficient facts to justify rescission, it both unreasonably delayed in seeking rescission and engaged in acts that ratified the Policy. {See, e.g., Ds’ Mem. 12-25; Ds’ Opp. 7-12.)
1. Unreasonable Delay
It is well established that “[w]here a party desires to rescind upon the ground of mistake or fraud, he must, upon the discovery of the facts, at once announce his purpose, and adhere to it.... He is not permitted to play fast and loose.” Grymes v. Sanders, 93 U.S. 55, 62, 23 L.Ed. 798 (1876). Thus, New York law requires a party seeking rescission of a contract to act without unreasonable delay upon learning of the grounds for rescission. Bailout Brasted OBrien & Rusin P.C. v. Logan, 435 F.3d 235, 239-40 (2d Cir. 2006). An insurer who fails to rescind a policy promptly after learning of sufficient
An insurer need not, however, make a rushed and uninformed decision; it is entitled to a reasonable period of time in which to investigate the potential basis for rescission. Chi. Ins. Co. v. Kreitzer & Vogelman (Kreitzer & Vogelman III), 265 F.Supp.2d 335, 344 (S.D.N.Y. 2003); see Banque Arabe Et Internationale D’lnvestissement v. Md. Nat’l Bank, 850 F.Supp. 1199, 1211 (S.D.N.Y. 1994) (“[T]he party need not raise the claim immediately upon notice of the fraud but is afforded a reasonable period after notice of the fraud within which to consider whether or not to rescind”) (emphasis in original), aff'd, 57 F.3d 146 (2d Cir. 1995). Only if the insurer delayed unreasonably in seeking rescission will it be found to have forfeited its right to do so. See Principal Life Ins. Co. v. Locker Grp., 869 F.Supp.2d 359, 365-67 (E.D.N.Y. 2012) (seven-month investigation is reasonable); Kreitzer & Vogelman III, 265 F.Supp.2d at 344 (six-month investigation into basis for rescission is reasonable); see also Republic Ins. Co. v. Masters, Mates & Pilots Pension Plan, 77 F.3d 48, 53 (2d Cir. 1996) (more than one-year investigation not unreasonable where non-movant policyholder failed to show insurer had full knowledge of facts, as opposed to mere allegations, supporting rescission); cf. GuideOne Specialty Mut. Ins. Co. v. Congregation Adas Yereim, 593 F.Supp.2d 471, 484 (E.D.N.Y. 2009) (ten-month delay after insurer had full knowledge of facts justifying rescission is unreasonable).
Here, the parties disagree over when Continental obtained sufficient knowledge of the facts surrounding Brown’s securities fraud scheme to justify rescission. Defendants argue that Continental had sufficient knowledge as early as November 1, 2010. (See Ds’ Mem. 12-16.) As evidence of Continental’s knowledge, Defendants point to “Continental’s November 1 Letter [which] cites to the allegations made in the SEC Action and the evidence submitted therein,” (id. at 13), and they argue that if Continental had enough information at that time to deny coverage for claims in connection with the alleged fraud, then it also had enough information to rescind, (id. at 14.) This argument misses the mark. On the very first page, the November 1 Letter states, “Based on our review of the available materials, ... there does not appear to be coverage for certain of the claims made under the Policy, for the reasons described below,” and invites Man-gini to contest any of the allegations contained in the Letter or submit additional matérial for consideration within thirty days. (Burrows Decl. Ex. C, at 1) (emphasis added).
The evidence shows that as of November 1, Continental was aware of the allega
In contrast, a final decision to rescind the Policy cannot be made without strong evidence that such a remedy is necessary and appropriate. Rescission is a far more drastic step that disclaiming coverage. See Krumme v. WestPoint Stevens Inc., 238 F.3d 133, 143 (2d Cir. 2000) (“Under New York law, rescission is an extraordinary remedy.”) (alteration and internal quotation marks omitted). Continental’s assertion that it “did as any prudent insurer should do before proceeding with rescission, which was to attempt on two separate occasions to obtain additional information from- the [ijnsured,” (P’s Reply 5), may well be correct.
After twice giving Mangini an opportunity to submit information, Continental claims to have undertaken a thorough factual investigation based in part on the significant amount of new information sub
After Mangini failed to respond to CNA by February 24, 2011, i.e., within the thirty-day period provided for in the January 24, 2011 letter, CNA ... consulted both in-house and outside counsel to seek advice regarding whether to go forward with rescission based on the available information.... [B]ecause Mr. Brown’s fraud had not been established by a conviction or judgment, CNA undertook a particularly in-depth investigation to determine if the information that was available provided a clear basis for rescission ... including but not limited to wading through myriad documents filed in the action against Mr. Brown and Mr. Mangini by the Securities and Exchange Commission. •
(Dwares Deck ¶ 11.) “Indeed, public policy supports the allowance of such a reasonable investigation; it would be unwise to give insurers an economic incentive to rescind insurance at the drop of a hat and without sufficient investigation. Such willy-nilly actions would obviously result in less insurance coverage, but also would engender countless lawsuits.” Kreitzer & Vogelman III, 265 F.Supp.2d at 344.
There is no bright-line rule as to when the length of a rescission investigation becomes unreasonable or how long thé insurer is entitled to consider whether or not to pursue rescission after completing its 'investigation. Compare Masters, Mates & Pilots Pension Plan, 77 F.3d at 53 (more than one-year investigation not unreasonable absent evidence that insurer had full knowledge of facts, rather than allegations), Locker Grp., 869 F.Supp.2d at 365-67 (seven-month investigation is reasonable), and Kreitzer & Vogelman III, 265 F.Supp.2d at 344 (six-month investigation is reasonable) with GuideOne, 593 F.Supp.2d at 484 (ten-month delay with full knowledge of facts is unreasonable), SEC v. Credit Bancorp, Ltd., 147 F.Supp.2d 238, 256-57 (S.D.N.Y. 2001) (delay of more than a year is unreasonable), and Blumenfeld, 938 N.Y.S.2d at 86-87 (delay of more than a year is unreasonable when insurer continued to accept premium payments during that period).
Continental has presented evidence that it conducted an appropriate investigation before pursuing rescission, including giving the insured two opportunities to submit additional information. From November to February, Continental kept the insured informed about its current thinking and repeatedly requested input. At the end of February 2011, Continental apparently concluded that it would make its final determination based on the information then available, and it filed this action in early June. Defendants have not yet had the opportunity, however, to take discovery regarding what investigative or deliberative actions, if any, Continental took during the relevant periods — the four-month period from November 2010 to February 2011 in which Continental sought information from the insured, and the three-month period of further investigation and deliberation from late February 2011 to June 2011. Defendants are entitled to take limited discovery on that issue before having to answer a Motion for Summary Judgment seeking a finding that Continental’s conduct during that period did not constitute unreasonable delay.
2. Affirmative Waiver
Defendants also contend that, apart from delay, Continental took several acts after learning of the grounds for rescission that constitute waivers of the right to rescind the Policy. Under New York law, waiver is “the voluntary and intentional relinquishment of a known right.” Am. Gen. Life Ins. Co. v. Salamon, No. 09-CV-5428, 2011 WL 976411, at *3 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 16, 2011), aff'd, 483 Fed.Appx. 609 (2d Cir. 2012) (summary order). “Waiver requires evidence of a clear manifestation of intent, and cannot be ‘lightly inferred.’ ” Id. (quoting Mooney v. City of N.Y., 219 F.3d 123, 131 (2d Cir. 2000)). If, “ ‘subsequent to the discovery of [material misrepresentations], the party later claiming the right to rescind has continued to accept the benefits of the agreement or acted in some other fashion inconsistent with exercise of a right to rescind,’ that party will be deemed to have waived the misrepresentations and ratified the agreement.” Locker Grp., 869 F.Supp.2d at 366 (quoting Prudential Ins. Co. of Am. v. BMC Indus., Inc., 630 F.Supp. 1298, 1300 (S.D.N.Y. 1986)). “Ratification should not be confused with the promptness requirement. The rule requiring promptness must be distinguished from the rule that intentional acts, performed in recognition of a contract as valid, result in a ratification of a previously voidable contract and bar rescission. Ratification ... must be intentional.” Banque Arabe, 850 F.Supp. at 1212-13 (internal quotation marks, citations, and alterations omitted).
For example, it is a “well settled rule of New York insurance law that the continued acceptance of premiums by the carrier after learning of facts which allow for the rescission of the policy, constitutes a waiver of ... the right to rescind.” Salamon, 483 Fed.Appx. at 610 (internal quotation marks omitted). Electing to cancel a policy and-retain the premium — rather than rescind it and return the premium — on the basis of a material misrepresentation also waives the right to subsequently change course and seek rescission once new claims are made on the policy. See Nat’l Grange Mut. Ins. Co. v. Judson Constr., Inc., 931 F.Supp.2d 373, 380-82 (D.Conn. 2013) (applying New York law) (collecting cases). In each situation, the conduct of the insurer is incompatible with an intention to rescind and instead indicates the insurer’s intent to waive that remedy.
In this case, Defendants point to several acts by Continental that they claim constitute waivers of the right to rescind: (1) issuance of the two November 2010 administrative endorsements; (2) payment of defense costs to Marshall Granger in the November. 1 Letter as required by the Policy; and (3) the notice of non-renewal and offer of extended reporting period coverage in the February 4 Letter.
In the instant case, in contrast, Continental’s national agent merely issued ministerial endorsements changing the name and mailing address of the insured entity. No substantive change to the scope of coverage was effected, no additional premium was exchanged, and no renewals were signed. The law does not require an insurer to refuse a request to update the mailing address of the insured entity out of concern it could be inadvertently waiving its legal rights. Indeed, it is not hard to imagine the problems that would ensue if insurers were required by law to continue sending correspondence either to an insured’s outdated mailing address or addressed to an outdated entity name even after being notified of the change. These purely ministerial endorsements do not constitute a waiver of the rescission remedy.
Second, neither can the payment of defense costs or the issuance of a non-renewal letter offering extended reporting period coverage be considered an intentional waiver of Continental’s rights. For substantially the reasons set forth in Continental’s motion papers, (see P’s Mem. 14-16), these actions were mandated by New York law. See XL Specialty Ins. Co. v. Level Global Investors, L.P., 874 F.Supp.2d 263, 288 (S.D.N.Y. 2012) (“[W]here an insurer pursues the dramatic remedy of voiding a contract ab initio, it is appropriate that advancement [of defense costs] continue until a neutral arbiter has resolved this dispute.”); WorldCom, 354 F.Supp.2d at 465 (thoroughly canvassing case law before concluding that “[u]ntil the issue of rescission is adjudicated, a contract of insurance remains in effect and the duty to pay defense costs is enforceable”);
With respect to the February 4 non-renewal letter, Defendants rely on GuideOne, 593 F.Supp.2d at 471, for the proposition that sending a non-renewahletter constitutes a waiver of the right to rescind. In GuideOne, the insurer continued to accept premium payments after learning of facts justifying rescission and later sent a non-renewal notice similar to the one in this case. Id. at 485. In support of its holding that sending a non-renewal letter (in conjunction with the continued acceptance of premiums) constituted a waiver of the rescission remedy, the GuideOne Court cited Stein v. Sec. Mut. Ins. Co., 38 A.D.3d 977, 832 N.Y.S.2d 679, 681 (App.Div. 2007). As the language from Stein quoted in GuideOne makes clear, however, Stein involved an insurer’s decision to cancel a policy as its chosen remedy upon discovering material misrepresentations by the insured — an election of remedies which precludes a later change of heart to then seek rescission. The GuideOne Court appears to conflate the concepts of cancellation (a remedy for misrepresentations which prospectively terminates coverage as of a particular date) with nonrenewal (a decision not to enter into a new and separate contract). Stein does not state (as GuideOne seems to assume) that a non-renewal letter precludes later rescission; it states only that a decision to cancel does. I thus find the GuideOne case unpersuasive as to the effect of a nonrenewal letter on a subsequent rescission decision. Moreover, GuideOne’s holding was based on both the insurer’s sending the non-
IV. CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, I conclude that: (1) it is undisputed that Marshall Granger’s application for insurance contained misrepresentations; (2) those misrepresentations were material as a matter of law; and (3) none of Continental’s letters sent during the relevant period constitutes a waiver of the right to rescind. Accordingly, on these issues Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED and Defendants’ Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED. Regarding the limited issue of whether Continental has forfeited the right to rescind by unreasonably delaying in pursuing that remedy, I find that Defendants are entitled to discovery. As to that issue, therefore, Plaintiffs Motion is DENIED and Defendants’ Cross-Motion is DENIED. Both denials on the issue of unreasonable delay are without prejudice to renewal following limited discovery. The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to terminate the pending Motions. (Docs. 71, 78.) The parties are directed to appear for a status conference on Thursday April 17, 2014 at 4:00 p.m.
SO ORDERED.
. For convenience, I will refer to Defendants-Intervenors as "Defendants.”
. I note that Defendants' response to Continental’s Local Rule 56.1 statement, (Doc. 83), is unnecessarily evasive. For example, in response to the paragraphs stating the specific answers on the application for the policy that Continental contends were the misrepresentations at the very heart of this case, Defendants repeatedly deny that those factual assertions have any relevance to Continental's Motion. (Id. ¶¶ 20-23.) Similarly, Defendants “object to Continental's citation” in' its Rule 56.1 statement to a particular declaration to which that application is attached, "because it purports to attach a copy of the application ... that is different [than the copy attached] to Continental’s Complaint.” (Id. ¶¶ 19-24.) The only difference between the two copies is that the copy attached to the Complaint has Marshall Granger's gross annual revenues and the names of its two largest clients clearly redacted. (See Doc. 1 ¶ 13 and Ex. B.) As these facts are not relevant to the case and the documents are obviously otherwise identical, the Court cannot discern what purpose was intended to be served by Defendants' "objection]. ”
."P’s 56.1” refers to Plaintiff Continental Casually Company's Rule 56.1 Statement of Material Facts as to Which There is No Genuine Issue to Be Tried. (Doc. 73.)
. "Burrows Deck” refers to Declaration of Beverlee Burrows, CPCU, in Support of Continental Casualty Co.’s Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment. (Doc. 75.)
. Next to his "No” response to Question 21.c, Brown placed an asterisk and wrote in, "Other than CNA is aware.” (Id. at 3.) Continental asserts that this notation refers to a single claim against Marshall Granger that was handled under the previous year’s policy. (Complaint ("Compk”), (Doc. 1), ¶ 19.) Continental is one of a group of related insurance companies operating under the fleet name "CNA Insurance Companies” ("CNA”). (See Burrows Deck ¶ 1.)
. "Gross Decl.” refers to Declaration of Kenneth Gross in Support of Plaintiff Continental Casualty Company’s Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment. (Doc.76.)
. "Haines Decl.” refers to Declaration of Paulette Haines in Support of Plaintiff Continental Casualty Company’s Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 77.)
."Ashmore Decl.” refers to Declaration of Kimberly A. Ashmore in Support of Plaintiff Continental Casualty Co.’s Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment. (Doc. 74.)
. “King Deck 11“ refers to Declaration of Jeremy M. King. (Doc. 80.)
. "King Deck I” refers to Declaration of Jeremy M. King. (Doc. 84.)
."Ds’ 56.1” refers to [Defendants’] Rule 56.1 Statement of Material Facts as to Which There is No Genuine Issue to Be Tried. (Doc. 79.)
. "P's Mem. 14” refers to Plaintiff Continental Casualty Company's Memorandum of Law in Support of Its Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment. (Doc. 72.)
.I therefore respectfully disagree that a trial is required where documentation is absent, see Chi. Ins. Co. v. Kreitzer & Vogelman {Kreitzer & Vogelman II), 210 F.Supp.2d 407, 411-13 (S.D.N.Y. 2002), because here that trial could have but one outcome. The New York courts could not have intended such an empty exercise. See Process Plants Corp. v. Beneficial Nat'l Life Ins. Co., 53 A.D.2d 214, 385 N.Y.S.2d 308, 310-11 (App.Div. 1976) ("[W]here the evidence concerning the materiality is clear and substantially uncontradict-ed, the matter is one of law for the court to determine."), aff'd, 42 N.Y.2d 928, 397 N.Y.S.2d 1007, 366 N.E.2d 1361 (1977). Moreover, the insured in Kreitzer & Vogelman omitted from an application for a legal malpractice policy that he had been accused of neglecting client matters. See Chi. Ins. Co. v. Kreitzer & Vogelman (Kreitzer & Vogelman I), No. 97-CV-8619, 2000 WL 16949, at *1-2 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 10, 2000). The fraud omitted in this case is more obviously outside the scope of what a rational insurer would have insured. One can hardly expect an insurer to maintain written guidelines as to how an admission of an ongoing criminal fraud would affect the decision whether to issue a malpractice policy; not only would such an admission never, as a practical matter, be made, but the effect on the insurer's decision is so obvious that written guidelines would be not just superfluous, but downright silly.
. For example, had discovery revealed that nobody at Continental looked at the Application, materiality would be in question. But no such evidence was developed.
. "Ds’ Mem.” refers to Defendants-Interve-nors’ Memorandum of Law in Support of Their Motion for Summary Judgment. (Doc. 82.) "Ds’ Opp.” refers to Defendants-Inter-venors’ Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Continental Casualty Company's Motion for Summary Judgment. (Doc. 85.)
. The parties disagree as to whether unreasonable delay in seeking rescission constitutes waiver or estoppel, and thus whether prejudice to the insured is required. "Waiver and estoppel are distinct in New York insurance law. Waiver is the 'voluntary and intentional relinquishment of a known right.’ ... Estop-pel, on the other hand, arises where an insurer acts in a manner inconsistent with a lack of coverage, and the insured reasonably relies on those actions to its detriment. Thus, es-toppel requires a showing of prejudice to the insured.” Burt Rigid Box, Inc. v. Travelers Prop. Cas. Corp., 302 F.3d 83, 95 (2d Cir. 2002) (quoting Albert J. Schiff Assocs. v. Flack, 51 N.Y.2d 692, 435 N.Y.S.2d 972, 417 N.E.2d 84 (1980)). Defendants in this case are arguing that Continental has waived its right to seek rescission, not that it is estopped from doing so. (See Defendants-Intervenors' Reply Memorandum of Law in Further Support of Their Motion for Summary Judgment ("Ds' Reply”), (Doc. 88), 2-3.) They have not alleged any respect in which they detrimentally relied on Continental’s actions.
. "Dwares Decl.” refers to Declaration of David R. Dwares, In Support of Continental Casualty Co.’s Opposition to the Boughton Entities’ Motion for Summary Judgment. (Doc. 91.)
. "P’s Reply” refers to Plaintiff Continental Casualty Company's Reply in Support of Its Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment. (Doc. 92.)
. Defendants cite Saitta v. N.Y.C. Transit Auth., 55 A.D.3d 422, 866 N.Y.S.2d 62, 62 (App.Div. 2008), for the proposition that a four-month delay in seeking rescission is unreasonable. But Saitta involved a denial of coverage, not rescission of the entire policy, and thus is inapposite.
. Defendants did not raise this issue during the Erst round of motion practice, and thus
. Defendants also argue that Continental’s retention of the Policy's premium constitutes a waiver. (Ds’ Mem. 16, 18.) Defendants claim that Continental "admits it has not yet returned those premiums.” {Id. at 18.) It is hard to believe Defendants are seriously making this argument. It is undisputed that in the letter to Mangini dated June 9, 2011, Continental's counsel informed Mangini of the final decision to rescind the contract and tendered a full refund of the Policy premium, (Ashmore Decl. Ex. Q), which Mangini rejected two days later, {id. Ex. R).
. Defendants argue that WorldCom only addressed an insurer’s obligation to advance defense costs once a formal action for rescission has been initiated and does not control an insurer’s obligation to do so while it is merely investigating rescission before any formal action has been filed. (See Ds' Opp. 9.) I find this argument illogical. If the law were as Defendants argue, insurers would be obligated to advance defense costs before learning of a potential ground for rescission (as normally required under the policy), would be forbidden from advancing defense costs during an investigation into that potential ground (lest it later be found to have waived rescission), and then would be again obligated to resume advancing defense costs once a formal action for rescission was filed (under WorldCom). This flip-flopping cannot be what the law requires.
. Defendants contend that Continental was not required by law to send a notice regarding extended reporting period coverage because "[Rescission is not a 'termination of coverage' as defined by the statute.” (Ds' Mem. 20-21.) This argument misunderstands Continental’s actions. Continental did not offer the extended coverage in connection with rescission of the Policy; it offered it in connection with the Policy’s upcoming natural expiration and nonrenewal on April 1, 2011, which it was clearly obligated to do. See N.Y. Comp.Codes R. & Regs. tit. 11 § 73.1(n) (“Termination of coverage means ... (1) cancellation or nonrenewal of a policy ...”). {See generally P's Opp. 20 n. 11.)
. Defendants argue that "[a]s a matter of law, a unilateral 'reservation of rights' by an insurer to rescind at a later date of its own choosing — when the law imposes an affirmative duty on the insurer to rescind promptly— cannot change the insurer's duty to rescind promptly.” (Ds' Opp. 9; see Ds’ Mem. 24-25.) This is correct with respect to the issue of whether unreasonable delay constitutes a forfeiture of the right to rescind. See Estee Lauder Inc. v. OneBeacon Ins. Grp., 62 A.D.3d 33, 873 N.Y.S.2d 592, 594-95 (App.Div. 2009). But to the extent Defendants argue that positions taken in any of Continental's letters to Mangini should be construed as intentional waivers of the right to rescind, I see no reason why an explicit statement in each letter that Continental did not intend to waive its right to rescind should be ineffectual. Defendants' reliance on Blumenfeld, 938 N.Y.S.2d at 86, is misplaced. See id. ("An insurer's attempt to reserve its rights while accepting premiums is unenforceable for lack of mutuality.”) (emphasis added).
. To the extent Defendants argue that the non-renewal notice was an intentional waiver of the right to rescind because it included a statement that the Policy would terminate on April 1, 2011 (the natural end date of the Policy), I find this argument unpersuasive. It is quite clear from the language used in the rest of the letter that Continental was not foregoing rescission.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- CONTINENTAL CASUALTY COMPANY v. MARSHALL GRANGER & COMPANY, LLP, and Laurence M. Brown, and Joseph J. Boughton, Jr. and Northstar Investment Group, Ltd., Defendants-Intervenors
- Cited By
- 9 cases
- Status
- Published