Western Heritage Insurance v. Century Surety Co.
Western Heritage Insurance v. Century Surety Co.
Opinion of the Court
OPINION AND ORDER
I. INTRODUCTION
Western Heritage Insurance Company (“Western”) brings this diversity action against Century Surety Company (“Century”) in connection with a settlement paid by Western in an underlying personal injury suit (“Underlying Action”). Both Century’s insured and Western’s insured were named as defendants in the Underlying Action. Western seeks a declaration (1) that Century breached its obligations under the Century Commercial Lines Policy (“Century Policy”), (2) that Century must contribute toward the settlement of the Underlying Action, .and (3) that Century must pay Western five hundred thousand dollars, representing Century’s pro-rata share of the settlement. In addition, Western asks the Court to dismiss Century’s counterclaims.
Now before the Court is Western’s motion for summary judgment on the grounds that certain provisions in both the Century Policy and the Western Heritage Commercial Policy (‘Western Policy”) require Century to contribute its pro-rata share of the settlement in the Underlying Action.
II. BACKGROUND
A. The Underlying Action
On October 24, 2006, NSBP Realty, LLC (“NSBP”), the owner of a construction project in Brooklyn, New York (the “Project”) entered into a contract with Empire Builders and Developers, Inc. (“Empire”).
[NSBP] shall indemnify and hold harmless [Empire] and its employees from and against all claims, damages, loss or expense caused by any negligent or intentional act or omission of [NSBP] or sub-contractors, anyone directly or indirectly employed by any of them or anyone whose acts [make] any of the[m] liable.6
On March 10, 2008, Wilmer Castaneda, an employee of LJ, was injured in an elevator shaft while working on construction at the Project.
On January 23, 2013, the parties entered mediation.
B. The Century Policy
1. Overview
In October 2007, Century issued a Commercial Lines Policy to Empire, effective October 29, 2007 to October 29, 2008.
2. Other Insurance Provision
In addition, the Century Policy contains the following Other Insurance provision:
If other valid and collectible insurance is available to the insured for a loss we cover ... our obligations are limited as follows:
a. This insurance is excess over any other insurance whether the other insurance is stated to be primary, pro rata, contributory, excess, con*447 tingent, umbrella or on any other basis unless the other insurance is issued to the Named Insured ... and is written explicitly to apply in excess of the Limits of Insurance ... of this [policy].
b. When this insurance is excess, we will have no duty ... to defend the insured against any “suit” if any other insurer has a duty to defend the insured against that “suit” ....
c. When the insurance is excess over other insurance, we will pay only our share of the amount of loss, if any, that exceeds the sum of:
(1) The total amount that all such other insurance would pay for the loss in the absence of this insurance; and
(2) The total of all deductible and self-insured amounts under all that other insurance.24
C. The Western Policy
1.Overview
In March 2007, Western issued NSBP a Commercial Policy, which included Owners and Contractors Protective Liability.
2.Other Insurance Provision
The Western Policy contains the following Other Insurance provision:
There is no coverage provided under this policy if, at the time of the loss or damage, there is any other valid and collectible insurance which would attach if this insurance had not been effected, except that this insurance shall apply only as excess and in no event as contributing insurance and then only after all other insurance has been exhausted.
Whenever this policy becomes excess over any other valid and collectible insurance, whether primary, excess or contingent available to the Named Insured, it shall in no way obligate the Company to provide or furnish investigation, adjustment, attorneys’ fees, or any other expenses in connection with the defense or handling of any claims.31
3.Supplementary Payments Provision
Under the NSBP/Empire contract,
If we defend an insured against a “suit” and an indemnitee of the insured is also named as a party to the “suit,” we will defend that indemnitee if all of the following conditions are met:
a. The “suit” against the indemnitee seeks damages for which the insured has assumed the liability of the indemnitee in a contract or agreement that is an “insured contract”;
b. This insurance applies to such liability assumed by the insured;
c. The obligation to defend, or the cost of the defense of, that indemni-tee, has also been assumed by the insured in the same “insured contract”;
d. The allegations in the “suit” and the information we know about the “occurrence” are such that no conflict appears to exist between the interests of the insured and the interests of the indemnitee;
e. The indemnitee and the insured ask us to conduct and control the defense of that indemnitee against such “suit” and agree that we can assign the same counsel to defend the insured and the indemnitee; and
f. The indemnitee:
(1) Agrees in writing to:
(a) Cooperate with us in the investigation, settlement or defense of the “suit”;
(b) Immediately send us copies of any demands, notices, summonses or legal papers received in connection with the “suit”;
(c) Notify any other insurer whose coverage is available to the indemni-tee; and
(d) Cooperate with us with respect to coordinating other applicable insurance available to the indemnitee; and
(2) Provides us with written authorization to:
(a) Obtain records and other information related to the “suit”; and
(b) Conduct and control the defense of the indemnitee in such “suit.”
So long as the above conditions are met, attorneys’ fees incurred by us in the defense of that indemnitee, necessary litigation expenses incurred by us and necessary litigation expenses incurred by the indemnitee at our request will be paid as Supplementary Payments ... [S]uch payments will not be deemed to be damages for “bodily injury” and “property damage” and will not reduce the limits of insurance.34
III. LEGAL STANDARD
Summary judgment is appropriate “only where, construing all the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-movant and drawing all reasonable inferences in that party’s favor, there is ‘no genuine issue as to any material fact and ... the movant is entitled to -judgment as a matter of law.’ ”
“[T]he moving party has the burden of showing that no genuine issue of material fact exists and that the undisputed facts entitle him to judgment as a matter of law.”
In deciding a motion for summary judgment, “[t]he role of the court is not to resolve disputed issues of fact but to assess whether there are any factual issues to be tried.”
IY. APPLICABLE LAW
“Under New York law, insurance policies are interpreted according to general rules of' contract interpretation.”
V. DISCUSSION
A. The Other Insurance Provisions in Both Policies
Western argues that it is entitled to reimbursement from Century based on the Other Insurance provisions in the Western and Century policies.
Century responds that the Other Insurance provisions are irrelevant here because Century and Western do not share an insured.
Yet, Western contends that the Other Insurance provisions determine priority of coverage for Empire regardless of whether Western and Century are co-insurers.
B. Supplementary Payments Provision in the Western Policy
Next, Western argues that the Supplementary Payments provision in the Western Policy “dictates the scope of coverage” available to Empire as NSBP’s “contractual indemnitee.”
Based on this provision, quoted in full above,
However, the plain language of the Supplementary Payments provision belies Western’s argument. The Supplementary Payments provision does not provide liability coverage to Empire or transform Empire into an “insured” under the Western policy. Instead, if all of the conditions of the provision are met, Western will pay the defense costs of a contractual indemni-tee — Empire—as a “Supplementary Payment! ],” without “reducing] the limits of
Here, Western assumed Empire’s defense costs without attempting to enforce the conditions of the provision. Specifically, it defended Empire without first requiring any written agreement from Empire. Empire never agreed in writing that it would “[c]ooperate with [Western] with respect to coordinating other applicable insurance available to [it].”
Nevertheless, Western contends that “because [it made] substantial payments ... under the Western Heritage Policy, on Empire’s behalf, it cannot logically be argued that Empire is not bound by the very provisions under which such payments have been made.”
C. The NSBP/Empire Contract
Finally, Western contends that even though it assumed Empire’s defense under the NSBP/Empire contract, it had no obligation to pay Empire’s liability damages.
As an initial matter, the NSBP/Empire contract is an “insured contract,” and the Western Policy covers liability that NSBP assumes in an “insured contract.”
Finally, by accepting Empire’s tender of its defense, Western waived its right to dispute the validity or enforceability of the NSBP/Empire contract. Under the contract, NSBP agrees to indemnify Empire “from and against all claims, damages, loss, or expense caused by any negligent or intentional act or omission of the owner or sub-contractors.
VI. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Western’s motion for summary judgment is DENIED. Because there are no fact issues to be tried, Century is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law. As such, Century has no obligation to reimburse Western for any money that Western paid in the settlement of the Underlying Action. The Clerk of the Court is directed to close this motion [Docket No. 23] and this case.
SO ORDERED.
. See Western’s Memorandum of Law in Support of Its Motion for Summary Judgment (“Western Mem.’’) at 5-6.
. See Memorandum of Law in Further Support of Century’s Opposition to Western’s Motion for Summary Judgment ("Century Opp.’’) at 1-2. At the Court’s direction, Century filed an opposition and sur-reply rather than a cross-motion for summary judgment.
. All material facts in this case are undisputed. See Joint Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ("Joint Statement"). The parties dispute only the interpretation of the relevant provisions of the Western and Century policies. See CGS Indus., Inc. v. Charter Oak Fire Ins. Co., 720 F.3d 71, 76 (2d Cir. 2013) (noting that the “interpretation of an insurance agreement is a question of law,” which is appropriately decided by the court on summary judgment).
. See Joint Statement ¶¶ 1, 3.
. See id. ¶ 2; 10/24/06 NSBP/Empire Contract, Exhibit ("Ex.”) 1 to the 5/2/14 Declaration of Denise Marra, counsel for Western ("Marra Decl.”), ¶ 2.
. NSBP/Empire Contract ¶ 11.
. See Joint Statement ¶ 4.
. See id. ¶¶ 5, 7; Complaint ¶ 8.
. See Joint Statement ¶ 6.
. See id. ¶ 8.
. See id. ¶ 9.
. See id. ¶ 10.
. See id. ¶ 11.
. See id. ¶ 16.
. See id. ¶ 19.
. See id.
. See id.
. See zd. ¶ 21.
. See id. ¶¶ 18, 20.
. See 10/29/07 Century Policy, Ex. 14 to Marra Deck
. See id.
. Id.
. See id.
. Id.
. See 3/16/07 Western Policy, Ex. 15 to Mar-ra Decl.
. See id.
. See id.
. Id.
. An "insured contract” is defined as "that part of any other contract or agreement ... under which [NSBP] assume[s] the tort liability of another party to pay for ‘bodily injury’ or 'property damage’ to a third person or organization, provided that the 'bodily injury’ or 'property damage' is caused, in whole or in part, by [NSBP] or by those acting on [NSBP’s] behalf.” Id.
. See id.
. Id.
. Windsor v. United States, 699 F.3d 169, 192 (2d Cir. 2012), aff'd, - U.S. -, 133 S.Ct. 2675, 186 L.Ed.2d 808 (2013) (quotations and alterations omitted).
. Coollick v. Hughes, 699 F.3d 211, 219 (2d Cir. 2012) (citations omitted).
. Jaramilio v. Weyerhaeuser Co., 536 F.3d 140, 145 (2d Cir. 2008).
. Id.
. Brown v. Eli Lilly & Co., 654 F.3d 347, 358 (2d Cir. 2011) (quoting Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986)).
. Id.
. Beyer v. County of Nassau, 524 F.3d 160, 163 (2d Cir. 2008) (quoting Guilbert v. Gardner, 480 F.3d 140, 145 (2d Cir. 2007)).
. Cuff ex rel. B.C. v. Valley Cent. Sch. Dist., 677 F.3d 109, 119 (2d Cir. 2012).
. Redd v. New York Div. of Parole, 678 F.3d 166, 174 (2d Cir. 2012) (quoting Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Prods., Inc., 530 U.S. 133, 150, 120 S.Ct. 2097, 147 L.Ed.2d 105 (2000)).
. 23-34 94th St. Grocery Corp. v. New York City Bd. of Health, 685 F.3d 174, 180 n. 6 (2d Cir. 2012).
. Sahu v. Union Carbide Corp., 548 F.3d 59, 69-70 (2d Cir. 2008) (citing First Fin. Ins. Co. v. Allstate Interior Demolition Corp., 193 F.3d 109, 115 (2d Cir. 1999)).
. Olin Corp. v. American Home Assurance Co., 704 F.3d 89, 98 (2d Cir. 2012).
. See NSBP/Empire Contract ¶ 11.
. See Western Policy.
. Id.
. Rivera v. Rochester Genesee Reg’l Transp. Auth., 702 F.3d 685, 692 (2d Cir. 2012) (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)) (other quotations omitted).
. Ment Bros. Iron Works Co., Inc. v. Interstate Fire & Cas. Co., 702 F.3d 118, 122 (2d Cir. 2012).
. See Seiden Assocs., Inc. v. ANC Holdings, Inc., 959 F.2d 425, 428 (2d Cir. 1992).
. Olin, 704 F.3d at 99 (citations and internal quotation marks omitted).
. See Western Mem. at 11-15.
. See Western Policy.
. Western Mem. at 11.
. See id. (citing Macari v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 296 A.D.2d 384, 745 N.Y.S.2d 191, 193 (2d Dep’t 2002) ("[S]ince both insurance policies cover the same risk, and both contain an ‘other insurance’ provision constituting a standard 'excess insurance’ clause, the clauses negate each other, and each insurance carrier must contribute its proportionate share of the loss [] in the underlying action.”); Bovis Lend Lease LMB, Inc. v. Great Am. Ins. Co., 53 A.D.3d 140, 855 N.Y.S.2d 459, 471-72 (1st Dep’t 2008); Federal Ins. Co. v. Atlantic Nat. Ins. Co., 25 N.Y.2d 71, 75-76, 302 N.Y.S.2d 769, 250 N.E.2d 193 (1969)).
. See Century Opp. at 1-2.
. See Great N. Ins. Co. v. Mount Vernon Fire Ins. Co., 92 N.Y.2d 682, 686-87, 685 N.Y.S.2d 411, 708 N.E.2d 167 (1999); Pennsylvania Mfrs. Ass’n Ins. Co. v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 39 A.D.3d 1161, 837 N.Y.S.2d 445, 446 (4th Dep’t 2007) ("[WJhere insurance policies provide coverage for the same interest and against the same risk, concurrent coverage exists and two or more primary insurers will be held to be coinsurers.”); Medical Malpractice Ins. Ass’n. v. Medical Liability Mut. Ins. Co., 86 A.D.2d 476, 450 N.Y.S.2d 191, 193 (1st Dept. 1982) (holding that an insurer of one policy may enforce a right of contribution against another insurer only when the insurance provided by each covers "the same interest and against the same risk”).
. See Century Opp. at 2.
. See id. at 5.
. See Western’s Reply Memorandum of Law in Further Support of Its Motion for Summary Judgment ("Western Reply”) at 3.
. Great N. Ins. Co., 92 N.Y.2d at 686-87, 685 N.Y.S.2d 411, 708 N.E.2d 167 (emphasis added).
. 25 A.D.3d 658, 811 N.Y.S.2d 716, 721 (2d Dep’t 2006). Western also relies heavily on National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh v. Hartford Insurance Company of the Midwest, which held that a subcontractor’s insurer, National Union, was entitled to contribution from a general contractor’s insurer, Hartford, based on the Other Insurance provisions in the policies. 248 A.D.2d 78, 677 N.Y.S.2d 105, 111 (1st Dep’t 1998), aff'd, 93 N.Y.2d 983, 695 N.Y.S.2d 740, 717 N.E.2d 1077 (1999). But there, the National Union and Hartford policies both named the general contractor as an insured. See id. at 107.
. Western does not dispute the fact that Empire is not named as an insured under its policy.
. Western Policy (emphasis added).
. Century Policy (emphasis added).
. Western Mem. at 21.
. Id.
. See supra note 34 and accompanying text.
. Western Mem. at 24.
. See id.
. See id.
. Western Policy.
. This is consistent with the scope of the Western Policy, which covers NSBP’s contractual liability under its "insured contracts,” such as the NSBP/Western contract. See id.
. Id. (emphasis added).
. Western Reply at 6.
. Hillside Metro Assocs., LLC v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 747 F.3d 44, 49 (2d Cir. 2014) (citing Suffolk Cnty. v. Long Island Lighting Co., 728 F.2d 52, 63 (2d Cir. 1984)).
. See Western Reply at 7-8.
. See Joint Statement ¶¶ 18, 20.
. Western Reply at 8.
. Western Policy.
. See id.
. See NSBP/Empire Contract ¶ 11.
. Id.
. Id. (emphasis added). To the extent that Western claims that it voluntarily incurred Empire's defense costs and settlement payment without regard to the NSBP/Empire contract, any recovery is barred by the volun-taiy payment doctrine. See Dillon v. U-A Columbia Cablevision of Westchester, Inc., 100 N.Y.2d 525, 526, 760 N.Y.S.2d 726, 790 N.E.2d 1155 (2003) (holding that the voluntary payment doctrine "bars recovery of payments voluntarily made with full knowledge of the facts, and in the absence of fraud or mistake of material fact or law”).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- WESTERN HERITAGE INSURANCE COMPANY v. CENTURY SURETY COMPANY
- Cited By
- 4 cases
- Status
- Published