U.S. Env't, L.P. v. Am. Int'l Specialty Lines Ins. Co.
U.S. Env't, L.P. v. Am. Int'l Specialty Lines Ins. Co.
Opinion of the Court
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Introduction...811
II. Factual Background...811
A. The Underlying Lawsuit...811
B. Procedural Posture...815
III. Legal Standards...815
A. Summary Judgment...815
B. Legal Principles for Interpretation of Insurance Contracts and Assessment of the Duty to Defend...816
IV. Analysis...818
A. The 2011 Policy...819
*8111. Paragraph 6 of the Pollution Exclusion...819
2. Progressive, Indivisible Property Damage ... Caused By Related or Continuous Exposure to Substantially the Same General Harmful Conditions or Substances...820
B. Exclusions Under the 2011 Policy...822
1. Impact of the Sites Endorsement on the Waste Disposal Site and Pollution Exclusions...822
a. Is the USOR Site a "Waste Disposal Site"?...823
2. Exclusion g (Auto Exclusion)...824
a. Does Exclusion g Apply?...825
b. Property Damage Arising Out of the Use of an Auto...827
c. Does Section 2 of the Transportation Coverage Endorsement Preclude Coverage?...828
V. Conclusion and Order...830
VI. Appendix of Pertinent Policy Provisions...830
I. INTRODUCTION
Pending before the Court in this insurance coverage dispute are the parties' cross-motions for partial summary judgment on Defendant insurer AIG Specialty Insurance Company's ("ASIC" or "Defendant") duty to defend its insureds, Plaintiffs USA Environment, L.P. ("USAE") and Bayou City Environmental Services, L.P. ("Bayou" and, together with USAE, "Plaintiffs"), in an underlying lawsuit. Plaintiffs have filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on the Duty to Defend ("USAE Motion") [Doc. # 19]. ASIC has filed a Cross-Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and Opposition to the USAE Motion ("ASIC Motion") [Doc. # 21]. Plaintiffs have filed a combined reply in support of the USAE Motion and opposition to the ASIC Motion ("USAE Reply") [Doc. # 29], to which ASIC has replied in kind ("ASIC Reply") [Doc. # 30]. Plaintiffs filed a Sur-Reply [Doc. # 36], and ASIC a Sur-Sur Reply [Doc. # 37].
II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
The parties dispute, among other things, whether ASIC has a duty to defend Plaintiffs in an environmental damage case currently pending in federal court. Plaintiffs claim coverage under several Commercial General Liability and Professional Liability insurance policies for periods covering, collectively, January 3, 2003 to January 3, 2014 (collectively, the "Policies"). Provisions of the Policies that are relevant to this dispute are excerpted in the appendix to this Memorandum and Order ("Appendix").
A. The Underlying Lawsuit
USAE and Bayou engage in "environmental activities" on behalf of waste generators.
The USOR Site was abandoned by its owners and operators in June, 2010.
On July 1, 2010, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services contacted the National Response Center and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") hotlines to request assistance in stabilizing the USOR Site and managing a large volume of hazardous substances and waste in preparation for the upcoming season.
Several potentially responsible parties ("PRPs"), including plaintiffs in the Underlying Lawsuit ("USOR Site PRP Group"), entered into settlement agreements with the EPA on August 25, 2011 ("First Removal Action") and July 14, 2016 ("Second Removal Action").
On December 20, 2012, the EPA advised USAE by letter ("EPA General Notice") that USAE is potentially liable under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA"),
In March, 2013, approximately three months after receiving the EPA General Notice, USAE entered into a cost-sharing *814agreement (the "Participation Agreement") with other PRPs (the "USOR Site PRP Group") that governed cost-sharing among the USOR Site PRP Group with respect to participating PRPs' clean-up removal activities at the USOR Site.
The USOR Site PRP Group allegedly notified Plaintiff Bayou by letter dated July 10, 2014, that Bayou faced potential liability in connection with its work at the USOR Site.
On August 24, 2014, the USOR Site PRP Group filed the Underlying Lawsuit against hundreds of defendants, including USAE and Bayou.
[F]rom at least April 2004 to July 2008, [Bayou] accepted for transport to the USOR Site, which was selected by [Bayou], and/or by contract, agreement, or otherwise arranged for disposal or treatment, and/or arranged with a transporter for transport for disposal or treatment of waste owned or possessed by [Bayou], at least 5,801,744 gallons of waste containing hazardous substances at the USOR Site.32
With respect to USAE, the USOR Site PRP Group alleges, inter alia , that
[F]rom at least January 2004 to February 2008, [USAE] accepted for transport to the USOR Site, which was selected by [USAE], and/or by contract, agreement, or otherwise arranged for disposal or treatment, and/or arranged with a transporter for transport for disposal or treatment of waste owned or possessed by [USAE], at least 5,762,581 gallons of waste containing hazardous substances at the USOR Site."33
Additionally, the USOR Site PRP Group claims that USAE breached the Participation Agreement by refusing to pay USAE's share of response costs the USOR Site PRP Group incurred prior to USAE's rescinding the Participation Agreement.
B. Procedural Posture
USAE and Bayou are named insureds under eleven CGL policies (each referred to as a "Policy"). ASIC issued Policies covering USAE for the periods from January 3, 2003 to January 3, 2014.
On July 26, 2016, before ASIC responded to the Bayou Claim, USAE and Bayou filed the instant insurance coverage lawsuit against ASIC seeking declaratory judgments with respect to ASIC's duty to defend and duty to indemnify Plaintiffs in connection with claims relating to the alleged environmental liabilities at the USOR Site.
The pending Motions are limited to two issues: whether ASIC owes Plaintiffs a duty to defend with respect to the Underlying Lawsuit, and whether ASIC has breached that duty.
III. LEGAL STANDARDS
A. Summary Judgment
Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides for the entry of summary judgment against a plaintiff who fails to make a sufficient showing of the existence of an element essential to his case and on which he will bear the burden at trial. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett ,
In deciding whether a genuine and material fact issue has been created, the court reviews the facts and inferences to be drawn from them in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Reaves Brokerage Co. v. Sunbelt Fruit & Vegetable Co. ,
"When evidence exists in the summary judgment record but the nonmovant fails even to refer to it in the response to the motion for summary judgment, that evidence is not properly before the district court." Malacara v. Garber ,
B. Legal Principles for Interpretation of Insurance Contracts and Assessment of the Duty to Defend
The Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action based on complete diversity of citizenship of the parties. The Court therefore is bound to apply the substantive law of the forum state and follow federal procedural rules. See Erie R. Co. v. Tompkins ,
Texas courts interpret insurance policies according to the rules of contract interpretation. Int'l Ins. Co. v. RSR Corp. ,
Under the "eight corners rule" of Texas insurance law, "a court looks only at the insurance policy itself and the pleadings in the complaint in the underlying suit" to determine whether a lawsuit would give rise to a covered claim. See Hartford Cas. Ins. Co. v. DP Eng'g, L.L.C. ,
The eight corners rule is to be applied liberally in favor of the insured, with any doubts resolved in favor of the insured. Guaranty Nat'l Ins. Co. v. Azrock Indus., Inc. ,
In an insurance coverage dispute analyzed under the eight corners rule, "[t]he insured bears the initial burden of showing that there is coverage, while the insurer bears the burden of proving the applicability of any exclusions in the policy." Id. at 552-53. "If the insurer succeeds in showing the applicability of an exclusion, the burden shifts back to the insured to show that an exception to the exclusion brings the claim within coverage." KLN Steel Products Co. v. CNA Ins. Cos. ,
If only one party's construction of a policy is reasonable, the policy is unambiguous and the Court will adopt that party's construction. RSUI Indem. ,
IV. ANALYSIS
The provisions of the eleven Policies relevant to the pending Motions are, with one exception, nearly identical.
We [ASIC] will pay those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of bodily injury45 or property damage to which this insurance applies. We will have the right and duty to defend the insured against any suit seeking those damages. However, we will have no duty to defend the insured against any suit seeking damages for bodily injury or property damage to which this insurance does not apply. We may at our discretion investigate any occurrence and settle any claim or suit that may result ....46
Section I(A)(1)(b) of the Insuring Agreement defines the scope of the phrase "property damage to which this insurance applies." Section I(A)(1)(b) provides:
b. This insurance applies to ... property damage only if:
(1) The ... property damage is caused by an occurrence that takes place in the coverage territory ; and
(2) The ... property damage occurs during the policy period .47
There is no dispute that section I(A)(1)(b) of the Insuring Agreement, standing alone, would trigger Defendant's duty to defend in this context. Specifically, ASIC does not disagree that the alleged property damage was caused by an occurrence that takes place in the coverage territory, and that the property damage occurred during the Policies' policy periods. The issues that divide the parties are whether Plaintiffs may obtain coverage under any of the Policies or whether any of the following three exclusions in the Policies independently preclude coverage: (1) the Pollution Exclusion (Exclusion f), (2) the Waste Disposal Site Exclusion (Exclusion u), and (3) the Aircraft, Auto or Watercraft Exclusion (Exclusion g), as modified by a Transportation Coverage Endorsement.
Plaintiffs disagree and argue the Court need not reach the Pollution Exclusion or *819the Waste Disposal Site Exclusion. Significantly, the Policies covering January, 2011 to January, 2014, include an endorsement that creates an exception to the Pollution Exclusion for "waste disposal sites" and deletes the Waste Disposal Site Exclusion. Plaintiffs argue that they have a viable claim under the 2011 Policy. ASIC, however, contends that, to the extent Plaintiffs have a claim for coverage, Plaintiffs' claims are limited to the 2003-2004 Policy, with respect to USAE, and the 2004-2005 Policy, for Bayou.
The Court concludes that Plaintiffs may pursue their claims under the 2011 Policy. The Court next concludes that the Aircraft, Auto or Watercraft Exclusion (Exclusion g), as amended by an Endorsement No. 10 to the 2011 Policy, is the only applicable exclusion under the 2011 Policy. Finally, the Court determines that Exclusion g does not bar coverage. ASIC therefore has a duty to defend Plaintiffs in the Underlying Lawsuit, and has breached that duty.
A. The 2011 Policy
1. Paragraph 6 of the Pollution Exclusion
The Policies include Exclusion f-Pollution ("Pollution Exclusion"), which establishes a bar to coverage for, in part, "property damage arising out of the actual, alleged, or threatened discharge, dispersal, seepage, migration, release or escape of pollutants at any time," which exclusion is subject to exceptions in paragraph f(4) ("Exception 4") and f(5) ("Exception 5").
The Pollution Exclusion also sets forth rules for determining which Policies are implicated if coverage exists for property damage pursuant to Exception 4 and Exception 5. Paragraph 6 of the Pollution Exclusion ("paragraph 6") provides:
(6) With respect to paragraphs (4) and (5) of this exclusion, in determining whether ... property damage has occurred during the policy period , the following rules apply:
(a) Progressive, indivisible ... property damage over a period of days, weeks, months or longer, caused by related or continuous exposure to substantially the same general harmful conditions or substances, shall be deemed to have occurred only on the date of first exposure to such conditions or substances.
(b) However, if the date of first exposure cannot be determined, or is before the inception date of the first policy we issued to you which provides coverage substantially similar to that provided under paragraphs (4) and (5) above, but the progressive, indivisible ... property damage continues in fact to exist during this policy period , it will be deemed to have occurred only on the inception date of the first such Policy.
(c) An occurrence may result in ... property damage which occurs during the policy periods of different policies we issued to you which provide coverage substantially similar to that provided under paragraphs (4) and (5) of this exclusion. In that case, all ... property damage resulting from such occurrence shall be subject to the Each Occurrence Limit applicable to the first such Policy during which any of such ... property damage occurred.51
ASIC contends that the USOR Group's Complaint alleges "continuous, progressive *820injury" that, pursuant to paragraph 6, is deemed to have occurred only on the date of first exposure or the inception date of the first Policy at issue for each of the Plaintiffs-i.e. , the 2003-2004 Policy for USAE, and the 2004-2005 Policy for Bayou.
2. Progressive, Indivisible Property Damage ... Caused By Related or Continuous Exposure to Substantially the Same General Harmful Conditions or Substances
In support of its position, ASIC argues that pollutants and waste comprise "the same general harmful conditions or substances," and that the USOR Group's Complaint does not allege USAE or Bayou is responsible for particular damage to the USOR Site "presumably because this is impossible to do in relation to long-term pollution occurring at a waste disposal site."
The Court concludes that Plaintiffs have established that the USOR Group's Complaint contains allegations that permit the reasonable interpretation that the property damage alleged is not "progressive, indivisible property damage ... caused by related or continuous exposure to substantially the same general harmful conditions or substances." See Fair Operating, Inc. v. Mid-Continent Cas. Co. ,
With respect to Plaintiffs specifically, the USOR Group's Complaint identifies various types of waste streams each Plaintiff allegedly transported and/or arranged to be disposed.
The USOR Group's Complaint alleges that certain waste streams for which Bayou and USAE were allegedly responsible "contained some or all" of certain separately identifiable hazardous substances such as arsenic, cadmium, and silver.
*822That Plaintiffs are alleged in the Underlying Lawsuit to be "strictly, jointly and severally liable" for response costs under CERCLA does not make the property damage from releases at the Site indivisible or progressive. Indeed, the First and Second Removal Activities allegedly are ongoing, and it is impossible to definitively conclude whether or not the property damage is "indivisible."
The allegations in the USOR Group's Complaint accordingly do not clearly bring the case within the coverage limitations imposed by paragraph 6 of the Pollution Exclusion. Cf. Fed. Ins. Co. ,
USAE and Bayou are entitled to seek a duty to defend under the 2011 Policy.
B. Exclusions Under the 2011 Policy
As noted, ASIC argues that three exclusions preclude coverage: (1) the Pollution Exclusion, Exclusion f; (2) Exclusion u, the "Waste Disposal Site" Exclusion, and (3) Exclusion g, the "Aircraft, Auto or Watercraft" Exclusion, which is amended by Endorsement 10 (the "Transportation Coverage Endorsement").
1. Impact of the Sites Endorsement on the Waste Disposal Site and Pollution Exclusions
The Sites Endorsement provides, in pertinent part:
*8231. SECTION I. COVERAGE A-BODILY INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY paragraph 2. Exclusions, subparagraph u. Waste Disposal Site is deleted in its entirety.
2. SECTION I. COVERAGE A-BODILY INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY paragraph 2. Exclusions, subparagraph f. Pollution is amended by the addition of the following:
(7) Parts (1) and (2) of this exclusion do not apply to waste disposal sites .
* * * *
4. SECTION IV. DEFINITIONS paragraph 29 is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
29. Waste Disposal Sites means all waste treatment, waste storage or waste disposal facilities utilized by or on behalf of the Named Insured provided that such waste disposal sites are:
i. Properly licensed to accept and dispose of waste and in compliance with applicable federal, state, provincial or local laws ....
ii. As of the Policy inception date, such facility is not listed, not proposed and has never been listed on the federal National Priorities List (Superfund), State equivalent list, or local equivalent list;
iii. As of the Policy inception date, such facility is not subject to Federal information requests under Section 104(e) of CERCLA or Section 3007 (a) of RCRA or[ ] State or Local equivalent requests; and
iv. As of the Policy inception date or date that the waste is accepted from the Named Insured, whichever is later, the waste disposal site , its owners and operators are not in bankruptcy or financial insolvency.72
Whether the USOR Site is or is not a "waste disposal site," as defined by the Sites Endorsement, dictates whether the Sites Endorsement's exception to the Pollution Exclusion is applicable. ASIC argues that even if Plaintiffs may seek coverage under the 2011 Policy, the Sites Endorsement does not apply because the USOR Site does not meet the definition of "waste disposal site" introduced by the Endorsement. The Court is unpersuaded by ASIC's argument.
a. Is the USOR Site a "Waste Disposal Site"?
ASIC contends that the USOR Site was not a "waste disposal site" under the 2011 Policy
The USOR Site property was abandoned by the owners and operators in June 2010. In July 2010, a State court appointed a Receiver with legal custody and control over the USOR Site. Among other things, the Receiver's role is to assist the USOR Site PRP Group in its performance of EPA-approved response actions at the USOR Site.75
Plaintiffs persuasively argue that ASIC's inference is unjustified. The Court "must consider 'any reasonable inferences that flow from the facts alleged.' " See Star-Tex Res., L.L.C. ,
To recap, the Sites Endorsement deletes Exclusion u, the Waste Disposal Site Exclusion, and creates an exception to the Pollution Exclusion with respect to waste disposal sites. The USOR Group's Complaint permits the argument that the USOR Site is a "waste disposal site" under the 2011 Policy. Thus, under the 2011 Policy, Exclusion g, i.e. , the Auto Exclusion, is the only remaining exclusion on which ASIC relies to argue coverage is barred.
2. Exclusion g (Auto Exclusion)
Exclusion g, the Auto Exclusion for present purposes, in relevant part precludes coverage for:
... property damage arising out of the ownership, maintenance, use or entrustment to others of any aircraft, auto or watercraft owned or operated by or rented or loaned to any insured. Use includes operation and loading or unloading .77
"Auto" is defined, in pertinent part, as a "land motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer designed for travel on public roads, including any attached machinery or equipment."
Exclusion g is modified in all Policies, including the 2011 Policy, by an endorsement entitled "Amendment of Aircraft, Auto or Watercraft Exclusion (Transportation Coverage)" ("Transportation Coverage Endorsement"). The Transportation Coverage Endorsement in Section 1 provides:
1. It is hereby agreed that SECTION I, COVERAGE A.-BODILY INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY, paragraph 2. EXCLUSIONS, subparagraph g(6) is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
*825(6) ... [P]roperty damage within the exceptions described in sub-paragraphs (4) [ongoing work] and (5) [products-completed operations hazard] of Exclusion f., Pollution ... and which arises out of:
(a) loading or unloading of any aircraft, auto or watercraft owned or operated by or rented or loaned to any insured; or
(b) transportation of materials at, to or from any job site in the course of the performance of your work .79
In Section 2, the Transportation Coverage Endorsement provides:
2. It is hereby agreed that solely with respect to this endorsement, the following is added to SECTION I., COVERAGE A.-BODILY INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY, paragraph 2. EXCLUSIONS:
... [P]roperty damage which occurs subsequent to the time the transported material reaches its final destination or while it is in storage off-loaded from the conveyance which was transporting it.80
Plaintiffs' argument is two-fold: first, Exclusion g, the Auto Exclusion, is not triggered by allegations in the USOR Group's Complaint and, second, the Transportation Coverage Endorsement does not come into play unless Exclusion g applies. Because Exclusion g does not apply, Plaintiffs contend, the Transportation Coverage Endorsement is likewise inapplicable. ASIC argues that Exclusion g, even considered separately from the Transportation Coverage Endorsement, applies and, in any event, the Transportation Coverage Endorsement necessarily adds a ground to Exclusion g that bars coverage.
a. Does Exclusion g Apply?
Exclusion g precludes coverage for property damage arising from "use" of an "auto," as both terms are defined in the Policy.
The USOR Group's Complaint alleges that Plaintiffs are at least partly responsible for property damage at the USOR Site caused by waste streams containing hazardous substances. Plaintiffs' alleged liability is rooted in alleged transportation, or arranging of transportation, of hazardous substances to the USOR Site. The mode of transportation, however, is never specified. For example, the USOR Group's Complaint's allegations with respect to USAE include the following:
• 2765. According to USOR Site Records, from at least January 2004 to February 2008, Defendant USA Environment, LP ("USA Environment"), which is also known as USA Industrial Services ("USA Industrial Services") and/or does business as USA Industrial Services, accepted for transport to the USOR Site, which was selected by USA Environment, and/or by contract, agreement, or otherwise arranged for disposal or treatment, and/or arranged with a transporter for transport for disposal or treatment of waste owned or possessed by USA Environment, at least 5,762,581 gallons of waste containing hazardous substances at the USOR Site.83
• 2770. The waste streams USA Environment and/or USA Industrial Services generated, transported to and/or arranged for disposal at the USOR Site fall within the definition of "solid waste" under the TSWDA.84
Similarly, the USOR Group's Complaint alleges, inter alia , the following regarding Bayou:
• 225. According to USOR Site Records, from at least April 2004 to July 2008, Defendant Bayou City Environmental Services, LP doing business as USA Waste Transportation Services ("Bayou City Environmental") accepted for transport to the USOR Site, which was selected by Bayou City Environmental, and/or by contract, agreement, or otherwise arranged for disposal or treatment, and/or arranged with a transporter for transport for disposal or treatment of waste owned or possessed by Bayou City Environmental, at least 5,801,744 gallons of waste containing hazardous substances at the USOR Site.85
• 230. The waste streams Bayou City Environmental transported and/or arranged for disposal fall within the definition of "solid waste" under the TSWDA.86
It is clear that Plaintiffs are alleged to have transported materials; how they transported those materials, however, is unspecified. The USOR Group's Complaint refers to both a parking lot
b. Property Damage Arising Out of the Use of an Auto
Even if the Court assumes that the USOR Group's Complaint must be construed to mean Plaintiffs used a form of an "auto" as defined in the 2011 Policy to transport materials to the USOR Site, the property damage alleged in the USOR Group's Complaint does not, under well-established Texas law, constitute property damage arising out of the "use" of an automobile.
ASIC correctly notes that the Texas Supreme Court has held that " 'arise out of' means that there is simply a 'causal connection or relation[ ]' ... which is interpreted to mean that there is but for causation, though not necessarily direct or proximate causation." See Utica Nat. Ins. Co. of Tex. v. Am. Indem. Co. ,
(1) the accident must have arisen out of the inherent nature of the automobile, as such, (2) the accident must have arisen within the natural territorial limits of an automobile, and the actual use must not have terminated, (3) the automobile must not merely contribute to cause the condition which produces the injury, but must itself produce the injury.90
*828Lindsey ,
Applying the Lindsey factors to the issue at bar, the Court concludes that the Auto Exclusion is not applicable. The USOR Group's Complaint alleges that Plaintiffs transported and/or arranged for the disposal of materials to the USOR Site.
The third Lindsey factor is whether the vehicle produced the injury. Lindsey involved a child who, while attempting to enter his parents' truck, inadvertently caused a loaded shotgun in the truck's gun rack to fire, injuring a passenger in another vehicle. See Lindsey ,
In the case at bar, in contrast, the alleged property damage could have occurred regardless of the vehicles or mode of transportation used to deposit the waste to the USOR Site. The third factor is not met. ASIC fails to show that the "use of an auto" exclusion under Exclusion g precludes coverage.
c. Does Section 2 of the Transportation Coverage Endorsement Preclude Coverage?
As noted above, every Policy, including the 2011 Policy, contains a Transportation Coverage Endorsement that amends Exclusion g, the Auto Exclusion. Section 2 of the Transportation Coverage Endorsement (the "Section 2 Exclusion") opens with the phrase "solely with respect to this endorsement," and adds a coverage exclusion for, inter alia , "property damage which occurs subsequent to the time the transported material reaches its final destination ...."
The parties offer alternate interpretations of the Transportation Coverage Endorsement Section 2 exclusion. Plaintiffs argue that the phrase "solely with respect to this endorsement" limits application of the Section 2 Exclusion to the coverage established in Section 1 of the Transportation *829Coverage Endorsement, which itself simply modifies the coverage provided by paragraph g(6), an exception to the Auto Exclusion. Plaintiffs reason that because Exclusion g does not apply, the Transportation Coverage Endorsement does not come into play and its Section 2 Exclusion does not bar coverage. ASIC responds that Sections 1 and 2 of the Transportation Coverage Endorsement are separate from each other, and that the Endorsement's Section 2 supplements Exclusion g by adding a new exclusion not tied to use of an auto and not tied to the exception in paragraph g(6) of the Auto Exclusion. According to ASIC, if the Section 2 Exclusion, read alone, would preclude coverage, Exclusion g precludes coverage for Plaintiffs in this case. ASIC argues that its interpretation is consistent with what it asserts is the intent of the Policies, namely, to provide coverage for accidents that occur during the course of an insured's work and to preclude coverage for pollution claims arising out of waste relinquished by the insured.
The Court finds ASIC's interpretation of the Section 2 Exclusion strained. ASIC's interpretation is inconsistent with a strict reading of Section 2's prefatory phrase "solely with respect to this Endorsement." That phrase conveys that Section 2 may be applied only within the Transportation Coverage Endorsement, and thus modifies the scope of coverage created by Section 1's exception to the Auto Exclusion (Exclusion g). Notably, ASIC's construction would make sense if Section 2 started with the introductory phrase "by this Endorsement," and read:
AMENDMENT OF AIRCRAFT, AUTO OR WATERCRAFT EXCLUSION (TRANSPORTATION COVERAGE)
It is hereby agreed that, by this Endorsement , the following is added to SECTION I., COVERAGE A.-BODILY INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY , paragraph 2. EXCLUSIONS :
...[P ]roperty damage which occurs subsequent to the time the transported material reaches its final destination or while it is in storage off-loaded from the conveyance which was transporting it.
Furthermore, to adopt ASIC's interpretation of "solely with respect to this endorsement" would be to render that phrase meaningless, contrary to longstanding statutory cannons of construction. Accordingly, ASIC's interpretation is not reasonable. Plaintiffs have supplied a reasonable interpretation of the scope of the Section 2 Exclusion, and the Exclusion does not enable ASIC to avoid its duty to defend in the Underlying Lawsuit.
The same result pertains even if the Court were to conclude that ASIC's interpretation of the Section 2 Exclusion is reasonable when read in the context of the Endorsement and Policy as a whole, and thus the Section 2 Exclusion is subject to more than one reasonable interpretation. Under this approach, the Policy is ambiguous to this extent. See RSUI Indemnity Co. ,
Assuming the Transportation Coverage Endorsement and its Section 2 Exclusion are subject to more than one reasonable interpretation in this regard, the Policy as modified by that Endorsement must be *830construed strictly against ASIC and liberally in favor of Plaintiffs. See Mid-Continent Cas. Co. ,
Plaintiffs' interpretation of the Transportation Coverage Endorsement is reasonable. Accordingly, Plaintiffs' interpretation of the Section 2 Exclusion is adopted for the purposes of evaluating ASIC's duty to defend Plaintiffs in the Underlying Lawsuit. The Court therefore concludes that the Transportation Coverage Endorsement, including the Section 2 Exclusion, is not triggered because Exclusion g does not preclude coverage.
V. CONCLUSION AND ORDER
In sum, the 2011 Policy governs the determination of Defendant AIG Specialty Insurance Company's duty to defend Plaintiffs USA Environment, L.P. and Bayou City Environmental Services, L.P. in the Underlying Lawsuit. Under the 2011 Policy, the only potentially applicable exclusion is Exclusion g. ASIC has failed to show that Exclusion g precludes coverage. ASIC accordingly has a duty to defend Plaintiffs in the Underlying Lawsuit, and ASIC has breached that duty. It is therefore
ORDERED that Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on the Duty to Defend [Doc. # 19] is GRANTED . It is further
ORDERED that Defendant's ASIC's Cross-Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and Opposition to the USAE Motion [Doc. # 21] is DENIED . It is further
ORDERED that Defendant ASIC must defend Plaintiffs in the Underlying Lawsuit. It is further
ORDERED that the parties show cause on or before July 18, 2017 , why this case should not be stayed and administratively closed until there is a need for a ruling on whether ASIC has an obligation to indemnify one or both Plaintiffs for sums that the Plaintiff is legally obligated to pay because of bodily injury or property damage to which this insurance applies, as a result of a claim in the Underlying Lawsuit.
APPENDIX OF PERTINENT POLICY PROVISIONS
This Appendix includes relevant excerpts from the insurance policies in issue in this coverage suit ("Policies"). The provisions appear in the order in which they appear in the Policies. Provisions inserted by amendment have been combined with the original language of the Policies.
The provisions presented here are taken from the 2011 Policy, though almost all are contained in all eleven Policies.
SECTION I-COVERAGE, Coverage A. Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability
1. Insuring Agreement
a. We will pay those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of bodily injury or property damage to which this insurance applies. We will have the right and duty to defend the insured against any suit seeking those damages. However, we will have no duty to defend the insured against any suit seeking damages *831for bodily injury or property damage to which this insurance does not apply. We may at our discretion investigate any occurrence and settle any claim or suit that may result...
* * * *
b. This insurance applies to bodily injury and property damage only if:
(1) The bodily injury or property damage is caused by an occurrence that takes place in the coverage territory ; and
(2) The bodily injury or property damage occurs during the policy period .
2. Exclusions
* * * *
f. Pollution
(1) Bodily injury or property damage arising out of the actual, alleged, or threatened discharge, dispersal, seepage, migration, release or escape of pollutants at any time.
(2) Any loss , cost or expense arising out of any:
(a) Request, demand or order that any insured or others test for, monitor, clean up, remove, contain, treat, detoxify or neutralize, or in any way respond to, or assess the effects of pollutants ; or
(b) Claim or suit by or on behalf of a governmental authority for damages because of testing for, monitoring, cleaning up, removing, containing, treating, detoxifying or neutralizing, or in any way responding to, or assessing the effects of pollutants .
(3) Part (1) of this exclusion does not apply to:
(a) Bodily injury or property damage arising out of heat, smoke or fumes from a hostile fire...
(b) Bodily injury if...
(4) This exclusion does not apply to bodily injury or property damage when:
(a) The actual or alleged discharge, dispersal, seepage, migration, release or escape of pollutants arises out of your work and takes place at a job site where you or your subcontractors are working; and
(b) Such job site was never at any time owned or occupied by, or rented or loaned to any insured, other than an insured which is an additional insured or qualifies as an insured under Section II, paragraph 5.
(5) This exclusion does not apply to bodily injury or property damage when the actual or alleged discharge, dispersal, seepage, migration, release or escape of pollutants arises out of the products-completed operations hazard of your work , as described in Section VI-DEFINITIONS, paragraph 23.
(6) With respect to paragraphs (4) and (5) of the exclusion, in determining whether bodily injury or property damage has occurred during the policy period , the following rules apply:
(a) Progressive, indivisible bodily injury or property damage over a period of days, weeks, months or longer, caused by related or continuous exposure to substantially the same general harmful conditions or *832substances, shall be deemed to have occurred only on the date of first exposure to such conditions or substances.
(b) However, if the date of first exposure cannot be determined, or is before the inception date of the first policy we issued to you which provides coverage substantially similar to that provided under paragraphs (4) and (5) above, but the progressive, indivisible bodily injury or property damage continues in fact to exist during this policy period , it will be deemed to have occurred only on the inception date of the first such Policy.
(c) An occurrence may result in bodily injury or property damage which occurs during the policy periods of different policies we issued to you which provide coverage substantially similar to that provided under paragraphs (4) and (5) of this exclusion. In that case, all bodily injury and property damage resulting from such occurrence shall be subject to the Each Occurrence Limit applicable to the first such Policy during which any of such bodily injury or property damage occurred.
(7) Parts (1) and (2) of this exclusion do not apply to waste disposal sites .93
* * * *
g. Aircraft, Auto or Watercraft94
Bodily injury or property damage arising out of the ownership, maintenance, use or entrustment to others of any aircraft, auto or watercraft owned or operated by or rented or loaned to any insured. Use includes operation and loading or unloading .
This exclusion does not apply to:
* * * *
(6) Bodily injury or property damage within the exceptions described in sub-paragraphs (4) and (5) of Exclusion f., Pollution, of Section 1.- COVERAGE A - BODILY INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY, Paragraph 2, EXCLUSIONS, and which is caused by:
(a) Loading or unloading of any aircraft, auto or watercraft owned or operated by or rented or loaned to any insured; or
(b) Transportation of materials on the job site where you are performing your work .
* * * *
[u . Waste Disposal Site
Any claim based upon or arising out of any waste or products or materials which have been delivered to a waste disposal site , beyond the boundaries of a site at which your work is being performed.]95
* * * *
Coverage B. Personal and Advertising Injury Liability
* * * *
*833Coverage C. Medical Payments
* * * *
Coverage D. Professional Liability
* * * *
SECTION VI-DEFINITIONS
* * * *
2. Auto means a land motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer designed for travel on public roads, including any attached machinery or equipment. But auto does not include mobile equipment .
* * * *
18. Occurrence means an accident, including continuous or repeated exposure to substantially the same general harmful conditions.
* * * *
21. Pollutants mean any solid, liquid, gaseous or thermal irritant or contaminant, including smoke, vapor, soot, fumes, acids alkalis, chemicals and waste. Waste includes materials to be recycled, reconditioned or reclaimed.
* * * *
23. Products-completed operations hazard :
a. Includes all bodily injury and property damage occurring away from premises you own or rent and arising out of your product or your work except:
(1) Products that are still in your physical possession; or
(2) Work that has not yet been completed or abandoned. However your work will be deemed completed at the earliest following times:
(a) When all of the work called for in your contract has been completed;
(b) When all of the work to be done at the job has been completed if your contract calls for work at more than one job site; or
(c) When that part of the work done at a job site has been put to its intended use by any person or organization other than another contractor or subcontractor working on the same project. Work that may need service, maintenance, correction, repair or replacement, but which is otherwise complete, will be treated as completed.
b. Does not include bodily injury or property damage arising out of:
(1) The transportation of property, unless the injury or damage arises out of a condition in or on a vehicle not owned or operated by you, and that condition was created by the loading or unloading of that vehicle by any insured ...
* * * *
25 . Property damage means:
a. Physical injury to or destruction of tangible property of parties other than the insured, including all resulting loss of use and diminution of value thereof. All such loss of use shall be deemed to occur at the time of the physical injury that caused it; or
b. Loss of use of tangible property, but not diminution of value, that is not physically injured. All such loss of use shall be deemed to occur at the time of the occurrence that caused it;
c. Natural resource damage ; or
d. Solely with respect to coverage within the scope of paragraphs (4) and (5) of Exclusion f., Pollution, in Section I., Coverage A, 2. Exclusions, *834property damage also means those costs or expenses arising out of the testing, monitoring, clean up, removal, containment, treatment, detoxification, neutralization or other response to or assessment of the effect of pollutants .
* * * *
29. Waste Disposal Sites
i. Properly licensed to accept and dispose of waste and in compliance with applicable federal, state, provincial or local laws ...
ii. As of the Policy inception date, such facility is not listed, not proposed and has never been listed on the federal National Priorities List (Superfund), State equivalent list, or local equivalent list;
iii. As of the Policy inception date, such facility is not subject to Federal information requests under Section 104(e) of CERCLA or Section 3007(a) of RCRA or, [sic] State or Local equivalent requests; and
iv. As of the Policy inception date or date that the waste is accepted from the Named Insured, whichever is later, the waste disposal site , its owners and operators are not in bankruptcy or financial insolvency.
* * * *
31. Your work means:
a. Work or operations performed by you or on your behalf; and
b. Materials, parts or equipment furnished in connection with such work or operations.
Your work includes:
a. Warranties or representations made at any time with respect to the fitness, quality, durability, performance or use of your work ; and
b. The providing of or failure to provide warnings or instructions.
* * * *
AMENDMENT OF AIRCRAFT, AUTO OR WATERCRAFT EXCLUSION (TRANSPORTATION COVERAGE)
1. It is hereby agreed that SECTION I. Coverage A. - Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability paragraph 2. Exclusions , subparagraph g(6) is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
(6) ... [P ]roperty damage within the exceptions described in sub-paragraphs (4) and (5) of Exclusion f., Pollution, of SECTION 1. - COVERAGE A - BODILY INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY, Paragraph *8352. EXCLUSIONS , and which arises out of:
(a) loading or unloading of any aircraft, auto or watercraft owned or operated by or rented or loaned to any insured; or
(b) transportation of materials at, to or from any job site in the course of the performance of your work .
2. It is hereby agreed that solely with respect to this endorsement, the following is added to SECTION I., COVERAGE A.-BODILY INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY , paragraph 2. EXCLUSIONS : ...[P ]roperty damage which occurs subsequent to the time the transported material reaches its final destination or while it is in storage off-loaded from the conveyance which was transporting it.
* * * *
BLANKET NON-OWNED DISPOSAL SITES ENDORSEMENT
This endorsement modifies insurance provided under the following:
COMMERCIAL GENERAL LIABILITY AND PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY POLICY
It is hereby agreed that the policy is amended as follows:
1. SECTION I. Coverage A. - Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability paragraph 2. Exclusions , subparagraph u. Waste Disposal Site is deleted in its entirety.
2. SECTION I. Coverage A - Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability paragraph 2. Exclusions , subparagraph f. Pollution is amended by the addition of the following:
(7) Parts (1) and (2) of this exclusion do not apply to waste disposal sites .
3. SECTION IV. Conditions, paragraph 2. is amended by the addition of the following:
1. Solely with respect to any Occurrence, Offense, Claim or Suit arising from or related to waste disposal sites , it is a condition precedent to coverage that we receive notice of any claim for bodily injury or property damage in no event more than three (3) years after the end of the policy period.
4. SECTION VI. Definitions paragraph 29. is deleted in its entirety and replaced with [the definition of Waste Disposal Sites provided above].
At the Court's invitation, both parties also filed supplemental briefs addressing certain issues. See ASIC Supplemental Briefing [Doc. # 39], Plaintiffs' Letter dated May 18, 2017 ("USAE Supplemental Briefing") [Doc. # 40].
The following facts are primarily derived from allegations in the operative complaint in the underlying lawsuit USOR Site PRP Group v. A-1 Cleaning SepticService, LLC et al. , Civil Action No. 4:14-cv-02441 ("Underlying Lawsuit").
USAE Motion [Doc. # 19], at 2.
See supra note 2.
Third Amended Complaint in USOR Site PRP Group v. A-1 Cleaning SepticService, LLC et al. , Civil Action No. 4:14-cv-02441, Exh. L to USAE Motion ("USOR Grp. Complt") [Doc. # 19-1], at 12.
See id. at 14.
See id. at 12. Seven Trent Services, also a defendant in the Underlying Lawsuit, operated the MCC Recycling facility from March, 1994, through April, 2004. Id.
USOR Grp. Complt, at 12.
Id. at 13.
See id.
Id. at 14, 16.
Id. at 15.
ASIC Motion [Doc. # 21], at 4 n.8 (citing EPA Superfund Program: US OIL Recovery, PASADENA, TX, accessed February 21, 2017, https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0607093). Superfund sites are parcels of land the EPA has identified as contaminated by hazardous substances at levels that may present a threat to human health or the environment.
Id. at 4.
See USOR Grp. Complt, at 17-18.
See id.
See id. at 17-18. The Second Removal Action also requires participating potentially responsible parties ("PRPs") to provide an advance payment of $50,000 of EPA's future response costs. See id. at 18.
Id. at 20. The amount also includes expenses the USOR Site PRP Group incurred conducting a "Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study" of the U.S. Oil Recovery facility related to the remediation efforts, which activities are not yet completed. See id. at 18.
See General Notice Letter, dated December 20, 2012, Exh. M to USAE Motion [Doc. # 19-1], at ECF 1481. The EPA sent USAE a supplementary letter on January 8, 2013, that included information inadvertently left out of the first General Notice. See Enclosure for General Notice Letter, dated January 8, 2013, Exh. N to USAE Motion [Doc. # 19-1], at ECF 1484.
See USAE Motion [Doc. # 19], at 10.
The record does not include the 2013 USAE Claim, but does include ASIC's response denying USAE's claim under the 2005-2006 Policy. See Denial Letter, dated March 12, 2013, Exh. O to USAE Motion ("ASIC Denial Letter") [Doc. # 19-1], at 3-4, ECF 1489-90. The record also includes a claim Bayou made to ASIC in 2016 referencing the 2013 USAE Claim. See Claim for Insured Bayou City Environmental Services, LP, dated May 10, 2016 ("Bayou Claim"), Exh. P, Attachment 1, to USAE Motion [Doc. # 19-1], at ECF 1459-1502.
See Denial Letter, dated March 12, 2013, Exh. O to USAE Motion [Doc. # 19-1], at 3-4, ECF 1489-90.
See USOR Grp. Complt, at 462, 492.
See USAE Motion [Doc. # 19], at 10.
See USOR Grp. Complt, at 54.
See id. at 55.
See USAE Motion [Doc. # 19], at 10; ASIC Motion [Doc. # 21], at 5.
See, e.g. , USOR Grp. Complt, at 41, 52-55, 74, 174, 195, 196, 200, 350, 374, 423, 430, 460-61, 472, 476. The USOR Site PRP Group alleges, in the alternative, that one of the Plaintiffs is responsible for certain actions attributable to the other Plaintiff. See, e.g. , id. at 55 ("Alternatively, [USAE] is responsible for some or all of the waste streams attributable to Bayou ...").
Id. at 52.
Id. at 460.
See id. at 492.
See id. at 482-91.
See id. at 493.
Plaintiffs included copies of the eleven Policies in Exhibit 1 to the USAE Motion. See Exhs. A through K, Attachment 1, to USAE Motion [Doc. # 19-1]. Defendant attached that Exhibit to the ASIC Motion. See Attachments 1-5 to ASIC Motion [Docs. # 21-1, # 21-2, # 21-3, # 21-4, # 21-5].
See USAE Motion [Doc. # 19] at 10; Bayou Claim [Doc. # 19-1], at ECF 1500.
Bayou Claim [Doc. # 19-1], at 1-4, ECF 1459-1502.
See Bayou Claim [Doc. # 19-1], at 1-2, at ECF 1499-1500 ("The claim arises from alleged releases of hazardous substances at the U.S. Oil Recovery Superfund Site ... [USAE] previously provided notice of this claim under [the 2005-2006 Policy] in 2013.")
Id. at 2, at ECF 1500.
See Complaint [Doc. # 1], at 9-10. Plaintiffs also seek damages, attorneys' fees and pre-judgment interest on costs and expenses arising from ASIC's alleged breaches of the insurance policies it issued Plaintiffs; damages and attorneys' fees in connection with ASIC's alleged state law violation for delaying to provide a defense or defense costs; and any other relief the Court deems proper. See id. at 10, 12-13. The pending Motions are limited to Defendant's duty to defend.
The 2011-2014 Policies include a "Blanket Non-Owned Disposal Sites Endorsement." See infra Section IV.B.
The coverage at issue in the present case is Coverage A: "Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability."
Defined terms in the Policies are bolded here, as in the Policies.
See, e.g. , CGL Policy effective January 3, 2003-January 4, 2004, Exh. A, Attachment 1, to USAE Motion ("2003-2004 Policy") [Doc. # 19-1], at 1, at ECF 13, § I(A)(1)(a) (emphasis in original); see infra Appendix, at 40.
Policies, Exhs. A-K to USAE Motion [Doc. # 19-1], § I(A)(1)(b) (emphasis in originals).
See ASIC Reply [Doc. # 30], at 1, 7, 20; ASIC Sur-Sur Reply [Doc. # 37], at 2.
See ASIC Motion [Doc. # 21], at 10-11; ASIC Reply [Doc. # 30], at 19-20.
See infra Appendix, at 40-41.
See, e.g. , 2003-2004 Policy [Doc. # 19-1], at 4, at ECF 16, § I(A)(2)(f)(6) (emphasis in original).
See ASIC Motion [Doc. # 21], at 19.
See USAE Reply [Doc. # 29], at 21.
See id. ; USAE Supplemental Briefing [Doc. # 40], at 9 n.3.
See ASIC Supplemental Briefing [Doc. # 39], at 6-7.
See USOR Grp. Complt, at 486.
See id. at 14.
With respect to the TSWDA, the plaintiffs in the Underlying Lawsuit request that the court "hold[ ] that all such Defendants are liable for the response costs incurred or to be incurred by the USOR Site PRP Group ...." See id. at 491.
See USOR Grp. Complt, at 16-17. For example, the USOR Group's Complaint details the volume and location of acetone detected at the USOR Site. Id. at 16.
See id. at 16-17.
See id.
See id. at 53, 460-61. USAE is also alleged to have potentially "generated" the waste streams, in addition to transporting and arranging for the disposal of the waste streams. See id. at 460.
Id. at 53.
See id. at 460.
See id. at 54, 461. The lists of hazardous substances for which Bayou and USAE are each allegedly potentially responsible overlap, but differ.
See id. at 15.
See id. at 17-18.
ASIC cites Borel v. Fibreboard Paper Products Corp. ,
The allegations in the USOR Group's Complaint allow for the possibility that releases of Plaintiffs' transported substances occurred only during and after 2011, for example, or during every year between 2004 through 2016.
See infra Appendix.
See infra note 81.
See, e.g. , Blanket Non-Owned Disposal Sites Endorsement, Endorsement No. 24 to 2011-2012 Policy [Doc. # 19-1], at 1-2, at ECF 691-92 (emphasis in original); see infra Appendix, at 48.
Plaintiffs do not dispute that the USOR Site was proposed for listing on the National Priorities List in September 2011, and is therefore not a "waste disposal site" under the 2012-2014 Policies. See USAE Reply [Doc. # 29], at 17; supra note 17 and accompanying text. Plaintiffs assert, however, that there is coverage under the 2011 Policy, effective January 3, 2011, because the USOR Site was not proposed for the List at the inception of that Policy. See USAE Sur-Reply [Doc. # 36], at 2 n.3.
See ASIC Reply [Doc. # 30], at 16; ASIC Sur-Sur Reply [Doc. # 37], at 8 n.13.
USOR Grp. Complt, at 13.
See supra Section II.
See 2011-2012 Policy [Doc. # 19-1], at 4, at ECF 626, § II(g) (emphasis in original); see infra Appendix, at 43.
See 2011-2012 Policy [Doc. # 19-1], at 23, at ECF 645, § VI(2); see infra Appendix, at 44.
Endorsement No. 10 to 2011-2012 Policy ("Transportation Coverage Endorsement to 2011 Policy") [Doc. # 19-1], at 1, at ECF 672 (emphasis in original); see infra Appendix, at 47.
The Policies define Your work as:
a. Work or operations performed by you or on your behalf; and
b. Materials, parts or equipment furnished in connection with such work or operations.
Your work includes:
a. Warranties or representations made at any time with respect to the fitness, quality, durability, performance or use of your work ; and
b. The providing of or failure to provide warnings or instructions.
See, e.g. , 2011-2012 Policy [Doc. # 19-1], at 23, at ECF 651, § VI(31).
Transportation Coverage Endorsement to 2011 Policy [Doc. # 19-1], at 1, at ECF 672 (emphasis in original); see infra Appendix, at 47.
In contrast, the original language of subparagraph g(6) is as follows:
(6) ... property damage within the exceptions described in sub-paragraphs (4) and (5) of [the Pollution Exclusion], and which is caused by:
(a) Loading or unloading of any aircraft, auto or watercraft owned or operated by or rented or loaned to any insured; or
(b) Transportation of materials on the job site where you are performing your work .
The Court follows the parties' lead and focuses the analysis of Exclusion g on "use" of an "auto," rather than ownership or use of other vehicles.
The Court need not reach Plaintiffs' additional contention that the alleged property damage does not stem from transportation, but arises instead from releases of hazardous waste for various reasons while the waste was onsite at the USOR Site.
USOR Grp. Complt, at 460.
Id. at 462.
Id. at 52.
Id. at 54.
See USOR Grp. Complt, at 13.
See id. at 14.
Lindsey concerned an exclusion in the context of auto liability insurance coverage. See Mid-Century Ins. Co. v. Lindsey ,
The Lindsey court noted that the factors did not comprise an "absolute test," Lindsey ,
See, e.g. , USOR Grp. Complt, at 52, 54, 460, 462, 484-86, 491.
See Transportation Coverage Endorsement to 2011-2012 CGL Policy [Doc. # 19-1], at 1, at ECF 672 (emphasis in original); see infra Appendix, at 47.
Paragraph f(7) was added by the Blanket Non-Owned Disposal Sites Endorsement in the 2011-2014 Policies.
Exclusion g is modified by the Transportation Coverage Endorsement, which is included under all Policies and copied in full below.
This Exclusion was deleted in its entirety by the Blanket Non-Owned Disposal Sites Endorsement in the 2011-2014 Policies.
The Blanket Non-Owned Disposal Sites Endorsement, contained in the 2011-2014 Policies and copied below, substitutes this definition for the original "Waste disposal site" definition located in Section VI - Definitions. The original definition stated, "29. Waste disposal sites means sites utilized for the purpose of the disposal, handling, storage, processing, or treatment of any waste, whether hazardous or not and whether authorized or not."
Though the Endorsement itself is included under all Policies at issue in this case, the number of this Endorsement varies among the Policies. This Endorsement is Endorsement No. 10 to the 2011 Policy.
This Endorsement is included in the 2011-2014 Policies. It is Endorsement No. 24 to the 2011 Policy.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- USA ENVIRONMENT, L.P. and Bayou City Environmental Services, L.P. v. AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SPECIALTY LINES INSURANCE CO. n/k/a AIG Specialty Insurance Co.
- Status
- Published