Summary
In Scottsdale, the parties' dispute arose when a hired security officer caused a fatal accident by negligently securing an intersection to allow a funeral procession to travel through it. Scottsdale Indemnity Co., 2012 WL 6590716, at *1.
Summary of this case from One Call Med., Inc. v. Nat'l Fire & Marine Ins. Co.Opinion
Case No. EDCV 12-00017 VAP (OPx)
12-18-2012
SCOTTSDALE INDEMNITY COMPANY, Plaintiff, v. LEXINGTON INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendants.
ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S
MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
IN PART; AND GRANTING
DEFENDANT'S CROSS-MOTION FOR
SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN PART
[Motions filed on October 26, 2012]
This insurance coverage suit arises out of a third-party automobile accident that occurred while an employee of the insured was providing security services for a funeral procession. The parties dispute whether the incident falls within the insured's automotive liability policy or general commercial liability policy. Plaintiff Scottsdale Indemnity Company's ("Scottsdale") Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. No. 20) and Defendant Lexington Insurance Company's ("Lexington") Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. No. 24) came before the Court for hearing on November 26, 2012. After reviewing and considering all papers filed in support of, and in opposition to, the Motions, as well as the arguments advanced by counsel at the hearing, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff's Motion IN PART, and GRANTS Defendant's Cross-Motion IN PART, as specified below.
I. BACKGROUND
A. Procedural History
Scottsdale filed a Complaint against Lexington on January 4, 2012, asserting four claims: (1) equitable subrogation (duty to defend); (2) equitable subrogation (duty to indemnify); (3) equitable indemnity; and (4) declaratory relief. (Compl. (Doc. No. 1).)
Scottsdale filed a Motion for Summary Judgment ("Motion") on October 26, 2012 (Doc. No. 20). In support of its Motion, Scottsdale submitted the following documents:
• Statement of Uncontroverted Facts ("Plaintiff's SUF") (Doc. No. 21)
• Declaration of Kenneth Harris (Doc. No. 22)
• Declaration of Alan B. Yuter (Doc. No. 23)
Lexington filed an Opposition to Scottsdale's Motion on November 5, 2012 (Doc. No. 32), and Scottsdale filed a Reply on November 9, 2012 (Doc. No. 35).
Lexington also filed a Motion for Summary Judgment ("Cross-Motion") on October 26, 2012. In support of its Cross-Motion, Lexington submitted the following documents:
• Statement of Uncontroverted Facts ("Defendant's SUF") (Ex. 2 to Cross Motion)
• Declaration of Kevin Gill (Ex. 3 to Cross-Motion)
• Declaration of Michael Claiborne (Ex. 4 to Cross-Motion)
Scottsdale filed an Opposition to the Cross-Motion on November 5, 2012 (Doc. No. 33); and Lexington filed a Reply on November 9, 2012 (Doc. No. 34).
In addition, the parties filed a set of Stipulated Facts and attached exhibits applicable to both motions (Doc. No. 27).
B. Underlying Action
The coverage dispute between the two insurance companies here arises out of a fatal traffic accident that occurred in Temecula, California on December 28, 2009. Plaintiff Scottsdale is the commercial automobile liability insurance coverage carrier for National Public Safety ("NPS"); Defendant Lexington is NPS's professional and general liability insurance carrier. The heirs of Ronald Phillips sued NPS in the California Superior Court for the County of Riverside, Case No. RIC 1001521 ("the Phillips suit"). The Phillips plaintiffs alleged that NPS security guard Juan Lopez acted negligently when he secured an intersection to allow a funeral procession to travel through it without interruption, causing a collision between Phillips and the vehicle in front of him, driven by another third party.
NPS tendered the Phillips suit to Lexington. Lexington denied coverage based on the automobile exclusion contained in the policy. NPS then tendered to Scottsdale, its commercial automobile liability carrier, who agreed to defend NPS and eventually settled the Phillips action for $1 million. Scottsdale now brings this action against Lexington, arguing that Lexington owed sole coverage for the loss claimed in the Phillips action, and that Scottsdale thus is entitled to indemnification for the amount of settlement and the cost of defense.
II. LEGAL STANDARD
A court shall grant a motion for summary judgment when there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247-48 (1986). The moving party must show that "under the governing law, there can be but one reasonable conclusion as to the verdict." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 250.
Generally, the burden is on the moving party to demonstrate that it is entitled to summary judgment. Margolis v. Ryan, 140 F.3d 850, 852 (9th Cir. 1998) (citing Anderson, 477 U.S. at 256-57); Retail Clerks Union Local 648 v. Hub Pharmacy, Inc., 707 F.2d 1030, 1033 (9th Cir. 1983). The moving party bears the initial burden of identifying the elements of the claim or defense and evidence that it believes demonstrates the absence of an issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986).
Where the moving party has the burden at trial, "that party must support its motion with credible evidence . . . that would entitle it to a directed verdict if not controverted at trial." Celotex, 477 U.S. at 331. The burden then shifts to the non-moving party "and requires that party . . . to produce evidentiary materials that demonstrate the existence of a 'genuine issue' for trial." Id.; Anderson, 477 U.S. at 256; Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a).
Where the non-moving party has the burden at trial, however, the moving party need not produce evidence negating or disproving every essential element of the non-moving party's case. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 325. Instead, the moving party's burden is met by pointing out that there is an absence of evidence supporting the non-moving party's case. Id. The burden then shifts to the non-moving party to show that there is a genuine dispute of material fact that must be resolved at trial. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a); Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324; Anderson, 477 U.S. at 256. The non-moving party must make an affirmative showing on all matters placed in issue by the motion as to which it has the burden of proof at trial. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322; Anderson, 477 U.S. at 252. See also William W. Schwarzer, A. Wallace Tashima & James M. Wagstaffe, Federal Civil Procedure Before Trial § 14:144.
A genuine issue of material fact will exist "if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248. In ruling on a motion for summary judgment, a court construes the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 378, 380 (2007); Barlow v. Ground, 943 F.2d 1132, 1135 (9th Cir. 1991); T.W. Elec. Serv. Inc. v. Pac. Elec. Contractors Ass'n, 809 F.2d 626, 630-31 (9th Cir. 1987).
III. UNDISPUTED FACTS
The following facts are either undisputed by the parties, or the Court deems them undisputed for the reasons noted.
NPS is a private security company; its employees sometimes work as escorts for funeral processions, directing traffic as a traffic police officer would do. (Pl.'s SUF ¶¶ 1-3.) On December 29, Juan Lopez was working for NPS as a security officer, and was assigned to lead a funeral procession from a mortuary in Temecula, California to a cemetery. (Pl.'s SUF ¶¶ 4, 5, 13.) Other NPS security officers were also assigned to the funeral procession, and all of them, like Lopez, were riding black-and-white BMW retired police motorcycles equipped with air horns and flashing amber lights. (Pl.'s SUF ¶¶ 9-11.) Lopez led the procession westbound on Sanborn Avenue to the intersection of Jefferson. He stopped at the limit line of the intersection with his motorcycle's lights on and chirped the motorcycle's air horn several times. (Pl.'s SUF ¶¶ 1-14.) Traffic on Jefferson stopped; Lopez intended to secure the intersection to allow the funeral procession to turn southbound on Jefferson.
As Lopez began slowly riding his motorcycle towards the middle of the intersection, the traffic signal facing him on Sanborn was red. (Pl.'s SUF ¶¶ 18-19.) He reached the middle of the intersection, dismounted, and began directing traffic on foot. (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 21.) Between five and ten seconds later, he witnessed a collision near the intersection. (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 22.) Lopez saw Ronald Phillips riding his motorcycle northbound on Jefferson; the light in the intersection facing the northbound Jefferson traffic was green, but all traffic on Jefferson had stopped. (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 24.) Phillips braked but could not stop his motorcycle in time to avoid a collision and skidded out of control. (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 25.) Phillips was ejected from his motorcycle, hit the Mitsubishi vehicle stopped in front of him on Jefferson, and sustained fatal injuries. (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 26.)
No vehicles owned by NPS were involved in the collision. (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 27.) Lopez was not cited for any traffic violation, nor was NPS. (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 29.)
Phillips's heirs filed suit in the California Superior Court for the County of Riverside against Lopez, NPS, and others, on July 30, 2010. (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 31.) Their complaint alleged claims for negligence (wrongful death) and negligence per se. (Pl.'s SUF ¶¶ 32-33.)
As of December 29, 2009, NPS was insured under a General and Professional Liability Policy, Policy No. 33053919, issued by Lexington ("the Lexington policy"). (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 34.) The Lexington policy had an "each occurrence" limit of $1 million. (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 35.) Section I — Coverages, contains the following provision:
COVERAGE A. BODILY INJURY, PROPERTY DAMAGE AND PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY(Ex. B to Stipulated Facts at 89-90.)
1. Insuring Agreement.
a. We will pay those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of "bodily injury", "property damage" or "professional liability" 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", "property damage" or "professional liability" to which this insurance does not apply. We may, at our discretion, investigate any "occurrence" or "wrongful act" and settle any claim or "suit" that may result.
. . . .
b. This insurance applies to "bodily injury", "property damage" and "professional liability" only if:
. . . .
(2) The "bodily injury", "property damage" or "professional liability" occurs during the policy period.
The Lexington policy includes the following definitions:
• "'Occurrence' means an accident, including continuous or repeated exposure to substantially the same generally harmful conditions." (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 37.)
• "'Bodily injury' means bodily injury, sickness or disease sustained by a person, including death resulting from any of these at any time." (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 38.)
• "'Professional liability' means liability legally imposed upon an insured arising out of a 'wrongful act.'" (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 39.)
• "'Wrongful act' means the actual or alleged negligent act, error or omission of an insured arising out of the insider's rendering or failure to render 'Professional Services.'" (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 40.)
• "'Professional services' means the rendering of security guard services pursuant to a written contract. Security guard services shall include but not be limited to watchman, patrol and checkpoint services and related consulting services." (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 41.)
The Lexington policy also includes, under a section entitled "Exclusions," that the policy does not apply to:
g. Aircraft, Auto or Watercraft(Ex. B to Stipulated Facts at 93.)
"Bodily injury", "property damage" or "professional liability" 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 applies even if the claims against any insured allege negligence or other wrongdoing in the supervision, hiring, employment, training or monitoring of others by that insured, if the "occurrence" or "wrongful act" which caused the "bodily injury", "property damage" or "professional liability" involved the ownership, maintenance, use or entrustment to others of any aircraft, "auto" or watercraft that is owned or operated by or rented or loaned to any insured.
On September 28, 2010, NPS tendered the Phillips suit to Lexington. (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 44.) Lexington reviewed the complaint and its policy, but did not conduct any investigation. (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 45.) On October 1, 2010, Lexington denied coverage. (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 46.)
As of December 29, 2009, NPS was also insured under a Commercial Auto Policy, Policy No. CAI0043227, issued by Scottsdale ("the Scottsdale policy"). (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 47.) The Scottsdale policy had a limit of $1 million for any one accident or loss. (Pl.'s SUF ¶¶ 48-49.) Section II - Coverage, contains the following provision:
A. Coverage(Ex. A to Stipulated Facts at 12.) The Scottsdale policy provides under the Coverage section that "insureds" consist of "You for any covered 'auto,'" and "Anyone else while using with your permission a covered 'auto' you own, hire or borrow." (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 51.)
We will pay all sums an "insured" legally must pay as damages because of "bodily injury" or "property damage" to which this insurance applies, caused by an "accident" or use of a covered "auto".
. . . .
We have the right and duty to defend any "insured" against a "suit" asking for such damages or a "covered pollution cost or expense." However, we have no duty to defend any "insured" against a "suit" seeking damages for "bodily injury" or "property damage" or a "covered pollution cost or expense" to which this insurance does not apply. We may investigate and settle any claim or "suit" as we consider appropriate. Our duty to defend or settle ends when the Liability Coverage Limit of Insurance has been exhausted by payment of judgments or settlement.
On October 7, 2010, NPS tendered the Phillips suit to Scottsdale, which informed NPS on November 16, 2010, that it was appointing counsel to defend NPS in the suit. (Pl.'s SUF ¶¶ 52-53.) In August 2011, Scottsdale settled the Phillips suit on behalf of NPS for $1 million. (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 57.) Scottsdale paid for NPS's defense in the Phillips suit. (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 59.) On November 15, 2011 and December 20, 2011, Scottsdale sought reimbursement from Lexington, claiming that the Lexington policy covered the loss. (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 58.)
IV. DISCUSSION
A. Equitable Subrogation
Equitable subrogation is "an insurer's right to be put in the position of the insured in order to pursue recovery from third parties legally responsible to the insured for a loss which the insurer has both insured and paid." Garbell v. Conejo Hardwoods, Inc., 193 Cal. App. 4th 1563, 1571 (2011) (internal quotation marks omitted). Scottsdale settled the Phillips suit for $1 million and paid for the insured's defense in that action. Accordingly, Scottsdale may "stand in the shoes" of the insured and is subject to all of the insured's rights and liabilities. See Employers Mut. Liab. Ins. Co. v. Tutor-Saliba Corp., 17 Cal. 4th 632, 639 (1998).
1. Duty to Defend
Scottsdale's first claim alleges that Lexington breached its duty to defend the insured in the Phillips suit. Here, however, Scottsdale did provide a defense. As an insured is entitled to only one full defense, "[a]n insurer's refusal to defend is of no consequence to an insured whose representation is provided by another insurer." Safeco Ins. Co. v. Parks, 170 Cal. App. 4th 992, 1004 (2009) (internal quotation mark omitted). Scottsdale cannot succeed as a matter of law on a subrogated claim for breach of the duty to defend because NPS could not bring such a claim in its own right.
Accordingly, the Court DENIES Scottsdale's Motion and GRANTS Lexington's Cross-Motion as to this claim.
2. Duty to Indemnify
Scottsdale's second claim alleges Lexington breached its duty to indemnify NPS for the Phillips suit. "The insurer's duty to indemnify runs to claims that are actually covered, in light of the facts proved. By definition, it entails the payment of money in order to resolve liability. It arises only after liability is established." Buss v. Superior Court, 16 Cal. 4th 35, 45 (1997) (citations omitted).
As Scottsdale settled the Phillips suit on behalf of NPS for $1 million, liability has been established. In order to succeed on its subrogated claim for breach of duty to indemnify, Scottsdale must establish whether one or both insurance policies covered the loss. Scottsdale asserts its own policy did not cover the loss, and the Lexington policy did. (Pl.'s Mot. at 21.) Lexington contends that the inverse is true. (Def.'s Opp'n at 1.)
a. Coverage under the Scottsdale Policy
Scottsdale asserts Lopez was not "using" the auto as required for coverage under the Scottsdale policy, because he was not seated behind the motorcycle's steering controls at the time of the collision. (Pl.'s Mot. at 11.) Scottsdale bases its definition of use on the California Insurance Code, which states: "[t]he term 'use' when applied to a motor vehicle shall only mean operating, maintaining, loading, or unloading a motor vehicle," Cal. Ins. Code § 11580.06(g), and "[t]he term 'operated by' or 'when operating' shall be conclusively presumed to describe the conduct of the person sitting immediately behind the steering controls of the motor vehicle. The person shall be conclusively presumed to be the sole operator of the motor vehicle," id. § 11580.06(f).
Scottsdale's argument regarding "use" relates to the causation requirement (that is, whether the loss arose from the use of a covered auto), not to whether Lopez was an insured (that is, a permissive user) within the meaning of the Scottsdale policy. (See Pl.'s Mot. at 9 ("Under California law, the underlying accident did not arise out of the 'use' of any insured auto as required for coverage under the Scottsdale auto policy.").)
Courts routinely interpret the word "use" in automotive liability policies in accordance with California Insurance Code section 11580.06(f) and (g) when determining whether a person is a permissive user. See, e.g., Scottsdale Ins. Co. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 130 Cal. App. 4th 890, 897 (2005) (citing State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Grisham, 122 Cal. App. 4th 563, 568 (2004); City of San Buenaventura v. Allianz Ins. Co., 9 Cal. App. 4th 402, 405 (1992); Nat'l Union Fire Ins. v. Showa Shipping Co., 47 F.3d 316, 321 (9th Cir. 1995)).
When dealing with the causation issue, however, courts tend to apply a broader definition of "use." See State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Camara, 63 Cal. App. 3d 48, 54 (1976) ("The term [use] is not confined to motion on the highway, but extends to any activity in utilizing the insured vehicle in the manner intended or contemplated by the insured."); see also Prince v. United Nat'l Ins. Co., 142 Cal. App. 4th 233, 242 (2006) ("California courts take an expansive view of the term [use] and are disinclined to find overlapping coverage." (citing Allstate Ins. Co. v. Jones, 139 Cal. App. 3d 271, 278 (1983)). "Some minimal causal connection" between the use of the auto and the accident is required, State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Partridge, 10 Cal. 3d 94, 100 (1973), however, and for the accident to arise out of the use of the auto, the use must be a "predominating cause" or "substantial factor" in causing the injury, State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Grisham, 122 Cal. App. 4th 563, 566 (2004).
Even under an expansive definition of the term "use," the loss in this case did not arise out of use of the covered auto. Lexington makes much of the lights and horn on Lopez's motorcycle, but the accident occurred not because Lopez arrived at the scene on a motorcycle, rode the motorcycle into the intersection, or used the lights and horn on the motorcycle to gain drivers' attention, but because Lopez entered the intersection and attempted to stop traffic that had a green light. The motorcycle was incidental to Lopez's attempt to secure the intersection.
This case is distinguishable from Prince v. United Nat'l Ins. Co., 142 Cal. App. 4th 233 (2006), in which the court held that the death of two children whose foster mother had left them in an overheated car arose out of the use of the car. Id. at 245. The court in Prince emphasized that the insured's "negligence in leaving the children in the hot Vehicle 'simply cannot be dissociated from the use of the vehicle,'" id. (quoting Nat'l Am. Ins. Co. v. Coburn, 209 Cal. App. 3d 914, 920-21 (1989)), and noted that, "[h]ad she left them on a park bench, in a grocery store, or on a neighbor's porch, they would not have expired from hyperthermia," id. Here, Lopez's alleged negligence in securing the intersection is severable from his use of the motorcycle, which was not a necessary factor in the accident. Whether Lopez entered the intersection and attempted to secure it on a motorcycle, on a skateboard, or on foot, it was his attempt to stop traffic against the traffic signals that allegedly caused the accident, and not his mode of transportation.
To determine whether the accident could have occurred without the use of Lopez's motorcycle, the Court need only look to Essex Insurance Co. v. City of Bakersfield, 154 Cal. App. 4th 696 (2007). In that case, the city was holding a fundraiser near a highway, when a police officer monitoring parking spotted a van merging onto an 'exit only' driveway and motioned it to remain on the highway; the driver of a tractor-trailer behind the van applied its brakes, jack-knifed, and collided with another car. Id. at 699-700. The driver who was struck filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging that, "[b]y placing the heavily traveled [fundraiser] on a major highway, and by providing dangerous and inadequate traffic controls, signage, and traffic direction," the city had proximately caused the plaintiff's injuries. Id. at 701.
Here, Lopez allegedly created a dangerous condition by stopping traffic that had a green light. Although the flashing lights, air horn, and transportation mechanisms of the motorcycle may have assisted Lopez in securing the intersection, that assistance did not rise to the level of a predominating cause. Accordingly, the loss did not arise out of the use of a covered auto, and the Scottsdale policy did not cover the loss.
b. Coverage under the Lexington Policy
The Lexington policy was a general commercial liability policy that covered all losses within the terms of the insuring agreement unless those claims were specifically excluded. See Westoil Terminals Co. v. Indus. Indem. Co., 110 Cal. App. 4th 139, 146 (2003). Lexington argues that the policy's provision excluding coverage for losses "arising out of" the "use" of an "auto" should apply to preclude coverage in this case. (Def.'s Opp'n at 1.) This exclusion mirrors the insuring clause in the Scottsdale policy. The Court has already determined that the loss did not arise out of the use of an auto. Thus, for the same reasons that the Scottsdale policy did not cover the loss, the Lexington policy did.
At the hearing, Lexington beseeched the Court to look to the philosophical underpinnings of the insurance policies, arguing that the loss in this case is the type of risk that was contemplated in the automobile liability policy, not in the professional liability policy. This argument is unconvincing.
To the extent Lopez used the motorcycle at all, he used it to stop traffic, which was his goal. Stopping traffic is not at all the sort of use that drivers are expected to make of an automobile. In order for the Scottsdale policy to contemplate that Lopez would use a covered auto to stop traffic, the policy would have had to take into account his professional duties, which included accompanying funeral processions and, thus, securing an intersection such that a funeral procession could proceed. The type of policy which, by its nature, is expected to take into account an insured's professional duties is a professional liability insurance policy. NPS's professional liability coverage came from the Lexington policy, not the Scottsdale policy, and it was the Lexington policy that should have contemplated risk of the very loss that occurred in this case.
Lopez's alleged negligence in securing the intersection for the funeral procession was a professional liability risk, not an automobile liability risk. Accordingly, it is the Lexington policy that provided coverage.
As established above, the Lexington policy provided sole coverage for the loss from the Phillips suit. Lexington thus has a duty to indemnify the insured for the amount of liability for the loss. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Scottsdale's Motion and DENIES Lexington's Cross-Motion as to this claim.
B. Equitable Indemnity
Scottsdale's third claim asserts that it is entitled to equitable indemnity from Lexington for the settlement amount and cost of defending the Phillips suit. "Equitable indemnity 'applies in cases in which one party pays a debt for which another is primarily liable and which in equity and good conscience should have been paid by the latter party.'" United Servs. Auto. Ass'n v. Alaska Ins. Co., 94 Cal. App. 4th 638, 644-45 (2001) (quoting Phoenix Ins. Co. v. U.S. Fire Ins. Co., 189 Cal. App. 3d 1511, 1526 (1987)).
1. Indemnification of Settlement Amount
As set forth above, the Lexington policy covered the loss and the Scottsdale policy did not. Scottsdale, having paid a debt that Lexington should have paid, is entitled to indemnification from Lexington for the full amount of settlement.
2. Indemnification of Defense Costs
Scottsdale and Lexington each had a duty to provide a complete defense to the insured.
Under California law, "a liability insurer owes a broad duty to defend its insured against claims that create a potential of indemnity." Horace Mann Ins. Co. v. Barbara B., 4 Cal. 4th 1076, 1081 (1993) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted); see also Gray v. Zurich Ins. Co., 65 Cal. 2d 263, 275 (1966) (holding that an insurer must defend any complaint that "potentially seeks damages within the coverage of the policy"). "Implicit in this rule is the principle that the duty to defend is broader than the duty to indemnify; an insurer may owe a duty to defend its insured in an action in which no damages ultimately are awarded." Id.
The defense duty is a continuing one, arising on tender of defense and lasting until the underlying lawsuit is concluded or until it has been shown that there is no potential for coverage . . . . Imposition of an immediate duty to defend is necessary to afford the insured what it is entitled to: the full protection of a defense on its behalf.Montrose Chem. Corp. v. Superior Court, 6 Cal. 4th 287, 295 (1993) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted).
The "determination whether the insurer owes a duty to defend usually is made in the first instance by comparing the allegations of the complaint with the terms of the policy." Horace Mann, 4 Cal. 4th at 1081; see also La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club Inc. v. Indus. Indem. Co., 9 Cal. 4th 27, 44 (1994). The duty to defend is also triggered if the insurer "becomes aware of . . . facts giving rise to the potential for coverage under the insuring agreement." Waller v. Truck Ins. Exch., Inc., 11 Cal. 4th 1, 19 (1995).
An insurer's duty to defend depends on the "'facts known by the insurer at the inception of a third party lawsuit,'" not on "'the ultimate adjudication of coverage under its policy of insurance.'" Montrose, 6 Cal. 4th at 295 (quoting Saylin v. Cal. Ins. Guarantee Ass'n, 179 Cal. App. 3d 256, 263 (1986)). "Any doubt as to whether the facts give rise to a duty to defend is resolved in the insured's favor." Horace Mann, 4 Cal. 4th at 1081; see also Montrose, 6 Cal. 4th at 300. Nevertheless, "where the extrinsic facts eliminate the potential for coverage, the insurer may decline to defend even when the bare allegations in the complaint suggest potential liability." Waller, 11 Cal. 4th at 19.
a. Lexington's Duty to Defend
NPS tendered the original complaint in the Phillips suit to Lexington on September 28, 2010. (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 44.) The complaint alleged, inter alia, that the insured was negligent in "the method and manner in which [it] proceeded with a funeral procession." (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 32.) This claim is vague enough to encompass a number of factual scenarios, including that which actually occurred, in which the loss did not arise from the use of an automobile, but from Lopez's actions in attempting to stop traffic that faced a green light. In addition, as Lexington concedes that it did not undertake an independent factual investigation before denying coverage, it could not have acted on the basis of extrinsic facts that eliminated the potential for coverage.
The duty to defend is excused only when "the third party complaint can by no conceivable theory raise a single issue which could bring it within the policy coverage." Montrose, 6 Cal. 4th at 300 (quoting Gray, 65 Cal. 2d at 275 n.15). As the complaint in the Phillips suit could have raised an issue covered by the Lexington policy (and did), Lexington had a duty to defend the Phillips suit. Lexington breached its duty by denying coverage and refusing to provide a defense.
b. Scottsdale's Duty to Defend
Scottsdale also had a duty to defend the Phillips suit. As stated above, the cause of action for negligence in "the method and manner in which [it] proceeded with a funeral procession" (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 32), is broad enough to encompass a factual scenario in which the loss arose out of the use of an auto. In addition, the Phillips complaint included a negligence per se claim, alleging that the insured "negligently, carelessly and recklessly . . . failed to control, operate and drive their vehicle so as to avoid plaintiff's husband/father colliding with the vehicle resulting in severe and serious injuries resulting in his death," and that Lopez "violated Vehicle Code § 21453 by proceeding against a red signal." (Pl.'s SUF ¶ 33.) These allegations could encompass facts showing that the loss arose out of the use of a covered auto. As theories existed by which the claims in the Phillips complaint could have been covered by the Scottsdale policy, Scottsdale had a duty to defend the suit. See Montrose, 6 Cal. 4th at 300.
c. Defense Cost Apportionment
Lexington asserts that, to the extent both policies covered the loss, the Lexington policy was excess and thus Scottsdale was responsible for the full amount of the defense costs. (Def.'s Opp'n at 16-19; Def.'s Cross-Mot. at 15-16.) Lexington's argument is rooted in two bases. First, the California Insurance Code provides:
where two or more policies affording valid and collectible liability insurance apply to the same motor vehicle or vehicles in an occurrence out of which a liability loss shall arise, it shall be conclusively presumed that the insurance afforded by that policy in which the motor vehicle is described or rated as an owned automobile shall be primary and the insurance afforded by any other policy or policies shall be excess.Cal. Ins. Code § 11580.9(d). Lexington argues that this provision applies to make the Lexington policy excess because the Scottsdale policy describes the motorcycle Lopez was driving. (See Def.'s Opp'n at 16-17).
Section 11580.9(d) does not apply, because this is not a case in which two policies applied to the same "motor vehicle." Only the Scottsdale policy applied to the motorcycle. The Lexington policy expressly excluded coverage for any loss arising out of the use of an auto; as such, that policy could not have applied to Lopez's motorcycle.
Second, Lexington bases its argument on the "other insurance" clause in the Lexington policy, which provides that "[t]his insurance is excess over . . . any of the other insurance . . . [i]f the loss arises out of the maintenance or use of" an auto "to the extent not subject to" the auto exclusion. (Def.'s Opp'n at 18-19; Def.'s Cross-Mot. at 17-18; Ex. B to Stipulated Facts at 106.)
This clause in the Lexington policy likewise does not apply. The Court has already found that the loss did not arise out of the use of an auto. Moreover, Lexington's duty to defend existed because of the potential that the insured would be found liable for a loss that did not arise out of the use of an auto. The policies did not cover the same loss, so neither could be excess.
"[T]he trial court's determination of which method of allocation will produce the most equitable results is necessarily a matter of its equitable judicial discretion." See Scottsdale Ins. Co. v. Century Sur. Co., 182 Cal. App. 4th 1023, 1032 (2010). As both Scottsdale and Lexington were responsible for providing a complete defense to the Phillips suit, equity requires that the parties share equally in the defense costs.
Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Scottsdale's Motion and DENIES Lexington's Cross-Motion as to this claim, and awards Scottsdale $1 million and one-half of the cost of defending the Phillips suit.
C. Remaining Issues
As the parties' respective liability has been established through the substantive claims, Scottsdale's claim for declaratory relief is DENIED as moot.
Lexington's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment is a mirror image of Scottsdale's Motion. Thus, to the extent not granted, Lexington's Cross-Motion is DENIED as moot.
V. CONCLUSION
As set forth above, the Court GRANTS Scottsdale's Motion as to Scottsdale's second claim asserting breach of duty to indemnify and third claim for equitable indemnification; and DENIES Scottsdale's Motion as to Scottsdale's first claim asserting breach of duty to defend and fourth claim requesting declaratory relief. The Court also GRANTS Lexington's Cross-Motion as to Scottsdale's first claim asserting breach of duty to defend; Lexington's Motion is otherwise DENIED. Scottsdale is awarded $1 million and one-half of the cost of defending the Phillips suit.
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VIRGINIA A. PHILLIPS
United States District Judge