Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-01745/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-01745-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Alpha Dyno Nobel
Plaintiff
Willis of Texas, Inc.
Defendant

Document Text:

DOWNEY BRAND LLP

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1423589.1

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER TO STAY FURTHER PROCEEDINGS

DOWNEY BRAND LLP

ANTHONY L. VIGNOLO (Bar No. 203933)

MATTHEW J. WEBER (Bar No. 227314)

AVALON J. FITZGERALD (Bar No. 288167)

621 Capitol Mall, 18th Floor

Sacramento, CA 95814-4731

Telephone: 916.444.1000

Facsimile: 916.444.2100

avignolo@downeybrand.com

mweber@downeybrand.com

afitzgerald@downeybrand.com

Attorneys for Defendant

WILLIS OF TEXAS, INC.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ALPHA DYNO NOBEL, a California 

corporation,

Plaintiff,

v.

WILLIS OF TEXAS, INC., a Texas 

corporation,

Defendant.

Case No. 2:15-cv-01745-WBS-CKD

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] 

ORDER TO STAY FURTHER 

PROCEEDINGS 

Case 2:15-cv-01745-WBS-CKD Document 18 Filed 10/19/15 Page 1 of 4
DOWNEY BRAND LLP

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1423589.1 1

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER TO STAY FURTHER PROCEEDINGS

WHEREAS, this action involves a single claim by Plaintiff Alpha Dyno Nobel (“Alpha”) 

against Willis of Texas, Inc. (“Willis”) for failure to procure adequate insurance coverage;

WHEREAS, Alpha is the insured under a commercial general liability insurance policy 

and a commercial excess insurance policy, both issued by Lancer Insurance Company (“Lancer”) 

for the policy period July 1, 2013 to July 1, 2014 (the “Policies”);

WHEREAS, on December 18, 2015, Lancer filed an action against Alpha , and others, in 

the Eastern District of California to reform the Policies to add certain exclusions from coverage 

that occur in Alpha’s day-to-day operations (“Lancer Action”);

WHEREAS, on January 16, 2015, a complaint was filed against Alpha in a state court 

proceeding pending in Kern County Superior Court in connection with certain claims arising out 

of injuries and/or damages alleged to have occurred during the scheduled demolition of boiler 

structures on or about August 3, 2013 (“State Court Action”); 

WHEREAS, in or around August 2013, Alpha submitted to Lancer a tender of defense 

and coverage in connection with the claims asserted in the State Court Action;

WHEREAS, Lancer initially refused to tender a defense to Alpha for the State Court 

Action; 

WHEREAS, as a result of, inter alia, the Lancer Action and Lancer’s refusal to provide a 

defense in the State Court Action, on August 18, 2015, Alpha initiated the instant lawsuit against 

Willis, claiming that Willis failed to obtain adequate insurance coverage on Alpha’s behalf (the 

“Lawsuit”);

WHEREAS, Alpha determined that it was necessary to file the Lawsuit on August 18, 

2015, in light of certain potential statute of limitations deadlines;

WHEREAS, approximately thirty-five days after the Lawsuit was filed, on September 22, 

2015, Lancer informed Alpha by letter that it had re-evaluated its position and would agree, under 

a reservation of rights, to defend Alpha in connection with the claims asserted in the State Court 

Action;

WHEREAS, Lancer’s intervening decision on September 22, 2015 to provide a defense to 

Alpha in the State Court Action meaningfully impacts the claim asserted in this Lawsuit;

Case 2:15-cv-01745-WBS-CKD Document 18 Filed 10/19/15 Page 2 of 4
DOWNEY BRAND LLP

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1423589.1 2

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER TO STAY FURTHER PROCEEDINGS

WHEREAS, the potential outcomes of both the State Court Action and the Lancer Action 

will meaningfully impact the claim asserted in this Lawsuit;

WHEREAS, the Parties believe that, in light of the recent development, it is in the interest 

of judicial economy and fundamental fairness to stay all further proceedings in this Lawsuit 

pending the outcome of the State Court Action and the Lancer Action;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby stipulate to the following, subject to the approval 

of the Court:

1. This action will be stayed in all respects until thirty (30) days after the occurrence 

of any of the following:

a. entry of final judgment in the State Court Action or the Lancer Action;

b. resolution of the State Court Action or Lancer Action by any means 

resulting in a dismissal in whole or in part of the action; or

c. withdrawal of coverage of Alpha in the State Court Action.

2. Upon expiration of the Stay, the Parties shall promptly meet and confer and submit 

a status report to the Court regarding further proceedings in this action.

3. The Parties agree that the Stay shall not impact such rights and defenses, including 

any procedural or substantive claims or defenses, as either party may have in this 

action as of the time of the Parties’ entry into this stipulation.

4. The Scheduling Conference set for December 7, 2015 is vacated.

SO STIPULATED.

Case 2:15-cv-01745-WBS-CKD Document 18 Filed 10/19/15 Page 3 of 4
DOWNEY BRAND LLP

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1423589.1 3

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER TO STAY FURTHER PROCEEDINGS

DATED: October 15, 2015 DOWNEY BRAND LLP

By: /s/ Avalon J. Fitzgerald

AVALON J. FITZGERALD

Attorney for Defendant

WILLIS OF TEXAS, INC.

DATED: October 15, 2015 ARONOWITZ SKIDMORE LYON, APLC

By: /s/ Kathleen C. Lyon

KATHLEEN C. LYON

Attorney for Plaintiff

ALPHA DYNO NOBEL

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 16, 2015

Case 2:15-cv-01745-WBS-CKD Document 18 Filed 10/19/15 Page 4 of 4