Case Name: CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYD'S OF LONDON et al., Petitioners, v. THE SUPERIOR COURT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Respondent; POWERINE OIL COMPANY, INC., et al., Real Parties in Interest
Court: Supreme Court of California
Jurisdiction: California
Decision Date: 2001-02-01
Citations: 24 Cal. 4th 945
Docket Number: No. S084057
Parties: CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYD’S OF LONDON et al., Petitioners, v. THE SUPERIOR COURT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Respondent; POWERINE OIL COMPANY, INC., et al., Real Parties in Interest.
Judges: 
Reporter: California Reports
Volume: 24
Pages: 945–982

Head Matter:
[No. S084057.
Feb. 1, 2001.]
CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYD’S OF LONDON et al., Petitioners, v. THE SUPERIOR COURT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Respondent; POWERINE OIL COMPANY, INC., et al., Real Parties in Interest.
Counsel
Hancock Rothert & Bunshoft, Patrick A. Cathcart, William J. Baron, Jennifer D. McKee, Laura A. Páce, Robert J. Zapf and Jo-Ann Horn Maynard for Petitioners.
Sinnott, Dito, Moura & Puebla, Randolph P. Sinnott; Wiley, Rein & Fielding, Laura A. Foggan, Daniel E. Troy, N. Christopher Hardee, John Dunfee; Bien & Summers and Elliot L. Bien for Insurance Environmental Litigation Association as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Petitioners.
Charlston, Revich & Williams, Ira Revich and Nicholas R. Andrea for The Home Insurance Company as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Petitioners.
O’Melveny & Myers, Richard B. Goetz and Lawrence M. Hadley for Century Indemnity Company as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Petitioners.
Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland and Irving H. Greines for Truck Insurance Exchange as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Petitioners.
No appearance for Respondent.
Isola Bowers, David R. Isola and Aaron L. Bowers for Real Party in Interest Powerine Oil Company.
Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe, Robert S. Venning, David B. Goodwin and Esta L. Brand for Real Party in Interest Powerine Oil Company and for Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Granite Management Corporation as Amici Curiae on behalf of Real Parties in Interest.
Nossaman, Gunther, Knox & Elliott, Scott P. DeVries and Elaine M. O’Neil for Aerojet-General Corporation and Dover Diversified Industries, Iric., as Amici Curiae on behalf of Real Party in Interest Powerine Oil Company.
Zevnik Horton Guibord McGovern Palmer & Fognani, Mitchel Y. Horton and David S. Cox for ITT Industries, Inc., Pneumo Abex Corporation, Sunoco, Inc., and Pepsi Cola General Bottlers, Inc., as Amici Curiae on behalf of Real Party in Interest Powerine Oil Company.
Latham & Watkins, David L. Mulliken, Dorn G. Bishop, William C. Tayler and Jill N. Willis for Montrose Chemical Corporation of California, Navistar International Transportation Corp., Fluor Daniel, Inc., AstraZeneca, The Boeing Company, International Truck & Engine Corporation, Masco Tech, Maxwell Technologies, Inc., and Rohr, Inc., doing business as BF Goodrich Aerostructures Group as Amici Curiae on behalf of Real Party in Interest Powerine Oil Company.
Bill Lockyer, Attorney General, Richard M. Frank, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Craig C. Thompson, Acting Assistant Attorney General and Timothy R. Patterson, Deputy Attorney General for the People of the State of California ex rel. Attorney General Bill Lockyer as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Real Party in Interest Powerine Oil Company.
Troop Steuber Pasich Reddick & Tobey, Kirk A. Pasich and Catherine L. Rivard as Amici Curiae on behalf of Real Party in Interest Powerine Oil Company.
David L. Alexander; Farella Braun & Martel, Deborah S. Balad and Pamela H. Davis for City of Oakland and Board of Port Commissioners as Amici Curiae on behalf of Real Party in Interest Powerine Oil Company.
Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, Donald W. Brown, Thomas M. Peterson and Laura J. Remington for Aydin Corporation, Coltec Industries, Inc., Exxon Mobil Corporation, Fibreboard Corporation, Imperial Oil Limited, McKesson HBOC, Inc., Mascotech, Inc., Shell Oil Company and Tosco Corporation as Amici Curiae on behalf of Real Party in Interest Powerine Oil Company.
Adelson, Hess & Kelly, Randy M. Hess, Duane W. Shewaga and Michelle L. Fogliani for California Trustee’s Association as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Real Party in Interest Powerine Oil Company.
Anderson Kill & Olick, Edward J. Stein, William G. Passannante and M. Christina Ricarte for The Glidden Company as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Real Party in Interest Powerine Oil Company.
Stanzler Funderburk & Castellón, Jordan S. Stanzler and Dennis G. Rolstad for Weir Floway, Inc., as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Real Party in Interest Powerine Oil Company.
Munger, Tolies & Olson, Cary B. Lerman; Spriggs & Hollingsworth and Marc S. Mayerson for Aventis Cropscience USA, Inc., as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Real Party in Interest Powerine Oil Company.
Irell & Manella and Thomas W. Johnson, Jr., as Amici Curiae on behalf of Real Party in Interest Powerine Oil Company.

Opinion:
Opinion
MOSK, J.
We granted review to resolve an important issue arising under the standard comprehensive general liability insurance policy.
In one provision, the standard policy imposes on the insurer a duty to defend the insured—in typical language, it generally states that the insurer has a "duty to defend" the insured "in any suit seeking damages" for harm alleged within coverage.
- In another provision, the standard policy imposes on the insurer a duty to indemnify the insured—again in typical language, it generally states that the insurer "will pay all sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages" for harm proved within coverage.
In Foster-Gardner, Inc. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. (1998) 18 Cal.4th 857 [77 Cal.Rptr.2d 107, 959 P.2d 265] (hereafter sometimes Foster- Gardner), we addressed the question, which was of first impression in the State of California, whether the insurer's duty to defend the insured in a "suit seeking damages" was limited to a civil action prosecuted in a court. We answered in the affirmative. We went on to conclude that the duty did not extend to a proceeding conducted before an administrative agency pursuant to an environmental statute.
In this cause, we address the question, also of first impression in this state, whether the insurer's duty to indemnify the insured for "all sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages" is limited to money ordered by,.a court. We shall answer in the affirmative. We shall go on to conclude that the duty does not extend to any expenses required by an administrative agency pursuant to an environmental statute.
I
This cause arises from a petition for writ of mandate filed in the Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate District, and subsequently assigned to Division Three thereof. The petitioners are Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London, and Certain London Market Insurance Companies, hereafter collectively the London Insurers; the respondent is the Superior Court of Los Angeles County; and the real parties in interest are entities including Powerine Oil Company, Inc.
The petition for writ of mandate, as the Court of Appeal would later state, was submitted against this background:
"Powerine was engaged in the oil refining business for approximately 60 years. Through its predecessor, Rothschild Oil [Company], it commenced oil refining operations in Santa Fe Springs, California, in the mid-1930's. Over the years it expanded those operations and by the late 1970's Powerine's business occupied over 100 acres and employed over 500 people. In addition, Powerine also engaged in oil and petroleum-related exploration, production, terminaling and transportation operations throughout the western states. However, in approximately 1985, a soft petroleum market resulted in a significant financial reversal, eventually forcing Powerine into bankruptcy. Ultimately, it divested itself of all of its operations except for its refinery in Santa Fe Springs. Even so, that refinery [was] only . . . periodically operated between 1986-1995. Since the latter date, it has not been operated at all, and only a skeleton crew of employees has remained, primarily for environmental compliance and equipment maintenance purposes."
Read in conjunction with all of its supporting papers, the petition for writ of mandate contains allegations, subsequently admitted or at least not denied, to the following effect:
Highlands Insurance Company filed a complaint and thereby initiated a civil action in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County for declaratory relief against Powerine, among others. In pertinent part, it alleged, in substance, that it had issued Powerine various comprehensive general liability insurance policies; the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had instituted a proceeding against Powerine pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) (42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq.) for the cleanup of a contaminated site in Monterey Park, the so-called Operating Industries, Inc., Superfund Site, and for the abatement of the contamination's effects; Powerine demanded that Highlands defend and indemnify it in the pending proceeding; Highlands undertook to defend Powerine under a reservation of rights, and continued to do so. Highlands prayed for a declaration that it did not owe Powerine any duty to defend or any duty to indemnify in the pending proceeding. .
Powerine filed á cross-complaint and thereby initiated a cross-action essentially for damages and declaratory relief against the London Insurers, among others. In the; operative cross-complaint, which is the second amended one, Powerine alleged, in pertinent part and in substance, that the London Insurers had issued it various insurance policies, including policy No. LAB 2579, a comprehensive general liability insurance policy for a term from May 1, 1958, to May 1, 1961; the EPA had instituted a proceeding against Powerine pursuant to CERCLA for the cleanup of the contaminated Operating Industries, Inc., Superfund Site in Monterey Park, and for the abatement of the contamination's effects, and had required it, and would continue to require it, to expend funds therefor; the EPA had also instituted a proceeding against Powerine pursuant to CERCLA for the cleanup of a contaminated site in Santa Fe Springs, the so-called Waste Disposal, Inc., Superfund Site, and for the abatement of the contamination's effects, and had required it, and would continue to require it, to expend funds therefor; similarly, the California Regional Water Quality Control Boards for the Los Angeles and San Diego Regions (Regional Water Boards) had each initiated at least one proceeding of its own against Powerine by means of a cleanup and abatement order pursuant to the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (Porter-Cologne Act) (Wat. Code, § 13000 et seq.) relative to contaminated soil and groundwater at and around one or more sites in the region in question, and had required it, and would continue to require it, to expend funds therefor; in addition, several persons or entities had prosecuted to conclusion several civil actions in court against Powerine based on allegations of contamination; the London Insurers owed Powerine a duty to defend in the past actions, but denied that they did so; the London Insurers also owed Powerine a duty to indemnify in the past actions and the pending proceedings, but denied that they did so as well. Powerine prayed for, inter alia, a declaration that the London Insurers owed it a duty to indemnify in the pending EPA/CERCLA and Regional Water Boards/Porter-Cologne Act proceedings, and also prayed for damages for harm arising from their breach of the duty to defend in the past civil actions.
The London Insurers filed an answer to Powerine's operative cross-complaint. In addition to various admissions and denials, they asserted several affirmative defenses. One of the affirmative defenses was, in general, that they did not owe Powerine any duty to defend. More specifically, it was to the effect that they did not owe it any duty to defend in any proceeding conducted before an administrative agency pursuant to an environmental statute, as opposed to a civil action prosecuted in a court, because the duty was limited to the latter and hence could not extend to the former. Another of the affirmative defenses was, in general, that they did not owe it any duty to indemnify. More specifically, it was to the effect that they did not owe it any duty to indemnify for any expenses required by such an agency pursuant to such a statute, as opposed to money ordered by a court, because the duty was limited to the latter and hence could not extend to the former.
The London Insurers then filed a motion for summary adjudication of certain issues in Powerine's cross-action. There was a single issue at the threshold: Were the pending EPA/CERCLA and Regional Water Boards/ Porter-Cologne Act proceedings the only matters at issue in the cross-action, to the exclusion of any other proceedings conducted before administrative agencies pursuant to environmental statutes, and also to the exclusion of any civil actions prosecuted in court? As to this issue, they claimed that the identified pending proceedings alone were at issue. There were, in effect, two issues of substance: First, did the London Insurers owe Powerine any duty to defend in any of the identified pending proceedings? Second, did they owe it any duty to indemnify for any expenses required therein? As to the first substantive issue, they claimed that there was no triable issue as to any material fact, and that they were entitled as a matter of law to an adjudication that they did not owe any duty to defend. As to the second substantive issue, they similarly claimed that there was no triable issue as to any material fact, and that they were entitled as a matter of law to an adjudication that they did not owe any duty to indemnify.
Powerine filed opposition to the London Insurers' motion for summary adjudication. It conceded more than they claimed, to the effect that only the pending Regional Water B oards/Porter-Cologne Act proceedings were at issue in the cross-action, to the exclusion even of. the EPA/CERCLA proceedings.
After a hearing, the superior court issued an order granting in part, and denying in part, the London Insurers' motion for summary adjudication. It ruled that only the pending Regional Water Boards/Porter-Cologne Act proceedings were at issue in the cross-action. It did so in reliance on Powerine's concession of the point in its opposition. It ruled that there was no triable issue as to any material fact, and that the London Insurers were entitled as a matter of law to an adjudication that they did not owe Powerine any duty to defend in any of the identified pending proceedings. It did so in reliance on what, at the hearing, it had termed, and Powerine had not disputed, was Powerine's concession of the point in its opposition. But it also ruled that, apart from any triable issue as to any material fact, the London Insurers were not entitled as a matter of law to an adjudication that they did not owe Powerine any duty to indemnify for any expenses required therein. It did so because it concluded that the duty to indemnify was not limited to money ordered by a court, but could extend to expenses required by an administrative agency pursuant to an environmental statute.
It was against the superior court and its order denying their motion for summary adjudication of the issue of their duty to indemnify Powerine that the London Insurers submitted their petition for writ of mandate.
Directly after filing, the Court of Appeal ordered the parties to show cause why the relief requested in the London Insurers' petition for writ of mandate should, or should not, be granted. Powerine filed a reply to the petition, in opposition to relief. The London Insurers filed a response to the reply, in support thereof. The superior court did not appear.
In its judgment, the Court of Appeal discharged the order to show cause and ordered issuance of a peremptory writ of mandate directing the superior court to vacate its order denying the London Insurers' motion for summary adjudication of the issue of their duty to indemnify Powerine and to make a new order granting what they sought. In an opinion authored by Justice Croskey and joined by Presiding Justice Klein, the Court of Appeal determined, albeit more impliedly than expressly, that the superior court's order denying the London Insurers' motion for summary adjudication of the issue of their duty to indemnify Powerine was subject to independent review. It went on to determine, more expressly than impliedly, that the order was erroneous, concluding that the duty to indemnify was limited to money ordered by a court, and did not extend to any expenses required by an administrative agency pursuant to an environmental statute, including any expenses required by the Regional Water Boards pursuant to the Porter-Cologne Act. It was of the view that, "when the Supreme Court decided Foster-Gardner it, in reality, also decided this case." In a dissenting opinion, Justice Aldrich, without identifying the standard of review, would have found no error, concluding to the contrary.
Powerine filed a petition for review. We granted its application. We now affirm.
II
The issue on review is whether the insurer's duty to indemnify the insured for "all sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages," as imposed by the standard comprehensive general liability insurance policy, is limited to money ordered by a court.
A
By way of background, the standard comprehensive general liability insurance policy was developed in 1940. (E.g., Wisconsin Label v. North-brook Property & Cas. (2000) 233 Wis.2d 314, 329, fn. 3 [607 N.W.2d 276, 283]; Note, Liability Coverage for "Damages Because of Property Damage" Under the Comprehensive General Liability Policy (1984) 68 Minn. L.Rev. 795, 798.) Over the years that have followed, it has periodically been revised, appearing in various versions. (E.g., Wisconsin Label v. Northbrook Property & Cas. Ins., supra, 233 Wis.2d at p. 329, fn. 3 [607 N.W.2d at p. 283]; Note, Liability Coverage for "Damages Because of Property Damage" Under the Comprehensive General Liability Policy, supra, 68 Minn. L.Rev. at pp. 798-799; see Hartford Fire Ins. Co. v. California (1993) 509 U.S. 764, 772 [113 S.Ct. 2891, 2896-2897, 125 L.Ed.2d 612].) It had its name changed to the standard commercial general liability insurance policy in 1986. (American Star Ins. Co. v. Insurance Co. of the West (1991) 232 Cal.App.3d 1320, 1323, fn. 1 [284 Cal.Rptr. 45].)
Since before the development of the standard comprehensive general liability insurance policy, courts have, of course, entertained civil actions.
Throughout the same period, various administrative agencies have conducted various proceedings under various statutes, which generally provide for, or at least allow, subsequent civil actions prosecuted in a court at which the proceedings themselves may be reviewed.
In relatively recent years, administrative agencies like the EPA, which has been granted "extraordinary powers," have begun to conduct proceedings, which are of a "new" and "unique" type, pursuant to environmental statutes like CERCLA. (Ray Industries, Inc. v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. (6th Cir. 1992) 974 F.2d 754, 764.) Similar administrative agencies, including the Department of Toxic Substances Control of the California Environmental Protec-, tion Agency, have begun to conduct similar proceedings pursuant to similar environmental statutes, including the Hazardous Waste Control Act (Health & Saf. Code, § 25100 et seq.) and also the Carpenter-Presley-Tanner Hazardous Substance Account Act (id., § 25300 et seq.), which is the "California version of CERCLA" (Nixon-Egli Equipment Co. v. John A. Alexander Co. (C.D.Cal. 1996) 949 F.Supp. 1435, 1438; see Foster-Gardner, Inc. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co., supra, 18 Cal.4th at p. 861). Likewise, the Regional Water Boards have begun to conduct proceedings of their own pursuant to the Porter-Cologne Act.
Each of the cited environmental statutes makes the course and outcome of any proceeding before the administrative agency in question affect the course and outcome of any subsequent civil action prosecuted in a court, and does so to the agency's benefit and its subject's detriment, in order to give the subject an incentive toward compromise and a deterrent against litigation. (See generally 42 U.S.C. § 9604, 9606, 9607, 9609, 9613 (CERCLA); Health & Saf. Code, § 25350-25359.7, 25360-25367 (Carpenter-Presley-Tanner Hazardous Substance Account Act); id., § 25180-25195 (Hazardous Waste Control Act); Wat. Code, § 13300-13365 (Porter-Cologne Act).)
B
In order to resolve the issue on review, to which we now turn, we must determine the meaning of the standard comprehensive general liability insurance policy with regard thereto.
"An insurance policy is a contract between an insurer and an insured . . . , the insurer making promises, and the insured paying premiums, the one in consideration for the other, against the risk of loss .
"To yield their meaning, the provisions of a policy must be considered in their full context. . . . Where it is clear, the language must be read accordingly. . . . Where it is not, it must be read in conformity with what the insurer believed the insured understood thereby at the time of formation . . . and, if it remains problematic, in the sense that satisfies the insured's objectively reasonable expectations . . . .
"The provisions of a standard policy"—including one for comprehensive general liability insurance—"must be so considered. Of course, when they are examined solely on a form, i.e., apart from any actual agreement between a given insurer and a given insured, the rules stated above apply mutatis mutandis. That is to say, where it is clear, the language must be read accordingly, and where it is not, in the sense that satisfies the hypothetical insured's objectively reasonable expectations." (Buss v. Superior Court (1997) 16 Cal.4th 35, 45 [65 Cal.Rptr.2d 366, 939 P.2d 766], citations omitted.)
C
Among the provisions of the standard comprehensive general liability insurance policy—which is surely comprehensive but hardly unlimited (Fresno Economy Import Used Cars, Inc. v. United States Fid. & Guar. Co. (1977) 76 Cal.App.3d 272, 279-280 [142 Cal.Rptr. 681])—are the two with which we are here concerned.
In the one provision, which is of direct and primary significance, the standard policy imposes on the insurer a duty to indemnify the insured, generally stating that the insurer "will pay all sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages" for harm proved within coverage.
In the other provision, which is of indirect and secondary—but hardly less—significance, the standard policy imposes on the insurer a duty to defend the insured, generally stating that the insurer has a "duty to defend" the insured "in any suit seeking damages" for harm alleged within coverage. In the same provision, it grants the insurer a right to defend the insured, including a right to control the defense, generally stating that the insurer has a "right to defend" the insured "in any suit seeking damages" for harm alleged within coverage. Also in the same provision, it grants the insurer, evidently as part of the right to defend (see Diamond Heights Homeowners Assn. v. National American Ins. Co. (1991) 227 Cal.App.3d 563, 578 [277 Cal.Rptr. 906]), a right to settle any at least potentially covered dispute involving the insured, generally stating that the insurer has a "right to settle any claim or suit" against the insured "as it may deem expedient"—a "suit" being a dispute in the form of a civil action prosecuted in a court (Foster-Gardner, Inc. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co., supra, 18 Cal.4th at pp. 878-882), a "claim" being a dispute in some other form (ibid.).
The insurer's duty to indemnify the insured and the insurer's duty to defend the insured lie at the core of the standard policy. (See, e.g., Aerojet-General Corp. v. Transport Indemnity Co. (1997) 17 Cal.4th 38, 56-59 [70 Cal.Rptr.2d 118, 948 P.2d 909]; Buss v. Superior Court, supra, 16 Cal.4th at pp. 45-47.)
The duty to indemnify and the duty to defend are "correlative." (Ryan v. Royal Ins. Co. of America (1st Cir. 1990) 916 F.2d 731, 735; see, e.g., Aerojet-General Corp. v. Transport Indemnity Co., supra, 17 Cal.4th at pp. 56-59; Buss v. Superior Court, supra, 16 Cal.4th at pp. 45-47.) That is to say, the duty to defend has as its purpose "to avoid or at least minimize liability . . . before liability is established" (Aerojet-General Corp. v. Transport Indemnity Co., supra, 17 Cal.4th at p. 58, italics added), and the duty to indemnify has as its purpose "to resolve liability . . . after liability is established" (id. at p. 56, italics added).
Although correlative, the duty to indemnify and the duty to defend are not "coterminous." (Ryan v. Royal Ins. Co. of America, supra, 916 F.2d at p. 735; see generally Aerojet-General Corp. v. Transport Indemnity Co., supra, 17 Cal.4th at pp. 56-59.) They differ in their triggering: Whereas the duty to indemnify can arise only after damages are fixed in their amount (see Aerojet-General Corp. v. Transport Indemnity Co., supra, 17 Cal.4th at p. 56; Buss v. Superior Court, supra, 16 Cal.4th at p. 46), the duty to defend may arise as soon as damages are sought in some amount (see Aerojet-General Corp. v. Transport Indemnity Co., supra, 17 Cal.4th at p. 58; Buss v. Superior Court, supra, 16 Cal.4th at p. 46). They also differ in their substance: Whereas the duty to defend "entails the rendering of a service, viz., the mounting and funding of a defense" (Aerojet-General Corp. v. Transport Indemnity Co., supra, 17 Cal.4th at p. 58; accord, Buss v. Superior Court, supra, 16 Cal.4th at p. 46), the duty to indemnify "entails the payment of money" (Aerojet-General Corp. v. Transport Indemnity Co., supra, 17 Cal.4th at p. 56; accord, Buss v. Superior Court, supra, 16 Cal.4th at p. 46). They differ as well in their scope: Whereas the duty to indemnify may indeed be broad, the duty to defend must perforce be broader still. (See, e.g., Aerojet-General Corp. v. Transport Indemnity Co., supra, 17 Cal.4th at p. 59; Buss v. Superior Court, supra, 16 Cal.4th at pp. 46-47.) With this result: Where there is a duty to defend, there may be a duty to indemnify; but where there is no duty to defend, there cannot be a duty to indemnify. (See Buss v. Superior Court, supra, 16 Cal.4th at p. 47, fn. 10.)
D
In Foster-Gardner, we held that the insurer's duty to defend the insured in a "suit seeking damages" under the standard comprehensive general liability insurance policy was limited to a civil action prosecuted in a court. (Foster-Gardner, Inc. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co., supra, 18 Cal.4th at pp. 878-888.)
There, we took what we referred to as a "literal" approach to the provision imposing on the insurer the duty to defend the insured in a "suit seeking damages." (Foster-Gardner, Inc. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co., supra, 18 Cal.4th at p. 869.) In doing so, we considered the provision in its full context; we proceeded to find, in effect, that it was clear in its limitation to a civil action prosecuted in a court, and that, in such limitation, it did not run counter to the hypothetical insured's objectively reasonable expectations. (Id. at pp. 869-871, 878-888.) We declined to take either a "functional" or a "hybrid" approach (id. at p. 869), each of which treats the provision as "ambiguous" (id. at p. 872), the former deeming "suit" to reach anything that is equivalent to a suit, apparently without qualification (id. at p. 871 & pp. 871-872, fn. 7), the latter deeming "suit" to reach anything that is equivalent to a suit, but "only if it is sufficiently coercive and threatening" (id. at pp. 871-872 & p. 872, fn. 8). We declined to take either approach because the duty to defend involved a "suit," and not something equivalent to a suit or even something equivalent to a suit that was sufficiently coercive and threatening. (Id. at pp. 872, 879.) We impliedly recognized that the provision could have imposed a duty to defend without any limitation to a "suit," thereby "creating] 'a broad legal-services arrangement under which [the] insurer[] would step into any dispute' " involving the insured. (Id. at p. 881.) But we also impliedly recognized that the provision did not in fact impose such an unlimited duty. (Id. at p. 882.) We observed that the provision, under our reading, commended itself to society generally as laying down a " 'bright-line rule that. . . reduces the need for future litigation.' " (Id. at p. 887, italics omitted.)
In light of the foregoing, we went on to conclude that the insurer's duty to defend the insured did not extend to a proceeding conducted before an administrative agency pursuant to an environmental statute—specifically, there, a proceeding conducted before the Department of Toxic Substances Control pursuant to the Carpenter-Presley-Tanner Hazardous Substance Account Act. (Foster-Gardner, Inc. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co., supra, 18 Cal.4th at pp. 878-888.) Our reason was that a proceeding conducted before an administrative agency pursuant to an environmental statute does not constitute a "suit," i.e., a civil action prosecuted in a court, but rather implicates a "claim." (Ibid.) We did not ignore the fact that such a proceeding might ripen into such an action. (Id. at pp. 878-879, 881.) Neither did we ignore the fact that the course and outcome of such a proceeding might affect the course and outcome of such an action, to the agency's benefit and its subject's detriment. (Id. at pp. 881, 882-883, 887.) But we simply could not ignore the fact that such a proceeding does not itself amount to such an action—a fact that the Carpenter-Presley-Tanner Hazardous Substance Account Act itself reflected by distinguishing the former from the latter. (Foster-Gardner, Inc. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co., supra, 18 Cal.4th at pp. 878-879, 881, 884-885.)
In arriving at our conclusion, we declined to rewrite the provision imposing the duty to defend in order to remove its limitation to a civil action prosecuted in a court. (Foster-Gardner, Inc. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co., supra, 18 Cal.4th at pp. 886-888.) We would not do so for the insured itself, in order to shift to the insurer some or all of the potentially substantial costs that might be imposed on the insured in the course of a proceeding conducted before an administrative agency pursuant to an environmental statute. (Id. at pp. 886-887.) Neither would we do so for considerations of public policy, in order, perhaps, to bring such a proceeding to a timely and appropriate outcome through such a shifting of costs. (Id. at p. 888.) Our reason was that we do not rewrite any provision of any contract, including the standard policy underlying any individual policy, for any purpose. (Ibid.)
E
Proceeding from Foster-Gardner to this case, we believe that the insurer's duty to indemnify the insured for "all sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages" under the standard comprehensive general liability insurance policy is limited to money ordered by a court.
Our belief about the duty to indemnify and its limitation to money ordered by a court is sufficiently supported when we look to what we may call Foster-Gardner's "syllogism" alone.
The duty to defend is broader than the duty to indemnify. The duty to defend is not broad enough to extend beyond a "suit," i.e., a civil action prosecuted in a court, but rather is limited thereto. A fortiori, the duty to indemnify is not broad enough to extend beyond "damages," i.e., money ordered by a court, but rather is limited thereto. "It is . . . well settled that because the duty to defend is broader than the duty to indemnify," a determination that "there is no duty to defend automatically means that there is no duty to indemnify." (State of N.Y. v. Blank (N.D.N.Y. 1990) 745 F.Supp. 841, 844 [applying New York law], affd. (2d Cir. 1994) 27 F.3d 783; accord, Boyce Thompson Institute v. Insurance Co. of N.A. (S.D.N.Y. 1990) 751 F.Supp. 1137, 1144 [following Blank]; Fruit of the Loom v. Travelers Indemnity (1996) 284 Ill.App.3d 485, 500 [219 Ill.Dec. 770, 672 N.E.2d 278, 288] [holding that, "[i]n cases where no duty to defend exists, there is no duty to indemnify since the duty to defend is broader than the duty to indemnify"].)
Our belief about the duty to indemnify and its limitation to money ordered by a court is definitively confirmed when we look beyond Foster-Gardner's syllogism.
In its language, especially "damages," the provision imposing the duty to indemnify is clear in its limitation to money ordered by a court.
The full context of the provision imposing the duty to indemnify includes, under the narrower focus, the standard policy itself and particularly the provision imposing the duty to defend and, under the wider focus, the standard policy within the "legal. . . culture" of the judicial sphere and the "broader culture" of the world at large (Kopp v. Fair Pol. Practices Com. (1995) 11 Cal.4th 607, 673 [47 Cal.Rptr.2d 108, 905 P.2d 1248] (conc. opn. of Mosk, J.)).
The narrower focus on the standard policy itself reveals that the duty to indemnify is limited to money ordered by a court.
Recall that the provision imposing the duty to defend, which may arise as soon as damages are sought in some amount, generally states that the insurer has a "duty to defend" the insured "in any suit seeking damages" for harm alleged within coverage.
Recall further that the provision imposing the duty to indemnify, which can arise only after damages are fixed in their amount, generally states that the insurer "will pay all sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages" for harm proved within coverage.
The provision imposing the duty to defend expressly links "damages" to a "suit," i.e., a civil action prosecuted in a court. For it is in a "suit" that "damages" are sought in some amount through the court's order.
The provision imposing the duty to indemnify impliedly links "damages" to a "suit," i.e., a civil action prosecuted in a court. For it is in a "suit" that "damages" are fixed in their amount through the court's order.
The wider focus on the standard policy within the legal and broader culture also reveals that the duty to indemnify is limited to money ordered by a court.
The duty to indemnify runs to "all sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages."
"Damages" exist traditionally inside of court. (See, e.g., McHugh v. Santa Monica Rent Control Bd. (1989) 49 Cal.3d 348, 355-386 [261 Cal.Rptr. 318, 777 P.2d 91]; McCormick, Handbook on the Law of Damages (1935) pp. 1-3; see also, e.g., Curtis v. Loether (1974) 415 U.S. 189, 196 [94 S.Ct. 1005, 1009, 39 L.Ed.2d 260]; Walnut Creek Manor v. Fair Employment & Housing Com. (1991) 54 Cal.3d 245, 262 [284 Cal.Rptr. 718, 814 P.2d 704]; Civ. Code, § 3281-3283; Black's Law Dict. (7th ed. 1999) p. 393, col. 2; 1 Bouvier's Law Dict. (8th ed. 1914) pp. 749-753; Webster's 3d New Internat. Dict. (1961) p. 571, col. 3; Webster's 2d New Internat. Dict. (1941) p. 664, col. 3.)
For its part, "harm" exists traditionally outside of court. (See, e.g., Civ. Code, § 3281-3283; Black's Law Dict., supra, at p. 393, col. 2; 1 Bouvier's Law Dict., supra, at pp. 749-753; Webster's 3d New Internat. Dict., supra, at p. 571, col. 3; Webster's 2d New Internat. Dict., supra, at p. 664, col. 3.)
"Damages" and "harm" are related the one to the other: "Harm" outside of court may result in "damages" inside of court, and "damages" inside of court result from "harm" outside of court. (See, e.g., Civ. Code, § 3281-3283; Black's Law Dict., supra, at p. 393, col. 2; 1 Bouvier's Law Dict., supra, at pp. 749-753; Webster's 3d New Internat. Dict., supra, at p. 571, col. 3; Webster's 2d New Internat. Dict., supra, at p. 664, col. 3; cf. Civ. Code, § 3287 [implying that a "person" becomes "entitled" to "recover" or "receive" "damages" as a result of harm outside of court, but actually "recover[s]" or "receive[s]" such "damages" inside of court]; id., § 3288 [consistent therewith].)
Again, the duty to indemnify runs to "all sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages."
To be sure, one might speak of a "sum that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay" simpliciter—omitting "as damages"—apart from any order by a court. For one might say that the insured is legally obligated to pay some such sum under abstract legal rules alone. Thus, one might say that a driver of an automobile is legally obligated to comply with all laws relating to use of the roads apart from any order by a court. One might also say that the driver is legally obligated to pay the toll required by such laws for passage over a designated bridge apart from any such order.
But one would not speak of any "sum that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages" apart from any order by a court. For one would not say that the insured is legally obligated to pay some such sum as damages under abstract rules alone. That is because, as a sum that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay, "damages" presuppose an institution for their ordering, traditionally a court, albeit no longer exclusively. (See, e.g., McHugh v. Santa Monica Rent Control Bd., supra, 49 Cal.3d at pp. 355-386; McCormick, Handbook on the Law of Damages, supra, at pp. 1-3; see also Curtis v. Loether, supra, 415 U.S. at p. 196 [94 S.Ct. at p. 1009]; Walnut Creek Manor v. Fair Employment & Housing Com., supra, 54 Cal.3d at p. 262.) "Damages" do not constitute a redundancy to a "sum that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay," but a limitation thereof. Thus, again, one might say that a driver of an automobile is legally obligated to comply with all laws relating to use of the roads apart from any order by a court. And, again, one might say that the driver is legally obligated to pay the toll required by such laws for passage over a designated bridge apart from any such order. But one would not say that the driver is legally obligated to pay any sum as a fine for failure to do so apart from any such order.
Consequently, the insurer's duty to indemnify the insured for "all sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages" is limited to money ordered by a court. It does not extend to all sums, or even any sum, that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay other than as damages. Surely not to all sums, or even any sum, that the insured may be said to become legally obligated to pay as a result of harm.
In concluding that the duty to indemnify is limited to money ordered by a court, we do not, to quote AIU Ins. Co. v. Superior Court (1990) 51 Cal.3d 807, 840 [274 Cal.Rptr. 820, 799 P.2d 1253] (hereafter sometimes AIU), "exalt form over substance." Rather, we do no more, and no less, than declare what we have determined to be the duty's substance.
We observe that other courts are in accord with our conclusion that the duty to indemnify is limited to money ordered by a court.
We are not unaware, however, that yet other courts are contra. Neither are we unaware that such other courts are more numerous. Their number, however, adds nothing to their weight. If we look at their decisions in accordance with the framework of Foster-Gardner, we find their weight insubstantial. They have taken what we there referred to as either a "functional" or a "hybrid" approach, instead of a "literal" one. Expressly or impliedly, they have treated the provision imposing the duty to indemnify as "ambiguous," those taking a "functional" approach deeming "damages" to reach anything that is equivalent to damages, those taking a "hybrid" approach deeming "damages" to reach anything that is equivalent to damages if it is sufficiently significant. We put aside any question whether our taking of a "literal" approach to the duty to defend in Foster-Gardner compels our taking of a like approach to the duty to indemnify in this case. Our words there, however, may be modified to apply here as well: The duty to indemnify involves "damages," clearly so, and not something equivalent to damages or even something equivalent to damages that is sufficiently significant. But, even if we do not look at the decisions of these courts in accordance with the framework of Foster-Gardner, we still find their weight insubstantial. For, whether their discussion fills many pages or amounts only to a few words, they have each failed to consider the provision imposing the duty to indemnify in its full context. Because of their failure, whatever discussion they set forth proves lacking in persuasive force.
We recognize that the provision imposing the duty to indemnify could have done so without any limitation to money ordered by a court. In that event, it would have created a broad financial-subsidy arrangement under which the insurer would "pay any sum that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay."
But we also recognize that the provision imposing the duty to indemnify does in fact do so with a limitation to money ordered by a court. We cannot, and will not, act as if it did not.
In its limitation to money ordered by a court, the provision imposing the duty to indemnify commends itself to society generally as laying down a bright-line rule. It has a tendency to promote fairness and efficiency in the judicial sphere. By increasing certainty and decreasing uncertainty about the duty to indemnify, it serves to deter some litigation on the issue and to conclude what it does not deter expeditiously and soundly.
In light of the foregoing, we believe that the duty to indemnify does not extend to any expenses required by an administrative agency pursuant to an environmental statute—specifically, here, proceedings conducted before the Regional Water Boards pursuant to the Porter-Cologne Act. Our reason is that expenses required by an administrative agency pursuant to an environmental statute, whether for the cleanup of a contaminated site and the abatement of the contamination's effects or otherwise, do not constitute money ordered by a court. We do not ignore the fact that such expenses and such money are measured in precisely the same terms of dollars and cents. Neither do we ignore the fact that the furnishing of such expenses might altogether obviate the payment of such money. But we simply cannot ignore the fact that such expenses do not amount to such money—a fact that the Porter-Cologne Act itself reflects by distinguishing the former from the latter. (See Wat. Code, § 13304.)
Not to the contrary is AIU. There, we held to the effect that the duty to indemnify may embrace all money ordered by a court, including "money that the insured must give under law as compensation to third parties" and also "money that the insured must itself expend in equity in order to provide relief of the same sort." (Aerojet-General Corp. v. Transport Indemnity Co., supra, 17 Cal.4th at p. 56 [citing AIU].) We did not hold that the duty extends to any money in addition to that ordered by a court—including any expenses required by an administrative agency pursuant to an environmental statute. Indeed, we did not even consider the issue.
Neither is Vandenberg v. Superior Court (1999) 21 Cal.4th 815 [88 Cal.Rptr.2d 366, 982 P.2d 229] to the contrary. There, we held to the effect that the duty to indemnify may embrace all money ordered by a court, including money ordered by a court under the law of torts and, in' some "cases, money ordered by a court under the law of contracts. (Id. at pp. 838-841.) Again, we did not hold that the duty extends to any money in addition to that ordered by a court—including any expenses required by an administrative agency pursuant to an environmental statute. Indeed, we implied the opposite, albeit only in dictum, stating to the effect that the duty depends on a legal obligation to pay a sum as damages, which depends in turn on "liability imposed in a definite sum by a final judgment. . . ." (Id. at p. 839.)
Also not to the contrary is Foster-Gardner itself. There, we stated as follows: "[B]ecause we conclude the insurers here did not contract and receive premiums to defend anything but a civil lawsuit, requiring them to defend [a proceeding conducted before the Department of Toxic Substances Control pursuant to the Carpenter-Presley-Tanner Hazardous Substance Account Act] would result in an unintended windfall for Foster-Gardner. Moreover, it is indeed arguable that an insured's early intervention in a dispute outside the civil action context may reduce any indemnity for which the insurer is ultimately held liable. That does not alter the scope of the insurer's duty to defend. Thus, even if Foster-Gardner is correct that its insurers will ultimately be obligated to indemnify costs incurred as a result of the [proceeding in question], this merely means that the insurers have an inherent incentive to participate in [the] proceeding[] where the costs are ascertained. Under the language of the policy, however, this is a judgment call left solely to the insurer ('the company . . . may make such . . . settlement of any claim . as it deems expedient'). [Citations.] In any event, . . . 'this anomaly is more imagined than real since insurance companies routinely pay "claims" that have not ripened into "suits" and which therefore have not triggered a defense obligation.' " (Foster-Gardner, Inc. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co., supra, 18 Cal.4th at p. 883, first and third ellipses in parenthetical in Foster-Gardner.) In so stating, we assumed that, as a general matter, a "dispute outside the civil action context" in the form of a "claim" involving the insured in a proceeding conducted before an administrative agency pursuant to an environmental statute may ripen into a "dispute" within that "context" in the form of a "suit," in which the insurer may "ultimately [be] held liable" for "indemnity." We also assumed, more specifically, that Foster-Gardner's "insurers" might "ultimately be obligated to indemnify costs incurred as a result of the" proceeding in question if it passed from "claim" to "suit." But we did not hold that the duty to indemnify extends to any money in addition to that ordered by a court—including any expenses required by an administrative agency pursuant to an environmental statute.
In arriving at our conclusion, we decline to rewrite the provision imposing the duty to indemnify in order to remove its limitation to money ordered by a court. We will not do so for the insured itself, in order to shift to the insurer some or all of the potentially substantial costs that might be imposed on the insured as the outcome of a proceeding conducted before an administrative agency pursuant to an environmental statute. Neither will we do so for considerations of public policy, in order, perhaps, to promote the outcome itself through such a shifting of costs—for example, to advance the cleanup of a contaminated site and the abatement of the contamination's effects by calling in the insurer's resources in supplement to those of an insured that is prosperous or in place of those of an insured that is not. Our reason is that we do not rewrite any provision of any contract, including the standard policy underlying any individual policy, for any purpose. (See Aerojet-General Corp. v. Transport Indemnity Co., supra, 17 Cal.4th at pp. 75-76.) To do so with regard to the standard policy, with which we are here concerned, might have untoward effects generally on individual insurers and individual insureds and also on society itself. Through the standard policy, individual insurers made promises, and individual insureds paid premiums, against the risk of loss. To rewrite the provision imposing the duty to indemnify in order to remove its limitation to money ordered by a court might compel insurers to give more than they promised and might allow insureds to get more than they paid for, thereby denying their "general[] free[dom] to contract as they please[]" of any effect in the matter. (Id. at p. 75; accord, Linnastruth v. Mut. Benefit etc. Assn. (1943) 22 Cal.2d 216, 218 [137 P.2d 833].) It is conceivable that to rewrite the provision thus might result in providing society itself with benefits that might outweigh any costs that it might impose on individual insurers and individual insureds. It is conceivable. But unknown. Knowledge "depend[s] in'large part on" what we are ill suited for, that is, the "amassing and analyzing of complex and extensive empirical data." (Aerojet-General Corp. v. Transport Indemnity Co., supra, 17 Cal.4th at p. 76.) Without such knowledge, we could not proceed.
Against our determinations, Powerine presents a number of arguments. None proves persuasive.
As to Foster-Gardner's syllogism, Powerine argues that, even if the duty to defend is broader than the duty to indemnify, it does not follow that a determination that "there is no duty to defend automatically means that there is no duty to indemnify." (State of N.Y. v. Blank, supra, 745 F.Supp. at p. 844, italics added.) To the extent that Powerine suggests that the absence of a duty to defend does not necessarily entail the absence of a duty to indemnify under some possible comprehensive general liability insurance policy, it is surely right. But it is just as surely wrong to the extent that it asserts that the absence of a duty to defend does not actually entail the absence of a duty to indemnify under the standard comprehensive general liability insurance policy. For under the standard policy, if not under some individual one, this is the case: If the duty to defend does not arise because "damages" are not sought in any amount in a "suit," i.e., a civil action prosecuted in a court, then the duty to indemnify cannot arise because "damages," i.e., money ordered by a court, cannot be fixed in their amount since they have not been sought in the first place. (Cf. Ryan v. Royal Ins. Co. of America, supra, 916 F.2d at p. 743 [holding that, if there is no "suit," there cannot be any "damages"].)
As to our holding that the duty to indemnify is limited to money ordered by a court, Powerine argues that we should read the provision imposing the duty to indemnify, in spite of its limitation to money ordered by a court, to extend to expenses required by an administrative agency pursuant to an environmental statute. It invokes section 1644 of the Civil Code: "The words of a contract are to be understood in their ordinary and popular sense, rather than according to their strict legal meaning; unless used by the parties in a technical sense, or unless a special meaning is given to them by usage, in which case the latter must be followed."
By its terms, however, Civil Code section 1644 seems more applicable to an individual policy, which constitutes a contract reflecting the "actual agreement between a given insurer and a given insured" (Buss v. Superior Court, supra, 16 Cal.4th at p. 45), than to the standard policy, which does not (ibid.).
But even if we apply Civil Code section 1644 to the standard policy, we read the provision imposing the duty to indemnify, in the "ordinary and popular sense" of its "words" rather than according to any "strict legal meaning" (ibid.), to be limited to money ordered by a court, and not to extend to expenses required by an administrative agency pursuant to an environmental statute. We do so because we consider the provision, as we must, in its full context. As stated, in both the legal and the broader culture, "damages" exist traditionally inside of court. True it is, "damages" have begun to appear in some administrative agencies, albeit only relatively lately and relatively infrequently. (See generally Walnut Creek Manor v. Fair Employment & Housing Com., supra, 54 Cal.3d at pp. 255-273; McHugh v. Santa Monica Rent Control Bd., supra, 49 Cal.3d at pp. 355-386.) But, within the standard policy, "damages" exist solely inside of court, especially in light of their linkage therein to a "suit," i.e., a civil action prosecuted in a court. The provision imposing the duty to defend expressly links "damages" to a "suit," because it is in a "suit" that "damages" are sought in some amount through the court's order. The provision imposing the duty to indemnify impliedly links "damages" to a "suit," because it is in a "suit" that "damages" are fixed in their amount through such order.
That the provision imposing the duty to indemnify happens to be limited to .money ordered by a court more impliedly than expressly is of no consequence. An implied limitation is sufficient; an express limitation is not necessary. Neither is it of any consequence that the provision imposing the duty to indemnify with its more implied than express limitation might be less "conspicuous, plain and clear" (Steven v. Fidelity & Casualty Co. (1962) 58 Cal.2d 862, 878 [27 Cal.Rptr. 172, 377 P.2d 284]; accord, State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Jacober (1973) 10 Cal.3d 193, 202 [110 Cal.Rptr. 1, 514 P.2d 953]) than it would have been with a more express than implied limitation. It is an exclusionary provision, however, that is said to require "conspicuousness," "plainness," and "clarity." (State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Jacober, supra, 10 Cal.3d at p. 202.) The provision imposing the duty to indemnify is simply not such: It does not exclude anything or anyone from the scope of the duty to indemnify, but merely defines the duty's scope in the first place. With that said, it is nevertheless adequately conspicuous, plain, and clear.
Powerine also argues that we should read the provision imposing the duty to indemnify, in spite of its limitation to money ordered by a court, to extend to expenses required by an administrative agency pursuant to an environmental statute, in light of, inter alia, Isaacson v. California Ins. Guarantee Assn. (1988) 44 Cal.3d 775 [244 Cal.Rptr. 655, 750 P.2d 297], and Lamb v. Belt Casualty Co. (1935) 3 Cal.App.2d 624 [40 P.2d 311].
But neither Isaacson nor Lamb supports such a reading of the provision imposing the duty to indemnify. For neither supports a reading of the provision without any limitation to money ordered by a court. Rather, each stands, at most, for the proposition that, when an insurer breaches one of its duties, the insured may recover damages for harm arising therefrom, including an amount that it paid a third party in settlement. (See Isaacson v. California Ins. Guarantee Assn., supra, 44 Cal.3d at pp. 791-792; Lamb v. Belt Casualty Co., supra, 3 Cal.App.2d at pp. 630-632.)
Powerine then argues to the effect that we should rewrite the provision imposing the duty to indemnify in order to remove its limitation to money ordered by a court. Its basis appears to be this: The limitation gives the insured a deterrent against compromise and an incentive toward litigation, and accordingly conflicts generally with the public policy in favor of settlement, which encourages compromise and discourages litigation, and specifically with the public policy underlying various environmental statutes, including those cited above, which gives the subject of a proceeding before the administrative agency in question an incentive toward compromise and a deterrent against litigation.
But, as we have explained, not even for considerations of public policy would we rewrite the provision imposing the duty to indemnify in order to remove its limitation to money ordered by a court. In any event, such considerations seem hardly substantial. In spite of the limitation—from all that appears both generally and specifically with regard to proceedings conducted before administrative agencies pursuant to environmental statutes—compromise is regularly achieved, and litigation is regularly avoided. Recall that, in the same provision in which it imposes on the insurer a duty to defend the insured, the standard policy grants the insurer a right to settle any at least potentially covered dispute involving the insured. We may infer that, in a "large percentage" of such disputes, insurers exercise their right, (Comunale v. Traders & General Ins. Co. (1958) 50 Cal.2d 654, 659 [328 P.2d 198, 68 A.L.R.2d 883]; accord, e.g., Commercial Union Assurance Companies v. Safeway Stores, Inc. (1980) 26 Cal.3d 912, 917 [164 Cal.Rptr. 709, 610 P.2d 1038] (by the court).) That is because we know that, in a "large percentage" of such disputes, they in fact achieve compromise and avoid litigation. (Comunale v. Traders & General Ins. Co., supra, 50 Cal.2d at p. 659; accord, e.g., Commercial Union Assurance Companies v. Safeway Stores, Inc., supra, 26 Cal.3d at p. 917 (by the court).)
We arrive at our conclusion not unaware that other courts have held or stated, in terms or in effect, that the duty to indemnify is not limited to money ordered by a court, but may extend to expenses required by an administrative agency pursuant to an environmental statute. For the reasons that we have stated, we cannot, and will not, follow.
III
We turn now to the decision of the Court of Appeal, which ordered issuance of a peremptory writ of mandate directing the superior court to vacate its order denying the London Insurers' motion for summary adjudication of the issue of their duty to indemnify Powerine under their comprehensive general liability and other insurance policies, and to make a new order granting what they sought.
At the threshold, we believe that the Court of Appeal was right to subject to independent review the superior court's order denying summary adjudication of the issue of the London Insurers' duty to indemnify. A ruling denying summary adjudication is so scrutinized. (E.g., Travelers Casualty & Surety Co. v. Superior Court (1998) 63 Cal.App.4th 1440, 1450 [75 Cal.Rptr.2d 54].) It resolves a pure question of law (ibid.), namely, whether there is any triable issue as to any material fact and, if not, whether the moving party is entitled to adjudication in his favor as a matter of law (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subds. (c) & (f)). The same is true of a ruling granting summary adjudication. (E.g., Maxconn Inc. v. Truck Ins. Exchange (1999) 74 Cal.App.4th 1267, 1272 [88 Cal.Rptr.2d 750]; Casey v. Overhead Door Corp. (1999) 74 Cal.App.4th 112, 118 [87 Cal.Rptr.2d 603].)
On the merits, we believe that the Court of Appeal was also right to direct the superior court to vacate its order denying summary adjudication of the issue of the London Insurers' duty to indemnify and to make a new order granting summary adjudication thereof.
A trial court's ruling on a motion for summary adjudication, like that of the London Insurers on the issue of their duty to indemnify Powerine, entails a determination whether there is any triable issue as to any material fact, and, if not, whether the moving party is entitled as a matter of law to an adjudication that it does not owe any such duty. (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subds. (c) & (f).)
The Court of Appeal concluded that policy No. LAB 2579, the comprehensive general liability insurance policy for the term from May 1, 1958, to May 1, 1961, imposes on the London Insurers a duty to indemnify Powerine that is limited to money ordered by a court, and does not extend to any expenses required by an administrative agency, like the Regional Water Boards, pursuant to an environmental statute, like the Porter-Cologne Act.
We agree.
Policy No. LAB 2579 imposes on the London Insurers a duty to indemnify Powerine with language like that of the standard policy, stating that the "Underwriters" "[d]o hereby agree with the Assured" "[t]o pay on behalf of the Assured all sums which the Assured shall become legally obligated to pay as damages" for harm proved within coverage, "irrespective of whether such damages are imposed by law or assumed under contract."
Policy No. LAB 2579 also imposes on the London Insurers a duty to defend Powerine with language like that of the standard policy, stating that the "Underwriters shall" "[d]efend in his name and behalf any suit against the Assured arising out of' harm "alleg[ed]" within coverage "and seeking damages on account thereof or seeking damages by reason of a contract under which the Assured assumed or is alleged to have assumed liability of others therefor . . . ."
That the duty to indemnify under policy No. LAB 2579 is limited to money ordered by a court is supported by Foster-Gardner's syllogism. The syllogism here is not predicated on any assumption that the absence of a duty to defend necessarily entails the absence of a duty to indemnify under some possible policy of comprehensive general liability insurance. It is predicated, instead, on the fact that the absence of a duty to defend actually entails the absence of a duty to indemnify under this individual policy of comprehensive general liability insurance.
That the duty to indemnify under policy No. LAB 2579 is limited to money ordered by a court is confirmed by the full context of the provision imposing the duty, with its language referring to "damages." The wider focus on the policy within the legal and broader culture reveals, as stated, that "damages" exist traditionally inside of court. The narrower focus on the policy itself reveals this: The provision imposing the duty to defend expressly links "damages" to a "suit," because it is in a "suit" that "damages" are sought in some amount through the court's order. The provision imposing the duty to indemnify impliedly links "damages" to a "suit," because it is in a "suit" that "damages" are fixed in their amount through such order. That it declares itself applicable "irrespective of whether such damages are imposed by law or assumed under contract" is not to the contrary, merely recognizing as it does that the "Assured" may find itself responsible for the underlying harm through its own tortious conduct or through its agreement to "indemnify" or "hold" another "harmless" for the other's tortious conduct (see Old Republic Ins. Co. v. Superior Court (1998) 66 Cal.App.4th 128, 146-147 [77 Cal.Rptr.2d 642], disapproved on another point, Vandenberg v. Superior Court, supra, 21 Cal.4th at p. 841, fn. 13; Loyola Marymount University v. Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co. (1990) 219 Cal.App.3d 1217, 1225-1226 [271 Cal.Rptr. 528]).
The language of the provision in policy No. LAB 2579 imposing the duty to indemnify is not at all unclear in its limitation to money ordered by a court. Even if it were, it could not reasonably be read to extend to any expenses required by an administrative agency, like the Regional Water Boards, pursuant to an environmental statute, like the Porter-Cologne Act. One may assume that, at the time of the issuance of the policy in 1958, both the London Insurers and Powerine were acquainted with administrative agencies and environmental statutes—although one could not contend that either could have foreseen the creation of administrative agencies like these agencies, which constitute a new kind of entity, or the enactment of environmental statutes like this statute, which constitutes a new kind of measure (see AIU Ins. Co. v. Superior Court, supra, 51 Cal.3d at p. 822, fn. 8). Even if the language of the provision imposing the duty to indemnify were, in fact, unclear in its limitation to money ordered by a court, there is simply no basis to conjecture that the London Insurers believed that Powerine understood the words to extend to any expenses required by an administrative agency pursuant to an environmental statute, whether the agency or the statute was new or otherwise. Likewise, even if this language were, in fact, unclear in this regard, there is simply no basis to speculate that Powerine had objectively reasonable expectations—or indeed any expectations whatsoever—that the words extended so far.
IV
For the reasons stated above, we must affirm the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
It is so ordered.
George, C. J., Baxter, J., Chin, J., and Brown, J., concurred.
Apparently, in the original or first amended cross-complaint, or both, Powerine had alleged that the London Insurers owed it, but denied, a duty to defend in the pending EPA/CERCLA and Regional Water Boards/Porter-Cologne Act proceedings, and had prayed for a declaration accordingly, but had removed such allegation and prayer from the second amended complaint in the face of Foster-Gardner.
Powerine requests us to take judicial notice of our own records as to the following documents: (1) a letter by the Attorney General of the State of California filed in this cause in support of Powerine's petition for review; and (2) a letter by the Director of the Department of Toxic Substances Control of the California Environmental Protection Agency received in the Foster-Gardner cause in support of a petition by Foster-Gardner for rehearing or, in the alternative, for modification of our opinion therein. We grant the request. As a reviewing court (Evid. Code, § 459, subd. (a)), we may, of course, take judicial notice of our own records (id., § 452, subd. (d)). We hereby do so.
Until 1986, the standard comprehensive general liability insurance policy (American Star Ins. Co. v. Insurance Co. of the West, supra, 232 Cal.App.3d at p. 1323, fn. 1) did not define "suit." (Foster-Gardner, Inc. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co., supra, 18 Cal.4th at p. 864, fn. 3.) Since 1986, what is now named the standard commercial general liability insurance policy (American Star Ins. Co. v. Insurance Co. of the West, supra, 232 Cal.App.3d at p. 1323, fn. 1) has done so, generally stating that a "suit" is a "civil proceeding." (Foster-Gardner, Inc. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co., supra, 18 Cal.4th at p. 864, fn. 3.) In Foster-Gardner, we had before us the pre-1986 standard comprehensive general liability insurance policy without such a definition. (Id. at p. 864.) So too here.
Other provisions of the standard policy support, or at least do not contradict, our conclusion that the narrower focus on the standard policy itself reveals that the duty to indemnify is limited to money ordered by a court.
In support is the so-called no-action provision, which, in typical language, generally states that "no action" by a third party "shall lie" against the insurer unless the insured's "obligation to pay shall have finally been determined" either by a "judgment" against the insured "obtained after an actual trial" or by a "settlement" reduced to contract to which the insurer "agrees." This provision implies that the insurer may owe a duty to fund such a settlement. It also implies that the insurer may owe a duty to indemnify. In so doing, referring as it does to a "judgment," it implies as well that that duty is limited to money ordered by a court.
Not in contradiction is the so-called other insurance/excess insurance provision, which, in typical language, generally states that, if there is "any other good, valid and collectible insurance" for the insured with respect to a "covered" "loss or claim," "this insurance shall be excess insurance only." This provision implies that, as to such a loss or claim, the insurer may owe a duty to indemnify or a duty to fund a settlement. But it does not state or imply that the insurer owes a duty to fund a settlement that is not reduced to contract to which it agrees. Or that the insurer owes a duty to indemnify that is not limited to money ordered by a court.
See San Diego Housing Com. v. Industrial Indemnity Co. (1998) 68 Cal.App.4th 526, 543 [80 Cal.Rptr.2d 393].
Accord, 1 Appleman on Insurance Second (Holmes ed. 1996) section 1.15, page 66 ("In the standard liability insurance policy, the insurer makes two promises in exchange for receiving a premium: (1) the insurer's promise to defend lawsuits against the insured, and (2) the insurer's promise to pay (indemnify) the insured for any damages legally imposed against the insured in that lawsuit." (Italics added.)).
We acknowledge the expression of contrary views in Stanzler and Yuen, Coverage for Environmental Cleanup Costs: History of the Word "Damages" in the Standard Form Comprehensive General Liability Policy, 1990 Colum. Bus. L.Rev. 449. To be specific, the authors assert that, through the mid-1950's, "[n]umerous representatives of the insurance industry never claimed that the undefined word 'damages' " in the provision imposing the duty to indemnify in the standard policy, limited the duty to money ordered by a court, as in "sums awarded by a jury." (Id. at p. 470.) We shall disregard the affiliation of the article's authors, who were then a member and an associate, respectively, of a law firm that served as counsel on behalf of insureds against insurers. But we cannot draw the inference that they evidently desire us to: Contrary to their suggestion, the asserted absence of a claim of limitation does not amount to the presence of an admission of its opposite.
See, e.g., Zurich Insurance Co. v. Carus Corp. (1997) 293 Ill.App.3d 906, 908-910 [228 Ill.Dec. 258, 689 N.E.2d 130, 132-134]; compare Patrons Oxford Mut. Ins. Co. v. Marois (Me. 1990) 573 A.2d 16, 18-20 (dealing with a "special multi-peril policy" of liability insurance that is similar to the standard policy of comprehensive general liability insurance).
See, e.g., Ala. Plating v. U.S. Fidelity and Guar. (Ala. 1996) 690 So.2d 331, 336-337 (by the court) (semble); Public Service Co. of Colorado v. Wallis (Colo.Ct.App. 1997) 955 P.2d 564, 567-568, reversed on other grounds sub nomine Public Service Co. v. Wallis and Companies (Colo. 1999) 986 P.2d 924; Bausch & Lomb v. Utica Mutual (1993) 330 Md. 758, 780-783 [625 A.2d 1021, 1032-1034] (dictum); SCSC Corp. v. Allied Mut. Ins. Co. (Minn. 1995) 536 N.W.2d 305, 313; Minnesota Min. & Mfg. v. Travelers Indem. (Minn. 1990) 457 N.W.2d 175, 182-183; Brown Group, Inc. v. George F. Brown & Sons (Mo.Ct.App. 1997) 963 S.W.2d 285, 287-288; Ryan v. Royal Ins. Co. of America, supra, 916 F.2d at pages 735-743 (applying New York law) (dictum); Weyerhaeuser Co. v. Aetna Cas. and Sur. (1994) 123 Wash.2d 891, 896-913 [874 P.2d 142, 145-154]; Compass Ins. Co. v. Cravens, Dargan & Co. (Wyo. 1988) 748 P.2d 724, 728; Morrisville Water & Light Dept. v. USF&G (D.Vt. 1991) 775 F.Supp. 718, 726-727 (applying Vermont law).
In support is the standard policy's no-action provision, which implies that the insurer may owe a duty to indemnify, and also implies, through its reference to a "judgment," that the duty is limited to money ordered by a court. Not in contradiction is the standard policy's other insurance/excess insurance provision, which itself implies that the insurer may owe a duty to indemnify, but does not imply that the duty is not limited to money ordered by a court. (See fn. 4 at p. 962, ante.)
Neither is necessary any reference to a "judgment" or "final judgment," as appears in the provision of the standard policy of excess liability insurance imposing on the insurer a duty to indemnify the insured after exhaustion of other insurance.
See the decisions cited in footnote 8 at page 964, ante.
In her dissenting opinion, Justice Kennard proceeds as though the duty to indemnify were not correlative to the duty to defend. It is far too late in the day to attempt to deny that this is so. Hence, we cannot agree that the correlation in question is a "legal fiction that [we] conjure[] from the void to fill [a] yawning gap in [our] analysis." (Dis. opn. of Kennard, J., post, at p. 977.) It is, rather, a factual reality that we must all confront. Hence, if there is indeed a "yawning gap," it is not in our analysis. Recall that the insurer's duty to indemnify the insured is to "pay all sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages" for harm proved within coverage. If, in fact, " 'damages' " were "to include any sum the insured [becomes] legally obligated to pay to remedy [such] harm" (id. at p. 979), then the duty to indemnify would reduce itself to a duty to "pay all sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as any sum that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay"—in order words, a duty to "pay all sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay" simpliciter, omitting "as damages." Not even when "public health and the environment" are invoked (id. at p. 982) will we rewrite the provision imposing the duty to indemnify into what would amount to a broad financial-subsidy arrangement under which the insurer would "pay any sum that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay."
In support of our conclusion that the narrower focus on policy No. LAB 2579 itself reveals that the duty to indemnify is limited to money ordered by a court is its no-action provision, which states that "[n]o action" by a third party "shall lie against [the] Underwriters until the Assured's obligation to pay shall have finally been determined either by judgment against the Assured after actual trial or by" contract in settlement in specified form to which the "Underwriters" "agree[]." (See fn. 4 at p. 962, ante.) Not in contradiction is its other insurance/excess insurance provision, which states that, "[i]n the event that there shall be in effect any other good, valid and collectible insurance inuring to the benefit of the Assured . . . with respect to loss or claim covered hereby, then this insurance shall be excess insurance only . . . ." (See ibid.)
Not at all needing, for example, any reference to "judgment" or "final judgment," as appears in the provision of an excess liability insurance policy for bodily injury and property damage of the same term, imposing on the London Insurers a duty to indemnify Powerine after exhaustion of insurance under policy No. LAB 2579 itself. (See fn. 10 at p. 970, ante.)
The Court of Appeal also concluded that each of the insurance policies other than policy No. LAB 2579 imposes on the London Insurers a duty to indemnify Powerine that is limited to money ordered by a court, and does not extend to any expenses required by an administrative agency, like the Regional Water Boards, pursuant to an environmental statute, like the Porter-Cologne Act. Powerine does not challenge this conclusion. Hence, we need not, and do not, consider it further.