Opinion ID: 150676
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Procedural Background of the Duty to Defend Case

Text: Avent tendered the In re BPA and Broadway lawsuits to Medmarc, Pennsylvania General, and State Farm seeking defense and indemnification for the underlying actions. Medmarc and Pennsylvania General denied coverage. State Farm and Avent entered into a standstill agreement to defer the coverage dispute. However, Avent terminated that agreement and both parties filed declaratory judgment on that issue. Medmarc also filed a complaint against Avent in October 2008 seeking a declaration that it had no duty to defend Avent in these BPA class action suits. Avent answered the complaint and counterclaimed seeking coverage. Avent then filed a third-party complaint against Pennsylvania General and State Farm seeking a declaratory judgment that they also had a duty to defend and indemnify. Although the State Farm case was initially a separate case, it was consolidated into the Medmarc Action. All three insurance companies eventually moved for either a judgment on the pleadings or summary judgment on the grounds that this was not an occurrence for which they provided coverage and that there were no allegations of bodily injury. State Farm additionally claimed that any occurrence to which coverage might apply happened outside of its coverage period. Avent filed for summary judgment in opposition to the insurers' various motions. The district court granted the insurance companies' motions, basing its ruling on the lack of allegations of bodily injury. Avent appeals.