Opinion ID: 502715
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Insurers' Liability

Text: 37 The district court granted summary judgment for the three professional liability insurers, Imperial, Appalachian, and National Union, and dismissed Snellings' and the Firm's (the Insureds) third party demands against them. It held that the insurers owed the Insureds neither a duty to defend nor any coverage under the professional liability insurance policies on four grounds: (1) that the services provided by Snellings to the Jensens were not professional legal services; (2) that the claims were time-barred; (3) that the alleged wrongful acts and omissions were specifically excluded by the policy; and (4) that certain requirements of individual policies as to the timing of the acts or the making of the claims were not met. We will consider each of these grounds in turn, and affirm the judgment only if we are convinced that Snellings or the Firm failed to establish a need for trial on the issues of policy coverage or the insurers' duty to defend. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2511, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986).
38 The policies afforded protection against liability in connection with professional services offered by Snellings (or the Firm) in his capacity as a lawyer. The pertinent provisions of the policies are substantively the same, and provide: INSURING AGREEMENTS
39 To pay on behalf of the insured all sums which the insured shall become legally obligated to pay as damages because of any act or omission of the insured, or of any other person for whose acts or omissions the insured is legally responsible, and arising out of the performance of professional services for others in the insured's capacity as a lawyer.... COVERAGE B--Partnership Coverage 40 To pay on behalf of the insured all sums which the insured shall become legally obligated to pay as damages because of any act or omission of the insured, or of any other person for whose acts or omissions the insured is legally responsible, and arising out of the performance of professional services for others in the insured's capacity as a lawyer provided one or more claims arising out of the same professional service are made (1) jointly or severally against two or more members of the partnership insured hereunder or against any member and such partnership, (2) against the partnership or (3) against the insured solely because he is a member of the partnership insured hereunder. 41 .... 42