Opinion ID: 2600114
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: ¶ 2 American Best Food, Inc., operates Café Arizona, a Federal Way nightclub. [1] On January 19, 2003, after they apparently brushed against each other on the dance floor, George Antonio confronted Michael Dorsey inside Café Arizona. Club security escorted Antonio out of the building. When security later let Antonio return, he confronted Dorsey again. This time security escorted both men outside. Once outside the nightclub, Antonio pulled a gun and shot Dorsey nine times. A club security guard returned fire, wounding Antonio. Dorsey apparently staggered to the alcove of the club, where security guards carried him inside. Myung C. Seo instructed club employees to remove Dorsey from the establishment. According to Dorsey's complaint, the employees dumped him on the sidewalk. Clerk's Papers (CP) at 42. ¶ 3 Later that year, Dorsey sued, alleging that Café Arizona failed to take reasonable precautions to protect him against criminal conduct despite considerable notice of the potential harm given the history of violence at the club and the specific conduct of Antonio. In an amended complaint, Dorsey also explicitly contended that the security guards exacerbated his injuries by dumping him on the sidewalk after he was shot. Café Arizona promptly sought protection from its insurer, Alea London, Ltd., by notifying it of Dorsey's lawsuit and asserting rights to defense and indemnity. Alea refused, citing exclusion in its policy for injuries or damages arising out of assault or battery. CP at 107-09. Café Arizona's counsel protested, contending that the complaint contained factual allegations of additional injuries caused by the negligence of Café Arizona's employees, injuries to which the assault and battery exclusion may not necessarily apply, including claims of employee postassault negligence. Alea still refused, relying on McAllister v. Agora Syndicate, Inc., 103 Wash. App. 106, 11 P.3d 859 (2000), for an expansive reading of the exclusion and contending that under  McAllister, Washington courts would likely find the allegations of negligence not sufficient to trigger coverage. CP 110-11. Café Arizona's counsel responded again, arguing that at least some question of coverage existed, thus entitling the insured to a defense. Counsel especially called the insurer's attention to an out-of-state case that clearly supported coverage, citing Western Heritage Insurance Co. v. Estate of Dean, 55 F.Supp.2d 646 (E.D.Texas, 1998) (finding that a tavern owner's failure to render aid to an injured patron was a covered occurrence, not excluded by an assault and battery exclusion). CP at 274. Alea again declined. Further correspondence from Café Arizona to Alea, including provision of an expert witness report, failed to change Alea's position. ¶ 4 Café Arizona sued Alea in May 2005 for breach of contract, bad faith, and violation of the Consumer Protection Act, chapter 19.86 RCW. On cross motions for summary judgment, the King County Superior Court found for Alea and dismissed Café Arizona's claims. Café Arizona appealed. The Court of Appeals partially reversed, holding that Alea breached its duty to defend and that summary dismissal of the bad faith refusal to defend and indemnification claims was inappropriate. Am. Best Food, Inc. v. Alea London, Ltd., 138 Wash.App. 674, 689, 691, 158 P.3d 119 (2007). It affirmed dismissal of Café Arizona's consumer protection act and insurance regulation claims. We granted review. Am. Best Food, Inc. v. Alea London, Ltd., 163 Wash.2d 1039, 187 P.3d 268 (2008).