Court Opinion

ID: 4184670
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-07-10 14:00:42.443403+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:47:01.461147
License: Public Domain

15-3816 (L)
Hastings Dev., LLC v. Evanston Ins. Co.

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT

                                  SUMMARY ORDER

Rulings by summary order do not have precedential effect. Citation to a
summary order filed on or after January 1, 2007, is permitted and is
governed by Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 32.1 and this Court’s
Local Rule 32.1.1. When citing a summary order in a document filed with
this Court, a party must cite either the Federal Appendix or an electronic
database (with the notation “Summary Order”). A party citing a summary
order must serve a copy of it on any party not represented by counsel.

       At a stated term of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit,
held at the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse, 40 Foley Square, in the
City of New York, on the 10th day of July, two thousand seventeen.

Present:
              PETER W. HALL,
              GERARD E. LYNCH,
              CHRISTOPHER F. DRONEY,
                   Circuit Judges.

HASTINGS DEVELOPMENT, LLC

      PLAINTIFF - APPELLEE- CROSS- APPELLANT,                      15-3816
V.                                                                 15-4085

EVANSTON INSURANCE COMPANY,

      DEFENDANT - APPELLANT- CROSS-APPELLEE.

For Appellant:              ERIC DAVID SUBEN, Meryl Lieberman, Traub Lieberman
                            Straus & Shrewsberry LLP, Hawthorne, NY

For Appellee:               STEVEN D. JANNACE, Simmons Jannace DeLuca, LLP,
                            Hauppauge, NY

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15-3816 (L)
Hastings Dev., LLC v. Evanston Ins. Co.

       Appeal from the Eastern District of New York’s (Spatt, J.) judgment entered

November 4, 2015, and from the amended judgment entered November 18, 2015.

      UPON DUE CONSIDERATION, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED,
ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that the district court’s amended judgment is
AFFIRMED in part, VACATED in part, and REMANDED for proceedings not
inconsistent with this decision.

       Appellant Evanston Insurance Company (“Evanston”) appeals from the

district court’s holding that its insurance policy’s Employer’s Liability Exclusion

language was ambiguous. Hastings Development, LLC (“Hastings”) cross-appeals

from the district court’s dismissal of its bad faith claim, and maintains that the

district court improperly failed to rule on Hastings’s right to a defense. We assume

the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts, procedural history, arguments

presented on appeal, and the district court’s rulings.

                                              I.

       Hastings is a New York limited liability company and subsidiary of Universal

Photonics, Inc. (“UPI”). Evanston issued a Commercial General Liability Policy

(“the Policy”) to UPI, JH Rhodes Co., Inc., Facilities Realty Management, LLC, and

Hastings. Aaron Cohen (“Cohen”), UPI’s employee, commenced an action in the New

York Supreme Court, Nassau County, against Hastings, UPI, SWECO, Inc., and

XYZ Corp., alleging that he was injured while operating Hastings’s machine in

Hastings’s building.

       Hastings tendered the action to Evanston and requested a defense and

indemnification in the underlying lawsuit. Evanston informed Hastings that its

request was barred by the Policy’s Employer’s Liability Exclusion. Hastings

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Hastings Dev., LLC v. Evanston Ins. Co.

responded, challenging Evanston’s determination. Because Evanston continued to

deny Hastings coverage, Hastings commenced this action against Evanston seeking

a declaratory judgment that Evanston was obligated to defend and indemnify it in

the underlying lawsuit. Hastings also asserted that Evanston denied it coverage in

bad faith and requested punitive damages. Evanston countered with a Rule 12(b)(6)

motion to dismiss all claims and Hastings cross-moved for summary judgment.

         The district court granted partial summary judgment in favor of Hastings,

holding that the Employer’s Liability Exclusion did not bar Hastings’s request for

coverage and that Hastings was entitled to indemnification in the underlying Cohen

litigation. The district court also dismissed Hastings’s bad faith claims, finding that

Hastings’s Complaint failed to allege the type of conduct that would constitute bad

faith.

                                              II.

         We review de novo a district court’s dismissal of a complaint under Federal

Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), accepting as true all the material facts alleged in

the complaint and construing all reasonable inferences in appellants’ favor. Vasquez

v. Empress Ambulance Serv., Inc., 835 F.3d 267, 271 (2d Cir. 2016). We also review

de novo a district court’s grant of summary judgment. Olin Corp v. Am. Home

Assurance Co., 704 F.3d 89, 96 (2d Cir. 2012). “Summary judgment may be granted

only where ‘there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is

entitled to judgment as a matter of law.’” Id. “Whether an insurance policy is

ambiguous as a matter of law is to be determined by the court.” Hugo Boss

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Fashions, Inc. v. Fed. Ins. Co., 252 F.3d 608, 616–17 (2d Cir. 2001); Lockheed

Martin Corp. v. Retail Holdings, N.V., 639 F.3d 63, 69 (2d Cir. 2011). “Where the

contract language creates ambiguity, extrinsic evidence as to the parties’ intent may

properly be considered.” JA Apparel Corp. v. Abboud, 568 F.3d 390, 397 (2d Cir.

2009).

              A. The Employer’s Liability Exclusion is Ambiguous

         “In a dispute over the meaning of a contract, the threshold question is

whether the contract is ambiguous.” Lockheed Martin Corp., 639 F.3d at 69. “The

language of a contract is ambiguous if it is capable of more than one meaning when

viewed objectively by a reasonably intelligent person who has examined the context

of the entire integrated agreement.” Id. “[A]mbiguity does not exist ‘simply because

the parties urge different interpretations.’” Hugo Boss, 252 F.3d at 616 (quoting

Seiden Assocs. Inc. v. ANC Holdings, Inc., 959 F.2d 425, 428 (2d Cir. 1992)). “If a

court concludes a provision in an insurance contract is ambiguous, it may consider

extrinsic evidence to ascertain the parties’ intent at the formation of the contract.”

Olin Corp., 704 F.3d at 99. “If the extrinsic evidence fails to establish the parties’

intent, courts may apply other rules of contract interpretation, including New

York’s rule of contra proferentem, according to which ambiguity should be resolved

in favor of the insured.” Id. New York’s application of contra proferentem “gains

added force when ambiguities are found in an exclusionary clause.” Haber v. St.

Paul Guardian Ins. Co., 137 F.3d 691, 698 (2d Cir. 1998).

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Hastings Dev., LLC v. Evanston Ins. Co.

       The parties dispute whether Cohen is “an employee of the Named Insured”

under the exclusion. The Employer’s Liability Exclusion provides in relevant part:

              It is hereby understood and agreed that:

              This insurance does not apply to any claim, suit, cost or expense
       arising out of bodily injury to

              (1) an employee of the Named Insured arising out of and in the course
              of employment by any Insured, or while performing duties related to
              the conduct of the Insured’s business, or

              (2) the spouse, child, parent, brother, sister or relative of that employee
              as a consequence of (1).

              ...

              Wherever the word employee appears above, it shall also mean any
              member, associate, leased worker, temporary worker of, or any person
              or persons loaned to or volunteering services to, any Named Insured.

App’x at 85 (emphasis added).

       Evanston points to this Court’s decision in Endurance Am. Specialty Ins. Co.

v. Century Surety Co., which it asserts held that the “Named Insured” policy

language unambiguously referred to all of the policy’s listed Named Insureds.

Endurance Am. Specialty Ins. Co. v. Century Sur. Co., 630 Fed. App’x 6 (2d Cir.

2015) (summary order). Evanston further maintains that the definition of

“employee” under the Employer’s Liability Exclusion supports its contention that

the exclusion bars coverage for injured employees of all the listed Named Insureds.

See App’x at 85 (providing that “[w]herever the word employee appears above, it

shall also mean any member, associate, leased worker, temporary worker of, or any

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person or persons loaned to or volunteering services to, any Named Insured.”

(emphasis added)). Finally, because Evanston argues that the language of the Policy

unambiguously bars coverage, it asserts that the district court improperly invoked

contra-proferentem to construe the policy language in Hastings’s favor. At oral

argument Evanston also relied on Certified Multi-Media Solutions, Ltd. v. Preferred

Contractors Ins. Co. Risk Retention Grp., LLC, to further support its argument that

the Named Insured language in its policy includes all parties listed as the Named

Insureds. 16-140-cv, 2017 WL 28419 (2d Cir. Jan. 3, 2017) (summary order).

       Hastings argues that the Policy’s specific use of “the Named Insured,” as

opposed to “a Named Insured,” “any Named Insured,” or “any Insured”

distinguishes the cases Evanston relies on. In addition, Hastings maintains that the

Policy’s “Separation of Insureds” provision requires that “the Named Insured”

language of the Employer’s Liability Exclusion should be read “‘[a]s if each Named

Insured were the only Named Insured; and separately to each insured against

whom claim is made or ‘suit’ is brought.’” Appellee’s Br. at 16 (quoting App’x at 60).

Based on the Separation of Insureds provision and because Hastings is the only

insured party seeking coverage, Hastings asserts it “must be treated as the only

‘Named Insured’ for the purpose of interpreting the Employers Liability Exclusion.”

Appellee’s Br. at 16.

       We conclude that there is an ambiguity in the policy language as to whether

the Employer’s Liability Exclusion bars coverage for Hastings under the

circumstances presented. A fair reading of the Employer’s Liability Exclusion may

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only exclude coverage for injuries to “an employee of the Named Insured,” and in

light of the Separation of Insureds clause, “the Named Insured” is Hastings. On the

other hand, another reasonable reading of the Employer’s Liability Exclusion,

proposed by Evanston, is that “an employee of the Named Insured” may refer to

employees of any of the Policy’s list Named Insureds given the exclusion’s broad

definition of an ‘employee.” Because we conclude that the policy language is

ambiguous, the district court properly denied Evanston’s motion to dismiss on this

point.

         Looking to evidence of the parties’ intent on summary judgment, the evidence

that Evanston proffered to support its argument that it would be unreasonable for

an “average man reading the policy to construe it as the insured does” accomplishes

nothing more than restating its understanding of how the Employer’s Liability

Exclusion should be read. Haber, 137 F.3d at 698. Because the policy’s language

could support either party’s interpretation, that ambiguity requires us to construe

the policy language in favor of the insured. Id.; Thomas J. Lipton, Inc. v. Liberty

Mut. Ins. Co., 314 N.E.2d 37, 39 (N.Y. 1974). Thus, as a matter of law, the

Employer’s Liability Exclusion does not bar coverage, and the district court properly

denied Evanston’s motion to dismiss, and granted Hastings’s motion for summary

judgment on this issue.

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       B. The District Court Should Have Determined That Hastings Was
          Entitled to a Defense After It Ruled that Hastings Was Entitled to
          Indemnification Under the Policy

       The duty to defend and the duty to indemnify are separate and distinct

duties. See Hugo Boss, 252 F.3d at 620. “[A]n insurance company’s duty to defend is

broader than its duty to indemnify,” and “an insurer will be called upon to provide a

defense whenever the allegations of the complaint ‘suggest . . . a reasonable

possibility of coverage.’” Auto. Ins. Co. of Hartford v. Cook, 850 N.E.2d 1152, 1155

(N.Y. 2006) (quoting Cont’l Cas. Co. v. Rapid-Am. Corp., 609 N.E.2d 506, 509 (N.Y.

1993)). “[A]n insurer may be required to defend under the contract even though it

may not be required to pay once the litigation has run its course.” Id.

       In light of our determination that Hastings is covered by the Policy and

entitled to indemnification, Evanston is required to defend Hastings in the

underlying Cohen litigation. See Hugo Boss, 252 F.3d at 622. Hastings requested a

defense in the Cohen action in its papers in opposition to the motion to dismiss, in

its cross motion for summary judgment, after the district court entered the

judgment, and again after the district court’s amended judgment. Id. Accordingly,

we vacate the judgment to the extent that it failed to declare that Evanston is

required to defend Hastings in the underlying litigation, and remand to the district

court with instructions to correct the judgment.

       C. The District Court Properly Dismissed Hastings’s Bad Faith Claim

       There is a strong presumption against finding bad faith liability against an

insurer under New York law. Hugo Boss, 252 F.3d at 625. “The presumption against

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bad faith liability can be rebutted only by evidence establishing that the insurer’s

refusal to defend was based on ‘more than an arguable difference of opinion’ and

exhibited ‘a gross disregard for its policy obligations.’” Id. (quoting Sukup v. New

York, 227 N.E.2d 842, 844 (N.Y. 1967)); N.Y. Univ. v. Cont'l Ins. Co., 662 N.E.2d 763

(N.Y. 1995) (quoting Rocanova v. Equitable Life Assurance Soc’y of U.S., 634 N.E.2d
940, 943 (N.Y. 1994)) (“[C]onduct that may be characterized as ‘gross’ and ‘morally

reprehensible,’ and of ‘such wanton dishonesty as to imply a criminal indifference to

civil obligations.’”).

       We conclude that the district court properly dismissed Hastings’s bad faith

claim. Hastings’s allegations of bad faith amounted to arguing that Evanston

unreasonably denied Hastings a defense in the action. This alone, however, does not

rise to the level of egregious conduct needed to establish such a claim. See Hugo

Boss, 252 F.3d at 624; Sukup, 227 N.E.2d at 844; N.Y. Univ., 662 N.E.2d at 763.

       We have considered the parties’ remaining arguments and find them to be

without merit. Accordingly, the district court’s November 4, 2015 Order, and its

November 18, 2015 Amended Judgment, are AFFIRMED in part, VACATED in

part, and the case is REMANDED for proceedings not inconsistent with this

decision.

                                              FOR THE COURT:
                                              Catherine O’Hagan Wolfe, Clerk

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