Court Opinion

ID: 3179709
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-02-23 22:20:50.44401+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:33:48.639414
License: Public Domain

Illinois Official Reports                        Digitally signed by
                                                                              Reporter of Decisions
                                                                              Reason: I attest to the
                                                                              accuracy and integrity of
                                     Appellate Court                          this document
                                                                              Date: 2016.02.23
                                                                              08:45:47 -06'00'

             Phusion Projects, Inc. v. Selective Insurance Co. of South Carolina,
                                 2015 IL App (1st) 150172

Appellate Court         PHUSION PROJECTS, INC., and PHUSION PROJECTS, LLC,
Caption                 Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. SELECTIVE INSURANCE COMPANY OF
                        SOUTH CAROLINA, Defendant-Appellee.

District & No.          First District, Fifth Division
                        Docket No. 1-15-0172

Filed                   December 18, 2015

Decision Under          Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 13-CH-10322; the
Review                  Hon. Franklin U. Valderrama, Judge, presiding.

Judgment                Affirmed.

Counsel on              Reed Smith LLP, of Chicago (John S. Vishneski III, Stanley C.
Appeal                  Nardoni, and Jessica E. Brown, of counsel), for appellants.

                        Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP (Daniel K. Ryan, Dana A. Rice, and
                        William P. Hardy, of counsel), for appellee.

Panel                   PRESIDING JUSTICE REYES delivered the judgment of the court,
                        with opinion.
                        Justices Gordon and Palmer concurred in the judgment and opinion.
                                               OPINION

¶1       Plaintiffs Phusion Projects, Inc., and Phusion Projects, LLC (collectively Phusion),
     brought an action for declaratory judgment against its commercial liability insurer, Selective
     Insurance Company of South Carolina (Selective). Phusion sought a declaration in the circuit
     court of Cook County that its insurance policy required Selective to defend and indemnify
     Phusion in six underlying lawsuits (underlying lawsuits). The underlying lawsuits generally
     alleged that the consumption of “Four Loko,” an alcoholic beverage manufactured by Phusion,
     by certain individuals caused or contributed to the injuries they sustained. In a motion to
     dismiss pursuant to section 2-615 of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure (Code) (735 ILCS
     5/2-615 (West 2014)), Selective claimed that it was not required to defend Phusion because the
     insurance policy contained a liquor liability exclusion. According to that exclusion, Selective
     was not required to defend or indemnify Phusion against any causes of action wherein it was
     alleged Phusion may be held liable for bodily injury by reason of causing or contributing to the
     intoxication of any person. The circuit court dismissed Phusion’s complaint, finding Selective
     had no duty to defend or indemnify Phusion based on the unambiguous language of the
     exclusion. Phusion now appeals arguing Selective has a duty to defend because the six
     underlying lawsuits do not fall within the liquor liability exclusion. For the reasons that follow,
     we affirm.

¶2                                       I. BACKGROUND
¶3                                          A. The Parties
¶4       Phusion is the manufacturer of the alcoholic beverage “Four Loko,” which is sold through
     independent distributors. Four Loko is a fruit-flavored malt beverage that is sold in 23.5 ounce
     cans. Each can of Four Loko is 12% alcohol by volume. From August or September 2008 to
     November 2010, Four Loko contained caffeine, taurine, and guarana.
¶5       Selective is an insurer that provided coverage to Phusion, as the named insured, under a
     commercial general liability policy and a commercial umbrella coverage policy (insurance
     policy).1

¶6                                     B. The Insurance Policy
¶7       Selective issued the insurance policy to Phusion for the period effective May 6, 2009
     through May 6, 2010. The policy states, in pertinent part, that Selective “will pay those sums
     that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of ‘bodily injury’ or
     ‘property damage’ to which this insurance applies. *** However, we will have no duty to
     defend the insured against any ‘suit’ seeking damages for ‘bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’
     to which this insurance does not apply ***.” The policy defined the term “bodily injury” as
     “bodily injury, sickness or disease sustained by a person, including death resulted from any of
     these at any time.” The policy also contained a “liquor liability” exclusion, which provided that
     the insurance did not apply to:
         1
          Frank A. Crissie and A.F. Crissie & Co., Ltd. (Crissie defendants), Phusion’s broker who sold the
     insurance policy at issue, were also named in Phusion’s complaint; however, the Crissie defendants,
     and the counts relating to them, were subsequently voluntarily dismissed with prejudice. Thus, the
     Crissie defendants are not parties to this appeal.

                                                   -2-
               “ ‘Bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ for which any insured may be held liable by
               reason of:
                   (1) Causing or contributing to the intoxication of any person;
                   (2) The furnishing of alcoholic beverages to a person under the legal drinking age
               or under the influence of alcohol; or
                   (3) Any statute, ordinance or regulation relating to the sale, gift, distribution or use
               of alcoholic beverages.
                   This exclusion applies only if you are in the business of manufacturing,
               distributing, selling, serving or furnishing alcoholic beverages.” (Emphases added.)

¶8                                        C. Procedural History
¶9                                    1. The Underlying Lawsuits2
¶ 10                                    a. The Aguirre Complaint
¶ 11       The first lawsuit involved Marlene Aguirre (Aguirre), who was struck and killed by a train.
       The Aguirre complaint alleged that after consuming a quantity of Four Loko, Aguirre was
       intoxicated and began to exhibit unusual and dangerous behavior. Aguirre, “in the state of
       mind induced by consuming Four Loko, decided to ‘moon’ the eastbound Amtrak train” and,
       in doing so, was struck and killed. It was further alleged that “[h]ad Marlene Aguirre only
       consumed alcohol, and not Four Loko, she would not have ‘mooned’ the Amtrak train, which
       caused her death.” But, “due to Four Loko’s high caffeine content, and the presence of the
       stimulants guarana, taurine, and wormwood, she acted erratic, irresponsible, careless and with
       a defiant disregard for danger or consequences.” The complaint included two claims against
       Phusion; a “Negligence/Products Liability” claim and a “Strict Liability/Products Liability”
       claim.

¶ 12                                 b. The Frank-Adkins Complaint
¶ 13       The second lawsuit involved Donalyn Frank (Frank) who was killed in a motor vehicle
       accident caused by Daniel Rocca (Rocca) who drove recklessly after drinking Four Loko.
       Frank-Adkins alleged that Rocca became “severely impaired by intoxication” and was driving
       carelessly, aggressively, and recklessly at excessive speeds when he collided with the back of
       Frank’s vehicle. The complaint further alleged that each 23.5 ounce can of Four Loko
       contained 12% alcohol by volume, 135 milligrams of caffeine, as well as guarana, taurine, and
       wormwood. According to the complaint, by combining these ingredients Phusion “intended
       for the stimulants and other ingredients to mask the intoxicating effects of the significant

           2
            Four of the underlying lawsuits were attached as exhibits to Phusion’s initial complaint. This
       complaint was subsequently amended several times (including to add two more underlying lawsuits)
       and did not thereafter attach the underlying complaints as exhibits. Selective, however, attached the two
       missing underlying complaints to its reply to the section 2-615 motion to dismiss. Because this matter is
       on review of a section 2-615 motion, we may consider the facts apparent from the face of the pleadings,
       matters of which the court can take judicial notice, and judicial admissions in the record. K. Miller
       Construction Co. v. McGinnis, 238 Ill. 2d 284, 291 (2010). Although the underlying complaints were
       not attached as exhibits to the operative pleading, we will take judicial notice of them as matters of
       public record. See O’Callaghan v. Satherlie, 2015 IL App (1st) 142152, ¶ 20 (taking judicial notice of
       an underlying action).

                                                       -3-
       amount of alcohol contained in each Four Loko.” The complaint included 6 claims with 12
       counts total against Phusion for negligence, negligent manufacturing, negligent failure to warn
       claims, negligent marketing, negligent labeling, and strict liability.

¶ 14                                     c. The Kellis Complaint
¶ 15       The Kellis complaint involved Joe Noah, Jr. (Noah), who was a passenger in a vehicle
       operated by David Deaton (Deaton) when it collided with a tree and Noah was killed. The
       complaint alleged Deaton consumed two 23.5-ounce cans of Four Loko in four hours
       immediately prior to driving his motor vehicle into a tree. According to the complaint, Four
       Loko contained “a dangerous combination of alcohol and stimulants, namely taurine, guarine
       [sic], and caffeine.” The Kellis complaint includes one claim against Phusion for “negligent
       design, manufacture, testing, promotion, distribution [and] failure to warn.”

¶ 16                                  d. The Mathews Complaint
¶ 17       The fourth lawsuit involved Jewleon Bruce (Bruce), who died of acute alcohol poisoning
       after consuming cans of Four Loko and hard liquor. The Mathews complaint alleged Four
       Loko was “not reasonably safe and therefore defective as designed and/or formulated as the
       caffeine and energy enhancers masked and distorted the effects of the high alcohol content to
       cause consumers to continue to drink beyond safe and normal limits, and to suffer injuries,
       including alcohol sickness, poisoning, injuries, and death.” The complaint contained two
       counts against Phusion, including a Washington State Consumer Protection Act claim and a
       product liability claim.

¶ 18                                   e. The Marston Complaint
¶ 19       The Marston complaint was premised on the same set of facts as the Frank-Adkins
       complaint. The Marston complaint alleged that after consuming Four Loko, Rocca became
       intoxicated, drove recklessly, and caused a vehicle crash that severely injured Gail Marston
       (Marston) resulting in the amputation of her leg. The complaint set forth two counts each
       against Phusion for negligence, negligent failure to warn, and strict liability.

¶ 20                                  f. The McGuffie Complaint
¶ 21       The McGuffie complaint alleged that after consuming numerous other alcoholic beverages
       and a can of Four Loko, Sean Walrath became intoxicated, drove a motor vehicle, and caused
       an automobile accident wherein Richard McGuffie (McGuffie) was injured. The complaint
       further alleged that McGuffie’s injuries were a direct and proximate result of Phusion’s
       negligent conduct in manufacturing Four Loko with “chemicals, including caffeine, that
       masked the feeling of intoxication.” The complaint consisted of two counts against Phusion; a
       negligence claim and “product defect” claim.

¶ 22                               2. The Declaratory Judgment Action
¶ 23       In 2013, Phusion filed its initial complaint for declaratory judgment against Selective in the
       circuit court of Cook County. The complaint alleged four lawsuits had been filed against
       Phusion (Aguirre, Frank-Adkins, Kellis, and Mathews) and that Selective had declined to
       tender a defense to those lawsuits. Phusion sought a declaration from the circuit court that

                                                   -4-
       Selective had a duty to defend and indemnify it in those actions. Attached as exhibits to the
       complaint were the four underlying lawsuits as well as the insurance policies.
¶ 24       On January 10, 2014, Phusion was granted leave to file its first amended complaint which
       added, in pertinent part, facts regarding defendants’ conduct and two more underlying lawsuits
       (Marston and McGuffie). The first amended complaint failed to attach as exhibits the
       complaints from the six underlying lawsuits. Thereafter, Phusion was granted leave to file a
       second amended complaint, which also did not include the complaints from the six underlying
       lawsuits.
¶ 25       On March 31, 2014, with leave of court, Phusion filed a third amended complaint which
       alleged five counts (I through V) against the Crissie defendants and two counts against
       Selective for violation of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act (815
       ILCS 505/2 (West 2014)) (count VI) and declaratory judgment (count VII). Subsequent to the
       briefing of the motion to dismiss, the Crissie defendants were voluntarily dismissed with
       prejudice along with counts I through VI. Count VII of the third amended complaint, the only
       count pertinent to this appeal, sought a declaratory judgment that Selective owed a duty to
       defend and indemnify for the Selective lawsuits. Phusion alleged it tendered the underlying
       lawsuits to Selective for coverage and Selective disputed its obligation to defend and
       indemnify Phusion under the insurance policy for these lawsuits. Phusion asserted an actual
       controversy existed between the parties and it was entitled to a declaration that Selective is
       obligated to defend and indemnify Phusion pursuant to the insurance policy.

¶ 26                                 a. Selective’s Motion to Dismiss
¶ 27       On June 2, 2014, Selective filed a motion to dismiss the third amended complaint pursuant
       to section 2-615 of the Code (735 ILCS 5/2-615 (West 2014)). 3 Selective argued the
       declaratory judgment count must be dismissed because the insurance policy included a liquor
       liability exclusion. According to Selective, the liquor liability exclusion unambiguously
       precluded claims of bodily injury for which Phusion may be held liable by reason of causing or
       contributing to the intoxication of any person. Selective maintained that four of the underlying
       lawsuits (Aguirre, Frank-Adkins, Kellis, and Mathews) “allege[d] that Four Loko caused or
       contributed to intoxication that was causally related to the decedents’ deaths.” Thus, because
       each of these underlying lawsuits alleged bodily injury caused by intoxication arising from the
       ingestion of Four Loko, the liquor liability exclusion operated to bar coverage under the
       insurance policy. In support of its argument, Selective noted that a federal district court
       recently considered an identical liquor liability exclusion and found it had no duty to defend
       based on the exclusion, citing Netherlands Insurance Co. v. Phusion Projects, Inc., No. 11 C
       1253, 2012 WL 123921 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 17, 2012).
¶ 28       In response, Phusion argued that Selective failed to establish coverage was precluded
       under the insurance policy due to the terms of the liquor liability exclusion. Although it
       acknowledged that two of the underlying complaints were not “on file with this Court,”

           3
            Because Phusion voluntarily dismissed all other counts after the motion to dismiss was fully
       briefed, we only recount the arguments related to the remaining declaratory judgment count against
       Selective. We further note that Selective did not assert under which subsection of the Code the motion
       to dismiss was being brought. Based on its contents, it is apparent that it was a section 2-615(b) motion
       to dismiss (735 ILCS 5/2-615(b) (West 2014)).

                                                       -5-
       Phusion contended that Selective’s motion to dismiss must fail because it did not address
       whether the allegations of the Marston and McGuffie complaints fell within the liquor liability
       exclusion. Relying on out-of-state case law, Phusion next argued that the initial four
       underlying lawsuits are not excluded from coverage because the liquor liability exclusion
       applied to claims of negligent provision of alcohol, not allegations distinct from the negligent
       provision of alcohol. In addition, Phusion asserted that the underlying lawsuits were not based
       on liquor liability, but were based on “stimulant liability.” Phusion pointed to the allegations of
       the underlying lawsuits which asserted that Phusion was liable for adulterating its beverages
       with caffeine, guarana and taurine. According to Phusion, it was the addition of these
       stimulants that operated to desensitize the consumers of Four Loko to the symptoms of
       intoxication and caused them to act recklessly.
¶ 29        Regarding the Netherlands case, Phusion argued that the Seventh Circuit’s subsequent
       determination (Netherlands Insurance Co. v. Phusion Projects, Inc., 737 F.3d 1174 (7th Cir.
       2013)) was not dispositive where the instant matter involved different parties, insurance
       policies, and claims. Phusion asserted that the Seventh Circuit erred “by refusing to apply
       Illinois’ sole proximate cause rule, which holds that ‘in order for an injury to be excluded from
       coverage under an insurance policy, the injury must have been caused solely by a proximate
       cause which is excluded under the policy.’ ” According to Phusion, the underlying lawsuits
       identify Four Loko’s stimulants as the proximate cause of the injuries and thus fall within the
       insurance policy.
¶ 30        In reply, Selective argued the liquor liability exclusion equally applied to the Marston and
       McGuffie complaints where both complaints alleged that the respective defendants became
       intoxicated after consuming Four Loko and caused the plaintiffs’ bodily injuries. Selective
       further relied on the Seventh Circuit’s determination in Netherlands, which recognized that
       “ ‘the presence of energy stimulants in an alcoholic drink has no legal effect on the
       applicability of a liquor liability exclusion.’ ” In addition, Selective maintained that the
       underlying claims against Phusion were not “ ‘wholly independent’ of intoxication–but rather
       are inextricably intertwined with it.” Selective attached the Marston and McGuffie complaints
       to its reply.4

¶ 31                     b. Phusion’s Voluntary Dismissal of Other Defendants
¶ 32       On October 2, 2014, after the motion to dismiss was fully briefed, the circuit court granted
       Phusion’s motion to voluntarily dismiss the Crissie defendants and counts I through VI of the
       third amended complaint with prejudice. Only count VII, the declaratory judgment claim
       against Selective, remained. Phusion was also granted leave to file a “revised third amended
       complaint,” which struck all but 18 paragraphs related to the declaratory judgment count
       against Selective. No file stamped copy of the revised third amended complaint is contained in
       the record.

¶ 33                              c. Ruling on the Motion to Dismiss
¶ 34       On December 16, 2014, the circuit court granted Selective’s motion to dismiss with
       prejudice finding Selective did not have a duty to defend Phusion in the underlying lawsuits.

          4
           According to Selective’s reply, the McGuffie complaint was dismissed in its entirety on
       November 15, 2012, prior to the filing of the declaratory action.

                                                    -6-
       The court acknowledged that in order to determine whether Selective had a duty to defend, it
       must compare the allegations of the underlying complaints with the insurance policy. The
       court noted, however, that the underlying complaints were not attached to Phusion’s complaint
       and stated it would “address the allegations in the [underlying] [l]awsuits based on the
       descriptions provided by the parties in this fully briefed Motion.” The circuit court found that
       each of the underlying lawsuits contained allegations of bodily injury stemming from
       intoxication following the consumption of Four Loko. The court further found that, based on
       the terms of the insurance policy and the liquor liability exclusion, “it [is] clear that coverage is
       excluded when there are claims that an individual sustained bodily injury caused by
       intoxication.” The court concluded that the plain language of the liquor liability exclusion
       precluded coverage of the underlying lawsuits and Selective had no duty to defend or
       indemnify Phusion for these lawsuits. This appeal followed.

¶ 35                                          II. ANALYSIS
¶ 36       On appeal, Phusion makes numerous arguments regarding the inapplicability of the liquor
       liability exclusion to the claims of the underlying lawsuit. In its reply, however, Phusion
       concedes that “this appeal comes down to one issue: whether the six underlying product
       liability suits can properly be described as attempting to hold Phusion liable for ‘causing or
       contributing to the intoxication’ of persons (so as to fall within Selective’s liquor liability
       exclusion) simply because they alleged Phusion manufactured the ‘Four Loko’ caffeinated
       alcoholic beverage.” Despite this assertion, our review of the briefs reveals two issues on
       appeal: (1) whether the circuit court correctly determined that the liquor liability exclusion is
       unambiguous and (2) whether the circuit court properly concluded Selective had no duty to
       defend because the six underlying lawsuits set forth allegations that fell within the liquor
       liability exclusion. We address each issue in turn.

¶ 37                                         A. Standard of Review
¶ 38        A motion to dismiss pursuant to section 2-615 of the Code (735 ILCS 5/2-615 (West
       2014)) attacks the legal sufficiency of a complaint by alleging defects on the face of the
       complaint. Bartkowiak v. Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London, 2015 IL App (1st) 133549, ¶ 15;
       Vitro v. Mihelcic, 209 Ill. 2d 76, 81 (2004). When ruling on a section 2-615 motion, the
       relevant question is whether the allegations in the complaint, construed in a light most
       favorable to the plaintiff, are sufficient to state a cause of action upon which relief may be
       granted. Uhlich Children’s Advantage Network v. National Union Fire Co. of Pittsburgh, 398
Ill. App. 3d 710, 714 (2010). “We take as true all well-pleaded facts in the complaint, as well as
       any reasonable inferences arising from those facts.” Bartkowiak, 2015 IL App (1st) 133549,
       ¶ 15. “In ruling on a section 2-615 motion, only those facts apparent from the face of the
       pleadings, matters of which the court can take judicial notice, and judicial admissions in the
       record may be considered.” K. Miller Construction Co., 238 Ill. 2d at 291. A motion to dismiss
       should not be granted unless it is clearly apparent that no set of facts can be proved that would
       entitle the plaintiff to relief. Fuller’s Car Wash, Inc. v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., 298 Ill.
       App. 3d 167, 170 (1998); Tedrick v. Community Resource Center, Inc., 235 Ill. 2d 155, 161
       (2009). We review a section 2-615 dismissal de novo. AMCO Insurance Co. v. Cincinnati
       Insurance Co., 2014 IL App (1st) 122856, ¶ 12.

                                                     -7-
¶ 39                                        B. Policy Construction
¶ 40       The circuit court determined that Selective does not have a duty to defend based on the
       language of the insurance policy’s liquor liability exclusion. We review the construction of the
       provisions of an insurance policy de novo, as it is a question of law. Pekin Insurance Co. v.
       Wilson, 237 Ill. 2d 446, 455 (2010). “A court’s primary objective in construing the language of
       an insurance contract is to ascertain and give effect to the intent of the parties to the contract.”
       Uhlich Children’s Advantage Network, 398 Ill. App. 3d at 714. To ascertain the meaning of the
       policy’s words and the intent of the parties, the court must construe the policy as a whole with
       due regard to the risk undertaken, the subject matter that is insured, and the purposes of the
       entire contract. Outboard Marine Corp. v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., 154 Ill. 2d 90, 108
       (1992). If the words in the policy are unambiguous, a court must afford them their plain,
       ordinary, and popular meaning. Id. Conversely, if the words in the policy are susceptible to
       more than one reasonable interpretation, they are ambiguous and will be construed in favor of
       the insured and against the insurer who drafted the policy. Id. at 108-09. “[I]nsurance policies
       are to be liberally construed in favor of coverage, and where an ambiguity exists in the
       insurance contract, it will be resolved in favor of the insured and against the insurer.” United
       Services Automobile Ass’n v. Dare, 357 Ill. App. 3d 955, 963 (2005). Courts, however, “should
       not strain to find ambiguity in an insurance policy where none exists.” Uhlich Children’s
       Advantage Network, 398 Ill. App. 3d at 715.
¶ 41       The Selective insurance policy liquor liability exclusion at issue states as follows:
               “2. Exclusions
                   This insurance does not apply to:
                                                     ***
               c. Liquor Liability
                   ‘Bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ for which any insured may be held liable by
               reason of:
                       (1) Causing or contributing to the intoxication of any person;
                       (2) The furnishing of alcoholic beverages to a person under the legal drinking
                   age or under the influence of alcohol; or
                       (3) Any statute, ordinance or regulation relating to the sale, gift, distribution or
                   use of alcoholic beverages.
                           This exclusion applies only if you are in the business of manufacturing,
                   distributing, selling, serving or furnishing alcoholic beverages.”5
¶ 42       Phusion argues that the liquor liability exclusion does not apply to manufacturers.
       According to Phusion, “the exclusion restricts its application to those in the liquor business to

           5
             We note that the insurance policy also contains a document entitled “Amendment of Liquor
       Liability Exclusion.” That document is identical to the liquor liability exclusion, except it states in
       greater detail the circumstances where the exclusion applies: “This exclusion applies only if you: (1)
       Manufacture, sell or distribute alcoholic beverages; (2) Serve or furnish alcoholic beverages for a
       charge whether or not such activity: (a) Requires a license; (b) Is for the purpose of financial gain or
       livelihood; or (3) Serve or furnish alcoholic beverages without a charge, if a license is required for such
       activity.” The parties do not discuss the “Amendment of Liquor Liability Exclusion” in their briefs;
       accordingly, we limit our discussion to the liquor liability exclusion referenced above.

                                                       -8-
       preserve host liquor liability coverage, not to encompass manufacturing.” Phusion maintains
       that manufacturing alone does not cause or contribute to intoxication and, thus, the liquor
       liability exclusion does not apply.
¶ 43       To support its argument, Phusion cites numerous Liquor Control Act of 1934 (Dramshop
       Act) (235 ILCS 5/6-21 (West 2014)) and out-of-state cases for the proposition that the
       voluntary consumption of alcohol is the proximate cause of an injury rather than the
       manufacture. See Charles v. Seigfried, 165 Ill. 2d 482 (1995); Bruner v. Anheuser-Busch, Inc.,
       153 F. Supp. 2d 1358 (S.D. Fla. 2001); Greif v. Anheuser-Busch Cos., 114 F. Supp. 2d 100 (D.
       Conn. 2000); Brown v. Miller Brewing Co., No. 1:12-cv-00605-REB, 2014 WL 201699 (D.
       Idaho Jan. 17, 2014); and Morris v. Adolph Coors Co., 735 S.W.2d 578 (Tex. App. 1987). In
       making such an argument, Phusion essentially asks us to determine its ultimate liability in the
       underlying lawsuits. This we cannot do. “[T]he rule is well settled that, generally speaking, the
       obligation of a liability insurance company under a policy provision requiring it to defend an
       action brought against the insured by a third party, is to be determined by the allegations of the
       complaint in such action, and that the insurer’s ultimate liability under the policy of insurance
       is not the criterion to be followed in determining whether or not there exists a duty to defend.”
       Palmer v. Sunberg, 71 Ill. App. 2d 22, 28 (1966). In a declaratory judgment action, the
       construction of an insurance policy’s language is “an issue of law, independent of the ultimate
       issues to be resolved in the underlying tort action.” SCR Medical Transportation Services, Inc.
       v. Browne, 335 Ill. App. 3d 585, 591 (2002).
¶ 44       We agree with the circuit court that the language of the exclusion is clear and
       unambiguous. See Netherlands Insurance Co., 737 F.3d at 1178 (finding an identical liquor
       liability exclusion to be “clear and unambiguous”). Subsection one provides that the insurance
       policy does not apply to claims of “ ‘Bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ for which any
       insured may be held liable by reason of: (1) Causing or contributing to the intoxication of any
       person.”6 According to its plain and ordinary meaning, the liquor liability exclusion applies to
       claims of bodily injury or property damage where Phusion may be held liable because it either
       caused or contributed to the intoxication of any person. The liquor liability exclusion applies
       specifically to those “in the business of manufacturing *** alcoholic beverages,” and Phusion
       admits it is the manufacturer of alcoholic beverages. Thus, the unambiguous exclusion applies
       to Phusion provided the claims of the underlying lawsuits fall within subsection one.

¶ 45                                         C. Duty to Defend
¶ 46       In order to determine whether Selective has a duty to defend, we must compare the
       language of the liquor liability exclusion to the allegations of the underlying complaints.
       According to our supreme court, in a declaratory judgment action, “where the issue is whether
       the insurer has a duty to defend, a court ordinarily looks first to the allegations in the
       underlying complaint[s] and compares those allegations to the relevant provisions of the
       insurance policy. [Citations.] If the facts alleged in the underlying complaint[s] fall within, or
       potentially within, the policy’s coverage, the insurer’s duty to defend arises. [Citation.]” Pekin
       Insurance Co., 237 Ill. 2d at 455. “If the facts alleged in the underlying complaint[s] fall even
       potentially within the policy’s coverage, the insurer is obligated to defend its insured, even if
       the allegations are groundless, false, or fraudulent.” Uhlich Children’s Advantage Network,

          6
           Phusion concedes in its reply brief that subsections two and three of the exclusion do not apply.

                                                     -9-
398 Ill. App. 3d at 716. The allegations in the underlying complaints must be liberally
       construed in favor of the insured. Outboard Marine Corp., 154 Ill. 2d at 125.
¶ 47       In Illinois, it is the insurer’s burden to affirmatively demonstrate the applicability of an
       exclusion. American Zurich Insurance Co. v. Wilcox & Christopoulos, L.L.C., 2013 IL App
       (1st) 120402, ¶ 34. “ ‘Exclusion provisions that limit or exclude coverage must be construed
       liberally in favor of the insured and against the insurer.’ ” Id. (quoting Pekin Insurance Co. v.
       Miller, 367 Ill. App. 3d 263, 267 (2006)). “Where the insurer relies on a provision that it
       contends excludes coverage to reject a tender of defense, we review the applicability of the
       provision to ensure it is clear and free from doubt that the policy’s exclusion prevents
       coverage.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Id. (quoting Atlantic Mutual Insurance Co. v.
       American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 315 Ill. App. 3d 552, 560 (2000)). “An insurer
       has the right to limit coverage on a policy, and where an insurer has done so, a court must give
       effect to the plain language of the limitation, absent a conflict with the law.” Britamco
       Underwriters, Inc. v. J.O.C. Enterprises, Inc., 252 Ill. App. 3d 96, 102 (1993).
¶ 48       Phusion first contends that Selective’s duty to defend is supported by the allegations of the
       underlying lawsuits. Phusion bases this argument on what it calls the “sole and proximate
       cause rule.” According to Phusion, intoxication was not the sole and proximate cause of the
       injuries asserted in the underlying lawsuits, thus, Selective has a duty to defend. Phusion
       argues that the underlying complaint also alleged “stimulant liability,” that the stimulants
       added to Four Loko was another proximate cause of the injuries. Phusion maintains that
       because “alcohol intoxication” is not the sole proximate cause of the injuries in the underlying
       lawsuits, Selective has a duty to defend it against these claims. In support of its argument,
       Phusion relies on United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. State Farm Mutual Automobile
       Insurance Co., 152 Ill. App. 3d 46 (1987) (USF&G), Northbrook Property & Casualty Co. v.
       Transportation Joint Agreement, 194 Ill. 2d 96, 97 (2000) (Northbrook), and State Farm Fire
       & Casualty Co. v. Perez, 387 Ill. App. 3d 549 (2008).
¶ 49       In response, Selective denies that there is such a “sole and proximate cause rule” and points
       out that Phusion does not dispute that the individuals in the underlying lawsuits were
       intoxicated and that their intoxication proximately caused the bodily injuries and deaths
       alleged.
¶ 50       Phusion derives its “sole and proximate cause rule” from this court’s analysis in USF&G,
       which we note did not consider whether the insurer had a duty to defend. In that case, the
       reviewing court considered whether the insurer met its burden at trial of proving that the
       injuries at issue were caused solely by a proximate cause excluded under its insurance policy.
       USF&G, 152 Ill. App. 3d at 49. In that case, a child who was being transported in a station
       wagon operated by a daycare center employee was injured when a passenger door opened and
       the child fell from the moving vehicle. Id. at 47. The two-count complaint alleged two
       proximate causes of the child’s injuries: (1) failure to provide sufficient and adequate
       supervision of the children and (2) failure to operate and maintain the station wagon properly.
       Id. There was no question that the insurance policy covered the liability resulting from the
       injuries proximately caused by the failure to provide sufficient and adequate supervision of the
       children. Id. at 48. The insurer, United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co., however, denied that its
       policy offered coverage for the child’s injuries as a result of the use or operation of the station
       wagon based on a motor vehicle exclusion clause contained in the insurance policy. Id. The
       exclusion provided that the “ ‘insurance does not apply *** to bodily injury arising out of the

                                                   - 10 -
       ownership, maintenance, operation [or] use of (1) any automobile *** owned or operated by
       *** any insured, or (2) any other automobile *** operated by any person in the course of his
       employment by an insured.’ ” Id.
¶ 51        On appeal, the insurer argued that this exclusion barred coverage because the child’s
       injuries “resulted from the use or operation of the station wagon and because the injuries could
       not have occurred without the operation or use of the station wagon.” Id. The reviewing court
       acknowledged that there may be more than one proximate cause of an injury and explained
       what Phusion calls the “sole proximate cause rule” as follows:
                “A proximate cause of an injury is any cause which, in natural or probable sequence,
                produced the injury complained of. It need not be the only cause, nor the last or nearest
                cause. It is sufficient if it occurs with some other cause acting at the same time, which
                in combination with it, causes the injury. [Citation.] If a proximate cause of an injury is
                within the included coverage of an insurance policy, the included coverage is not
                voided merely because an additional proximate cause of the injury is a cause which is
                excluded under the policy. Thus, in order for an injury to be excluded from coverage
                under an insurance policy, the injury must have been caused solely by a proximate
                cause which is excluded under the policy.” Id.
       The reviewing court held that the insurer did not meet its burden of proving that the child’s
       injuries fell within the insurance policy exclusion. Id. at 49. Although the general jury verdict
       supported the conclusion that the proximate cause of the child’s injuries was the failure to
       provide sufficient and adequate supervision, the record did not establish that the sole
       proximate cause of the child’s injuries was the use, operation, or maintenance of the station
       wagon. Id.
¶ 52        In Northbrook, the Illinois Supreme Court interpreted the scope of an automobile exclusion
       in a commercial general liability policy to hold that an insurer had no duty to defend against
       “numerous lawsuits arising from the collision of a train with a school bus.” Northbrook, 194
Ill. 2d at 97. Several students were killed and many others were injured. Id. At the time of the
       accident, one of the school districts’ insurance policies stated it would “ ‘pay those sums that
       the insured becomes legally obliged to pay as damages because of “bodily injury” or “property
       damage” to which this insurance applies.’ ” Id. The insurance policy, however, also contained
       an automobile exclusion which stated that the insurer would not cover losses for bodily injury
       or property damage “ ‘arising out of the ownership, maintenance, use or entrustment to others
       of any *** “auto” *** owned or operated *** to any insured.’ ” Id. at 98. The policy defined
       “auto” as “ ‘a land motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer designed for travel on public roads,
       including any attached machinery or equipment.’ ” Id.
¶ 53        The insurer, Northbrook, sought a declaratory judgment that it had no duty to defend the
       school districts against the students’ lawsuits because the injuries arose out of the use or
       operation of a bus. Id. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of Northbrook, but
       the appellate court reversed that judgment. Id. The appellate court specifically held “the
       students’ lawsuits against the school districts adequately alleged that the injuries could have
       arisen from causes other than use or operation of the bus, such as failure of the school districts
       to adequately plan and inspect bus routes and warn bus drivers of potential hazards.” Id.
¶ 54        To the contrary, our supreme court found Northbrook had no duty to defend, holding:
                    “Here, the allegations of the underlying complaints utterly fail to state facts which
                either actually or potentially bring the cases within the policy’s coverage. The policy

                                                    - 11 -
                excludes injuries arising from the school districts’ use or operation of a motor vehicle.
                Allegations that the school districts inadequately planned and inspected bus routes or
                failed to warn bus drivers of potential hazards along the routes are nothing more than
                rephrasings of the fact that the students’ injuries arose from the school districts’ use or
                operation of a motor vehicle. Contrary to the appellate court’s holding, the students’
                complaints failed to allege that the injuries arose from events ‘wholly independent of
                any negligent operation of the bus.’ [Citation.]” Id. at 98-99.
¶ 55       Similarly, in Perez, the reviewing court considered the applicability of a motor vehicle
       exclusion included in a homeowner’s insurance policy. In that case, the defendant Perez was
       injured while riding in a vehicle driven by Oscar Baeza (Baeza) when he lost control of the
       vehicle and struck a tree. Perez, 387 Ill. App. 3d at 550. Perez filed a two-count complaint
       against Baeza alleging he (1) negligently operated the vehicle while under the influence of
       alcohol and (2) negligently modified or altered the seats in the vehicle and failed to warn his
       passengers of the dangers and defects of the modified seats and safety restraint system. Id. The
       insurer filed a complaint for declaratory judgment seeking a declaration that the homeowner’s
       policy did not provide coverage to Baeza and that it had no duty to defend or indemnify Baeza
       in the underlying lawsuit. Id. at 550-51. In support, the insurer relied on the homeowner’s
       insurance policy’s motor vehicle exclusion which provided, in pertinent part, that
       “ ‘[c]overage *** do[es] not apply to *** bodily injury or property damage arising out of the
       ownership, maintenance, use, loading and unloading of *** a motor vehicle owned or operated
       by or rented or loaned to any insured.’ ” Id. at 553.
¶ 56       The circuit court granted the insurer’s motion for judgment on the pleadings and denied
       Perez’s motion for summary judgment, finding that the injuries arose out of the use and
       ownership of Baeza’s automobile and, thus, fell within the motor vehicle exclusion. Id. at 551.
¶ 57       On appeal, Perez argued that the exclusion was inapplicable because the negligent
       modification claim did not allege bodily injury arising out of the ownership, maintenance, use,
       loading or unloading of Baeza’s vehicle. Id. at 554. According to Perez, these allegations were
       “ ‘wholly independent’ from the allegation that Baeza negligently operated the vehicle.” Id.
       Perez further argued that “while the negligent operation claim (count I) against Baeza was
       excluded under the policy, it did not serve to void the included coverage of the negligent
       modification claim (count II) because Perez’s injuries were not caused solely by Baeza’s
       negligent operation of the car.” Id. at 558.
¶ 58       The reviewing court concluded that (1) “the negligent modification claim was only a
       rephrasing of the fact that Perez’s injuries arose out of Baeza’s use of the car and, thus, was not
       wholly independent of the negligent operation of the car” (id. at 556-57) and (2) “[n]o matter
       how negligent Baeza was in modifying the seats and seat belt restraint system, the
       modifications could not, on their own, proximately cause injuries to Perez without the actual
       operation of the car” (id. at 560). Thus, “the negligent modification claim in Perez’s underlying
       complaint was not a covered cause because it was based solely on Baeza’s alleged negligent
       use and operation of the car” and the insurer had no duty to defend. Id.
¶ 59       Based on the holdings of USF&G, Northbrook, and Perez, we conclude that in order for the
       underlying lawsuits at issue here to fall within the insurance policy and, thus, outside the liquor
       liability exclusion, each of the complaints must allege facts that are independent from the event
       that led to the injury. See Northbrook, 194 Ill. 2d at 98-99. More specifically, the underlying

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       complaints must allege facts that are independent of “causing or contributing to the
       intoxication of any person.”
¶ 60        According to Phusion, the underlying lawsuits do not fall under the liquor liability
       exclusion because they allege another proximate cause of the injuries, “stimulant liability.”
       Specifically, Phusion asserts that the underlying lawsuits additionally alleged that it was the
       incorporation of stimulants to Four Loko that was unreasonably dangerous and caused injuries
       that would not have been sustained due to alcohol consumption alone.
¶ 61        Although not binding on this court, we note that the Seventh Circuit rejected the same
       arguments made here by Phusion in Netherlands. In that case, Phusion purchased a
       commercial general liability insurance policy from the Netherlands Insurance Company
       (Netherlands) and an umbrella liability insurance policy from Indiana Insurance Company
       (Indiana). Netherlands, 737 F.3d at 1175. Both insurance companies were members of the
       Liberty Mutual Group and were referred to collectively as “ ‘Liberty’ ” within the opinion. Id.
       The Netherlands and Indiana policies included a liquor liability provision that excluded
       coverage for “bodily injury or property damage when Phusion ‘may be held liable by reason
       of: (1) causing or contributing to the intoxication of any person.’ ” Id. Five plaintiffs sued
       Phusion in separate state court actions alleging that the consumption of Four Loko caused their
       injury, in whole or in part. Id. After Phusion notified Liberty of the suits, Liberty filed in
       federal court for a declaratory judgment regarding the scope of its insurance coverage. Id.
       Phusion filed a counterclaim contending the liquor liability exclusion did not apply and,
       therefore, Liberty had a duty to defend and indemnify. Id.
¶ 62        The first lawsuit involved a man who accidentally shot and killed himself when he became
       intoxicated after drinking Four Loko. Id. The second lawsuit alleged the plaintiff was injured
       as a passenger in a motor vehicle accident caused by a friend who became intoxicated after
       consuming Four Loko. Id. In a third lawsuit, another passenger was injured in the same motor
       vehicle accident as the plaintiff in the second lawsuit and alleged similar facts. Id. The fourth
       lawsuit alleged a man died after experiencing “some sort of paranoid episode after drinking
       Four Loko.” Id. The fifth lawsuit involved a plaintiff who “awoke with heart troubles after
       drinking Four Loko the night before.” Id. According to the Seventh Circuit, the plaintiff in the
       fifth lawsuit “did not allege an injury arising from intoxication, but alleged that Four Loko was
       a dangerous product that led to his heart condition.” Id.
¶ 63        Both parties moved for summary judgment. Id. The district court found that the liquor
       liability exclusion was unambiguous, accordingly, Liberty had “ ‘no duty to defend any case
       arising from Phusion causing a person to become intoxicated.’ ” Id. Thus, the district court
       concluded that four out of the five underlying lawsuits fell within the liquor liability exclusion
       and Liberty had no duty to defend those four lawsuits. Id.
¶ 64        On appeal before the Seventh Circuit, Phusion argued that its additional wrongdoing of
       adding energy stimulants to its drinks invoked Liberty’s duty to defend and relied on several
       “ ‘dram shop’ ” cases that interpreted similar liquor liability exclusions for support. Id. at
       1178. The Seventh Circuit, however, did not find the “dram shop” cases persuasive, as Phusion
       did not face dram shop exposure and those cases involved “a separate negligent action
       performed by an agent of the insured after the furnishing of alcohol.” (Emphasis in original.)
       Id. at 1179. The court noted that Phusion’s act of adding stimulants to Four Loko “occurred
       before the product was ever consumed.” Id.

                                                   - 13 -
¶ 65        Similar to its argument in the present case, Phusion argued in Netherlands that “the
       underlying complaints are ‘stimulant liability cases,’ not liquor liability cases.” Id. The
       Seventh Circuit was not persuaded by this argument and held:
               “The presence of energy stimulants in an alcoholic drink has no legal effect on the
               applicability of a liquor liability exclusion. The supply of alcohol, regardless of what it
               is mixed with, is the relevant factor to determine whether an insured caused or
               contributed to the intoxication of any person. While Phusion’s choice of premixing
               energy stimulants and alcohol to make its Four Loko product might not have been a
               very good one, it does not amount to tortious conduct that is divorced from the serving
               of alcohol.” Id. at 1180.
¶ 66        Relying on Northbrook, the Seventh Circuit “reject[ed] Phusion’s efforts to disguise the
       role that intoxication allegedly played in the underlying cases.” Id. at 1178. The Seventh
       Circuit explained that in Northbrook, the Illinois Supreme Court “emphasized that for the
       automobile exclusion to not apply, and the insured to be within policy coverage, the underlying
       complaint must allege facts that are ‘wholly independent’ from the event that led to the injury.”
       Id. (quoting Northbrook, 194 Ill. 2d at 99). In the Northbrook case, the allegations of
       inadequate planning, inadequate inspection, and failure to warn were “ ‘nothing more than
       rephrasings of the fact’ that students’ injuries arose from the operation of a motor vehicle.” Id.
       (citing Northbrook, 194 Ill. 2d at 99). The Netherlands court, however, noted that “[t]he
       Illinois Supreme Court has never considered the applicability or scope of a liquor liability
       exclusion as applied to a liquor manufacturer,” but believed that our supreme court “would
       likely extend the reasoning of Northbrook to this issue and would reject Phusion’s efforts to
       disguise the role that intoxication allegedly played in the underlying cases.” Id.
¶ 67        The Seventh Circuit further found the case of Colony Insurance Co. v. Events Plus, Inc.,
       585 F. Supp. 2d 1148 (D. Ariz. 2008), to be instructive. Netherlands Insurance Co., 737 F.3d
       at 1179. In Colony, the court found that an insurer did not have a duty to defend against a
       negligence action in which the insured hosted an event where Red Bull and vodka cocktails
       were served. Colony Insurance Co., 585 F. Supp. 2d at 1150. The underlying complaint in
       Colony (initiated by the “ ‘Targosz Defendants’ ”) alleged that “after becoming intoxicated,
       one Tyler Fahlman (‘Mr. Fahlman’), caused a motor vehicle accident in which Officer Targosz
       was killed.” Id. Mr. Fahlman was served numerous cocktails at the event despite being under
       Arizona’s legal drinking age of 21. Id. The insurer initiated the declaratory relief action and the
       parties disputed whether the insurance policy’s liquor liability exclusion barred coverage of
       the claims raised in the underlying complaint. Id.
¶ 68        The insurer failed to file any answer or pleading in the matter; thus, only the Targosz
       defendants and the insured filed cross-motions for summary judgment. Id. The parties disputed
       the applicability of the liquor liability exclusion to the claims raised in the underlying
       complaint. The Targosz defendants argued that some of their claims fell outside the limits of
       the liquor liability exclusion to the extent that they alleged the insurer “ ‘failed to check for
       intoxicated persons’ and ‘failed to follow up and take effective action concerning suspected
       irresponsible or criminal behavior.’ ” Id. at 1152. The insurer, however, maintained that the
       allegations in the underlying complaint fell within the liquor liability exclusion because they
       were “ ‘fundamentally premised upon the injuries inflicted by Mr. Fahlman after he became
       intoxicated’ and that ‘there are no allegations of any injuries separate from those caused by Mr.
       Falhman in his drunken collision with Officer Targosz.’ ” Id. at 1151.

                                                   - 14 -
¶ 69        In considering the liquor liability exclusion, which was “verbatim to the language used in
       Phusion’s policies” (Netherlands Insurance Co., 737 F.3d at 1179), the district court found that
       the allegations of secondary negligence were “inextricably intertwined” with the claims that
       fell within the liquor liability exclusion. Colony Insurance Co., 585 F. Supp. 2d at 1155. The
       Colony court explained that the underlying complaint “does not contain a single allegation of
       tortious conduct that is divorced from the serving of alcohol, and the Complaint does not assert
       any claim for damages independent of the injuries caused by Mr. Fahlman in his intoxicated
       state.” Id. According to the Colony court, “[t]o conclude otherwise would only allow the
       parties to render such exclusions essentially meaningless through artful pleadings and would
       allow them to circumvent the terms and intent of the policy and its exclusions.” Id.
¶ 70        The Seventh Circuit in Netherlands ultimately held that the insurer had no duty to defend
       Phusion in the four underlying lawsuits as they alleged bodily injury caused by intoxication
       and, thus, fell within the liquor liability exclusion. Netherlands Insurance Co., 737 F.3d at
       1180.
¶ 71        On appeal before this court, Phusion contends the Netherlands decision was incorrect and,
       therefore, should not be relied upon by this court for numerous reasons. First, Phusion
       maintains that the Seventh Circuit “erroneously equated manufacturing alcoholic beverages
       with furnishing them to consumers as taverns do.” Our reading of Netherlands does not
       support such an assertion. Although the Seventh Circuit utilized the word “furnish,” the court
       did not use the word as a term of art as it has been used in dramshop cases. See Charles v.
       Seigfried, 165 Ill. 2d 482, 486 (1995). Instead, the Seventh Circuit acknowledged that the issue
       was whether Phusion’s products caused someone to be intoxicated, leading to personal injury,
       not whether Phusion “furnished” alcohol. Netherlands, 737 F.3d at 1177. After determining
       the liquor liability exclusion applied to Phusion, the Seventh Circuit merely used the word
       “furnish” by its general meaning, to provide or supply, in its conclusion. See id. at 1180 (“In
       each of the four underlying complaints, none of the claims against Phusion are distinct from
       Phusion’s act of furnishing alcohol.”).
¶ 72        Second, Phusion contends the Seventh Circuit did not apply the “sole and proximate cause
       rule.” We disagree. The Seventh Circuit specifically considered Phusion’s argument on this
       point and rejected it. See id. at 1179 (“The thrust of Phusion’s argument is that its choice to add
       stimulants to its Four Loko product is an additional wrongdoing that amounts to a separate
       allegation outside of the Liquor Liability Exclusion, and is actually within the coverage of
       Liberty’s insurance policies. *** We agree with Liberty.”). Moreover, before the Seventh
       Circuit could have applied this rule, the underlying lawsuits must have alleged another
       proximate cause of the injuries. In examining the underlying lawsuits, the Seventh Circuit
       determined that Phusion’s “secondary negligence claims *** are nothing more than
       rephrasings, or artful pleadings that are not wholly independent from Phusion’s furnishing of
       alcohol.” Id. at 1180.
¶ 73        Third, Phusion contends that the Seventh Circuit incorrectly determined that the addition
       of stimulants to Four Loko was irrelevant because they were intertwined with the alcohol. Id.
       The Seventh Court specifically stated:
                “Additionally, because of the very nature of the Four Loko product, the stimulants and
                alcohol cannot be separated. The presence of energy stimulants in an alcoholic drink
                has no legal effect on the applicability of a liquor liability exclusion. The supply of
                alcohol, regardless of what it is mixed with, is the relevant factor to determine whether

                                                   - 15 -
                an insured caused or contributed to the intoxication of any person. While Phusion’s
                choice of premixing energy stimulants and alcohol to make its Four Loko product
                might not have been a very good one, it does not amount to tortious conduct that is
                divorced from the serving of alcohol.” Id.
       We agree with the Seventh Circuit; the addition of caffeine, guarana, and taurine to an
       alcoholic beverage does not have a legal effect on the applicability of the liquor liability
       exclusion.
¶ 74       Finally, Phusion asserts the Seventh Circuit improperly distinguished the cases it relied
       upon, namely the dramshop cases and our supreme court’s decision in Northbrook. In its brief
       on appeal before this court, Phusion cites to the same cases it did before the Seventh Circuit.
       See Beukema v. Yomac, Inc., 284 Ill. App. 3d 790, 791 (1996); Penn-America Insurance Co. v.
       Peccadillos, Inc., 27 A.3d 259 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2011) (en banc); and Dennis v. Finish Line, Inc.,
       636 So. 2d 944 (La. Ct. App. 1994). We, too, find the reasoning of these cases to be
       inapplicable to whether Selective has a duty to defend Phusion in the underlying lawsuits. As
       previously discussed, the language of the liquor liability exclusion is unambiguous. According
       to the plain language of the exclusion, it applies to those in the business of manufacturing
       alcoholic beverages. Phusion admits it is such a manufacturer. We further disagree with
       Phusion that the Seventh Circuit improperly distinguished Northbrook. As we have already
       discussed at length, Northbrook held that for an exclusion to not apply, the underlying
       complaint must allege facts that are independent from the event that lead to the injury.
       Northbrook, 194 Ill. 2d at 99. The Seventh Circuit stated the same. Netherlands Insurance Co.,
737 F.3d at 1178.
¶ 75       What is truly at issue in this case is whether the underlying lawsuits alleged facts that fell
       within, or potentially within, the policy’s insurance coverage. See Pekin Insurance Co., 237 Ill.
2d at 455. Turning to the allegations of the underlying lawsuits, each stated their injuries were
       caused by individuals who became intoxicated after consuming Four Loko. The underlying
       complaints further alleged that Four Loko was a 23.5 ounce beverage that was contained 12%
       alcohol, along with the stimulants caffeine, guarana, taurine. According to these complaints,
       one Four Loko beverage contained the alcohol equivalent of five to six beers. Although most
       of the complaints alleged that the stimulants added to Four Loko masked or added an
       additional element to the consumer’s intoxication, each underlying complaint alleged that Four
       Loko was an alcoholic beverage that caused or contributed to the consumer’s intoxication.
       None of the underlying lawsuits alleged injuries that were independent from the intoxication
       caused or contributed to by the consumption of Four Loko.
¶ 76       Based on the claims alleged in the underlying lawsuits, Selective has no duty to defend
       Phusion. Each underlying lawsuit alleges Phusion is liable for causing or contributing to the
       intoxication of any person resulting in bodily injury. Phusion admits it is a manufacturer of
       alcoholic beverages. Accordingly, the underlying lawsuits fall squarely within the liquor
       liability exclusion and Selective has no duty to defend. The circuit court, therefore, properly
       granted Selective’s motion to dismiss.

¶ 77                                    III. CONCLUSION
¶ 78      As stated above, the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County dismissing Phusion’s
       declaratory judgment complaint with prejudice is affirmed.

                                                   - 16 -
¶ 79   Affirmed.

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