Court Opinion

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Opinions of the United
2007 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
                                                                                                                              for the Third Circuit

2-16-2007

Natl Union Fire Ins v. Gen Star Indemnity
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 05-3392

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                                                           NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                        UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                             FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

                                  _______________

                                    No. 05-3392
                                  _______________

                NATIONAL UNION FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
                          OF PITTSBURGH, PA,

                                     Appellant,

                                         v.

                    GENERAL STAR INDEMNITY COMPANY.

                              ____________________

                   On Appeal From the United States District Court
                       for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
                                   (No. 04-cv-01065)
                   Senior District Judge: Honorable John P. Fullam

                            Argued: December 14, 2006

          Before: FISHER, CHAGARES and GREENBERG, Circuit Judges.

                             (Filed: February 16, 2007)
                               __________________

Jeffrey R. Lerman, Esq. (Argued)
Glenn F. Rosenblum, Esq.
Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP
123 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19109

Counsel for Appellant

Alan H. Barbanel, Esq. (Argued)
Barbanel & Treuer
1925 Century Park East
Suite 350
Los Angeles, CA 90067

William H. Black, Jr., Esq.
M. Jane Goode, Esq.
Gibbons, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione, P.C.
1700 Two Logan Square
18th & Arch Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Counsel for Appellee

                               OPINION OF THE COURT

                                  __________________

CHAGARES, Circuit Judge.

       This appeal arises out of a dispute between two insurance companies over an

excess liability insurance policy issued by appellee General Star Indemnity Company

(“General Star”) to ATI Systems International, Inc. (“ATI”). The General Star policy

provided coverage above and beyond ATI’s self-insured retention and the primary

insurance policy of appellant, National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA

(“National”). General Star disclaimed coverage based on lack of notice of the underlying

suit. After paying the judgment in full, National filed this action for indemnification

alleging wrongful repudiation of its payment obligations. National appeals from an order

of the District Court granting summary judgment in favor of General Star.

                                             2
        For the reasons expressed below, we will affirm.

                                             I.

        We recite only those facts necessary to decide this appeal.

        The genesis of this action is a lawsuit for personal injuries stemming from a

collision between an armored truck owned and operated by Brooks Armored Car Service

(“Brooks”), an affiliate of ATI, and a bicyclist, Christine Bennyhoff (“Bennyhoff”).

Bennyhoff filed suit against Brooks and its driver. The defense of the underlying action

was initially directed by Constitution States Services Company (“CSSC”), a third-party

claim administrator, pursuant to a Claims Service Agreement between CSSC and

National.

        At the time of the accident, Brooks was insured under a policy of primary liability

insurance issued to ATI by National. The National policy provided $1 million in primary

insurance limits, subject to a $250,000 self-insured retention. General Star provided

excess liability insurance to ATI of $10 million, above the total $1,250,000 limits of

ATI’s deductible and National’s primary policy.

        The General Star excess policy at issue explicitly required that General Star be

given written notice of occurrences likely to involve its policy and also required that suit

papers relating to any claim be forwarded to General Star. The policy stated, in pertinent

part:

               Conditions

               ....

                                              3
                (B)    Insured’s Duties In The Event of Occurrence, Claim or Suit

                       (1)    In the event of an occurrence covered hereunder
                              involving injuries or damages which, without regard to
                              legal liability, appears likely to involve this Policy,
                              written notice containing particulars sufficient to
                              identify the Insured and also reasonably obtainable
                              information with respect to the time, place and
                              circumstances thereof, and the names and addresses of
                              the injured and of available witnesses, shall be given
                              by or for the Insured to the Company or any of its
                              authorized agents as soon as practicable.

                       (2)    If a claim is made or suit is brought against the Insured
                              because of an occurrence which, without regard to
                              legal liability, appears likely to involve this Policy, the
                              Insured shall immediately forward to the Company
                              every demand, notice, summons, or other process
                              received by him or his representative.

(A96.)

         Bennyhoff sought damages of $600,000 for her injuries. On January 5,

2000, Bennyhoff and CSSC participated in pre-trial settlement discussions before a

mediator. After considering the merits, the mediator recommended a $75,000

settlement, but advised CSSC that a verdict could range as high as $250,000 to

$300,000.

         The parties failed to settle, and the case went to trial before the Philadelphia

Court of Common Pleas. On June 21, 2000, the jury returned a verdict in favor of

Bennyhoff in the amount of $3 million, which the court then molded to $2,010,100

to reflect Bennyhoff’s comparative negligence. The verdict exceeded ATI’s and

National’s combined insurance limits by approximately $750,000. It was not until

                                                4
the jury reached its verdict that CSSC or National conceived that the Bennyhoff

action was likely to involve General Star’s excess policy.

       On June 22, 2000, Kelly Meunier (“Meunier”) of CSSC claimed she

notified General Star of the unexpectedly large verdict. According to Meunier, she

telephoned General Star’s main number for the underwriting department and

reported the details of the verdict to someone named “Janet” who answered the

phone. Based on this conversation, Meunier testified at her deposition that she

believed that Janet would report the information to the claims department and a file

would be “set up.” There is evidence in the record that shortly thereafter, Ted

Gaisford (“Gaisford”), a claims manager at General Star, attempted to reach

Meunier by email and telephone. In response, Meunier testified that she returned

Gaisford’s call and left him a voice message, but never spoke to him directly. It is

undisputed that at this time, neither CSSC nor National provided written notice of

the claim to General Star or provided General Star with any papers from the

underlying suit in compliance with General Star’s policy set forth above.

       Post-trial, National took control of the case, purchasing an appeal bond

from Fidelity & Deposit Company of Maryland (“Fidelity”) in the amount of

$2,500,511 to bond the full amount of the judgment plus 20%, as is required by

state court rules to stay execution against a defendant/insured.

       Apart from Meunier’s initial conversation with Janet, National had no

further contact with General Star during the entire post-trial period until March 26,

                                             5
2003, when, at National’s request, Meunier wrote to General Star to detail the

Bennyhoff claim. Although the letter references her oral communication of the

claim information in June 2000, it is undisputed that Meunier’s March 2003 letter

was the first written notice that General Star received. Pursuant to the terms of the

policy, Meunier forwarded the summons and complaint to General Star. However,

by letter dated April 8, 2003, General Star disclaimed coverage based on

National’s nearly three-year delay in providing written notice of the claim and suit

papers.

       Following the affirmance of the Bennyhoff judgment by the Pennsylvania

Superior Court, on April 22, 2003, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania denied

leave for further appeal, and the judgment against ATI became subject to

execution.

       National demanded that Fidelity pay on the appeal bond. National then

entered into a loan receipt agreement pursuant to which it advanced Fidelity

$1,032,211.10 to cover General Star’s portion of Fidelity’s payment. Under the

terms of the loan receipt agreement, Fidelity assigned National its rights against

third parties arising from the Bennyhoff matter. National assumed any obligations

Fidelity may have had to pursue claims against ATI or General Star in connection

with the funds paid by Fidelity to Bennyhoff. National then filed this diversity

action against General Star seeking indemnification as contractual and equitable

subrogee of ATI or as an assignee of Fidelity.

                                             6
       National’s action against General Star proceeded to cross motions for

summary judgment. On June 9, 2005, the District Court granted summary

judgment in favor of General Star and against National. The District Court

concluded that written notice given just before the denial of the final appeal was

tantamount to no notice at all, and that General Star was prejudiced as a matter of

law by National’s failure to provide notice.

       The District Court filed a Supplemental Memorandum on June 13, 2005 in

which it reiterated its conclusion that written notice was required. However, the

District Court also expressed its belief that notice should have been given in

advance of the trial. Its opinion in this regard was based on a mistaken

understanding of the settlement value that the mediator placed on the case. The

District Court stated, “The case had been submitted to mediation before a common

pleas judge, who expressed the view that, because plaintiff would have difficulty

in establishing liability before a jury, the case had a settlement value of $500,000

to $600,000. Thus, it should have been clear to the parties that ‘without regard to

legal liability’ . . , the case would likely involve the excess policy.” (A6-A7.) In

actuality, the mediator placed a value on the case of $75,000 but cautioned that a

jury verdict might be as high as $300,000.

       Because we conclude that compliance with the written notice provision of

General Star’s policy was triggered only after the jury reached its verdict, the

District Court’s factual finding as to the settlement value of the case and its

                                               7
conclusion that notice prior to trial was required is harmless error.

                                          II.

       This Court exercises plenary review over a district court's grant of summary

judgment. Summary judgment is appropriate “if the pleadings, depositions,

answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if

any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving

party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). “We

view the facts in the light most favorable to the party against whom summary

judgment was entered.” Woodside v. School Dist. of Phila. Bd. of Educ., 248 F.3d

129, 130 (3d Cir. 2001) (quoting Foehl v. United States, 238 F.3d 474, 477 (3d

Cir. 2001)).

                                                III.

       Before we turn to the substance of the parties’ arguments, we address two

threshold issues: whether to apply Pennsylvania or California law and whether National

has established its status as equitable subrogee.

                                                A.

       In its Supplemental Memorandum, the District Court stated, “By way of further

clarification, I have concluded that the case would be decided the same way, regardless of

whether California law or Pennsylvania law is applied. If choice were necessary, I

conclude that California law governs the interpretation and application of the insurance

policy in question.” (A7.) While we agree that California law governs, we set forth the

                                                 8
governing principles for the benefit of the parties.

       In cases where federal jurisdiction is based on diversity of citizenship, the court

applies the choice of law rules of the state in which the district court is located. J.C.

Penney Life Ins. Co. v. Pilosi, 393 F.3d 356, 360 (3d Cir. 2004); see also Klaxon Co. v.

Stentor Elec. Mfg. Co., 313 U.S. 487, 496 (1941). As this case was instituted in the

Eastern District of Pennsylvania, we will therefore apply Pennsylvania choice of law

rules. “‘Under Pennsylvania choice of law rules, an insurance contract is governed by the

law of the state in which the contract was made.’” J.C. Penney, 393 F.3d at 360 (quoting

Crawford v. Manhattan Life Ins. Co., 221 A.2d 877, 880 (Pa. Super. 1966)). “‘An

insurance contract is “made” in the state in which the last act legally necessary to bring

the contract into force takes place.’” Id. Generally, the “‘last act is delivery of the policy

to the insured and the payment of the first premium by him.’” Id. (quoting Ruhlin v. N.Y.

Life Ins. Co., 106 F.2d 921, 923 (3d Cir. 1939)); see also CAT Internet Servs., Inc. v.

Providence Washington Ins. Co., 333 F.3d 138, 141 (3d Cir. 2003) (“Pennsylvania

conflict of laws principles dictate that an insurance contract is guided [sic] by the law of

the state in which it is delivered.”).

       Here, the parties do not dispute that the General Star policy was delivered to ATI

in Pasadena, California, which is ATI’s principal place of business. ATI’s California

address appears on the Declarations page of the General Star policy. National offers no

evidence to demonstrate that ATI paid its premiums from any other location. National

recognizes the prevailing view that an insurance contract is governed by the law of the

                                               9
state in which it was delivered, but argues alternatively that under an interests analysis,1

Pennsylvania law might apply because the incidents giving rise to the underlying claim

occurred in Pennsylvania and the subject of the underlying lawsuit was located in

Pennsylvania. See U.S. Fidelity & Guar. Co. v. Barron Indus., Inc., 809 F. Supp. 355,

359 (M.D. Pa. 1992).

       We decline to deviate from our prior precedents and therefore hold that California

law governs the insurance contract at issue.

                                               B.

       At summary judgment, General Star argued that National was unable to establish

itself as an equitable subrogee of ATI or as an assignee of Fidelity. The District Court did

not reach the merits of this argument, effectively assuming that National could

demonstrate its status as equitable subrogee or assignee. Because we agree with the

District Court that National failed to comply with the express terms of the General Star

policy, we likewise need not reach General Star’s alternative argument that National is

neither equitable subrogee nor assignee.

                                               IV.

       There are two substantive issues on appeal. The first deals with notice and the

       1
         An interests analysis seeks to determine which state has the most significant
contacts or relationship with the particular issue by examining the underlying interests
behind conflicting laws among the different jurisdictions. See Garcia v. Plaza
Oldsmobile Ltd., 421 F.3d 216, 220 (3d Cir. 2005). Pennsylvania applies this analysis in
tort cases; in insurance contract cases, however, we adhere to the rule stated above.

                                               10
second with prejudice. We turn first to notice.

                                              A.

       In its opening brief, National recognizes the importance of compliance with notice

provisions and agrees that it is neither fair nor consistent with reasonable commercial

expectations to disregard non-compliance with explicit notice requirements, especially if

such non-compliance results in an insurer being deprived of information or materials it

needs to protect the interests of the insured or its own. That being said, National argues

that it was error for the District Court to have disregarded the evidence of oral

notification.

       According to California’s Code of Civil Procedure § 1858,2 a court construing a

contract shall faithfully interpret the terms contained therein. It is well-settled “that

where the terms of the [insurance] policy are plain and explicit, the court will indulge in

no forced construction so as to cast a liability upon the insurance company which it has

not assumed.” N.Y. Life Ins. Co. v. Hollender, 237 P.2d 510, 514 (Cal. 1951) (internal

citations omitted). General Star contends that the terms of its policy are plain and

explicit. The insured (1) must provide written notice of an occurrence likely to implicate

General Star’s coverage and (2) “shall immediately forward” any relevant documents

       2
         “In the construction of a statute or instrument, the office of the Judge is simply to
ascertain and declare what is in terms or in substance contained therein, not to insert what
has been omitted, or to omit what has been inserted; and where there are several
provisions or particulars, such a construction is, if possible, to be adopted as will give
effect to all.” Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1858.

                                              11
related to the occurrence. National did neither, but now asks us to reverse the District

Court’s decision based on some evidence of oral notification, even though the District

Court determined, correctly, that the evidence surrounding the claimed oral contacts was

“confused and fragmentary.”

       National and CSSC are sophisticated entities well able to comply with the terms of

an insurance policy. Indeed it is their business to do so. There is no evidence that

General Star waived its right to written notice. Although there is some testimonial

evidence that General Star can open a claim file based on an oral report of the basic

policy information, there is no evidence that General Star had a custom or practice of

accepting oral notice of which National was aware and on which it relied. Cf. Dickinson

v. General Accident Fire & Life Assur. Corp., 147 F.2d 396, 398 (9th Cir. 1945) (“There

was, moreover, evidence of a custom of the insurer, known to and relied on by the

insured, of accepting oral notice of accident.”). Accordingly, we conclude that National

failed to comply with mandatory conditions of coverage.

       General Star did not receive actual written notice until March 2003. National

relies on Span, Inc. v. Assoc. Int’l Ins. Co., 277 Cal. Rptr. 828 (Cal. Ct. App. 1991),

however, to argue that General Star had a duty of inquiry to investigate the Bennyhoff

matter after it received what National claims amounts to constructive oral notice in June

2000. In Span, the duty of inquiry arose from the primary insurer’s insolvency. The

court held that the excess insurer was under an increased duty to inquire into the details of

an underlying tort action because the presumption that the primary insurer would provide

                                             12
experienced defense did not apply.

       Span is factually distinguishable from the present situation in several important

respects. First, we are not dealing with an insolvent primary insurer. Second, the

evidence presented in Span demonstrated that Associated, the excess insurer, was

informed in writing of the underlying personal injury action three years before the trial,

not three years after. Id. at 830. Third, Associated filed a notice of appeal in the

underlying action upon receipt of notice of the $1,276,000 judgment which penetrated the

excess insurance layer. Id. Associated later voluntarily abandoned the appeal. Fourth,

there was evidence that counsel for defendant in the underlying action had advised

Associated of the trial dates and Associated “had refused to accept the tender of the

defense or to offer any assistance in the trial of the underlying lawsuit.” Id. at 831.

Finally, there was evidence that counsel for Associated had appeared at the mandatory

settlement conference in the declaratory relief action. Id.

       The Span court concluded, as a matter of law, that

          Associated's knowledge of the Ledesma action and the insolvency of
          the primary carrier placed it on inquiry notice of the contents of the
          superior court file in the Ledesma action. Simple review thereof
          would have alerted Associated that Ledesma had filed a statement of
          damages seeking $1 million in general and $1 million in special
          damages, a demand for settlement in the amount of $650,000, and
          that Ledesma's damages had been described as “extensive” in an
          arbitration conference.

Id. at 839. Thus, “Associated . . . had sufficient knowledge of the underlying action as to

amount to constructive notice its policy was likely to be involved.” Id. at 829.

                                              13
       As discussed above, what evidence there was of oral notice to General Star in June

2000 was confused and fragmentary. General Star did not receive any updates about the

progress of case, no suit papers were forwarded, it did not participate in a settlement

conference and it was unaware of any post-trial appeals until just weeks before the final

appeal was denied. Unlike Span, we conclude that General Star did not have “sufficient

knowledge of the underlying action as to amount to constructive notice that its policy was

likely to be involved.” Id.

                                              B.

       The District Court also held that General Star was prejudiced as a matter of law by

National’s failure to provide timely written notice. In this regard, the Court found that

General Star was denied any right to participate in the appeals or to attempt to broker a

settlement for less than the full amount of the judgment. The District Court found

undisputedly “that National Union and ATI did not pursue settlement discussions with the

plaintiff in the underlying action, instead choosing to focus their efforts on appeal. . . .

Settlement discussions would not have hindered the ability to press the appeal, and

General Star should have had the opportunity to weigh in on the issue.” (A3-A4.)

       “In California, . . . there is no presumption of prejudice. Under California law, the

insurer has the burden of proving actual and substantial prejudice, and a ‘mere possibility’

of prejudice will not suffice.” Ins. Co. of Pa. v. Associated Int’l Ins. Co., 922 F.2d 516,

524 (9th Cir. 1990) (citations omitted); see also Shell Oil Co. v. Winterthur Swiss Ins.

Co., 15 Cal. Rptr. 2d 815, 845 (Ct. App. 1993) (“California law is settled that a defense

                                              14
based on an insured's failure to give timely notice requires the insurer to prove that it

suffered substantial prejudice. Prejudice is not presumed from delayed notice alone. The

insurer must show actual prejudice, not the mere possibility of prejudice.”) (internal

citations omitted). California law is imbued with a strong public policy against technical

forfeitures in the insurance context. See Ins. Co. of Pa., 922 F.2d at 524. The “notice-

prejudice” rule applies to excess insurers and reinsurers. See id. at 523. In fact, the

requirement of prejudice is even more compelling in the excess insurance context. Id.

“Unlike primary insurers, excess insurers have no right to control a lawsuit and thus have

less need for early notice. Moreover, because primary insurers will usually provide

experienced defense, the likelihood of prejudice from late notice is more remote.” Id.

(citing Trustees of the Univ. of Pa. v. Lexington Ins. Co., 815 F.2d 890, 898 (3d Cir.

1987)).

       Here, however, there was no “mere possibility” of prejudice. Rather, the District

Court correctly concluded that General Star was substantially prejudiced by National’s

failure to notify. General Star received notice a scant four weeks before the Pennsylvania

Supreme Court denied the final appeal. National and ATI did not pursue or engage in any

settlement discussions during the entire three-year, post-trial period. National’s conduct

deprived General Star of any opportunity to assess whether National’s failure to explore

settlement was reasonable and prevented General Star from participating in, and perhaps

effecting, a better outcome.

                                             V.

                                              15
       Accordingly, we will affirm the District Court’s grant of summary judgment in

favor of General Star.

                                           16