Allied Stores Corp. v. Chubb Insurance (In re Federated Department Stores, Inc.)

135 B.R. 947, 1992 Bankr. LEXIS 37
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Ohio
DecidedJanuary 3, 1992
DocketBankruptcy No. 1-90-00130; Adv. No. 1-91-0232
StatusPublished

This text of 135 B.R. 947 (Allied Stores Corp. v. Chubb Insurance (In re Federated Department Stores, Inc.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Allied Stores Corp. v. Chubb Insurance (In re Federated Department Stores, Inc.), 135 B.R. 947, 1992 Bankr. LEXIS 37 (Ohio 1992).

Opinion

ORDER

J. VINCENT AUG, Jr., Bankruptcy Judge.

BACKGROUND

On February 1, 1989, Chubb Insurance Company of Canada (“Chubb”) issued an Executive Liability and Indemnification Policy (“Policy”) to Campeau Corporation and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including Allied Stores Corporation (“Debt- or”). The Policy obligates Chubb to pay on behalf of the directors and officers of the Debtor all amounts which they become legally obligated to pay on account of claims asserted against them for a wrongful act committed, attempted, or allegedly committed or attempted, in their respective capacities as officers or directors. Endorsement No. 3 of the Policy provides that coverage is excluded if the claim is “brought by an Insured Person or by any Insured Organization except ... a claim that is a shareholder’s derivative action made on behalf of an Insured Organization ... by one or more claimants who are not Insured Persons ...”. The word “claim” is not defined in the Policy.

On May 2, 1990, the Debtor and the Bondholders entered into a Stipulation and Order wherein the Bondholders were empowered to investigate possible claims arising out of certain intercompany transactions, including the sale by Allied of its Ann Taylor subsidiary and the sale by Allied of its Brooks Brothers subsidiary. The Bondholders further agreed that no litigation would be commenced prior to September 12, 1990 regarding said claims. On September 6, 1990, the Bondholders wrote to the Debtor expressing their intent to commence litigation after expiration of the requisite time period. The Debtor transmitted a copy of this letter to Chubb. On September 10, 1990, the Debtor moved for an order that the Bondholders not be permitted to file a complaint in the Debtor’s name for at least the duration of the exclusive filing period or until February 28, 1991; the requested relief was granted by this Court on October 26, 1990. On March 1, 1991, this Court then ordered that its Order of October 26, 1990, be continued at least sixty days.

In December of 1990, a draft complaint was apparently prepared and at some time forwarded to Chubb. A copy of this draft complaint has not been presented to this Court.

On April 1, 1991, Chubb wrote to the Debtor denying any liability under the Policy because: 1) no claim was currently made against any insured person under the Policy and because 2) Endorsement No 3 excluded any claim from coverage.

In April and May of 1991, the Debtor and the Bondholders agreed on a mechanism for compromising the Bondholders’ various claims in the context of a plan of reorganization. In pertinent part, the Bondholders agreed not to commence litigation regarding the subject claims before May 31,1992, unless a plan of reorganization was filed which provided for a materially adverse change in the agreed amount to be received by the Bondholders as set forth in the plan filed on April 29, 1991.

On July 3, 1991, Chubb, by letter, again denied any liability under the Policy, especially in view of the agreement between the Debtor and the Bondholders prohibiting claims against the directors and officers under the then present circumstances. However, Chubb did request additional information from the Debtor regarding the [949]*949subject claims. Also, on July 3, 1991, the Committee sent a more detailed analysis of the subject claims to Chubb. On October 3, 1991, Chubb sent a letter denying coverage under the Policy to Campeau Corporation, with a copy to the Debtor and the Bondholders.

On October 28, 1991, the Debtor filed its Third Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization (“Plan”) and accompanying Disclosure Statement which incorporated the above referenced provision of the April/May 1991 agreement. The Plan also contains provisions that would operate to settle and compromise the Bondholders' claims if the Plan is approved and confirmed.

Three days prior to the filing of the Plan, the Debtor and the Bondholders (collectively, “Plaintiffs”), filed their Complaint for Declaratory Judgment (Doc. 1) requesting a declaratory judgment from this Court a) that the Bondholders have in fact asserted a claim under the Policy and b) that the coverage of the policy is not barred by Endorsement No. 3. On November 15, 1991, the Plaintiffs filed their Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 4) and Supporting Memorandum (Doc. 5).

On December 2, 1991, Chubb filed its Motion to Dismiss (Doc. 28), Motion to Abstain (Doc. 29), Motion for Temporary Stay Pending Determination of Motions to Dismiss and to Abstain (Doc. 30), and Motion for Determination That Proceeding is Non-Core (Doc. 31). Four days later, the Debt- or and the Bondholders responded with their Memorandum in Opposition (Doc. 38). On December 11, 1991, the Bondholders filed their separate Supplemental Memorandum (Doc. 45). Also on December 11, 1991, Chubb filed its two Reply Memoranda (Docs. 46 & 47).

On December 13, 1991, Chubb filed its Motion to Strike the Supplemental Memorandum (Doc. 55), which was followed by the Bondholders’ Opposition (Doc. 57) and Chubb’s Reply (Doc. 61).

Also, on December 13, 1991, the Bondholders filed their Motion for Leave to File Supplemental Affidavit Under Seal (Doc. 51). Chubb responded with its Memorandum in Opposition (Doc. 59).

I. Bondholder’s Motion for Leave to File Supplemental Affidavit

While perhaps the Supplemental Affidavit would have been better presented as an Amended Complaint, given the flurry of pleadings in this adversary proceeding and the Plaintiffs’ need to obtain a decision from the Court prior to the scheduled confirmation hearing, we find the Bondholders’ Motion to be well taken and hereby grant same. Chubb did receive the correspondence which is the substance of the Supplemental Affidavit back in July of 1990 and we find that no prejudice to Chubb is caused by our ruling.

II. Chubb’s Motion to Dismiss

We find Chubb’s Motion to Dismiss to be well taken and hereby grant same on the ground that there is no justiciable case or controversy before this Court at this time.

Mootness is a jurisdictional question. A court may declare the rights and liabilities of parties only when they are engaged in a case of actual controversy. 28 U.S.C. § 2201. In the present case, Plaintiffs are asking for an advisory opinion as to whether or not they have asserted a claim under the Policy and, if this Court finds that they have asserted a claim, if the Endorsement No. 3 does not exclude coverage. The following two facts are dispositive: First, if the proposed Plan is confirmed, the directors and officers will be released from any liability and no claim against them may ever be brought by the Plaintiffs. Second, the Bondholders have agreed not to commence litigation against the directors and officers until at least May 31, 1992. With regard to the Plaintiffs’ request for a declaratory judgment that the Bondholders have asserted a claim under the Policy, we find that this is not a controversy ripe for review at this time. See City Communications, Inc. v. City of Detroit, 888 F.2d 1081, 1089 (6th Cir.1989) (case “anchored in future events that may not occur as anticipated, or at all” found to lack ripeness for jurisdiction); International Union v. Dana Corporation,

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
135 B.R. 947, 1992 Bankr. LEXIS 37, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/allied-stores-corp-v-chubb-insurance-in-re-federated-department-stores-ohsb-1992.