American Fire & Casualty Co. v. Bcorp Canterbury at Riverwalk, LLC

506 F. Supp. 2d 418, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16203, 2007 WL 716092
CourtDistrict Court, D. Colorado
DecidedMarch 7, 2007
Docket1:04-cr-00197
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 506 F. Supp. 2d 418 (American Fire & Casualty Co. v. Bcorp Canterbury at Riverwalk, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Colorado primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
American Fire & Casualty Co. v. Bcorp Canterbury at Riverwalk, LLC, 506 F. Supp. 2d 418, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16203, 2007 WL 716092 (D. Colo. 2007).

Opinion

ORDER AND MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

NOTTINGHAM, District Judge.

This is an insurance issue arising in a faulty construction case. Defendants Debbie Eytcheson, David Hosier, and Christine Suess (collectively, the “Homeowners”) assert that they are entitled to insurance coverage under policies issued by Defendant Admiral Insurance Company (“Admiral”) for judgment entered in their favor and against Defendants BCORP-HRT, LLC (“BCORP-HRT”) and BCORP Arlington, LLC, as Nominee (“BCORP Arlington” and, collectively, “BCORP”). In a somewhat unusual procedural twist, the only remaining parties in this case are Defendants Admiral and Homeowners. This matter is before the court on “Defendant Admiral Insurance Company’s Motion for Summary Judgment,” filed December 13, 2006. Jurisdiction is premised upon diversity of citizenship, pursuant to 28 U.S.C.S. § 1332 (LexisNexis 2007).

FACTS

1. Factual Background

This case has a long and tortured history, which the court attempts to summarize as concisely as possible. In its current manifestation, this matter only concerns questions about insurance coverage relating to a judgment awarded after trial of Homeowners’ claims (the “Underlying Action”) regarding faulty construction of a condominium project located in Littleton, Colorado, known as “Arlington.” 1

a. Arlington

BCORP Arlington was the developer of Arlington. (DefAdmiral Ins. Co.’s Mot. for Summ. J., Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 1 [filed Dec. 13, 2006] [hereinafter “Admiral’s Br.”]; admitted at Defs.’ Resp. in Opp’n to DefiAdmiral Ins. Co.’s Mot. for Summ. J., Resp. to Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 1 [filed Jan. 5, 2007] [hereinafter “Homeowners’ Resp.”].) BCORP-HRT was the general contractor for Arlington. (Id., Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 2; admitted at Homeowners’ Resp., Resp. to Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 2.)

During trial of the Underlying Action, Homeowners’ expert witness, Edward Fro-napfel, testified that Arlington was not constructed using the floor-to-ceiling as *421 semblies called for in the architectural plans for the project. (Id., Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶¶ 3-4; admitted at Homeowners’ Resp., Resp. to Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶¶ 3-4.) Specifically, the architectural plans called for an “L516 rated assembly,” which has several requirements, including wood joists of certain measurements and the use of a “resilient channel,” which is a metal strip that separates the building’s framing from the drywall in order to provide fireproofing and soundproofing benefits. (Id., Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 5; admitted at Homeowners’ Resp., Resp. to Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 5.) Instead of implementing the L516 rated assembly requirements, BCORP-HRT substituted manufactured truss joints for the wood joists and omitted the resilient channels. (Id., Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 6; admitted at Homeowners’ Resp., Resp. to Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 6.) It is undisputed that BCORP’s substitution and omission adversely affected Arlington’s fire safety rating and soundproofing. (Id., Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 7; admitted at Homeowners’ Resp., Resp. to Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 7.)

Mr. Fronapfel testified further that construction of the walls between condominium units, or the “demising wall construction,” failed to comply with architectural plans. (Id., Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 8; admitted at Homeowners’ Resp., Resp. to Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 8.) The architectural plans for the demising wall construction called for mineral fiber as a fire stop between staggered studs in the walls, but BCORP substituted wood, which served as an adequate fire stop, but adversely affected soundproofing between units. (Id., Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶¶ 8-12; admitted at Homeowners’ Resp., Resp. to Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶¶ 8-12.)

b. The Homeowners

In August 2000, David Hosier purchased and inhabited unit 207 at Arlington. (Id., Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 29; admitted at Homeowners’ Resp., Resp. to Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 29.) In September 2000, Christine Suess purchased and inhabited an unspecified unit at Arlington. (Id., Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 40; admitted at Homeowners’ Resp., Resp. to Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶40.) In or about September 2001, Debbie Eytcheson purchased and inhabited unit 204 at Arlington. (Id., Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 23; admitted at Homeowners’ Resp., Resp. to Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 23.) Homeowners have all maintained that their units were extraordinarily noisy.

Mr. Hosier testified that in his unit he heard: (1) loud music from the unit beneath his; (2) his neighbors’ televisions, telephones, alarm clocks, blenders, microwaves, stereos, conversations, snoring, and footsteps; and (3) running water and whistling air. (Id., Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶¶ 30-31, 34; admitted at Homeowners’ Resp., Resp. to Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶¶ 30-31, 34.) In a somewhat successful attempt to reduce the noise level in his unit, Mr. Hosier moved his bed into his living room and spent approximately $5,300 installing insulation and other improvements. (Id., Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶¶ 36-37; admitted at Homeowners’ Resp., Resp. to Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶¶ 36-37.) Mr. Hosier was embarrassed by the noises he heard and the placement of his bed in the living room. (Homeowners’ Resp., Additional Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 12; admitted at *422 Def. Admiral Ins. Co.’s Reply in Supp. of Mot. for Summ. J., Resp. to Homeowners’ Additional Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 12 [filed Jan. 22, 2007] [hereinafter “Admiral’s Reply”].)

Ms. Suess testified that in her unit she heard: (1) running water; (2) her neighbors’ voices, telephones ringing, and electrical appliances running; (3) a neighbor’s piano; (4) “dragging” sounds from her upstairs neighbor; and (5) noises in the hallways. (Admiral’s Br., Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶¶ 41-42; admitted at Homeowners’ Resp., Resp. to Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶¶ 41-42.) Ms. Suess testified that the noises bothered and embarrassed her. (Id., Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 43; admitted at Homeowners’ Resp., Resp. to Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 43.)

Ms.

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

Related

Admiral Insurance v. Hosler
626 F. Supp. 2d 1105 (D. Colorado, 2009)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
506 F. Supp. 2d 418, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16203, 2007 WL 716092, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/american-fire-casualty-co-v-bcorp-canterbury-at-riverwalk-llc-cod-2007.