Arrowhead Systems, LLC (f/K/A Arrowhead Systems, Inc.) v. Hercon Construction, Inc.

Court of Appeals of Kentucky·Decided March 21, 2025·No. 2023-CA-1503·Unpublished

Opinion

RENDERED: MARCH 21, 2025; 10:00 A.M.

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED

Commonwealth of Kentucky

Court of Appeals

NO. 2023-CA-1249-MR

HERCON CONSTRUCTION, INC. APPELLANT

APPEAL FROM SCOTT CIRCUIT COURT v. HONORABLE KATHRYN H. GABHART, JUDGE ACTION NO. 17-CI-00730

ARROWHEAD SYSTEMS, L.L.C. (F/K/A ARROWHEAD SYSTEMS, INC.); D&S CONSTRUCTION OF SCOTT COUNTY, L.L.C.; DAVID CANNON; PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY; QUALITY SYSTEMS, INC.; THOMAS YOUNG; AND ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE CO. APPELLEES

AND NO. 2023-CA-1286-MR

ARROWHEAD SYSTEMS, L.L.C. (F/K/A ARROWHEAD SYSTEMS, INC.) AND THOMAS YOUNG CROSS-APPELLANTS

CROSS-APPEAL FROM SCOTT CIRCUIT COURT v. HONORABLE KATHRYN H. GABHART, JUDGE ACTION NO. 17-CI-00730

HERCON CONSTRUCTION, INC.; D&S CONSTRUCTION OF SCOTT COUNTY, L.L.C.; DAVID CANNON; PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY; QUALITY SYSTEMS, INC.; AND ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE CO. CROSS-APPELLEES

AND NO. 2023-CA-1290-MR

HERCON CONSTRUCTION, INC. APPELLANT

APPEAL FROM SCOTT CIRCUIT COURT v. HONORABLE KATHRYN H. GABHART, JUDGE ACTION NO. 10-CI-01245

ARROWHEAD SYSTEMS, INC.; D&S CONSTRUCTION OF SCOTT COUNTY, L.L.C.; DAVID CANNON; PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY; QUALITY SYSTEMS, INC.; THOMAS YOUNG; AND ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE CO. APPELLEES

AND

NO. 2023-CA-1503-MR

ARROWHEAD SYSTEMS, L.L.C. (F/K/A ARROWHEAD SYSTEMS, INC.) AND THOMAS YOUNG APPELLANTS

APPEAL FROM SCOTT CIRCUIT COURT v. HONORABLE KATHRYN H. GABHART, JUDGE ACTION NO. 10-CI-01245

HERCON CONSTRUCTION, INC.; D&S CONSTRUCTION OF SCOTT COUNTY, LLC; DAVID CANNON; PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY; QUALITY SYSTEMS, INC.; AND ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE CO. APPELLEES

OPINION

AFFIRMING

** ** ** ** **

BEFORE: THOMPSON, CHIEF JUDGE; ECKERLE AND A. JONES, JUDGES. ECKERLE, JUDGE: This case involves consolidated appeals from summary and declaratory judgments of the Scott Circuit Court holding that two insurers have no obligation to insure or indemnify insureds from claims of breach of contract,

negligence, defective workmanship, or fraud. For the foregoing reasons, we affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND A. Underlying Facts While the procedural history of this case is complicated, the factual underpinnings are straightforward. Thomas Young purchased a large residence in Scott County, Kentucky (the “Residence”). Almost 20 years ago, in 2006, Young and his company, Arrowhead Systems, Inc., now known as Arrowhead Systems, LLC [sic], (collectively referred to as “Young”), purchased PermaCrete from Quality Systems Inc. (“QSI”), a Tennessee corporation that is now out of business. Young alleges that QSI marketed PermaCrete as a stucco-like material, suitable for finishing the Residence’s exterior. Young further claims that QSI represented that it would arrange for its preferred “dealer,” Hercon Constructions Inc. (“Hercon”), also a Tennessee company, to apply PermaCrete. Young avers that QSI represented that it would supervise Hercon’s work. Young now believes that QSI constituted a pyramid scheme.

Young directly contracted with Hercon to apply PermaCrete to the Residence. Hercon’s work commenced in October of 2006. Hercon initially installed concrete sheeting, but delayed application of PermaCrete until the Spring of 2007. Hercon’s application of PermaCrete consisted of spraying the material on

the structure’s brick veneer. Young claims that Hercon failed to protect areas of the structure from the PermaCrete application, including doors, windows, soffits, limestone columns, balustrades, trim, gutters, copper downspouts, weepholes, and interior flooring. Due to the PermaCrete bonding agent, the material allegedly and irreparably damaged those portions of the structure. Young further asserts that Hercon misapplied PermaCrete by both over and under spraying areas of the Residence. As a result, in the Summer of 2007, Young terminated Hercon.

Upon request, QSI then directed Young to a different PermaCrete “dealer,” D&S Construction of Scott County, L.L.C. (“D&S”). As with Hercon, Young contracted directly with D&S to complete application of PermaCrete to the Residence. Young alleges that QSI agreed to supervise D&S’s work, as it had done with Hercon. And as with Hercon, Young found D&S’s application of the PermaCrete to be unsatisfactory and terminated the contract. Young also alleges that QSI grossly underestimated the amount of PermaCrete necessary for proper application, resulting in Young making additional purchases. B. Young’s Lawsuit against QSI, Hercon, and D&S On December 29, 2010, four years after Young first purchased PermaCrete from QSI, Young filed suit in Scott Circuit Court against QSI, Hercon,

and D&S, Case No. 10-CI-00245 (the “Underlying Action”).1 Young’s Complaint asserted numerous causes of action, based in contract and tort. Four years after that, on January 10, 2015, Young filed an Amended Complaint to assert additional counts. As for QSI, Young alleged breach of warranty, breach of contract, fraudulent inducement, fraudulent misrepresentations and omissions, negligent misrepresentations, violations of Kentucky Consumer Protection Act, and negligent supervision of Hercon and D&S. As to Hercon, Young alleged breach of contract, breach fraudulent misrepresentations and omissions, and gross negligence. Regarding D&S, Young alleged breach of contract. In addition to the facts detailed above, Young included factual allegations that QSI and Hercon made misrepresentations regarding the depth of Hercon’s training, experience, and ability to apply PermaCrete properly.

During all relevant times, QSI maintained through Pennsylvania National Mutual Insurance Company (“Penn National”) a commercial general liability (“CGL”) policy of insurance (hereinafter referred to as the “Penn National Policy”). QSI also purchased a commercial umbrella policy, which for purposes of

1 Four judges have presided over this lengthy dispute. Judge Paul Isaacs originally presided over the action. Upon his retirement, Judge Brian Privett presided over the case. However, Judge Privett subsequently resigned, and Judge Robert McGinnis served as special judge. Finally, Judge Kathryn Gabhart presided over the matter.

our discussion simply supplemented the coverage limits of the CGL policy. Penn National agreed to provide QSI with a defense under a reservation of rights.

Hercon was insured through a CGL policy of insurance issued by Maryland Casualty Company (“MCC”). In 2011, upon notice of Young’s initial Complaint, MCC supplied Hercon with a coverage denial determination, finding that it owed neither a duty to defend nor to indemnify Hercon for the alleged damage. MCC explained that Young’s allegations did not fall within the definition of a covered “occurrence” under the subject policy; and, even if coverage was triggered, exclusions precluded coverage. Consequently, Hercon retained defense counsel at its own cost. Zurich American Insurance Company (“Zurich”) acquired MCC, thereby assuming any obligations of the subject policy (hereinafter referred to as the “Zurich Policy”). Zurich continued to deny any such obligation and to decline a duty to defend Hercon in the Underlying Action. Yet it is directly involved in the subsequent proceedings discussed below where it also argues against coverage. C. Young’s Declaratory Action During the pendency of the Underlying Action, QSI and D&S declared bankruptcy. Consequently, on November 3, 2016, Young filed a Second Amended Complaint to add Penn National as party defendant, seeking declaratory

relief based on insurance coverage, third-party beneficiary status, and the right to enforce the Penn National Policy.

On October 5, 2017, the Trial Court ordered the declaratory counts to be severed into a separate action, Case No. 17-CI-0730 (the “Dec Action”) and held the Underlying Action in abeyance pending a determination of coverages. In April of 2018, Penn National filed a Motion for Summary Judgment.

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Arrowhead Systems, LLC (f/K/A Arrowhead Systems, Inc.) v. Hercon Construction, Inc., (Ky. Ct. App. 2025).

Arrowhead Systems, LLC (f/K/A Arrowhead Systems, Inc.) v. Hercon Construction, Inc. (Arrowhead Systems, LLC (f/K/A Arrowhead Systems, Inc.) v. Hercon Construction, Inc.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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