Atlantic Marine Florida, LLC v. Evanston Insurance

721 F. Supp. 2d 1244, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 62545, 2010 WL 2542281
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedJune 23, 2010
Docket6:08-cv-00538
StatusPublished

This text of 721 F. Supp. 2d 1244 (Atlantic Marine Florida, LLC v. Evanston Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Atlantic Marine Florida, LLC v. Evanston Insurance, 721 F. Supp. 2d 1244, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 62545, 2010 WL 2542281 (M.D. Fla. 2010).

Opinion

ORDER

HARVEY E. SCHLESINGER, District Judge.

Before the Court are the Parties’ Cross Motions for Summary Judgment (Docs. 26, 38, 39, and 67) and Responses (Docs. 33, 56, 67, and 73). The Court has considered the Motions before it and determined the following.

I. Introduction

Atlantic Marine Florida, LLC, a/s/i Atlantic Marine, Inc., (“AMI”), American Home Assurance Company (“AMC”) (collectively “Plaintiffs”), Evanston Insurance Company (“Evanston”), and Hartford Casualty Insurance Company (“Hartford”) (collectively “Defendants”)have filed Cross Motions for Summary Judgment. Plaintiffs allege that Defendants failed to defend or indemnify them in the- Beverly Litigation, which stemmed from an injury aboard the vessel “Cape May Light” when the boat’s captain was killed by a negligently constructed and designed Watertight Door System. Defendants claim that Plaintiffs are not named insureds under either of their policies and, as a result, they had no duty to defend nor indemnify the Plaintiffs in the underlying action.

II. Statement of Facts 1

In April 1998, the architect and engineering firm Guido Perla & Associates (“GPA”) began design and engineering services for two passenger vessels on be *1247 half of the Delta Queen Steamboat Co; the contract was later assigned to Coastal Queen Holdings, LLC (“Coastal Queen”). In May 1999, AMI contracted with Coastal Queen to construct the passenger vessels. As part of its obligation under the construction contract with Coastal Queen, AMI employed GPA to continue its design and engineering services for the two ships, one which would be named “Cape May Light.” On January 12, 2000, AMI and GPA reduced their contract to writing (the “Agreement”); however, GPA had prepared some or all of its design drawings before the execution of the Agreement.

As part of the Agreement, AMI required that GPA obtain various insurance policies, including an Architect’s and Engineers Policy (the “AE Policy”) issued by Defendant Evanston and a Comprehensive General Liability Insurance Policy (the “CGL Policy”) issued by an insurer selected by GPA. Additionally, Paragraph 2 of the Agreement, entitled “Scope of Work,” required that “GPA [ ] provide and perform all of the design and engineering services necessary for the complete performance of the work .... GPA agrees that it is obligated to provide the professional services under this Agreement in a manner that is consistent with all appropriate professional standards.” (Agreement, ¶2, p. 2). The Agreement further provided in paragraphs 8(a)(2) and (4), that the CGL Policy was to be, “for not less than $2,000,000.00” and the AE Policy was for “limits not less than $5,000,000.00.” Finally, in paragraph 9(a), AMI limited its liability as follows:

In the event that AMI makes a claim, enters into a settlement or obtains a judgment against GPA for professional negligence and/or professional errors and omissions, AMI agrees that its recourse will be limited to and it will not execute such a claim, settlement or judgment against any assets of GPA other than the Architect’s and Engineer’s Professional Liability Insurance policy .... GPA agrees to provide all notices required by such policy and to cooperate with AMI so as to enable AMI to obtain coverage for claims relating to or arising out of GPA’s professional negligence and/or professional errors and omission under such Architect’s and Engineer’s Professional Liability Insurance.

Under the Agreement, GPA was designated the Named Insured under AE policy, but AMI paid the premium for the AE Policy directly to Evanston. Evanston agreed to a number of specific endorsements to the AE policy, including Nos. 7, 10 and 11. Endorsement No. 7 states, “[Evanston] shall not settle any Claim without the consent of AMI.” Endorsement No. 10 reads,

In consideration of the premium charged, it is understood and agreed that Exclusions I. is deleted in its entirety and replaced by the following: Liability assumed by the Named Insured by agreement, whether written or oral, including, but not limited to hold harmless and indemnity clauses, warranties, guarantees, certifications or penalty clauses, unless such liability arises from error, omissions or negligent acts of the Insured and would have attached in the absence of such agreement. However, this exclusion shall not apply to liability of the Named Insured for a breach of the express contract described below, but only to the extent that the liability is the result of an act, error, or omission of the Named Insured arising out of the professional services described in the Declarations.

Listed under the “Description of the Contract” is “Coastal Queen Project/Design of two passenger cruise ships.”

Finally, No. 11 reads

In consideration of the premium charged, such insurance as is afforded by this policy applies to the liability of *1248 other imposed by law, which is assumed by [GPA] under the contract described below, but only to the extent that the liability of others is the result of an act, error, omission of [GPA] arising out of the professional services described in the Declarations.

AMI eventually paid approximately $193,950.00 in premiums to Evanston over the life of the AE Policy.

In addition to the purchase of the AE Policy, the Agreement mandated that GPA purchase comprehensive general liability insurance. (Agreement, ¶ 8(a)(2)). The provision required that the CGL Policy, “cover AMI as an additional insured and the Policy shall contain the following language ‘Naming AMI as an additional insured shall not prevent recovery in any situation in which recovery would have been available had AMI not been named an additional insured.’ ” Id. Though GPA did procure comprehensive general liability insurance from Defendant Hartford, it failed to add AMI as a named insured or include the required language.

In October 2007, while “Cape May Light” was berthed at Green Cove Springs Shipyards in Clay County, Florida, its Captain, Charles Beverly (“Captain Beverly”) die d when a watertight door closed on him. Captain Beverly’s widow brought suit against both AMI and GPA for wrongful death (the “Beverly Litigation”) alleging, inter alia, negligence and strict liability against each Defendant. AMI tendered its defense to Evanston and Hartford; however, both companies refused to defend or indemnify AMI under their policies with GPA. Evanston provided GPA with a defense to the Beverly Litigation for approximately $300,000.00. In July 2007, AMI paid $325,000.00 to the Beverly estate to settle its portion of the Beverly Litigation. During the settlement negotiations, AMI also incurred attorneys’ fees and costs. AMI brings the instant action against both Evanston and Hartford for reimbursements of the settlement paid and fees and costs incurred during the Beverly Litigation. All parties have filed cross motions for summary judgment, arguing that the case primarily involves contract construction and there exists no genuine dispute as to any material fact.

III. Standard of Review

Under Fed. R. Civ.

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Bluebook (online)
721 F. Supp. 2d 1244, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 62545, 2010 WL 2542281, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/atlantic-marine-florida-llc-v-evanston-insurance-flmd-2010.