Axis Surplus Insurance v. Reinoso

208 Cal. App. 4th 181, 145 Cal. Rptr. 3d 128, 2012 WL 3143907, 2012 Cal. App. LEXIS 858
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedAugust 3, 2012
DocketNo. B228332
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 208 Cal. App. 4th 181 (Axis Surplus Insurance v. Reinoso) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Axis Surplus Insurance v. Reinoso, 208 Cal. App. 4th 181, 145 Cal. Rptr. 3d 128, 2012 WL 3143907, 2012 Cal. App. LEXIS 858 (Cal. Ct. App. 2012).

Opinion

Opinion

MOSK, J.

INTRODUCTION

We hold there is substantial evidence to support the finding that appellant was not covered by liability insurance in connection with claims brought against her by tenants of an apartment building that she co-owned. We also hold that in connection with the insurer’s action against appellant and others to recover the costs of settling those claims, there is substantial evidence to support the trial court’s implied allocation to appellant of joint and several liability to the insurer for the amount of the settlement costs paid by the insurer. The benefit to appellant of the settlement justified such an allocation. We therefore affirm the judgment.

[184]*184BACKGROUND1

Defendant and appellant Linda Reinoso and her husband Edgar Reinoso, owned and managed about 15 rental properties in the City of Palmdale.2 Proud American Investments, LLC (Proud American), the Reinosos’ management company, managed the properties. The Reinosos also owned another 64 rental properties elsewhere in Southern California. During the 30 years prior to trial, the Reinosos had owned, operated, and managed an additional 35 properties.

In 2001, Edgar pleaded no contest in People v. Reinoso (Super. Ct. L.A. County No. 1AT03779) to the charge of permitting a fire hazard at a real estate project, a misdemeanor, and was placed on probation. In 2002, the People filed a 33-count misdemeanor complaint in People v. Reinoso (Super. Ct. L.A. County No. 2AT06169) alleging violations of the Palmdale Housing Code at four properties Edgar owned. The counts included pest harborage, inadequate heating facilities, and general dilapidation. Edgar pleaded no contest to eight counts in the complaint, including counts for general dilapidation and pest harborage, and was placed on probation. As part of his plea agreement, Edgar agreed to abate those violations. In 2004, Edgar admitted to violating the terms of his probation by failing to abate certain of the violations.

In May, 2003, the Reinosos acquired a 48-unit apartment complex on West Avenue J-3 in Lancaster (the J-3 Apartments) in their names as “husband and wife, as community property.” They testified that they worked together in connection with the management of the property. In late September or early October 2003, the City of Lancaster issued a “Notice of Code Enforcement Corrections” with respect to certain units at the J-3 Apartments. Among the issues raised in the notice were general dilapidation; infestation of insects, vermin, and rodents; inadequate garbage storage; lack of proper water and heat; and dampness of residences.

In January, 2005, the tenants of the J-3 Apartments brought an action against the Reinosos; Proud American; and the J-3 Apartments’ former owner, Mark Kaufman, concerning the J-3 Apartments’ alleged habitability deficiencies (the Tenant Action). As amended, the Tenant Action alleged causes of action against Edgar and Proud American for breach of written contract (first cause of action) and breach of the implied warranty of habitability (second cause of action); causes of action against Kaufman for [185]*185breach of the implied warranty of habitability (third cause of action) and negligence (fifth cause of action); and causes of action against Edgar, Linda, and Proud American for negligence (fourth cause of action), nuisance (sixth cause of action), negligent infliction of emotional distress (seventh cause of action), intentional infliction of emotional distress (eighth cause of action), and violation of Business and Professions Code section 17200 (ninth cause of action). The Reinosos have acknowledged that they were sued “as co-owners and co-managers.” In their complaint, the tenants alleged habitability deficiencies at the J-3 Apartments, including cockroach infestation, inoperable heating and cooling systems, water leaks, mold, and electrical deficiencies. The tenants also alleged that common areas, including stairways, garbage facilities, and swimming pools were maintained in unsafe and unsanitary condition. According to the tenants, they made repeated requests of defendants to correct the deficiencies, but defendants failed to take proper action. The tenants sought damages against all the defendants “in excess of $10,000,000.00,” plus punitive damages, attorney and expert fees, and interest. One consultant of the insurer in the Tenant Action estimated that the compensatory damages could be as much as $30 million. Another opined that the range of potential damages was between $3.5 and $22 million.

The Reinosos tendered the defense of the Tenant Action to their insurer, plaintiff and respondent Axis Surplus Insurance Company (Axis). The Reinosos and Proud American had become insured under two policies providing commercial general liability insurance issued by Axis with respect to the J-3 Apartments. Axis agreed to represent the Reinosos and Proud American in the Tenant Action under a reservation of rights. The action settled for just over $3 million, with Axis contributing $2,162,500.3 Axis then brought this action against the Reinosos seeking to recover its defense costs and its settlement contribution—together about $2.42 million—in the Tenant Action.

At the trial of the action brought by Axis to recover its defense costs and settlement contribution, Michael King, an attorney, testified that Axis retained him to represent Edgar, Linda, and Proud American in the Tenant Action. King referred to a report he prepared for Axis concerning the Tenant Action. The trial court found that the report provided substantial factual support for the “serious” habitability claims in the Tenant Action and the reasonableness of the ultimate settlement of that action. King testified that he did not believe that Edgar, Linda, and Proud American could prevail in the Tenant Action.

In a report King prepared concerning efforts to settle the Tenant Action, he stated that the Reinosos entered a five-year agreement with Steve Donell of [186]*186Jalmar Properties to manage the J-3 Apartments. Donell’s retention, the report stated, would show the Reinosos’ good faith efforts to correct any remaining “slum” conditions at the J-3 Apartments. Edgar’s onsite property managers told King that before Jalmar Properties began managing the J-3 Apartments, tenants routinely complained about the condition of their apartments. The complaints received little or no response, and the problems escalated. A July 2005 County of Los Angeles inspection report described serious habitability issues with respect to several units at the J-3 Apartments.

King believed that Edgar would not be an effective trial witness before a jury and that a jury would not approve of Edgar’s approach to property management given the numerous condition problems with the J-3 Apartments. King’s contact with Linda was limited. Linda assisted in locating documents about the J-3 Apartments and their management. King did not believe that Linda had “deep involvement” in managing the J-3 Apartments- or “input into decisions in that field.” Very little additional time was spent on the representation of Linda. King did not mention Linda in the reports he prepared about the Tenant Action. The foundation for the settlement was the condition of the J-3 Apartments and the “serious concerns” about Edgar as a trial witness.

David Hart, a senior vice-president of claims for Axis, testified that Linda was not a factor in his settlement considerations.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
208 Cal. App. 4th 181, 145 Cal. Rptr. 3d 128, 2012 WL 3143907, 2012 Cal. App. LEXIS 858, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/axis-surplus-insurance-v-reinoso-calctapp-2012.