Cigna Lloyds Insurance Co. v. Bradleys' Electric, Inc.

33 S.W.3d 102, 2000 WL 1663655

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: December 14, 2000
• Docket: 13-95-524-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

OPINION ON REMAND

YÁÑEZ, Justice.

This appeal is before this Court on remand from the Texas Supreme Court. Appellants, Cigna Lloyds Insurance Company (“Cigna”), United National Insurance Company (“United National”), and Texas Pacific Indemnity Company (“Texas Pacific”) appealed summary judgments granted in favor of Bradleys’ Electric, Incorporated (“Bradleys’ Electric”), by which appellants were held to have a duty to defend a patent infringement claim against Bradleys’ Electric. This Court initially reversed the judgment of the trial court and rendered judgment for the insurance companies. Following rehearing, we withdrew our original opinion and issued an opinion holding that venue had been improperly transferred from Harris County to Nueces County. Cigna Lloyds Ins. Co. v. Bradleys’ Elec., Inc., 993 S.W.2d 673 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 1998), rev’d, 995 S.W.2d 675 (Tex.1999). Finding that venue was a threshold question, this Court did not address any other points of error raised by the appellants. Id. at 677. The Texas Supreme Court reversed this ruling, remanding the case to this Court to consider issues raised on appeal which would require the rendition of a judgment. Bradleys’ Elec. Inc. v. Cigna Lloyds Ins. Co., 995 S.W.2d 675 (Tex.1999). We reverse and render judgment in favor of appellants.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

The litigation which produced this appeal arose from allegations that Bradleys’ Electric had violated several patents held by the Copeland Corporation (“Copeland”). Bradleys’ Electric sells repair parts kits for the repair of valve plate assemblies of compressors patented and sold by the Copeland Corporation. Copeland informed Bradleys’ Electric that, because the kits sold by Bradleys’ Electric could be used to remanufacture Copeland compressors, Bradleys’ Electric was violating Copeland’s patents. In response to these allegations, Bradleys’ Electric filed suit in federal court in Houston, Texas, seeking a declaratory judgment that its actions did not constitute patent infringement. Copeland counterclaimed, alleging that Brad-leys’ Electric had contributorily infringed, and induced others to infringe, on several patents held by Copeland.

Bradleys’ Electric contacted its primary insurance carrier, Cigna, requesting that Cigna defend Bradleys’ Electric against Copeland’s suit. Cigna agreed to defend Bradleys’ Electric against the counterclaim, reserving its rights under its policy; however, after paying for Bradleys’ Electric’s initial attorneys’ fees, Cigna withdrew from defending the claim, and demanded Bradleys’ Electric return the money already paid by Cigna. Bradleys’ Electric then made demands on United National and Texas Pacific, with whom Bradleys’ Electric had umbrella insurance.

On October 26, 1993, Cigna filed suit in a Harris County district court, seeking a declaratory judgment that it had no duty to defend or indemnify Bradleys’ Electric in the patent infringement suit brought against Bradleys’ Electric by Copeland. Bradleys’ Electric filed an original answer on December 13, 1993, in which it made a general denial, specially excepted to venue in Harris County, and sought a declaratory judgment that Cigna had a duty to defend Bradleys’ Electric against the Copeland lawsuit under the “advertising liability” provisions of its policy with Cigna. On that same day, Bradleys’ Electric filed a third-party petition for declaratory judgment and other relief against United National and Texas Pacific, alleging that both carriers were contractually obligated to defend it against any advertising injury claims. Additionally, Bradleys’ asserted that United National and Texas Pacific were required to indemnify Bradleys’ Electric for any “excess” damages it would have to pay as a result of the alleged advertising injury, in light of Cigna’s denial of coverage against the Copeland cause of action. Also on December 13, 1993, Bradleys’ Electric filed a motion to transfer venue of Cigna’s cause of action from Harris County to Nueces County. The Harris County trial court granted Brad-leys’ Electric’s motion to transfer venue. The actions between Bradleys’ Electric, Cigna, and Texas Pacific were consolidated, and United National joined the consolidation.

The insurance companies filed motions for summary judgment, each arguing that they did not have a duty to defend Brad-leys’ Electric. Bradleys’ Electric also filed motions for summary judgment, arguing that, under their respective policies, the insurance companies each had a duty to defend Bradleys’ Electric against the Copeland counterclaim. The trial court granted the insurance companies’ motions, then vacated the judgments, following motions for reconsideration filed by Bradleys’ Electric. The trial court then granted summary judgment in favor of Bradleys’ Electric against the insurance companies.

On appeal, each insurance company filed its own brief. All three appellants challenge the trial courts’ judgments in favor of Bradleys’ Electric, each arguing that there was no duty to defend under its respective policy.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

A summary judgment movant has the burden of showing there is no genuine issue of material fact and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Nixon v. Mr. Property Management Co., 690 S.W.2d 546, 548 (Tex.1985); 801 Nolana v. RTC Mortgage Trust 1994-S6, 944 S.W.2d 751, 754 (Tex.App.—Corpus Christi 1997, writ denied). Where the only question presented to the trial court was a question of law and both sides moved for summary judgment, the appellate court should render the judgment that the trial court should have rendered. Jones v. Strauss, 745 S.W.2d 898, 900 (Tex.1988); The Cadle Co. v. Butler, 951 S.W.2d 901, 905 (Tex.App.—Corpus Christi 1997, no writ).

DUTY TO DEFEND AGAINST COPELAND’S COUNTERCLAIM

An insurer’s duty to defend is determined by the allegations in the pleadings and the language of the insurance policy. National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh v. Merchants Fast Motor Lines, Inc., 939 S.W.2d 139, 141 (Tex.1997) (noting that this is sometimes referred to as the “eight corners” rule); Heyden Newport Chem. Corp. v. Southern Gen. Ins. Co., 387 S.W.2d 22, 26 (Tex.1965). If a petition does not allege facts within the scope of coverage, an insurer is not legally required to defend a suit against its insured. National Union, 939 S.W.2d at 141; American Physicians Ins. Exch. v. Garcia, 876 S.W.2d 842, 848 (Tex.1994). When determining if a petition alleges facts that potentially state a claim within the coverage of a policy, the allegations within the petition are liberally interpreted. National Union, 939 S.W.2d at 141. Any doubt as to whether the allegations state a cause of action within the coverage of the policy is resolved in the insured’s favor. Id. The focus of the inquiry, nevertheless, must be on the facts alleged, not the legal theories alleged. Id.

We will examine the factual allegations made in Copeland’s counterclaim as they relate to the policies issued by each insurance company.

The Copeland Counterclaim

In the underlying federal court action against Bradleys’ Electric, Copeland, after identifying various patents issued to it, alleges:

On information and belief Bradleys’ Electric has contributorily infringed, induced others to infringe, and otherwise violated the exclusive rights conferred on Defendant by the '125 patent, the '755 patent, the '860 patent, the '234 patent, and the '126 patent (referred to collectively as the “patents-in-suit”), by way of Plaintiffs customers’ unauthorized remanufacturing of Copeland’s compressors and components of Copeland’s compressors, using valve part kits manufactured and sold by the Plaintiff, thereby infringing the claims of the aforementioned patents-in-suit. Plaintiff will continue such infringing acts unless enjoined by this Court.

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By reason of the infringement of the patents-in-suit by Bradleys’ Electric Defendant Copeland has been and will continue to be seriously damaged and irreparably injured unless Bradleys’ Electric is enjoined by this Court from its deliberate and willful infringement of the patents-in-suit.

The Cigna Lloyds Policy

On January 1, 1989, Cigna issued a commercial general liability policy to Bradleys’ Electric. The policy contained a $2,000,000 aggregate limit of liability and a $1,000,000 advertising and injury limit of liability. The original one-year policy was renewed, under different policy numbers, through January 1, 1993. Under the terms of the policy, Cigna agreed:

to pay those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of “personal injury” or “advertising injury” to which this coverage part applies. We will have the right and duty to defend any “suit” seeking those damages. We may at our discretion investigate any “occurrence” or offense and settle any claims or “suit” that may result.

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This insurance applies to:

(1) “Personal injury” caused by an offense arising out of your business excluding advertising, publishing, broadcasting, or telecasting done by or for you;

(2) “Advertising injury” caused by an offense committed in the course of advertising your goods, products or services;

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“Advertising injury” is defined as being injury arising out of:

a. Oral or written publication of material that slanders or libels a person or organization or disparages a person’s or organization’s goods, products, or services;

b. Oral or written publication of material that violates a person’s right of privacy;

c. Misappropriation of advertising ideas or style of doing business; or

d. Infringement of copyright, title or slogan.

It may be, as Bradleys’ Electric consistently has argued, that the term “advertising injury” could, in some instances, cover patent infringement allegedly resulting from or arising out of advertising activities. The emphasis Bradleys’ Electric places on this argument, however, is misplaced. Copeland’s counterclaim does not allege “advertising injury” resulting in patent infringement, and we are constrained to examine only the facts alleged, not the legal theories possibly alleged. Nat’l Union Fire Ins., 939 S.W.2d at 141.

The counterclaim expressly alleges contributory infringement “by way of [Bradleys’ Electric’s] customers’ unauthorized remanufacturing of Copeland’s compressors and components of Copeland’s compressors, using valve part kits manufactured and sold by [Bradleys’ Electric], thereby infringing the claims of the ... patents-in-suit.” The counterclaim further alleges that Bradleys’ Electric has engaged in “deliberate and willful infringement of the patents-in-suit.” We hold that Copeland’s claim does not allege that Bradleys’ Electric’s advertising activities are responsible, directly or indirectly, for the patent infringement alleged by Copeland. Cf. Sentry Ins. v. R.J. Weber Co., Inc., 2 F.3d 554, 557 (5th Cir.1993) (applying Texas law, holding that insurer had no duty to defend insured against third-party claim of copyright infringement, despite policy coverage for advertising injury encompassing copyright infringement, because third-party’s pleading stated nothing about advertising, even though it alleged infringement by way of copying, publishing, distributing, and selling). Cigna’s first point of error is sustained.

By our disposition of this point of error, we need not address Cigna’s second point, which further challenges the denial of its motion for summary judgment. Tex. R.App. P. 47.1.

The Texas Pacific Policy

On January 9, 1992, Texas Pacific issued a commercial umbrella liability policy for Bradleys’ Electric for the period of January 1,1992, to January 1,1993. The terms of the policy agreement provide that Texas Pacific will pay, on behalf of Bradleys’ Electric, any net losses Bradleys’ Electric becomes obligated to pay by reason of liability imposed by law, or assumed under contract or agreement, “arising out of personal injury, property damage, or advertising liability caused by an occurrence.” Under the terms of the policy, “occurrence” is defined to mean an “accident.” The policy further provides that, with respect to any occurrence not covered by an underlying policy but covered by the terms and conditions of the policy, Texas Pacific shall also defend any suit against Bradleys’ Electric seeking damages for personal liability, property damage, or advertising liability.

Under the policy, “advertising liability” is defined to mean:

(1) libel, slander or defamation,

(2) any infringement of copyright or title or of a slogan,

(3) piracy or unfair competition or idea misappropriation under an implied contract,

(4) any invasion of right of privacy; committed or alleged to have been committed during the policy period, in any advertisement, publicity article, broadcast or telecast and arising out of the insured’s advertising activities.

Copeland’s claim against Bradleys’ Electric makes no express or implied reference to any “advertisement, publicity article, broadcast or telecast” by Bradleys’ Electric, nor does it claim that the alleged patent infringement arises out of Bradleys’ Electric’s advertising activities. We hold that Texas Pacific has no duty to defend Bradleys’ Electric against Copeland’s counterclaim, and that the trial court erred in rendering judgment against Texas Pa- cifíc. Texas Pacific’s first point of error is sustained.

By our disposition of point of error one, we need not reach Texas Pacific’s second point of error, which further complains that the trial court erred in imposing a duty to defend Bradleys’ Electric upon Texas Pacific. Tex.R.App. P. 47.1.

The United National Policy

For the period of March 6, 1990, to January 1, 1991, United National issued a commercial umbrella liability policy to Bradleys’ Electric. The policy provided a liability limit of $5,000,000 in excess of the underlying Cigna policy or subject to a retention of $10,000. Under the express terms of the policy, United National agrees to pay:

(a) PERSONAL INJURY LIABILITY. For damages, including damages for care and loss of services, because of personal injury, including death at any time resulting therefrom, sustained by any person or persons.

(b) PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY. For damages because of injury to or destruction of tangible property including consequential loss resulting therefrom,

(c) ADVERTISING LIABILITY. For damages because of libel, slander, defamation, infringement of copyright, title or slogan, piracy, unfair competition, idea misappropriation or invasion of right of privacy arising out of the named insured’s advertising activities.

With respect to any alleged occurrence not covered by the Cigna policy but covered

under the United National policy, the policy provides that United National will defend Bradleys’ Electric.

Copeland’s claim against Bradleys’ Electric makes no express or implied reference to any of Bradleys’ Electric advertising activities, nor does it claim that the alleged patent infringement arises out of any Bradleys’ Electric advertising activities. We hold that United National has no duty to defend Bradleys’ Electric against Copeland’s counterclaim, and that the trial court erred in rendering judgment against United National. United National’s first point of error is sustained.

By our disposition of point of error one, we need not reach United National’s second point of error, which further alleges it had no duty to defend Bradleys’ Electric. Tex.R.App. P. 47.1. Further, because of our disposition on the duty to defend issue, we need not reach the venue issue raised in the alternative by Cigna and United National in subsequent points of error. Id.

Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is REVERSED. We further RENDER judgment in favor of Cigna, Texas Pacific, and United National, declaring that the appellants do not have a duty to defend Bradleys’ Electric against Copeland’s patent infringement counterclaim.