Copper Mountain, Inc. v. Industrial Systems, Inc.

208 P.3d 692, 2009 Colo. LEXIS 235, 2009 WL 662072
CourtSupreme Court of Colorado
DecidedMarch 16, 2009
Docket08SC28
StatusPublished
Cited by94 cases

This text of 208 P.3d 692 (Copper Mountain, Inc. v. Industrial Systems, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Colorado primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Copper Mountain, Inc. v. Industrial Systems, Inc., 208 P.3d 692, 2009 Colo. LEXIS 235, 2009 WL 662072 (Colo. 2009).

Opinions

Justice HOBBS

delivered the Opinion of the Court.

We granted certiorari to review the court of appeals' published opinion in Copper Mountain, Inc. v. Industrial Systems, Inc., No. 06CA0560, 209 P.3d 1103, 2007 WL 4198390 (Colo.App. Nov.29, 2007). The issue for determination is whether a provision in a contract between Copper Mountain, Inc. ("Copper") and Amako Resort Construction (U.S.), Inc. ("Amako") bars Copper's claims against Amako and Amako's subcontractor, Industrial Systems, Inc. ("Industrial"), for fire-related damages to a ski lodge that Ama-ko and Industrial were renovating.1 The court of appeals affirmed the trial court's determination that a waiver clause in the contract precludes Copper's claims against Amako and Industrial. We reverse.

We hold that the contract does not bar Copper's claims against Amako and Industrial for damages to property that was not part of the contractual Work, despite the fact that Copper insured the damaged property under an existing policy covering the Work. Under paragraph 114.7 of the contract, Copper waived rights against Amako for damages caused by fire "to the extent covered by property insurance obtained pursuant to this Paragraph 11.4 or other property insurance applicable to the Work...."2 We conclude that this clause only bars claims for damages to the contractual Work, and does not bar claims for damages to non-Work property. We further conclude that the waiver provision of paragraph 11.4.5 only applies to project Work addressed by paragraph 11.4.7.

In Town of Silverton v. Phoenix Heat Source System, Inc., 948 P.2d 9, 12 (Colo. [694]*694App.1997),3 the court of appeals held that a provision parallel to paragraph 11.4.7 did not bar the owner's claims for damages to non-Work property, and the presence of a provision parallel to paragraph 11.4.5 did not foreclose such a conclusion. We determine that Silverton was correctly decided, and we choose to follow it. In this case, the plain language and contextual setting of paragraphs 11.4.7 and 114.5 demonstrate that Copper did not waive its claims for damages to non-Work property.

I.

Copper hired Amako to perform renovations on and build an addition to the Union Creek Lodge at Copper Mountain Resort. On August 10, 2001, Copper and Amako entered into a standard American Institute of Architects ("AIA") Owner-Contractor Agreement to govern the construction. Amako subcontracted with Industrial to build the steel framework for the addition.4

The Work of the contract is defined by paragraph 1.1.8 as "the construction and services required by the Contract Documents, whether completed or partially completed, and ... all other labor, materials, equipment, and services provided or to be provided by the Contractor to fulfill the Contractor's obligations." 5

Several relevant provisions of the contract set forth Amako's responsibilities concerning liability and insurance. Paragraph 3.8.2 provides that Amako "shall be responsible to [Copper] for acts and omissions of [Amako's] employees [and] Subcontractors and their agents and employees...." Paragraph 10.2.5 requires Amako to "promptly remedy damage and loss (other than damage or loss insured under property insurance required by the Contract Documents)" that Amako or its subcontractors caused to the Work, or to other property at or adjacent to the site, such as structures not designated for removal, relocation, or replacement during the construction.6 Pursuant to article 11 ("Contractor's Liability Insurance") and paragraph .5 of article 11, Amako agreed to procure insurance to protect Amako from claims "which may arise out of or result from [Amako's] operations under the Contract and for which [Amako] may be legally liable, whether such operations be by [Amako] or by a Subcontractor," including "[ellaims for damages, other than to the Work itself, because of injury to or destruction of tangible property...."

Copper's responsibilities for procuring insurance are set forth in paragraph 11.4.1:

Unless otherwise provided, [Copper] shall purchase and maintain ... property insurance written on a builder's risk "all-risk" [ 7] or equivalent policy form in the amount of the Initial Contract Sum, plus value of subsequent Contract modifications and [695]*695cost of materials supplied or installed by others, comprising total value for the entire Project at the site on a replacement cost basis without optional deductibles.

If Copper did not purchase insurance to cover the Work, Amako could "effect insurance [to] protect the interests of [Amako and its subcontractors] in the Work," and charge that cost to Copper, pursuant to paragraph 11.4.1.2.

The contract includes the following waiver of legal rights in paragraph 11.4.7:

The Owner and Contractor waive all rights against [] each other and any of their subcontractors ... for damages caused by fire or other causes of loss to the extent covered by property insurance obtained pursuant to this Paragraph 11.4 or other property insurance applicable to the Work....

Finally, paragraph 11.4.5 of the contract further delineates the waiver of Copper's claims for damages as follows:

If during the Project construction period the Owner insures properties, real or personal or both, at or adjacent to the site by property insurance under policies separate from those insuring the Project, or if after final payment property insurance is to be provided on the completed Project through a policy or policies other than those insuring the Project during the construction period, the Owner shall waive all rights in accordance with the terms of Subpara-graph 11.4.7 for damages caused by fire or other causes of loss covered by this separate property insurance.

Copper chose to comply with paragraph 11.4.1 by adding a "Newly Acquired Property and Property Under Construction" endorsement to its general Ski Areas Property Coverage ("SAPC") insurance policy, rather than by purchasing a separate insurance policy to cover the Work.8 The SAPC policy insured the Work and the Union Creek Lodge, and provided general liability and property insurance for all of the North American resorts owned by Copper's parent company, Intraw-est, Inc., including Copper Mountain Resort.

On November 26, 2001, while Industrial was performing welding work, a fire broke out at the Union Creek Lodge. The fire caused significant damage to the existing lodge and its contents. All real and personal property damaged in the fire was covered under the SAPC insurance policy, though Copper was responsible for paying the policy's $1 million deductible.

Copper sued Amako and Industrial in the District Court for Summit County for negligence, negligent supervision, breach of contract, and indemnification, seeking approximately $1 million in damages. Amako and Industrial asserted that paragraphs 11.4.7 and 11.4.5 of the contract barred Copper's suit.

Copper moved the trial court for a determination that paragraph 11.4.7 does not bar claims for damages to property other than the Work.9 The trial court denied Copper's motion, and granted Amako's and Industrial's cross-motions for summary judgment.

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
208 P.3d 692, 2009 Colo. LEXIS 235, 2009 WL 662072, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/copper-mountain-inc-v-industrial-systems-inc-colo-2009.