Factory Mutual Insurance Co. v. Peri Formworks Systems, Inc.

223 F. Supp. 3d 1133, 2016 WL 7191626, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 171357
CourtDistrict Court, D. Oregon
DecidedDecember 12, 2016
DocketCase No. 16-cv-264-SI
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 223 F. Supp. 3d 1133 (Factory Mutual Insurance Co. v. Peri Formworks Systems, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Factory Mutual Insurance Co. v. Peri Formworks Systems, Inc., 223 F. Supp. 3d 1133, 2016 WL 7191626, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 171357 (D. Or. 2016).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

Michael H. Simon, District Judge.

Plaintiff Factory Mutual Insurance Company (“Factory Mutual”) sued Defendant PERI Formworks Systems, Inc. (“PERI”) in state court, seeking reimbursement from PERI for payment Factory Mutual made under a Builder’s Risk insurance policy. PERI removed the case to federal court under diversity jurisdiction and brought a third-party complaint against McClone Construction Co. (“McClone”). PERI alleges that any harm to Factory Mutual for which PERI may be liable is the result of McClone’s negligence or fault and that McClone is obligated to indemnify PERI under PERI’s contract with McClone.

Before the Court is McClone’s motion for summary judgment against PERI’s third-party claims. McClone argues that Factory Mutual is asserting claims against PERI as a subrogee of McClone because McClone is an insured in the policy under which Factory Mutual made the payments for which it is seeking reimbursement. Because it is an insured, McClone argues, a doctrine known as the “antisubrogation rule” bars PERI’s claims. McClone adds that even if it were not an insured under the policy, Factory Mutual’s claim against PERI would still necessarily fail and because PERI’s third-party complaint is derivative it too must fail. PERI responds to McClone’s first argument by asserting that McClone is not an insured under the relevant policy, and thus the antisubrogation rule does not apply. For the reasons discussed below, the Court finds that McClone is an insured under the Builder’s Risk policy at issue and thus the antisub-rogation rule applies. Accordingly, the Court grants McClone’s motion for summary judgment, Because the Court finds that McClone is an insured, the Court does not reach McClone’s alternative argument that even if McClone were not an insured, PERI necessarily would prevail against Factory Mutual’s claims, rendering moot PERI’s derivative claims against McClone.

STANDARDS

A party is entitled to summary judgment if the “movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). The moving party has the burden of establishing the absence of a genuine dispute of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). The court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-movant and draw all reasonable inferences in the non-movant’s, favor. Clicks Billiards Inc. v. Sixshooters Inc., 251 F.3d 1252, 1257 (9th Cir. 2001). Although “Credibility determinations, the weighing of the evidence, and the drawing of legitimate inferences from the facts are jury functions, not those of a judge ... ruling on a motion for summary judgment,” the “mere existence of a scintilla of evidence in support of the plaintiffs position [is] insufficient .... ” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 252, 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). “Where the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the non-moving party, there is ho genuine issue for trial.” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. [1136]*11361348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986) (citation and quotation marks omitted).

BACKGROUND1

This case involves a dispute arising out of the construction of a building on the Hillsboro Oregon campus of Intel Corporation (“Intel”). A problem developed during the pouring of certain concrete floors. Construction was halted, the already-poured concrete was broken and discarded, the shoring and concrete forms were adjusted, and new concrete was poured. This caused a loss for two of the contractors on the project, Turner Construction Company (“Turner”), the general contractor, and McClone, a subcontractor.

One aspect of the project for which Turner hired McClone related to the concrete flooring. McClone, in turn, subcontracted ■with PERI to provide, among other things, design services, advice, and oversight for the use of certain equipment owned by PERI in the construction of the building, including the shoring and supports for the concrete floor.

Intel sponsored an Owner Controlled Insurance Program (“OCIP”) for the construction project. Marsh Risk & Insurance Services (“Marsh”) administered the OCIP. Approved Contractors could participate in the OCIP. Both Turner and McClone enrolled in the OCIP as approved contractors. The OCIP included insurance coverage for worker’s compensation, general liability, and builder’s risk. On September 18, 2013, McClone received a Certificate of Liability Insurance (“Certificate”) under the OCIP. PERI did not enroll in the OCIP.

Factory Mutual provided the relevant OCIP Builder’s Risk insurance policy. After a claim was made and adjusted under that policy, Factory Mutual paid $1,681,888.90. According to the OCIP, for claims made under the Builder’s Risk policy, loss shall be payable to Intel as “Trustee for all insured parties,” and Intel shall “coordinate distribution of insurance proceeds.” ECF 24-1 at 14. Intel instructed Factory Mutual to make payment directly to Turner and McClone. Accordingly, Factory Mutual paid $1,108,639.40 to McClone and $573,249.50 to Turner, as losses relating to the concrete floor. Factory Mutual then commenced this action as subrogation claim against PERI, alleging that the loss was caused by PERI’s negligence. PERI, in turn, asserted third-party claims against McClone for contractual indemnity and statutory contribution.

DISCUSSION

McClone argues that it is entitled to summary judgment under the antisub-rogation rule. This rule prohibits an insurer from seeking subrogation from its own insured. McClone argues that because Factory Mutual is asserting its claims against PERI as a subrogee of McClone and “while standing in McClone’s shoes,” PERI’s attempt to hold McClone liable for any damages for which PERI may be found to owe Factory Mutual is essentially seeking to hold McClone liable to its insurer. This case involves an unusual procedural posture for the application of the an-tisubrogation rule. Here, the insurance company is not directly seeking contribution from its insured. Instead, the insurance company plaintiff is suing a defendant that is not the plaintiffs insured, but the defendant is then seeking indemnity and contribution, to the extent the defendant may be liable to the insurance company, from a party that contends it is an insured of the plaintiff. The third-party [1137]*1137defendant, McClone, argues that this procedural posture does not affect the application of the antisubrogation rule because the outcome is still the same: assuming that McClone is an insured of the plaintiff, an insured is being asked ultimately to pay its insurance company for losses covered by an insurance policy. Such a result is prohibited by the antisubrogation rule.

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223 F. Supp. 3d 1133, 2016 WL 7191626, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 171357, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/factory-mutual-insurance-co-v-peri-formworks-systems-inc-ord-2016.