Fireman's Fund v. Structural Systems Technology, Inc.

426 F. Supp. 2d 1009, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21651, 2006 WL 861296
CourtDistrict Court, D. Nebraska
DecidedMarch 28, 2006
Docket8:03CV341, 8:04CV194
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 426 F. Supp. 2d 1009 (Fireman's Fund v. Structural Systems Technology, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Nebraska primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Fireman's Fund v. Structural Systems Technology, Inc., 426 F. Supp. 2d 1009, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21651, 2006 WL 861296 (D. Neb. 2006).

Opinion

*1014 MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

BATAILLON, District Judge.

This matter is before the court on cross-motions for summary judgment on issues of coverage filed by Structural Systems Technology, Inc. (hereinafter, “SST”), Filing No. 58 in 8:03CV341, Filing No. 97 in 8:04CV194; Zurich American Insurance Co. (“Zurich”), Filing No. 92 in 8:04CV194; Duhamel Broadcasting Enterprises (“Duhamel”), Filing Nos. 58 & 100, supplemented by Filing Nos. 113 & 114 in 8:04CV194 and Filing No. 61 in 8:03CV341; and Underwriter’s at Lloyd’s of London (“Lloyd’s, London”), Filing No. 101 in 8:04CV194. Great American E & S Insurance Co. (“Great American”), Fireman’s Fund and National Fire and Marine (“National Fire”) have also filed statements of position on the coverage issue, Filing No. 95 in 8:04CV194, Filing No. 106 in 8:04CV194, and Filing No. 108 in 8:04CV194. In essence, SST and Duhamel seek a declaration that the respective insurers should cover damage to Duhamel’s property as the result of the collapse of Duhamel’s 1,965-foob-tall guyed television transmission tower in Hemingford, Nebraska, on September 24, 2002. The insurers seek a declaration that there is no coverage under each of their respective policies and some argue that another insurer’s policy provides coverage or a duty to defend. 1 The liability of SST for the collapse of the tower was established in the related case of Duhamel Broadcasting Enters. v. Structural Sys. Tech., Inc., No. 8:03CV47, Memorandum and Opinion (Mem.Op.) (D. Neb. June 8, 2005) (“the underlying action”); Filing No. 76 in 8:04CV194; Filing No. 45 in 8:03CV341.

I. BACKGROUND

A. Statement of the Case

These consolidated actions seek a declaratory judgment with respect to the rights and responsibilities of the respective parties for coverage for property damage to the tower under certain contracts of insurance. The facts are set forth in this court’s Memorandum Opinion in the underlying action and need not be repeated here. See id., Filing No. 67, Memo. Op. at 1-6. Briefly, the court found that SST had agreed, pursuant to contract, to design, furnish and install redundant horizontal members and stronger diagonal members on the Hemingford tower. Id., Memo. Op. at 2-3; Trial Exhibit (“Trial Ex.”) 1. SST contracted, in turn, with Mid-Central Tower Company (“Mid-Central”) to provide the labor, tools, and equipment for the installation. Id., Memo Op. at 4; Trial Ex. 3. The contract between SST and Duhamel provided that SST’s quoted price included workers’ compensation insurance in the statutory amount, automobile liability insurance in the amount of $1 million, commercial general liability insurance (“CGL”) in the amount of $1 million, umbrella (excess) liability insurance in the amount of $10 million, and builders all risk insurance in the amount of $2.5 million. Id., Trial Ex. 1 at 2. The contract between SST and Mid-Central required that Mid-Central provide insurance that listed SST as an additional insured for CGL coverage in the amount of $1 million. Id., Tr. Ex. 3.

At the close of evidence in the trial of the underlying action, this court sustained Duhamel’s motion for judgment as a matter of law on the issue of liability. Id., Memo. Op. at 1. The court found that Mid-Central’s negligence was the cause of the tower’s collapse and that Mid-Central’s *1015 negligence could be imputed to SST under agency principles. Id. at 8-9. The court further found that SST was independently liable for failing to properly supervise Mid-Central. Id. at 14-15. The court also found that SST had breached its contract with Duhamel in failing to supervise Mid-Central, but noted that the damages for the breach of contract were co-extensive with the damages for negligence. Id. at 11. The case was submitted to the jury for determination of damages only. Id. at 1. In answer to special interrogatories, the jury determined the value of Duhamel’s losses and the court entered judgment in favor of Duhamel and against SST in the amount of $3,239,243.01. 2 Id., Filing No. 63, Jury Verdict; Filing No. 68, Order and Judgment. The court held the parties’ motions to amend the judgment in abeyance pending resolution of the coverage issues herein. Id., Filing No. 76.

B. The Policies

Five policies of insurance arguably provide coverage to SST for its liability to Duhamel for the tower collapse. 3 Fireman’s Fund insured SST for “inland marine coverages” with a limit of $2.5 million for any one loss disaster or casualty from October 10, 2001 to October 31, 2002, policy no. MXI-97301479. Filing No. 107, Index of Evidence, Ex. 1 (“Fireman’s Fund Policy”). Great American insured SST under a commercial general liability policy, policy no. GLO 575 17 05, with limits of $1 million per occurrence for the coverage period from October 31, 2001 to October 31, 2002. Filing No. 33, Great American Answer and Cross-claim, Ex. A1 (“Great American Policy”). Lloyd’s, London insured SST under a “Professional Liability (claims-made form)” certificate, effective from January 1, 2002 to January 1, 2003, with a retroactive date of January 1, 2001, certifícate no. A2002MP00002380. Filing No. 104, Index of Evidence, Ex. 1, Complaint, Ex. 4 (the “Lloyd’s, London Certificate”). Zurich insured SST under an Architects and Engineers Professional Liability Policy, policy no. EAC9308433 00, to SST for the period January 1, 2003 to January 1, 2004 with a retroactive date of January 1, 2001. Id., Ex. 5 (the “Zurich Policy”). In addition, SST is named as an additional insured under a commercial general liability policy issued by National Fire to Mid-Central Tower Co., for the period from January 13, 2002 to January 13, 2003, No. 72LP 14 03 27. Id., Ex. 3 (partial copy); Filing No. 44, Index of Evidence, Ex. 1, Affidavit of Michelle Young, Ex. F (hereinafter, “National Fire Policy”). Claims were filed under each of these policies and were denied by the insurers for various reasons. See Filing No. 1 in 8:04CV194, Complaint; Filing No. 26 in 8:03CV341, Amended Complaint; Filing No. 44, Great American Index of Evidence, Ex. 1, Affidavit of Michelle Young, Ex. D, Correspondence.

1. Fireman’s Fund Inland Marine Policy

The Fireman’s Fund Policy includes two sets of declarations. In its “General Dec *1016 larations,” the policy provides that “the insurance provided by this policy consists of the following coverage form(s) ... INLAND MARINE COVERAGES.” Filing No. 107, Ex. 1, Fireman’s Fund Policy at 2, (GD-1). Under “Installation Floater Declarations — Commercial Inland Marine,” the policy states “[ijnsurance is provided only for those coverages for which an ‘x’ is entered in the applicable box and limits of liability or amounts of insurance are stated in the place provided in the declarations.” Id. at 3 (form 345174DEC 08-88).

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
426 F. Supp. 2d 1009, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21651, 2006 WL 861296, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/firemans-fund-v-structural-systems-technology-inc-ned-2006.