Firemen's Insurance v. Tray-Pak Corp.

130 F. Supp. 3d 973, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 124192, 2015 WL 5460628
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedSeptember 17, 2015
DocketNo. 5:13-cv-3711
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 130 F. Supp. 3d 973 (Firemen's Insurance v. Tray-Pak Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Firemen's Insurance v. Tray-Pak Corp., 130 F. Supp. 3d 973, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 124192, 2015 WL 5460628 (E.D. Pa. 2015).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment, EOF No. 24— • Granted

Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment, EOF No. 23— - Denied

Joseph F. Leeson, Jr., United States District Judge

I. INTRODUCTION

This case represents an insurance coverage dispute between the parties, both of which have filed cross motions for summary judgment. A joint stipulation of undisputed facts has been submitted. Plaintiff, Firemen’s Insurance Company of Washington, D.C. (“Firemen’s”), is'seeking a declaration that it has no obligation to defend or indemnify its insured, Defendant Tray-Pak Corporation (“Tray-Pak”), in connection with a lawsuit filed against Tray-Pak in the Superior Court of Connecticut, Judicial District of Middlesex at ■Middletown. ■ Tray-Pak is seeking a declaration that Firemen’s has a duty to defend and indemnify it in the Connecticut, lawsuit. For the reasons set forth, hereinafter, Tray-Pak's Motion for: Summary Judgment will be denied,, and Firemen’s Motion for Summary Judgment will be granted.- . ;

II. BACKGROUND1

Tray-Pak maintains an occurrence-based 2 commercial general liability insurance policy (“General Liability Policy”) with Firemen's that has been in effect and uninterrupted since at least February 1, 2011. Stip. Facts ¶¶ 1-2, Ex. A, EOF No. 22. Tray-Pak also maintains an occurrence-based 3 commercial liability umbrella insurance policy (“Umbrella Policy”) with Firemen’s that has been in effect continuously since at least February 1, 2011. Stip. Facts ¶¶ 3-4, Ex. B. The Umbrella Policy applies if the underlying insurance policy limit with the General Liability Policy is exhausted.

■ On or. about March 22, 2013, Norpaco, Inc. (“Norpaco”) filed a complaint against Tray-Pak (“Norpaco Complaint”) in Connecticut State Superior Court (“Underlying Action”). Stip. Facts ¶ 5, Ex. C. Norpaco, a company specializing in the sale of gourmet food products, alleges that in Oc[977]*977tober 2011, it began producing a Deli Snacker tray product that includes crackj ers, cheese, pepperoni sticks, and olives. Norpaco Compl. Ex. C, Count I ¶¶ 3-4. In November 2011, it entered into a contract with Tray-Pak for the purchase of 100,000 polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”) trays for Norpaco’s use to manufacture the Deli Snacker. Id. at Count I ¶¶ 5-9. Norpaco alleges that prior to the purchase, Tray-Pak expressly warranted that its ‘trays were fit for the manufacture of the Deli Snacker product. Id. at Count II ¶9. From October through December 2011, Norpaco sold the Deli Snacker product to the Loblaws grocery store chain. Id, at Count I ¶ 10. On December 29, 2011, Loblaws informed Norpaco that the Deli Snacker was defective because the plastic seal did not adhere to the trays causing the cheese to become moldy. Id. at Count I ¶ 11. Norpaco retained a third party to conduct testing on the trays, on the film used to seal the Deli Snacker product, and on the sealing equipment. Id. at Count I ¶12. The results of the tests indicated that the PET trays were defective. Id. at Count I ¶ 13. Norpaco alleges that it incurred expenses of approximately $259,408.78 in conducting its tests, in destroying the defective Deli Snacker products, in lost profits, and in purchasing a special film to use with the PET trays. Id. at Count I ¶¶ 15-20. The state court complaint against Tray-Pak alleges breach of contract, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty of merchantability, breach of implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose, negligence, and negligent misrepresentation. Norpaco Compl.

Tray-Pak emailed the Norpaco Complaint to Firemen’s on March 28, 2013, the same day Tray-Pak was served with the Norpaco Complaint. Stip. Facts, ¶ 7, Ex. D. Tray-Pak asked Firemen’s “if we should engage our law firm at this time.” Id. “On March 29, 2013, Firemen’s acknowledged' receiving the Norpaco Complaint.” Stip. Facts, ¶ 9. Firemen’s sent an- email to Tray-Pak on April 4, 2013, advising that is was “having the complaint allegations reviewed by our coverage counsel in view of the breach of contract and warranty allegations,” and that Firemen’s had requested an extension of time to respond to the complaint from Norpaco.. Stip. Facts ¶ 10, Ex. E. In response to a status update request from Tray-Pak, on May 1, 2013, Firemen’s stated that it had received an extension to respond to the complaint and that it was waiting on coverage counsel’s input. Stip. Facts ¶ 12, Ex. F. On May 6, 2013, Firemen’s emailed Tray-Pak' that the issue is whether the Liability Policy should defend and indemnify, that it was referring the matter to claim management for instruction, and that Tray-Pak should have its corporate counsel review the complaint. Stip. Facts ¶ 13, Ex. G. By letter dated May 9, 2013, Firemen’s informed Tray-Pak that it was denying coverage because the allegations do not arise from an “occurrence” under the General Liability and Umbrella Policies. Stip. Facts ¶ 14, Ex. R.- This is the first time Firemen’s notified Tray-Pak that it would not defend or indemnify Tray-Pak in the Norpaco Complaint. Stip. Facts. ¶ 14.

On June 24, 2013, Firemen’s informed Tray-Pak that it was willing -to provide Tray-Pak with a defense to the Norpaco Complaint subject to a full and complete reservation of rights. Stip. Facts ¶ 15, Ex. I (explaining why Firemen’s does not believe it owes a duty to defend). “Firemen’s is currently' providing Tray-Pak with a' defense in the Underlying Action, subject to the reservation of rights communicated in the June' 24, 2013 letter.” Stip. Facts ¶ 16, Ex. I.

,.On June 26, 2013, Firemen’s filed a declaratory judgment complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern [978]*978District of Pennsylvania, seeking a determination of whether Tray-Pak is entitled to a defense and/or indemnification under the General Liability and Umbrella policies. Compl., ECF No. 1. Firemen’s alleges that neither the General Liability Policy nor the Umbrella Policy cover Tray-Pak for the Underlying Action because the allegations in the Norpaco Complaint are for breach of contract and 'do not allege an “occurrence.” Compl. ¶¶ 4452,-60-67. Additionally, Firemen’s contends that exclusions b (“Contractual Liability” exclusion) to the General Liability Policy and Umbrella Policy exclude coverage for claims sounding in breach of contract. Compl. ¶53, 68. Firemen’s further alleges that the ‘Your Product” exclusions4 to the General Liability Policy and Umbrella Policy exclude coverage for “ ‘Property Damage’ to ‘your product’ arising out of it or any part of it,” which includes the PET trays sold by Tray-Pak. Compl. ¶¶36, 56-57, 71. Finally, Firemen’s alleges that “the Products/Completed Operations Hazr ard Exclusion to the Umbrella Policy excludes coverage for property damage occurring away .from Tray-Pak’s premises, and arising opt of Tray-Pak’s product of work, unless the product is still in TrayPak’s physical possession — ” Compl. ¶ 73. Firemen’s contends that the Norpaco Complaint alleges that the damage took place at Norpaco’s when it filled and sealed the PET trays. Compl. ¶ 74. Firemen’s filed a Motion for Summary Judgment based on these allegations on May 30, 2014. PI. Mot., ECF No. 24.'

On May 30, 2014, Tray-Pak filed a Motion for Summary Judgment. Def. Mot., ECF No. 23.

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130 F. Supp. 3d 973, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 124192, 2015 WL 5460628, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/firemens-insurance-v-tray-pak-corp-paed-2015.