Fulton Boiler Works, Inc. v. American Motorists Insurance

828 F. Supp. 2d 481, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 141884, 2011 WL 6117946
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. New York
DecidedDecember 9, 2011
DocketNo. 5:06-CV-1117
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 828 F. Supp. 2d 481 (Fulton Boiler Works, Inc. v. American Motorists Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Fulton Boiler Works, Inc. v. American Motorists Insurance, 828 F. Supp. 2d 481, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 141884, 2011 WL 6117946 (N.D.N.Y. 2011).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM-DECISION and ORDER

DAVID N. HURD, District Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

On April 25, 2006, plaintiff Fulton Boiler Works, Inc. (“plaintiff’ or “Fulton”) filed this action in New York State Supreme Court, Oswego County, against defendants American Motorists Insurance Company, American Manufacturers Mutual Insurance Company (collectively “AMICO”),1 and OneBeacon Insurance Company (“OneBeacon”). Dkt. No. 1, Ex. A. OneBeacon removed this action to federal court on September 18, 2006. Dkt. No. 1. On December 19, 2008 — after the parties brought numerous counterclaims, cross-claims, and third-party complaints2 — Fulton filed an amended complaint against defendants AMICO, OneBeacon, Employers Insurance Company of Wausau (“Wausau”), Travelers Casualty & Surety Company (“Travelers”), and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (“Nationwide”) (collectively “defendants”). Dkt. No. 93.

Thereafter, OneBeacon filed a counterclaim against Fulton and cross-claims against AMICO, Wausau, Travelers, and Nationwide. Dkt. No. 95. AMICO then brought a counterclaim against Fulton and cross-claims against OneBeacon, Wausau, Travelers, and Nationwide. Dkt. No. 98. Travelers filed a counterclaim against Fulton as well as cross-claims against AMICO and OneBeacon. Dkt. No. 101.

Through its amended complaint, plaintiff asserts equitable estoppel/waiver against defendants and seeks a judgment declaring that defendants are obligated to fully defend and indemnify Fulton in connection with thousands of civil lawsuits filed against it (the “Asbestos Claims”). Plaintiff also seeks damages for defendants’ alleged breach of contract as well as costs and fees related to this action. Generally, defendants maintain that Fulton is obligated to pay a pro rata share of the indemnity [486]*486costs in connection with the Asbestos Claims.

On March 25, 2010, Fulton’s first motion for partial summary judgment was granted in part and denied in part. Fulton Boiler Works, Inc. v. Am. Motorists Ins. Co., 2010 WL 1257943 (N.D.N.Y. Mar. 25, 2010) (Suddaby, J.).3 Specifically, plaintiffs request that defendants be required to pay the full defense costs related to the Asbestos Claims was granted, but the request that defendants be required to pay fees and costs associated with this action was denied. Id. at *8. Defendants’ cross-motions for summary judgment were all denied. Id. at *9.

Currently pending are: (1) Travelers’ motion for summary judgment declaring that Fulton is obligated to pay a pro rata share of indemnity costs related to years it was uninsured (Dkt. No. 170); (2) AMI-CO’s motion for partial summary judgment ordering Travelers to contribute a pro rata share of defense and indemnity costs related to claims for which it received a complaint, “written tender,” and/or invoices from defense counsel (Dkt. No. 172); (3) Fulton’s motion for partial summary judgment declaring that AMICO and OneBeacon must continue to fully indemnify Fulton and that Fulton cannot be allocated any share of indemnity costs (Dkt. No. 174); (4) OneBeacon’s motion for partial summary judgment declaring that Fulton is obligated to pay a pro rata share of the indemnity costs for years it was uninsured (Dkt. No. 175); (5) OneBeacon’s motion for partial summary judgment declaring that Travelers received proper notice of all underlying Asbestos Claims and must contribute a pro rata share of defense and indemnity costs based on its four years of coverage (Dkt. No. 178); (6) Wausau and Nationwide’s cross-motion for partial summary judgment ordering Fulton to contribute to the indemnity costs (Dkt. No. 189)4; and (7) Travelers’ cross-motion for partial summary judgment declaring that it cannot be allocated defense and/or indemnity costs related to claims for which it was not provided proper notice (Dkt. No. 193).

OneBeacon, AMICO, and Fulton have responded to the pending motions. Dkt. Nos. 187, 188, 190, 191, 201. OneBeacon, AMICO, Travelers, and Fulton filed reply briefs. Dkt. Nos. 202, 203, 204, 206. Fulton and Travelers filed supplemental memoranda. Dkt. Nos. 217, 218, 222. These fully briefed motions were considered on submit.

II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

From 1949 until the mid-1970s, Fulton manufactured and sold boilers that contained asbestos parts. While the parties dispute whether Fulton purchased insurance prior to 1976,5 it is generally agreed that a combination of comprehensive general liability policies issued by AMICO, OneBeacon, Travelers, and Wausau covered Fulton for asbestos exposure risks from 1976 until 1993. Specifically, Fulton was covered by Travelers from October 1976 through October 1980, OneBeacon [487]*487from October 1980 through October 1983, Wausau from October 1983 through October 1984, and AMICO from October 1984 through September 1993 — when an asbestos liability exclusion was added to the policy.

Beginning in the early 1990s, plaintiff has been named in thousands of civil lawsuits alleging exposure to asbestos from its boilers.6 In 1991, Fulton retained its own counsel to monitor the incoming claims. Fulton also advised OneBeacon and AMI-CO, the only insurers known to Fulton at the time, of the pending litigation and requested defense. OneBeacon and AMICO agreed to defend Fulton. OneBeacon and AMICO assert, and plaintiff denies, that Fulton was advised in 1991 that it would be expected to pay its share of any costs related to claims arising from years in which Fulton was uninsured.

Fulton alleges that from 1992 to 2005, OneBeacon and AMICO shared all defense and indemnity costs related to the Asbestos Claims and did not ask plaintiff to contribute anything during that time period. Fulton further asserts that OneBeacon and AMICO exercised complete control over the defense strategy, ignored Fulton’s “no-settle” policy, and settled claims that did not even involve Fulton boilers. One-Beacon and AMICO argue that Fulton agreed to pay one-third of the litigation costs in January 1995; was actively represented by counsel from 1991 until 2001; was repeatedly asked to contribute to any claims arising from uninsured periods; and was consulted prior to the resolution of the cases. None of the over 14,000 Asbestos Claims have gone to trial and at least fourteen (14) have settled to date.

In 1998, after the number of Asbestos Claims increased sharply, OneBeacon and AMICO entered into a cost-sharing agreement under which AMICO paid 75% of the defense costs and OneBeacon paid the remaining 25%. This agreement did not require Fulton to contribute to the litigation costs. In August 2001 AMICO circulated a proposed cost-sharing agreement that reflected the 75%-25% split between AMI-CO and OneBeacon, but allowed for modification in the event new insurers were identified. Importantly, the proposal only applied to defense costs and specifically noted that “[njothing contained herein has, or shall be construed to have, any application to the indemnification for any Asbestos Bodily Injury Claims or any other kind of claim that has been or may be asserted against Fulton.” Osias Certification, Ex. 17, Dkt. No. 174-5, ¶ 1(A) (“2001 Proposal”).7

Travelers’ and Wausau’s policies were discovered in October 2001 and December 2005, respectively.

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Bluebook (online)
828 F. Supp. 2d 481, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 141884, 2011 WL 6117946, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/fulton-boiler-works-inc-v-american-motorists-insurance-nynd-2011.