Gencorp, Inc. v. AIU Insurance

970 F. Supp. 1253, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10098, 1997 WL 399141
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Ohio
DecidedJune 6, 1997
Docket5:95-cv-02464
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 970 F. Supp. 1253 (Gencorp, Inc. v. AIU Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gencorp, Inc. v. AIU Insurance, 970 F. Supp. 1253, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10098, 1997 WL 399141 (N.D. Ohio 1997).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

DOWD, District Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

The plaintiff filed this action against more than three dozen defendant insurance companies, seeking, inter alia, a declaration that the defendants are obligated to defend and indemnify the plaintiff with respect to potential liabilities arising out of six hazardous waste sites. At the Case Management Conference on February 16, 1996, the Court placed the case on the complex track. As discovery developed, several parties informed the Court they wished to move for partial summary judgment with respect to liability on certain of the policies to which they be *1257 lieve an absolute pollution exclusion endorsement applies. The Court established a schedule for filing for partial summary judgment on issues related to those two policies.

The following parties filed motions for partial summary judgment: Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London (“the London Market Defendants”) (Docket No. 189); Federal Insurance Company (Docket No. 205); American Re-Insurance Company (Docket No. 208); International Insurance Company as successor in interest to International Surplus Lines Insurance Company (Docket No. 209); Riunione Adriatiea di Sicurta (Docket No. 210); St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company (Docket No. 211); Century Indemnity Company as successor in interest to CIGNA Specialty Insurance Company, formerly known as California Union Insurance Company (Docket No. 212); Central National Insurance Company of Omaha (also Docket No. 212); First State Insurance Company (Docket No. 213); Everest Reinsurance Company, formerly known as Prudential Reinsurance Company (Docket No. 214); Gibraltar Casualty Company (also Docket No. 214); Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Company (Docket No. 215); Associated International Insurance Company (Docket No. 216); Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company (Docket No. 217); AIU Insurance Company (Docket No. 220); Lexington Insurance Company (Docket No. 221); Granite State Insurance Company (Docket No. 222); Republic Insurance Company (Docket No. 223); and Allianz Versieherungs AG (Docket No. 224).

The motions are all based upon the same premise, which will be discussed in more detail infra: the defendants argue they can take advantage of a 1994 endorsement to an underlying insurance policy which retroactively eliminated insurance coverage for pollution-related matters.

Gencorp has filed a brief in response to the summary judgment motions (Docket No. 247), and the various defendants have filed reply briefs. The Court entertained oral argument on the motions on February 27, 1997, and allowed the parties to file post-argument briefs. The Court has now fully considered the motions. For reasons set forth below, the Court denies the motion of Republic Insurance Company; grants in part and'denies in part the motions of Riunione Adriatiea di Sicurta, First State Insurance Company, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company and AIU Insurance Company; and grants the motions of the remaining defendants. However, for reasons set forth in Part V infra, the Court shall delay placing a judgment entry on the docket until June 6, 1997.

II. BACKGROUND FACTS

In this lawsuit, plaintiff Gencorp Inc. (“Gencorp”) seeks a declaration of coverage and money damages under various insurance policies for pollution-related claims and losses at six landfills or industrial sites in Ohio, Michigan and Connecticut. See generally Second Amended Complaint, Docket No. 184.

During the time period in question, Gen-corp’s underlying, or first-level umbrella, insurer was Genco Insurance Limited (“Genco”). 1 Genco policies provided umbrella liability coverage for the two periods in question. 2 Genco Policy No. 47002 (“Genco 47002” or “47002”) covered the period of January 1, 1975 to January 1, 1978. Genco Policy No. 47005 (“Genco 47005” or “47005”) covered the period from January 1, 1979, to December 1, 1982. 3 In addition *1258 to the underlying umbrella policies with Genco, Gencorp had numerous policies with the moving defendants under which coverage would not be triggered until coverage under the applicable Genco umbrella policy was exhausted. To one degree or another, the language in all of these policies “follows form” to the applicable Genco policy, i.e., the policies state that coverage is under the same terms and conditions as the underlying umbrella policy.

Gencorp sued many of the same insurers (including Genco) in an insurance coverage action in state court in Ohio involving different sites than those at issue here. In resolution of their dispute in the prior action, Gen-corp and Genco executed a Settlement Agreement on April 7, 1994. (Response brief at Exh. D). The settlement specifically addressed coverage under policies 47002 and 47005. (Settlement Agreement at ¶ 1.1). The settlement agreement called for Genco to pay $19,910,000 to Gencorp in exchange for dismissal of the state lawsuit with prejudice. (Id. at ¶ 3.2). In turn, Gencorp agreed to release Genco from all claims arising out of policies 47002 and 47005. (Id. at ¶ 3.4).

Notwithstanding this general release of claims, the settlement agreement went a step further. Paragraph 3.6 provided the following language which is at the heart of the instant litigation:

3.6 Policy Endorsement Amendment. Subject only to Genco’s payment and Gen-corp’s receipt of the Settlement Amount pursuant to Section 3.2, Gencorp agrees that Policy Numbers 47002 and 47005 each shall thereupon be amended, by separate endorsement retroactive in fact and effect to the date each of said policies were is sued, each said separate endorsement to read:

THIS POLICY SHALL NOT APPLY:

to any liability whatsoever for:
(1) bodily injury, personal injury or property damage arising out of the seepage, discharge, dispersal, release or escape or transmission of any solid, liquid, or resulting from: gaseous, thermal, audio or electromagnetic irritant, including, but not limited to, smoke, vapors, soot, waves, fumes, acid, alkalies, fibers, toxic chemicals, liquids or gases, waste materials, or other irritants, contaminants or pollutants into, or upon, land, the environment or any watercourse or body of water; or
*1259 (2) any liability loss, cost or expense of the insured arising out of any direction or request by any governmental authority, that pollutants be tested for[,] monitored, cleaned up, removed, contained, treated, detoxified or neutralized; or
(3) any payment for the investigation or defense of any loss, injury or damage, or any cost, fine or penalty, or for any expense or claim or suit related to any of the above.

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
970 F. Supp. 1253, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10098, 1997 WL 399141, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gencorp-inc-v-aiu-insurance-ohnd-1997.