Generali-U.S. Branch v. Genesis Insurance

925 F. Supp. 224, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6985, 1996 WL 271931
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedMay 20, 1996
DocketNo. 94 Civ. 8492 (JGK)
StatusPublished

This text of 925 F. Supp. 224 (Generali-U.S. Branch v. Genesis Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Generali-U.S. Branch v. Genesis Insurance, 925 F. Supp. 224, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6985, 1996 WL 271931 (S.D.N.Y. 1996).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

KOELTL, District Judge:

This is an action by Generali — U.S. Branch, (“Generali”), against Genesis Insurance Co. and Genesis Underwriting Management Co., (collectively “Genesis”), for contribution of $3,375 million representing one-half of Generali’s settlement of an insurance claim arising from a fire loss on November 23,1992 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Generali is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of New York with its principal place of business in New York. Both Genesis defendants are Connecticut corporations with their principal places of business in Connecticut. Jurisdiction is based on diversity of citizenship. See 28 U.S.C. § 1332.

Generali alleges that Genesis was a co-insurer of the property and is obligated to contribute equally to the settlement of the claim. Genesis denies any liability and asserts a variety of affirmative defenses as well as a counterclaim for reformation of the Genesis insurance policy to reflect that it was allegedly cancelled prior to the November 23, 1992 loss.

The parties have each moved for summary judgment. Generali argues that Genesis was [226]*226a co-insurer by virtue of a policy that was not cancelled as of the date of the loss. Generali argues that Genesis’ efforts to cancel that policy for non-payment were ineffective and contrary to applicable Pennsylvania law. Generali then argues that because the Genesis policy was effective on the date of the fire loss, the “Other Insurance” provision of the Generali policy limits its liability to half of the claim and affords Generali a right to contribution from Genesis. In response, Genesis makes three arguments. First, Genesis maintains that its cancellation of the policy was indeed effective prior to the fire loss because the insured, Daniel J. Lasdon, had not made the required premium payment on the policy covering the Philadelphia property. Second, Genesis argues that even if such a payment was made, Lasdon never objected to the cancellation of the policy when the cancellation notice was sent to Las-don and his agents. Third, Genesis points out that Generali’s motion is directed only at its Third Affirmative Defense and even if it is granted there are twelve other defenses that must be resolved by a trial on the merits.

Genesis’ cross-motion for summary judgment is also based on three arguments. First, Genesis argues that its policy was in fact cancelled. Second, Genesis argues that it did not receive timely notice of the fire loss, either from its alleged co-insurer Gener-ali, or the insured, Lasdon, or his agents. Third, relying on principles of res judicata, Genesis argues that Generali’s failure to raise the “Other Insurance” provision in its policy as a defense in the initial lawsuit by Lasdon on the underlying claim bars Genera-li from asserting it now as the basis of an action for contribution against Genesis. Gen-erali contests each of these arguments. With respect to the cancellation of the Genesis policy, Generali argues (i) that the cancellation was ineffective under Pennsylvania law because Lasdon . had paid the premium; (ii) that Lasdon’s' agents were not capable of authorizing cancellation or substitution of Genesis’ coverage; and (iii) that Lasdon never authorized or acquiesced to any such cancellation or substitution in any event. Gen-erali also argues that Genesis as a co-insurer in an action for contribution cannot assert the lack of timely notice as a defense. Finally, Generali argues that even if Genesis were entitled to such a defense, it did receive notice once Generali learned of the Genesis coverage and Genesis suffered no prejudice from the delay.

For the reasons that follow, both motions are denied.

I.

Summary judgment may not be granted unless “the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); Gallo v. Prudential Residential Servs. Ltd. Partnership, 22 F.3d 1219, 1223 (2d Cir.1994). “The trial court’s task at the summary judgment motion stage of the litigation is carefully limited to discerning whether there are genuine issues of material fact to be tried, not to deciding them. Its duty, in short, is confined at this point to issue-finding; it does not extend to issue-resolution.” Id., 22 F.3d at 1224.

The moving party bears the initial burden of “informing the district court of the basis for its motion” and identifying the matter that “it believes demonstrate^] the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.” Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323, 106 S.Ct. at 2553. The substantive law governing the case will identify those facts which are material and “only disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will properly preclude the entry of summary judgment.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2510, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). In determining whether summary judgment is appropriate, a court must resolve all ambiguities and draw all reasonable inferences against the moving party. See Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 1356, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986) (citing United States v. Diebold, Inc., 369 U.S. 654, 655, 82 S.Ct. 993, 994, 8 L.Ed.2d 176 (1962)); see also Gallo, 22 F.3d at 1223.

[227]*227If the moving party meets its burden, the burden shifts to the nonmoving party to come forward with “specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(e). With respect to the issues on which summaiy judgment is sought, if there is any evidence in the record from any source from which a reasonable inference could be drawn in favor of the nonmoving party, summary judgment is improper. See Chambers v. TRM Centers Corp., 43 F.3d 29, 37 (2d Cir.1994).

II.

The principal thrust of Generali’s summary judgment motion is that Genesis could not have lawfully cancelled the policy covering the Philadelphia property based on non-payment of premiums because Lasdon did, in fact, pay. Generali maintains it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law on this point because of the alleged absence of evidence to controvert its contention that Lasdon’s premium payment was made to Genesis. That contention is premised on two independent theories. First, Generali alleges an agency relationship existed between Genesis and the wholesale insurance broker, S.

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Bluebook (online)
925 F. Supp. 224, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6985, 1996 WL 271931, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/generali-us-branch-v-genesis-insurance-nysd-1996.