Greenwich Insurance v. RPS Products, Inc.

882 N.E.2d 1202, 379 Ill. App. 3d 78, 318 Ill. Dec. 79, 2008 Ill. App. LEXIS 59
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedFebruary 4, 2008
Docket1-07-0760
StatusPublished
Cited by24 cases

This text of 882 N.E.2d 1202 (Greenwich Insurance v. RPS Products, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Greenwich Insurance v. RPS Products, Inc., 882 N.E.2d 1202, 379 Ill. App. 3d 78, 318 Ill. Dec. 79, 2008 Ill. App. LEXIS 59 (Ill. Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

JUSTICE ROBERT E. GORDON

delivered the opinion of the court:

The issue presented in this case is whether plaintiff Greenwich Insurance Company (Greenwich) had a duty to defend its insured, defendant RPS Products, Inc. (RPS), in an underlying suit filed by The Holmes Group, Inc. (Holmes), alleging, among other things, patent infringement, trademark infringement, and unfair competition. On August 4, 2004, RPS tendered its defense of the Holmes suit to Greenwich, which refused the tender of the defense and denied coverage on August 17, 2004. On June 2, 2005, Greenwich filed a complaint for declaratory judgment in the chancery division of the circuit court of Cook County seeking, among other things, a declaration that it had no duty to defend RPS in the Holmes suit. On October 31, 2006, the trial court granted Greenwich’s motion for summary judgment finding that the Holmes suit was not covered under the Greenwich insurance policy and therefore Greenwich had no duty to defend.

1. The Underlying Lawsuit

RPS is an Illinois corporation that manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells replacement filters for use in air cleaners and humidifiers. One of RPS’ replacement filters, the RPS model H600 filter, was marketed as a filter that “fit Holmes®” “Harmony® Air Purifier Models: HAP 615, 626, 650, 675, 675RC.”

On November 27, 2002, Holmes notified RPS that it was making a claim against it based on RPS’ alleged infringement of Holmes’ patent for its “HAPG 600 Harmony Air Filter.” On July 3, 2003, Holmes filed its original complaint against RPS in the United States District Court for the Worchester District of Massachusetts.

On July 28, 2003, RPS provided Greenwich with Holmes’ original complaint. On the same date, Greenwich informed RPS that there was no coverage under the Greenwich insurance policy for patent infringement, and Greenwich issued a formal denial of coverage shortly thereafter. RPS did not dispute Greenwich’s denial of coverage at that point in time.

On February 19, 2004, Holmes provided RPS with its proposed amended complaint. On March 3, 2004, Holmes filed its amended complaint. The amended complaint includes the following relevant allegations as to all three counts contained in the complaint:

“8. RPS manufactures, markets, distributes and/or sells replacement filters for use in air cleaners and humidifiers. One of those replacement filters is designated as the RPS model H600 filter (the ‘H600 Replacement Filter’).
9. The H600 Replacement Filter is marketed and advertised by RPS as a replacement filter for certain Holmes air cleaner models. The label on the H600 Replacement Filter box prominently displays the claim that it ‘Fits Holmes®,’ and lists the following Holmes® Harmony® Air Purifier Models: HAP 615, 625, 650, 675, 675RC. This designation is literally false because the RPS Replacement Filters do not meet Holmes performance standards, a high proportion of the RPS Replacement Filters are defectively manufactured and, when the RPS Replacement Filters are placed in one of the Holmes machines that they purportedly ‘fit’, the RPS filter will not allow the door to close.
sH * *
13. When the RPS H600 Replacement Filters are substituted for the genuine Holmes® filters in those Holmes® Harmony® Air Purifier models which RPS claims that the RPS H600 Replacement Filter ‘Fits,’ each of the Holmes® models substantially and materially underperforms ***.
14. As a result, consumers who purchase a RPS H600 Replacement Filter believing that it ‘Fits Holmes’ are misled into thinking that the H600 Replacement Filter is a suitable replacement for the proper Holmes® filter when it is not ***.
19. RPS misrepresents the RPS H600 Replacement Filter on its Web site as a ‘Holmes air filter for HEPA models HAP615, 625, 650, 675, 675 RC, (HAP-600).’ ”

Count I further alleges that RPS infringed Holmes’ patent by “making, using, offering to sell, selling, and/or importing and/or inducing and/or contributing to others’ making, using, offering to sell, selling and/or importing products that embody or use the inventions claimed in the patent.” Count II of the amended complaint, entitled “Unfair Competition,” alleges RPS advertises and sells its H600 replacement filter as “Fits Holmes® HEPA Air Cleaners Models: HAP 615, 625, 650, 675, 675RC,” the replacement filters “are not acceptable *** for use with Holmes air cleaners,” and RPS replacement filter packaging and nationwide advertising contain false and misleading statements and descriptions concerning replacement air filter applications, contain misrepresentations of fact, and constitute unfair competition in violation of section 1125 of the United States Trademarks Act (15 U.S.C. §1125(a) (2000)), and the laws of Massachusetts. Count III of the amended complaint, entitled “Trademark Infringement” alleges RPS’ use of the mark “Holmes®” in commerce and in connection with the marketing and advertisement of RPS’ own replacement filters constitutes trademark infringement.

2. The Greenwich Policy

RPS solicited A.F. Crissie & Company, Ltd., an insurance brokerage firm, to procure, on its behalf, commercial liability insurance coverage. Ray Szydlo of A.F. Crissie caused RPS to be placed with Greenwich for purposes of obtaining a commercial liability insurance policy. Greenwich issued to RPS three consecutive one-year commercial general liability policies covering the December 31, 2001, through December 31, 2004, time period. The policy at issue in this case, policy No. GEC001084802, covered the December 31, 2003, through December 31, 2004, time period. The policy provided in pertinent part:

“SECTION I — COVERAGES
COVERAGE A BODILY INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY
1. Insuring Agreement
a. We will pay those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of ‘bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ to which this insurance applies. We will have the right and duty to defend the insured against any ‘suit’ seeking those damages ***.
COVERAGE B PERSONAL AND ADVERTISING LIABILITY
1. Insuring Agreement
a. We will pay those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of ‘personal and advertising injury’ to which this insurance applies.
^ ^ ^
c. This insurance applies to ‘personal and advertising injury’ caused by an offense arising out of your business ***.
Hi Hi Hi
2. Exclusions
This insurance does not apply to:
a. Knowing Violation of Rights Of Another

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
882 N.E.2d 1202, 379 Ill. App. 3d 78, 318 Ill. Dec. 79, 2008 Ill. App. LEXIS 59, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/greenwich-insurance-v-rps-products-inc-illappct-2008.