Liberty Mutual Insurance Company v. Hawaiya Technologies, Inc.

CourtDistrict Court, D. Hawaii
DecidedMarch 24, 2020
Docket1:18-cv-00410
StatusUnknown

This text of Liberty Mutual Insurance Company v. Hawaiya Technologies, Inc. (Liberty Mutual Insurance Company v. Hawaiya Technologies, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Hawaii primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Liberty Mutual Insurance Company v. Hawaiya Technologies, Inc., (D. Haw. 2020).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF HAWAII

LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE ) Civil No. 18-00410 HG-WRP COMPANY, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) vs. ) ) HAWAIYA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; ) PAUL SCHULTZ, an individual; ) MUN-WON CHANG, an individual; ) PAUL SCHULTZ, as Co-Trustee of ) the Paul S. Schultz Revocable ) Trust; MUN-WON CHANG, as Co- ) Trustee of the Paul S. Schultz ) Revocable Trust; PAUL SCHULTZ, ) as Co-Trustee of the Mun-Won ) Chang Revocable Trust; MUN-WON ) CHANG, as Co-Trustee of the ) Mun-Won Chang Revocable Trust; ) JANE WON-IM CHANG, as Co- ) Trustee of the Jane Won-Im ) Chang Revocable Trust; PAUL ) SCHULTZ, as Co-Trustee of the ) Jane Won-Im Chang Revocable ) Trust; MUN-WON CHANG, as Co- ) Trustee of the Jane Won-Im ) Chang Revocable Trust, ) ) Defendants. ) ) ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY’S MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT (ECF No. 44) Plaintiff Liberty Mutual Insurance Company (“Liberty Mutual”) brought this diversity action to collect indemnification from Defendants for payments made on a construction surety bond. Liberty Mutual filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment 1 as to Count I (Breach of Contract), Count II (Unjust Enrichment), and Count III (Quia Timet) of the Complaint. The Motion for Partial Summary Judgment is brought against Defendants Hawaiya Technologies, Inc. (“HTI”) and Paul Schultz and Mun-Won Chang, as individuals. The Motion is also against Paul Schultz and Mun-Won Chang, as Co-Trustees of the Paul S. Schultz Revocable Trust and the Mun-Won Chang Revocable Trust. Defendant Co-Trustees of the Jane Won-Im Chang Trust, Paul Schultz, Mun-Won Chang, and Jane Won-Im Chang, are not included in the motion. HTI was a subcontractor on a construction project at Halawa Correctional Facility, operated by the State of Hawaii. Paul Schultz is the President and Chief Executive Officer of HTI. Mun-Won Chang is an officer at HTI. Liberty Mutual issued surety bonds in connection with HTI’s subcontract in exchange for an indemnity agreement. Liberty Mutual’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (ECF No. 44) is DENIED. PROCEDURAL HISTORY On October 25, 2018, Plaintiff Liberty Mutual filed the Complaint. (ECF No. 1). On November 15, 2018, Defendants filed their Answer to the Complaint. (ECF No. 11). On September 18, 2019, Liberty Mutual filed a Motion for

2 Partial Summary Judgment and a Concise Statement of Facts against Defendants Hawaiya Technologies, Inc. (“HTI”) and Paul Schultz and Mun-Won Chang, as individuals. The motion is also against Paul Schultz and Mun-Won Chang, as Co-Trustees of the Paul S. Schultz Revocable Trust and the Mun-Won Chang Revocable Trust. (ECF Nos. 44, 45). On October 16, 2019, Defendants HTI and Paul Schultz and Mun-Won Chang, as individuals, as well as, Paul Schultz and Mun- Won Chang, as Co-Trustees of the Paul S. Schultz Revocable Trust and the Mun-Won Chang Revocable Trust, filed their Opposition to the Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and a Concise Statement of Facts. (ECF Nos. 54, 55). On October 30, 2019, Liberty Mutual filed its Reply. (ECF No. 57). On November 13, 2019, the Court held a hearing on Liberty Mutual’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. (ECF No. 63). On January 29, 2020, the Court held a Status Conference. (ECF No. 86). On February 7, 2020, the Court issued the scheduling order. (ECF No. 87). BACKGROUND The following facts are not in dispute: The Halawa Construction Project On October 20, 2015, BCP Construction of Hawaii, Inc. (“BCP

3 Construction”) was awarded a $9,751,064.00 construction contract by the State of Hawaii. (Decl. of Luis Aragon at ¶ 5, attached as Ex. 1 to Pl.’s CSF, ECF No. 45-1). BCP Construction was tasked with replacing the electronic locking system and security electronics system at the Halawa Correctional Facility. (Decl. of Mun-Won Chang at ¶¶ 9-11, attached as Ex. 1 to Defs.’ CSF, ECF No. 55-1). Sierra Detention Systems, Inc. (“Sierra”) and Defendant Hawaiya Technologies, Inc. (“HTI”) made a joint bid to serve as BCP Construction’s subcontractor on the project. (Id. at ¶ 13) Instead, BCP Construction agreed to enter into separate contracts with Sierra and HTI. (Id.) HTI’s scope of work consisted of supplying the materials and labor necessary to install electronic security upgrades. (Id. at ¶ 15; Subcontract, attached as Ex. B to Defs.’ CSF, ECF No. 55- 3). Sierra agreed to provide HTI with project drawings and to train and supervise HTI’s installation work. (Decl. of Mun-Won Chang ¶ 14, attached as Ex. 1 to Defs.’ CSF, ECF No. 55-1; Sierra Scope of Work, attached as Ex. C to Defs.’ CSF, ECF No. 55-4). In May 2017, CML Security, LLC (“CML Security” or “CML-RW”) took over Sierra’s responsibilities after Sierra abandoned the project. (Decl. of Mun-Won Chang ¶ 18, attached as Ex. 1 to Defs.’ CSF, ECF No. 55-1; February 19, 2019 Vertex Audit Report, attached as Ex. JJ to Defs.’ CSF, ECF No. 55-37). 4 Liberty Mutual Surety Bonds and The Indemnity Agreement After signing the Subcontract with BCP Construction, HTI secured a performance bond and payment bond (the “Bonds”) from Plaintiff Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. (“Liberty Mutual”). (Bonds, attached as Ex. 4 to Pl.’s CSF, ECF No. 45-5). The maximum amount due under the Bonds was the full cost of the Subcontract. (Id.) In exchange for Liberty Mutual’s issuance of the Bonds, HTI, Paul Schultz (“Schultz”), and Mun-Won Chang (“Chang”) agreed to indemnify Liberty Mutual for payments made on the Bonds. (General Agreement of Indemnity, attached as Ex. 1 to Pl.’s CSF, ECF No. 45-2). Schultz is the President and Chief Executive Officer of HTI. (Id.) Chang is an officer at HTI. (Decl. of Mun-Won Chang at ¶ 2, attached as Ex. 1 to Defs.’ CSF, ECF No. 55-1). On April 4, 2016, Schultz and Chang, as Co-Trustees of the Paul S. Schultz Revocable Trust and the Mun-Won Chang Revocable Trust, agreed to further indemnify Liberty Mutual on the Bonds.1 (Amendment to the General Agreement of Indemnity, attached as Ex. 2 to Pl.’s CSF, ECF No. 45-3). The General Agreement of Indemnity (the “Agreement”) between the parties requires the indemnitors to repay Liberty Mutual for 1 Schultz and Chang hold certain interests in real property as co-trustees of the Paul S. Schultz Revocable Trust and the Mun-Won Chang Revocable Trust. 5 any disbursements on the Bonds made under the “good faith” determination that Liberty Mutual faces “potential liability.” (General Agreement of Indemnity, attached as Ex. 1 to Pl.’s CSF, ECF No. 45-2). Performance Disputes Between BCP Construction and HTI On April 4, 2018, BCP Construction informed HTI that water damage had caused short circuiting and corrosion to security electronics systems installed at the Halawa work site. (April 4, 2018 48-hour Notice, attached as Ex. D to Defs.’ CSF, ECF No. 55- 5). The source of the water leakage was determined to be non- rain-tight conduit couplers installed on the exteriors of a building by HTI. (HTI Report, attached as Ex. F to Defs.’ CSF, ECF No 55-7). According to the State of Hawaii and BCP Construction, the couplers were not approved for exterior use at the Halawa site. (State of Hawaii Non-Conformance Notice, attached as Ex. H to Defs.’ CSF, ECF No. 55-9; May 8, 2018 Meeting Minutes, attached as Ex. N to Defs.’ CSF, ECF No. 55-15). On May 2, 2018, BCP Construction provided HTI with notice that the conduit couplers did not conform with code or the requirements of the Subcontract. (May 2, 2018 48-hour Notice, attached as Ex. I to Defs.’ CSF, ECF No. 55-10). The notice stated that HTI’s failure to remedy the issue could result in termination. (Id.)

6 HTI made multiple proposals to bring the couplers into compliance. (April 13, 2018 Remedial Proposal, attached as Ex. E to Defs.’ CSF, ECF No. 55-6; April 25, 2018 Remedial Proposal, attached as Ex. G to Defs.’ CSF, ECF No. 55-8; May 18, 2018 Remedial Proposal, attached as Ex. OO to Defs.’ CSF, ECF No. 55- 42).

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Liberty Mutual Insurance Company v. Hawaiya Technologies, Inc., Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/liberty-mutual-insurance-company-v-hawaiya-technologies-inc-hid-2020.