Liberty Mutual Insurance v. Friedman

485 F. Supp. 695, 27 Cont. Cas. Fed. 80,305, 21 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 1016, 1979 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7721, 22 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 30,787
CourtDistrict Court, D. Maryland
DecidedDecember 28, 1979
DocketCiv. K-77-2045
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 485 F. Supp. 695 (Liberty Mutual Insurance v. Friedman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Maryland primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Liberty Mutual Insurance v. Friedman, 485 F. Supp. 695, 27 Cont. Cas. Fed. 80,305, 21 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 1016, 1979 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7721, 22 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 30,787 (D. Md. 1979).

Opinion

FRANK A. KAUFMAN, District Judge.

Plaintiffs, three related insurance companies (Liberty), 1 seek a declaratory judgment defining their status under Executive Order 11246 (E.0.11246) 2 and the regulations pro *699 mulgated thereunder by the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. 3 Defendants (the Government) are federal government officials who have been assigned various responsibilities under the Executive Order. 4 That Order requires government contractors and subcontractors to establish affirmative action employment programs, to file with the Government certain reports regarding employment policies, and to submit to certain government inspections and examinations. Liberty underwrites workers’ compensation insurance 5 for many companies who contract with the Government. Usually, such insurance provides blanket coverage for all employees of those companies regardless of whether the employees are performing work on one or more government contracts or subcontracts. Many employers are required to maintain workmen’s compensation insurance under the laws of each and every state and also under certain federal regulations, although most of those employers are given the option of self-insuring. 6 None of *700 the said insurance which Liberty has written during the time period involved in this case runs directly in favor of any federal governmental agency. In 1975, Liberty held one contract with a government agency, i. e., an automobile fleet policy for the Veterans Administration with an $18,000 annual premium. That policy was subsequently dropped. Liberty, prior to September 30, 1977, was a reinsurer under the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program.

On October 21, 1977, defendant Friedman notified Liberty that Liberty is a subcontractor within the meaning of E.O. 11246. Liberty disagreed, contending that an employer who is not a prime government contractor but who underwrites or insures risks of occupationally-connected injuries or provides workers’ compensation insurance for the benefit of a prime government contractor is not a government subcontractor under E.O. 11246. This is a question of first impression. Liberty states, inter alia, that if the Government is not enjoined from subjecting Liberty to the requirements of E.O. 11246, Liberty will either have to spend in excess of $250,000 to implement the requirements of E.O. 11246 or risk and almost surely suffer lost business opportunities from noncompliance. Liberty seeks declaratory relief herein pursuant to the Federal Declaratory Judgment Act, as amended, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201-02, which is applicable herein. Subject matter jurisdiction is present pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331(a). The case has been submitted by the parties upon the following stipulated facts:

1. Liberty has provided workers’ compensation insurance to the following government contractors: Avis Rent-a-Car, since 1962; International Business Machines, since 1923; Reynolds Metals Corporation, 1953-66, 1971-present; United Aircraft Corporation (presently known as United Technology), since 1936; Westinghouse Corporation, since 1948; Bechtel Corporation, 1968-74, for purposes of one non-government project only; Raytheon Company, since 1929; General Instrument, since 1965; International Multifood, since 1968; and International Telephone & Telegraph, terminated April 1, 1978.

2. Liberty has not in the past and does not presently underwrite or guarantee any bonds for the construction of any federal buildings or public works.

3. The coverage terms for the majority of workers’ compensation policies furnished by Liberty to insureds are on a calendar year basis. Liberty does not sell, underwrite or otherwise furnish insurance for any corporation or other business entity for the purpose of insuring that corporation or business entity against occupationally-connected injuries of its employees incurred solely on government projects.

4. Federal government agencies permit employers with whom those agencies contract to self-insure their own risks of occupationally-connected injuries in accordance with federal procurement rules and regulations.

5. Liberty has never given a certificate of compliance relating to E.O. 11246 to any primary contractor or subcontractor of the Government, or to any government department, agency or instrumentality. 7

6. Liberty has never signed a contract or subcontract which explicitly contains the provisions of paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 202 of E.O. 11246 or any reference thereto.

7. By letter dated October 21, 1977, defendant Friedman wrote to Frank L. Far-well, Chairman of the Board of Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company and informed Liberty that the Insurance Compliance Staff had found Liberty to be a government subcontractor within the meaning of E.O. 11246 as amended. Pursuant to the terms of E.O. 11246, Mr. Friedman requested that Liberty have in existence by November 28, 1977 affirmative action plans for each of its establishments across the country; that the plan for Liberty’s corporate headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts *701 be submitted to defendant Friedman by December 19, 1977; and that Liberty’s corporate headquarters be made available for an on-site review commencing on January 16, 1978. 8

8. The Government subsequently agreed to refrain from taking any action pending the outcome of the instant litigation.

Pursuant to § 202(7) of E.O. 11246, federal government contractors are required to include in every subcontract or purchase order (unless exempted by rules of the Secretary of Labor) the anti-discrimination provisions of § 202 of E.O. 11246. 9 . In addition, each contractor is required to “take such action with respect to any subcontract or purchase order as the contracting agency may direct as a means of enforcing such provisions including sanctions for noncompliance * * 10 The relevant terms are defined at 41 C.F.R. § 60-1.3. 11

*702 Liberty’s complaint, as finally amended, sounds in five counts: (1) the determination by defendants that Liberty is a “subcontractor” is inconsistent with the definition of “subcontractor” in the regulations, (2) if Liberty is found to be a subcontractor, then the regulations containing said definitions are beyond and outside the scope of E.O. 11246 and are invalid, (3) if the regulations are not beyond and outside the scope of E.O.

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Bluebook (online)
485 F. Supp. 695, 27 Cont. Cas. Fed. 80,305, 21 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 1016, 1979 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7721, 22 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 30,787, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/liberty-mutual-insurance-v-friedman-mdd-1979.