McGrail Associates, Inc. v. Universal Underwriters, Inc.

13 Mass. L. Rptr. 670
CourtMassachusetts Superior Court
DecidedOctober 2, 2001
DocketNo. 995671
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 13 Mass. L. Rptr. 670 (McGrail Associates, Inc. v. Universal Underwriters, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McGrail Associates, Inc. v. Universal Underwriters, Inc., 13 Mass. L. Rptr. 670 (Mass. Ct. App. 2001).

Opinion

Hinkle, J.

The defendant, Universal Underwriters Insurance Company, brings two motions for summary judgment against plaintiffs-, McGrail Associates, Inc., Regina Leavitt and Edward Leavitt. In its first motion, defendant argues that the statute of limitations bars plaintiffs’ claims. In its second motion, defendant contends that plaintiffs' insurance policy does not cover their claims.

After hearing and consideration of the parties’ submissions, for the foregoing reasons I ALLOW in part and DENY in part both motions.

BACKGROUND

The following facts, derived from the parties’ submissions, are undisputed or are otherwise viewed in the light most favorable to plaintiffs, the non-moving parties.

Plaintiffs operate several quick-lube retail stores, including Oil Doctor, a business at 445 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA that provides oil changes and related automotive services. Sometime during 1995, an account executive from defendant’s offices discussed with plaintiffs an insurance policy that would insure plaintiffs’ buildings and business at 445 Lincoln Street against various risks, including fire. Defendant’s representative provided plaintiffs with a binder containing a copy of defendant’s insurance proposal. Among the information was a document covering the proposed property coverage and a Section entitled “Special Coverage or Endorsements” under which two boxes were checked. One box referred to “Replacement Cost — Contents/Equipment at Location(s).” Another box was entitled “Value Protection — To guaranty Replacement Cost and to provide coverage for increased Cost of Construction, Debris Removal and Demolition Costs, Loss due to Building Ordinance.” At a later date, plaintiffs agreed to purchase the policy and paid defendant its premium. Subsequently, defendant issued plaintiffs an automotive floater policy no. A151671, effective October 15, 1995 to November 1, 1996.2

On November 22, 1995, a waste-oil hauler, Connecticut Waste Oil (“CWO”), allegedly caused a 2000-gallon oil tank to implode in plaintiffs’ basement. Plaintiffs sustained damage to both their oil tank and their real properly. Immediately after the accident, plaintiffs submitted to defendant a claim form regarding their loss. As of that date, plaintiffs had not yet received a written copy of their insurance policy from defendant. During the weeks that followed, plaintiff Regina Leavitt contacted defendant almost daily. A representative of defendant instructed Ms. Leavitt to pursue a claim against CWO vigorously. The representative also instructed Ms. Leavitt that his company would postpone its course of action until CWO’s insurer determined how to address the situation. Defendant’s representative also directed Ms. Leavitt to send several letters to CWO’s insurer requesting payment and information, including engineer reports, codes and equipment specification.

During January through April of 1996, Ms. Leavitt continued to communicate with defendant at least once a week. Defendant’s representative instructed Ms. Leavitt to continue her efforts against CWO’s insurer. He also advised her that a special, more experienced investigator would visit her premises to view the damages. No such investigator came. He also advised her that his company would send her a letter regarding her coverage. Plaintiff never received such a letter. In March 1996, plaintiffs received a written copy of the policy from defendant.

Sometime in late 1996 or early 1997, plaintiffs learned that repair of their oil tank would require the building’s foundation to be severed and that such construction would interrupt business for at least a few weeks, resulting in a loss of customers and revenue. Since November 1995, the damaged tank has remained in the containment room of defendant’s premises. Plaintiffs claim they lack the financial resources to repair the damages. Plaintiffs also allege that they continue to suffer financial losses because they must utilize a jeriy-rigged waste-oil system that requires additional labor and additional cost for waste-oil removal.

On or about October 20, 1998, plaintiffs submitted a demand letter to defendant’s representative under G.L.c. 176D and G.L.c. 93A. Defendant’s representative did not respond until September 14, 1999.

Plaintiffs’ complaint alleges two claims: a contract claim and a claim under G.L.c. 176D and 940 Code Mass. Reg. In their contract claim, plaintiffs allege that defendant breached their insurance contract by denying plaintiffs coverage for the damages they sustained in November 1995. In their 176D claim, plaintiffs allege that defendant failed to do the following: (1) advise them of changes in the renewal policy, (2) promptly provide them with the insurance policy, (3) promptly settle their claim and (4) promptly investigate the claim. Plaintiffs have also filed suit against CWO and an affiliated corporation.

DISCUSSION

Summary judgment is appropriate only when the moving party affirmatively establishes that no genuine issue of material fact exists on any relevant issue. See Cassesso v. Commissioner of Correction, 390 Mass. 419, 422 (1983). In deciding a motion for summary judgment, the court views the facts “in the light most favorable to . . . [the nonmoving party], taking all the facts set forth in its supporting affidavits as true.” G.S. Enterprises, Inc. v. Falmouth Marine, Inc., 410 Mass. 262, 263 (1991) (citation omitted). Once the moving party demonstrates the absence of a triable issue, the non-moving parly may [672]*672not simply rely on its pleadings but must respond “by affidavits or as otherwise provided in this rule [to] set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Correllas v. Viveiros, 410 Mass. 314, 317 (1991), quoting Mass.R.Civ.P. 56(e).

A parly moving for summary judgment who does not have the burden of proof at trial may demonstrate the absence of a triable issue either by submitting affirmative evidence negating an essential element of the non-moving party's case or by showing that the nonmoving party lacks a reasonable expectation of proving an essential element of its case at trial. See Flesner v. Technical Communications Corp., 410 Mass. 805, 809 (1991); Kourouvacilis v. General Motors Corp., 410 Mass. 706, 711 (1991). Conclusory assertions are insufficient to meet the nonmoving parly’s burden. See First National Bank of Boston v. Slade, 379 Mass. 243 (1976).

I. The Motion for Summary Judgment on Statute of Limitations Grounds

Defendant argues that plaintiffs did not file their claims within two years of the loss as required by the policy’s provisions and by G.L.c. 175, §99. In response, plaintiffs contend that the six-year contract statute of limitations in G.L.c. 260, §2 and the four-year limitations period in G.L.c. 260, §5A govern their claims.

A. Count I: Breach of Contract

In pertinent part, G.L.c. 175, §99 provides:

No suit or action against this company for the recovery of any claim by virtue of this policy shall be sustained in any court of law or equity in this commonwealth unless commenced within two years from the time the loss occurred . . .3

This statutory language “states broadly that no action for recovery of any claim by virtue of the policy shall be sustained unless brought within two years from the time the loss occurred." J.&T. Enterprises, Inc. v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company,

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Bluebook (online)
13 Mass. L. Rptr. 670, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mcgrail-associates-inc-v-universal-underwriters-inc-masssuperct-2001.