Nationwide Mutual Insurance v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance

470 S.E.2d 556, 122 N.C. App. 449, 1996 N.C. App. LEXIS 458

• Court: Court of Appeals of North Carolina
• Decided: May 21, 1996
• Docket: 95-317
• Status: Published

Opinion

LEWIS, Judge.

In this appeal, plaintiff seeks the opportunity to recover contribution from defendant for settlement payments made and defense costs incurred by plaintiff in regard to claims arising out of a traffic accident.

On 28 June 1986, James Elvin Browning, Jr. (“J.E. Browning”) was driving a 1978 Ford Bronco owned by Brett Robbins and was pulling a trailer owned by Robert Franklin Caylor. Brett Robbins, Angie Robbins, and Teenia Warner Browning (“T.W. Browning”) were passengers. J.E. Browning lost control of the Bronco; all occupants were injured. The Bronco was covered by a Nationwide policy issued to Brett Robbins. The trailer was allegedly covered by a State Farm policy issued to Wanda Seagroves Caylor, the wife of Robert Franklin Caylor. Plaintiff settled the claims of Brett and Angie Robbins. On 8 June 1989, T.W. Browning filed suit against J.E. Browning and Brett Robbins (“tort suit”). Nationwide hired a law firm to defend J.E. Browning and Brett Robbins. On 31 January 1991, Nationwide notified State Farm that the trailer owned by Robert Caylor was involved in the accident. The tort suit came on for trial for the first week of May 1991 and was settled by Nationwide on 2 May 1991. On 11 December 1991, State Farm denied coverage.

Plaintiff filed this action on 3 December 1993 seeking contribution from defendant for settlement payments made and defense costs incurred in regard to the suit filed by T.W. Browning. On 14 February 1994, defendant answered and moved to dismiss the claim. On 27 September 1994, plaintiff moved for summary judgment. On 14 December 1994, Judge Henry W. Hight, Jr. denied plaintiffs motion for summary judgment and granted defendant’s motion to dismiss under N.C.R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). Plaintiff appeals.

Plaintiff assigns error to the trial court’s order dismissing its complaint.

Plaintiff argues that it is entitled to contribution because defendant breached its duty to defend J.E. Browning and Brett Robbins. Defendant asserts that it was relieved of any alleged duty it had to defend by plaintiff’s delay in giving notice of the accident.

Relying on Great American Insurance Company v. Tate Construction Company (“Tate”), 303 N.C. 387, 279 S.E.2d 769 (1981), plaintiff contends that it acted in good faith and that defendant was not prejudiced by the delay in notice. Defendant contends that Tate does not apply, and even, if it does, that it has been prejudiced by the delay in notice.

In Tate, our Supreme Court, overruling previous caselaw, held that an unexcused delay by an insured in giving notice of an accident to its insurer does not relieve the insurer of the duty to defend and indemnify unless the delay materially prejudices the insurer’s ability to investigate and defend. Tate, 303 N.C. at 390, 279 S.E.2d at 771. Relying on Stonewall Insurance Co. v. Fortress Reinsurers Managers, 83 N.C. App. 263, 350 S.E.2d 131 (1986), disc. review denied, 319 N.C. 410, 354 S.E.2d 728 (1987), defendant argues that Tate does not apply to this dispute because it is between two insurance companies. We disagree. Stonewall held that Tate did not apply to disputes between insurance companies over contracts of reinsurance because these contracts are negotiated at arm’s length between insurance carriers who stand on equal footing. Id. at 269, 354 S.E.2d at 134. The contract at issue here was formed between the defendant and its insured. It was not negotiated at arm’s length between two insurance companies as are contracts of reinsurance. We hold that Tate applies.

Under Tate, we cannot now determine whether defendant was relieved of its alleged duty to defend due to lack of timely notice. When an insurer claims notice was untimely, the insured must prove that notice was given as soon as practicable, and if it was not, that he or she acted in good faith. Tate, 303 at 399, 279 S.E.2d at 776. If good faith is shown, the burden then shifts to the insurer to prove that its ability to investigate and defend was materially prejudiced by the delay. Id. The trier of fact must make findings as to whether notice was given as soon as practicable, and if it was not, as to whether the insured, or here plaintiff, acted in good faith. See id. If plaintiff did act in good faith, the trier of fact must then determine whether State Farm was materially prejudiced by the delay. See id. Dismissal of plaintiffs claim for lack of prompt notice was not proper absent findings and conclusions on these issues. See id. at 400, 279 S.E.2d at 777.

Defendant contends that dismissal was proper because neither Brett Robbins nor J.E. Browning are covered by its policy. Plaintiff asserts that both are covered persons under defendant’s policy. We have reviewed the complaint filed in the tort suit, the pleadings filed in this suit, and the provisions of defendant’s policy. These are sufficient to permit plaintiff to proceed with its proof of coverage. Dismissal of plaintiff’s claim, if premised on this coverage issue, was premature.

Defendant further asserts that dismissal by the trial court was proper because plaintiff has not stated a viable claim. Plaintiff contends that it is entitled to recover, either in contribution under its own name or through subrogation rights it has through its insureds, defendant’s share of the defense costs (including attorney’s fees) incurred and settlement payments made in the defense of J.E. Browning and Brett Robbins. We conclude that plaintiff has not stated a claim for subrogation but has stated a claim for contribution.

We first note that plaintiff, in its complaint, does not seek relief under a theory of subrogation but simply asserts that it is entitled to contribution from defendant. Furthermore, plaintiff’s complaint and the policy it issued to Brett Robbins fail to show that plaintiff is entitled to sue as a subrogee of its insureds. An insurer who has a duty to defend its insured may not recover its defense costs, under a theory of equitable subrogation, from another insurer who also has a duty to defend the insured. See Fireman’s Fund Ins. Co. v. North Carolina Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co., 269 N.C. 358, 362, 152 S.E.2d 513, 517 (1967) QFireman’s Fund”). In contrast, an insurer may recover under subrogation theory if the insurer defends an insured with the good faith belief that he has an interest to protect although the insurer in fact has no duty to defend and no liability. See Jamestown Mut. Ins. Co. v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 277 N.C. 216, 220-21, 176 S.E.2d 751, 755 (1970) (“Jamestown’’^. The insurer who sought recovery by sub-rogation in Jamestown had no liability due to a “super escape” clause in its policy. See Jamestown, 277 N.C. at 220, 176 S.E.2d at 755; see also Horace Mann Ins. Co. v. Continental Casualty Co., 54 N.C. App. 551, 555-57, 284 S.E.2d 211, 213-14 (1981) (defining a “super escape” clause). Since plaintiffs policy does not have a “super escape” clause, Jamestown does not apply.

In its complaint, plaintiff admits that the policy it issued to Brett Robbins provided liability coverage for Robbins and J.E. Browning. Accordingly, plaintiff had a duty to defend. Cf. Waste Management of Carolinas, Inc. v. Peerless Ins. Co., 315 N.C. 688, 691, 340 S.E.2d 374, 377 (1986). Given, this duty, as in Fireman’s Fund, plaintiff may not recover any portion of its defense costs or settlement payments made under subrogation theory.

However, plaintiff may proceed by way of contribution. The policy defendant issued to Wanda Caylor included an “other insurance” clause which provides the following, in pertinent part:

If there is other applicable liability insurance we will pay only our share of the loss. Our share is the proportion that our limit of liability bears to the total of all applicable limits ....

Plaintiff has stated only a claim for contribution to recover defendant’s share of defense costs incurred and settlement payments made to settle the tort suit. See Ames v. Continental Casualty Co., 79 N.C. App. 530, 540, 340 S.E.2d 479, 486, disc. review denied, 316 N.C. 730, 345 S.E.2d 385 (1986).

Defendant asserts that plaintiff is not entitled to contribution in that plaintiff was a mere volunteer in defending J.E. Browning and Brett Robbins and making the settlement payments. When suing as a subrogee, a mere volunteer may not recover defense costs and settlement payments. See Jamestown, 277 N.C. at 221-22, 176 S.E.2d at 755-56. It would be illogical not to apply the same rule to claims for contribution between insurers. However, we need not decide if a mere volunteer may recover in a claim for contribution, because plaintiff was not a mere volunteer. In defending J.E. Browning and Brett Robbins and settling the claims, plaintiff was protecting a “real or supposed right or interest” of its own. See id.

Defendant asserts that plaintiff’s claim is barred by the “no legal action” provision of its policy. This provision declares:

LEGAL ACTION AGAINST US

No legal action may be brought against us until there has been full compliance with all the terms of this policy. In addition, under Part A, no legal action may be brought against us until:

1. We agree in writing that the covered person has an obligation to pay; or

2. The amount of that obligation has been finally determined by judgment after trial.

Provisions of this type generally are enforceable. E.g. Fleming v. Insurance Co., 269 N.C. 558, 153 S.E. 2d 60 (1967). However, an insurer who unjustifiably refuses to defend an insured breaches the insurance contract and waives any provisions that define the insured’s duties and obligations. Ames, 79 N.C. App. at 538, 340 S.E.2d at 485 (citing Nixon v. Ins. Co., 255 N.C. 106, 120 S.E.2d 430 (1961)). If the trial court finds that defendant had a duty to defend and breached that duty, the “no legal action” provision is ineffective. Accordingly, the “no legal action” provision of defendant’s policy does not support the trial court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s claim at this stage of the proceedings.

Defendant also contends that plaintiff’s claim is barred by the applicable statute of limitations. We disagree. An insurer who sues another insurer under a theory of equitable subrogation to recover settlement payments and defense costs is barred from recovering payments made and expenses incurred more than three years before suit was filed. See Jamestown, 277 N.C. at 222, 176 S.E.2d at 756; see also Duke Univ. v. St. Paul Mercury Ins. Co., 95 N.C. App. 663, 669-70, 384 S.E.2d 36, 40-41 (1989). Although we have held that plaintiff has not stated a claim under subrogation theory, we hold that its claim for contribution is sufficiently analogous to a claim for subro-gation under Jamestown to warrant application of the three year statute of limitations set out in N.C. Gen. Stat. section 1-52(1). We disagree with defendant’s assertion that the one year statute of limitations under N.C. Gen. Stat. section IB-3 bars plaintiff’s claim. G.S. section IB-3 applies to actions for contribution among joint tortfea-sors. Wise v. Vincent, 265 N.C. 647, 649, 144 S.E.2d 877, 879 (1965). We hold that it does not apply to claims between insurance companies who both provide coverage to the same tortfeasor(s).

Given the three-year statute of limitations affecting contracts under G.S. section 1-52(1), an insured has three years from the date each legal expense is incurred to bring suit against the insurer for its refusal to defend the insureds. See Duke Univ., 95 N.C. App. at 672, 384 S.E.2d at 41. In like manner, if defendant breached a duty to defend, plaintiff is not barred from seeking contribution for payments made and expenses incurred on or after the date of breach.

Plaintiff also assigns error to the trial court’s denial of its motion for summary judgment. Generally, an order denying summary judgment is interlocutory, does not affect a substantial right, and is not immediately appealable. Herndon v. Barrett, 101 N.C. App. 636, 639, 400 S.E.2d 767, 769 (1991). This assignment of error is overruled.

The order dismissing plaintiffs claim for contribution against defendant is reversed.

Reversed and remanded.

Judges WYNN and JOHN concur.