Olin Corp. v. Lamorak Ins. Co.

332 F. Supp. 3d 818
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Illinois
DecidedJuly 15, 2018
Docket84-cv-1968 (JSR)
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 332 F. Supp. 3d 818 (Olin Corp. v. Lamorak Ins. Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Olin Corp. v. Lamorak Ins. Co., 332 F. Supp. 3d 818 (S.D. Ill. 2018).

Opinion

JED S. RAKOFF, U.S.D.J.

Before the Court are the motions of Olin Corporation ("Olin") for summary judgment on its claims against Lamorak Insurance Company ("Lamorak") for insurance coverage at the fifteen "Remaining Sites"1 and for partial summary judgment on Lamorak's third-party claims for contribution and indemnity against Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London and London Market Insurance Companies (the "London Market Insurers" or "London"), Continental Casualty, Munich Reinsurance, and General Reinsurance, ECF Nos. 2195, 2186; the motions of Lamorak for summary *829judgment on Olin's claims at the Remaining Sites and for summary judgment on its own third-party claims, ECF Nos. 2188, 2189; the motions of the London Market Insurers for partial summary judgment on Lamorak's third-party claims and its own claims against Olin under Rule 14, ECF Nos. 2190, 2191; and the motions of General Reinsurance, Continental Casualty, and Munich Reinsurance for summary judgment on Lamorak's third-party claims, ECF Nos. 2205, 2192. Also before the Court are Olin's motion to strike portions of the reports and testimony of Lamorak's experts, ECF No. 2222, and Lamorak's motion to strike Olin's Rule 56.1 statement, ECF No. 2252.

BACKGROUND

The background of this interminable litigation has been recounted in countless orders, memoranda, and opinions issued over the past several decades, familiarity with all of which is here, of course, presumed. But the following facts are particularly relevant for present purposes:

Predecessors to Lamorak issued three excess insurance policies to Olin providing relevant coverage from January 1, 1970 through December 31, 1970 (the "Policies"). See Olin Corporation's Counterstatement of Undisputed Material Facts in Opposition to Lamorak Insurance Company's Motion for Summary Judgment on Liability, Damages and Other Relief Sought by Olin Corporation for the Remaining Sites ("Olin Counter Remaining Sites 56.1") at ¶ 6, ECF No. 2269. These Policies provide up to $20 million of coverage for each "occurrence" and attach at various points above an underlying INA policy limit of $300,000. Olin Counter Remaining Sites 56.1 at ¶ 7. They are referred to as "excess" policies because they attach above an underlying, or "primary," policy.

Under Lamorak's policies:

(1) Olin is entitled to indemnity "for all sums which [Olin] shall be obligated to pay by reason of the liability; (a) imposed upon the Insured by law, (b) assumed under contract or agreement by [Olin] for damages, direct or consequential and expenses, all as more fully defined by the term 'ultimate net loss' on account of ... Property Damage ... caused by or arising out of each occurrence happening anywhere in the World." Id. at ¶ 19.
(2) "Ultimate net loss" is defined in relevant part as "the total sum which the Insured, or any Company as his insurer, or both, becomes obligated to pay by reason of ... property damage...." Id. at ¶ 21.
(3) A covered "Occurrence" is "an accident or a happening or event or a continuous or repeated exposure to conditions which unexpectedly and unintentionally result in personal injury, property damage or advertising liability during the policy period," and "[a]ll such exposure to substantially the same general conditions existing at or emanating from one premises location shall be deemed one occurrence." Id. at ¶ 21.
(4) Covered "Property Damage" constitutes the "loss of or direct damage to or destruction of tangible property (other than property owned by [Olin] )." Id. at ¶ 21.

Under Lamorak's policies, coverage is "subject" to certain conditions. For example, Olin must pay a premium, and when there is an occurrence, "notice shall be sent [to Lamorak] ... as soon as practicable," defined to mean when "[Olin] has *830information from which [Olin] may reasonably conclude that an occurrence covered [under the Policies] involves injuries or damages which, in the event that [Olin] should be held liable, is likely to involve [the Policies]." See Lamorak Insurance Company's Response to Olin Corporation's Statement of Undisputed Material Facts in Support of its Motion For Summary Judgment on The Remaining Sites and Lamorak's Counterstatement of Undisputed Material Facts ("Lamorak Counter Remaining Sites 56.1") at ¶¶ 9(b), 11, ECF No. 2263. As to this latter requirement, Olin only has "knowledge of an occurrence" or "knowledge of a suit" if "an executive officer ... shall have received such notice from its agent, servant or employee." Id. at ¶ 10. Olin's "failure to give notice of any occurrence which at the time of its happening did not appear to involve [the Policies], but which, at a later date, would appear to give rise to claims [covered under the Polices], shall not prejudice such claim." Id. at ¶ 9(b).

Endorsement No. 6 of Lamorak Policy EY-8057-011 and Lamorak Policy EY-8057-012 provide in part as follows:

It is agreed that, notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this policy shall not indemnify the Insured in respect to any claim made against the Insured by reason of any act committed, prior to February 1, 1964.

Olin Counter Remaining Sites 56.1 at ¶ 22.

Olin now seeks coverage from Lamorak under these Policies for the following fifteen Remaining Sites: Assonet, Bethany, Brazier Forest Industry, Central Chemical, Charleston, Crab Orchard, Frontier Chemical-Pendleton, Middletown/Tri-Star, Morgantown Ordnance Works, New Haven, Niagara County Refuse, North Little Rock, Olin Water Services, Pine Swamp, and Wallisville Road.

Olin has entered into settlement agreements with its other excess insurers-London, Continental, General Reinsurance, and Munich Reinsurance-releasing coverage for some of the Remaining Sites (among others). See Third-Party Defendants Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London and Certain London Market Insurance Companies' Response to Lamorak Insurance Company's Local Rule 56.1 Statement of Undisputed Material Facts in Support of Lamorak Insurance Company's Motion for Summary Judgment on Its Third-Party Claims at ¶ 16, ECF No. 2240; Third-Party Defendant General Reinsurance Corporation's Response to Lamorak Insurance Company's Local Rule 56.1 Statement of Undisputed Material Facts in Support of Lamorak Insurance Company's Motion for Summary Judgment on its Third-Party Claims at ¶ 16, ECF No. 2251; Continental Casualty Company and Munich Reinsurance America, Inc.'s Response to Lamorak Insurance Company's Statement of Undisputed Material Facts and Counterstatement of Undisputed Material Facts Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 56.1 at ¶ 16, ECF No. 2242; Olin Corporation's Counterstatement of Undisputed Material Facts in Opposition to Lamorak Insurance Company's Motion for Summary Judgment on Its Third-Party Claims at ¶ 16, ECF No. 2248.

The Court first addresses Olin's motion to strike Lamorak's expert opinions relating to costs and Lamorak's motion to strike Olin's 56.1 statement. The Court then turns to Olin and Lamorak's motions for summary judgment on the Remaining Sites. Next, the Court considers the motions of Olin, Lamorak, London, Continental Casualty, Munich Reinsurance, and General Reinsurance for summary judgment on Lamorak's third-party claims.

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Bluebook (online)
332 F. Supp. 3d 818, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/olin-corp-v-lamorak-ins-co-ilsd-2018.