Park University Enterprises, Inc. v. American Casualty Co.

442 F.3d 1239, 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 7458, 2006 WL 766750
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
DecidedMarch 27, 2006
Docket04-3197
StatusPublished
Cited by208 cases

This text of 442 F.3d 1239 (Park University Enterprises, Inc. v. American Casualty Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Park University Enterprises, Inc. v. American Casualty Co., 442 F.3d 1239, 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 7458, 2006 WL 766750 (10th Cir. 2006).

Opinion

SEYMOUR, Circuit Judge.

Park University Enterprises, Inc. (Park University) was sued in a state court class action by JC Hauling Company (JC Hauling) for alleged violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), 47 U.S.C. § 227, a federal statute that bans unsolicited fax advertisements. Park University’s insurer, American Casualty Company of Reading, Pa. (American), declined to provide any defense or coverage in the action. Park University filed this action seeking a declaratory judgment that American has a duty to defend it in the underlying state court suit. On cross-motions for partial judgment on the pleadings, the district court concluded that American does owe Park University a defense, Park Univ. Enters., Inc. v. Am. Cas. Co. of Reading, PA, 314 F.Supp.2d 1094 (D.Kan.2004), and certified that decision as final under Fed.R.Civ.P. 54(b). We affirm. 1

I

The TCPA makes it “unlawful for any person ... to use any telephone facsimile machine, computer, or other device to send an unsolicited advertisement to a telephone facsimile machine.” 47 U.S.C. § 227(b)(1)(c). It defines an “unsolicited advertisement” as “any material advertising the commercial availability or quality of any property, goods, or services which is transmitted to any person without that person’s prior express invitation or permission.” Id. § 227(a)(4). The act creates a private right of action that permits recipients of unwanted faxes to seek injunctions and damages, and allows courts to grant treble damages if they find a fax sender has acted “willfully or knowingly.” Id. § 227(b)(3).

JC Hauling filed suit in Illinois state court alleging that Park University violated the TCPA when it sent an advertisement to JC Hauling’s telephone fax machine in Illinois “without prior express invitation or permission.” ApltApp. at 81. It brought the suit as a class action consisting of “all individuals who received unsolicited advertisements” via fax from or on behalf of Park University. Id. JC Hauling sought an injunction and treble damages, contending that Park University’s actions were “willful and knowing” and that it “knew or should have known that it did not have the prior express invitation or permission of Plaintiff and the other members of the Class to send the advertisements and knew or should have known that its actions constitute a violation of law.” Id. at 82-83. In response, Park University asserted that any fax advertisements it sent to JC Hauling were not unsolicited because Park University had an existing business relationship with JC Hauling or, in the alternative, it had prior express invitation or permission from JC Hauling to send the fax advertisement. Specifically, Park University contended that any fax it had sent to JC Hauling was addressed to Patty Evansco, one if its employees, who *1243 had registered for one of Park University’s seminars while acting in the scope of her employment and had supplied JC Hauling’s fax number to Park University. Consequently, Park University denied intentionally violating the TCP A.

Park University has a commercial general liability insurance policy with American and sought a defense and coverage upon JC Hauling’s instigation of the state class action suit. American declined to provide either, prompting Park University to bring the instant action. Park University contends the insurance company owes it a defense under two different provisions of its policy: 1) “property damage” liability coverage; and 2) “advertising injury” liability coverage. 2

The property damage provision of the policy states:

A. Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability
1. Insuring Agreement
a. We will pay those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of “bodily injury” or “property damage” to which this insurance applies. We will have the right and duty to defend the insured against any “suit” seeking those damages.
b. This insurance, applies to “bodily injury” and “property damage” only if ... [t]he “bodily injury” or “property damage” is caused by an “occurrence”.

Id. at 68 (emphasis added). “Property damage” includes the “[l]oss of use of tangible property that is not physically injured....” Id. at 79. The policy defines an “occurrence” as an “accident, including continuous or repeated exposure to substantially the same general harmful conditions.” Id. at 78. It does not, however, define the terms “loss of use” or “accident.” Finally, the policy excludes coverage for “ ‘property damage’ expected or intended from. the standpoint of the insured.” Id. at 68 (emphasis added).

The advertising injury provision states in relevant part:

B. Personal and Advertising Injury Liability
1. Insuring Agreement
a. We will pay those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of “personal and advertising injury” to which this insurance applies. We will have the right and duty to defend the insured against any “suit” seeking those damages.

Id. at 71. The policy defines “advertising injury” as “injury, including consequential ‘bodily injury’, arising out of ... [o]ral or ivritten publication of material that violates a person’s right of privacy.” Id. at 78 (emphasis added). The terms “oral or written publication” and “right of privacy” are not defined. The policy characterizes an “advertisement” as “a notice that is broadcast or published to the general public or specific market segments about your goods, products or services for the purpose of attracting customers or supporters.” Id. at 76.

Both parties moved for partial judgments on the pleadings pursuant to Fed.R.CivP. 12(c). The district court concluded that American has a duty to defend Park University in the state action under the property damage and the advertising injury provisions of the policy. Park *1244 Univ. Enters., 314 F.Supp.2d at 1111. We address each issue in turn.

II

We review a district court’s grant of a motion for judgment on the pleadings de novo, using the same standard that applies to a Rule 12(b)(6) motion. See Aspenwood Inv. Co. v. Martinez, 355 F.3d 1256, 1259 (10th Cir.2004). So doing, we accept all facts pleaded by the non-moving party as true and grant all reasonable inferences from the pleadings in favor of the same.

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Bluebook (online)
442 F.3d 1239, 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 7458, 2006 WL 766750, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/park-university-enterprises-inc-v-american-casualty-co-ca10-2006.