Raymond v. Monsanto Co.

329 F. Supp. 247, 1971 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12733
CourtDistrict Court, D. New Hampshire
DecidedJune 23, 1971
DocketCiv. A. Nos. 2879, 2880, 2882-2887
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 329 F. Supp. 247 (Raymond v. Monsanto Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. New Hampshire primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Raymond v. Monsanto Co., 329 F. Supp. 247, 1971 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12733 (D.N.H. 1971).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION ON PETITION FOR TENDER OF POLICY COVERAGE AND FOR LEAVE TO WITHDRAW FROM TRIAL PARTICIPATION BY HARTFORD ACCIDENT AND INDEMNITY COMPANY

BOWNES, District Judge.

These actions were commenced in the New Hampshire State Court in April of 1968 and removed to this court on May 1 and 10,1968. They arise out of an accident which occurred in New Hampshire [248]*248on April 9, 1966. The plaintiff alleges that the contents of a container of Turtle Wax car polish came in contact with his eyes resulting in his being blinded. The cases sound in breach of warranty, negligent manufacture (including negligent packaging), and strict liability in tort.

After lengthy pretrial discovery and a plethora of motions the cases were set for trial starting June 22, 1971. Due to an operation on the plaintiff’s eyes in late May, the results of which are not yet known, the cases have been continued to January 31, 1972.

The Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company of Hartford, Connecticut, insures the defendant Turtle Wax Corporation up to $200,000 for liability for personal injury. The Home Insurance Company of New York City carries excess liability insurance covering the same risks up to $1,000,000. The attorneys retained by Hartford have conducted all of the pretrial proceedings and have kept the Home Insurance Company advised as to the progress of the ease.

On June 2, 1971, counsel for the Hartford filed a petition for tender of policy coverage and for leave to withdraw from trial participation. There is no question that the Hartford has the right to pay the amount of its coverage into court. The issue is: Can its attorneys now withdraw and walk away from the case?

The Hartford policy and Home policy were both executed in Illinois with Turtle Wax, an Illinois corporation. The Hartford policy covers not only Turtle Wax, but also United Overton Corporation and Stevens Auto Parts, Inc., distributors and retailers of Turtle Wax, Inc., and Hartford’s counsel have filed an appearance for these two defendants and have acted for them during the course of the pretrial proceedings. United Overton is also represented by Paul Nourie, Esq., who has appeared by leave of the court at some of the pretrial conferences, but who has not taken an active part in the pretrial preparation of these cases.

The Home Insurance Company and United Overton Corporation object to the withdrawal of Hartford’s counsel from the trial of the cases. Plaintiffs’ counsel filed a memoranda of law styled “quasi amici curiae” in which they did not specifically object to the withdrawal of counsel for Hartford, but made it clear that they were not happy about it and would prefer to have Hartford’s counsel remain in the case.

The pertinent provisions of the Hartford policy provide:

II. Defense, Settlement, Supplementary Payments: With respect to such insurance as is afforded by this policy, the company shall:
(a) defend any suit against the insured alleging such injury, sickness, disease or destruction and seeking damages on account thereof, even if such suit is groundless, false or fraudulent; but the company may make such investigation, negotiation and settlement of any claim or suit as it deems expedient;
* * * * * -X-

The Home Insurance Company policy provides:

H. ASSISTANCE AND CO-OPERATION
The Company shall not be called upon to assume charge of the settlement or defense of any claim made or suit brought or proceeding instituted against the Insured but The Company shall have the right and shall be given the opportunity to associate with the Insured or the Insured’s underlying insurers, or both, in the defense and control of any claim, suit or proceeding relative to an occurrence where the claim or suit involves or appears reasonably likely to involve The Company, in which event the Insured and The Company shall cooperate in all things in the defense of such claim, suit or proceeding.
[249]*249I. APPEALS
In the event the Insured or the Insured’s underlying insurers elect not to appeal a judgment in excess of the underlying limits, The Company may elect to make such appeal at their cost and expense, and shall be liable for the taxable costs and disbursements and interest incidental thereto, but in no event shall the liability of The Company for ultimate net loss exceed the amount set forth in Insuring Agreement II for any one occurrence and in addition the cost and expense of such appeal.

Home Insurance Company has not filed an appearance, but its counsel has notified the court by letter that it objects to the motion of Hartford to withdraw from trial participation. The court has seen to it that a copy of any pretrial orders that might directly or indirectly affect Home Insurance Company has been sent either to it or its counsel, and has stated unmistakably that while Home Insurance Company has not filed an appearance, it will be expected to pay any judgment against Turtle Wax in excess of $200,000.

Although its interest is inchoate unless there is a judgment in excess of $200,000, Home Insurance Company is nevertheless, one of the real parties in interest in these cases. It obviously made its decision not to appear in these cases not only in reliance on its own insurance contract with Turtle Wax providing that it does not have a duty to defend, but also in reliance on the Hartford to provide a defense through trial. The Hartford policy cannot be construed as if it were the only policy in effect, but must be read in the light of the provisions of the Home policy as to defense and appeals.

The determination of whether or not Hartford has a right to withdraw from trial participation depends upon whether Illinois law or New Hampshire law controls. If the issue of the extent of Hartford’s duty to defend is governed by Illinois law as Hartford’s counsel urges, then Hartford would probably have a right to withdraw from trial participation upon the payment of the full amount of its policy coverage into court. General Casualty Company of Wisconsin v. Whipple, 328 F.2d 353, 357 (7th Cir. 1964); Denham v. LaSalle-Madison Hotel Co., 168 F.2d 576, 584 (7th Cir. 1948); Oda v. Highway Insurance Co., 44 Ill.App.2d 235, 194 N.E.2d 489 (1963). But cf. Landando v. Bluth, 292 F.Supp. 975 (N.D.Ill.1968).

But the fact that the contract was executed in Illinois does not automatically impose Illinois law. No express choice of law was made by the parties at the time of execution of the contract. This policy was clearly intended to cover liability for personal injuries wherever such injuries were incurred throughout the United States and is, therefore, a multiple risk policy.

These actions were brought in New Hampshire by a New Hampshire resident as a result of an injury incurred here. In Consolidated Mutual Insurance Co. v. Radio Foods Corp., 108 N.H. 494, 240 A.2d 47 (1968), the New Hampshire Supreme Court gave great weight to the fact that New Hampshire is “the jurisdiction with which the matter at hand is predominately or most intimately concerned.” At page 497, 240 A.2d at page 49.

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329 F. Supp. 247, 1971 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12733, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/raymond-v-monsanto-co-nhd-1971.