RLI Insurance v. John H. Hampshire, Inc.

461 F. Supp. 2d 364, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 83418, 2006 WL 3353812

• Court: District Court, D. Maryland
• Decided: September 7, 2006
• Docket: Civil No.: WDQ-05-2616
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

QUARLES, District Judge.

This diversity case involves claims related to a Towson University construction project (the “Project”). RLI Insurance Company, issuer of a performance bond, (“RLI”) has sued, inter alia, 1 Whitman Requardt & Associates, LLP, architect for the Project, (“WRA”) for negligence, contribution and common-law indemnity under Maryland common law in their inspection and supervision of the subcontractors involved in the Project.

Pending is WRA’s motion to dismiss. For the following reasons, the motion will be granted.

I. Background

In May 2003, RLI and Architectural Facades Incorporated (“AFI”) entered into an Agreement of Indemnity. Am. Compl. ¶ 1. Under the agreement, RLI issued a performance bond for the Project in which AFI was responsible for exterior panel work. Am. Compl. ¶ 3. This agreement also assigned to RLI all AFI’s rights, claims, causes of action and contracts to the extent that RLI suffered losses from performance or payment of bonds issued on AFI’s behalf. Am. Compl. ¶ 2. AFI, in turn, subcontracted with defendant John H. Hampshire, Inc. (“Hampshire”) to construct the panels. While AFI began installing the panels, it fell behind and with the approval of the general contractor, Barton Malow (“Barton”), engaged Hampshire to assist AFI further. Am. Compl. ¶ 6. Between March 10, 2003 and June 2, 2003, Barton declared AFI in default and AFI abandoned its work. Am. Compffl 7. The work under AFI’s subcontract was completed by Hampshire and was inspected by WRA and accepted by Barton and Towson University.

In 2004, Towson University determined that six percent of the panels were not properly installed, and some panels fell off the building. Am. Compl. ¶ 10. Fixing the improperly installed panels required removing all of the panels, which RLI agreed to arrange. Am. Compl. ¶ 11. When Hampshire refused to do the work RLI engaged another contractor for the reinstallation. Am. Compl. ¶ 19.

RLI alleges that WRA had the duty to inspect and supervise the work of all contractors and failed to do so. Am. Compl., Count 4 ¶¶ 2, 4. This failure, RLI alleges, breached WRA’s standard of professional conduct and caused damage to the building and required the panels to be replaced. Am. Compl., Count 4 ¶ 5. RLI also alleges that, “[t]o the extent RLI, as AFI’s surety, may be liable ... to Towson University for the improper installation of the panels, it is entitled to contribution and common-law indemnity from [inter alia ] 2 [WRA].” Am. Compl., Count 8 ¶2. RLI brought this action on February 25, 2006.

II. Analysis

WRA has moved to dismiss, arguing that: 1) RLI has failed to state a negligence claim and 2) RLI has improperly stated a claim for contribution or indemnity-

RLI counters that: 1) RLI, as surety, was entitled to rely on WRA’s services; and 2) WRA owed RLI a duty because WRA’s inaction resulted in a dangerous condition.

A. Standard of Review

Under Rule 12(b)(6), a, motion to dismiss should be granted “only if it is clear that no relief could be granted under any set of facts that could be proved consistent with the allegations.” Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 514, 122 S.Ct. 992, 152 L.Ed.2d 1 (2002) (citing Hishon v. King & Spalding, 467 U.S. 69, 73, 104 S.Ct. 2229, 81 L.Ed.2d 59 (1984)), Mylan Laboratories, Inc. v. Raj Matkari, et al., 7 F.3d 1130, 1134 (4th Cir.1993). All allegations are treated as true, and the complaint is viewed in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Mylan, 7 F.3d at 1134.

In deciding a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the Court will consider the facts stated in the complaint and any attached documents. Biospherics, Inc., v. Forbes, Inc., 989 F.Supp. 748, 749 (D.Md.1997) aff'd 151 F.3d 180 (4th Cir.1998). The Court may also consider documents referred to in the complaint and relied upon by the plaintiff in bringing the action. Id.

B. Negligence

To prove negligence under Maryland law, a plaintiff must prove that: 1) the defendant was under a duty to protect the plaintiff from injury; 2) the defendant breached that duty; (3) the plaintiff suffered actual injury or loss; and (4) the loss or injury proximately resulted from the defendant’s breach of the duty. Valentine v. On Target, Inc., 353 Md. 544, 549, 727 A.2d 947 (1999).

WRA argues that it owes no duty to RLI as surety for AFI and is not liable to RLI for negligence. RLI counters that WRA owes a duty to RLI 1) as a beneficiary of some unidentified contract; or 2) under the equivalent of privity because the negligence caused a dangerous condition.

In Maryland, the existence of a legal duty is a question of law to be decided by the court. Doe v. Pharmacia & Upjohn Co., Inc., 388 Md. 407, 414, 879 A.2d 1088 (2005). In the absence of a duty of care, there can be no liability in negligence. Walpert, Smullian & Blumenthal, P.A. v. Katz, et al., 361 Md. 645, 655, 762 A.2d 582 (2000). “[I] f the risk created by negligent conduct is no greater than one of economic loss, generally no tort duty will be found absent a showing of privity or its equivalent.” Jacques v. First National Bank, 307 Md. 527, 537, 515 A.2d 756 (1986).

Since RLI has suffered only economic loss and has alleged neither a contractual nor a third party beneficiary relationship with WRA, 3 a tort duty will exist only if there is an equivalent of privity.

RLI argues that a duty exists because the totality of the circumstances suggests that RLI was entitled to rely on WRA’s proper inspection and supervision of AFI and Hampshire. RLI asserts that, in a similar situation, 4 the Supreme Court of Missouri noted that there was no privity of contract between architect and surety and that the construction project involved several interrelated agreements designed to complete construction. Westerhold v. Carroll, 419 S.W.2d 73, 78 (Mo.1967). The court then concluded that the work of the contractors was so related that the inspection and supervision requirements imposed upon the architect were as much for the protection of the surety as for the owner. Id. at 78-79.

In Maryland, the intimate nexus required between plaintiff and defendant in cases involving only economic loss is satisfied by contractual privity or its equivalent. Jacques, 307 Md. at 534-35, 515 A.2d 756. In Jacques, the court reviewed and relied on Glanzer v. Shepard, 233 N.Y. 236, 135 N.E. 275 (1922) and Ultramares Corp. v. Touche, 255 N.Y. 170, 174 N.E. 441 (1931) in its consideration of the existence of tort duties in economic loss cases. In Glanzer, the issue was whether a public weigher of beans, engaged and paid only by the seller, was liable to the buyer of the beans for negligent weighing. The weigh-er was liable, despite having no contract with the buyer. The Jacques court identified the buyer as the known and intended beneficiary of the contract between the seller and the weigher and, therefore, an implicit beneficiary of their contract. Jacques, 307 Md. at 535-36, 515 A.2d 756.

In Ultramares, the issue was whether a public accountant engaged and paid by a corporation was liable to a third party that made loans to the corporation in reliance on balance sheets prepared by the accountant. The accountant was not liable. The Maryland court noted that the relationship between the accountants and the indeterminate class of persons who might rely on the financial information was less intimate than that between weigher and buyer in Glanzer. Jacques, 307 Md. at 536, 515 A.2d 756.

RLI has identified no WRA contractual relationship that was intended to benefit the surety or the contractor. No intimate nexus between WRA and RLI has been pled. Given Maryland’s clear reliance on and exposition of its Economic Loss doctrine and its attendant requirement of an ‘intimate nexus,’ this Court also declines to apply Westerhold.

The duty of architects to use due care in their inspection extends “to those persons foreseeably subjected to the risk of personal injury created.” Council of Co-Owners Atlantis Condominium, Inc. et al. v. Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. et al., 308 Md. 18, 32, 517 A.2d 336 (1986). Even if injury does not occur, an action will lie to recover the reasonable cost of correcting the dangerous condition. Id. at 35, 517 A.2d 336. RLI’s allegation that some of the improperly installed panels fell is a sufficient allegation of a dangerous condition. Am. Compl. ¶ 10.

WRA’s duty, vel non, to Towson University for the costs of correcting a dangerous condition created by AFI did not create a duty to AFTs surety. Absent a duty owed by WRA, RLI’s allegations do not state a negligence claim.

C. Contribution and common-law Indemnity

RLI presents a non-justiciable claim for contribution or common-law indemnity because the cause of action is not ripe. “[T]he question of ripeness may be considered on a court’s own motion.” National Park Hospitality Ass’n v. Department of Interior, 538 U.S. 803, 807, 123 S.Ct. 2026, 155 L.Ed.2d 1017 (2003).

“A claim is justiciable if the ‘conflicting contentions of the parties ... present a real, substantial controversy between parties having adverse legal interests, a dispute definite and concrete, not hypothetical or abstract.’ ” Miller v. Brown, 462 F.3d 312, 314 (4th Cir.2006) (quoting Babbitt v. United Farm Workers Nat’l Union, 442 U.S. 289, 298, 99 S.Ct. 2301, 60 L.Ed.2d 895 (1979)). A case is fit for judicial decision when the issues are purely legal and when the action in controversy is final and not dependent on future uncertainties. Charter Fed. Sav. Bank v. Office of Thrift Supervision, 976 F.2d 203, 208 (4th Cir.1992).

Here RLI seeks the following remedy: “to the extent RLI, as AFI’s surety, may be liable, in part, to Towson University for the improper installation of the panels, it is entitled to contribution and common-law indemnity from ... [WRA].” Am. Compl. Count 8 ¶ 2 (emphasis added). RLI’s claim is predicated upon a future event which may never occur: a finding in favor of Towson University in a suit that has not been filed. Accordingly, RLI’s claim for contribution or common-law indemnity is dismissed.

III. Conclusion

For the reasons stated above, WRA owed no duty to RLI. Accordingly, the claim against WRA for negligence will be dismissed. Also, as RLI’s claim for contribution and common-law indemnity is not ripe, it will be dismissed.

Order

For the reasons discussed in the accompanying Memorandum Opinion, it is, this 7th day of September, 2006, ORDERED that:

1. Defendant’s motion to dismiss (Paper No. 39) BE, and HEREBY IS, GRANTED.

2. The Clerk of the Court shall send copies of this Memorandum Opinion and Order to counsel for the parties.

1 . RLI has also sued John H. Hampshire, Inc., a subcontractor on the Project, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company (“Liberty”), Hampshire’s surety, and Barton Malow, the general contractor for the project. Barton filed a counterclaim on Mar. 30, 2006.

2 . This allegation also included defendants Hampshire, Barton and Liberty.

3 . With respect to RLI has alleged only that:

(1) "[WRA] in its role as architect, approved the design of the panel assembly and installation and had the duly to inspect the work of all contractors, including AFI and Hampshire, to ensure that the work was done according to the contract and its approved design and specifications as a prerequisite to each contractor receiving payment.” Am. CompL, Count 4 ¶ 2.

(2) "As a matter of law, [WRA] ... owed a duty to AFI and to RLI, as AFI's surety, (and as a foreseeable plaintiff) to perform its inspections and supervision of AFI's and Hampshire’s installation work, in accordance with the plans and specifications set forth in AFI’s Subcontract, as incorporated into Hampshire's Completion Agreement with Barton [ ] and RLI.” Am. Compl., Count 4 ¶ 4.

(3) "[WRA] ... breached its duties owed to AFI and RLI, due to their failure to properly supervise and inspect the installation of the panels.” Am. Compl., Count 4 ¶ 5.

(4) "[WRA] ... breached the standards of professional conduct applicable to [its] profession[] of architecture.”

(5)"RLI is a foreseeable plaintiff to whom [WRA] and Barton [], in addition to Hampshire and Liberty, owed these contractual and other duties.” Am. Compl., Count 4 ¶ 8.

4 . The issue, as framed by the court, was “whether in the absence of privity of contract the facts slated in the petition imposed upon [the architect] a legal duty to the surety to exercise ordinary care in executing the certificates called for in the construction contract.”