Rockhill Ins. Co. v. CFI-Global Fisheries Mgmt.

322 F. Supp. 3d 1110
CourtDistrict Court, D. Colorado
DecidedApril 17, 2018
DocketCase No. 16–cv–02760–RM–MJW
StatusPublished

This text of 322 F. Supp. 3d 1110 (Rockhill Ins. Co. v. CFI-Global Fisheries Mgmt.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Colorado primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Rockhill Ins. Co. v. CFI-Global Fisheries Mgmt., 322 F. Supp. 3d 1110 (D. Colo. 2018).

Opinion

RAYMOND P. MOORE, United States District Judge

This matter comes before the Court with the filing of the following motions: (1) defendant CFI-Global Fisheries Management's ("CFI") motion for partial summary judgment (ECF No. 77); (2) plaintiff Rockhill Insurance Company's ("Rockhill") motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 80); (3) defendant Heirloom I, LLC's ("Heirloom") motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 84); (4) Rockhill's motion to strike CFI's response (ECF No. 109); (5) Heirloom's motion for oral argument (ECF No. 122); and (6) Rockhill's motion to strike defendants' jury demand (ECF No. 124).

With all of the above-mentioned motions being fully briefed, the Court makes the following findings.1

I. Legal Standard for Summary Judgment

Summary judgment is appropriate "when there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). Initially, the movant bears the "responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for its motion, and identifying those portions of [the record] which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact." Celotex Corp. v. Catrett , 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). If this burden is met, then the non-moving party must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine dispute for trial. Id. at 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548. If the moving party bears the burden of persuasion on a claim at trial, that party must support its motion with evidence that, if uncontroverted, would entitle it to a directed verdict at trial. Anderson v. Dep't of Health & Human Servs. , 907 F.2d 936, 947 (10th Cir. 1990) (citing Celotex Corp. , 477 U.S. at 331, 106 S.Ct. 2548 ).

A fact is material if it has the potential to affect the outcome of a dispute under applicable law. Ulissey v. Shvartsman , 61 F.3d 805, 808 (10th Cir. 1995). An issue is genuine if a rational trier of fact could find for the non-moving party. Adams v. Am. Guarantee & Liab. Ins. Co. , 233 F.3d 1242, 1246 (10th Cir. 2000). In performing this analysis, the factual record and any reasonable inferences therefrom are construed in the light most favorable *1114to the non-moving party. Adams , 233 F.3d at 1246. However, a mere "scintilla of evidence" is insufficient to avoid summary judgment. Turner v. Public Service Co. of Colorado , 563 F.3d 1136, 1142 (10th Cir. 2009). Instead, a nonmovant "must proffer facts such that a reasonable jury could find in her favor." Id.

II. Discussion2

Before beginning its analysis, the Court makes a few preliminary observations. Based upon the Court's review, there are five principal legal issues in this case: (1) on what basis were damages awarded to Heirloom in the underlying arbitration; (2) whether the damages awarded to Heirloom are damages covered by the professional liability policy between Rockhill and CFI; (3) if so, whether an exclusion in the professional liability policy excludes the damages from coverage; (4) whether attorney fees and costs awarded in the arbitration are covered by the professional liability policy; and (5) whether CFI's bad faith claims viable. There are other issues, but, as far as the Court is concerned, those are the five principal legal issues in this case. The Court will address each in turn.

The Court further observes that three motions for summary judgment have been filed in this case, all of which in some form or another address the issues outlined above. The Court does not intend to address each motion for summary judgment individually. The parties' arguments across the span of their motions, responses, and replies are largely the same. As such, the Court simply intends to reference the parties' arguments with respect to any specific issue irrespective of whether they appear in a motion, response, or reply. Once the underlying issues are resolved, the Court will be able to determine which motion should be granted and which should be denied.

Along with the three motions for summary judgment, the parties have also filed corresponding statements of purported undisputed material facts. As far as the Court is concerned, the pertinent evidence upon which those statements of fact rely is straightforward. The Court, thus, chooses to cite to the underlying evidence itself when discussing the facts of this case, rather than the parties' take on the evidence presented in their statements of fact.

A. On What Basis Were Damages Awarded to Heirloom in the Underlying Arbitration?

1. The Evidence

This case involves the duty to indemnify. In Colorado, the complaint in the underlying action is the "starting point" in determining whether a duty to indemnify an insured arises. Cyprus Amax Minerals Co. v. Lexington Ins. Co. , 74 P.3d 294, 301 (Colo. 2003). A court may also look to the facts as they developed at trial and the ultimate judgment.

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Bluebook (online)
322 F. Supp. 3d 1110, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rockhill-ins-co-v-cfi-global-fisheries-mgmt-cod-2018.