St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance v. CSX Transportation, Inc.

502 F. Supp. 2d 792, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 59455, 2007 WL 2377456
CourtDistrict Court, C.D. Illinois
DecidedAugust 14, 2007
Docket06-CV-2103
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 502 F. Supp. 2d 792 (St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance v. CSX Transportation, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, C.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance v. CSX Transportation, Inc., 502 F. Supp. 2d 792, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 59455, 2007 WL 2377456 (C.D. Ill. 2007).

Opinion

OPINION

McCUSKEY, Chief Judge.

This case is before the court for ruling on the Motion for Summary Judgment (#25) filed by Plaintiff, St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company (St.Paul) and the Cross Motion for Summary Judgment (# 29) filed by Defendant CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSX). Following this court’s careful consideration of the arguments of the parties and the documents provided by the parties, this court agrees with St. Paul that the insurance policy it issued to CSX does not provide coverage for the claims included in the underlying lawsuit. Accordingly, St. Paul’s Motion for Summary Judgment (# 25) is GRANTED and CSX’s Cross Motion for Summary Judgment (# 29) is DENIED. St. Paul’s Request for Oral Argument (#27) is DENIED as moot.

FACTS 1

On October 10, 2003, Roger Hart was killed when the backhoe he was operating was involved in a collision with a train operated by CSX. The collision occurred at *795 an intersection between CSX’s railroad tracks and county road 1125E in Cumberland County, Illinois. On September 20, 2005, Linda L. Hart, Administrator of the Estate of Roger Hart, Deceased, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in the circuit court of Edgar County, Illinois (Hart lawsuit). CSX, Nicholas Garwood, and Larry F. Cla-burn were named as Defendants in the lawsuit. Garwood and Claburn served as Engineer and conductor, respectively, on the CSX train which struck the backhoe driven by Roger Hart. The Hart lawsuit alleged that CSX was operating and maintaining a railroad line in Cumberland County, Illinois. The Hart lawsuit further alleged that the tracks of the railroad line proceeded in an easterly and westerly direction and intersected ■ at County Road 1125 East at the CSX Railroad Crossing, which was a grade crossing extensively used by the public. The Hart lawsuit alleged that CSX was negligent in the operation of its train which resulted in the collision. Specifically, the Hart lawsuit alleged that CSX committed the following negligent acts and omissions:

A. Operated the train at a dangerous, high and unsafe speed.
B. Failed to blow any whistle, or ring any bell, or otherwise warn the traveling public of the train’s approach.
C. Failed to maintain a watchman at the crossing, or to provide any bell, gates, lights, or other means of forewarning the traveling public of the train’s approach.
D. Failed to provide any means of warning persons of the train’s approach other than a stationary railroad sign that was not adequate, sufficient, and reasonable protection to the public at the crossing.
E. Failed to exercise reasonable care in getting adequate and timely warning of the train’s approach under the existing conditions.
F.Failed to keep a proper lookout for persons or vehicles on the railroad crossing.

The Hart lawsuit sought judgment against CSX, Garwood and Claburn for a sum that would “adequately and fairly compensate” Roger Hart’s family for their loss.

At the time of the collision with the train on October 10, 2003, Roger Hart was working for Kieffer Brothers Construction Company (Kieffer). On April 22, 2003, Kieffer had entered into an agreement with E.J. Water Corporation for the construction of the Phase VI Water Distribution System. Essentially, Kieffer agreed to lay a water pipeline for the distribution of water. In return for commencing and completing the construction of the Phase VI Water Distribution System, E.J. Water Corporation agreed to pay Kieffer the sum of $1,565,883.89. E.J. Water Corporation had previously entered into a licensing agreement with CSX which required CSX to permit E.J. Water to “construct, maintain, repair, renew, operate, use, alter or change” the water pipeline under or across railroad tracks at a location referred to as the “Crossing” near Jewett in Cumberland County, Illinois. In return, CSX received a one-time nonrefundable payment of $1,900.00. A diagram submitted as an exhibit with this licensing agreement shows that the location of the water pipeline under the railroad tracks was parallel to county road 1125E.

St. Paul issued a Railroad Protective Liability Policy insuring CSX against liability for bodily injuries arising out of acts or omissions at the Job Location which were related to or in connection with the “work” involved in the project. The total premium paid for the policy was $2,500.00. The policy listed CSX as the named insured and listed Kieffer as the designated contractor. The Declarations page of the policy described the “Job Location” as *796 “Jewett, Cumberland County, IL.” The Declarations page of the policy also stated that the “Description of Work” was:

Phase VI Water Distribution System 84 ft of 12" casing under tracks

The policy further stated, in pertinent part:

SECTION I — COVERAGES COVERAGE 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 that insured against any “suit” seeking those damages. However, we will have no duty to defend the insured against any “suit” seeking damages for “bodily injury” or “property damage” to which this insurance does not apply. We may at our discretion investigate any occurrence and settle any claim or “suit” that may result. But:
(1) The amount we will pay for damages is limited as described in LIMITS OF INSURANCE (Section III); and
(2) Our right and duty to defend end when we have used up the applicable limit of insurance in the payment of judgments or settlements.
No other obligation or liability to pay sums or perform acts or services is covered unless explicitly provided for under SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENTS — COVERAGE A.
b. This insurance applies to “bodily injury” and “property damage” only if:
(1) The “bodily injury” or “property damage” occurs during the policy period; and
(2) The “bodily injury” or “property damage” arises out of acts or omissions at the “job location” which are related to or are in connection with the “work” described in the Declarations.
2. Exclusions.
This insurance does not apply to:
C. Completed Work
“Bodily injury” or “property damage” occurring after the “work” is completed.
The “work” will be deemed completed at the earliest of the following times:
(1) When all the “work” called for in the “contractor’s” contract has been completed.
(2) When all the “work” to be done at the “job location” has been completed.

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Bluebook (online)
502 F. Supp. 2d 792, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 59455, 2007 WL 2377456, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/st-paul-fire-marine-insurance-v-csx-transportation-inc-ilcd-2007.