Stryker Corp. v. XL Insurance

57 F. Supp. 3d 823, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 153944, 2014 WL 5493195
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Michigan
DecidedOctober 30, 2014
DocketCase No. 1:05-CV-51
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 57 F. Supp. 3d 823 (Stryker Corp. v. XL Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Stryker Corp. v. XL Insurance, 57 F. Supp. 3d 823, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 153944, 2014 WL 5493195 (W.D. Mich. 2014).

Opinion

OPINION

ROBERT HOLMES BELL, District Judge.

This matter comes before the Court on cross-motions for summary judgment filed by Stryker Corporation and Howmedica Osteonics Corporation (jointly referred to as “Stryker”) and by TIG Insurance Company (“TIG”). (ECF Nos. 497, 501.) For the reasons that follow, Stryker’s motion for summary judgment will be granted, and TIG’s motion for summary judgment will be denied.

I.

Stryker makes and markets medical supplies. (Supp. Compl. ¶ 2, ECF No. [826]*826363.) In 1998, Stryker purchased the stock and assets of Howmedica, Inc. from Pfizer, Inc. Howmedica was the manufacturer of the Duracon Unicompartmental Knee (“Uni-Knee”). In 2000, Stryker began receiving product liability claims regarding defective Uni-Knees.

For the year 2000, Stryker had commercial liability insurance through XL Insurance Co., Inc. (“XL”) and excess insurance through TIG. The underlying XL policy included a $2 million self-insured retention (“SIR”) followed by $15 million of coverage by XL. TIG’s attachment point was $17 million.

Stryker tendered the claims arising out of defective Uni-Knees to XL. XL declined to defend or indemnify Stryker for the Uni-Knee claims. In 2001, Stryker sued XL for defense and indemnification for the Uni-Knee claims against Stryker. Stryker Corp. v. XL Ins. Am., Inc., No. 1:01-CV-157 (W.D.Mich.) (“Stryker I”). Between 2000 and 2006, but primarily in between 2001 and 2003, Stryker settled the direct Uni-Knee claims on its own and paid over $7.6 million from its own resources to settle the claims. Following the trial in Stryker I, this Court determined that XL was liable for Stryker’s direct settlements.

During this time period, Pfizer, as the parent corporation of Howmedica, was also receiving product liability claims relating to defective Uni-Knees. Pfizer filed suit against Stryker in the Southern District of New York for indemnification for Uni-Knee claims that arose after Stryker purchased Howmedica. Pfizer, Inc. v. Stryker Corp., No. No. 02 Civ.8613 (S.D.N.Y.) (“Pfizer”). On December 2, 2004, the New York court ruled that Stryker was liable to Pfizer for indemnification for all losses relating' to the Uni-Knees sold after December 4, 1998. Pfizer, 348 F.Supp.2d 131, 159 (S.D.N.Y.2004).

In 2005, Stryker filed this action against XL and TIG, seeking damages against XL for breach of contract, a declaration that XL was obligated to defend and indemnify Stryker in the Pfizer action, and a declaration that TIG was obligated to cover any losses from Stryker I and Pfizer that were not covered by XL. Stryker Corp. v. Nat’l Union Fire Ins. Co., No. 1:05-CV-51 (W.D.Mich.) (“Stryker II ”). Stryker noted that the damages in Pfizer might exceed $18 million.

In 2009, this Court held a settlement conference in Stryker I, Stryker II, and Pfizer v. Stryker. (ECF Nos. 164, 165.) TIG made an appearance, but did not actively participate in any substantive discussions based on its position that the TIG policy did not provide coverage for any of the matters at issue in the three cases. (Betz Decl. ¶ 3, ECF No. 280.) Following that conference, XL settled with Pfizer and paid Pfizer over $17 million in settlement of the Pfizer liability judgment. By settling the Pfizer judgment, XL exhausted its policy limits.

The cases associated with the insurance disputes regarding the Uni-Knee claims have a complicated procedural history.1 However, for purposes of this opinion, the issue is limited to whether TIG is liable for Stryker’s direct settlements of the Uni-Knee claims.

The reasonableness of the Stryker settlements is not in dispute. Following trial in Stryker I, this Court found that Stryk[827]*827er’s settlements of the direct Uni-Knee claims were reasonable. Stryker I, No. 4:01-CV-157, 2008 WL 5235886 (Dec. 15, 2008, Op. 3, ECF No. 1055.) In this case, TIG has agreed not to contest whether the settlements reached in the underlying Uni-Knee cases brought against Stryker were reasonable and does not contest whether the settlements were negotiated in good faith. (ECF No. 448.) Based on TIG’s stipulation, this Court has found that the settlements in the underlying Uni-Knee cases brought against Stryker (listed on Exhibit A to the Stipulation) are reasonable, good faith settlements. (ECF No. 452.)

II.

Under Rule 56(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, summary judgment is proper if there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. In evaluating a motion for summary judgment the Court must look beyond the pleadings and assess the proof to determine whether there is a genuine need for trial. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). If the moving party carries its burden of showing there is an absence of evidence to support a claim, then the nonmoving party must demonstrate by affidavits, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file that there is a genuine issue of material fact for trial. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324-25, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). ' The mere existence of a scintilla of evidence in support of the nonmoving party’s position is not sufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). The proper inquiry is “whether the evidence presents a sufficient disagreement to require submission to a jury or whether it is so one-sided that one party must prevail as a matter of law.” Id. at 251-52, 106 S.Ct. 2505.

Where the moving party also bears the burden of persuasion at trial, the party’s “initial summary judgment burden is ‘higher in that it must show that the record contains evidence satisfying the burden of persuasion and that the evidence is so powerful that no reasonable jury would be free to disbelieve it.’ ” Surles v. Andison, 678 F.3d 452, 455-56 (6th Cir.2012) (quoting Cockrel v. Shelby Cnty. Sch. Dist., 270 F.3d 1036, 1056 (6th Cir.2001)); see also 11 Moore’s Federal Practice § 56.40[l][c], at 56-1111-12 (3d ed.2014) (“When the movant bears the burden of persuasion at trial, the movant must produce evidence that would conclusively support its right to a judgment after trial should the nonmovant fail to rebut the evidence.”).

III.

The parties have filed cross-motions for summary judgment. Stryker contends that TIG is liable for reimbursing Stryker for its settlements and TIG contends that there is no coverage for Stryker’s claims under the TIG Policy.

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Bluebook (online)
57 F. Supp. 3d 823, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 153944, 2014 WL 5493195, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/stryker-corp-v-xl-insurance-miwd-2014.