Swiss Re International SE v. Comac Investments, Inc.

212 F. Supp. 3d 797, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 132793, 2016 WL 5394087
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. California
DecidedSeptember 27, 2016
DocketCase No. 16-cv-00863-SI
StatusPublished

This text of 212 F. Supp. 3d 797 (Swiss Re International SE v. Comac Investments, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Swiss Re International SE v. Comac Investments, Inc., 212 F. Supp. 3d 797, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 132793, 2016 WL 5394087 (N.D. Cal. 2016).

Opinion

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT

Re: Dkt. Nos. 32, 36, 38

SUSAN ILLSTON, United States District Judge

On September 2, 2016, the Court held a hearing on plaintiffs motion for partial summary judgment. For the reasons set forth below, the Court GRANTS the motion.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff Swiss Re International SE (“SRI”), successor in interest to Zurich Specialties London, Ltd. (“ZSLL”) (hereinafter, SRI and ZSLL are jointly referred to as “ZSLL”), filed this lawsuit seeking declaratory relief concerning its duty to defend and indemnify defendant Comae Investments, Inc. (“Comae”) under four commercial liability insurance policies ZSLL issued to Comae covering the time period of June 19, 1998 through June 19, 2002. This declaratory relief action arises from an underlying case filed on August 14, 2014 entitled 200-298 Portola Drive Homeowners’ Association v. Comac Investments, Inc., San Francisco Superior Court Case No. CGC-14-541154 (“Underlying Action”). Dkt. No. 33-3.1 In the Underlying Action, Portola Drive Homeowners’ Association (“Association”) seeks in excess of $5 million in damages for numerous construction defects at a development of 23 units and 7 townhomes (the “subject premises”). The alleged construction defects include reverse sloped decks, negative sloping of wall caps, open roof eaves, and lack of sealant on lag bolts. Dkt. No. 33-6 at ¶¶30, 37, 42, 47, 101. The Association alleges that these construction defects have resulted in significant water damage and flooding to the subject prem[800]*800ises. Id. Construction of the subject premises was completed in 1996. Id. at ¶28.

Pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure § 337.15, latent construction defect claims are subject to a ten-year statute of repose, which commences upon substantial completion of the construction. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 337.15. The statute of repose is not subject to equitable tolling. See Lantzy v. Centex Homes, 31 Cal.4th 363, 367, 2 Cal.Rptr.3d 655, 73 P.3d 517 (2003). The only exception to the statute of repose is provided in subsection (f), which allows for “actions based on willful misconduct or fraudulent concealment” after the ten years have run. To avoid the ten-year statute of repose, the Association’s first amended complaint in the Underlying Action alleges, inter alia, that the construction defects “would have been observable by any knowledgeable contractor or supervisor, [and that] any contractor who chose not to remedy them would be doing so with actual or constructive knowledge that injury was a probable result.” Dkt. No. 33-6 at ¶¶ 53, 55.

In the Underlying Action, ZSLL is representing Comae subject to a complete reservation of rights. ZSLL reserved the right to assert that the terms of the insurance policies were not met, and that the Underlying Action was subject to the “expected or intended injury” policy exclusion and/or Cal. Ins. Code § 533, which precludes insurer liability for willful acts of insureds. ZSLL also reserved the right to file this action for declaratory relief and/or seek reimbursement of expenditures in the defense of the Underlying Action. The defendants in this case are Comae, the general contractor and/or developer for the subject premises; the Association; and Sirius America Insurance Company (“Sirius”), successor in interest to Mutual Service Casualty Insurance Company (“MSCI”), which also issued commercial liability insurance policies to Comae. Dkt. No. 1 at ¶¶ 4, 13. Sirius filed a Notice of Non-Opposition to ZSLL’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. Dkt. No. 35. Comae filed a Notice of Joinder in the Association’s Opposition. Dkt. No. 37.2

ZSLL’s complaint alleges the following causes of action: (1) declaratory relief that ZSLL does not have, and never did have, a duty to defend Comae in the Underlying Action as a matter of law; (2) declaratory relief that ZSLL does not have a duty to indemnify Comae in the Underlying Action as a matter of law; (3) reimbursement for fees and costs ZSLL has incurred to defend Comae for non-covered claims; (4) equitable contribution from Sirius in the event this Court determines ZSLL has an obligation to defend and/or indemnify Comae in the Underlying Action; (5) equitable subrogation from Sirius in the event this Court determines ZSLL has an obligation to defend and/or indemnify Comae in the Underlying Action; and (6) declaratory relief that Sirius is obligated to defend and indemnify Comae equally with ZSLL. Dkt. No. 1 at ¶¶ 39-72.

I. Terms of the Policy

The policy’s liability insuring clause for property damage provides as follows:

a. We will pay those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay [801]*801as damages because of “bodily injury” or “property damage” to which this insurance applies. We will have the right and duty to defend the 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 under Coverages A or B or medical expenses under Coverage C.
No other obligation or liability to pay sums or perform acts or services is covered unless explicitly provided for under SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENTS— COVERAGES A AND B.
b. This insurance applies to “bodily injury” and “property damage” only if:
(1) The “bodily injury” or “property damage” is caused by an “occurrence” that takes place in the “coverage territory”; and
(2) The “bodily injury” or “property damage” occurs during the policy period.
e. Damages because of “bodily injury” include damages claimed by any person or organization for care, loss of services or death resulting at any time from the “bodily injury”.

Dkt. No. 33-7 at 8. The word “occurrence” is defined in Section V as follows:

12. “Occurrence” means an accident, including continuous or repeated exposure to substantially the same general harmful conditions. "

Id. at 19. The “expected or intended injury” exclusion in Coverage A, which covers bodily injury and property damages liability, states in relevant part:

2. Exclusions
This insurance does not apply to:
a. Expected or Intended Injury
“Bodily injury” or “property damage” expected or intended from the standpoint of the insured. This exclusion does not apply to “bodily injury” resulting from the use of reasonable force to protect persons or property. Id. at 8

II. The Underlying Action

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
212 F. Supp. 3d 797, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 132793, 2016 WL 5394087, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/swiss-re-international-se-v-comac-investments-inc-cand-2016.