Tow v. Water Quality Insurance Syndicate (In re ATP Oil & Gas Corp.)

531 B.R. 694
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Texas
DecidedJune 5, 2015
DocketCASE NO: 12-36187; ADVERSARY NO. 14-3280
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 531 B.R. 694 (Tow v. Water Quality Insurance Syndicate (In re ATP Oil & Gas Corp.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Tow v. Water Quality Insurance Syndicate (In re ATP Oil & Gas Corp.), 531 B.R. 694 (Tex. 2015).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPTION ON MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT

Marvin Isgur, UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE

Notwithstanding ATP’s failure to give timely notice under its insurance policy, [696]*696Water Quality Insurance Syndicate must reimburse ATP for ATP’s defense costs and expenses incurred in defending United States v. ATP Oil & Gas Corp., et al., C.A. 2:13-cv-00262-NJB-KWR pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Background

Pursuant to a one-year insurance policy issued on November 17, 2011, Water Quality insured ATP against certain pollution-related losses. On February 11, 2013, the United States sued ATP for discharging pollutants from an offshore platform located in the Gulf of Mexico. The lawsuit seeks damages from ATP. The damages include alleged violations that occurred within the policy period (i.e., between November 17, 2011 and March, 2012).

The insurance policy required ATP to give “immediate notice” of any occurrence that gave rise to a claim under the policy. It is undisputed that ATP failed to give notice as required by the policy. The United States notified ATP of its alleged violations on March 14, 2012. It filed suit on the alleged violations on February 11, 2013. ATP delayed giving notice to Water Quality until September 12, 2013.

The insurance policy excluded coverage arising out of ATP’s “willful misconduct.” The bulk of the lawsuit against ATP alleges willful misconduct by ATP. The United States alleges that ATP constructed and operated a hidden tube to allow ATP to utilize an unpermitted chemical dispersant. The use of this dispersant would mask discharges of oil in wastewater that was discharged from the platform. Nevertheless, the lawsuit does contain a few allegations regarding the negligent operation of the platform. For example, paragraph 75 of the lawsuit alleges that ATP failed to operate the primary float system that would have limited oil in the wastewater “in a manner that is protective of the environment, resulting in the discharge of oil in quantities that may be harmful to the Gulf of Mexico.” Paragraph 77 alleges that ATP failed “to properly operate the wastewater treatment system....”

ATP has been required to defend the lawsuit. Water Quality has refused to reimburse ATP for its defense costs and expenses.

On February 6, 2015, ATP filed a motion for partial summary judgment seeking a declaration of the rights and obligations under the policy with respect to the duty to provide reimbursement. On March 2, 2015, Water Quality responded. Various additional filings were made by both parties after that date.

Summary Judgment Standard

“The court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7056 incorporates Rule 56 in adversary proceedings.

A party seeking summary judgment must demonstrate: (i) an absence of evidence to support the non-moving party’s claims or (ii) an absence of a genuine dispute of material fact. Sossamon v. Lone Star State of Tex., 560 F.3d 316, 326 (5th Cir.2009); Warfield v. Byron, 436 F.3d 551, 557 (5th Cir.2006). A genuine dispute of material fact is one that could affect the outcome of the action or allow a reasonable fact finder to find in favor of the non-moving party. Brumfield v. Hollins, 551 F.3d 322, 326 (5th Cir.2008).

A court views the facts and evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party at all times. Campo v. Allstate Ins. Co., 562 F.3d 751, 754 (5th Cir.2009). Nevertheless, the Court is not obligated to search the record for the non-moving party’s evidence. Malacara v. Garber, 353 F.3d 393, 405 (5th Cir.2003). A party as[697]*697serting that a fact cannot be or is genuinely disputed must support the assertion by citing to particular parts of materials in the record, showing that the materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a genuine dispute, or showing that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact.1 Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(c)(1). The Court need consider only the cited materials, but it may consider other materials in the record. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)(3). The Court should not weigh the evidence. A credibility determination may not be part of the summary judgment analysis. Turner v. Baylor Richardson Med. Ctr., 476 F.3d 337, 343 (5th Cir.2007). However, a party may object that the material cited to support or dispute a fact cannot be presented in a form that would be admissible in evidence. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)(2).

“The moving party bears the burden of establishing that there are no genuine issues of material fact.” Norwegian Bulk Transp. A/S v. Int’l Marine Terminals P’ship, 520 F.3d 409, 412 (5th Cir.2008). The evidentiary support needed to meet the initial summary judgment burden depends on whether the movant bears the ultimate burden of proof at trial.

If the movant bears the burden of proof on an issue, a successful motion must present evidence that would entitle the movant to judgment at trial. Malacara, 353 F.3d at 403. Upon an adequate showing, the burden shifts to the non-moving party to establish a genuine dispute of material fact. Sossamon, 560 F.3d at 326. The non-moving party must cite to specific evidence demonstrating a genuine dispute. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)(1); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). The non-moving party must also “articulate the manner in which that evidence supports that party’s claim.” Johnson v. Deep E. Tex. Reg’l Narcotics Trafficking Task Force, 379 F.3d 293, 301 (5th Cir.2004). Even if the movant meets the initial burden, the motion should be granted only if the non-movant cannot show a genuine dispute of material fact.

If the non-movant bears the burden of proof of an issue, the movant must show the absence of sufficient evidence to support an essential element of the non-mov-ant’s claim.

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Bluebook (online)
531 B.R. 694, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tow-v-water-quality-insurance-syndicate-in-re-atp-oil-gas-corp-txsb-2015.