Tri-Star Theme Builders, Inc. v. Hawkeye-Security Insurance

653 F. Supp. 2d 973, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 79129, 2009 WL 2870217
CourtDistrict Court, D. Arizona
DecidedSeptember 3, 2009
DocketCV 07-1049-PHX-JAT
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 653 F. Supp. 2d 973 (Tri-Star Theme Builders, Inc. v. Hawkeye-Security Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Tri-Star Theme Builders, Inc. v. Hawkeye-Security Insurance, 653 F. Supp. 2d 973, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 79129, 2009 WL 2870217 (D. Ariz. 2009).

Opinion

ORDER

JAMES A. TEILBORG, District Judge.

Pending before this Court is Plaintiff Tri-Star Theme Builders, Inc./PCL Construction Services, Inc.’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. # 32) 1 , and Defen *975 dant OneBeacon Insurance Company’s Cross Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. # 70). 2 For the reasons that follow, the Court grants Defendant’s motion and, in so doing, denied Plaintiffs motion.

BACKGROUND

In October 1997, Plaintiff entered into a contract with the Colorado River Indian Tribes (“CRIT”) for the design and construction of CRIT’s Blue Water Resort (“Resort”). Construction began on the project in January 1998. In March 1998, Plaintiff entered into a subcontract agreement with Golden West Mechanical (“GWM”) for the plumbing and HVAC work at the Resort. Under the subcontract, GWM was required to obtain comprehensive general liability (“CGL”) insurance, as well as name Plaintiff as an additional insured (“AI”) under the policy.

Defendant issued two insurance policies to GWM (“the policies”). The first policy had a coverage period of March 24, 1998 through March 24, 1999. The second policy had a coverage period of March 24, 1999 through March 24, 2000. Each policy granted AI status to Plaintiff. Specifically, the AI endorsements contained the following parameters:

Who is an insured is amended to include as an insured the person or organization shown in the schedule [Plaintiff], but only with respect to liability arising out of your ongoing operations performed for that insured on the project designated in the schedule, and only to the extent of liability resulting from occurrences arising out of your negligence. (PSOF Ex. A, Attachment 8, pp. 10-11; Attachment 9, pp. 141-42.)

In April 1999, Plaintiff issued to CRIT a certificate of substantial completion for the Resort. In June 1999, CRIT opened the Resort to the general public. Before and after the Resort opened, CRIT provided Plaintiff “with punch lists of defects and other items requiring repair and correction” by Plaintiff. (PSOF Ex. A, Attachment 2, ¶ 30.) Additionally, after the Resort was opened, CRIT discovered “other substantial and material defects in the design and construction of the Resort.” (Id. at ¶ 31.)

In November 2003, CRIT filed a complaint (“the underlying complaint”) in Maricopa County Superior Court alleging breach of contract, negligence, breach of warranty, and for recovery under a performance bond. In January 2005, Plaintiff sent a letter to Defendant with a copy of the underlying complaint. In the January 2005 letter, Plaintiff tendered for coverage CRIT’s lawsuit against Plaintiff. In a February 2005 letter, Defendant acknowledged Plaintiffs letter, but requested additional information and documents from Plaintiff. In May 2005, Plaintiff sent through U.S. Mail Defendant’s requested information. In November 2005, Plaintiff sent a second request for coverage both via U.S. Mail and facsimile. Defendant did not respond to either request. 3

*976 In September 2006, the CRIT’s state court action against Plaintiff was settled, with PCL Construction Services, Inc. paying $16,000,000. In April 2007, Plaintiff brought the present action in Maricopa County Superior Court, alleging breach of contract. In May 2007, Defendant removed to this Court.

ANALYSIS

Summary Judgment Standard

Summary judgment is appropriate when “the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). Thus, summary judgment is mandated, “... against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

Initially, the movant bears the burden of pointing out to the Court the basis for the motion and the elements of the causes of action upon which the non-movant will be unable to establish a genuine issue of material fact. Id. at 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548. The burden then shifts to the nonmovant to establish the existence of material fact. Id. The non-movant “must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts” by “com[ing] forward with ‘specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.’” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586-87, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986) (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e)). A dispute about a fact is “genuine” if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). The non-movant’s bare assertions, standing alone, are insufficient to create a material issue of fact and defeat a motion for summary judgment. Id. at 247-48,106 S.Ct. 2505. However, in the summary judgment context, the Court construes all disputed facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Ellison v. Robertson, 357 F.3d 1072, 1075 (9th Cir.2004).

Arizona Law Applies

The instant action was removed to this Court on the basis of diversity jurisdiction. As such, the Court must apply Arizona law in resolving the parties dispute. Klaxon Co. v. Stentor Electric Mfg. Co., 313 U.S. 487, 496, 61 S.Ct. 1020, 85 L.Ed. 1477 (1941); Insurance Co. N. Am. v. Fed. Express Corp., 189 F.3d 914, 919 (9th Cir.1999).

In Arizona, the interpretation of an insurance contract is an issue of law. Coombs v. Lumbermen’s Mut. Cas. Co., 23 Ariz.App. 207, 531 P.2d 1145, 1147 (1975). Insurance contracts are to be construed according to their plain and ordinary meaning. Sparks v. Republic Nat. Life Ins. Co., 132 Ariz. 529, 647 P.2d 1127, 1132 (1982).

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653 F. Supp. 2d 973, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 79129, 2009 WL 2870217, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tri-star-theme-builders-inc-v-hawkeye-security-insurance-azd-2009.