California Appeals Court Rules that “Escape” “Other Insurance” Clause Contained in Coverage Portion of Primary CGL Policy Not Enforceable in Equitable Contribution Action

By and on April 15, 2016
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In Certain Underwriters at Lloyds, London v. Arch Specialty Insurance Co., a California appeals court held that an “other insurance” clause in a primary commercial general liability policy would not, as a matter of public policy, allow the insurer to avoid having to share defense costs.

Certain Underwriters at Lloyds, London (“Underwriters”) and Arch Specialty Insurance Company (“Arch”) were both primary insurers of Framecon, Inc. over successive policy years. Framecon was sued by a real estate developer for framing and carpentry work it performed on residential homes in three separate homeowner actions. Framecon tendered the claims to both Underwriters and Arch. Underwriters agreed to defend Framecon, while Arch denied any defense obligation based on the “other insurance” language contained in the insuring agreement and in the conditions section of its policy.

The underlying claims against Framecon were eventually settled with both Underwriters and Arch agreeing to indemnify Framecon for damages on a “time on the risk” basis. Underwriters then sued Arch for declaratory relief and equitable contribution for defense costs incurred in the underlying litigation. In cross-motions for summary judgment, Arch argued that its “other insurance” provisions relieved it of any duty to defend. The trial court found in favor of Arch, and relied on a prior California case which held that the placement of the “other insurance” clause in the insuring agreement of the policy, as opposed to in the conditions section, makes it an enforceable exception from coverage for defense costs rather than a disfavored “escape” clause.

On appeal, the Court of Appeal noted that the original purpose of “other insurance” clauses was to prevent multiple recovery by insureds in cases of overlapping policies providing coverage for the same loss, but that public policy disfavored “escape” clauses. The court explained that “escape” clauses are so named because they permit an insurer to make a seemingly ironclad guarantee of coverage, only to withdraw that coverage – and thus “escape” liability – in the presence of other insurance. The Court of Appeal rejected Arch’s argument that its “other insurance” clause was enforceable because it was located in both the insuring agreement and in the conditions section of the policy, and found that the “modern trend” is to distrust “escape” “other insurance” clauses that attempt to shift the burden away from a primary insurer. The court also stated that reliance on location of the “other insurance” clause in the coverage section as determinative “would tend to encourage insurers to jockey for best position in choosing where to locate ‘other insurance’ language, needlessly complicating the drafting of policies, inducing wasteful litigation among insurers, and delaying settlements – all ultimately to the detriment of the insurance-buying public.”

The Court of Appeal concluded that Underwriters was entitled to receive equitable contribution from Arch as the “other insurance” clause contained in Arch policy was not enforceable based on public policy considerations.

Filed under Commercial General Liability, Contribution, Duty to Defend, Other Insurance

California Appeals Court Rejects Insurer’s “Escape” Clause And Confirms Tolling Of Statute Of Limitations For Equitable Contribution Claims

By on November 4, 2015
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In Underwriters of Interest v Probuilders Specialty Ins. Co. (Case No. D066615, filed 10/23/15), the California Court of Appeal for the Fourth District, Division One, rejected an insurer’s “escape” clause, ruled that a Contractors Special Conditions endorsement was inapplicable, and confirmed that the statute of limitation for an insurer’s claim for equitable contribution against a co-carrier is tolled until it makes its last defense payment.

Construction siteUnderwriters insured Pacific Trades Construction & Development (“PTCD”) from 2001 to 2003. Probuilders insured PTCD from 2002 to 2004. Pursuant to its policies, Underwriters agreed to defend PTCD in a construction defect action arising out of the construction of single family homes. In contrast, Probuilders denied PTCD’s tender arguing that its policies only provided a duty to defend when “no other insurance affording a defense against such a suit is available to [the insured].” In addition, Probuilders argued its policy included a Contractors Special Conditions (“CSC”) endorsement which provided that as a “condition precedent to this policy applying to any claim in whole or in part based upon work performed by independent contractors,” PTCD must have: (1) written indemnity agreements with each subcontractor hired; (2) certificates of insurance from each subcontractor’s insurer showing PTCD as an additional insured; and (3) maintained records evidencing PTCD’s compliance with these obligations.

Turning first to Probuilders’ defense obligation, the Appellate Court, citing Edmondson Property Management v. Kwock (2007) 156 Cal.App.4th 197, 203-204, held that Probuilders’ other insurance clause was an “escape” clause disfavored under the law.

[C]ourts have considered this type of “other insurance” clause as an “escape” clause, a clause which attempts to have coverage, paid for with the insured’s premiums, evaporate in the presence of other insurance….Escape clauses are discouraged and generally not given effect in actions where the insurance company who paid the liability is seeking equitable contribution from the carrier who is seeking to avoid the risk it was paid to cover.

Reasoning the policies issued by Underwriters and Probuilders were not completely overlapping and provided coverage for at least different periods of time, the Appellate Court refused to enforce Probuilders’ other insurance clause.

The appeals court also rejected Probuilders’ argument that its CSC endorsement obviated a duty to defend because PTCD had failed to secure indemnity and/or additional insured coverage from all of its subcontractors. Noting Probuilders had not conclusively established that all of the claims against PTCD were limited to work performed by subcontractors and that while there was evidence of incomplete compliance with the CSC endorsement at least one subcontract had complied, the court found there was a question of fact precluding summary judgment in Probuilders’ favor.

Next, the appeals court found Underwriter’s equitable contribution claim was timely because while the claim first accrued at the time Probuilders first refused to participate in PTCD’s defense, the statute of limitations was “tolled until all of the defense obligations in the underlying action are terminated by final judgment.”

While not a departure from current case law, the case confirms California’s rejection of “escape” type clauses in contribution disputes between carriers and that under the right set of facts, endorsements requiring insureds to secure additional insured coverage from subcontractors may serve as a means to limit or possibly obviate the duty to defend and/or indemnify.

Filed under Construction Defect, Contribution Actions, Other Insurance, Statute of Limitations

Auto Policy Not Considered As Providing Excess Coverage Over Another Auto Policy Where “Other Insurance” Clauses Conflict

By on September 18, 2013

A California appellate court recently held that absent inclusion of exclusionary language authorized by California’s underinsured motorist statute, an auto liability insurer could not rely on its “other insurance” clause to support the position its policy provided excess coverage.

INS BLOG_carAccording to the Aug. 12 opinion in Progressive Choice Insurance Co. v. California State Automobile Association Inter-Insurance Bureau, Benjamin White was injured in a traffic collision while riding as a passenger in a vehicle operated by Scott Tortora. The third party who caused the collision was underinsured. White was insured under two automobile insurance policies.

The first policy was issued by Progressive to Tortora and covered Tortora’s vehicle. The Progressive policy provided underinsured motorist (UIM) bodily injury coverage with limits of $100,000 per person. The second policy was issued by the California State Automobile Association (CSAA) to White as the named insured. The CSAA policy provided UIM bodily injury coverage with limits of $50,000 per person.

White settled with the at-fault driver’s auto insurer for the limit under that policy of $25,000. White then made a claim for UIM benefits under the Progressive and CSAA policies. CSAA denied coverage. Progressive paid the sum of $62,500 to White. Progressive then demanded that CSAA reimburse Progressive $20,833.33, the pro-rata share of the payment made to White. CSAA denied any obligation to reimburse Progressive.

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Filed under Auto, Other Insurance