Old St Paul Missionary Baptist Church v. Templebloc Inc et al
Filing
59
ORDER granting in part and denying in part 40 Motion for Summary Judgment. It is granted as to Old St. Paul's claims against State Farm for estoppel and against Templebloc and Blockett for violations of Ark. Code Ann. § 23-65-101(f). It is denied as to the breach of contract claim. Signed by Chief Judge Brian S. Miller on 7/23/2013. (jak)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVISION
OLD ST. PAUL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
v.
PLAINTIFF
CASE NO. 3:12CV00102 BSM
TEMPLEBLOC, INC.,
KENNETH “TED” BLOCKETT, and
STATE FARM FIRE AND CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.
DEFENDANTS
ORDER
Defendant State Farm Fire and Casualty Insurance Co.’s (“State Farm”) motion for
summary judgment [Doc. No. 40] is denied on plaintiff Old St. Paul Missionary Baptist
Church’s breach of contract claim, and is granted on his sstoppel and Ark. Code Ann. § 2365-101(f) claims.
I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Viewing the record in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, Old St. Paul
Missionary Baptist Church (“Old St. Paul”), the facts are as follows. On February 16, 2006,
Old St. Paul entered into a contract with Templebloc, Inc. (“Templebloc”), a general
contractor, for the construction of the church’s new worship center. Templebloc is a
Mississippi corporation owned by Kenneth “Ted” Blockett. In order to secure Templebloc’s
performance of the contract and payment of its subcontractors and materialmen as required
by the church’s financing bank, Blockett procured surety bonds from First Nation Insurance
Group (“FNIG”). Templebloc also held a commercial general liability (“CGL”) insurance
policy issued by State Farm.
In November and December of 2006, Old St. Paul became concerned that Templebloc
was not paying its subcontractors and materialmen. On December 12, 2006, Templebloc
walked away from the jobsite, leaving the project uncompleted. Although the parties later
met to discuss Templebloc’s default, no additional work was performed at the site. On
January 30, 2007, Old St. Paul notified FNIG and Templebloc that it was in default of the
contract, as required by the performance bonds. FNIG never responded. Old St. Paul
subsequently discovered that FNIG was not authorized to issue bonds in Arkansas and that
the surety bonds were fraudulent. It also discovered that some of the work done by
Templebloc’s subcontractors had been improperly performed and caused damage to work
that had been properly performed.
On January 10, 2008, Old St. Paul notified State Farm of its claims against
Templebloc. State Farm did not respond. Old St. Paul eventually hired another architect and
project manager to complete the construction. Old St. Paul also sued FNIG and the
individuals involved in issuing the fraudulent bonds and, in 2010, won a multimillion dollar
judgment, which it has been unable to recover.
Old St. Paul filed its amended complaint against State Farm, Temblebloc and Blockett
on January 7, 2013. It brings claims against Templebloc and Blockett for breach of contract
and violations of Arkansas law. It also seeks declaratory relief and damages against State
Farm, alleging that the damages sought against Templebloc and Blockett are covered losses
under the insurance policy. State Farm has filed a counterclaim, seeking a declaration that
it has no obligation to defend Templebloc or Blockett, and now moves for summary
2
judgment. Templebloc and Blockett have not responded.
II. LEGAL STANDARD
Summary judgment is proper if, after the evidence is viewed and all reasonable
inferences are drawn in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, no genuine issue
of material fact exists. Christoffersen v. Yellow Book U.S.A., 536 F.3d 947, 949 (8th Cir.
2008); Fed. R. Civ. P. 56. In seeking summary judgment, a party bears the responsibility of
informing the district court of the basis for its motion and identifying those portions of the
record which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex
Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). Once the moving party has demonstrated the
absence of a genuine issue of material fact, the nonmoving party must, by affidavits or as
otherwise provided for in Rule 56, set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine
issue for trial and may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of his pleadings. Fed.
R. Civ. P. 56(e); Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 587 (1986).
If the nonmoving party fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence
of an element essential to its case and on which that party bears the burden of proof at trial,
the entry of summary judgment against the nonmoving party is mandated by Rule 56(c).
Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 322. In considering a motion for summary judgment, however,
all reasonable inferences are to be drawn in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party.
Holland v. Sam’s Club, 487 F.3d 641, 643 (8th Cir. 2007). The evidence is not weighed and
no credibility determinations are made. Jenkins v. Winter, 540 F.3d 742, 750 (8th Cir. 2008).
III. DISCUSSION
3
Old St. Paul alleges that Templebloc and Blockett breached the contract by hiring
subcontractors who improperly performed work, by refusing to pay subcontractors and
materialmen, for failing to account for monies paid by Old St. Paul, and by failing to
complete the work. It also alleges that Templebloc and Blockett violated state law by
soliciting bonds from FNIG, an unauthorized insurer. Old St. Paul further alleges that these
are all covered damages under State Farm’s insurance policy. In its motion for summary
judgment, State Farm seeks a declaration that the policy affords no coverage for the claims
against Templebloc and Blockett and that it has no obligation to defend Templebloc and
Blockett. For the reasons set forth below, State Farm’s motion for summary judgment is
granted in part and denied in part.
A.
Breach of Contract Claim
State Farm’s motion for summary judgment is denied as to the breach of contract
claim against Templebloc and Blockett. The parties agree that Mississippi law applies in
determining whether the policy provides coverage because the policy was issued in
Mississippi to Templebloc, a Mississippi corporation. State Farm’s argument that no
coverage is afforded for the breach of contract damages alleged by Old St. Paul is two-fold.
First, State Farm argues that the majority of damages alleged are economic damages and not
property damage. Second, State Farm argues that any property damages fall within an
exclusion to coverage contained within the policy.
Under Mississippi law, a contract that is clear and unambiguous must be interpreted
as written, and a policy must be considered as a whole with all relevant clauses together.
4
Architex Ass’n, Inc. v. Scottsdale Ins. Co., 27 So.3d 1148, 1157 (Miss. 2010). An insurance
company’s duty to defend hinges on the language of the policy, and is determined by
examining the allegations in the complaint or the declaration in the underlying action. U.S.
Fid. & Guar. Co. v. Omnibank, 812 So.2d 196, 200 (Miss. 2002). Here, the insurance policy
states that it provides coverage for damages due to “bodily injury, property damage, personal
injury or advertising injury.” Property damage must be caused by an “occurrence” and is
further defined as “physical injury to or destruction of tangible property, including all
resulting loss of use of that property....” The definition also includes “loss of use of tangible
property that is not physically injured or destroyed, provided that such loss of use is caused
by physical injury to destruction of other tangible property.”
Old St. Paul’s breach of contract claim alleges damages caused by improperly
performed work, as well as damages caused by Templebloc’s failure to complete the project
and its failure to pay subcontractors and materialmen. At this point, State Farm does not
argue that the damages were not caused by an “occurrence” but reserves the right to make
that argument at a later time. Setting that issue aside, to the extent that Old St. Paul alleges
damages for anything other than damages to tangible property caused by subcontractors’
improperly performed work, these damages are not covered under the State Farm policy.
This is true because Mississippi law holds that economic losses are not injuries to tangible
property, even when the underlying complaint stems from allegations of property damage.
See State Farm Fire and Cas. Co. v. Brewer, 914 F.Supp.2d 140 (S.D. Miss. 1996); Rogers
v. Allstate Ins. Co., 938 So.2d 871, 876 (Miss. Ct. App. 2006) (citing Audobon Ins. Co. v.
5
Stefancik, 98 F.Supp. 2d 751, 756 (S.D. Miss. 1999)).
Although State Farm may not be liable for economic losses, it concedes that Old St.
Paul has made some allegations of property damage in its breach of contract claim.
Specifically, Old St. Paul alleges damage to tangible property and loss of use of such
property as a result of the subcontractors’ negligent and deficient work, including but not
limited to, a failure to properly install the roof and sheet rock, as well as the exterior walls
and stucco. State Farm argues, however, that any such property damage falls within
exclusion 11(f) to the policy and is therefore not covered.
Mississippi law provides that commercial general liability policies “are designed to
provide liability protection for the general contractor and their subcontractors for accidental,
inadvertent acts which breached accepted duties and proximately caused damage to a person
or property.” Architex Ass’n, Inc. v. Scottsdale Ins. Co., 27 So.3d 1148, 1156 (Miss. 2010).
While the policy grants the insured broad coverage for property damage, coverage is also
narrowed by exclusions that restrict the coverage provided. Id. at 1155. Mississippi law also
provides that the language in these exclusionary clauses is strictly interpreted and must be
clear and unmistakable. U.S. Fid. & Guar. Co. of Miss. v. Martin, 998 So.2d 956, 963 (Miss.
2008). Indeed, such exclusions are to be construed in favor of the insured. Id.
Exclusion 11(f) in the State Farm policy provides that there is no coverage for
property damage to “that particular part of any property that must be restored, repaired or
replaced because your work was incorrectly performed on it.” At first blush, it would appear
that the property damage alleged by Old St. Paul falls within this exclusion because it was
6
caused by improperly performed work. The exclusion, however, also provides that it does
not apply to property damage included in the “products completed operations hazard.” As
a result, the real question is whether the property damage alleged by Old St. Paul falls within
the definition of a “products completed operations hazard.” If it falls within that definition,
the exclusion is not applicable and coverage may be available. If it does not, exclusion 11(f)
applies and no coverage is available.
The insurance policy defines the “products completed operations hazard” as including
all “property damage arising out of your product or your work except products that are still
in your physical possession or work that has not yet been completed or abandoned.” The
policy then defines when work is deemed completed. As a result, if the property damage
arises from work that has been completed or abandoned, it falls within the “products
completed operations hazard.” As a result, exclusion 11(f) would not apply and coverage
may be available.
Here, State Farm argues that because it is undisputed that the work was not completed,
the exclusion applies and there is no coverage. The problem with this argument is that Old
St. Paul does not dispute that the work was uncompleted; rather, it has alleged that the work
was abandoned. If the work was abandoned, it would fall within the “products completed
operations hazard” and exclusion 11(f) would not preclude coverage. In its reply in support
of the motion for summary judgment, State Farm argues for the first time that the work was
not abandoned because Templebloc attempted to return in February of 2007 to complete the
project and explained the reasons for its absence from the jobsite. It also states that the work
7
does not fall within the “products completed operations hazard” because the church actually
terminated the contract. Clearly, there are questions of fact that remain as to whether the
work was abandoned and the exclusion applies, and summary judgment is not appropriate
on the breach of contract claim.
B.
Estoppel
In its complaint, Old St. Paul also alleges that State Farm should be estopped from
disavowing coverage for any of its claims because it submitted certificates of insurance
coverage to Old St. Paul, which the church relied upon. Specifically, State Farm submitted
certificates stating that the policy covered “products - completed operations” and “contractual
liability.”
The problem with this argument is that the certificates of insurance do not alter the
terms of the policy as set out in the policy. See Brown v. Progressive Gulf Ins. Co., 30 So.3d
355, 360 (Miss. Ct. App. 2009). Here, the certificates clearly state that “the insurance
described in these policies is subject to all the terms, exclusions, and conditions of those
policies.” Accordingly, summary judgment is granted on Old St. Paul’s claim for estoppel
against State Farm.
C.
Violations of Ark. Code Ann. § 23-65-101(f)
Summary judgment is also granted in favor of State Farm on Old St. Paul’s claims
against Templebloc and Blockett for violations of Ark. Code Ann. § 23-65-101(f) and the
unpaid judgment against FNIG.
Old St. Paul alleges that Templebloc and Blockett violated state law by aiding and
8
negotiating procurement of the fraudulent bonds from FNIG and, as a result, may be held
strictly liable for the unpaid judgment against FNIG. It further alleges that this is a covered
loss under the State Farm insurance policy. In support of this claim, Old St. Paul relies in
part on the fact that the certificates of insurance purport to offer coverage for “contractual
liability.” As stated in section III.B, this is not a sufficient basis for finding that the insurance
policy provides coverage for Templebloc and Blockett’s violations of state law and for the
unpaid judgment against FNIG.
Old St. Paul also argues that the damages caused by Templebloc and Blockett’s
violations of Ark. Code Ann. § 23-65-101(f) are covered because they arose as a result of
property damage. This argument is based on language in the policy that says State Farm
“will pay those sums that [Templebloc] becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because
of” property damage.
Even assuming that Templebloc and Blockett are strictly liable for the judgment
against FNIG, there is nothing in the CGL policy suggesting that State Farm is obligated to
defend or indemnify Templebloc and Blockett for such liability. Old St. Paul has not
provided any authority under Mississippi law to support a finding that these are covered
damages under the State Farm policy. As provided in section III.A, such pecuniary losses
are not damage to tangible property, even when the underlying action is based on allegations
of property damage.
Accordingly, State Farm’s motion for summary judgment is granted on the claims
against Templebloc and Blockett for violations of Ark. Code Ann. § 23-65-101(f).
9
IV. CONCLUSION
For the reasons discussed above, State Farm’s motion for summary judgment [Doc.
No. 40] is granted in part and denied in part. It is granted as to Old St. Paul’s claims against
State Farm for estoppel and against Templebloc and Blockett for violations of Ark. Code
Ann. § 23-65-101(f). It is denied as to the breach of contract claim.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 23rd day of July 2013.
________________________________
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
10
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?