A.W. Interiors, Inc. v. The Travelers Indemnity Company

Filing 43

ORDER. ORDERED that Traveler' s Motion For Summary Judgment 25 is GRANTED and AWIs breach of duty to defend claim is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. ORDERED that AWI's Motion For Summary Judgment On Breach Of Duty To Defend 26 is DENIED by Judge Wiley Y. Daniel on 05/23/14.(jhawk, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
Senior Judge Wiley Y. Daniel
Civil Action No. 12-cv-02446-WYD-KLM
A. W. INTERIORS, INC.,
Plaintiff,
v.
THE TRAVELERS INDEMNITY COMPANY,
Defendant.
______________________________________________________________________
ORDER
______________________________________________________________________
THIS MATTER is before the Court on defendant, The Travelers Indemnity
Company’s, Motion For Summary Judgment [ECF No. 25], and plaintiff, A. W. Interiors,
Inc.’s, Motion For Summary Judgment On Breach Of Duty To Defend [ECF No. 26]. For
the reasons stated below, The Travelers Indemnity Company’s Motion For Summary
Judgment [ECF No. 25] is GRANTED and A. W. Interiors, Inc.’s Motion For Summary
Judgment On Breach Of Duty To Defend [ECF No. 26] is DENIED.
BACKGROUND
This suit arises from issues regarding the construction of a Four Seasons Hotel
in Vail, Colorado (“the project” or “project”).
Black Diamond Resorts-Vail Resorts LLC (“Black Diamond”) was the original
project owner and Layton Construction Company (“Layton”) was the original general
contractor. Black Diamond purchased a wrap-up commercial general liability policy
from Interested Lloyd’s Underwriters (“Lloyd’s”), to protect against liability for the project.

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On February 9, 2009, plaintiff, A. W. Interiors, Inc. (“AWI”), entered into a subcontract
agreement [ECF No. 13-1, pp. 107-123] with Layton to install pocket door tracks in the
hotel. To protect against liability for its work, AWI purchased a commercial general
liability policy (“the policy”) from defendant, The Travelers Indemnity Company
(“Travelers”).
At some point subsequent to beginning the project, Black Diamond defaulted on
its loan obligations and Barclays Capital Real Estate, Inc. (“BCRE”) became the new
project owner. Despite Black Diamond’s default, the wrap-up policy from Lloyds
remained in effect. On June 11, 2009, BCRE sent Layton a “Notice of Termination for
Convenience” which ceased all project work by Layton and all subcontractors. BCRE
then hired a different general contractor, Hyder Construction, Inc., to continue work on
the project.
Layton alleged that it is owed a large sum of money for its project work, and on
September 29, 2010, Layton filed a Second Amended Complaint [ECF No. 26-2]
against BCRE, AWI, and numerous other defendants in Eagle County District Court,
County of Eagle, Colorado, seeking inter alia, past due payments for its project work. In
Layton’s Sixth Claim For Relief, Layton alleged that AWI and numerous other parties’
work on the project “suffered from alleged defects.” ECF No. 26-2, p. 26, ¶¶ 198-203.
As such, Layton stated that should it be found liable for damages associated with the
defective work, AWI and others are required to indemnify Layton for such damages. Id.
In Layton’s Seventh Claim For Relief, Layton alleged that if judgment is entered against
it for defective project work, Layton is entitled to contribution from AWI for such
defective work. Id. at p. 27, ¶¶ 204-206.

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AWI notified Travelers of the Layton suit and requested that Travelers defend
AWI in the action pursuant to the policy. On July 14, 2011, Travelers sent AWI a
Declination of Coverage Letter [ECF No. 26-11] in which it stated that “there is no
coverage available for the referenced matter.” ECF No. 26-11, p. 2. Thus, AWI retained
counsel to defend itself in the Layton suit. Trial commenced in state court on April 16,
2012 and concluded on April 20, 2012. AWI alleges that it expended $93,045.50 in
defense of the Layton suit.
On September 14, 2012, AWI filed its original Complaint [ECF No. 1] against
Travelers alleging that Travelers breached its duty to defend AWI in the Layton suit. On
October 2, 2012, AWI filed an Amended Complaint [ECF No. 10] asserting the same
claim. On May 15, 2013, AWI and Travelers filed cross motions for summary judgment
[ECF Nos. 25 & 26] regarding Traveler’s duty to defend. Specifically, the parties dispute
whether the policy’s wrap-up exclusion precludes coverage for the Layton suit. On April
9, 2014, I held a Motions Hearing and heard the parties’ arguments on both motions. I
took the motions under advisement.
ANALYSIS
A. Legal Standard for a Motion for Summary Judgment
Summary judgment is proper when “the movant shows that there is no genuine
dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of
law.” FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a); see Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 250
(1986); Equal Employment Opportunity Comm. v. Horizon/CMS Healthcare Corp., 220
F.3d 1184, 1190 (10th Cir. 2000). “When applying this standard, [the court must] ‘view
the evidence and draw all reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to

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the party opposing summary judgment.’” Atl. Richfield Co. v. Farm Credit Bank of
Wichita, 226 F.3d 1138, 1148 (10th Cir. 2000) (citation omitted). “A fact is ‘material’ if,
under the governing law, it could have an effect on the outcome of the lawsuit.”
Horizon/CMS Healthcare, 220 F.3d at 1190. “A dispute over a material fact is ‘genuine’
if a rational jury could find in favor of the nonmoving party on the evidence presented.”
Id.
“The burden of showing that no genuine issue of material fact exists is borne by
the moving party.” Horizon/CMS Healthcare, 220 F.3d at 1190. “‘Only disputes over
facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will properly
preclude the entry of summary judgment.’” Atl. Richfield Co., 226 F.3d at 1148
(quotation omitted). All doubts must be resolved in favor of the existence of triable
issues of fact. Boren v. Sw. Bell Tel. Co., 933 F.2d 891, 892 (10th Cir. 1991).
B. Insurance Contract Interpretation and an Insurer’s Duty to Defend
Where, as here, federal jurisdiction is predicated upon diversity, the court applies
the substantive law of the forum state. Barrett v. Tallon, 30 F.3d 1296, 1300 (10th Cir.
1994). Pursuant to Colorado law, “[a]n insurance policy is merely a contract that courts
should interpret in line with well-settled principles of contract interpretation.” Cyprus
Amax Minerals Co. v. Lexington Ins. Co., 74 P.3d 294, 299 (Colo. 2003) (citations
omitted). “In undertaking the interpretation of an insurance contract, courts should be
wary of rewriting provisions, and should give the words contained in the contract their
plain and ordinary meaning, unless contrary intent is evidenced in the policy.” Id. (citing
Chacon v. Am. Family Mut. Ins. Co., 788 P.2d 748, 750 (Colo. 1990)). “Courts should
read the provisions of the policy as a whole, rather than reading them in

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isolation.” Id. (citing Simon v. Shelter Gen. Ins. Co., 842 P.2d 236, 239 (Colo. 1992)).
The Colorado Supreme Court has cautioned that:
Courts may neither add provisions to extend coverage
beyond that contracted for, nor delete them to limit coverage.
However, because of the unique nature of insurance
contracts and the relationship between the insurer and
insured, courts do construe ambiguous provisions against
the insurer and in favor of providing coverage to the insured.
Id. “A court’s interpretation of an insurance contract is a matter of law subject to de
novo review.” Id. (citing Compass Ins. Co. v. City of Littleton, 984 P.2d 606, 613 (Colo.
1993)).
In determining whether an insurer breached its duty to defend an insured,
Colorado courts apply the “complaint rule.” Cyprus, 74 P.3d at 299. The Supreme Court
of Colorado has stated that:
The duty to defend concerns an insurance company’s duty
to affirmatively defend its insured against pending claims.
We have long held that to determine whether a duty to
defend exists, courts must look no further than the four
corners of the underlying complaint (the “four corners” or
“complaint” rule). An insurer is not excused from this duty
unless there is no factual or legal basis on which the insurer
might eventually be held liable to indemnify the insured.
Hence, if the alleged facts even potentially trigger coverage
under the policy, the insurer is bound to provide a defense.
Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). The Supreme Court of Colorado
has also stated that:
An insurer seeking to avoid its duty to defend an insured
bears a heavy burden. An insurer’s duty to defend
arises when the underlying complaint against the insurer
alleges any facts that might fall within the coverage of the
policy. The actual liability of the insured to the claimant is
not the criterion which places upon the insurance company
the obligation to defend. Rather, the obligation to defend
arises from allegations in the complaint, which if sustained,
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would impose a liability covered by the policy. Where the
insurer’s duty to defend is not apparent from the pleadings in
the case against the insured, but the allegations do state a
claim which is potentially or arguably within the policy
coverage, or there is some doubt as to whether a theory of
recovery within the policy coverage has been pleaded, the
insurer must accept the defense of the claim.
*

*

*

*

The insurer has a duty to defend unless the insurer can
establish that the allegations in the complaint are solely and
entirely within the exclusions in the insurance policy. An
insurer is not excused from its duty to defend unless there is
no factual or legal basis on which the insurer might
eventually be held liable to indemnify the insured.
Hecla Mining Co. v. New Hampshire Ins. Co., 811 P.2d 1083, 1089-90 (Colo. 1991)
(internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
Pursuant to these mandates by the Supreme Court of Colorado, I must identify
the relevant portion of the policy then determine whether allegations in the Layton suit
trigger coverage from the policy.
C. The Wrap-Up Exclusion
1. Applicable Exclusion from Travelers’ Declination of Coverage
Letter [ECF No. 26-11]
At the outset, there is dispute as to which provisions Travelers may rely on to
defend itself from AWI’s claim that Travelers breached its duty to defend. The logical
beginning of this analysis is Travelers’ Declination of Coverage Letter [ECF No. 26-11].
Travelers declined coverage for the Layton suit based on a “wrap-up” exclusion.
In its Declination of Coverage Letter [ECF No. 26-11] (“the letter”), Travelers cites two
different wrap-up exclusions. The first exclusion cited on page 3 of the letter refers to
AWI’s policy (Policy Number I-680-1070N978-IND-09) with a policy period of January 1,

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2009 to January 1, 2010. The second exclusion cited on page 3 of the letter refers to
AWI’s policies (Policy Numbers I-680-1070N978-IND-10 and I-680-1070N978-TIL-11)
with a policy period of January 1, 2010 to January 1, 2012.
All work on the project by Layton and its subcontractors, including AWI, ceased
during the summer of 2009. The policy that protected AWI for liability on its work during
that time would be Policy Number I-680-1070N978-IND-09 with a policy period of
January 1, 2009 to January 1, 2010. Thus, that is the operative policy in this matter.
2. Whether Travelers Waived Any Other Defense Of Coverage
The wrap-up exclusion is the only basis for denying coverage stated in Travelers’
letter. As such, AWI states that Travelers waived any other defense of coverage. I
need not address waiver because I find that the wrap-up exclusion in Policy Number I680-1070N978-IND-09 excludes coverage for the Layton suit. My analysis and
conclusion is stated in detail below.
3. The Wrap-Up Exclusion In Policy Number I-680-1070N978-IND-09
As previously stated, the wrap-up exclusion in Policy Number I-680-1070N978IND-09 is the operative exclusion in this matter. The wrap up exclusion states:
1. The following exclusion is added to paragraph 2.
Exclusion of Coverage A – Bodily Injury and Property
Damage Liability (Section 1 – Coverages) and Coverage B –
Personal and Advertising Injury Liability (Section 1 –
Coverages):
This insurance does not apply to “bodily injury,” “property
damage,” “personal injury” or “advertising injury” arising out
of any operation performed by you or on your behalf on or
from all premises covered under a contractor controlled
insurance program or owner controlled insurance program,
“wrap up” or other similar insurance program.
This exclusion does not apply to “bodily injury” and “property
damage” included within the “products-completed operations
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hazard” if all coverage available to the insured for the
“products-completed operations hazard” in a contract
controlled insurance program or owner controlled insurance
program, “wrap-up” or other similar insurance program is no
longer in effect.
2. The following is added to DEFINITIONS (Section V):
“Wrap-up” means any agreement or arrangement under
which some or all the contractors working on a specific
project are insured under one or more policies issued
specifically for “bodily injury,” “property damage,” “personal
injury,” or “advertising injury” arising out of the project.
ECF No. 10-1, p. 110, ¶¶ 1-2. Based on the wrap-up exclusion’s plain language, certain
elements must be established in order for the exclusion to bar coverage for the Layton
suit. Specifically: (1) there must be bodily injury, property damage, personal injury or
advertising injury; (2) such injuries and/or damage must have arisen out of any
operation performed by AWI or on AWI’s behalf; and, (3) such operation must have
been performed on premises covered under a contractor controlled insurance program
or owner controlled insurance program, wrap up or other similar insurance program. In
the event that such facts exist, the wrap-up exclusion does not automatically bar
coverage for the Layton suit. An exception to the wrap-up exclusion exists. Pursuant to
the exception, the wrap-up exclusion does not apply if: (1) the bodily injury and property
damage is within the “products-completed operations hazard;” and, (2) all coverage
available to the insured for the “products-completed operations hazard” in a contract
controlled insurance program or owner controlled insurance program, “wrap-up” or other
similar insurance program is no longer in effect. Thus, analysis of the wrap-up
exclusion is two-fold. First, I must determine whether facts exist which trigger
application of the wrap-up exclusion. Second, if such facts exist, I must then determine

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whether the exception applies to bar application of the wrap-up exclusion. Pursuant to
well-settled Colorado state law, I must look to allegations in the Second Amended
Complaint in the Layton suit to determine whether the wrap-up exclusion applies.
a. Whether the Wrap-Up Exclusion Applies
i. Bodily Injury, Property Damage, Personal Injury or
Advertising Injury
The Second Amended Complaint in the Layton Suit alleges property damage and
the parties do not dispute this fact.
ii. Whether the Alleged Injury and/or Damage Arose Out of
Any Operation Performed By AWI or on AWI’s Behalf
In Layton’s Sixth Claim For Relief (Indemnification) in the state court case,
Layton states that “to the extent Layton may be found liable for [] any acts or omissions
of A.W. Interiors or Continuing Subcontractors, Layton is entitled to indemnification for
all damages and costs.” ECF No. 26-2, p. 26, ¶ 202 (emphasis added). AWI states that
because Layton used the term “omission” and the wrap-up policy refers to operations
“performed,” the wrap-up exclusion does not apply. Essentially, AWI states that in the
context of this exclusion, the word “performed” only encompasses affirmative acts, not
omissions.
AWI offers no case law to support interpreting the word “performed” to
encompass only affirmative acts. The drafter of the wrap-up exclusion could have
written in this distinction if indeed a distinction was intended. However, the drafter
chose not to do so. Assuming arguendo, that the drafter intended the exclusion to apply
only to affirmative acts, that would mean the exclusion would bar coverage in a situation
where the insured affirmatively acted and caused damage, but the exclusion would not

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apply and coverage would exist when the insured failed to do some act and by doing so
caused damage. There is no evidence before me that would lead me to conclude this
type of distinction was intended. Therefore, I will not adopt AWI’s proposed
interpretation. I find that the word “performed” encompasses both affirmative acts and
omissions, and the alleged damage attributed to AWI in the Layton suit arose out of
operations performed by AWI.
iii. Whether the Operation(s) Performed Were on Premises
Covered Under A Contractor Controlled Insurance Program
or Owner Controlled Insurance Program, Wrap Up or Other
Similar Insurance Program
There are two disagreements amongst the parties under this element: (1)
whether a wrap-up insurance policy exists and whether such policy was mentioned in
Layton’s Second Amended Complaint in the state court case; and, (2) the interpretation
of the phrase “premises covered.”
(a) Existence and Reference to a Wrap-Up Policy
Under the complaint rule, I may only consider allegations in Layton’s Second
Amended Complaint in the state court case to determine whether Travelers breached its
duty to defend. Rule 10(c) of the FEDERAL RULES of CIVIL PROCEDURE states that “[a]
copy of a written instrument that is an exhibit to a pleading is a part of the pleading for
all purposes.” Numerous exhibits from Layton’s Second Amended Complaint reference
Black Diamond’s wrap-up insurance policy and AWI acknowledged that language in the
contract between Black Diamond and Layton refers to a wrap-up insurance policy. See
ECF No. 25-5, p. 1 (contract between Black Diamond and Layton) (“the amounts of the
various subcontracts awarded for the Project will be reduced to reflect that liability
insurance for the Project will be maintained through the ‘Wrap-Up’ liability insurance
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program . . . ”); Id. at p. 4 (“WRAP insurance policy is carried and paid for by the Owner
. . . ”); ECF No. 25-7, p. 3 (Letter from Hyder Construction, Inc. [the new general
contractor on the project] to Home & Hearth Outfitters [a new subcontractor on the
project]) (“The Owner controlled wrap up insurance policy (OCIP) has been maintained
for the Project . . . ”); ECF No. 28, p. 4, ¶ 21 (AWI’s Opposition To Defendant’s Motion
For Summary Judgment) (“AWI acknowledges that the quoted language [referring to the
existence of the wrap-up insurance policy] appears in the Layton-Black Diamond
contract . . . ”). Thus, there is sufficient evidence to show that a wrap-up insurance
policy exists.
(b) Interpretation of the Phrase “Premises Covered”
AWI argues that the operations it performed on the project were not on “premises
covered” by Black Diamond’s wrap-up insurance policy. Specifically, AWI states that:
[T]he property damage claim alleged against it in the
underlying case did not arise out of operations performed by
AWI on premises that were ‘covered’ under the Interested
Lloyd’s Underwriters wrap-up policy issued for the Four
Seasons project because Interested Lloyd’s Underwriters
has advised AWI, in no uncertain terms, that there is no
coverage available to AWI under the wrap-up policy.
ECF No. 26, p. 12, ¶ 1. Simply stated, AWI argues that because Lloyd’s denied
coverage for the Layton suit under Black Diamond’s wrap-up insurance policy, the
alleged property damage did not arise on a premise that was “covered” by Black
Diamond’s wrap-up insurance policy and as such, the wrap-up exclusion does not
apply.
AWI relies on Lloyd’s Declination of Coverage Letter (“letter”) [ECF No. 26-13] to
support its argument. On December 2, 2011, Lloyd’s sent a letter to AWI stating that

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three exclusions in Black Diamond’s wrap-up insurance policy barred coverage for the
Layton suit. The letter is not a part of Layton’s Second Amended Complaint. Pursuant
to the complaint rule, I must “look no further than the four corners of the underlying
complaint” when determining whether Travelers breached its duty to defend. Cyprus, 74
P.3d at 299. However, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has
predicted that the Colorado Supreme Court would recognize two narrow exceptions to
the complaint rule. See Apt. Inv. & Mgmt. Co. (AIMCO) v. Nutmeg Ins. Co., 593 F.3d
1188 (10th Cir. 2010); Pompa v. Am. Family Mut. Ins. Co., 520 F.3d 1139 (10th Cir.
2008). In Pompa, the Tenth Circuit predicted that the Colorado Supreme Court “would
recognize an exception to the complaint rule if an insured’s complaint contained
allegations made in bad faith and ‘framed to trigger an insurance policy.’” United Fire &
Cas. Co. v. Boulder Plaza Residential, LLC, 633 F.3d 951, 960 (10th Cir. 2011). In
AIMCO, the Tenth Circuit predicted that the Colorado Supreme Court would recognize
an exception to the complaint rule “‘requiring an insurer to consider facts which it is
aware of in parallel complaints that tend to show a duty to defend . . . ’” Id. at 961
(quoting AIMCO, 593 F.3d at 1194). Neither of the circumstances in Pompa or AIMCO
exist in the present case. Because the letter is not a part of Layton’s Second Amended
Complaint and because neither exception to the complaint rule applies, I will not
consider the letter in determining whether Traveler’s breached its duty to defend.
(1) Premises
“In both popular and legal usage, the term ‘premises’ refers to real property . . . ”
United States v. Young, 263 Fed. Appx. 710, 714 (10th Cir. 2008) (unpublished)

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(citations omitted).1 Thus, the question is whether the alleged property damage arose
from work performed by AWI on real property covered by Black Diamond’s wrap-up
insurance policy.
(2) Covered
AWI argues that “covered” is ambiguous because it is not defined in the policy
and because it is susceptible to more than one reasonable interpretation. I disagree.
AWI’s argument regarding the meaning of “covered” is based on the letter from Lloyd’s,
which I cannot consider under the complaint rule. Thus, I need not address AWI’s
argument which is based on the letter from Lloyd’s.
When I read the phrase “premises covered,” I interpret that to mean any real
property that is identified in the policy for the purpose of insuring the property against
harm. Generally, insurance policies spell out the property that is covered by the policy
e.g., the policy lists the physical address of certain property insured under the policy.
Here, best practice would be to look at Black Diamond’s wrap-up insurance policy to
ascertain the property that is covered by the policy to determine whether AWI’s work
was performed on such property. However, the complaint rule bars me from doing so
because Black Diamond’s wrap-up insurance policy is not a part of Layton’s Second
Amended Complaint. Thus, I am left to look at Layton’s Second Amended Complaint to
determine whether AWI’s alleged defective work was performed on a property identified

1

Young is an unpublished Tenth Circuit opinion regarding a criminal case. Though Young is a criminal
case, the Tenth Circuit’s definition of “premises” is applicable in the present case. Although
“[u]npublished opinions are not precedential, [they] may be cited for their persuasive value.” 10th Cir. R.
32.1(A). Further, “if an unpublished opinion or order and judgment has persuasive value with respect to a
material issue in a case and would assist the court in its disposition, we [the Tenth Circuit] allow a citation
to that decision.” United States v. Austin, 426 F.3d 1266, 1274 (10th Cir. 2005) (citation omitted). The
interpretation of “premises covered” is a material issue in this case and the Young opinion assists me in
the disposition of the pending cross motions for summary judgment. Thus, citation to Young is
appropriate.

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in Black Diamond’s wrap-up insurance policy. In Black Diamond’s contract with Layton,
which is an exhibit to Layton’s Second Amended Complaint, Black Diamond states that
it “purchased a Project Specific Commercial General Liability policy (‘Wrap Up’) for the
Work performed at the Project site.” ECF No. 25-5, p. 10. There is no evidence from
Layton’s Second Amended Complaint that would suggest that AWI performed the
allegedly defective work outside the project site. Thus, based on Layton’s Second
Amended Complaint [ECF No. 26-2], I find that AWI’s allegedly defective work was
performed at the project site and the project site was an insured property under Black
Diamond’s wrap-up insurance policy. Therefore, AWI’s allegedly defective work was
performed on a “premise covered” by Black Diamond’s wrap-up insurance policy and
the wrap-up exclusion applies to bar coverage for the Layton suit.
Having determined that the wrap-up exclusion applies to bar coverage, I must
now determine whether the wrap-up exclusion’s exception applies and bars application
of the wrap-up exclusion.
b. Whether the Exception to the Wrap-Up Exclusion Applies
The wrap-up exclusion does not apply to:
“[B]odily injury” and “property damage” included within the
“products-completed operations hazard” if all coverage
available to the insured for the “products-completed
operations hazard” in a contract controlled insurance
program or owner controlled insurance program, “wrap-up”
or other similar insurance program is no longer in effect.
ECF No. 10-1. Thus, in order for this exception to bar application of the wrap-up
exclusion, the following elements must be established: (1) bodily injury or property
damage; (2) the bodily injury or property damage must be included within the productscompleted operations hazard; and, (3) all available coverage to the insured for the
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products-completed operations hazard in the wrap-up policy must no longer be in effect.
i. Bodily Injury or Property Damage
There is no dispute that property damage exists and is the genesis of this suit.
ii. Whether the Property Damage Is Included Within the
Products-Completed Operations Hazard
Regarding the products-completed operations hazard, the policy states, in
pertinent part:
a. [The Products-completed operations hazard] [i]ncludes all
“bodily injury” and “property damage” occurring away from
premises you own or rent and arising out of “your product” or
“your work” except:
(1) Products that are still in your physical possession;
or
(2) Work that has not yet been completed or
abandoned. However, “your work” will be deemed
completed at the earliest of the following times:
(a) When all of the work called for in your
contract has been completed.
(b) When all of the work to be done at the job
site has been completed if your contract
calls for work at more than one job site.
(c) When that part of the work done at a job
site has been put to its intended use by
any person or organization other than another
contractor or subcontractor working on the
same project.
Work that may need service, maintenance, correction,
repair or replacement, but which is otherwise
complete, will be treated as completed.
ECF No. 10-1, pp. 84-85. This definition specifically states what is not included in the
products-completed operations hazard. First, products still in the insured’s possession

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do not fall within the definition of products-completed operations hazard. This provision
is irrelevant because it is AWI’s work, not its products, that was at issue in the Layton
suit. Second, work that has not yet been completed or abandoned is not included in the
products-completed operations hazard. Regarding work not yet completed, BCRE
terminated Layton and all subcontractors contracted by Layton on June 11, 2009 via a
“Notice of Termination for Convenience.” ECF No. 26-2, p. 14, ¶ 86. In its Second
Amended Complaint [ECF No. 26-2], Layton states that “BCRE terminated Layton for
convenience at a time when the Project was incomplete.” Id. at ¶ 87 (emphasis added).
Further, Layton alleged that “[t]he vast majority of the alleged ‘defects’ are simply
incomplete work and work that was in progress.” Id. at p. 15, ¶ 93. BCRE subsequently
hired a new general contractor, Hyder Construction, Inc., which in turn hired new
subcontractors to continue work on the incomplete project. Id. at p. 14, ¶ 89 and p. 15, ¶
90.
The alleged property damage attributed to AWI in the Layton suit arose out of
work performed by AWI that was not completed. Thus, the alleged property damage
does not fall within the products-completed operations hazard definition. Because the
alleged property damage does not fall within the products-completed operations hazard
definition, my analysis regarding whether this exception to the wrap-up exclusion
applies ends here and the wrap-up exclusion applies to bar coverage for the Layton
suit.
D. Attorney Fees and Costs
“It is well settled law that each party must generally bear its own legal expenses
in a lawsuit.” Am. Family Mut. Ins. Co. v. Teamcorp, Inc., 835 F. Supp. 2d 1083, 1086-

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87 (D. Colo. Dec. 16, 2011) (citing Cont’l W. Ins. Co. v. Heritage Estates Mut. Hous.
Ass’n, 77 P.3d 911, 913 (Colo. App. 2003)). “This rule, called the American Rule, is
subject to express statute, court rule, or private contract to the contrary.” Id. at 1087.
AWI states that it is entitled to recover attorney fees and costs incurred in
defending itself in the Layton suit. AWI relies on Wheeler v. Reese, 832 P.2d 572
(Colo. App. 1992). In Wheeler, the court stated:
[A]n insurer which contracts to defend the insured and fails
to do so runs a calculated risk. If there is an ultimate finding
by the trial court of no coverage, the insurer will not be liable
for the litigation expenses of its insured since it would have
been entitled to reimbursement. On the other hand, if the
trial court finds that the incident resulting in liability was
covered by the policy, then in addition to the expenses which
the insured incurred in defending himself against the third
party, the insurer also will be liable for attorney fees from the
insured's action against insurer for breach of duty to defend.
832 P.2d at 577. Relying on this statement, AWI argues that it is entitled to attorney
fees and expenses incurred from the Layton suit. Based on this statement, AWI would
be entitled to attorney fees and expenses had I found that Travelers breached its duty to
defend. However, that is not the case and I found that Travelers did not breach its duty.
Further, AWI has not cited to any specific statute or provision in its policy that expressly
provides for recovery of attorney fees and expenses incurred from the Layton suit.
Thus, AWI is not entitled to attorney fees and expenses incurred from the Layton suit.
CONCLUSION
After careful consideration of the matters before this Court, I find that the wrap-up
exclusion in Policy Number I-680-1070N978-IND-09 applies to bar coverage for the
Layton suit and Travelers did not breach its duty to defend. As such, it is
ORDERED that Traveler’s Motion For Summary Judgment [ECF No. 25] is
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GRANTED and AWI’s breach of duty to defend claim is DISMISSED WITH
PREJUDICE. It is
FURTHER ORDERED that AWI’s Motion For Summary Judgment On Breach Of
Duty To Defend [ECF No. 26] is DENIED.
Dated: May 23, 2014.

BY THE COURT:
/s/ Wiley Y. Daniel
Wiley Y. Daniel
Senior U. S. District Judge

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