International Offshore Services, LLC et al v. Linear Controls Operating, Inc. et al

Filing 107

ORDER AND REASONS granting 90 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon. (cbn)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
INTERNATIONAL OFFSHORE
SERVICES, LLC AND
INTERNATIONAL MARINE, LLC

CIVIL ACTION

VERSUS

NO: 13-4852

LINEAR CONTROLS OPERATING,
INC. f/k/a LINEAR CONTROLS, INC.
AND APACHE CORPORATION (OF
DELAWARE)

SECTION: "S" (5)

ORDER AND REASONS
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Catlin Specialty Insurance Company's Motion for
Summary Judgment (Doc. #90) is GRANTED, and Apache Corporation's claim against Catlin is
DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
BACKGROUND
This matter is before the court on a motion for summary judgment filed by third-party
defendant, Catlin Specialty Insurance Company. Catlin argues the terms of the insurance policy at
issue preclude the coverage sought by third-party plaintiff, Apache Corporation. Specifically, Catlin
argues that the policy does not provide coverage for Apache's contractual defense and indemnity
obligations that Apache owes to plaintiffs, International Marine, L.L.C. and International Offshore
Services, L.L.C.
International Marine, L.L.C. and International Offshore Services, L.L.C. (collectively
"International Marine"),1 were the owner and owner pro hac vice, respectively, of the M/V
INTERNATIONAL HUNTER. On December 13, 2011, the M/V INTERNATIONAL HUNTER

1

Plaintiffs settled all of their claims. Apache's third-party defense and indemnity claim against Catlin
for insurance coverage is the only claim remaining in this litigation.

allided with an unmanned production platform in West Cameron Block 168 in the Gulf of Mexico
off the coast of Louisiana that was owned by Linder Oil Company, a Partnership; Linder Energy
Company; Louisiana General Oil Company; Sojitz Energy Ventures, Inc.; Destin Resources LLC;
and, Reserves Management, L.C. The vessel's four crew members and three passengers boarded life
boats and were rescued about an hour after the allision. Jake Bergeron, an employee of Controls
Operating, Inc. f/k/a Linear Controls Operating, Inc. f/k/a Linear Controls, Inc. ("Linear"), was one
of the passengers. Bergeron was en route to an Apache platform to perform work pursuant to a
contract between Linear and Apache, and the vessel was time chartered by Apache. Bergeron filed
a claim for personal injuries in International Marine's limitation of liability action, In the Matter of
International Marine, LLC and International Offshore Services, LLC, Civil Action No. 12-358,
brought pursuant to Rule F of the Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty and Maritime Claims
in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. International Marine settled
with Bergeron.
International Marine filed this declaratory judgment action against Linear and Apache
seeking a declaration that pursuant to the contracts among the parties, Linear and Apache owed
International Marine "defense and indemnity and the benefit of [their] insurance" with respect to
Bergeron's claims. In 2004, International Marine's predecessor in interest entered into a Master
Time Charter Agreement ("MTCA") with Apache whereby International Marine agreed to provide
vessels to Apache on request. The MTCA requires Apache to defend and indemnify International
Marine against claims arising from personal injuries to Apache's employees or subcontractors.
Specifically, the MTCA provides:
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NEITHER [INTERNATIONAL MARINE], ITS OFFICERS,
DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, THE VESSEL, HER OWNERS,
OPERATORS, MASTER, AND CREW, NOR THE
UNDERWRITERS OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING SHALL HAVE
ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM . . .
FOR ANY INJURY, ILLNESS, DISEASE OR DEATH OF
EMPLOYEES OF [APACHE], ITS SUB-CONTRACTORS, OR
THEIR EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS, AND [APACHE] SHALL
DEFEND AND INDEMNIFY, AND HOLD HARMLESS
[INTERNATIONAL MARINE], ITS PARENT, SUBSIDIARY AND
AFFILIATED COMPANIES . . . THE VESSEL, ITS OWNERS,
OPERATORS, MASTER, AND CREW, AND THE
UNDERWRITERS OF EACH OF THE FOREGOING FROM AND
AGAINST ANY SUCH CLAIM, WHETHER GROUNDLESS OR
NOT, AND WHETHER CAUSED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY
THE NEGLIGENCE OR FAULTS OF INDEMNITEES, OR BY
UNSEAWORTHINESS OF THE VESSEL . . . IT IS EXPRESSLY
UNDERSTOOD THAT [APACHE] SHALL INSURE ITS
OBLIGATIONS ASSUMED UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH.
The MTCA required Apache to obtain comprehensive general liability insurance, including
contractual liability insurance, with limits of $5,000,000 per occurrence, and to name International
Marine, "the vessel, its owners, operators, master, and crew, and their respective underwriters as
Additional Assured and [to] Waive Subrogation against such Additional Assureds."
Linear and Apache had a Master Service Contract ("MSC"), whereby Linear agreed to
provide services to Apache when Apache issued orders for specific work. The MSC requires Linear
to defend and indemnify Apache against claims arising from personal injuries to Linear's employees.
Specifically, the MSC provides:
[LINEAR] AGREES TO BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR AND
ASSUME ALL LIABILITY FOR AND HEREBY AGREES TO
DEFEND RELEASE, INDEMNIFY, AND HOLD HARMLESS
COMPANY GROUP2, FROM ALL LOSSES, COSTS, EXPENSES,
2

"Company Group" is defined as Apache "its parent, subsidiary and affiliated companies, and their
officers, employees, in-house counsel, agents, representatives, invitees, co-lessees, co-owners, partners, joint
venturers, contractors and subcontractors (other than [Linear]) and each of their respective successors,
spouses, relatives, dependents, heirs and estates."

3

AND CAUSES OF ACTION (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS' FEES
AND COURT COSTS) FOR LOSS OR FOR DAMAGE TO
PROPERTY, AND FOR INJURIES TO PERSONS AND DEATH
ARISING OUT OF, INCIDENT TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH,
THE WORK OR ANY AND ALL OPERATIONS UNDER THIS
CONTRACT, WHETHER OR NOT SUCH LOSSES, COSTS,
EXPENSES, INJURIES, DEATH, OR CAUSES OF ACTION ARE
CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO BY THE NEGLIGENCE,
OMISSION, STRICT LIABILITY, OR CONTRACTUAL
LIABILITY, OR FAULT OF ANY MEMBER OF COMPANY
GROUP AND WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY A PREEXISTING CONDITION. THE LIABILITY ASSUMED BY
[LINEAR] PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION . . . SHALL NOT BE
LIMITED TO THE AMOUNTS OF CURRENT PROPERTY OR
LIABILITY INSURANCE VOLUNTARILY CARRIED BY
[LINEAR].
The MSC also required Linear to maintain comprehensive general liability insurance that provided
at least $1,000,000 of coverage per occurrence, covered the Gulf of Mexico, and named Apache, its
affiliates and subsidiaries as additional insureds "for obligations undertaken and liabilities assumed
by [Linear] under" the MSC. The policies were to "be primary to and . . . receive no contribution
from any insurance policies maintained by Company Group." The comprehensive general liability
insurance was also required to cover "[c]ontracutal [l]iability, insuring the indemnity agreements
contained in this contract."
In 2007, Apache and Linear amended the MSC by adding Exhibit E, which included
provisions applicable to work performed in Louisiana or jurisdictions where Louisiana law would
apply. Exhibit E provided in pertinent part:
Notwithstanding any provision of this Contract to the contrary,
Contractor and Company agree that with respect to Work performed
within the State of Louisiana or within a jurisdiction to which the
laws of the State of Louisiana are applicable, Company (on its own
behalf and on behalf of Contractor Group) and Contractor (on its own
behalf and on behalf of Contractor Group) may pay to each other's
insurer the premium required by their respective insurers or their
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insurer's agents or authorized representatives to extend all of their
insurance policies to include coverage for Company's and
Contractor's respective indemnities as required by this Contract, and
such insurance protection shall be governed by Louisiana law. Each
Party shall arrange to have the other Party billed for the premium by
its respective insurer, and will advise such other Party prior to the
inception of such billing if such premium will be in excess of $2,000.
The insurance policy shall apply to incidents arising out of the
performance of this Contract. At each subsequent renewal of
insurance, during the term of this Contract, each Party will advise the
other of the amounts of the premium required for the extensions
described above and arrange billing for the appropriate premium by
its insurers or their agents or authorized representatives. It is
expressly acknowledged and agreed to by the Parties that the
provisions of this paragraph are intended to comply with the
provisions of Marcel v. Placid Oil Co., 11 F.3d 563 (5th Cir. 1994),
and the provisions hereof shall be interpreted in such a manner as to
comply therewith.
Linear obtained the required commercial general liability insurance from Catlin for the relevant
policy years, and Apache paid Catlin the premium required by Marcel to secure the indemnity
coverage required by the MSC.
Apache filed a third-party complaint against Catlin alleging that, if it owes defense and
indemnity to International Marine, "Apache and/or [International Marine] are entitled to contractual
defense and indemnity from Catlin." Apache alleges that, on November 2, 2011, Linear's insurance
brokers, Howard Risk Advisors/Landry Harris & Co., LLC ("Howard Risk"), sent Apache an
invoice "in the amount of $2,625.00 for 'GL Marcel Exception Billing' covering the policy period
from October 16, 2011 to October 16, 2012 with respect to Catlin's CGL Policy No. PKG-1983081012 issued to Linear." Apache claims that it paid the entire premium on January 3, 2012, and
confirmed with Howard Risk via electronic mail dated February 16, 2012, that the effective dates
of the coverage would be October 16, 2011 to October 16, 2012. However, the policy change

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request sent from Howard Risk to Catlin states "effective 1/13/[12]3, please add [M]arcel
endorsement in favor of Apache . . . at quoted premium of $2,500." Apache seeks a declaration that
it "is entitled to Marcel coverage under the Policy and [its] indemnity obligation to [International
Marine], if any, is covered by the Policy," or alternatively, that "the Policy is primary and covers
[International Marine] directly as additional insureds for any exposure they may have in the Jake
Bergeron claim."
Apache and Catlin filed cross-motions for summary judgment regarding whether Apache
obtained Marcel coverage from Catlin that was effective on December 13, 2011. This court denied
those motions finding that disputed issues of material fact regarding the date of the procurement of
the insurance precluded summary judgment.
On May 4, 2015, Catlin filed the instant motion for summary judgment arguing that the
coverage Apache seeks under the policy, specifically coverage for Apache's contractual defense and
indemnity obligations that it owes to International Marine under the MTCA, is precluded by the
policy's terms. Apache argues that the coverage is not excluded, or the policy is ambiguous and
should be interpreted in favor of finding coverage. Alternatively, Apache argues that International
Marine is an additional insured under the blanket naming endorsement of the Catlin policy.
ANALYSIS
A.

Summary Judgment Standard
Summary judgment is proper when, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the

non-movant, “there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and ... the moving party is entitled to

3

The document states "1/13/21." The "21" is clearly a typographical error inverting the "2" and "1"
for 2012, because the policy period was October 16, 2011 to October 16, 2012.

6

judgment as a matter of law.” Amburgey v. Corhart Refractories Corp., 936 F.2d 805, 809 (5th Cir.
1991); FED. R. CIV. PROC. 56(c). If the moving party meets the initial burden of establishing that
there is no genuine issue, the burden shifts to the non-moving party to produce evidence of the
existence of a genuine issue for trial. Celeotex Corp. v. Catrett, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552 (1986). The
non-movant cannot satisfy the summary judgment burden with conclusory allegations,
unsubstantiated assertions, or only a scintilla of evidence. Little v. Liquid Air Corp., 37 F.3d 1069,
1075 (5th Cir. 1994) (en banc). If the opposing party bears the burden of proof at trial, the moving
party does not have to submit evidentiary documents to properly support its motion, but need only
point out the absence of evidence supporting the essential elements of the opposing party’s case.
Saunders v. Michelin Tire Corp., 942 F.2d 299, 301 (5th Cir. 1991).
B.

Insurance Policy Interpretation
An insurance policy is a contract, and its interpretation is a question of law. See Jarvis

Christian Coll. v. Nat'l Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, Pa., 197 F.3d 742, 746 (5th Cir. 2000).
Under Louisiana law, insurance policies are construed by applying the general rules of contract
interpretation set forth in the Louisiana Civil Code.4 La. Ins. Guar. Ass'n v. Interstate Fire & Cas.
Co., 630 So.2d 759, 763 (La. 1994). The intent of the parties as reflected in the policy determines
the extent of the coverage. Id. (citing La. Civ. Code art. 2045 (defining contractual interpretation as
"the determination of the common intent of the parties"); Garcia v. St. Bernard Parish Sch. Bd., 576
So.2d 975, 976 (La. 1991)). The words of an insurance policy are given their "general, ordinary,
plain, and proper meaning . . . unless [they] have acquired a technical meaning." Id. (citing La. Civ.

4

The parties agree that Louisiana law applies to the interpretation of the Catlin insurance policy.

7

Code art. 2047; Breland v. Schilling, 550 So.2d 609, 610 (La. 1989); Capital Bank & Trust Co. v.
Equitable Life Assur. Soc'y of U.S., 542 So.2d 494, 497 (La. 1989)).
When the language is clear and unambiguous, it must be enforced as written. See Reynolds
v. Select Props. Ltd., 634 So.2d 1180, 1183 (La.1994). “When the words of the contract are clear
and explicit and lead to no absurd consequences, no further interpretation may be made in search
of the parties’ intent.” La. Civ. Code art. 2046. “'A contract provision is not ambiguous where only
one of two competing interpretations is reasonable or merely because one party can create a dispute
in hindsight.'” Amoco Prod. Co. v. Tex. Meridian Res. Exploration Inc., 180 F.3d 664, 668-69 (5th
Cir. 1999) (quoting Tex. E. Transmission Corp. v. Amerada Hess Corp., 145 F.3d 737, 741 (5th Cir.
1998)). If there is an ambiguity in the policy of insurance, the ambiguous provision is construed
against the insurer because it is the party who furnished the text. La. Civ. Code art. 2056.
C.

The Policy Language
Catlin argues that Apache is an additional insured under the policy, not a Named Insured,

and the terms of the policy exclude coverage for Apache's contractual indemnity obligation to
International Marine covering Bergeron's bodily injury claim against International Marine.
Specifically, Catlin argues that the policy includes coverage for bodily injuries for which the Named
Insured is liable by the operation of an insured contract, but excludes such coverage for additional
insureds.
The insurance policy at issue includes the following exclusion:
2. Exclusions
This insurance does not apply to:

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b. Contractual Liability
"Bodily injury"5 . . . for which the insured is obligated to pay
damages by reason of the assumption of liability in a contract or
agreement. This exclusion does not apply to liability for
damages:
(1) That the insured would have in the absence of the contract or
agreement; or
(2) Assumed in a contract or agreement that is an "insured
contract", provided the "bodily injury" . . . occurs subsequent
to the execution of the contract or agreement . . .
"Insured contract" is defined, in pertinent part, as:
That part of any other contract or agreement pertaining to your
business . . . under which you assume the tort liability of another
party to pay for "bodily injury" . . . to a third person . . . Tort liability
means a liability that would be imposed by law in the absence of any
contract or agreement.
The preamble to the insurance policy states that:
Throughout this policy the words "you" and "your" refer to the
Named Insured shown in the Declarations, and any other person or
organization qualifying as a Named Insured under this policy. The
words "we", "us" and "our" refer to the company providing this
insurance.
The word "insured" means any person or organization qualifying as
such under Section II – Who Is An Insured.
"Linear Controls Inc" is the Named Insured on the Declarations page. The "SCHEDULE
OF NAMED INSUREDS" adds "Linear Leasing, LLC" and "Linear Operating, Inc" as Named
Insureds.

5

"Bodily injury" is defined as "bodily injury, sickness or disease sustained by a person, including
death resulting from any of these at any time."

9

Apache is first mentioned in the policy in an endorsement titled "ADDITIONAL INSURED
– OWNERS, LESSEES OR CONTRACTORS – SCHEDULED PERSON OR ORGANIZATION."
This endorsement modifies the commercial general liability coverage part of the insurance policy
by amending "Section II - Who Is An Insured" "to include as an insured" "Apache Corporation &
all Subsidiaries" "but only with respect to liability arising out of your ongoing operations performed
for that insured."
These provisions, when read together, lead to the conclusion that Apache is an additional
insured, not a Named Insured, under the policy. Apache is not included in the list of Named
Insureds, and the endorsement adding Apache as an additional insured specifically states that it
modifies "Section II - Who Is An Insured," not the list of Named Insureds. Moreover, the phrase
modifying Named Insureds, "any other person or organization qualifying as a Named Insured under
this policy" is unambiguous. The Catlin policy specifies when another person or organization
qualifies as a Named Insured. First, the policy includes a "SCHEDULE OF NAMED INSUREDS",
which adds two entities as Named Insureds. Second, the policy provides in "SECTION II - WHO
IS AN INSURED" that any organization newly acquired or formed by Linear, "other than a
partnership, joint venture or limited liability company, and over which [Linear] maintain[s]
ownership or majority interest, will qualify as a Named Insured if there is no other similar insurance
available to that organization." Thus, the policy clearly defines when a party other than the one
named on the Declarations page qualifies as a Named Insured under the policy, and the phrase "any
other person or organization qualifying as a Named Insured under this policy" is unambiguous and
does not include Apache.
Reading the term "you" to refer only to the Named Insureds, i.e. Linear Controls Inc, Linear
Leasing, LLC and Linear Operating, Ins, and not additional insureds, such as Apache, is supported
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by the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Nat'l Union Fire Ins.
Co. of Pittsburgh, Pa. v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 234 Fed. Appx. 190 (5th Cir. 2007). In that case, the
court was interpreting an insurance policy with a definition of "you" that was identical to the one
in Catlin's policy. The court stated that "you" was defined in the contract as "American Pipe," which
was the Named Insured, and did not encompass additional insureds. Id.
Couch on Insurance explains that the terms "you" and "your" used throughout insurance
policies "are typically defined as referring to the Named Insured shown in the declarations of the
policy and any other person or organization qualifying as a Named Insured under the policy.
Accordingly, 'you' and 'your' do not encompass individuals or entities added as additional insureds
to the policy." 3 Couch on Insurance § 40:27 (3d ed. 2014). "This principle is consistent with the
limited nature of the coverage provided to an additional insured, i.e., liability arising out of the
Named Insured's work or operations." Id.
Couch on Insurance further explains that "[a]t the named insured's request, an insurance
company may permit other individuals or entities to be added as an additional insured on the named
insured's insurance policy[,]" which can be "accomplished pursuant to a specific endorsement
expressly naming the individual or entity as an additional insured on the policy." Id. at § 40:26. The
coverage provided to "an additional insured is typically limited to liability arising out of the named
insured's work operations. Thus, additional insured status does not provide coverage to an additional
insured for the additional insured's own work operations." Id.
The endorsement adding Apache to the Catlin policy as an insured provides precisely such
coverage by making Apache and its subsidiaries insureds "only with respect to liability arising out
of your [Linear's] ongoing operations performed for that insured [Apache]." Thus, Apache is an
additional insured, not a Named Insured.
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D.

Apache's Arguments
1. Apache's Payment of an Insurance Premium to Catlin
Apache contends that it should qualify as a Named Insured under the policy, and the policy

should provide coverage for its defense and indemnity obligation to International Marine, because
Apache paid a separate premium for its coverage pursuant to Marcel v. Placid Oil Co., 11 F.3d 563
(5th Cir. 1994). Apache argues that the purpose of the indemnity provisions in its contract with
Linear was to ensure that Linear would be responsible for any injury to its own employees, and that
by paying the Marcel premium it had a good faith belief that any claims involving Linear employees
would be covered by the Catlin policy.
LOIA provides, in pertinent part:
B. Any provision contained in, collateral to, or affecting an
agreement pertaining to a well for oil, gas, or water, or drilling for
minerals which occur in a solid, liquid, gaseous, or other state, is void
and unenforceable to the extent that it purports to or does provide for
defense or indemnity, or either, to the indemnitee against loss or
liability for damages arising out of or resulting from death or bodily
injury to persons, which is caused by or results from the sole or
concurrent negligence or fault (strict liability) of the indemnitee, or
an agent, employee, or an independent contractor who is directly
responsible to the indemnitee.
La. Rev. Stat. § 9:2780(B). This statute was enacted to prevent "an inequity foisted on certain
contractors and their employees by the defense and indemnity provisions . . . contained in some
agreements pertaining to wells for oil, gas or water, or drilling for minerals . . . to the extent those
provisions apply to death or bodily injury to persons." Id. at § 9:2780(A). The Louisiana Legislature
intended "to declare null and void and against public policy of the state of Louisiana" any such
provision. Id. Subsection G makes LOIA applicable to insurance coverage procured by the
contractor:

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any provision in any agreement arising out of the operations, services
or activities [covered by LOIA] which requires waivers of
subrogation, additional named insured endorsements, or any other
form of insurance protection which would frustrate or circumvent the
prohibitions of [LOIA], shall be null and void and of no effect.
Id. at § 9:2780(G).
Applying Subsection G, "courts generally hold that contractual provisions requiring the
contractor to extend its insurance coverage to cover the principal's acts of negligence or fault are void
under the LOIA because these insurance arrangements frustrate the purpose of the Act." Rogers v.
Samedan Oil Corp., 308 F.3d 477, 481 (5th Cir. 2002) (citations omitted). However, in Marcel, the
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recognized an exception to this rule finding that,
"when the principal pays the entire cost of its own insurance coverage by securing an endorsement
naming it as an insured in the contract or policy, the purposes of the LOIA are not frustrated, and the
insurance coverage is valid and enforceable." Id. (citing Marcel, 11 F.3d at 569-70).
Apache paid Catlin $2,625.006 to comply with the Marcel exception to the LOIA. The
premium's purpose was to avoid the effects of the LOIA and permit Apache to be named as an
additional insured on the policy in accordance with the MSC's requirement that Linear provide
insurance for its defense and indemnity obligations to Apache, which included assuming liability for
Apache's negligence or fault. Thus, the LOIA would not apply to void Linear's obligation to defend
and indemnify Apache for any negligence on Apache's part that might have caused Bergeron's
injuries, if those claims had been raised.
Apache is not seeking coverage under the Catlin policy for its tort liability to Bergeron.
Rather, it is seeking coverage for its contractual liability to International Marine. Apache contends
6

The court recognizes that there is a factual dispute regarding whether Apache's payment of the
premium on January 3, 2012, provided retroactive coverage for Bergeron's claims regarding the December
13, 2011, accident.

13

that because Linear agreed to assume Apache's contractual liability to International Marine, that
obligation is covered under the Catlin policy.
However, Linear's assumption of Apache's contractual liability to International Marine is not
an "insured contract" under the Catlin policy. The policy excludes contractual liability assumed by
an insured, and reinstates it for liability that is "[a]ssumed in a contract or agreement that is an
'insured contract'," which is defined as a contract or agreement pertaining to the Named Insured's
business under which it assumes "the tort liability of another party to pay for 'bodily injury' . . . to a
third person . . . Tort liability means a liability that would be imposed by law in the absence of any
contract or agreement." The phrase "liability that would be imposed by law" does not include
liability assumed by contract. 7A Couch on Insurance § 103:14 (3d ed. 2015). Therefore, Apache's
contractual liability to International Marine, which was assumed by Linear, is not covered. See
Colony Nat'l Ins. Co. v. Manitex, L.L.C., 461 Fed. Appx. 401 (5th Cir. 2012) (finding that the same
definition of "insured contract" did not encompass liability arising strictly from a contract).
2. Additional Insured Entitled to Same Coverage as Named Insureds
Apache argues that, as an additional insured, it should be entitled to the same coverage as a
Named Insured. Under Louisiana law,"additional insureds enjoy the same benefits and are subject
to the same restrictions as a named insured absent policy language to the contrary." See Cal-Dive
Int'l, Inc. v. Seabright Ins. Co., 627 F.3d 110, 114 (5th Cir. 2010) (citing Landerman v. Liberty
Servs., Inc., 637 So.2d 809, 812-13 (La. Ct. App. 1994)). The Catlin policy specifically provides that
contractual liability coverage is excluded for all insureds, except the Named Insureds. Therefore, the
policy language provides different coverage and restrictions for the additional insured, and Apache
is not entitled to the same "insured contract" benefit as the Named Insured.

14

3. Blanket Naming Endorsement
Apache argues that International Marine is an additional insured under the policy by operation
of the blanket naming endorsement, and Apache is subrogated to International Marine's rights against
Catlin, because Apache settled with International Marine.
The Catlin policy includes an endorsement titled "ADDITIONAL INSUREDS - OWNERS,
LESSEES OR CONTRACTORS – SCHEDULED PERSON OR ORGANIZATION", which amends
the policy to include as an insured "blanket as per written contract" "with respect to liability arising
out of your ongoing operations performed for that insured." "A blanket additional insured
endorsement generally provides coverage for any person or organization to whom or to which the
named insured is obligated to name as an additional insured by virtue of a written contract or
agreement." 3 Couch on Insurance § 40:30 (3d ed. 2014).
Apache argues that when it purchased Marcel coverage from Catlin, it became a Named
Insured, and the blanket additional insured endorsement provided additional insured coverage to
International Marine because of the MTCA. As discussed above, Apache was an additional insured
under the policy, not a Named Insured. Further, the blanket additional insured endorsement applies
to liability arising out of Linear's work performed for the party that would become an insured under
the clause. Linear did not perform any work for International Marine. Therefore, the blanket
additional insured endorsement did not provide additional insured coverage to International Marine.
Thus, Catlin's motion for summary judgment is GRANTED.
CONCLUSION
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Catlin Specialty Insurance Company's Motion for
Summary Judgment (Doc. #90) is GRANTED, and Apache Corporation's claim against Catlin is
DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
15

12th
New Orleans, Louisiana, this _____ day of August, 2015.

____________________________________
MARY ANN VIAL LEMMON
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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