Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC et al v. Hartford Fire Insurance Company et al

Filing 33

DECISION AND ORDER granting # 27 Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment; and denying # 28 Plaintiffs' Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment. Plaintiff's complaint is dismissed. Signed by Chief Judge Glenn T. Suddaby on 2/13/18. (lmw)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
____________________________________________
BEN WEITSMAN & SON OF SCRANTON, LLC;
BEN WEITSMAN & SON, INC.; UPSTATE
SHREDDING, LLC; and UPSTATE SHREDDING
DISC, INC.,
Plaintiffs,

3:16-CV-0780
(GTS/DEP)

v.
HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY; and
HARTFORD CASUALTY INSURANCE,
Defendants.
____________________________________________
APPEARANCES:

OF COUNSEL:

BARCLAY DAMON LLP
Counsel for Plaintiffs
2000 HSBC Plaza
100 Chesnut Street
Rochester, NY 14604-2072

ANTHONY J. PIAZZA, ESQ.
JOSEPH A. WILSON, ESQ.
MICHAEL E. NICHOLSON, ESQ.

MENZ BONNER KOMAR & KOENIGSBERG, LLP
Counsel for Defendants
One North Lexington Avenue, Suite 1550
White Plains, NY 10601

MICHAEL S. KOMAR, ESQ.

GLENN T. SUDDABY, Chief United States District Judge
DECISION and ORDER
Currently before the Court, in this insurance litigation action filed by Ben Weitsman &
Son of Scranton, LLC, Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc., Upstate Shredding, LLC, and Upstate
Shredding Disc, Inc. ("Plaintiffs") against Hartford Fire Insurance Company and Hartford
Casualty Insurance ("Defendants"), are Defendants’ motion for summary judgment and
Plaintiffs’ cross-motion for summary judgment. (Dkt. Nos. 27, 28.) For the reasons set forth
below, Defendants’ motion is granted, and Plaintiffs’ cross-motion is denied.

I.

RELEVANT BACKGROUND
A.

Plaintiffs’ Claims

Generally, liberally construed, Plaintiffs’ Complaint alleges as follows.
Plaintiff Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC, was issued a general liability policy of
insurance by Defendant Hartford Fire Insurance Company and an umbrella liability policy of
insurance by Defendant Hartford Casually Insurance Company. (Dkt. No. 1, Attach. 1, at 6-10
[Plfs.’ Compl.].) Additionally, Plaintiff Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc., was issued general
liability and umbrella liability policies by Defendants Hartford Fire Insurance Company,
Hartford Casualty Insurance Company and/or their affiliates. (Id.) Each of the insurance policies
were in full force and effect on November 28, 2011. (Id.)
In December 2011, Dorothy Houser and Heidi Houser notified Ben Weitsman & Son of
Scranton, LLC, that they were allegedly injured on November 28, 2011, due to Plaintiffs’
actions. (Id.) On or about May 16, 2012, Defendants disclaimed and denied coverage to Ben
Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC, with respect to claim by Dorothy Houser and Heidi Houser.
(Id.) Subsequently, a lawsuit (“the Houser lawsuit”) was commenced in the Court of Common
Pleas of Lackawanna County by individuals (“the Houser plaintiffs”) claiming bodily injury as a
result of the incident of November 28, 2011. (Id.) On or about May 16, 2014, Plaintiffs tendered
the Houser lawsuit to Defendants seeking defense and indemnification in connection with the
underlying claim. (Id.) By letter dated August 18, 2014, Defendants disclaimed and denied
coverage to Plaintiff Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton with respect to the Houser lawsuit. (Id.)
By a letter dated April 13, 2016, Defendants disclaimed and denied coverage to Ben Weitsman
& Son, Inc., Upstate Shredding, LLC, and Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc., with respect to the
Houser lawsuit. (Id.)
2

Based on these factual allegations, Plaintiffs’ Complaint assert two claims against
Defendants: (1) a claim that Defendants breached their contract with Plaintiffs by refusing to
defend and indemnify them in the Houser lawsuit; and (2) a claim that Defendants’ breach of
contract resulted in attorneys’ fees and other expenses to defend the Houser lawsuit. (Id.)
Familiarity with these claims and the factual allegations supporting them in Plaintiffs’ Complaint
is assumed in this Decision and Order, which is intended primarily for review by the parties.
(Id.)
B.

Undisputed Material Facts
1.

Undisputed Material Facts on Defendants’ Motion for Summary
Judgment

The following facts have been asserted and supported with accurate record citations by
Defendants in their Statement of Material Facts, and expressly admitted or not denied with a
supporting record citation by Plaintiffs in their response thereto. (Compare Dkt. No. 27, Attach.
1 [Defs.’ Rule 7.1 Statement] with Dkt. No. 29 [Plfs.’ Rule 7.1 Resp.].)
a.
1.

The Parties to This Coverage Action

Plaintiffs in this action are Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC, Ben

Weitsman & Son, Inc., Upstate Shredding, LLC, and Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc.
2.

Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC, is a company organized under the

laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with its principal place of business located at 1500
North Keyser Avenue, Scranton, PA 18504.
3.

Plaintiff Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc., is a New York corporation with its principal

place of business in New York.

3

4.

Plaintiff Upstate Shredding, LLC, is a New York corporation with its principal

place of business in New York.
5.

Plaintiff Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc., is a New York corporation with its

principal place of business in New York.
6.

Defendant Hartford Fire Insurance Company is a Connecticut corporation

with its principal place of business in Hartford, Connecticut.
7.

Defendant Hartford Casualty Insurance Company is an insurance company

organized under the laws of the State of Indiana, with its principal place of business in
Hartford, Connecticut.
b.
8.

The Houser Lawsuit and Pollution at Issue

This coverage action relates to an underlying lawsuit pending in the Court of

Common Pleas of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, captioned Heidi Houser, Robert Houser,
Dorothy Houser, Delbert B. Houser, Mary Ogden, and Mary Irwin and Thomas Irwin,
individually and as parents and natural guardians of Emelie Irwin, a minor v. Boots & Hanks
Towing & Wrecking Service, Ben Weitsman of Scranton, Boots & Hanks, Inc., Edward
Zymblosky, Jr., Gail Zymblosky, Edward Zymblosky, III and Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc. (“the
Houser lawsuit”).
9.

Plaintiffs in this action are named as the defendants in Houser lawsuit (“the

Houser defendants”).
10.

The complaint in the Houser lawsuit (“the Houser complaint”) alleges that

"Defendants Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc. and/or Upstate Shredding, LLC and/or Ben Weitsman &
Son of Scranton, LLC, and/or Ben Weitsman of Scranton and/or Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc.,

4

operated a scrap-metal recycling facility on the property located at 1500 Keyser Avenue in
Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania" (“the Site”).
11.

The Houser complaint alleges that "Defendants Boots & Hanks Towing &

Wrecking Service, Boots & Hanks, Inc., Edward Zymblosky, Jr., Gail Zymblosky and/or Edward
Zymblosky III, leased the property to Defendants Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc. and/or Upstate
Shredding, LLC, and/or Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC and/or Ben Weitsman of
Scranton and/or Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc., or otherwise allowed Defendants Ben Weitsman
& Son, Inc. and/or Upstate Shredding, LLC and/or Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC
and/or Ben Weitsman of Scranton, and/or Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc., to operate the scrap
metal facility" at the Site.
12.

The Houser complaint alleges that, during the course of operations at the Site, the

Houser defendants caused the release of chlorine gas into the air and a "toxic cloud of chlorine
gas to form" that drifted to surrounding properties and injured a number of individuals.
13.

The Houser complaint alleges that on or about November 28, 2011, at

approximately 10:30 a.m., Houser plaintiffs Heidi Houser and Dorothy Houser were working in
an outdoor lot selling Christmas trees next door to the Site.
14.

The Houser complaint alleges that, at the same time, Houser plaintiffs Mary

Ogden, Mary Irwin, and Emelie Irwin were traveling in a vehicle on North Keyser Avenue and
were passing the Site.
15.

The Houser complaint alleges that, as a result of the Houser defendants'

negligent, reckless and careless operations in connection with the scrap-metal business at the
Site, "they caused toxic chlorine gas to be released from a cylinder/tank/vessel stored on their

5

property, releasing the chlorine gas into the air and causing a toxic cloud of chlorine gas to
form."
16.

The Houser complaint alleges that "chlorine gas is a hazardous and toxic

chemical that causes serious physical injury and damage to persons and property upon
exposure."
17.

The Houser complaint alleges that "the release of the toxic chlorine gas caused a

white cloud to form" that "drifted in the air from the [Houser defendants’] property at 1500
North Keyser Avenue, Scranton, Pennsylvania to the Christmas tree lot where [Houser plaintiffs]
Heidi Houser and Dorothy Houser were working."
18.

The Houser complaint alleges that Houser plaintiffs Heidi Houser and Dorothy

Houser "saw the cloud drifting towards them and attempted to run away," but "were overtaken
by the cloud and were forced to inhale toxic fumes of chlorine gas from the cloud."
19.

The Houser complaint alleges that, "at the same time the cloud drifted towards the

area where [Houser plaintiffs] Heidi Houser and Dorothy Houser were working, the cloud also
drifted near and towards the automobile in which [Houser plaintiffs] Mary Ogden, Mary Irwin
and Emelie Irwin were traveling. The cloud engulfed their vehicle and they were forced to inhale
toxic fumes of chlorine gas from the cloud."
20.

The Houser complaint alleges that, as a result of their exposure to chlorine gas,

Houser plaintiffs, Heidi Houser, Dorothy Houser, Mary Ogden, Mary Irwin and Emelie Irwin,
have suffered and may continue to suffer bodily injury, throat and eye irritation, pain, respiratory
ailments and related damages.

6

21.

The Houser complaint asserts causes of action against the Houser defendants (i.e.,

Plaintiffs in this action) for negligence, negligence-res ipsa loquitor, strict liability-inherently
dangerous substance, strict liability-ultrahazardous activity, common law conspiracy, fraud and
misrepresentation, loss of consortium and punitive damages.
22.

More specifically, the Counts in the Houser complaint allege that the Houser

defendants (i.e., Plaintiffs in this action) are liable, inter alia, for the following fourteen actions:
(a)

"permitting and/or causing toxic chlorine gas to be released into the air";

(b)

"failing to properly manage/store and/or handle a container of hazardous
waste and/or material in violation of 25 Pa. Code § 264a.173";

(c)

"opening, handling and/or storing a container holding hazardous waste
and/or material in a manner which caused the container to rupture or leak
in violation of 40 C.F.R. § 264.173";

(d)

"failing to observe the federal regulations for owners and operators of
hazardous waste/material treatment, storage and disposal management in
violation of 25 Pa. Code § 264a.1";

(e)

"failing to control air pollutant emissions in violation of 40 C.F .R. §
264.1082";

(f)

"failing to control air pollutant emissions from a container in violation of
40 C.F.R. § 264.1086";

(g)

"failing to timely and/or properly notify appropriate government agencies,
officials and the authorities of the chlorine gas emissions, discharges and
carriage and/or the potential and degree of risk to the adjoining
community";
7

(h)

"failing to use proper and safe practices and/or procedures such that
chlorine gas would not be introduced into the environment including, in
particular, the air";

(i)

"Toxic chlorine gas [being] released into the air by the actions of
Defendants";

(j)

Storing, handling and/or releasing "into the environment and air an
inherently dangerous substance, chlorine gas;

(k)

failing to use "every reasonable precaution to avoid emission of this toxic
and inherently dangerous substance into the air and avoid injury to
everyone lawfully in the area";

(l)

engaging in an ultrahazardous activity by emitting "unlawful and
unhealthy levels of toxic chlorine gas into the environment and air" and
exposing the public to the same;

(m)

concealing and failing to warn "that the hazardous substance chlorine gas
was emitted from their operations and activities on the property and that it
was migrating into the environment and air onto adjacent properties and
areas nearby"; and

(n)

exhibiting "reckless indifference in . . . causing and permitting the release
of chlorine gas into the environment and air [that] would result in serious
injury to others who would be exposed to the gas.”

8

c.
23.

The Policies

Hartford Fire Insurance Company issued primary general liability policy no. 22

UUV PG7953 to Plaintiff Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC, for the policy period June 1,
2011, to June 1, 2012.
24.

Hartford Fire Insurance Company issued primary general liability policy no. 22

UUV NN7953 to Plaintiff Upstate Shredding, LLC, for the policy period October 1, 2011,
to October 1, 2012.
25.

Hartford Fire Insurance Company issued primary general liability policy no. 22

UUV RB2778 to Plaintiff Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc., for the policy period October 1, 2011, to
October 1, 2012.
26.

Hartford Casualty Insurance Company issued umbrella liability policy no. 22

RHV PG7617 to Plaintiff Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC, for the policy period June 1,
2011, to June 1, 2012.
27.

Hartford Casualty Insurance Company issued umbrella liability policy no. 22

RHV RB2439 to Plaintiff Upstate Shredding, LLC, for the policy period October 1, 2011, to
October 1, 2012.
28.

Hartford Casualty Insurance Company issued umbrella liability policy no. 22

RHV RB2438 to Plaintiff Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc., for the policy period October 1, 2011, to
October 1, 2012.
29.

The Hartford Defendants (“Hartford”) did not issue any policies to Plaintiff

Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc., nor is Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc., listed as an additional insured
on any insurance policy issued by Hartford.

9

30.

The Hartford policies described above (“the Hartford policies”) contain absolute

pollution exclusions.
31.

More specifically, each of the primary general liability policies contain the

following absolute pollution exclusion:
THIS ENDORSEMENT CHANGES THE POLICY.
PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY.
ABSOLUTE POLLUTION EXCLUSION
This endorsement modifies insurance provided under the following:
COMMERCIAL GENERAL LIABILITY COVERAGE PART
A.

It is agreed that Exclusion f. is replaced by the following:
f. (1) “Bodily injury” or “property damage” arising out of the actual,
alleged or threatened discharge, dispersal, seepage, migration,
release or escape of “pollutants”:
(a)

At or from any premises, site or location which is or was at
any time owned, occupied by, or rented or loaned to, any
insured;

(b)

At or from any premises, site or location which is or was at
any time used by or for any insured or others for the
handling, storage, disposal, processing or treatment of
waste;

(c)

Which are or were at any time transported, handled, stored,
treated, disposed of, or processed as waste by or for any
insured or any person or organization for whom you may
be legally responsible;

(d)

At or from any premises, site or location on which any
insured or any contractors or subcontractors working
directly or indirectly on any insured’s behalf are
performing operations;

(e)

To the extent that any such “bodily injury” or “property
damage” is included in the “products completed ope1ations
hazard”.
10

(2)

Any loss, cost or expense arising out of any:
(a)

(b)

B.

Request, demand, order or statutory or regulatory
requirement that any insured or others test for, monitor,
clean up, remove, contain, treat, detoxify or neutralize, or
in any way respond to, or assess the effects of “pollutants";
Claim or suit by or on behalf of a governmental authority
for damages because of testing for, monitoring, cleaning
up, removing, containing, treating, detoxifying or
neutralizing, or in any way responding to, or assessing the
effects of “pollutants”.

The last paragraph of Section I - Coverage A (after the exclusions) is
replaced by the following:
Exclusions c. through e., and g. through n. do not apply to damage by fire,
lightning or explosion to premises rented to you or temporarily occupied
by you with permission of the owner. A separate limit of insurance applies
to this coverage as described in Section Ill - Limits Of Insurance.

32.

The Primary Policies also contain relevant definitions:
"Bodily injury" is defined as follows:
5.

"Bodily injury" means physical:
a.
Injury;
b.
Sickness; or
c.
Disease
sustained by a person and, if arising out of the above, mental
anguish or death at any time.

33.

"Pollutants" is defined as follows:
18.

"Pollutants" means any solid, liquid, gaseous or thermal irritant or
contaminant, including smoke, vapor, soot, fumes, acids, alkalis,
chemicals and waste. Waste includes materials to be recycled,
reconditioned or reclaimed.

11

34.

"Property damage" is defined as follows:
20.

"Property damage" means:
a.

b.

35.

Physical injury to tangible property, including all resulting
loss of use of that property. All such loss of use shall be
deemed to occur at the time of the physical injury that
caused it; or
Loss of use of tangible property that is not physically
injured. All such loss of use shall be deemed to occur at the
time of "occurrence" that caused it.

Similarly, each of the umbrella liability policies contain the following absolute

pollution exclusion:
THIS ENDORSEMENT CHANGES THE POLICY.
PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY.
ABSOLUTE POLLUTION EXCLUSION
This endorsement modifies insurance provided under the
UMBRELLA LIABILITY POLICY
Exclusion 1. Pollution is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced by the
following:
This policy does not apply to:
1.

Pollution
Any obligation:
a.

To pay for the cost of investigation, defense or settlement of any
claim or suit against any "insured" alleging actual or threatened
injury or damage of any nature or kind to persons or property
which arises out of or would not have occurred but for the
pollution hazard; or

12

b.

To pay any "damages", judgments, settlements, loss. costs or
expenses that may be awarded or incurred:
1.

By reason of any such claim or suit or any such injury or
damage; or

2.

In complying with any action authorized by law and
relating to such injury or damage.

As used in this exclusion. pollution hazard means an actual exposure or
threat of exposure to the corrosive, toxic or other harmful properties of
any solid, liquid, gaseous or thermal:
a.

Pollutants;

b.

Contaminants;

c.

Irritants; or

d.

Toxic substances;

Including:
Smoke;
Vapors;
Soot;
Fumes;
Acids;
Alkalis;
Chemicals, and
Waste materials consisting of or containing any of the foregoing.
Waste includes materials to be recycled, reconditioned or
reclaimed.
36.

After the incident at issue in this action (described below), Plaintiffs sought to

secure "Pollution Coverage" under a separate "pollution policy" for certain of their recycling
yards.
37.

With respect to the Hartford policies mentioned above, Plaintiffs' insurance

applications stated that they did not have past, present or discontinued operations involving
storing, treating, discharging, applying, disposing, or transporting hazardous materials (including
landfills, wastes, fuel tanks, etc.).
13

38.

In their applications for the Hartford umbrella policies, Plaintiffs further

stated that the applied-for Hartford primary policies would not include "Pollution Liability"
coverages or exposures.
39.

As reflected in Hartford's underwriting file, Plaintiffs' broker bound coverage as

proposed by Hartford, and secured a separate pollution policy quoted by another company.
d.
40.

Coverage Dispute

On or about February 3, 2012, Hartford received notice of a claim on behalf of

Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC, concerning the incident giving rise to the Houser
lawsuit (“the Houser claim”).
41.

By letter of May 16, 2012, Hartford denied coverage for the Houser claim based

on the absolute pollution exclusions contained in the Hartford policies.
42.

In or about February 2012, correspondence dated January 19, 2012, from the

Houser plaintiffs’ counsel was forwarded to Hartford, which alleged that, during the course of
Plaintiffs' operations at the recycling facility, "they allowed a substantial amount of chlorine gas
to escape into the surrounding environment" and that, as a result, the Houser plaintiffs "were
directly in the path of the chlorine gas cloud and both suffered significant respiratory distress and
damages as a result of being exposed to high levels of chlorine gas."
43.

Hartford sent a letter to Adam Weitsman (of Ben Weitsman & Son)

acknowledging receipt of the Houser claim on February 17, 2012 (which was incorrectly dated
2011), asking whether coverage was being sought under any policy other than the one listed in
the Notice of Occurrence/Claim, and indicating that the correspondence should not be deemed or
construed as an admission that coverage is available for the matter and or a waiver of any rights,
positions or defenses of Hartford.
14

44.

On May 16, 2012, Hartford issued a coverage position letter wherein it disclaimed

coverage for the Houser claim based on the absolute pollution exclusions contained in the
Hartford policies.
45.

In its letter of May 16, 2012, Hartford indicated that it had located additional

policies for entities that may be associated with various Ben Weitsman companies and to
immediately advise if coverage was being sought with respect thereto.
46.

On June 15, 2012, the insured's broker sent Hartford an email attaching

information and an incident report provided by the current yard manager of Ben Weitsman &
Son of Scranton, LLC, and asking Hartford to review this "new information" in connection with
its coverage determination.
47.

By letter dated August 15, 2012, Hartford advised Adam Wietsman that the

Incident Report appeared consistent with Hartford's understanding of the Houser claim, which
alleged the escape of chlorine gas into the surrounding environment and exposure to a chlorine
gas cloud.
48.

In its letter of August 15, 2012, Hartford advised Adam Weitsman that the

additional information did not change Hartford's coverage position with respect to the Houser
claim.
49.

On or about May 13, 2014, Hartford received an email concerning the Houser

lawsuit from the insured's broker, which attached a letter from counsel for Ben Weitsman & Son
of Scranton forwarding correspondence from the Houser plaintiffs' attorney requesting copies of
the primary general liability policy and umbrella liability policy issued by Hartford to Ben
Weitsman & Son of Scranton.

15

50.

On or about May 14, 2014, Hartford received by fax a General Liability Notice of

Occurrence/Claim in connection with the Houser lawsuit involving the Houser claim, stating,
"Company in a lawsuit arising out of the alleged release of chlorine gas at the Scranton Yard/see
attached/limited information/actual d.o.l. unknown."
51.

On June 12, 2014, the insureds’ broker emailed Hartford to advise it that the

insureds "have been trying unsuccessfully" to send various files, including a copy of the 500+
page Houser complaint, and were providing a link to a sharefile website to download the
documents.
52.

On August 13, 2014, Hartford received a letter from "personal counsel to Ben

Weitsman & Son of Scranton and its related entities" alleging that Hartford was required to
provide coverage under the primary commercial liability policy issued to Ben Weitsman &
Company of Scranton, LLC, because it purportedly had failed to timely and properly disclaim
coverage for the Houser claim back in 2012.
53.

The position taken by "personal counsel to Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton and

its related entities" in its letter of August 13, 2014, was based on New York Insurance Law §
3420(d).1
54.

By letter dated August 18, 2014, Hartford again disclaimed coverage and any

duty to defend and indemnify Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC, with respect to the
Houser lawsuit and Houser claim.

1

Generally, New York Insurance Law § 3420(d) requires, inter alia, that, if an
insured disclaims liability (under a liability policy issued or delivered in New York State) for
bodily injury arising out of an accident occurring in New York State, then the insured must give
written notice of the discliamer “as soon as is reasonably possible” to the insured and any other
claimant. N.Y. Ins. Law § 3420(d)(2).
16

55.

In its letter of August 18, 2014, Hartford advised Adam Weitsman that it had

located policies issued to other entities that "may be associated with various Ben Weitsman
companies," asked the recipient to immediately advise if coverage was being sought for other
entities in connection with the Houser lawsuit and under any other policies and, if so, asked the
recipient to delineate the history/relationship of the particular entity.
56.

In its letter of August 18, 2014, Hartford expressly reserved all rights, positions

and defenses under such policies pending an analysis of any further claim under other policies.
57.

On September 8, 2014, "personal counsel to Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton,

LLC and its related entities" sent a follow-up letter to Hartford claiming it was entitled to
coverage under the primary commercial liability policy issued to Ben Weitsman & Company
of Scranton, LLC, and demanding a written response from Hartford to its letters.
58.

On September 24, 2014, Hartford sent a letter in response to the correspondence

of September 8, 2014, reaffirming its coverage position based on the absolute pollution
exclusion and advising that counsel's arguments based on New York Insurance Law § 3420(d)
were misplaced.
59.

On February 22, 2016, Hartford received additional correspondence from counsel

for Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC, which asserted that the firm also represented Ben
Weitsman & Son, Inc., Ben Weitsman of Scranton, Upstate Shredding, LLC, and Upstate
Shredding Disc, Inc., in connection with the Houser lawsuit.
60.

In its letter of February 22, 2016, counsel asserted that Hartford was obligated to

defend and indemnify Upstate Shredding, LLC, and Ben Weitsman & Son, LLC, in connection
with the Houser lawsuit and that the absolute pollution exclusion in any applicable policies
purportedly did not apply "to a bodily injury claim for inhalation of toxic fumes."
17

61.

On April 13, 2016, Hartford sent a letter to the insureds’ counsel confirming

Hartford's prior coverage position and Hartford's denial of coverage based on the absolute
pollution exclusion for the additional entities identified in counsel's letter of February 22, 2016,
including Upstate Shredding, LLC, and Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc.
62.

In its letter of April 13, 2016, Hartford further advised the insureds’ counsel that

it did not issue any policies to "Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc." or "Ben Weitsman of Scranton"
and, therefore, had no coverage obligations to such entities.
63.

On May 11, 2016, Plaintiffs filed this declaratory judgment action in the Supreme

Court of the State of New York, County of Tioga.
64.

On June 29, 2016, Hartford timely filed a Notice of Removal on the basis of

diversity.2
65.

On October 17, 2016, Hartford filed its Amended Answer disputing any coverage

obligations to Plaintiffs.
2.

Undisputed Material Facts on Plaintiffs’ Cross-Motion for Summary
Judgment

The following facts have been asserted and supported with accurate record citations by
Plaintiffs in their Statement of Material Facts, and expressly admitted or not denied with a
supporting record citation by Defendants in their response thereto. (Compare Dkt. No. 28,
Attach. 8 [Plfs.’ Rule 7.1 Statement] with Dkt. No. 31 [Defs.’ Rule 7.1 Resp.].)

2

The Court notes that, although both Plaintiff and Defendant stated that this Notice
was filed on June 28, 2016, the Notice was actually filed on (and dated) June 29, 2016.
18

a.
1.

The Parties

Plaintiffs in above-captioned action are Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC,

Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc., Upstate Shredding, LLC, and Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc.
2.

Plaintiff Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC, is a company organized under

the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
3.

Plaintiff Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc., is a New York corporation with a place of

business in Owego, New York.
4.

Plaintiff Upstate Shredding, LLC, is a New York limited liability company with a

place of business in Owego, New York.
5.

Plaintiff Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc., is a New York corporation with a place of

business in Owego, New York.
6.

Hartford Fire Insurance Company is a company organized under the laws of the

State of Connecticut, with a principal place of business in Hartford, Connecticut, and is licensed
to conduct business in the State of New York.
7.

Hartford Casualty Insurance Company is a company organized under the laws of

the State of Indiana, with a principal place of business in Hartford, Connecticut, and is licensed
to conduct business in the State of New York.
b.
8.

The Houser Lawsuit

This coverage action relates to an underlying lawsuit currently pending in the

Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, captioned Heidi Houser, Robert
Houser, Dorothy Houser, Delbert B. Houser, Mary Ogden, and Mary Irwin and Thomas Irwin,
individually and as parents and natural guardians of Emelie Irwin, a minor, v. Boots & Hanks
Towing & Wrecking Service, Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc., Upstate Shredding, LLC, Ben Weitsman
19

& Son of Scranton, LLC, Ben Weitsman of Scranton, Boots & Hanks, Inc., Edward Zymblosky,
Jr., Gail Zymblosky, Edward Zymblosky, III, and Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc. (“the
Houser lawsuit”).
9.

Plaintiffs herein are named as defendants in the Houser lawsuit (“the Houser

defendants”).
10.

The complaint in the Houser lawsuit (“Houser complaint”) alleges that on or

about November 28, 2011, at approximately 10:30 a.m. (EST), Heidi Houser and Dorothy
Houser (plaintiffs in the Houser lawsuit) were working in an outdoor Christmas tree lot next
door to a scrap metal facility operated by “Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc. and/or Upstate Shredding,
LLC and/or Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC, and/or Ben Weitsman of Scranton and/or
Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc.” (the “Site”).
11.

The Houser complaint alleges that at the same time, Mary Ogden, Mary Irwin,

and Emelie Irwin (also plaintiffs in the Houser lawsuit) were traveling in a vehicle nearby the
Site.
12.

The Houser complaint alleges that, during the course of operations at the Site,

“Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc. and/or Upstate Shredding, LLC and/or Ben Weitsman & Son of
Scranton, LLC, and/or Ben Weitsman of Scranton and/or Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc.” caused
the release of chlorine gas into the air.
13.

The Houser complaint alleges that the release caused a white cloud to form that

drifted to the Christmas tree lot where Heidi Houser and Dorothy Houser were working.
14.

The Houser complaint alleges that the white cloud drifted toward a vehicle in

which Mary Ogden, Mary Irwin, and Emelie Irwin were traveling.

20

15.

The Houser complaint alleges that Heidi Houser, Dorothy Houser, Mary Ogden,

Mary Irwin, and Emelie Irwin suffered, and may continue to suffer, bodily injury as a result of
their alleged exposure to “chlorine gas from the cloud” or “the white cloud.”
c.
16.

The Insurance Policies

Hartford Fire Insurance Company issued primary general liability policy no. 22

UUV PG7953 to Plaintiff Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC, for the policy period June 1,
2011, to June 1, 2012.
17.

Hartford Fire Insurance Company issued primary general liability policy no. 22

UUV NN7953 to Plaintiff Upstate Shredding, LLC, for the policy period October 1, 2011, to
October 1, 2012.
18.

Hartford Fire Insurance Company issued primary general liability policy no. 22

UUV RB2778 to Plaintiff Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc., for the policy period October 1, 2011, to
October 1, 2012.
19.

Hartford Casualty Insurance Company issued umbrella liability policy no. 22

RHV PG7617 to Plaintiff Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC, for the policy period June 1,
2011, to June 1, 2012.
20.

Hartford Casualty Insurance Company issued umbrella liability policy no. 22

RHV RB2439 to Plaintiff Upstate Shredding, LLC, for the policy period October 1, 2011, to
October 1, 2012.
21.

Hartford Casualty Insurance Company issued umbrella liability policy no. 22

RHV RB2438 to Plaintiff Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc., for the policy period October 1, 2011, to
October 1, 2012.

21

d.
22.

The Coverage Dispute

On or about February 3, 2012, Plaintiffs Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC,

provided notice of a claim to Hartford with respect to the Houser lawsuit (“the Houser claim”).
23.

Hartford sent a letter to Adam Weistman of Ben Weitsman & Son on February

17, 2012, acknowledging receipt of the Houser claim.
24.

By letter dated May 16, 2012, Hartford denied any obligation to defend or

indemnify Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC, based on a pollution exclusion contained in
primary policy no. 22 UUV PG7953 and umbrella policy no. 22 RHV PG7617.
25.

On May 16, 2014, the five individuals allegedly injured on November 28, 2011,

commenced a lawsuit against Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC, Ben Weitsman & Son,
Inc., Upstate Shredding, LLC, and Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc., among other persons and
entities (the aforementioned “Houser lawsuit”), alleging that they sustained injuries from the
exposure to the chlorine cloud.
26.

The Weitsman entities tendered the Houser lawsuit to Hartford, seeking

defense and indemnification in the lawsuit; and by letter dated May 27, 2014, Weitsman’s
counsel sent a letter reiterating that it was seeking a defense for all the Weitsman entities in the
Houser lawsuit.3
27.

Hartford and/or their agent received the letters.

28.

By letter dated August 18, 2014, Hartford denied any obligation to defend or

indemnify Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC, with respect to the Houser lawsuit under
primary general liability policy no. 22 UUV PG7953 and umbrella liability policy no. 22 RHV
PG7617.

3

The letter dated May 27, 2014, was sent to Don Patterson of Partners Insurance
and Financial, an agent of Hartford. (Dkt. No. 27, Attach. 31 at 6.)
22

29.

On September 8, 2014, Plaintiffs’ counsel in this coverage action sent Hartford a

follow-up letter asserting its right to coverage under the primary commercial liability policy
issued to Ben Weitsman & Company of Scranton, LLC, and demanding a written response from
the Hartford.
30.

On September 24, 2014, Hartford sent a letter in response to the correspondence

of September 8, 2014, reaffirming its disclaimer of coverage to Ben Weitsman & Son of
Scranton, LLC, based upon two types of “Absolute Pollution Exclusions” contained in the
relevant insurance policies and advised counsel the arguments based on New York Insurance
Law Section § 3420(d) were misplaced.
31.

By letter dated February 22, 2016, Plaintiffs’ counsel in this coverage action

advised Hartford that, in addition to representing Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC, it also
represented Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc., Upstate Shredding, LLC, and Upstate Shredding Disc,
Inc.
32.

By letter dated April 13, 2016, Hartford denied any obligation to defend or

indemnify Ben Weitsman & Son, Inc., and Upstate Shredding, LLC, with respect to the Houser
lawsuit based upon two absolute pollution exclusions contained in the relevant insurance
policies.
33.

On May 11, 2016, Plaintiffs filed this declaratory judgment action in New York

State Supreme Court, County of Tioga.
34.

On June 28, 2016, Hartford filed a Notice of Removal to this Court on the basis of

diversity.
35.

On October 17, 2016, Hartford filed its Amended Answer disputing coverage

obligations to Plaintiffs.
23

C.

Parties’ Briefing on Their Motions for Summary Judgment
1.

Parties’ Briefing on Defendants’ Motion
a.

Defendants’ Brief in Chief

Generally, in support of their motion for summary judgment, Defendants assert four
arguments: (1) under the choice-of-law rules of the forum state (New York), no choice-of-law
analysis is required because Plaintiffs’ coverage claims are barred under both New York and
Pennsylvania law and thus no conflict of law exists; (2) Hartford has no duty to defend or
indemnify Plaintiffs in connection with the Houser lawsuit because (a) as a matter of law, clear
and unambiguous policy terms must be enforced as written; (3) Hartford has no duty to defend or
indemnify Plaintiffs in connection with the Houser lawsuit because the plain language of the
absolute pollution exclusions bar coverage for the claims asserted in the Houser complaint as a
matter of law given that (i) chlorine is a pollutant and (ii) the Houser complaint alleges injuries
solely arising out of the discharge, dispersal and release of pollutants into the environment that
squarely fall within the scope of the absolute pollution exclusions; and (4) Hartford has no duty
to defend or indemnify Plaintiffs against the claims asserted in the Houser lawsuit because
Hartford’s denial of coverage was proper and enforceable. (See generally Dkt. No. 27, Attach.
38 [Defs.’ Memo. of Law].)
b.

Plaintiffs’ Response Brief

Generally, in opposition to Defendants’ motion, Plaintiffs assert four arguments: (1) New
York’s choice-of-law principles require that New York law apply to this dispute; (2) Hartford
may not sustain its disclaimer over coverage to Weitsman on the basis of the pollution exclusion
because (a) the injuries alleged here are not the result of environmental pollution and the
application of the absolute pollution exclusion would be inconsistent with its general purpose
24

and (b) the absolute pollution exclusion is ambiguous with respect to its application to the event
alleged in the Houser lawsuit; (3) Hartford has a duty to defend Weitsman in the Houser lawsuit,
because the allegations are subject to other interpretations; and (4) Hartford improperly and
untimely disclaimed coverage to Weitsman, because Hartford did not notify all of the companies
of the waiver for roughly two years. (See generally Dkt. No. 28, Attach. 9 [Plfs.’ Memo. of
Law].)
c.

Defendants’ Reply Brief

Generally in their reply, Defendants assert two arguments: (1) Plaintiffs erroneously
argue that the Houser lawsuit does not involve “environmental pollution” to which absolute
pollution exclusions apply, because (a) the exclusion applies regardless of whether the discharge
is gradual or abrupt, or whether the release is accidental or expected, (b) the New York Court of
Appeals has held merely that such exclusions did not clearly and unequivocally bar claims from
indoor exposure to the insured’s tools of its trade, (c) nothing in the exclusion (or New York
law) limits the exclusion’s application to intentional long-term polluters or prolonged events, (d)
regarding Plaintiffs’ ambiguousness argument, the issue is not whether an insured can conjure up
hypothetical scenarios that would place the exclusion in doubt but whether the substance in
question clearly and unambiguously falls within the definition of a “pollutant” under the policies,
and (e) regarding Plaintiffs’ argument that only Plaintiff Ben Weitsman of Scranton, LLC leased
the site in question (and thus Defendant should cover the claims of the other Plaintiffs), Plaintiffs
ignore the fact that the Houser complaint alleges that all of the Plaintiffs were engaged in
operations at the site; and (2) Plaintiffs’ conclusory statement concerning the enforceability of
Hartford’s disclaimer is both legally and factually deficient, because Plaintiffs’ waiver argument
(i.e., that Defendant waived its right to disclaim coverage by purportedly delaying its denial of
25

coverage for all entities) ignores (a) the New York case law holding that coverage cannot be
created by means of waiver where it otherwise does not exist by virtue of a policy exclusion, and
(b) the lack of any detrimental reliance or prejudice on the part of Plaintiffs. (See generally Dkt.
No. 32 [Defs.’ Reply Memo. of Law].)
2.

Parties’ Briefing on Plaintiffs’ Cross-Motion
a.

Plaintiffs’ Brief in Chief

Generally, in support of their cross-motion, Plaintiffs asserts the same four arguments
summarized above in Part I.C.1.b. of this Decision and Order: (1) New York’s choice-of-law
principles require that New York law apply to this dispute; (2) Hartford may not sustain its
disclaimer of coverage to Weitsman on the basis of the pollution exclusion; (3) Hartford has a
duty to defend Weitsman in the Houser lawsuit; and (4) Hartford improperly and untimely
disclaimed coverage to Weitsman. (See generally Dkt. No. 28, Attach. 9 [Plfs.’ Opp’n Memo. of
Law].)
b.

Defendants’ Response Brief

Generally, in their response to Plaintiffs’ cross-motion for summary judgment,
Defendants argue as follows: (1) Plaintiffs erroneously argue that the Houser lawsuit does not
involve “environmental pollution” to which absolute pollution exclusions apply; and (2)
Plaintiffs’ conclusory statement concerning the enforceability of Hartford’s disclaimer is both
legally and factually deficient. (See generally Dkt. No. 32 [Defs.’ Memo. of Law].)
II.

RELEVANT LEGAL STANDARDS
A.

Legal Standard Governing Motions for Summary Judgment

Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 56, summary judgment is warranted if “the movant shows that
there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to a judgment
26

as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). A dispute of fact is "genuine" if "the [record]
evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the [non-movant]." Anderson v.
Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986).4 As for the materiality requirement, a dispute of
fact is "material" if it "might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law . . . . Factual
disputes that are irrelevant or unnecessary will not be counted." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248.
In determining whether a genuine issue of material fact exists, the Court must resolve all
ambiguities and draw all reasonable inferences against the movant. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255.
In addition, "[the movant] bears the initial responsibility of informing the district court of the
basis for its motion, and identifying those portions of the . . . [record] which it believes
demonstrate[s] the absence of any genuine issue of material fact." Celotex v. Catrett, 477 U.S.
317, 323-24 (1986). However, when the movant has met its initial burden, the non-movant must
come forward with specific facts showing a genuine issue of material fact for trial. Fed. R. Civ.
P. 56(a),(c),(e).
Implied in the above-stated burden-shifting standard is the fact that, where a non-movant
willfully fails to respond to a motion for summary judgment, a district court has no duty to
perform an independent review of the record to find proof of a factual dispute.5 Of course, when
a non-movant willfully fails to respond to a motion for summary judgment, "[t]he fact that there
has been no [such] response . . . does not . . . [by itself] mean that the motion is to be granted

4

As a result, "[c]onclusory allegations, conjecture and speculation . . . are
insufficient to create a genuine issue of fact." Kerzer v. Kingly Mfg., 156 F.3d 396, 400 (2d Cir.
1998) [citation omitted]. As the Supreme Court has explained, "[The non-movant] must do more
than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts." Matsushita
Elec. Indus. Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 585-86 (1986).
5

Cusamano v. Sobek, 604 F. Supp.2d 416, 426 & n.2 (N.D.N.Y. 209) (Suddaby, J.)

(citing cases).
27

automatically." Champion v. Artuz, 76 F.3d 483, 486 (2d Cir. 1996). Rather, as indicated above,
the Court must assure itself that, based on the undisputed material facts, the law indeed warrants
judgment for the movant. Champion, 76 F.3d at 486; Allen v. Comprehensive Analytical Group,
Inc., 140 F. Supp.2d 229, 232 (N.D.N.Y. 2001) (Scullin, C.J.); N.D.N.Y. L.R. 7.1(b)(3). What
the non-movant's failure to respond to the motion does is lighten the movant's burden.
For these reasons, this Court has often enforced Local Rule 7.1(a)(3) by deeming facts set
forth in a movant's statement of material facts to be admitted, where (1) those facts are supported
by evidence in the record, and (2) the non-movant has willfully failed to properly respond to that
statement.6
Similarly, in this District, where a non-movant has willfully failed to respond to a
movant’s properly filed and facially meritorious memorandum of law, the non-movant is deemed
to have "consented" to the legal arguments contained in that memorandum of law under Local
Rule 7.1(b)(3).7 Stated another way, when a non-movant fails to oppose a legal argument
asserted by a movant, the movant may succeed on the argument by showing that the argument
possess facial merit, which has appropriately been characterized as a “modest” burden. See

6

Among other things, Local Rule 7.1(a)(3) requires that the non-movant file a
response to the movant's Statement of Material Facts, which admits or denies each of the
movant's factual assertions in matching numbered paragraphs, and supports any denials with a
specific citation to the record where the factual issue arises. N.D.N.Y. L. R. 7.1(a)(3).
7

See, e.g., Beers v. GMC, 97-CV-0482, 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12285, at *27-31
(N.D.N.Y. March 17, 1999) (McCurn, J.) (deeming plaintiff’s failure, in his opposition papers, to
oppose several arguments by defendants in their motion for summary judgment as consent by
plaintiff to the granting of summary judgment for defendants with regard to the claims that the
arguments regarded, under Local Rule 7.1[b][3]; Devito v. Smithkline Beecham Corp., 02-CV0745, 2004 WL 3691343, at *3 (N.D.N.Y. Nov. 29, 2004) (McCurn, J.) (deeming plaintiff’s
failure to respond to “aspect” of defendant’s motion to exclude expert testimony as “a
concession by plaintiff that the court should exclude [the expert’s] testimony” on that ground).
28

N.D.N.Y. L.R. 7.1(b)(3) (“Where a properly filed motion is unopposed and the Court determined
that the moving party has met its burden to demonstrate entitlement to the relief requested
therein . . . .”); Rusyniak v. Gensini, 07-CV-0279, 2009 WL 3672105, at *1, n.1 (N.D.N.Y. Oct.
30, 2009) (Suddaby, J.) (collecting cases); Este-Green v. Astrue, 09-CV-0722, 2009
WL2473509, at *2 & n.3 (N.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2009) (Suddaby, J.) (collecting cases).
B.

Legal Standards Governing Plaintiffs’ Claims

Because the parties to this action have demonstrated, in their memoranda of law, an
accurate understanding of the relevant points of law contained in the legal standards governing
Plaintiffs’ claims in this action, the Court will not recite, in detail, those legal standards in this
Decision and Order, which (again) is intended primarily for review by the parties. (See
generally Dkt. No. 27, Attach. 38 [Defs.’ Memo. of Law]; Dkt. No. 28, Attach. 9 [Plfs.’ Opp’n
Memo. of Law]; Dkt. No. 32 [Defs.’ Opp’n Memo. of Law].) Rather, the Court will merely set
forth the general points of law regarding (1) the legal standard governing choice of law, and (2)
the legal standard governing pollution exclusions.
1.

Legal Standard Governing Choice of Law

A federal court in a diversity case must look to the choice of law rules of the state in
which it sits to resolve conflict of law issues. Klaxon Co. v. Stentor Elec. Mfg. Co. of N. Am.,
313 U.S. 487, 496-97 (1941); Tischmann v. ITT/Sheraton Corp., 882 F. Supp. 1358, 1366
(S.D.N.Y. 1995). “In New York, the forum state in this case, the first question to resolve in
determining whether to undertake a choice of law analysis is whether there is an actual conflict
of laws.” In re Allstate Ins. Co., 613 N.E.2d 936, 937 (N.Y.1993). Under New York law, actual
conflict is present “where there are relevant substantive differences that could have a significant
impact on the outcome of the case.” Fin. One Pub. Co. Ltd. v. Lehman Bros. Special Fin., Inc.,
29

414 F.3d 325, 332 (2d Cir.2005). “It is only when it can be said that there is no actual conflict
that New York will dispense with a choice of law analysis.” Curley v. AMR Corp., 153 F.3d 5,
12 (2d Cir. 1998).
If a conflict does exist, then, to determine which law governs a contractual relationship
between the parties, the Court must determine the state with the “greatest interest in the
litigation.” Crescent Oil & Shipping Servs., Ltd. v. Phibro Energy, Inc., 929 F.2d 49, 52 (2d Cir.
1991). The Second Circuit refers to this test as the “paramount interest” test. Hunter v. Greene,
734 F.2d 896, 899 (2d Cir. 1984); Tischmann, 882 F. Supp. at 1366. The New York Court of
Appeals refers to this test as a “center of gravity” or “grouping of contacts” test in which
the selection of “the contacts that obtain significance in the particular contract dispute” plays a
“critical” role. Matter of Allstate Ins. Co. (Stolarz--New Jersey Mfrs. Ins. Co.), 81 N.Y.2d 219,
226 (N.Y. 1993). Whatever its name, under this test, “the facts or contacts which obtain
significance in defining State interests are those which relate to the purpose of the particular law
in conflict.” Intercont’l Planning, Ltd. v. Daystrom, Inc., 24 N.Y.2d 372, 382 (N.Y. 1969);
Hunter, 734 F.2d at 899; Tischmann, 882 F. Supp. at 1366.
In cases involving insurance contracts, courts look primarily at which state “the parties
understood was to be the principal location of the insured risk” unless (with respect to the
particular issue) some other state has “a more significant relationship” to the transaction and the
parties (such as being where the parties resided and/or where the contract was issued and
negotiated). Zurich Ins. Co. v. Shearson Lehman Hutton, Inc., 84 N.Y.2d 309, 318 (N.Y. 1994);
Colonial Penn Ins. Co. v. Minkoff, 338 N.Y.S.2d 444, 445 (N.Y. App. Div., 1st Dep’t 1972),
aff’d, 33 N.Y.2d 542 (N.Y. 1973); Steinbeck v. Aetna Casualty and Surety Co., 81 A.D.2d 382,
385-86 (N.Y. App. Div., 1st Dep’t 1981); Fireman’s Fund Ins. Co. v. Great Am. Ins. Co., 10 F.
30

Supp. 3d 460, 496 (S.D.N.Y. 2014); cf. Munzer v. St. Paul Fire and Marine Ins. Co., 145 A.D.2d
193, 200-01 (N.Y. App. Div., 3d Dep’t 1989) (characterizing the understood location of the
insured risk as the “primary factor” in the application of the “grouping of contacts rule” in an
insurance case).
When the insured risk is essentially restricted to one state, the understood location of the
insured risk is given “overriding consideration in determining applicable law.” O’Neill v. Yield
House Inc., 964 F. Supp. 806, 810 (S.D.N.Y. 1997). When, however, the understood location of
the insured risk is spread across multiple states, the understood location of the insured risk is
given “less significance.” O’Neill, 964 F. Supp. at 810. In such a case, the insured’s principal
place of business is the primary factor. In re Liquidation of Midland Ins. Co., 16 N.Y.3d 536,
544 (N.Y. 2011); Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London v. Foster Wheeler Corp., 36 A.D.3d
17, 24, 27 (N.Y. App. Div., 1st Dep’t 2006), aff'd, 9 N.Y.3d 928 (N.Y. 2007); Fireman’s Fund
Ins. Co., 10 F. Supp. 3d at 496.
Having said all of that, while grouping of contacts is the primary analytical tool in
contract cases, in certain instances “the policies underlying conflicting laws in a contract dispute
are readily identifiable and reflect strong governmental interests, and therefore should be
considered.” Zurich Ins. Co., 84 N.Y.2d at 318-19 (quoting Matter of Allstate Ins. Co., 81
N.Y.2d at 226). Theoretically, in a proper case, a foreign State’s sufficiently compelling public
policy could preclude an application of New York law otherwise indicated by the grouping of
contacts analysis, particularly where New York’s policy is weak or uncertain.” Zurich Ins. Co.,
84 N.Y.2d at 319.

31

2.

Legal Standard Governing Pollution Exclusions

Under Pennsylvania law, when an insurer relies on a policy exclusion as the basis for its
denial of coverage and refusal to defend, the insurer has asserted an affirmative defense and,
accordingly, bears the burden of proving that defense. Erie Ins. Exch. v. Transamerica Ins. Co.,
533 A.2d 1363, 1366 (Pa. 1987) (citing Miller v. Boston Ins. Co., 218 A.2d 275, 277 [Pa. 1966]);
Armon v. Aetna Cas. & Surety Co., 87 A.2d 302, 304 (Pa. 1952). The insurer must prove the
language of the contract is clear and unambiguous; otherwise, the provision will be construed in
favor of the insured. Fayette Cty. Housing Auth. v. Housing and Redevelopment Ins. Exch., 771
A.2d 11, 13 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2001). When construing a policy, “[w]ords of common usage . . . are
to be construed in their natural, plain and ordinary sense . . . and we may inform our
understanding of these terms by considering their dictionary definitions”; and “[w]here . . . the
language of the [policy] is clear and unambiguous, a court is required to give effect to that
language.” Madison Const. Co. v. Harleysville Mut. Ins. Co., 557 Pa. 595, 606, 608 (Pa. 1999)
(citations omitted); see also Reliance Ins. Co. v. Moessner, 121 F.3d 895, 902 (3d Cir. 1997)
(explaining that the court will not read “environmental catastrophes” into conditions that trigger
bar of coverage into an insurance policy). A policy should be interpreted to ascertain the intent
of the parties as manifested by the language of the written instrument. Madison Const. Co., 557
Pa. at 606. “Guided by the principle that ambiguity (or the lack thereof) is to be determined by
reference to a particular set of facts, [courts are to] focus on the specific product at issue.” Id.
The Court must interpret the definition of “pollutant” in the context of (1) the specific product at
issue, and (2) the particular factual events giving rise to the underlying claim. Wagner v. Erie
Ins. Co., 801 A.2d 1226, 1232 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2002). There must be “requisite causation,”
because, “[a]bsent causation between the alleged pollutant and the injury, the claim would be
32

outside of a pollution exclusion clause.” Municipality of Mt. Lebanon v. Reliance Ins. Co., 778
A.2d 1228, 1232 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2001).
Under New York law, “[t]o negate coverage by virtue of an exclusion, an insurer must
establish that the exclusion is stated in clear and unmistakable language, is subject to no other
reasonable interpretation, and applied in the particular case.” Cont’l Cas. Co. v. Rapid-American
Corp., 80 N.Y.2d 640, 652 (N.Y. 1993). Ambiguity in a policy, specifically an exclusionary
clause, is construed against the insurer. Ace Wire & Cable Co. v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co.,
469 N.Y.S.2d 655, 658 (N.Y. 1993). When construing pollution exclusion clauses, courts are to
exclude coverage only in cases of environmental pollution. Cont’l Casualty Co., 593 N.Y.S.2d
at 972; Karrol v. Atomergic Chem. Corp., 194 A.D.2d 715, 715 (N.Y. App. Div., 2d Dep’t
1993); Stoney Run Co. v. Prudential-LMI Commercial Ins. Co., 47 F.3d 34, 37 (2d Cir. 1995);
Lapolla Indus., Inc. v. Aspen Specialty Ins. Co., 962 F.Supp. 2d 479, 486 (E.D.N.Y. 2013).
Environmental pollutants are described as “damages . . . [which] are truly environmental in
nature, or where the . . . damages resulting from what can accurately be described as the
pollution of the environment.” Belt Painting Corp. v. TIG Ins. Co., 742 N.Y.S.2d 332, 336 (N.Y.
App. Div., 2d Dep’t 2002) (citations omitted). An insurer’s duty to defend is “exceedingly
broad.” Colon v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 494 N.Y.S.2d 688, 689 (N.Y. 1985). Exclusionary
provisions in insurance contracts are to be “accorded a strict and narrow construction.” Seaboard
Surety Co. v. Gillette Co., 64 N.Y.2d 304, 311 (N.Y. 1984).
III.

ANALYSIS
A.

Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment

After carefully considering the matter, the Court grants Defendants’ motion for the
reasons stated in their memoranda of law. See, supra, Part I.C. of this Decision and Order. To
those reasons, the Court adds the following analysis.
33

The Court begins by noting that Defendants have moved to dismiss all of Plaintiffs’
claims–including the claims of Plaintiff Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc. (See, e.g., Dkt. No. 27, at 2
[Defs.’ Notice of Motion, seeking the dismissal of “Plaintiffs’ Complaint in its entirety”]; Dkt.
No. 27, Attach. 38, at 9 & n.1 [attaching page “1” of Def.’s Memo. of Law, requesting the
dismissal of the Complaint of, inter alia, Plaintiff Upstate Shredding Disc., Inc., and arguing
that, “[i]nsofar as Plaintiffs do not dispute that Upstate Shredding Disc, Ins. is not an insured
under the Hartford Policies, Hartford is entitled to summary judgment as to that Plaintiff . . .”].).
It is undisputed that Hartford did not issue any policies to Plaintiff Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc.,
nor is Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc., listed as an additional insured on any insurance policy
issued by Hartford. See, supra, Statement of Fact No. 29 in Part I.B.1. of this Decision and
Order. Moreover, Plaintiffs have not opposed this portion of Defendants’ motion. (See
generally Dkt. No. 28, Attach. 9 [Plfs.’ Opp’n Memo. of Law].) As explained above, where a
non-movant has fails to oppose a legal argument asserted by a movant, the movant may succeed
on the argument by showing that the argument possess facial merit, which has appropriately been
characterized as a "modest" burden. See, supra, Part II.A. of this Decision and Order. Here, the
Court finds that the legal argument possesses facial merit for the reasons offered by Defendants.
As a result, Plaintiff Upstate Shredding Disc, Inc.’s claims are dismissed.
Turning to the claims of the remaining Plaintiffs, the Court finds that those claims should
be dismissed for the following reasons.
1.

No Conflict of Law Exists

As an initial matter, the Court finds that, although there are certainly some differences
between the law of New York and that of Pennsylvania, no actual conflict of law exists as those
laws apply to this case because, under both states’ law, the outcome of this case would be the
34

same: Defendants have established that the exclusions are stated in clear and unmistakable
language, are subject to no other reasonable interpretation, and apply to the environmental
pollution that occurred on November 28, 2011, in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
The provision in the primary general liability policies clearly defines “pollutants” as, in
part, “any . . . gaseous . . . irritant or contaminant, including . . . chemicals . . . .” See, supra,
Fact No. 33 in Part I.B.1.c. of this Decision and Order. Similarly, the provision in the umbrella
liability policies clearly defines “pollution hazard” as “an actual exposure . . . to the corrosive,
toxic or other harmful properties of any . . . gaseous . . . [p]ollutants” or “[i]rritants,” which
include “[c]hemicals.” See, supra, Fact No. 35 in Part I.B.1.c. of this Decision and Order.
Of course, chlorine is a chemical. See, e.g., Webster’s New World College Dictionary at
258 (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 4th ed. 2010) (defining “chlorine” as “a greenish-yellow,
poisonous, gaseous chemical element, one of the halogens, having a disagreeable odor and
obtained by electrolysis of certain chlorides: it is used as a bleaching agent, in water purification,
in various industrial processes, etc.”) (emphasis added); Oxford American Dictionary at 109
(Oxford Univ. Press 1980) (defining “chlorine” as “a chemical element used in sterilizing water
and in industry”) (emphasis added).
Furthermore, the provision in the primary general liability policies clearly excludes from
coverage, in part, the "actual . . . [or] alleged . . . discharge, . . . migration, release or escape of
pollutants." See, supra, Fact No. 31 in Part I.B.1.c. of this Decision and Order. Similarly, the
provision in the umbrella liability policies clearly excludes from coverage, in part, the "actual . . .
injury or damage of any nature or kind to persons or property which arises out of or would not
have occurred but for . . . an actual exposure . . . to the corrosive, toxic or other harmful
properties of any . . . gaseous . . . [p]ollutants" or "[i]rritants." See, supra, Fact No. 35 in Part
I.B.1.c. of this Decision and Order.
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Under the circumstance, the Court finds that a rational fact-finder could not dispute that
such a "discharge," "migration," "release," "escape" and/or "exposure" of pollutants was alleged
in the Houser complaint. For example, the Houser complaint alleged that "toxic chlorine gas . . .
[was] released from a cylinder/tank/vessel stored on [Plaintiffs'] property, releasing the chlorine
gas into the air and causing a toxic cloud of chlorine gas to form," which "drifted in the air from
the [Plaintiff's] property" to other properties, where Heidi Houser and Dorothy Houser "were
overtaken by the cloud and were forced to inhale toxic fumes of chlorine gas from the cloud,"
and where Mary Ogden, Mary Irwin and Emelie Irwin were "engulfed" by the cloud and "forced
to inhale toxic fumes of chlorine gas from the cloud." See, supra, Fact Nos. 15, 17, 18 and 19 in
Part I.B.1.b. of this Decision and Order (emphasis added).
With regard to Plaintiffs’ argument that the Fourth Department has “held a nearly
identical definition of ‘pollutant’ to be per se ambiguous” (Dkt. No. 28, Attach. 9, and 15
[attaching page “11” of Plfs.’ Opp’n Memo. of Law]), that argument overstates the holding of
the Fourth Department in Roofers' Joint Training, Apprentice and Educ. Comm. of W. New York
v. Gen. Accident Ins. Co. of Am., 275 A.D.2d 90 (N.Y. App. Div., 4th Dep't 2000) (“Roofers”),
and ignores the distinction between the facts of Roofers and the facts of case before this Court.
In Roofers, the Fourth Department held that “the total pollution exclusion endorsement in the
policy is ambiguous as applied to Rickard's claim,” because “[a]n ordinary insured in plaintiff's
shoes would not understand that the policy does not cover a claim for bodily injuries such as
those sustained by Rickard.” Roofers' Joint Training, Apprentice and Educ. Comm. of W. New
York, 275 A.D.2d at 92 (emphasis added). Moreover, the claim for bodily injuries in Roofers
stemmed from “toxic fumes” (caused by heated roofing membrane) which remained in a
classroom and injured a single construction worker there during a demonstration. Id. at 91.
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Such a minor amount of fumes confined to their intended area (i.e., indoors) is
significantly different from the gaseous substance in this case–a white cloud of chlorine gas large
enough to travel outdoors to two adjoining properties and trap and engulf five people (including
an automobile) there. Cf. Cataract Metal Finishing, Inc. v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 02-CV-0261,
2003 WL 251955, at *2, n.10 (W.D.N.Y. Jan. 2, 2003) (distinguishing Roofers on the ground
that the claim in Roofers stemmed merely from noxious fumes that remained inside a building);
Gold Fields Am. Corp. v. Aetna Cas. and Surety Co., 295 A.D.2d 289, 289-90 (N.Y. App. Div.,
1st Dep’t 2002) (distinguishing Roofers on the ground that the claim in Roofers stemmed merely
from hazardous substances that were not released “into the open environment”).
Such a large, white, environmentally mobile cloud is also factually distinguishable from
the gaseous substances in the other two New York cases relied on by Plaintiffs, which involved
(1) a spray of sulfuric acid that remains on a property and affects only one person, or (2) some
paint and solvent fumes that remain in an office building and bother one person. Karroll v.
Atomergic Chemetals Corp., 194 A.D.2d 715, 715 (N.Y. App. Div., 2d Dep’t 1993); Belt
Painting Corp. v. TIG Ins. Co., 100 N.Y.2d 377, 388 (N.Y. 2003).
Indeed, a factually analogous case supports the Court’s conclusion that New York law
bars coverage under the policies. See Tri-Mun. Sewer Comm’n v. Cont’l Ins. Co., 636 N.Y.S.2d
856, 857 (N.Y. App. Div., 2d Dep’t 1996) (applying New York law to find that noxious odors,
which emanated from a sewage plant and traveled to an adjoining property, constituted
“pollution” for purposes of a pollution exclusion provision in an insurance policy).
For all of these reasons, the Court grants Defendant’s motion for summary judgment.

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2.

Even if a Conflict of Law Were to Exist, Pennsylvania Law Would
Apply to the Polices Held by Plaintiff Ben Weitsman & Son of
Scranton, LLC

Even if an actual conflict of law were to exist between the law of New York and that of
Pennsylvania, the Court would find that Pennsylvania law applies to the polices held by Plaintiff
Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC. More specifically, under New York’s applicable
choice-of-law rule, the Court would find that, with regard to policies held by Plaintiff Ben
Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC, Pennsylvania has the “greatest interest in the litigation.”
See, supra, Part II.B.1. of this Decision and Order.
The parties to those policies clearly understood Pennsylvania to be the principal location
of the insured risk. (Dkt. No. 27, Attach. 11, 14, 17 [attaching applications and policies].) As a
result, that fact is to be given controlling weight. See, supra, Part II.B.1. of this Decision and
Order. Moreover, even if the understood location of the insured risk was spread across multiple
states (i.e., Pennsylvania and New York), Plaintiff Ben Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC’s
principal place of business was in Pennsylvania. See, supra, Statement of Fact No. 2 in Part
I.B.1. of this Decision and Order. As a result, that fact would be given controlling weight. See,
supra, Part II.B.1. of this Decision and Order.
Analyzed under Pennsylvania law, the pollution exclusion provisions in this case bar
coverage for the claim in question. As stated above in Part III.A.1. of this Decision and Order,
the provision in the primary general liability policies clearly defines “pollutants” as, in part, “any
. . . gaseous . . . irritant or contaminant, including . . . chemicals . . . .” Similarly, the provision in
the umbrella liability policies clearly defines “pollution hazard” as “an actual exposure . . . to the
corrosive, toxic or other harmful properties of any . . . gaseous . . . [p]ollutants” or “[i]rritants,”

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which include “[c]hemicals.”8
As also stated above, chlorine is a chemical.9 Even if chlorine were not a chemical,
chlorine is clearly an “irritant.” See Ford City Borough Mun. Sewage Disposal Auth. v. EMC
Ins. Co’s., 73 Pa. D. & C. 4th 225, 231 (Pa. Com. Pl. 2005) (finding that Webster’s New
Universal Unabridged Dictionary [1989] defines “chlorine” as “a highly irritating, greenishyellow gaseous halogen, capable of combining with nearly all other elements, produced
principally by electrolysis of sodium chloride and used widely to purify water, as a disinfectant
and bleaching agent, and in the manufacture of many important compounds”) (emphasis added).
Finally, as stated above, the provision in the primary general liability policies clearly
excludes from coverage, in part, the “actual . . . [or] alleged . . . discharge, . . . migration, release
or escape of pollutants.” Similarly, the provision in the umbrella liability policies clearly
excludes from coverage, in part, the “actual . . . injury or damage of any nature or kind to
persons or property which arises out of or would not have occurred but for . . . an actual
exposure . . . to the corrosive, toxic or other harmful properties of any . . . gaseous . . .
[p]ollutants” or “[i]rritants.” A rational fact-finder could not dispute that such a “discharge,”

8

The Court notes that, even if “chemicals” were not expressly included as a type of
“irritant,” chemicals could reasonably be inferred as being so included. See Municipality of Mt.
Lebanon v. Reliance Ins. Co., 778 A.2d 1228, 1233 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2001) (finding that Webster’s
New Universal Unabridged Dictionary [1989] defines an “irritant” broadly as “a biological,
chemical or physical agent that stimulates a characteristic function or elicits a response,
esp[ecially] an inflammatory response,” and contaminant” as “something that . . . render[s]
impure or unsuitable by contact or mixture with something unclean, bad, etc.”).
9

See also Atl. Casualty Ins. Co. v. Zymblosky, No. 1167 MDA 2016, 2017 WL
3017728, at *4 (Pa. Super. Ct. July 17, 2017) (relying on insurer’s definition of “chlorine” as a
“chemical” in concluding that chlorine was a pollutant under an insurance policy); Ford City
Borough Mun. Sewage Disposal Auth. v. EMC Ins. Co’s., 73 Pa. D. & C. 4th 225, 231 (Pa. Com.
Pl. 2005) (“It is clear from the above definitions that chlorine is a gaseous chemical agent which
elicits an inflammatory response.”).
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“migration,” “release,” “escape” and/or “exposure” of pollutants was alleged in the Houser
complaint.
For all of these reasons, the Court finds that an alternative ground exists in support of
granting summary judgment to Defendant with regard to the polices held by Plaintiff Ben
Weitsman & Son of Scranton, LLC.
The Court notes that a more difficult question would be presented by the policies held by
the other two Plaintiffs. The parties to those policies clearly understood the location of the
insured risk to be spread across two states (i.e., New York and Pennsylvania). (Dkt. No. 27,
Attach. 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19 [attaching applications and policies].) Moreover, those two
Plaintiffs’ principal places of business were in New York. See, supra, Statement of Fact Nos. 3
and 4 in Part I.B.1. of this Decision and Order. Ordinarily, the latter fact would be given
controlling weight. See, supra, Part II.B.1. of this Decision and Order. However, the fact would
not be given controlling weight if Pennsylvania “has a more significant relationship” to the
transaction in question. See, supra, Part II.B.1. of this Decision and Order. More specifically,
the fact would not be given controlling weight if Pennsylvania has a “sufficiently compelling
public policy” interest in the particular law in conflict, while New York lacks a “strong
governmental interest[]” in the particular law in conflict. See, supra, Part II.B.1. of this Decision
and Order. Answering this question would depend on what exactly the “transaction in question”
involved and what the particular law in question regarded: (1) insuring against the release of
pollutants during Plaintiffs’ involvement in a scrap-metal business in Scranton, Pennsylvania, or
(2) insuring against the release of pollutants by Plaintiffs’ conducting of any covered business
under the policy (i.e., in either New York or Pennsylvania). While the latter answer appears
more likely, it would result in virtually identically worded policies held by entities having
40

similar owners being construed under different state laws with regard to the same occurrence, in
the same decision (with inconsistent results, if Plaintiffs are correct that New York law differs
from Pennsylvania law).
Fortunately, the Court need not, and thus does not, decide this question, because it has
already found that, as a threshold matter, New York law bars coverage under all of the policies.
See, supra, Part III.A.1. of this Decision and Order.
B.

Plaintiffs’ Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment

After carefully considering the matter, the Court denies Plaintiffs’ cross-motion for the
reasons stated in Defendants’ opposition memorandum of law and the reasons set forth above).
See, supra, Parts I.C.2.b. and III.A. of this Decision and Order.
ACCORDINGLY, it is
ORDERED that Defendants’ motion for summary judgment (Dkt. No. 27) is
GRANTED; and it is further
ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ cross-motion for summary judgment (Dkt. No. 28) is
DENIED; and it is further
ORDERED that Plaintiff’s complaint is dismissed.
Dated:

February 13, 2018
Syracuse, NY
________________________________
Hon. Glenn T. Suddaby
Chief U.S. District Judge

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