Mount Vernon Fire Insurance Company v. Munoz Trucking Corp. et al
Filing
107
OPINION AND ORDER re: 89 MOTION for Summary Judgment Notice of Motion filed by Mount Vernon Fire Insurance Company. For the foregoing reasons, Mount Vernon's motion for summary judgment is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. The Court finds that (1) Munoz is the only party covered by the Mount Vernon Policy, (2) Mount Vernon does not have a duty to defend Munoz in the Underlying Action, (3) the question of whether Mount Vernon has a duty to indemnify Munoz in the Underlying Action is not yet ripe for review, and (4) Mount Vernon's delay in providing a disclaimer to Munoz was reasonable as a matter of law. The parties are directed to appear for a status conference on October 18, 2016 at 10:30 AM. The Clerk of the Court is respectfully directed to terminate the motion, Doc. 89. It is SO ORDERED. (As further set forth in this Order.) (Status Conference set for 10/18/2016 at 10:30 AM before Judge Edgardo Ramos.) (Signed by Judge Edgardo Ramos on 9/30/2016) (kko)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
MOUNT VERNON FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY,
Plaintiff,
OPINION AND ORDER
13 Civ. 6268 (ER)
-againstMUNOZ TRUCKING CORP., MENDEZ TRUCKING
INC., REBCO CONTRACTING CORP., DIEGO A.
ULLOA-TAPIA, S3 TUNNEL CONSTRUCTORS,
SKANSKA USA, INC., SCHIAVONE CONSTRUCITON
CO. LLC, J.F. SHEA CONTRUCTION INC., and BRICE
MASTROLUCA, individually and as Administrator of the
Estate of LAURENCE RENARD, deceased,
Defendants.
Ramos, D.J.:
Mount Vernon Fire Insurance Company (“Mount Vernon”) brings this action against
Munoz Trucking Corp. (“Munoz”), Mendez Trucking Inc. (“Mendez”), Rebco Contracting Corp.
(“Rebco”), Diego A. Ulloa-Tapia (“Ulloa-Tapia”), S3 Tunnel Constructors (“S3”), Skanska
USA, Inc. (“Skanska”), Schiavone Construction Co. LLC (“Schiavone”), J.F. Shea Construction
Inc. (“J.F. Shea”), and Brice Mastroluca (“Mastroluca”) (collectively, “Defendants”), seeking a
declaratory judgment that Mount Vernon is not obligated to indemnify or provide a defense to
the defendants in the lawsuit Brice Mastroluca, individually and as Administrator of the Estate
of Laurence Renard, deceased, and on behalf of all heirs and next-of-kin of Laurence Renard,
deceased v. Diego A. Tapia-Ulloa, S3 Tunnel Constructors, Skanska USA Inc., Schiavone
Construction Co. LLC, J.F. Shea Construction, Inc., Mendez Trucking, Inc., Munoz Trucking
Corp., and Rebco Contracting Corp., Index No. 100585/2012 (the “Underlying Action”),
pursuant to a policy of insurance. Before the Court is Mount Vernon’s motion for summary
judgment, Doc. 89. For the reasons stated herein, Mount Vernon’s motion is GRANTED in part
and DENIED in part.
I. BACKGROUND
A. The Underlying Action 1
On January 18, 2012, Mastroluca commenced the Underlying Action by filing a
complaint (the “Underlying Complaint”) against Munoz, Mendez, Rebco, Ulloa-Tapia, S3,
Skanska, Schiavone, and Shea (collectively, the “Underlying Defendants”) in the Supreme Court
of New York, New York County. Pl. 56.1 ¶ 1; see Declaration of Steven Verveniotis, filed in
support of Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment (“Verveniotis Decl.”), Doc. 92, Ex. A
(“Underlying Compl.”). 2 Mastroluca alleges that the Underlying Defendants are collectively
liable for an accident, in which his wife Laurence Renard (“Renard”) was hit by a dump truck
driven by Ulloa-Tapia and killed. Pl. 56.1 ¶ 2; Underlying Compl. ¶ 67.
According to Mastroluca, the Underlying Defendants were agents to each other and
acting in concert at the time of the accident. Underlying Compl. ¶ 18. Mastroluca alleges that
Defendant S3 was a joint venture comprised of defendants Skanska, Schiavone, and J.F. Shea.
Id. ¶ 19. On January 24, 2011, S3 and non-party Metropolitan Transportation Authority
(“MTA”) agreed to a contract regarding the construction of a portion of the Second Avenue
subway tunnels extending from 92nd to 63rd Street (the “Second Avenue Subway Project”). Pl.
56.1 ¶ 3; Underlying Compl. ¶ 25. S3 then contracted with Defendant Rebco to perform debris
removal from the Second Avenue Subway Project, and Rebco contracted with Munoz and
1
The Court makes no findings regarding the truth of the allegations in the Underlying Action.
2
The notation “Pl. 56.1” refers to Mount Vernon’s statement of undisputed material facts pursuant to Local Rule
56.1, Doc. 94. All facts are undisputed unless otherwise noted.
2
Mendez to provide trucks and personnel for the debris removal. Pl. 56.1 ¶ 4; Underlying Compl.
¶¶ 29-30.
Munoz is described in the Underlying Complaint as the “parent, principal and/or alter
ego” of Mendez, and is alleged to have “ordered, directed, contracted or otherwise arranged for”
Mendez to provide personnel and equipment for Munoz’s use in performing the debris removal.
Underlying Compl. ¶¶ 34, 43. According to the Underlying Complaint, Mendez was the
registered owner of the truck involved in the underlying accident, and Ulloa-Tapia, the driver of
the truck, was an employee of both Munoz and Mendez. Id. ¶¶ 37-44.
Mastroluca claims that Munoz, as well as the other Underlying Defendants, were
negligent and reckless in “the ownership, oversight, supervision, selection, maintenance,
operation, control and/or direction of” the dump truck driven by Ulloa-Tapia. Id. ¶ 75. The
Underlying Complaint further alleges that “dump trucks traveling to and from the [Second
Avenue Subway] work zone were required to adhere to designated truck routes,” that those
trucks were “required to use E. 86th Street when traveling West or East between Second and
First Avenues,” and that the trucks were expressly “prohibited from using the one-way numbered
cross-streets, including 90th Street between Second and First Avenues,” where the accident
occurred. Id. ¶¶ 56-58. It asserts that Munoz was on actual notice that the hauling of
construction debris was taking place on prohibited one-way, numbered streets, including E. 90th
Street, id. ¶ 60, and that Munoz was negligent by, inter alia, failing “to ensure that dump trucks
traveling to and from the work zone followed the designated haul routes”; failing “to ensure that
the subject truck . . . did not travel on 90th Street between Second and First Avenues”; and
failing “to administer the work zone in a reasonably safe and careful manner.” Id. ¶ 75. The
3
Underlying Complaint asserts that these actions and omissions were proximate causes of
Renard’s death. Id. ¶ 78.
B. The Insurance Policy
Mount Vernon issued a commercial general liability (“CGL”) insurance policy to Munoz
bearing the policy number CL 2359277B, which covered the period from November 11, 2010 to
November 11, 2011 (the “Policy”). See Affidavit of Iqbal Lall, filed in support of Plaintiff’s
Motion for Summary Judgment (“Lall Aff.”), Doc. 93, Ex. A, Policy Declaration at 1, Pl. 56.1 ¶
38.
The Policy provides in Section I(1)(a) that Mount Vernon will “pay those sums that
[Munoz] becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of ‘bodily injury’ or ‘property
damage’ to which [the Policy] applies”; however, Mount Vernon “will have no duty to defend
[Munoz] against any ‘suit’ seeking damages for ‘bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ to which
[the Policy] does not apply.” Lall Aff., Ex. A, Commercial General Liability Coverage Form
(“CGL Form”) at 1. As set forth in Section I(2)(g), the Policy’s coverage does not apply to:
“Bodily Injury” or “property damage” arising out of the ownership, maintenance, use or
entrustment to others of any . . . ‘auto’ . . . owned or operated by or rented or loaned to any
insured. . . .” (the “Auto Exclusion”). CGL Form at 4; Pl. 56.1 ¶ 39. The Auto Exclusion
applies:
even if the claims against any insured allege negligence or other
wrongdoing in the supervision, hiring, employment, training or
monitoring of others by that insured, if the ‘occurrence’ which
caused the ‘bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ involved the
ownership, maintenance, use or entrustment to others of any ...
‘auto’ . . . that is owned or operated by or rented or loaned to any
insured. 3
Id.
3
The auto exclusion also contains a number of exceptions, not listed here, which are not pertinent to the instant
motion.
4
The Policy also includes an endorsement for additional insured coverage, which provides:
Section II – Who Is An Insured is amended to include as an
additional insured any person(s) or organization(s) for whom you
[Munoz] are performing “your work” under a written contract or
agreement, that requires such person(s) or organization(s) to be
added as an additional insured on your policy. Such person(s) or
organization(s) is an additional insured only with respect to
liability for “bodily injury”, “property damage” or “personal and
advertising injury” occurring after the effective date of such
contract or agreement that is caused, in or whole or in party by:
1. Your acts or omissions; or
2. The Acts or omissions of those acting on your behalf;
in the performance of ‘your work’ for the additional insured.
Coverage for an additional insured under this endorsement
ends when “your work” for that additional insured ends or is
put to its intended use by any person or organization.
Lall Aff., Ex. A, Blanket Additional Insured Endorsement (“Add’l Ins. Endorsement”).
C. Disclaimer of Coverage
The parties dispute when Mount Vernon first received notice of the accident between
Ulloa-Tapia and Renard. Defendants provide evidence that Munoz’s insurance broker completed
a notice of claim on February 4, 2011, and assert that the notice of claim was sent to Mount
Vernon’s insurance broker, before being forwarded to Mount Vernon that same day. Munoz
56.1 Opp. ¶ 73; Declaration of Mark S. Winter, filed in support of Defendant Munoz’s
Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment (“Winter Decl.”), Doc. 101-3, Ex. 11. 4
Mount Vernon claims that it was not until Munoz’s insurance broker sent a “Claim Set Up
Sheet” on February 9, 2011 that it became aware of the claim. Pl. 56.1 ¶ 73.
The parties do not dispute that at some point subsequent to February 9, 2011, Mount
Vernon commenced an investigation into the claim. Pl. 56.1 ¶¶ 73-74; Munoz 56.1 Opp. ¶ 74.
4
The notation “Munoz 56.1 Opp.” refers to Munoz’s opposition to Plaintiff’s 56.1 statement of undisputed material
facts, Doc. 101-16.
5
On February 15, 2011, Mount Vernon’s representative, Rick Lall, emailed counsel for Munoz,
Mark Winter, seeking permission for Mount Vernon’s investigator to discuss the claim with
Munoz’s representatives. Lall Aff., Ex. C. Mr. Winter informed Mr. Lall that he would be
unavailable until the end of the month. Lall Aff., Ex. F. The interview ultimately took place on
March 3, 2011. See Lall Aff., Ex. G. Twelve days later, on March 15, 2011, Mount Vernon
issued a disclaimer letter to Munoz, as well as Mastroluca, Rebco, Mendez, and Ulloa-Tapia,
disclaiming coverage based on the fact that the accident arose from the operation of an auto by
an insured, and was thus subject to the Auto Exclusion. Pl. 56.1 ¶ 78; Lall Aff., Ex. H.
On May 11, 2011, Mount Vernon received a tender for insurance coverage from the New
York City Transit Authority, MTA, Skanska, Schiavone, J.F. Shea, and S3. Pl. 56.1 ¶ 80; Lall
Aff., Ex. I. On June 15, 2011, Mount Vernon responded to the tender letter, and restated its
position that the Policy did not offer coverage for the claims presented in the Underlying Action.
Pl. 56.1 ¶ 81; Lall Aff., Ex. J.
On February 3, 2012, Munoz’s broker faxed a copy of the complaint in the Underlying
Action to Mount Vernon. Pl. 56.1 ¶ 82; Lall Aff., Ex. K. On February 15, 2012, Mount Vernon
issued a third disclaimer to all the parties named in the Underlying Complaint, restating its
position that the Policy did not provide coverage. Pl. 56.1 ¶ 83; Lall Aff., Ex. L.
D. Procedural Background
Mount Vernon commenced this declaratory judgment action on September 6, 2013, and
moved for summary judgment on September 30, 2015. Docs. 1, 89. On November 17, 2015,
Munoz filed an opposition. See Doc. 101. On November 18, 2015, Mendez and Mastroluca
joined in the arguments made by Munoz, and filed additional briefing. Docs. 103, 104. Also on
November 18, 2015, S3, Schiavone, J.F. Shea, and Skanska filed a declaration joining in the
6
arguments of the each of the other Defendants. Doc. 102.
II. LEGAL STANDARD
Summary judgment may be granted when it is shown that there is “no genuine dispute as
to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P.
56(a); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23 (1986) (same). “When ruling on a
summary judgment motion, the district court must construe the facts in the light most favorable
to the non-moving party and must resolve all ambiguities and draw all reasonable inferences
against the movant.” Dallas Aerospace, Inc. v. CIS Air Corp., 352 F.3d 775, 780 (2d Cir. 2003).
A party seeking summary judgment bears the burden of establishing that no genuine issue of
material fact exists. See Atl. Mut. Ins. Co. v. CSX Lines, L.L.C., 432 F.3d 428, 433 (2d Cir.
2005).
Where the sole question presented on a motion for summary judgment is the
interpretation of a clear and unambiguous contract, the issue is one of law that may be decided
by the Court upon a motion for summary judgment. See Fed. Ins. Co. v. Zurich Am. Ins. Co.,
445 F. App’x 405, 408 (2d Cir. 2011); see also Jakobson Shipyard, Inc. v. Aetna Cas. & Sur.
Co., 775 F. Supp. 606, 609 (S.D.N.Y. 1991) (same). The Court must, therefore, determine
whether the Auto Exclusion in the policy bars coverage for the underlying accident, and, if it
does, whether Mount Vernon properly disclaimed coverage to the Underlying Defendants.
III. DISCUSSION
A. Choice of Law
“Federal courts sitting in diversity look to the choice-of-law rules of the forum state.”
7
Int’l Bus. Machs. Corp. v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 363 F.3d 137, 143 (2d Cir. 2004). 5 Pursuant to
New York’s choice-of-law rules, an agreement between the parties to apply New York law, even
if implicit, is sufficient to establish the appropriate choice of law. Krumme v. WestPoint Stevens
Inc., 238 F.3d 133, 138 (2d Cir. 2000); see also Fed. Ins. Co. v. Am. Home Assurance Co., 639
F.3d 557, 566 (2d Cir. 2011). Because the parties’ briefing assumes New York law applies, the
Court shall apply New York law. See Atlantic Cas. Ins. Co. v. Value Waterproofing, Inc., 918 F.
Supp. 2d 243, 252 (S.D.N.Y. 2013).
B. Duty to Defend
Mount Vernon seeks a declaration with respect to two separate duties: its duty to defend
the Underlying Defendants and its duty to indemnify them. In New York, “an insurer’s duty to
defend is ‘exceedingly broad’ and distinct from the duty to indemnify.” Euchner-USA, Inc. v.
Hartford Cas. Ins. Co., 754 F.3d 136, 140 (2d Cir. 2014) (quoting Auto. Ins. Co. of Hartford v.
Cook, 7 N.Y.3d 131, 137 (2006)). “The duty to defend is measured against the allegations of
pleadings but the duty to pay is determined by the actual basis for the insured’s liability to a third
person.” Servidone Constr. Corp. v. Sec. Ins. Co. of Hartford, 64 N.Y.2d 419, 424 (1985).
To determine if a defense obligation exists, the Court must determine whether the
allegations, “liberally construed,” are “within the embrace of the policy.” Century 21, Inc. v.
Diamond State Ins. Co., 442 F.3d 79, 83 (2d Cir. 2006) (citing Colon v. Aetna Life & Cas. Ins.
Co., 66 N.Y.2d 6, 8-9 (1985)). The insured party bears the burden of establishing that the
claimed loss falls within the scope of the policy. Consol. Edison Co. of N.Y. v. Allstate Ins. Co.,
98 N.Y.2d 208, 218 (2002). “If the complaint contains any facts or allegations which bring the
claim even potentially within the protection purchased, the insurer is obligated to defend.”
5
Mount Vernon alleges subject matter jurisdiction based on diversity. According to the Complaint, Mount Vernon
is a Pennsylvania corporation with its principal place of business in Pennsylvania. None of the Defendants’
principal place of business is Pennsylvania, nor were any incorporated there. Complaint, Doc. 1, ¶¶ 1-2.
8
Technicon Elecs. Corp. v. Am. Home Assur. Co., 74 N.Y.2d 66, 73 (1989) (internal citation
omitted). Furthermore, if any allegations “fall within the scope of the risks undertaken by the
insurer, regardless of how false or groundless those allegations might be,” an insurer must
defend. Seaboard Sur. Co. v. Gillette Co., 64 N.Y.2d 304, 306 (1984). Thus, the “insurer’s duty
to defend the entire action is triggered even if only one claim is potentially covered by the
insurance policy.” Massachusetts Bay Ins. Co. v. Penny Preville, Inc., 95 Civ. 4845 (RPP), 1996
WL 389266, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. July 10, 1996) (citing Seaboard, 64 N.Y.2d at 310-11). And the
“duty [to defend] remains ‘even though facts outside the four corners of [the] pleadings indicate
that the claim may be meritless or not covered.’” Auto. Ins. Co. of Hartford, 7 N.Y.3d at 137
(quoting Fitzpatrick v. Am. Honda Motor Co., 78 N.Y.2d 61, 63 (1991)).
Conversely, “a defense obligation may be avoided only where there is ‘no possible
factual or legal basis’ on which an insurer’s duty to indemnify under any provision of the policy
could be held to attach.” Century 21, 442 F.3d at 82-83 (quoting Servidone, 64 N.Y.2d at 424).
When an exclusion clause is relied upon to deny coverage, “the burden rests upon the insurance
company to demonstrate that the allegations of the complaint can be interpreted only to exclude
coverage.” Town of Massena v. Healthcare Underwriters Mut. Ins. Co., 98 N.Y.2d 435, 444
(2002). The insurer must “demonstrate that the allegations of the complaint cast that pleading
solely and entirely within the policy exclusions.” Auto. Ins. Co. of Hartford, 7 N.Y.3d at 137
(citing Allstate Ins. Co. v. Mugavero, 79 N.Y.2d 153, 159 (1992)).
C. Coverage Under the Policy
1. Additional Insured Coverage
As a preliminary matter, the Court must first determine which parties are covered by the
Mount Vernon Policy besides the named insured, Munoz. Mendez, Rebco, Ulloa-Tapia, S3,
9
Skanska, Schiavone, and J.F. Shea contend that they are each additional insureds under the
Policy.
The Policy provides that an additional insured is any person or organization for whom
Munoz performs work “under a written contract or agreement,” which requires such person or
organization to be added as an additional insured on the Policy. Add’l Ins. Endorsement at 1. 6
On March 11, 2015, Magistrate Judge Maas issued an order that “[a]ny party claiming additional
insured coverage under the [Policy] that is the subject of this action must do so, in writing, and
provide supporting documentation to Plaintiff’s counsel by March 25, 2015.” See Verveniotis Decl.,
Ex. V. None of the Underlying Defendants submitted any documentation by that deadline, and
Mount Vernon indicates that, to this date, there is no evidence in the record of any written
contract or agreement between any of the Underlying Defendants and Munoz requiring that they
be considered an additional insured. 7
Mendez, the only defendant to address the issue in opposition, points to a truck lease
agreement between Munoz and Mendez with an effective date of January 3, 2011, which states:
“Lessee shall maintain all necessary insurance and protect the Lessor from any and all actions
related to the operation of leased item.” Declaration of Stephen L. O’Brien, filed in opposition
to Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment, Doc. 103, Ex. C ¶ 6. Mendez argues that this
paragraph in the lease agreement creates a question of fact as to whether Munoz indeed provided
insurance for Mendez, as required under the lease agreement, and thus whether Mendez is an
additional insured under the Policy. The flaw in this argument, however, is that the lease
agreement defines Mendez as the Lessee, not Munoz. Thus, the lease agreement does not in fact
6
Defendants do not dispute that in order to be considered an additional insured under the Policy, any contract or
agreement to perform work for the insured must be written.
7
Munoz actually concedes that its agreement with Rebco to conduct debris removal for the Second Avenue Subway
Project was verbal. Verveniotis Decl., Ex. U at 90.
10
indicate that Munoz was required to provide insurance for Mendez, let alone that it ultimately did
so.
In order to trigger additional insured coverage, the one claiming such coverage bears the
burden of proving it. See Nat’l Abatement Corp. v. Nat’l Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, Pa.,
33 A.D.3d 570, 570-71 (1st Dep’t 2006) (“The party claiming insurance coverage bears the
burden of proving entitlement . . . and is not entitled to coverage if not named as . . . an
additional insured on the face of the policy.”) (citations omitted). Because the Underlying
Defendants have not provided any evidence of a written contract or agreement with Munoz
providing for additional insured coverage, none of the Underlying Defendants have satisfied
their burden of demonstrating that they are additional insureds. See id. (holding that additional
insured coverage does not exist under liability policy when policy provided such coverage only if
required by written contract, and no such contract existed at time of accident giving rise to action
against claimants).
2. Mount Vernon’s Duty to Defend Munoz
With regard to Munoz, the named insured, the Court finds that the Policy does not
provide for its defense in the Underlying Action. The Policy expressly excludes from coverage
“‘Bodily Injury’ or ‘property damage’ arising out of the ownership, maintenance, use or
entrustment to others of any . . . ‘auto’ . . . owned or operated by or rented or loaned to any
insured. . . .” CGL Form at 4. The Underlying Complaint clearly alleges that Renard’s death
arose out of the use of an auto owned and/or operated by Munoz. According to the Underlying
Complaint, Munoz was negligent in “the ownership, oversight, supervision, selection,
maintenance, operation, control and/or direction of” the dump truck driven by Ulloa-Tapia,
which resulted in Renard’s death. Underlying Compl. ¶ 75.
11
The brunt of Defendants’ argument is that the truck was in fact owned and operated by
Mendez, and that Ulloa-Tapia was solely an employee of Mendez. Defendants assert that, at
best, there are too many questions of material fact regarding Munoz’s ownership/operation of the
truck and regarding Ulloa-Tapia’s employment for summary judgment to be appropriate. But in
considering whether an insurer has a duty to defend, the Court’s review is limited to the
allegations in the Underlying Complaint. Here, the Complaint does include allegations that
Mendez owned the subject vehicle and that Ulloa-Tapia was an employee of Mendez. However,
the Complaint also alleges that Munoz is the “parent, principal and/or alter ego of Mendez,” and
that Ulloa-Tapia was an employee of Munoz as well. These allegations cast the Underlying
Action “solely and entirely within the [Auto Exclusion].” There is no reasonable way of reading
the allegations to escape the claim that Ulloa-Tapia was employed by Munoz, and that Munoz
owned/operated the subject vehicle, thus placing the allegations squarely within the Auto
Exclusion.
Defendants argue that the Auto Exclusion also does not apply because some of the
allegations against Munoz relate to conduct outside the use or operation of a vehicle. For
example, Mastroluca seeks damages from Munoz for actions relating to the failure to follow the
debris hauling routes, which he claims were a proximate cause of Renard’s death. 8 Mastroluca
also seeks damages from Munoz for its acts as the agent of Rebco and S3, both of whom
contributed to the decisions that resulted in the Second Avenue Subway construction debris
being hauled along E. 90th Street. Defendants thus contend that “[s]hould Munoz be found
liable on the theory that its role in establishing, operating and/or sanctioning the use of E. 90th as
part of the debris hauling – either on the basis of its direct acts or as an agent for one of its co-
8
The accident is alleged to have occurred on E. 90th Street, a street that was not on a designated hauling route.
Underlying Compl. ¶ 67.
12
defendants – that liability would fall outside the scope of the [Auto Exclusion].” Defendant
Brice Mastroluca’s Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary
Judgment, Doc. 104, at 8-9.
Defendants are mistaken, however. The Auto Exclusion elaborates that it applies:
even if the claims against any insured allege negligence or other
wrongdoing in the supervision, hiring, employment, training or
monitoring of others by that insured, if the ‘occurrence’ which
caused the ‘bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ involved the
ownership, maintenance, use or entrustment to others of any . . .
‘auto’ . . . that is owned or operated by or rented or loaned to any
insured.
Thus, the Auto Exclusion fully precludes defense coverage so long as the occurrence that caused
the accident involved the ownership or operation of an auto by the insured. New York courts
have confirmed this reading of the Auto Exclusion, explaining that “[i]t is well established that
‘it is the act giving rise to liability that is determinative, not the theories of liability alleged.”
City of New York v. Western Heritage Ins. Co., 98 F. Supp. 3d 557, 564 (E.D.N.Y. 2015)
(quoting U.S. Fire Ins. Co. v. New York Marine & Gen. Ins. Co., 268 A.D.2d 19, 21 (1st Dep’t
2000)). Therefore, “the mere fact that [an insured] could be found liable on [an] independent
theory of recovery does not alter the operative act giving rise to the accident, namely, the use of
[an insured’s] vehicle.” Id.; see also New Hampshire Ins. v. Jefferson, 213 A.D.2d 325, 330 (1st
Dep’t 1995) (“[W]hatever theory of liability the resourceful attorney may fashion from the
circumstances of a client struck by an automobile, it remains that the immediate and efficient
cause of the injury is, in fact, the automobile.”).
Here, regardless of whether the theory of liability in the Underlying Action is negligence,
negligent hiring or supervision, or negligence in the decisions concerning the debris hauling routes,
the act giving rise to liability is the same – an automobile accident. Therefore the Court
13
concludes that the Auto Exclusion contained in Section I(2)(g) of the Policy bars coverage for
Munoz’s defense in the Underlying Action.
3. Mount Vernon’s Duty to Indemnify Munoz
As to whether Mount Vernon has a duty to indemnify Munoz, the Court finds that this
question is not yet ripe for review. Because the Underlying Action is still pending, it is possible
that Mendez, not Munoz, will be found to have been the sole employer of Ulloa-Tapia, as well as
the sole owner/operator of the subject truck. In which case, the Policy’s Auto Exclusion would
not apply to Munoz. Yet Munoz may still be found liable in the Underlying Action, and thus
potentially entitled to coverage. For example, Munoz is alleged in the Underlying Action to
have acted negligently in failing “to ensure that dump trucks traveling to and from the work zone
followed the designated haul routes.” Underlying Compl. ¶ 75. Because the Underlying Action
is still pending, and these determinations have yet to be made, the Court cannot make a ruling on
Mount Vernon’s duty to indemnify at this time. See Atlantic Cas. Ins. Co. v. Value
Waterproofing, Inc., 918 F. Supp. 2d 243, 261 (S.D.N.Y. 2013); see also Grinnell Mut.
Reinsurance Co. v. Reinke, 43 F.3d 1152, 1154 (7th Cir. 1995) (explaining that “because of the
possibility that the legal theory of the underlying suit may change, a conclusion that the insurer
need not defend does not imply that it need not indemnify”).
The Court recognizes that it is unusual for an insurer to potentially have a duty to
indemnify, while being found to not have a duty to defend. Indeed, an insurer’s duty to defend is
generally understood as being broader than its duty to indemnify. However, the tests for each of
these duties are distinct from one another. “The duty to defend is measured against the
allegations of pleadings but the duty to pay is determined by the actual basis for the insured’s
liability to a third person.” Servidone, 64 N.Y.2d at 424. As described above, the pleadings
14
unambiguously indicate that the Auto Exclusion applies to Munoz, and thus that Mount Vernon
does not have a duty to defend Munoz in the Underlying Action. However, in assessing Mount
Vernon’s duty to indemnify, the Court must await resolution of factual disputes in the
Underlying Action, such as who owned/operated the subject truck and who employed UlloaTapia, in order to assess whether the Auto Exclusion applies to Munoz. Likewise, the Court
must await a determination of Munoz’s liability, if any, in the Underlying Action. For these
reasons, the Court finds that a determination as to Mount Vernon’s duty to indemnify is not ripe
for review.
D. Mount Vernon’s Delay in Disclaiming Coverage
Defendants claim that Mount Vernon failed to timely disclaim its duty to provide
coverage, and therefore should be estopped from denying coverage in the Underlying Action.
With regard to Mendez, Rebco, Ulloa-Tapia, S3, Skanska, Schiavone, and J.F. Shea, Mount
Vernon did not have an obligation to timely disclaim coverage, because the denial of coverage
was due to their not being additional insureds, and thus premised upon a lack of coverage. See
Hunter Roberts Const. Grp., LLC v. Arch Ins. Co., 75 A.D.3d 404, 407 (1st Dep’t 2010) (holding
that insurer had no duty to disclaim coverage, because claimants were not additional insureds);
see also Perkins v. Allstate Ins. Co., 51 A.D.3d 647, 649 (2d Dep’t 2008) (“Where an insurer is
entitled to deny a claim based on an absence of coverage, its failure to timely disclaim coverage
does not preclude it from denying liability on that ground.”).
With regard to Munoz, Mount Vernon did have an obligation to timely disclaim coverage
because the disclaimer was premised upon a policy exclusion. See Worcester Ins. Co. v.
Bettenhauser, 95 N.Y.2d 185, 190 (2000). Pursuant to New York Insurance Law § 3420(d), an
insurer “is obligated to give written notice of a disclaimer of coverage ‘as soon as is reasonably
15
possible,’ measured from the time that the insurer has sufficient information to disclaim coverage
in good faith.” Webster ex rel. Webster v. Mount Vernon Fire Ins. Co., 368 F.3d 209, 216 (2d
Cir. 2004) (quoting N.Y. Ins. L. § 3420(d)). An insurer that fails, without good reason, “to
provide the insured with timely notice of its disclaimer or denial of coverage on the basis of a
policy exclusion . . . will be estopped from disclaiming liability or denying coverage.” Moore v.
Ewing, 9 A.D.3d 484, 487 (2d Dept. 2004).
New York courts have held that unexplained delays of two months or more are
unreasonable as a matter of law. See Mt. Vernon Fire Ins. Co. v. Harris, 193 F. Supp. 2d 674,
677 (S.D.N.Y. 2002) (collecting cases). However, a “delay occasioned by a ‘reasonably prompt,
thorough, and diligent investigation of the claim’ does not render the insurer’s disclaimer
untimely, because an investigation is often necessary to determine whether there is any basis for
disclaiming coverage.” Webster, 368 F.3d at 216–17 (quoting In re Prudential Prop. & Cas. Ins.
Co., 213 A.D.2d 408, 408 (2d Dept. 1995)). Ultimately, the insurer has the burden of
demonstrating that any delay was reasonable. Ward v. Corbally, Gartland & Rappleyea, 207
A.D.2d 342, 343 (2d Dep’t 1994). “While ‘normally the question whether a notice of disclaimer
of liability or denial of coverage has been sent as soon as is reasonably possible is a question of
fact which depends on all the facts and circumstances, especially the length of and the reason for
the delay,’ in the ‘exceptional case’ this question may be decided without the benefit of a
jury.” U.S. Underwriters Ins. Co. v. City Club Hotel, LLC, 369 F.3d 102, 107 (2d Cir. 2004)
(quoting Hartford Ins. Co. v. Nassau Cnty., 46 N.Y.2d 1028, 1030 (1979)).
Here, the Court finds that Mount Vernon’s delay in disclaiming coverage to Munoz was
reasonable as a matter of law. Although there is a material dispute of fact as to precisely when
Mount Vernon first received notice of the claim – Munoz asserts it was on February 4, 2011,
16
while Mount Vernon asserts it was not until February 9, 2011 – it is undisputed that shortly
thereafter Mount Vernon initiated an investigation. On February 15, 2011, Mount Vernon
reached out via email to Munoz’s representatives to schedule an interview to gather additional
information about the accident. However, Munoz’s representative were not available until early
March, and consequently the interview did not take place until March 3, 2011. Thereafter, it
took Mount Vernon twelve days from the date of the interview to issue its disclaimer, on March
15, 2011.
Thus, even including the delay caused by Munoz’s inability to meet for an interview until
several weeks after Mount Vernon requested one, Mount Vernon’s investigation took at most
forty days. The Court finds this amount of time to be reasonable as a matter of law. See, e.g.,
Matter of Prudential Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. (Mathieu), 213 A.D.2d 408, 408 (2d Dep’t 1995)
(holding that delay of “slightly more than two months” to conduct an investigation deemed
reasonable); Vesta Fire Ins. Corp. v. Seymour, No. 96 Civ. 3844, 1996 WL 1057158, at *6
(E.D.N.Y. Dec.17, 1996) (same for a period of “just over three months”); U.S. Underwriters Ins.
Co. v. Congregation B’Nai Israel, 900 F. Supp. 641, 648-49 (E.D.N.Y. 1995) (same for a period
of “over two months”). 9
Munoz nonetheless contends that the grounds for disclaimer were clear upon completion
of the March 3, 2011 interview, and that the subsequent twelve day delay in issuing a disclaimer
9
Munoz cites a series of cases where delays as short as 34 days were found unreasonable as a matter of law. These
cases are inapposite, however, because the delays were either unexplained or premised upon an unacceptable
excuse. See Moore, 9 A.D.3d at 488, 781 N.Y.S.2d at 54-55 (finding a 48 day delay following an interview that
provided insurer with grounds for disclaimer to be unreasonable) ; McAlpin v. RLI Ins. Co., 509 F. Supp. 2d 242,
250 (W.D.N.Y. 2007) (finding insurer’s excuse that delay was caused by a need for additional documentation to be
unreasonable, given that the documentation ultimately played no part in its decision to disclaim); NGM Ins. Co. v.
52 Liberty, No. 9 Civ. 9003, 2010 WL 6501383, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 6, 2010) (finding a 34 day delay to be
unreasonable where the insurer already knew of grounds for disclaimer). Here the delay is explained by Mount
Vernon’s completion of an investigation, which Munoz does not dispute was necessary for Mount Vernon to make
an informed decision regarding its disclaimer. Indeed, it is clear that Mount Vernon needed to assess who owned
the subject truck in order to determine whether the Policy’s Auto Exclusion applied.
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