Lyman Morse Boatbuilding, Inc. v. Northern Assurance Co. of America , 772 F.3d 960 ( 2014 )

United States Court of Appeals
For the First Circuit
Nos. 14-1380
14-1438
LYMAN MORSE BOATBUILDING, INC. and CABOT LYMAN,
Plaintiffs, Appellees, Cross-Appellants,
v.
NORTHERN ASSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA,
Defendant, Appellant, Cross-Appellee.
APPEALS FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MAINE
[Hon. D. Brock Hornby, U.S. District Judge]
Before
Lynch, Chief Judge,
Stahl and Kayatta, Circuit Judges.
James D. Poliquin, with whom Norman, Hanson & DeTroy, LLC was
on brief, for appellant/cross-appellee Northern Assurance Company
of America.
Robert C. Hatch, with whom Leonard W. Langer, Hillary J.
Bouchard, and Thompson & Bowie, LLP were on brief, for
appellees/cross-appellants Lyman Morse Boatbuilding, Inc. and Cabot
Lyman.
December 2, 2014
LYNCH, Chief Judge. Lyman Morse Boatbuilding, Inc. (LMB)
of Maine contracted to build a luxury yacht for Russ Irwin.
Unhappy with the completed yacht, in 2011 Irwin brought an
arbitration proceeding against LMB and Cabot Lyman, the controlling
owner of LMB, alleging that the vessel had numerous defects. LMB
and Cabot Lyman tendered defense of the arbitration complaint to
their insurer, Northern Assurance Company of America, but Northern
Assurance refused to defend the insureds. So the insureds filed
this federal suit in 2012 seeking to recover the costs and
attorneys' fees that they incurred in the arbitration proceeding.
The district court held that Northern Assurance had a
duty to defend Cabot Lyman, the individual, but not LMB, the
corporation; it then awarded to Cabot Lyman 50 percent of the
attorneys' fees incurred during the arbitration by the two insureds
together. Each side was unhappy and we are faced with appeals and
cross-appeals. We conclude that on the pertinent facts Northern
Assurance owed neither insured a defense under Maine law. Thus, we
affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for entry of judgment
in favor of Northern Assurance.
I.
A. The Arbitration Demand
On July 22, 2011, Irwin filed an arbitration complaint
against LMB and Cabot Lyman, claiming damages related to the
allegedly defective construction of a 52-foot custom sailing
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vessel.1 Irwin alleged that LMB and Cabot Lyman had agreed to
build the vessel "with the 'best practices for quality yacht
construction' using the 'highest quality materials'" for a price of
$2,155,000. However, there were cost overruns, and Irwin
eventually ended up paying over $3,400,000 for the completed
vessel. Moreover, upon LMB's delivery of the vessel to Irwin,
Irwin allegedly discovered multiple defects, which necessitated a
series of rejections and repairs. As of the date of filing of the
arbitration complaint, the quality of the vessel was still
unsatisfactory to Irwin.
That complaint alleged eight causes of action:
intentional fraud, negligent misrepresentation, constructive fraud,
breach of contract, rejection and revocation of acceptance under
the Uniform Commercial Code, breach of the implied warranty of
fitness for a particular purpose, breach of the implied warranty of
merchantability, and violations of Maine's unfair trade practices
laws. Irwin requested rescission of the agreement and a refund and
damages for the time he spent and the expenses he incurred during
the period when he repeatedly rejected the yacht because of its
defects, as well as "the return . . . of the amounts overpaid to
[LMB and Cabot Lyman] and the difference between the value of the
1
The "Yacht Construction Contract" applicable to the
transaction contains an arbitration clause providing that "[a]ny
dispute arising from this agreement will be resolved via binding
arbitration."
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'highest quality' version of the Vessel that [LMB and Cabot Lyman]
represented that [Irwin] would receive and the actual version
[Irwin] received." He also requested punitive damages, attorneys'
fees and costs, interest, and "such other and further relief as the
Court deems just and proper."
The arbitration complaint contained two paragraphs naming
Cabot Lyman. First, Irwin alleged that Cabot Lyman, the
controlling owner of LMB, was the alter ego of the corporation, and
alleged that "[a] unity of interest exists between [Cabot] Lyman
and [LMB] and injustice and fraud can only be avoided by piercing
the corporate veil" and holding Cabot Lyman jointly and severally
liable for the wrongs alleged.
Second, in the course of alleging violations of Maine's
unfair trade practices laws, the complaint stated that LMB and
Cabot Lyman
made further repeated representations and
promises to [Irwin] about "best practices" and
"highest quality" construction that they
guaranteed for the completion of the
Vessel . . .; for example, [Cabot] Lyman
expressly represented to [Irwin] that he had
extensive experience sailing worldwide
including in the Caribbean and he was aware of
the most common problems [Irwin] would
encounter during his travels in tropical and
other varying conditions . . .; as such he
assured the Vessel would be completed to
withstand these issues.
After the insurer refused their request for defense, LMB
hired a law firm, Thompson & Bowie, LLP, to represent both it and
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Cabot Lyman in the arbitration. That firm then filed this lawsuit
on behalf of the insureds, seeking to recover from Northern
Assurance the costs and attorneys' fees incurred in the
arbitration.2 LMB and Cabot Lyman also brought a claim for unfair
claims settlement practices, contending that Northern Assurance had
not made a coverage decision in a timely manner.
B. The CGL Insurance Policy
On January 4, 2008, Northern Assurance had issued a
package insurance policy to LMB and Cabot Lyman. The named
insureds listed in the Declarations of the policy are "Lyman Morse
Boatbuilding Co., Inc." and "Cabot & Heidi Lyman ATIMA." "ATIMA"
stands for "as their interests may appear." Section III of the
package policy provides the insureds with Commercial General
Liability (CGL) insurance. It states in relevant part as follows:
Throughout this policy the words "you" and
"your" refer to the Named Insured shown in the
Declarations, and any other person or
organization qualifying as a Named Insured
under this policy. . . .
. . . .
a. We will pay those sums that the
Insured becomes legally obligated
to pay as damages because of
"bodily injury" or "property
damage" to which this insurance
applies. We will have the right
and duty to defend the Insured
against any "suit" seeking those
damages. However, we will have no
duty to defend the insured against
2
The district court found that LMB paid or reimbursed all
of Cabot Lyman's attorneys' fees.
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any "suit" seeking damages for
"bodily injury" or "property
damage" to which this insurance
does not apply. . . .
b. This insurance applies to "bodily
injury" and "property damage" only
if:
(1) The "bodily injury" or
"property damage" is caused
by an "occurrence" . . . .
"Property damage" is defined as "[p]hysical injury to tangible
property, including all resulting loss of use of that property" or
"[l]oss of use of tangible property that is not physically
injured." "Occurrence" is defined as "an accident, including
continuous or repeated exposure to substantially the same general
harmful conditions." "'Suit' means a civil proceeding in which
damages because of . . . 'property damage' . . . to which this
insurance applies are alleged," and includes "[a]n arbitration
proceeding in which such damages are claimed and to which the
Insured must submit."
Importantly, the policy excludes from coverage
"'[p]roperty damage' to 'your product' arising out of it or any
part of it." This exclusion, common to CGL policies, is generally
called the "your product" exclusion. "Your product," in turn,
a. Means:
(1) Any goods or products, other than
real property, manufactured, sold,
handled, distributed or disposed
of by:
(a) You;
(b) Others trading under your
name; or
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(c) A person or organization
whose business or assets you
have acquired; and
(2) Containers (other than vehicles),
materials, parts or equipment
furnished in connection with such
goods or products.
b. Includes
(1) Warranties or representations made
at any time with respect to the
fitness, quality, durability,
performance or use of "your
product"; and
(2) The providing of or failure to
provide warnings or instructions.
C. The Proceedings in the District Court
On cross-motions for summary judgment, the district court
held that Northern Assurance had no duty to defend LMB, but that it
did have an obligation to defend Cabot Lyman in the arbitration
proceeding. Lyman Morse Boatbuilding, Inc. v. N. Assurance Co. of
Am., Inc., No. 2:12-cv-313-DBH, 2013 WL 5435204, at *1 (D. Me.
Sept. 27, 2013) [hereinafter Lyman I]. The court held that the
"your product" exclusion excused Northern Assurance from any duty
to defend LMB because the only "property damage" alleged by the
arbitration demand was to the yacht built by LMB. Id. at *4.
"There is no suggestion" in the arbitration demand, the court
explained, "that somehow the yacht's defects damaged other
property." Id.
However, the court determined that Northern Assurance did
have a duty to defend Cabot Lyman, the individual, notwithstanding
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the "your product" exclusion, because "[t]he yacht was the
boatyard's product, not Cabot Lyman's product." Id. at *5.3
In a separate order on the issue of damages, the district
court held that Cabot Lyman was entitled to recover 50 percent of
the attorneys' fees that LMB and Cabot Lyman jointly incurred in
defending the arbitration proceeding. Lyman Morse Boatbuilding,
Inc. v. N. Assurance Co. of Am., Inc., No. 2:12-cv-313-DBH, 2014 WL
901445, at *1, *4 (D. Me. Mar. 6, 2014) [hereinafter Lyman II].
Reasoning that "[b]oth the corporation and the individual needed a
defense, [and that] the nature of their defenses overlapped
substantially, albeit not entirely," the court concluded that an
equal division of fees between the corporation and the individual
was appropriate. Id. at *3-4.
D. This Appeal
Northern Assurance has appealed, arguing that it did not
owe a duty to defend Cabot Lyman in the arbitration proceeding, and
LMB and Cabot Lyman have cross-appealed, arguing that Northern
Assurance did owe a duty to defend LMB. Both parties contend that
the district court's ruling on the duty to defend and the damages
issue was error.
3
The court also held that Irwin's claims for economic loss
were not covered by the policy, see Lyman I, 2013 WL 5435204, at
*2, *4 & n.10, and that Northern Assurance was entitled to summary
judgment on the insureds' claim of unfair claims settlement
practices, see id. at *5-6. Those rulings are not at issue on
appeal.
-8-
II.
"The district court's conclusion on the duty to defend is
reviewed de novo." Metro. Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. McCarthy, 754
F.3d 47, 49 (1st Cir. 2014) (citing Bucci v. Essex Ins. Co., 393
F.3d 285, 290 (1st Cir. 2005)); see also Mitchell v. Allstate Ins.
Co., 36 A.3d 876, 879 (Me. 2011) (analysis of insurer's duty to
defend under Maine law is a pure question of law reviewed de novo).
The parties agree that Maine law applies to this dispute.
To determine whether an insurer owes its insured a duty to defend,
Maine courts apply the "comparison test," which involves a
"comparison of the allegations in the underlying complaint with the
provisions of the insurance policy" to determine if the claims
alleged are within the coverage of the policy. Mitchell, 36 A.3d
at 879. "[A]n insurer must provide a defense if there is any
potential that facts ultimately proved could result in coverage."
Id.; accord Howe v. MMG Ins. Co., 95 A.3d 79, 81 (Me. 2014)
(quoting Cox v. Commonwealth Land Title Ins. Co., 59 A.3d 1280,
1283 (Me. 2013)). "Because the duty to defend is broad, any
ambiguity in the policy regarding the insurer's duty to defend is
resolved against the insurer, and policy exclusions are construed
strictly against the insurer." Mitchell, 36 A.3d at 879 (citations
omitted). At the same time, courts may "not speculate about causes
of action that were not stated" in the complaint. York Golf &
Tennis Club v. Tudor Ins. Co., 845 A.2d 1173, 1175 (Me. 2004).
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We first address whether Northern Assurance had a duty to
defend LMB in the arbitration proceeding. LMB concedes that "the
'your product' exclusion serves to exclude coverage for any
property sold, handled, distributed or disposed of by" LMB, which
includes the allegedly defective yacht. But, LMB argues, Northern
Assurance nonetheless owed a duty to defend it in the arbitration
proceeding because "the allegations in the Arbitration Complaint
provide a basis for Russ Irwin to prove damage to his own or
others' personal property, which would fall within the ambit of
coverage under the Policy as unexcluded 'property damage.'"
This argument fails. As the district court correctly
observed,
[Irwin's] Arbitration Demand is strident, but
simple. It complains about the failure to
build the yacht as promised, as well as
overbilling. . . . [T]he claims for economic
damage . . . . all have to do with what the
buyer paid, the difference in value between
the yacht as promised and actually delivered,
and the value of the buyer's time, expense and
burdens in dealing with the boatyard while
trying to obtain satisfaction. There is no
suggestion that somehow the yacht's defects
damaged other property. There is no
suggestion, for example, that the buyer put
cushions and equipment on the yacht that were
damaged on account of defects.
Lyman I, 2013 WL 5435204, at *4. Thus the complaint did not allege
any facts that even suggest the potential for a covered claim.
Plaintiffs resist this conclusion, pointing out that, in
the course of alleging constructive fraud, Irwin alleged that LMB
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and Cabot Lyman "breached the trust and confidence which [Irwin]
entrusted with them in the failed construction and completion of
the Vessel and in putting [Irwin]'s life, limb and property and
those of his family and loved ones at risk on the oceans and at
sea." But this passing reference to a "risk" to property is not
sufficient to trigger a duty to defend under Maine law.
In Baywood Corp. v. Maine Bonding & Casualty Co., 628
A.2d 1029 (Me. 1993), the Maine Law Court found that a complaint
alleging that the insured inadequately designed a sewer system for
a condominium complex did not fall within the coverage of a CGL
policy because it sought only "the cost to replace or upgrade the
[sewer] system." Id. at 1031. Although "the complaint refer[red]
generally to property damage," the Law Court explained, it
"allege[d] no physical damage to the [condominium] units." Id.
Thus, the insurer had no duty to defend. Id.
So it is here. While referring generally to a "risk" to
personal property, Irwin's arbitration complaint did not allege any
damage to such property or request any relief for personal property
damage. Instead, the complaint requested several specific items of
relief related to the damage sustained by the defective vessel
itself and the expense that Irwin went to in discovering and
attempting to rectify its defects. "[B]ecause [Irwin's] complaint
d[id] not allege actual damage to property but rather s[ought]
damages for replacing defective workmanship, which is a business
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risk specifically excluded from the policy, [Northern Assurance]
ha[d] no obligation to defend the underlying action." Id.
Plaintiffs erroneously argue that because the arbitration
complaint did not foreclose the possibility that Irwin's personal
property was damaged, LMB was entitled to a defense. That is not
a correct statement of the law. If plaintiffs' articulation of the
duty to defend were correct, that would make the duty virtually
limitless.4 More specifically, it would run afoul of the Maine Law
Court's admonition that courts adjudicating the duty to defend may
"not speculate about causes of action that were not stated" in the
complaint. York Golf & Tennis Club, 845 A.2d at 1175.
The cases upon which plaintiffs rely do not in fact
support plaintiffs' overly broad articulation of the duty to
defend. They are readily distinguishable from this case. In Auto
Europe, LLC v. Connecticut Indemnity Co., 321 F.3d 60 (1st Cir.
2003), the underlying complaint alleged that Auto Europe had
fraudulently overcharged its customers in violation of the Maine
Unfair Trade Practices Act (UTPA). Id. at 63, 66-67. The court
held that Auto Europe was entitled to a defense from its insurance
company notwithstanding a policy exclusion for "willfully dishonest
4
The same goes for plaintiffs' contention at oral argument
that Northern Assurance owed a duty to defend based on the
complaint's request "[f]or such other and further relief as the
Court deems just and proper." If an insurer were required to
defend simply because a complaint includes a catchall request for
all "just and proper" relief, the duty to defend would be triggered
in virtually every case, contrary to the contours of Maine law.
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or fraudulent acts" because the Maine UTPA "permit[ted] liability
in the absence of an intent to deceive," so "it [was]
possible . . . that the facts as developed at trial would reveal an
improper practice that was unaccompanied by an intent to deceive."
Id. at 67-68. Similarly, in Mitchell, the Maine Law Court held
that Mitchell was entitled to a defense against a complaint that
alleged that he converted lobster fishing equipment,
notwithstanding a policy exclusion for intentional acts, because
the complainant, Ames, could have established that Mitchell
committed conversion by "accidentally interfer[ing] with Ames's
rights." 36 A.3d at 880-81. Finally, in Howe, the Law Court held
that the insurer had a duty to defend a nuisance and negligence
lawsuit arising out of the conduct of the insured condominium
owner's dog because the complaint alleged that the dog had "bitten
people" and that other "unit owners ha[d] been assaulted" by the
dog, and thus alleged "bodily injury" potentially covered by the
insurance policy. See 95 A.3d at 81.5 Thus, in Auto Europe,
Mitchell, and Howe, the court found a duty to defend because there
5
Counsel for LMB stated at oral argument that, in Howe,
the Law Court determined that "there was a duty to defend because
it [was] possible, though never alleged in the complaint, that the
dog could have done property damage to [condominium] Association
property." This was an argument that Howe's counsel made in her
brief, see Howe, 95 A.3d at 81, but the court did not explicitly
accept (or reject) it. The court explicitly found a duty to defend
because the complaint "outline[d] a claim of bodily injury for
which Howe might be answerable to the [condominum] Association,
depending on the facts developed as the case proceeds." Id.
(emphasis added).
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was a theory of liability under a cause of action actually pleaded
that would have afforded insurance coverage. Here, in contrast,
Irwin's complaint -- while specifying in considerable detail the
relief sought -- made no claim whatsoever for damage to personal
property. The district court correctly found that Northern
Assurance had no duty to defend LMB.
We conclude otherwise as to the court's ruling that
Northern Assurance did have a duty to defend Cabot Lyman in the
arbitration proceeding because the "your product" exclusion did not
apply to him. We find that the exclusion does apply to Cabot Lyman
and thus hold that Northern Assurance had no duty to defend him in
the arbitration proceeding.
In interpreting this insurance contract, our task is to
"'effect the parties' intentions . . . construed with regard for
the subject matter, motive, and purpose of the agreement, as well
as the object to be accomplished.'" State v. Murphy, 861 A.2d 657,
661 (Me. 2004) (alteration in original) (quoting Handy Boat Serv.,
Inc. v. Prof'l Servs., Inc., 711 A.2d 1306, 1308 (Me. 1998)). We
must examine the entire agreement, giving the language its plain
meaning. Id. (citing Am. Prot. Ins. Co. v. Acadia Ins. Co., 814
A.2d 989, 993-94 (Me. 2003)).
The insurance policy defines "your product" as "goods or
products . . . manufactured, sold, handled, distributed or disposed
of by . . . [y]ou." The term "[i]ncludes . . . [w]arranties or
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representations made at any time with respect to the fitness,
quality, durability, performance or use of 'your product.'" "[T]he
words 'you' and 'your' refer to the Named Insured" listed on the
policy, and those Named Insureds are LMB, Cabot Lyman, and Heidi
Lyman. Thus, the "your product" exclusion, by its plain terms,
applies to the products of LMB, Cabot Lyman, or Heidi Lyman, and to
damages arising out of warranties or representations made "with
respect to the fitness, quality, durability, performance or use" of
such products. Cf. Am. First Credit Union v. Kier Constr. Corp.,
314 P.3d 1055, 1059 (Utah Ct. App. 2013) (holding that "your
product" exclusion in CGL policy on which Broberg was the named
insured was properly read to "exclude[] coverage for '[p]roperty
damage to [Broberg's] product arising out of it or any part of it'"
(second and third alterations in original) (internal quotation
marks omitted)). The term "your product" includes the yacht
(because it is LMB's product) and the allegedly fraudulent
misrepresentations made by Cabot Lyman as president and officer of
LMB (because they concerned the quality of the yacht).
Northern Assurance argues that the "your product"
exclusion is "not insured-specific" -- the operation of the
exclusion does not depend on the identity of the insured against
whom the suit is brought. It adds that this must at least be true
here, where the other insured, as a corporate officer, has
allegedly acted as an alter ego of the corporation that designed
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the product, and the policy explicitly precludes coverage for
representations made with respect to the quality of the corporate
insured's products.6 The provision does not exclude property
damage to "the insured's product"; it excludes property damage to
"your product," a term that, on these facts, includes the yacht
even with respect to the suit against Cabot Lyman.
Cabot Lyman and LMB cite no case or policy language that
refutes that interpretation of the insurance contract on the facts
here. Instead, they rely on the rule that ambiguities in insurance
contracts should be resolved against the insurer. That rule is
inapplicable. The "your product" exclusion is not ambiguous in its
application here. Irwin's complaint alleged damages to the yacht;
the policy excludes damages to "your product"; "you" is defined as,
inter alia, LMB; the yacht is LMB's product; thus, the policy
unambiguously excludes the allegations of the complaint.
Accordingly, on these facts, we find that Northern Assurance had no
duty to defend Cabot Lyman in the arbitration proceeding.
To hold otherwise would undercut the well-recognized
purpose of CGL insurance policies, as articulated by the Maine Law
Court. CGL policies are designed to cover "occurrence of harm
6
We need not address whether the "your product" exclusion
would preclude coverage for a claim against an individual officer
that is not explicitly included in the policy's definition of "your
product."
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risks" but not "business risks." Peerless Ins. Co. v. Brennon, 564
A.2d 383, 386 (Me. 1989). As the Law Court explained,
[a]n "occurrence of harm risk" is a risk that
a person or property other than the product
itself will be damaged through the fault of
the [insured]. A "business risk" is a risk
that the [insured] will not do his job
competently, and thus will be obligated to
replace or repair his faulty work. The
distinction between the two risks is critical
to understanding a CGL policy. A CGL policy
covers an occurrence of harm risk but
specifically excludes a business risk.
Id. (quoting Note, Baybutt Construction Corp. v. Commercial Union
Insurance Co.: A Question of Ambiguity in Comprehensive General
Liability Insurance Policies, 36 Me. L. Rev. 179, 182 (1984)). The
type of harm alleged in Irwin's complaint is, by contrast, a
"business risk" that is excluded under the terms of the CGL policy
Northern Assurance issued to LMB and Cabot Lyman. There is no
principled reason why that result would change because Irwin named
Cabot Lyman as a defendant on an alter ego theory and for
representations he made as a director and president of LMB about a
yacht manufactured by LMB. As was recognized in Cle Elum Bowl,
Inc. v. N. Pac. Ins. Co., 981 P.2d 872 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999), "an
insured director and officer . . . is subject to the same
exclusions that deny coverage to the corporation." Id. at 877.
We note that a contrary holding would also create
perverse incentives when plaintiffs sue a corporation for defective
workmanship. If these plaintiffs could trigger a duty to defend on
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the part of the corporation's CGL insurer not otherwise obligated
to provide a defense by simply adding a corporate officer or
employee as a defendant, they would often have the incentive to do
so in order to add another pocket to the other side of the
negotiating table. As a consequence, the "your product" exclusion,
long a staple of CGL policies, would be rendered a dead letter. We
decline to read the policy to allow such a result, absent any
evidence, of which there is none, that this was the parties'
intent.
III.
We hold that Northern Assurance did not owe a duty to
defend LMB or Cabot Lyman in the underlying arbitration proceeding.
The decision of the district court is affirmed in part and reversed
in part. We remand for entry of judgment in favor of Northern
Assurance. Costs are awarded to Northern Assurance Company of
America.
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