ISCO Industries, Inc. v. Great Am. Ins. Co. , 2019 Ohio 4852 ( 2019 )

[Cite as ISCO Industries, Inc. v. Great Am. Ins. Co., 2019-Ohio-4852.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
ISCO INDUSTRIES, INC., : APPEAL NO. C-180636
TRIAL NO. A-1803505
and :
ISCO CANADA, INC., :
O P I N I O N.
Plaintiffs-Appellants, :
vs. :
GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE CO., :
Defendant-Appellee. :
Civil Appeal From: Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas
Judgment Appealed From Is: Affirmed
Date of Judgment Entry on Appeal: November 27, 2019
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, Mark T. Hayden and Aaron M. Herzig, Reed Smith
LLP, John D. Shugrue, Kevin B. Dreher and Bradley H. Dlatt, for Plaintiffs-
Appellants,
Bailey Cavalieri LLC, Michael R. Goodstein and Mark A. Glumac, for Defendant-
Appellee.
OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
WINKLER, Judge.
{¶1} Plaintiffs-appellants ISCO Industries, Inc., and ISCO Canada, Inc.,
(collectively “ISCO”) appeal the dismissal of their complaint against their insurer,
defendant-appellee Great American Insurance Company (“Great American”), arising
from Great American’s refusal to provide coverage with respect to a lawsuit and
settlement between ISCO and a third-party Canadian corporation. For the reasons
that follow, we affirm the trial court’s dismissal.
Factual Background and Procedural Posture
{¶2} According to ISCO’s complaint, on January 31, 2014, ISCO received a
letter from outside counsel for Wolseley Canada, Inc., (“Wolseley Canada”). The
letter informed ISCO that those former Wolseley Canada employees who had been or
were about to be hired by ISCO owed post-employment obligations to Wolseley
Canada. The letter requested that ISCO acknowledge those obligations. On
February 25, 2014, Wolseley Canada filed a lawsuit in Canada against ISCO and
several of its individual employees. Almost a year and a half later, on August 20,
2015, ISCO notified Great American of the Wolseley Canada lawsuit.
{¶3} ISCO had entered into a claims-made insurance agreement with Great
American for directors and officers and entity coverage, for a period covering March
19, 2013, to March 19, 2014 (the “policy”). ISCO renewed the policy twice for the
periods covering March 19, 2014, to March 19, 2015, and March 19, 2015, to March
19, 2016.
{¶4} The policy obligates Great American to pay on behalf of ISCO “all Loss
which [ISCO] shall be legally obligated to pay as a result of a Claim first made against
[ISCO] during the Policy Period or the Discovery Period for a Wrongful Act.” The
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
policy also includes ISCO employees as insureds. The policy defines “Claim” to
include “(1) a written demand for monetary or non-monetary relief made against any
Insured * * * [and] (2) (a) a civil * * * proceeding made against any Insured seeking
monetary or non-monetary relief and commenced by the filing of a complaint or
similar pleading.” The policy defines “Loss” to include “settlement” and “Cost of
defense.”
{¶5} The policy containes a “Notice Provision,” which provides:
With respect to any Liability Claim for which coverage is provided
under any Liability Coverage Part, the Insureds shall, as a condition
precedent to their rights under this Policy, give the Insurer notice in
writing of such Liability Claim:
(1) as defined in subparagraph (1) of the definition of Claim in the
applicable Liability Coverage Part, which is made during the Policy
Period. Such notice shall be given prior to the end of the Policy Period;
or
(2) as defined in subparagraph (2) of the definition of Claim in the
applicable Liability Coverage Part, which is made during the Policy
Period. Such notice shall be given as soon as practicable from the date
the General Counsel, Risk Manager, or person with equivalent
responsibility has knowledge of the Claim, and in no event later than
ninety (90) days after the end of the Policy Period.
The Insureds failure to report a Claim pursuant to (1) above shall not
negate the right to report a Claim pursuant to (2) above under this
Policy or any renewal thereof.
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
{¶6} Great American denied coverage to ISCO on the basis that it had failed
to timely notify Great American of the Wolseley Canada lawsuit.
{¶7} ISCO settled the Wolseley Canada lawsuit on February 15, 2018. ISCO
then filed the instant complaint against Great American for breach of contract. ISCO
alleged that Great American had breached its duty to defend ISCO in the Wolseley
Canada lawsuit, and that Great American had breached its duty to indemnify ISCO,
including the amount that ISCO had paid to settle the Wolseley Canada lawsuit.
{¶8} Great American moved to dismiss ISCO’s complaint on the basis that
ISCO had failed to timely notify Great American as required by the policy. Great
American argued that the filing of the Wolseley Canada lawsuit was a “claim” under
the original policy period, and under the policy’s notice provision, ISCO was required
to give notice to Great American regarding the Wolseley Canada lawsuit no later than
90 days after the expiration of the original policy period, or June 17, 2014. Because
ISCO did not provide Great American with notice of the Wolseley Canada lawsuit
until August 20, 2015, Great American argued that it had no duty to provide coverage
under the policy.
{¶9} The trial court granted Great American’s motion to dismiss. This
appeal by ISCO ensued.
Standard of Review
{¶10} ISCO raises four assignments of error challenging the trial court’s
dismissal of its complaint under Civ.R. 12(B)(6). This court reviews a trial court’s
decision granting a motion to dismiss under Civ.R. 12(B)(6) de novo. Alford v.
Collins-McGregor Operating Co., 152 Ohio St. 3d 303, 2018-Ohio-8, 95 N.E.3d 382.
Under Civ.R. 12(B)(6), the factual allegations must be taken as true, and all
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
reasonable inferences drawn in favor of the nonmoving party. Id. “To grant the
motion, ‘it must appear beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in
support of the claim that would entitle the plaintiff to the relief sought.’ ” Id.,
quoting Ohio Bur. of Workers’ Comp. v. McKinley, 130 Ohio St. 3d 156, 2011-Ohio-
4432, 956 N.E.2d 814, ¶ 12.
Choice of Law
{¶11} Before delving into the substance of ISCO’s complaint, we must
determine whether Kentucky or Ohio law applies to this dispute. Great American
contends that Kentucky law applies because Kentucky has the “most significant
relationship” to the dispute between these parties.
{¶12} The “most significant relationship” test comes from Gries Sports
Ents., Inc. v. Modell, 15 Ohio St. 3d 284, 473 N.E.2d 807 (1984), and Restatement of
the Law 2d, Conflict of Laws, Section 188 (1971). The most-significant-relationship
test provides that in the absence of an effective choice of law by the parties to a
contract, the state with the most significant relationship to the transaction and the
parties should govern. Restatement, Section 188. In determining which state has
the most significant relationship, courts should consider the place of contracting, the
place of negotiation, the place of performance, the location of the subject matter, and
the domicile, residence, nationality, place of incorporation, and place of business of
the parties. Id.
{¶13} Great American argues that Kentucky has the most significant
relationship to this insurance-coverage dispute. ISCO Industries is a Kentucky
corporation with a principal place of business in Kentucky, and the policy was issued
in Kentucky.
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
{¶14} The party asserting that a foreign law applies has the burden to
demonstrate that a conflict of laws exists between the foreign law and the law of the
forum. Cross v. Carnes, 132 Ohio App. 3d 157, 168, 724 N.E.2d 828 (11th Dist.1998).
Where no conflict of laws exists, the law of the forum controls. Id. Therefore, “ ‘[a]
court must conduct conflict of laws analysis only if there is an actual conflict between
local law and the law of another jurisdiction.’ ” Miami Valley Mobile Health Serv.,
Inc. v. ExamOne Worldwide, Inc., 852 F. Supp. 2d 925, 937 (S.D.Ohio 2012), quoting
Andersons, Inc. v. Consol, Inc., 185 F. Supp. 2d 833, 836 (N.D.Ohio 2001). “[I]f two
jurisdictions apply the same law, or would reach the same result applying their
respective laws, a choice of law determination is unnecessary because there is no
conflict, and the laws of the forum state apply.” Wendy’s Internatl., Inc. v. Illinois
Union Ins. Co., S.D.Ohio No. 2:05-cv-803, 2007 WL 710242, *6 (Mar. 6, 2007),
citing Mecanique C.N.C., Inc. v. Durr Environmental, Inc., 304 F. Supp. 2d 971, 957
(S.D.Ohio 2004).
{¶15} In Wendy’s, the court refused to engage in a choice-of-law analysis in
an insurance-coverage dispute. Wendy’s Internatl., Inc., at *6. In that case, Wendy’s
sued its insurer following the insurer’s failure to provide coverage with respect to an
arbitration and settlement between Wendy’s and a California corporation. The
insurer refused to provide coverage because Wendy’s had not reported the claim
during the policy period. As to whether Ohio, the law of the forum, or California law
applied to the coverage issue, Wendy’s argued that California law applied, because
the dispute with the California corporation over which Wendy’s sought coverage had
occurred in California. The court declined to engage in a choice-of-law analysis,
stating:
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
Here, Plaintiffs, seeking to apply California law, have the burden of
showing that California law is different than Ohio law. Not only have
Plaintiffs not pointed to any material differences between California
law and Ohio law on this issue, Plaintiffs argue that both California
and Ohio have adopted the “notice-prejudice” rule bearing on the issue
of whether courts must inquire as to whether an insurer was
prejudiced by late or untimely notice before determining that coverage
is precluded on such basis. Because Plaintiffs have failed to show how
California law differs from Ohio law, and because the Court has not
found any material differences in the states’ respective laws, the Court
will not engage in a choice-of-law analysis and will apply the laws of
the forum state, Ohio, to this dispute.
Id. at *5-6.
{¶16} Great American contends that ISCO is not entitled to coverage under
either Ohio or Kentucky law, and Great American has not shown that the laws of
Kentucky or Ohio differ regarding whether late notice of a claim vitiates coverage.
Because Great American has not shown that a conflict of laws exists between Ohio
and Kentucky, we will apply Ohio law, as did the trial court, to determine whether
ISCO provided timely notice of the Wolseley Canada claim.
Timely Notice of a Claim under the Policy
{¶17} In its first assignment of error, ISCO argues that the trial court erred in
holding that ISCO had failed to timely notify Great American under the policy,
because the trial court failed to follow a decision from Ohio’s Sixth District Court of
Appeals, Helberg v. Natl. Union Fire Ins. Co., 102 Ohio App. 3d 679, 657 N.E.2d 832
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
(6th Dist.1995), as well as a case that relied on Helberg: Professionals Direct Ins. Co.
v. Wiles, Boyle, Burkholder & Bringardner Co., LPA, S.D.Ohio No. 2:06-CV-240,
2009 WL 4281263 (Nov. 24, 2009).
{¶18} Before considering whether Helberg applies to the notice provision in
the policy, we must look first to the language of the policy itself. The policy requires
that ISCO give notice of a civil proceeding against it “as soon as practicable from the
date the General Counsel, Risk Manager, or person with equivalent responsibility has
knowledge of the Claim, and in no event later than ninety (90) days after the end of
the Policy Period.” Here, the parties do not dispute that the filing of the Wolseley
Canada lawsuit was a civil proceeding, and that ISCO failed to notify Great American
of the Wolseley Canada lawsuit within 90 days after the end of the policy period.
Nevertheless, ISCO argues that coverage exists under Helberg, because ISCO
renewed the policy.
{¶19} In Helberg, the insured’s malpractice insurance policy provided
coverage for acts or omissions that occurred prior to the end of the policy period, if
the insured reported the claim during the policy period. The policy contained an
exclusion section, which provided coverage with respect to “any claim arising out of
any acts or omissions occurring prior to the effective date of the first policy issued to
the named insured by this Company and continuously renewed thereafter if any
insured on such date knew or could have reasonably foreseen that such acts or
omissions might be expected to be the basis of a claim or suit.”
{¶20} After the insured’s original policy expired, the insured purchased a
renewal. The insured reported a malpractice claim to his insurer almost six weeks
after the original policy had expired.
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
{¶21} The Helberg court determined that the policy language was ambiguous
regarding when a claim must be reported, and that the ambiguity should be
construed in favor of the insured. The court noted that despite the language in the
policy requiring that the insured report a claim during the policy period, the renewal
language in the exclusion section indicated that the parties expected continuous
coverage upon policy renewal. The court determined that “[i]n the present case,
there was no cancellation of coverage, nor did the insured change insurance carriers.
The insured merely renewed his claims-made policy. Such an event should not
precipitate a trap wherein claims spanning the renewal are denied.” Helberg, 102
Ohio App. 3d at 682, 657 N.E.2d 832. Therefore, the Helberg court reversed
summary judgment in favor of the insurer on its late-notice defense.
{¶22} Following Helberg, in Professionals Direct, an insurer moved for
summary judgment on the basis that an insured had failed to timely report a
malpractice claim. The policy indicated that a claim is made “when you first receive
information or have knowledge of specific circumstances involving a particular
person or entity which could reasonably be expected to result in a claim.”
Professionals Direct Ins., S.D.Ohio No. 2:06-CV-240, 2009 WL 4281263, at *10.
The court determined that the “reasonably be expected” language was ambiguous,
and that whether the insured had notice of the claim was a factual issue. The court
then reasoned that Helberg provided an independent basis upon which to deny
summary judgment to the insurer. The court determined that Helberg’s policy
concern with a “ ‘trap wherein claims spanning the renewal are denied’ ” applied in
that case with equal force. Id. at *20, quoting Helberg, 102 Ohio App. 3d at 682, 657
N.E.2d 832. The court analyzed Helberg and determined that it stood for the
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proposition that so long as a policy is renewed and an insured provides notice of a
claim within a reasonable time, coverage exists even if the notice of the claim was not
timely.
{¶23} The Helberg and Professionals Direct courts determined that because
the notice provisions in the policies were ambiguous, the insureds need only have
provided notice to the insurers within a reasonable time. The courts were also
concerned with the insureds being caught in a “trap” where a claim made at or near
the end of a policy period would effectively eliminate the insured’s ability to report
the claim within the policy period. In this case, the notice provision in the policy is
unambiguous. The notice provision in this case also eliminates the “trap” concern in
Helberg, and it provides a 90-day cushion after the policy ends in which ISCO can
provide notice. Additionally, in Professionals Direct, the court determined that the
ambiguous language in the policy created a factual issue as to when a claim had been
made. Here, no factual issue exists as to when a claim was made, because the parties
agree that the filing of the Wolseley Canada lawsuit constituted a claim under the
policy. Therefore, Helberg and Professionals Direct are distinguishable.
{¶24} Other courts have also found Helberg distinguishable in cases where a
claim must be made and reported within a specific timeframe. In US HF Cellular
Comm. v. Scottsdale Ins. Co., S.D.Ohio No. 2:17-cv-261, 2018 WL 2938388 (June 12,
2018), the court considered whether the insureds had timely reported a claim to their
insurer under an executive policy similar to the one at issue in this case. The policy
provided that notice of a claim must be made to the insurer as soon as practicable,
but in no event later than 60 days after the end of the policy period. The parties did
not dispute that a claim was made when the insureds were sued, and that the
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
insureds did not report the claim until four months after the 60-day reporting
deadline. Although the court applied California law to the coverage dispute, the
court considered the insureds argument that the analysis in Helberg applied to
provide coverage. The insureds argued that because the policy had been renewed,
coverage existed even though the claim had been made during a second policy
period, but not reported until the third policy period. The court determined that
Helberg was distinguishable because the insured in Helberg did not have a 60-day
extension under the policy in which to report claims, like the insureds in the case
before it.
{¶25} The court in US HF Cellular applied the plain language of the policy in
determining that the insured’s claim coverage did not extend past the 60-day
reporting deadline. “It is well-established in Ohio, and indeed universally, that
contracts, including insurance policies, ‘are to be interpreted so as to carry out the
intent of the parties, as that intent is evidenced by the contractual language.’ ”
(Citations omitted.) Telxon Corp. v. Fed. Ins. Co., 309 F.3d 386, 391 (6th Cir.2002),
quoting Skivolocki v. East Ohio Gas Co., 38 Ohio St. 2d 244, 313 N.E.2d 374 (1974).
{¶26} Here, the plain language of the policy required ISCO to report a claim
no later than 90 days after the end of the policy period. ISCO’s argument that
Helberg applies such that its policy renewal creates an expectation of continuous and
seamless coverage, so long as ISCO reported its claim in a reasonable time, is not
supported by the plain language of the policy.
{¶27} We overrule the first assignment of error.
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
The Notice-Prejudice Rule
{¶28} In its second assignment of error, ISCO contends that the trial court
erred in granting Great American’s motion to dismiss, because the trial court
incorrectly held that the “notice-prejudice rule” was inapplicable. See Ferrando v.
Auto-Owners Mut. Ins. Co., 98 Ohio St. 3d 186, 2002-Ohio-7217, 781 N.E.2d 927.
ISCO contends that the notice-prejudice rule applies, so that even if ISCO did not
timely notify Great American of a claim under the policy, Great American must still
provide coverage if it has not been prejudiced by the late notice.
{¶29} In Ferrando, the Ohio Supreme Court held that when an insurer’s
denial of underinsured motorist (“UIM”) coverage is based upon an insured’s failure
to comply with a prompt-notice provision, the insurer is not required to provide
coverage, so long as the insurer has been prejudiced by the insured’s unreasonable
delay in providing notice. The UIM policy in Ferrando required “prompt notice” to
the insurer. The Ferrando court reasoned that prompt notice meant notice “ ‘within
a reasonable time in light of all the surrounding facts and circumstances.’ ” Id. at ¶
90, quoting Ruby v. Midwestern Indemn. Co., 40 Ohio St. 3d 159, 161, 532 N.E.2d
730 (1988). Even if an insured did not provide notice within a reasonable time under
an UIM policy, then a court must determine whether the insurer was prejudiced.
Ferrando at ¶ 90.
{¶30} The policy here does not require “prompt notice” of a claim, and
instead requires notice within 90 days after the end of the policy period. The policy
here is also a directors and officers liability coverage policy, not a UIM policy.
Therefore, Ferrando is distinguishable. ISCO cites several cases, however, that
purportedly extend Ferrando beyond its facts. ISCO cites to Sesko v. Caw, 8th Dist.
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Cuyahoga No. 87359, 2006-Ohio-5434, in which a judgment creditor sought to
recover from a judgment debtor’s insurance company. The policy at issue in Sesko
required that the notice of a claim be made “as soon as practicable.” Id. at ¶ 19. The
court determined that the issue of whether the insurance company had been timely
notified of a claim was similar to the notice issue in Ferrando. Applying the notice-
prejudice rule, the court reasoned that the insurance company had been prejudiced.
{¶31} The requirement to provide notice “as soon as practicable” at issue in
Sesko is similar to the requirement of providing “prompt notice,” in that neither
requirement specifies notice during a set timeframe. See Ormet Primary Aluminum
Corp. v. Employers Ins. of Wausau, 88 Ohio St. 3d 292, 725 N.E.2d 646 (2000),
syllabus (“A provision in an insurance policy requiring notice to the insurer ‘as soon
as practicable’ requires notice within a reasonable time in light of all the surrounding
facts and circumstances.”). The policy here requires notice to Great American within
a set timeframe—no later than 90 days after the end of the policy period.
{¶32} ISCO also cites to Vecchio v. Montgomery Cty., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga
No. 20467, 2005-Ohio-313. In Vecchio, an employee brought suit against his
employer’s automobile insurer seeking UIM coverage after the employee had been
injured in a car accident during the scope of his employment. The employer’s
automobile-insurance policy provided that notice of a claim must be made to the
insurer within 30 days after an accident. The court reasoned that the plaintiff-
employee was a third-party beneficiary under his employer’s insurance policy, and as
a third party, he did not have actual notice of the 30-day reporting requirement. The
court also reasoned that Ferrando’s reasonableness test applies to UIM coverage,
and thus a genuine issue of material fact existed as to whether the plaintiff acted
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
reasonably in failing to give notice within 30 days. Unlike Vecchio, this case does not
involve UIM coverage, and ISCO is not a third party to the contract, so it cannot
argue lack of notice of the policy terms.
{¶33} ISCO cites McKean v. Howell, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2004CA00041,
2005-Ohio-721, for the proposition that the notice-prejudice rule has been extended
to liability-coverage cases. In McKean, a judgment debtor sought to recover against
the tortfeasor’s insurance company. The tortfeasor had never reported any loss to
his insurance company. The McKean court held that the tortfeasor’s complete
failure to report the loss would not per se preclude coverage for the judgment debtor.
The policy at issue in McKean, however, like the policy in Ferrando, required prompt
notice.
{¶34} Federal courts applying Ohio law have held that the notice-prejudice
rule in Ferrando is inapplicable in cases where the policy provides that notice of a
claim must be given to the insurer by a certain date. See McCarty v. Natl. Union
Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, PA., 699 Fed.Appx. 464 (6th Cir.2017); Wendy’s
Internatl., Inc., S.D.Ohio No. 2:05-cv-803, 2007 WL 710242, at *9; Certain
Underwriters at Lloyds of London v. Jeff Wyler Dealer Group, Inc., S.D.Ohio No. C-
1-05-572, 2007 WL 1989836, *8 (July 9, 2007).
{¶35} In McCarty, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
applying Ohio law rejected an argument that the notice-prejudice rule applied to the
terms of a malpractice-insurance policy, which provided coverage only for claims
made against the insured during the policy period, and “promptly reported” to the
insurer, “but in any case no later than sixty days after the end of the policy period.”
McCarty at 468.
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{¶36} The plaintiffs in McCarty had obtained a judgment against their
former attorney for malpractice, and the plaintiffs sought to collect on their
judgment against the attorney’s malpractice insurer. The plaintiffs argued that their
claim should be covered because the insurer was not prejudiced by their attorney’s
untimely reporting of their claim. The Sixth Circuit noted that the plaintiffs
“appear[ed] to conflate a claims-made policy, like [the attorney’s], with an
occurrence-based policy.” According to the court,
[a] claims-made policy covers losses that arise during the policy
period, regardless of when the events underlying the claim might have
occurred. On the other hand, an occurrence-based policy covers losses
resulting from events that occur during the coverage period, even
though it might be long after the policy period before the events are
discovered and the claim is filed.
(Internal citation omitted.) Id.
{¶37} The court further reasoned that “[b]ecause coverage in a claims-made
policy is generally restricted to only claims made and reported during the policy
period, an insurer need not demonstrate prejudice to deny a claim that is made
outside of the policy period.” Id., citing United States v. A.C. Strip, 868 F.2d 181, 187
(6th Cir.1989). Therefore, the court held that the plaintiffs’ malpractice claim was
reported too late to be covered.
{¶38} Prior to McCarty, in Wendy’s, the United States District Court for the
Southern District of Ohio determined that the notice-prejudice rule did not apply to
a policy in which the notice provision required notice of a claim to the insurer
“immediately, but in no event later than 60 days after the end of the Policy Period of
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any Claim made against the Insured.” Wendy’s Internatl., Inc., S.D.Ohio No. 2:05-
CV-803, 2007 WL 710242, at *3. The court determined that the notice-prejudice
rule from Ferrando was inapplicable because the policy in Ferrando did not require
the insured to notify the insurer of any claim by a specific date, but “[r]ather the
policy provided that notice of the occurrence should be provided to the insurer
‘promptly.’ ” Id. at *8.
{¶39} Another court in the United States District Court for the Southern
District of Ohio followed Wendy’s, reasoning that “[a]bsent any contrary caselaw
supporting the proposition that the notice-prejudice standard enunciated in
Ferrando applies when a specific notice deadline is imposed under a policy or
indicating that the Ohio Supreme Court would extend the notice-prejudice standard
in this manner, the Court declines to extend Ferrando to the facts of this case.”
Certain Underwriters at Lloyds of London, S.D.Ohio No. C-1-05-572, 2007 WL
1989836, at *7.
{¶40} Similarly, the United States District Court for the Western District of
Kentucky refused to apply the notice-prejudice rule to a policy very similar to the one
at bar, which provided the insured with directors and officers and company coverage.
See C.A. Jones Mgt. Group, LLC v. Scottsdale Indemn. Co., W.D.Ky. No. 5:13-CV-
00173-TBR-LLK, 2016 WL 3460445, *1 (June 21, 2016). The policy required written
notice to the insurer of any claim as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 60
days after the end of the policy period. The court determined that the notice
language was unambiguous, and that adoption of the notice-prejudice rule would
effectively rewrite the parties’ contract.
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{¶41} Following the reasoning of these federal courts, we hold that the
notice-prejudice rule does not apply to the policy here, which requires ISCO to
provide notice to Great American of a civil proceeding no later than 90 days after the
end of the policy period. Therefore, Great American need not demonstrate that it
was prejudiced by ISCO’s untimely notice of a claim in order for Great American to
deny coverage.
{¶42} We overrule the second assignment of error.
The Savings Clause
{¶43} In its third assignment of error, ISCO contends that the trial court
incorrectly interpreted the notice provision in the policy, because the letters ISCO
received from outside counsel for Wolseley Canada prior to its lawsuit constituted a
“claim” that triggered the application of “the savings clause.”
{¶44} The “savings clause” referred to by ISCO is bolded in the notice
provision below:
With respect to any Liability Claim for which coverage is provided
under any Liability Coverage Part, the Insureds shall, as a condition
precedent to their rights under this Policy, give the Insurer notice in
writing of such Liability Claim:
(1) as defined in subparagraph (1) of the definition of Claim in the
applicable Liability Coverage Part, which is made during the Policy
Period. Such notice shall be given prior to the end of the Policy Period;
or
(2) as defined in subparagraph (2) of the definition of Claim in the
applicable Liability Coverage Part, which is made during the Policy
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Period. Such notice shall be given as soon as practicable from the date
the General Counsel, Risk Manager, or person with equivalent
responsibility has knowledge of the Claim, and in no event later than
ninety (90) days after the end of the Policy Period.
The Insureds failure to report a Claim pursuant to (1) above
shall not negate the right to report a Claim pursuant to (2)
above under this Policy or any renewal thereof.
(Emphasis added.)
{¶45} The definition of “claim” in subparagraph (1) is “a written demand for
monetary or non-monetary relief made against any Insured.” The definition of
“claim” in subparagraph (2) is “a civil * * * proceeding made against any Insured
seeking monetary or non-monetary relief and commenced by the filing of a
complaint or similar pleading.”
{¶46} Therefore, reading the definitions of claim together with the “savings
clause,” the “savings clause” provides that if ISCO fails to report a written demand
for relief, that failure will not negate ISCO’s right to report a civil proceeding under
the policy or any renewal of the policy.
{¶47} ISCO argues that the Wolseley Canada letters constituted written
demands for relief, thereby invoking the savings clause, and that ISCO’s failure to
report the demand letters to Great American cannot negate its right to report the
Wolseley Canada lawsuit under any later renewal period. Thus, even though the
Wolseley Canada lawsuit was filed in February 2014, and the 2013-2014 policy
period expired in March 2014, ISCO contends that it did not have to report the
Wolseley Canada lawsuit to Great American within 90 days of the end of the 2013-
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2014 policy period, as required by paragraph two of the notice provision, because of
the “savings clause.”
{¶48} The trial court determined that ISCO’s interpretation of the “savings
clause” makes the reporting requirement under paragraph two of the notice
provision meaningless, and that “ ‘[i]f one construction of a doubtful condition
written in a contract would make that condition meaningless, and it is possible to
give it another construction that would give it meaning and purpose, then the latter
construction must obtain.’ ” See Helberg, 102 Ohio App. 3d at 682, 657 N.E.2d 832,
quoting Farmers Natl. Bank v. Delaware Ins. Co., 83 Ohio St. 309, 94 N.E. 834
(1911), paragraph six of the syllabus. We agree with the trial court’s analysis.
{¶49} Moreover, the letters ISCO received from Wolseley Canada prior to the
lawsuit requested that ISCO and certain employees of ISCO confirm in writing that
they understood their alleged post-employment obligations to Wolseley Canada. The
letters do not constitute a “demand for relief,” because the Wolseley Canada
plaintiffs had not yet claimed any injury.
{¶50} We determine that the “savings clause” is inapplicable to ISCO’s
dispute, and, as a result, we overrule the third assignment of error.
Amendment of the Complaint
{¶51} In its fourth assignment of error, ISCO contends that the trial court
erred by failing to grant its request for leave to file an amended complaint.
{¶52} Civ.R. 15(A) governs amendment of pleadings, and it provides that
“[t]he court shall freely give leave when justice so requires.” Even though Civ.R. 15
requires a court to freely give leave to amend in the interest of justice, “a trial court
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
properly refuses to grant leave to amend when amendment would be futile.” Hensley
v. Durrani, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-130005, 2013-Ohio-4711, ¶ 14.
{¶53} ISCO contends that the trial court should have allowed ISCO the
opportunity to amend its complaint to add more facts to show that its notice was
reasonable under the circumstances, and that Great American was not prejudiced by
ISCO’s delay in reporting. ISCO’s argument assumes that Helberg and Ferrando
govern the notice issue, but, as we have determined, those cases do not apply.
Therefore, an amendment to ISCO’s complaint would be futile, and the trial court did
not err in refusing to allow ISCO to amend its complaint. See Great Water Capital
Partners, L.L.C. v. Down-Lite Internatl., Inc., 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-150015,
2015-Ohio-4877, ¶ 18.
{¶54} We overrule the fourth assignment of error.
Conclusion
{¶55} We affirm the judgment of the trial court dismissing ISCO’s complaint.
Judgment affirmed.
MOCK, P.J., and ZAYAS, J., concur.
Please note:
The court has recorded its own entry on the date of the release of this opinion.
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