-
258 F.3d 1090 (9th Cir. 2001)
AMHS INSURANCE COMPANY, RISK RETENTION GROUP, A FOREIGN CORPORATION, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT,
v.
MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF ARIZONA, AN ARIZONA CORPORATION, DEFENDANT-APPELLEE. AMHS INSURANCE COMPANY, RISK RETENTION GROUP, A FOREIGN CORPORATION, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,
v.
MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF OPINION ARIZONA, AN ARIZONA CORPORATION, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.No. 99-15703,, No. 99-15704
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
Argued and Submitted January 11, 2001--San Francisco, California
Filed July 30, 2001[Copyrighted Material Omitted]
Counsel David L. White, White, Cummings & Longino, Phoenix, Arizona, for appellant AmHS Insurance Company, Risk Retention Group.
Steven S. Guy, Snell & Wilmer, Phoenix, Arizona, for appellee Mutual Insurance Company of Arizona.
D.C. No. CV-97-01507-RCB; D.C. No. CV-97-01507-RCB Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Arizona Robert C. Broomfield, District Judge, Presiding
Before: Joseph T. Sneed, Susan P. Graber, and Richard A. Paez, Circuit Judges.
opinion by judge SNEED; Dissent by Judge GRABER
SNEED, Circuit Judge:
1Appellant AmHS Insurance Company, Risk Retention Group ("RRG") and Appellee Mutual Insurance Company of Arizona ("MICA") provided professional liability insurance to Dr. Wesley Romberger ("Dr. Romberger"). Following a jury trial, Dr. Romberger was found negligent in his care and treatment of Christina Beery. RRG defended Dr. Romberger and satisfied the $7,897,543.18 judgment against him. The parties dispute how much MICA should contribute to the payment of this judgment.
2RRG appeals the district court's determination that it failed to state either a direct or subrogated bad-faith claim against MICA. Both parties appeal the district court's decision on summary judgment ordering MICA to pay RRG an equitable contribution in the amount of $445,013.83. RRG also appeals the district court's order establishing that prejudgment interest did not begin to accrue until September 19, 1997.
3We address each order of the district court in turn. We affirm the dismissal of both the direct and subrogated claims. We reverse the district court's calculation of MICA's contribution and remand for further proceedings. We affirm the district court's determination of the date from which prejudgment interest began to run.
FACTS
4Dr. Romberger delivered Christina Beery on September 1, 1986. He subsequently provided care, treatment, and evaluations of Christina through September 23, 1988. In July 1990, Christina Beery was diagnosed with a ventricular septal defect. In March 1992, Christina Beery, by and through her mother, sued Dr. Romberger, alleging negligent failure to detect and diagnose Christina's heart defect.
5The Beery case proceeded to trial in August 1993. MICA contributed 10% of the cost of defending Dr. Romberger while a third insurance carrier, Samaritan, contributed 90%. MICA was continually updated on the Beery litigation, but (other than its commitment to pay 10% of the defense costs) played no role in the defense of Dr. Romberger. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Christina Beery. Through two lump sum payments, RRG paid $7,897,543.18 in complete satisfaction of the judgment. The first of these payments was made in July 1996 in the sum of $4.3 million. The second payment was made in June 1997 in the amount of $3.6 million. RRG informed MICA that it had satisfied the judgment and requested contribution. Both during the Beery litigation and after RRG satisfied the full judgment, MICA offered a maximum of $150,000 toward the total settlement of the case. RRG brought this action for bad faith and contribution against MICA.
I.
6Both the viability of the bad-faith claims and the correct computation of MICA's contribution depend upon whether the competing insurance carriers are primary, excess, or co-excess insurers of the Beery judgment. And, more broadly, on the intended application of the insurance policies. We must review the language of the policies to determine the status of each insurer so as to properly apportion the loss. We begin, therefore, with a brief summary of the principles and purposes of excess insurance. We then identify the relevant portions of the competing insurance policies and categorize them with reference to the "overall insuring scheme." United Serv. Auto. Ass'n v. Empire Fire & Marine Ins., 653 P.2d 712, 714 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1982).
A. Excess Insurance Policies
7An "excess" or "umbrella" insurance policy serves a different purpose than a primary policy. A "true" excess policy protects the insured "in the event of a catastrophic loss in which liability exceeds the available primary coverage. " 16 Couch on Insurance §§ 220:32 (3d ed. 1995); See also 8C Insurance Law and Practice §§ 5071.65 at 107 (1981) ("In this day of uncommon, but possible, enormous verdicts, [excess policies] pick up this exceptional hazard at a small premium."). A primary policy, alternatively, provides coverage from"dollar one" for a given loss.
8This clear distinction can be muddied by the inclusion of an "other insurance" clause in an otherwise primary policy. The inclusion of such a clause will not convert a primary policy into "true" excess coverage. The underlying purpose of the primary policy remains the same and it must contribute to an insured's loss before "true" excess coverage attaches. However, determining whether a given policy is primary (with an other insurance clause) as opposed to excess can sometimes be difficult. 16 Couch on Insurance §§ 220:32 ("[I]t is extremely difficult to draw any black letter rules of law. There is usually no way . . . to avoid doing a time-consuming, complete coverage analysis.")
9Because the instant controversy arises under Arizona law, we rely on the Arizona Supreme Court's standards for determining when a particular policy is "true" excess insurance. Under Arizona law, a "true" excess policy applies "when the same insured has purchased underlying coverage for the same risk." St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Gilmore, 812 P.2d 977, 980 (Ariz. 1991). The underlying primary policy"operate[s] as a kind of deductible and ``an insured pays a reduced premium to the excess carrier expressly because that carrier will be obligated to pay a claim only after a certain amount has been paid' by the insured's primary carrier. " Id. (quoting Maricopa County v. Fed. Ins. Co., 757 P.2d 112, 114 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1988)). In addition, "true" excess coverage is "written under circumstances where rates were ascertained after giving due consideration to known existing and underlying . . . primary policies." Id. (quoting Loy v. Bunderson, 320 N.W.2d 175, 179 (Wis. 1982)).
10With these standards in mind, we turn to the policies at issue in this appeal.
B. Competing Policies
1. The Samaritan Policy
11The Samaritan Policy provided primary insurance to Dr. Romberger. The relevant portion of the Samaritan Policy reads:
12(7) Other Insurance: The insurance afforded by this policy is primary insurance, except when stated to apply in excess of or contingent upon the absence of other insurance
13b. With regard to physician Insureds, the insurance provided by this policy shall be primary, and it shall not be reduced by the amount of any other insurance the physician Insured may have.
14The Samaritan Policy's coverage of Dr. Romberger commenced October 1, 1986. It contained a policy limit of $1 million per occurrence, $12 million in the aggregate. It is undisputed that the Samaritan Policy provided the first layer of coverage applicable to the Beery judgment. It is also undisputed that Samaritan's total liability with regard to the Beery judgment is $1 million (including costs of litigation) and that Samaritan has contributed its policy limit.
2. The MICA Policy
15The MICA Policy is entitled a "Modified Claims Made Insurance Policy." It provided coverage to Dr. Romberger from September 1, 1983 through October 25, 1986. The limits of MICA's policy are $1 million for each occurrence and $1 million in the aggregate.
16The MICA policy also provided primary coverage to Dr. Romberger. It covered "accident[s], act[s] or omission[s] which might give rise to a suit" within the policy period. Claims and actions resulting from any act covered by the policy were also covered. Dr. Romberger paid a total of $90,362 in premiums for this coverage.
17The MICA policy, however, also contains an "other insurance" clause, which reads:
18This insurance shall not apply unless and until the limits of all other sources of funds have been exhausted. Such sources shall include:
19(a) Other insurance;
20(b) An insurance plan of a health care institution; and
21(c) Any similar source of payment.
3. The RRG Policy
22The RRG Policy differs from both the Samaritan and MICA policies in that Dr. Romberger was not its purchaser. Samaritan Health Systems, his insurer, purchased it as "umbrella" coverage for multiple healthcare institutions and contract physicians (such as Dr. Romberger) that are insured, in the first instance, by Samaritan. The RRG policy offered four layers of coverage with a total policy limit of $24 million. Samaritan paid premiums to RRG totaling $7,534,977.
23The first layer of RRG coverage was entitled "excess insurance" and provided a policy limit of $1 million for each occurrence, but with no aggregate limit. It became effective October 1, 1986, and was written specifically as excess of the underlying Samaritan Policy. While this layer of coverage did not include a designated, separate "other insurance" clause, it did define loss so as to provide that the insurer had no liability until "deductions for all other recoveries, salvages, or other insurance" were made.
24The second layer of RRG coverage, also effective October 1, 1986, was entitled "Hospital Umbrella Liability Policy." It provided $10 million in insurance "excess of Underlying." Among the "Underlying" was the Samaritan Policy, the first layer of RRG's coverage, and several other insurance policies listed in the schedule of underlying coverage. The MICA policy, which Dr. Romberger purchased, was not listed.
25Although this second layer of coverage stated that it was excess of the listed underlying policies, it more narrowly defined its coverage. Specifically, this layer of RRG coverage purported to apply only to the "ultimate net loss in excess of the applicable underlying limit." "Applicable underlying limit" was, in turn, defined as "the total of the limits of the underlying insurance . . . and the limits of any other valid and collectible insurance . . . ."
26In addition, this second layer of coverage included an "other insurance" clause, which reads:
8. OTHER INSURANCE
27a. The insurance afforded by this policy shall be excess insurance over any other valid and collectible insurance available to the insured, whether or not described in the Schedule of Underlying Insurance . . . and applicable to any part of ultimate net loss, whether such other insurance is stated to be primary, contributing, excess or contingent.
28The third layer of RRG coverage became effective October 1, 1987. It provided $5 million in coverage for losses in excess of $10 million. This policy is entitled "Excess Umbrella Liability." By its express terms, this insurance did not provide coverage until $10 million in underlying insurance had been exhausted.
29The fourth and final layer of RRG coverage became effective October 1, 1988. It provided $8 million in coverage for losses in excess of $15 million. However, this final layer of RRG coverage did not become effective until after Dr. Romberger's care of Christina Beery ended. The district court held that this layer of coverage was not applicable to the Beery judgment. MICA did not appeal this ruling.
II.
30RRG, Samaritan's excess carrier, first appeals the dismissal of both its subrogated and direct claims for bad faith against MICA. The district court held that the RRG and MICA policies provided equal-level insurance. Under Arizona law, an insurer owes no duty of good faith to a co-equal insurer. On this basis, the district court dismissed RRG's bad-faith claims under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). Hartford Accident & Indem. Co. v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 792 P.2d 749 (Ariz. 1990) (bad-faith claim may be brought only by an excess insurer against a primary insurer).
31But did RRG provide, as it contends, "true" excess coverage? This is a question of law that requires analysis of the policy as a whole. Nichols v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 857 P.2d 406, 407 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1993) (interpretation of an insurance policy is a question of law to be determined by the court); United Serv. Auto. Ass'n, 653 P.2d at 714 ("[W]e look to the language of each policy in light of the circumstances of each contracting party to determine the intent within the framework of an overall insuring scheme."). Thus, we must review de novo the district court's determination that RRG and MICA provided equal-level coverage of the Beery judgment. Johnson v. Cont'l Ins. Co., 7 P.3d 966, 968 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2001) ("Interpretation of an insurance contract is a question of law that we decide independently of the trial court's legal conclusions.").
A. Proceedings Below
32The district court, in dismissing RRG's bad-faith claim, relied on State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Bogart, 717 P.2d 449 (Ariz. 1986). In Bogart, the Arizona Supreme Court held that "other insurance" clauses in otherwise equal-level policies are "mutually repugnant" and therefore void. Id. at 453. The Bogart decision, however, is applicable only in disputes "between two insurers that provide primary coverage for the same occurrence, one of which seeks to avoid all liability by reason of . . . its ``other insurance' clause. " Id. at 454 (emphasis added). Bogart says nothing about adjudicating disputes between a primary insurer and a "true" excess insurer. Indeed, an "other insurance" clause in an otherwise primary policy cannot affect the rights of a "true" excess insurer. See Transport Indem. Co. v. Carolina Cas. Ins. Co., 652 P.2d 134, 142 (Ariz. 1982) (policy providing primary coverage with"other insurance" clause must pay before policy "that extends only excess coverage").
33MICA concedes that its policy is a primary policy with an "other insurance" clause. The MICA policy, therefore, is only excess of other primary policies that do not contain"other insurance" clauses (i.e., the Samaritan policy). MICA, however, must share the insured's loss on a pro rata basis with other primary policies that do contain "other insurance" clauses. See Bogart, 717 P.2d at 453. And, of course, it must tender its full policy limit before a "true" excess carrier is required to pay.
34The dispute here is whether RRG's policies became primary upon the exhaustion of the underlying Samaritan policy or remained excess to all primary policies. This issue cannot be resolved through application of a bright-line rule. Rather, we must read the policies as a whole "in order to give a reasonable and harmonious meaning and effect to all of[their] provisions." Droz v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 405 P.2d 833, 835 (1965); see also Gilmore, 812 P.2d at 983 ("[T]he type of policy is determined by the type of coverage provided, not by the label affixed by the insurer.").
B. RRG's Policies
35If RRG intended its policies to attach only upon the exhaustion of the underlying Samaritan policy and charged premiums consistent with that risk, it should be held to provide coverage upon such an occurrence. See 20th Century Ins. Co. v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 965 F.2d 747, 755-757 (9th Cir. 1992) (looking to ``intended application of each policy' rather than ``judicially created labels' such as ``primary, secondary, etc.' and holding that excess insurer was excess only of specified primary carrier); U.S. Fire Ins. Co. v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 781 S.W.2d 394, 398 (Tex. Ct. App. 1989) (excess policy does not "automatically overlay every applicable primary policy that contains an ``other insurance' clause"); Canal Ins. Co. v. United States Fidelity and Guar. Co., 720 P.2d 963, 965 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1986) (excess policy became primary when specific underlying policy was exhausted).
36Alternatively, if RRG wrote its policies as "true excess," its premiums would reflect the reduced probability that it would ever be called on to provide coverage. Maricopa County, 757 P.2d at 114. "True excess" policies should not be asked to contribute until all primary policies have been exhausted. Am. Family Mut. Ins. Co. v. Cont'l Cas. Co., No. 2001 WL 184770, *3 (Ariz. Ct. App. Feb. 27, 2001) (quoting United Serv. Auto Ass'n, 653 P.2d at 714) (" ``[I]nsurers who issue residual protection only are last to pay so long as that is their expressed intent.' ").
37Because three separate RRG policies with different terms covered Dr. Romberger during his treatment of Christina Beery, each must be examined to determine whether the RRG policies are excess of MICA's primary policy.
381. RRG's First and Second Layers of Coverage
39We hold that the first two layers of RRG coverage were intended to be specific excess insurance that attached upon the exhaustion of the underlying Samaritan Policy. These layers of coverage, like MICA's coverage, were applicable to any loss in excess of the Samaritan Policy limit. Thus, MICA must share any loss over $1 million on a pro rata basis with RRG's first two layers of coverage. In reaching this conclusion, we rely on several aspects of the RRG policy that, taken as a whole, reveal its place in the overall coverage scheme.
40a) RRG had no knowledge of the MICA policy when it provided coverage to Dr. Romberger
41In Gilmore, the Arizona Supreme Court noted that "true" excess coverage is "written under circumstances where rates were ascertained after giving due consideration to known existing and underlying basic or primary policies." 812 P.2d at 980 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). The first two layers of RRG coverage were written and priced with consideration only of enumerated underlying policies. The MICA policy was not one of the listed underlying policies.
42The first layer of the RRG policy provides the following coverage: "$1,000,000/no aggregate in excess of $1,000,000/ $12,000,000." The "schedule of coverage endorsement" indicates that the "$1,000,000/$12,000,000" refers to the listed underlying insurance. The listed insurance, in turn, includes the Samaritan policy (with limits of $1 million per occurrence and $12 million aggregate) and several other insurance policies. This list does not include the MICA policy. By its own terms, this layer of RRG coverage applies to losses resulting from an occurrence and exceeding $1 million. It was written as excess of a specific underlying policy (the Samaritan policy) which provided primary insurance in the required amount of $1 million per occurrence and $12 million in the aggregate.
43Similarly, the second layer of RRG coverage contains a list of enumerated underlying policies and provides $10 million in coverage "excess of Underlying." There is no suggestion anywhere in the policy that RRG knew of the MICA policy when writing this layer of coverage. RRG, therefore, did not price the policy based on the existence of an additional $1 million in underlying coverage provided by MICA.
44To repeat, neither of the first two layers of RRG coverage required the insured to maintain any additional coverage beyond that provided by the primary Samaritan policy. These provisions make clear that RRG was neither aware of nor gave consideration to the existing MICA policy. Rather, RRG's first two layers of insurance provided coverage that would attach immediately upon the exhaustion of the underlying Samaritan policy. They should be enforced as intended.
45b) RRG and MICA did not cover the "same risk"
46The Arizona Supreme Court has also noted that "true" excess coverage applies only "when the same insured has purchased underlying coverage for the same risk." Gilmore, 812 P.2d at 980. In the present case, the RRG and MICA policies did not apply to the "same risk." RRG covered Dr. Romberger for 24 of the 25 months that he provided treatment to Christina Beery. MICA insured Dr. Romberger for only two months after the birth of Christina Beery. The two policies overlapped for only thirty days. The thirty-day overlap does not support RRG's contention that it is a "true " excess insurer of the Beery judgment. The relevant inquiry is whether the two insurance companies insured the "same risk. " The risk assumed by the two insurers in this case was markedly different.
47c) RRG failed to ascertain the total level of primary insurance
48RRG provided its coverage to Samaritan several years after MICA's policy took effect. RRG had the opportunity to, and should have, "taken steps to avoid the confusion, uncertainty and now the litigation produced by the overlapping policies." Executive Risk Specialty Ins. Co. v. Lexington Ins. Co., 106 F. Supp. 2d 181, 189 (D. Mass. 2000) (applying Arizona law). In Executive Risk, the court concluded that a specific excess policy was excess to an unrelated primary policy with an "other insurance" clause. However, the court reached this conclusion only after examining the "context within which the policies were written." Id. at 183. Because the primary insurer wrote its policies with knowledge of overlapping coverage, it "should bear the risk of any doubt it could have avoided." Id. at 189. In this case, RRG could have avoided the present dispute by ascertaining the total level of existing primary coverage prior to issuing its policy. This factor weighs against RRG.1
49d) The RRG policies contain no relevant coverage exceptions
50The fact that the RRG policies include provisions purporting to accept liability only "after making deductions for all other recoveries, salvages or other insurance" does not alter our analysis.2 These provisions cannot be given the effect of exceptions to coverage rather than excess clauses."By definition, an exception or exclusion provides that there is no coverage regardless of the existence of other insurance. " Fremont Indem. Co. v. New England Reinsurance Co., 815 P.2d 403, 406 (Ariz. 1991). In this case, RRG clearly provided insurance covering the Beery judgment. RRG intended, however, for its coverage obligation to change depending on the existence of coverage by other valid insurance.
51These provisions are not exclusions; they are typical excess insurance clauses. "The gist of the hybrid escape-excess clause is to permit escape if the loss is less than any other insurance protection and to provide excess insurance if its coverage exceeds the other valid insurance." Id. at 407. That RRG inserted its "other insurance" clauses in the definition of loss rather than as separate provisions is irrelevant. "[W]e cannot agree with the theory . . . that such a clause is transformed into an exception simply because of its location in an insuring agreement as opposed to another portion of a policy. As a general rule, insurers cannot gain an advantage merely by rearranging ``other insurance' provisions." Id. at 406 (citations omitted). Mutually repugnant "other insurance" clauses are void regardless of where in the insuring agreement they are located. Jefferson Ins. Co. v. Glen Falls Ins. Co., 450 N.Y.S.2d 888, 889 890 (1982) (ultimate net loss provision in one policy and other insurance clause in competing policy "cancel out each other" and each insurer contributes pro rata to settlement).
52e) RRG's alternative conclusion is not supported by Arizona precedent
53RRG does not contend that it wrote its policy as excess of the MICA policy. Rather, it argues that a policy that is excess to any primary policy is excess to each and every primary policy covering the same loss. RRG relies on two cases in support of this proposition: Ariz. Joint Underwriters Plan v. Glacier Gen. Assurance Co., 631 P.2d 133 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1981) ("Glacier") and United Serv. Auto. Ass'n., 653 P.2d 712. In both Glacier and United Services , the Arizona appellate court held that two primary policies should pay their full policy limits before an excess policy is compelled to pay. Neither case supports RRG's position because neither case involved competing policies both of which were indisputably excess to a single primary policy.
54In Glacier, the court held, as we hold today, that a specific excess policy attaches upon the exhaustion of its underlying primary policy. "AJUP was liable for the excess of the total applicable limits of its underlying insurance, the MICA policy." Glacier, 631 P.2d at 135. In Glacier, however, the underlying primary policy was not exhausted until a co-equal primary policy contributed its pro rata share. Consequently, the excess insurer's liability did not attach until both the underlying policy and an unrelated primary policy had contributed. This fact distinguishes Glacier from the present litigation.
55Here, the underlying Samaritan policy tendered its entire $1 million policy limit before any other insurer's obligation attached. As was the case in Glacier, the excess carrier's coverage (in this case, RRG) attached upon the exhaustion of its underlying primary policy (Samaritan). Unlike Glacier, however, the underlying Samaritan policy is the only first-level policy applicable to the insured's loss. MICA's duty to contribute to the Beery judgment arose at the same time that RRG's obligation attached -after the Samaritan policy was exhausted. MICA, therefore, should contribute pro rata with the RRG policy to cover any loss above Samaritan's $1 million policy limit.
56Similarly, in United Services , the court allocated the loss among two primary insurers and an excess policy. The United Services court analyzed "the language of each policy in light of the circumstances of each contracting party to determine the intent within the framework of an overall insuring scheme." United Services, 653 P.2d at 714. This analysis revealed that it was the "expressed intent" of the excess policy that it be the "last to pay." Id.
57Our analysis of the competing RRG and MICA policies is similar. For the reasons already noted, we conclude that it was not RRG's "expressed intent" that its first two layers of coverage overlay all primary policies. Reading the first two layers of RRG coverage within the context of the "overall insuring scheme," we hold that RRG, in authoring and pricing these policies, gave consideration only to that coverage listed in its revised schedule of underlying coverage. That is, RRG wrote its policies to provide coverage in excess of the underlying Samaritan policy.3 It now wishes to treat these policies as excess of all insurance that may fortuitously apply to a given loss. Gilmore, 812 P.2d at 981. We decline to provide RRG with this windfall.
2. RRG's Third Layer of Coverage
58The third layer of RRG coverage repeatedly states that it applies only to losses in excess of $10 million. The schedule of coverage endorsement, the declarations page, and the limits of liability clause all note that the coverage is in excess of the $10 million in coverage provided in the underlying policies. Unlike the first and second layers of RRG coverage, this policy does not purport to attach upon the exhaustion of a specific underlying policy. Rather, coverage under this policy attaches only after exhaustion of a specified policy amount. "Exhaustion of the [$10 million] amount is a fixed policy requirement; it was not satisfied and this fact cannot be altered by language in other policies." Maricopa County, 757 P.2d at 114.
59The third layer of the RRG policy, therefore, is excess of all insurance up to $10 million, including the MICA policy. The district court erred in holding that this layer of coverage was an equal layer of coverage with the MICA policy.
III. RRG's Bad-Faith Claims
60Our determination that the first two layers of RRG coverage and the MICA policy are equal-level insurers of the judgment against Dr. Romberger controls the analysis of RRG's bad-faith claims. Under Arizona law, an insurer has neither a direct nor a subrogated claim for bad faith against an equal-level insurer. Twin City Fire Ins. Co. v. Superior Court, 792 P.2d 758, 760 (Ariz. 1990) (no direct claim for bad faith against other insurer); Hartford Accident & Indemnity, 792 P.2d 749 (subrogated claim may only be brought by excess insurer against primary carrier). The district court correctly dismissed these claims.
A. Direct Bad-faith Claim
61Under Arizona law, an insurer owes only the insured a duty of good faith. "[T]he insurer's obligation to settle, as well as the obligation to defend, arises out of the contract between the parties." State Farm Auto. Ins. Co. v. Civil Service Employees Ins. Co., 509 P.2d 725, 733 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1973). Because MICA never entered into a contract with RRG, it owed no duty to RRG and cannot be liable on a direct claim for bad faith. This reasoning is equally applicable without regard to whether RRG is a "true" excess carrier or merely a co-excess insurer of the Beery judgment.
62In Twin City, 792 P.2d at 758, the Arizona Supreme Court held that an excess carrier could not bring a direct claim for bad faith against a primary carrier. Although there is language in Twin City that suggests such a cause of action is possible in some circumstances, a subsequent decision from the Arizona Court of Appeals interpreted Twin City as foreclosing all direct-duty claims initiated by an excess carrier against a primary insurer. Cal. Cas. Ins. Co. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 913 P.2d 505, 510 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1996) (excess insurer may assert "only a claim that derives from the primary's contract with the insured").4 The district court correctly dismissed RRG's direct claim for bad faith against MICA.
B. Subrogated Bad-faith Claim
63Arizona recognizes the right of an excess insurer to bring a subrogated claim against a primary carrier for bad-faith failure to settle within the primary carrier's policy limits. Hartford Accident, 792 P.2d at 749. No such claim exists between two equal-level insurers.
64Equal-level insurers have an identical duty of good faith toward the insured. A complete failure to settle is necessarily a failure by both insurers. It follows that RRG cannot refuse to settle the Beery litigation on the one hand and, on the other, contend that MICA's refusal to settle was made in bad faith. Because RRG and MICA had equivalent obligations to the insured, the proper approach to resolving their dispute is not a suit for bad faith, but one for contribution. See St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. v. Allstate Ins. Co., 543 P.2d 147 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1976) (co-primary insurer can bring equitable contribution claim); Mut. Ins. Co. of Ariz. v. Am. Cas. Co. of Reading, Pa., 938 P.2d 71, 75-76 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1996).
65No Arizona court has recognized the right of an insurer to bring a subrogated bad-faith claim against an equal-level insurer. The rationale for recognizing an excess insurer's right to bring such an action against a primary insurer does not apply in an action between equal-level insurers. As MICA and RRG were equal-level insurers, they had the same duty to enter a good-faith settlement. The district court, therefore, correctly dismissed RRG's subrogated bad-faith claim against MICA.
IV. Contribution
66Having determined that RRG and MICA are equal-level insurers, the district court prorated the liability for the judgment in the Beery litigation. RRG argues that the district court incorrectly ascertained the proper contribution level because it used the wrong formula. We hold that the district court used the proper formula, but erred in calculating the total amount of applicable insurance.
67The district court prorated liability between RRG and MICA according to the "policy limits" approach. Under this approach, each insurer's liability is determined by dividing its policy limit by the total amount of coverage. In this case, the district court found that the total amount of applicable coverage was $17 million (the sum of MICA's $1 million and RRG's $16 million policy limits). Under the "policy limits" approach, MICA would be responsible for 1/17 of the total judgment paid. The judgment (minus the contribution from Samaritan of the remainder of its policy limit) totaled $7,565,106.33. The district court determined that MICA's contribution, exclusive of interest, was $445,013.83 under the "policy limits" approach.
68RRG, to reduce its share of the aggregate liability, argues that proration should be done according to the "maximum loss" rule. Under this rule, the court must determine the maximum amount each insurer was potentially obligated to pay absent the competing insurance policy. In this instance, MICA's "maximum loss" was $1 million and RRG's"maximum loss" was $7,565,106.33. RRG would contribute approximately $7.56 for every dollar contributed by MICA until the judgment was satisfied. Under this approach, MICA's share would have amounted to $883,226.16. See Employers Mut. Cas. Co. v. MFA Mut. Ins. Co., 384 F.2d 111, 115 (10th Cir. 1967) (where one insurer's maximum loss was $10,000 and competing insurer's maximum loss was $5,000, judgment should be prorated on a two-to-one basis).
69In choosing the "policy limits" approach, the district court relied on several decisions, applying Arizona law, which prorate equitable contributions according to policy limits. The first of these decisions was a Ninth Circuit case predicting the course the Arizona Supreme Court was likely to take. See Weekes v. Atlantic Nat'l Ins. Co., 370 F.2d 264, 274 (9th Cir. 1966). Our use of the "policy limits" approach in Weekes was followed by the Arizona Court of Appeals in both Harbor Ins. Co. v. United States Auto. Ass'n, 559 P.2d 178, 183 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1976) (prorating according to policy limits) and A.H. v. Ariz. Prop. and Cas. Ins. Guar. Fund, 943 P.2d 738, 747 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1997) (same). In addition, in Bogart, 717 P.2d 449, the Arizona Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's use of the "policy limits" approach.
70RRG, with some reason, contends that these cases do not establish that Arizona follows the "policy limits " approach. RRG argues that Weekes, Harbor Ins., and A.H v. Arizona Property all involved insurance companies with equal policy limits. RRG points out that when two insurers have the same policy limits, their contributions would be equal without regard to whether the court uses the "policy limits" or the "maximum loss" rule. The courts' use of the"policy limits" approach in these cases, therefore, was unnecessary to the calculation of each party's contribution. In addition, RRG argues that in Bogart neither party contested the proration formula. The Bogart court affirmed the application of the "policy limits" approach without discussion and in a case in which neither party challenged the proration formula on appeal.
71RRG, instead, asks us to follow the holding in Industrial Indemnity Co. v. Beeson, 647 P.2d 634 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1982). In Beeson, the Arizona appellate court specifically disapproved the "policy limits" approach and remanded for a determination of liability with instructions to use the"maximum loss" rule to calculate contribution. "We therefore believe the more equitable basis for proration should be according to the maximum loss which each company could have sustained in the particular case, absent the other insurance coverage." Id. at 639-40.
72In choosing a proration formula, we are guided by our decision in Sec. Pac. Nat'l. Bank v. Kirkland (In re Kirkland), 915 F.2d 1236, 1240 (9th Cir. 1990). There we were called on to predict the course the California Supreme Court would take if faced with a bankruptcy question of first impression. In Kirkland, we relied on two specific factors. First, we surveyed the lower California courts and determined how a majority of those courts had addressed the same question. Second, we noted that the majority rule in California was also the majority approach in other jurisdictions. Both of these factors favor adoption of the policy limits approach in the present litigation.
73As noted above, the weight of Arizona judicial authority supports use of the "policy limits" approach. Although no Arizona court has offered a detailed rationale for applying this rule, both the Arizona Supreme Court and Arizona appellate courts have -with one exception -held that proration according to policy limits is appropriate. The "policy limits" approach, moreover, is consistent with the law in a majority of other jurisdictions. See Am. Cas. Co. v. Phico Ins. Co., 702 A.2d 1050, 1053 n.4 (Pa. 1997) (twelve of seventeen jurisdictions that have adopted an allocation formula since 1975 have adopted the policy limits approach); Ostrager & Newman, Handbook on Insurance Coverage Disputes, §§ 11.04 (9th ed. 1998) (describing policy limits approach as the majority rule and citing cases). The district court, therefore, did not err in prorating liability according to the policy limits of the respective policies.
74As detailed above, however, we hold that only the first two layers of the RRG policy covered the loss incurred by the Beery litigation. Therefore, we reverse the district court's order awarding contribution to RRG and remand with instructions to calculate MICA's contribution based on the policy limits of RRG's first two layers of coverage and MICA's policy.
V.
Prejudgment Interest
75The district court held that RRG's contribution claim against MICA was a liquidated claim. Under Arizona law, "prejudgment interest on a liquidated claim is a matter of right." Gemstar Ltd. v. Ernst & Young, 917 P.2d 222, 237 (Ariz. 1996) (en banc). The rate of interest is set by statute at ten percent per annum. Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 44-1201.
76Neither party contests the district court's determination that prejudgment interest must be awarded. However, RRG argues that the trial court erroneously calculated the amount of interest. Specifically, the district court held that prejudgment interest began to accrue on September 19, 1997 -the day that RRG sent to MICA a complete copy of the relevant insurance policies. RRG contends that interest actually began to accrue on the dates that it paid the judgment in the Beery litigation. RRG paid $4.3 million in partial satisfaction of the judgment in July 1996. It made a second payment of $3.6 million in June 1997.
77The district court has discretion to determine the date of commencement of prejudgment interest. Trus Joist Corp. v. Safeco Ins. Co. of Am., 135 P.2d 125, 140 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1986) (holding that "the trial court did not abuse its discretion in commencing the prejudgment interest as of [a specified date]"). The district court's determination that prejudgment interest did not begin to accrue until RRG provided MICA with a copy of its policy was not an abuse of discretion.
78Under Arizona law, prejudgment interest begins when the creditor provides to the debtor "sufficient information and supporting data so as to enable the debtor to ascertain the amount owed." Homes & Son Constr. Co. Inc. v. Bolo Corp., 526 P.2d 1258, 1261 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1992). RRG notified MICA of the amount paid out in the Beery judgment at the time the money was paid. The district court found, however, that this was not sufficient to enable MICA to ascertain its liability with "reasonable exactness." Id. at 1262. Under the "policy limits" approach to prorating contribution, MICA's liability could not be discerned without reference to the total available insurance. RRG, therefore, was under a duty to inform MICA of the total policy limit applicable to the Beery judgment. RRG did not do so until September 19, 1997.
79The district court's order awarding prejudgment interest after September 19 was a reasonable application of Arizona law governing the timing of prejudgment interest. The district court did not abuse its discretion in reaching this conclusion. See Wing v. Asarco Inc., 114 F.3d 986, 988 (9th Cir. 1997) (reversal justified only when the lower court's decision "is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts as are found") (citations and internal quotation marks omitted).
VI.
80The district court's dismissals of both the direct and subrogated bad-faith claims against MICA are affirmed. Arizona law does not recognize the right of an excess insurer to sue a co-excess insurer for bad faith. The district court's calculation of MICA's contribution is reversed and remanded for the limited purpose of calculating MICA's contribution consistent with this opinion. The district court's award of prejudgment interest is affirmed. Each party shall bear its own costs.
81AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART, AND REMANDED
Notes:
1RRG also could have written its policy to attach only after the insured incurred a specified financial loss.
2The quoted phrase is from RRG's first layer of coverage. An analogous provision is included in RRG's second layer of coverage. See supra Section I(B)(3).
3MICA argues in its cross-appeal that the first layer of RRG coverage is actually primary coverage that must be exhausted before any coverage under the MICA policy attaches. However, the RRG policy, read as a whole, is unmistakably excess of the underlying Samaritan policy.
4At most, Twin City provides a narrow exception to the general rule that only the insured (or one subrogated to the rights of the insured) can bring an action for bad faith. That exception provides that an excess insurer can bring a direct-duty bad-faith claim against a primary insurer only if the insured has engaged in wrongful conduct which consequently bars equitable subrogation. Twin City, 792 P.2d at 760. Neither of the conditions necessary for such a claim is present here. For the reasons noted above, RRG is not excess of MICA with regard to the Beery judgment. In addition, there has been no wrongful conduct on the part of the insured that could undermine an equitable subrogation claim.
GRABER, Circuit Judge, dissenting:
82I respectfully dissent because I disagree with majority's conclusion that the first and second layers of the RRG policy are co-primary with the MICA policy. As the majority recognizes, the question before us is whether the MICA policy --a primary policy with an "other insurance" clause -must be exhausted before liability attaches under the RRG policy --an excess policy -when the specific primary policy underlying the RRG policy already has been exhausted. Maj. op. at 9567. Because the general rule is that all primary insurance policies must be exhausted before an excess insurance policy provides coverage, and because this case does not require the application of a different rule, I conclude that MICA must contribute its share before the RRG policy becomes applicable.
83As the majority recognizes, the MICA policy is a primary policy with an "other insurance" clause. Maj. op. at 9566. The majority also acknowledges that the RRG policy provides excess coverage. Maj. op. at 9573 n.3. Nevertheless, the majority concludes that, after the exhaustion of the Samaritan policy, the first two layers of the RRG policy should be treated as co-primary with the MICA policy. Maj. op. 9567-73. For the reasons explained below, this conclusion is erroneous.
84Contrary to the majority's suggestion otherwise, the RRG policy is a "true excess" policy. By definition, a "true excess" policy is one in which "the same insured has purchased underlying coverage for the same risk." St. Paul Fire & Mar. Ins. Co. v. Gilmore, 812 P.2d 977, 980 (Ariz. 1991) (emphasis in original). Liability under an excess policy attaches only after the underlying primary coverage has been exhausted. Id. The RRG policy falls within this definition. The same insured, the Samaritan Foundation,1 purchased both the Samaritan policy, a "Comprehensive Hospital Liability Insurance" primary policy, and the RRG policy, a "Health Care Excess Liability Policy" in excess to, among other identified policies, that Samaritan policy.2 Both policies cover the same risk: liability for medical malpractice. Further, both the first and second layers of the RRG policy require that the insured maintain underlying primary insurance that must be exhausted before the RRG coverage takes effect.
85"As a rule, . . . excess and umbrella policies are regarded as excess over and above any type of primary coverage . . . ." 15 Couch on Insurance 3d §§ 220:41 (1999) (emphasis added); see also Am. Family Mut. Ins. Co. v. Cont'l Cas. Co. , No. CA-CV 00 0020, 2001 WL 184770, *2 -*3 (Ariz. Ct. App. Feb. 27, 2001) (stating the rule that primary insurers pay before excess insurers); United Serv. Auto. Ass'n v. Empire Fire & Mar. Ins. Co., 653 P.2d 712, 714 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1982) (holding that an insurer providing residual insurance pays after all primary insurers, provided that is the intent of the residual insurer); Douglas R. Richmond, Issues and Problems in "Other Insurance," Multiple Insurance, and Self-Insurance, 22 Pepp. L. Rev. 1373, 1399-1402 (1995) (stating that the "majority rule" is that true excess policies provide coverage "over and above all primary coverages, including primary policies with excess ``other insurance' clauses" (emphasis added)). The question for us, then, is whether the circumstances here require the application of a different rule. The answer is "no."
86The majority relies on three cases for the proposition that, in some circumstances, a "true excess" insurer should be considered to provide "primary" insurance after the specified underlying policy is exhausted. Maj. op. at 9567. Each of those cases is materially distinguishable.
87In Canal Insurance Co. v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co., 720 P.2d 963, 965 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1986), the Arizona Court of Appeals held that an excess policy provided primary coverage after the exhaustion of the underlying primary policy because the excess policy, "by its very terms, . . . became primary coverage when the $500,000 limit of the underlying policy was exhausted." (Emphasis added.) The policy provided:
88"Upon the exhaustion of an aggregate limit of liability applying to a particular coverage afforded by an insurance policy designated in Section 1.7 . . . this policy shall replace such exhausted aggregate limit as primary insurance, subject to the terms and conditions of such insurance policy . . . ."
89Id. at 964-965 (emphasis added by the Arizona court). RRG's policy does not contain similar text.
90Similarly, the conclusion of the Texas Court of Appeals in U.S. Fire Insurance Co. v. Aetna Casualty & Insurance Co., 781 S.W.2d 394, 396 (Tex. Ct. App. 1989), that an excess policy provided primary insurance upon the exhaustion of the underlying policy hinged on the specific terms of the excess policy. An endorsement to the excess policy provided:
91"In consideration of the premium charged, it is agreed that this policy shall apply regardless of the existence of other insurance that would apply on the same basis.
92It is further agreed that there shall be no reduction in the limits of liability, contributions by equal shares, or contributions by limits because of the existence of other insurance that would apply on the same basis."
93Id. (emphasis added by the Texas court). The court held that the text of the quoted provision, and the fact that the insured had paid an additional premium for the endorsement, established that the policy was to take effect upon the exhaustion of the specific underlying policy regardless of the existence of other applicable primary insurance. Id. at 399. The court observed by way of contrast that, in a case such ours, in which the policy lacks a similar provision, the general rule that an excess policy is considered "excess, not only of specified underlying insurance, but of a primary policy with an ``other insurance' clause" likely would apply. Id.
94Finally, in 20th Century Insurance Co. v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., 965 F.2d 747, 757 (9th Cir. 1992), a case applying California law, the court held that liability under the excess policy at issue attached upon the exhaustion of the specified underlying policy and that the policy was not excess to all other primary policies. The court noted that the excess policy stated that " ``[t]he insurance afforded by this certificate shall follow that of the primary insurer' " and identified the primary insurer as the specific underlying carrier. Id. The opinion made no mention of whether the policy contained text stating that liability would attach only after other available insurance had been collected. The court then concluded that the terms of the insurance contract did not demonstrate an intent "to be excess to all primary policies." Id. (emphasis in original). Twentieth Century applies California law, id. at 754, not Arizona law, and the terms of the contract here -as I will explain next -do demonstrate such an intent.
95In this case, neither of the policies providing the first and second layers of RRG coverage contains text analogous to that which proved determinative in Canal Insurance and U.S. Fire. Furthermore, by contrast to 20th Century, each policy expressly provides that it will not take effect until all other insurance has been exhausted.
96The first-layer RRG policy states that its coverage applies to "all sums which the Insured shall become legally obligated to pay as loss which is in excess of the total limit(s) of all Underlying Insurance specified as Section II (b) of the Declarations subject to the limit of liability stated in Section I (c) of the Declarations of this Excess Policy." (Emphasis added.) The policy expressly defines "loss" as "the sums paid or payable in settlement of claims for which the Insured is liable after making deductions for all other recoveries, salvages or other insurance (other than recoveries under Underlying Insurance whether recoverable or not) and shall exclude all expenses and costs." (Emphasis added.) Thus, by its terms, the policy does not require RRG to pay for any "loss" until after deductions have been made for "all . . . other insurance" available to the insured.
97Likewise, the second-layer RRG policy, by its terms, does not take effect until all primary insurance has been exhausted. The policy provides:
98WE will pay on behalf of the INSURED the ULTIMATE NET LOSS in excess of the APPLICABLE UNDERLYING LIMIT which the INSURED shall become legally obligated to pay under the following Coverages, and to the extent not otherwise excluded under Part VIII of this Policy.
99In turn, the second-layer RRG policy defines "APPLICABLE UNDERLYING LIMIT" to mean the total of the limits of liability of the UNDERLYING INSURANCE as stated in the Schedule of Underlying Insurance and the limits of any other valid and collectible insurance less the amount, if any, by which any aggregate limit of such insurance has been reduced by payment of loss for claims made during this POLICY PERIOD[.]
100(Emphasis added.)By its express provisions, then, the second layer is excess to all other applicable insurance. This policy's "Other Insurance" clause also evidences the insurer's express intent that the policy not take effect until all primary insurance is exhausted:
101The insurance afforded by this policy shall be excess insurance over any other valid and collectible insurance available to the INSURED, whether or not described in the Schedule of Underlying Insurance (except insurance purchased to apply in excess of the sum of the underlying limit or retained limit and the limit of liability hereunder) and applicable to any part of ULTIMATE NET LOSS, whether such insurance is stated to be primary, contributing, excess or contingent. Nothing herein shall be construed to make this policy subject to the terms, conditions or limitations of such other insurance. (Emphasis added.)
102The majority contends that the RRG policy cannot be excess to the MICA policy because the two policies do not insure the same risk. The majority reasons that the RRG and MICA policies cover somewhat different (although overlapping) periods of time. Maj. op. at 9570. The dates of coverage, although they may affect the extent of an insurer's liability, do not define the kind of risk insured. Moreover, asking whether the RRG policy insures the same risk as the MICA policy is the wrong place to start the analysis. As discussed earlier, the RRG was written in excess of a specific underlying policy insuring the same risk (the Samaritan policy), establishing that the RRG policy provides"true excess" insurance. Once RRG's status as an excess insurer has been determined, the only question is whether the policy is written to make it excess to other, unrelated, primary policies covering the same risk. Presumably, MICA would not be a party to this case if its policy did not reach the "same risk" -i.e., medical malpractice during the same relevant period -as the RRG and Samaritan policies.
103The majority also emphasizes that RRG did not know about the MICA policy when it wrote its first and second layers of excess coverage. Maj. op. at 9568-69. That may be so, but its lack of knowledge does not translate into a conclusion that the RRG policy was in excess only of enumerated underlying policies. That is because RRG expressly wrote its coverage to take account of other, unnamed primary insurance, and nothing in Arizona law allows us to override such express contractual terms.
104Indeed, despite the majority's statement to the contrary, maj. op. at 9572, this case is indistinguishable from United Services.3 In that case, the Arizona Court of Appeals held that an excess policy, written in excess of a specific underlying policy, also was excess as to an unrelated primary policy with an "other insurance" clause, after the exhaustion of the specific underlying policy. 653 P.2d at 713-14. The excess policy at issue defined "loss" in terms almost identical to those in the first layer of the RRG policy. Id. at 713. The court reasoned that the excess policy there, just like the RRG policy here, would "[u]nder no set of circumstances" provide primary coverage presumably because the underlying insurance would always have to be exhausted before the excess policy came into effect. Id. at 714. By contrast, the primary policy with the excess clause, like the MICA policy, would provide primary coverage in the absence of any other applicable primary insurance. Id. On those facts alone, the court concluded that the primary policy "necessarily contemplated a different and probably a greater risk than that covered" by the excess policy. Id. Additionally, because the primary policy, like the MICA policy, "was issued to specific persons for primary limited amounts, [the primary insurer] was in a better position to evaluate its risk than would be a purely excess carrier against whom no claims might be made even though its insureds had repeatedly incurred liability in amounts within their primary coverage." Id. As a result, the court articulated a simple rule for resolving conflicts between excess policies and primary policies with "other insurance" clauses: "[I]nsurers who issue residual protection only are last to pay so long as that is their expressed intent." Id. (emphasis in original).
105Additionally, the Arizona Court of Appeals' decision in Arizona Joint Underwriting Plan v. Glacier General Assurance Co., 631 P.2d 133 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1981), offers further support for the conclusion that the RRG policy should be treated as excess to the MICA policy. Although the majority correctly summarizes most of the analysis in that case, maj. op. at 9572-73, it fails to mention the second reason stated by the Arizona court in support of its conclusion that a primary insurer should pay before an excess insurer: "Further, it would be a windfall to Glacier, which must be considered along with MICA as Hayden's primary insurers, to pay nothing merely because a fellow primary insurer had additional excess coverage." Id. at 136.
106That same reasoning applies with equal force here. It would be a windfall to MICA if its liability were limited by the fortuity that the Samaritan Foundation purchased excess insurance covering the Samaritan policy.
107In short, I conclude that the first two layers of the RRG policy clearly express the insurer's intent that the policy be excess to all primary policies. Nothing in Arizona law prevents an excess insurer from writing such coverage. Under the rule expressed in United Services, MICA must contribute its share of the judgment before RRG can be required to contribute. Accordingly, I dissent.
Notes:
1The Samaritan policy appears to provide coverage to Dr. Romberger by virtue of a clause stating that it covers physicians who contract with the hospitals and health-care providers within the Samaritan Foundation. The majority suggests that Dr. Romberger purchased the Samaritan policy himself. Maj. op. at 9564. That suggestion is not supported by the record.
2The Samaritan Foundation was the insured identified in the original RRG policy. The policy was later amended to identify"Samaritan Health Systems" as the named insured. The reason for the name change is not clear from the record, but the parties do not suggest that this name change has legal significance.
3The majority suggests that United Services is distinguishable because the result turned on analysis of the circumstances of the parties. However, the Arizona court's analysis, for the most part, was based on the contractual definition of "loss" quoted in this dissent and on "common experience and common sense." United Serv., 653 P.2d at 714. The court acknowledged that there was "no economic, statistical or actuarial evidence in the record." Id.
Document Info
Docket Number： 99-15703
Citation Numbers： 258 F.3d 1090
Filed Date： 7/30/2001
Precedential Status： Precedential
Modified Date： 8/3/2017