Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's v. Abbott Laboratories

2014 IL App (1st) 132020
FIRST DIVISION
July 28, 2014
Nos. 1-13-2020, 1-13-2035 (cons.)
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT
CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYD’S, ) Appeal from the Circuit Court of
LONDON, Subscribing to Policy Number ) Cook County.
548/NS3003500; CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AT )
LLOYD’S, LONDON, Subscribing to Policy Number )
548/NS3003700; UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYD’S, )
LONDON, Subscribing to Policy Number 769/009020; )
and UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYD’S, LONDON, )
Subscribing to Certificate Number MPT-00144300; )
)
Plaintiffs and Counterdefendants-Appellants and )
Cross-Appellees, )
)
)
v. ) No. 03 CH 9307
)
ABBOTT LABORATORIES, )
) Honorable Richard J. Billik, Jr.
Defendant and Counterplaintiff-Appellee and ) and Thomas R. Mulroy,
Cross-Appellant. ) Judges, Presiding.
JUSTICE DELORT delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Presiding Justice Connors and Justice Hoffman concurred in the judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 This case involves who should bear the cost of the Italian government’s recall of a
prescription drug: the insured or the insurer. The plaintiffs are various underwriters subscribing
to certain insurance policies and certificates (the Underwriters). They sued Abbott Laboratories
Nos. 1-13-2020, 1-13-2035 (cons.)
(Abbott) to rescind policies that they had issued to Abbott. Abbott counterclaimed, seeking (1) a
declaratory judgment regarding coverage, (2) damages for an alleged breach of contract, and (3)
damages for vexatious delay in paying on the policies. An array of professionals from all over
the world testified at two extensive bench trials. At the first trial to determine liability, the trial
court rejected the Underwriters’ rescission claim and Abbott’s vexatious delay claim. At the
second bench trial as to damages, the trial court found in favor of Abbott on its breach of
contract claim, entered judgment against the Underwriters, and awarded Abbott $84.5 million
(the limits of the insurance policies at issue here) and certain recoverable costs. The trial court
rejected Abbott’s request for prejudgment interest, but granted the request for postjudgment
interest, awarding Abbott an additional $739,375. On appeal, the Underwriters contend that the
trial court’s rejection of their rescission claim and its finding that the Underwriters ratified
coverage and waived rescission were against the manifest weight of the evidence. The
Underwriters raise an additional claim regarding the trial court’s denial of their motion to compel
production of certain privileged documents prepared by a witness whom Abbott had withdrawn
as an expert witness and presented only as a fact witness. On cross-appeal, Abbott contends that
the trial court abused its discretion both in rejecting Abbott’s counterclaim for vexatious delay
damages and Abbott’s request for prejudgment interest. We affirm.
¶2 BACKGROUND
¶3 Various underwriters at Lloyd’s, London (Lloyd’s) issued product recall insurance
policies to Abbott for a three-year term beginning on April 13, 2000. The Underwriters seek to
rescind those policies on the basis that Abbott made material misrepresentations in its insurance
application regarding potential risks created when it acquired Knoll Pharmaceutical Company
(Knoll).
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¶4 The Lloyd’s Policies
¶5 The policies issued to Abbott were structured into three layers. The second-layer policy
provided that it would pay Abbott the amounts due resulting from losses covered by the first-
layer policy, but only after the first-layer policy had paid or had been held liable to pay the full
amount of the first-layer limits (and after application of the $20 million deductible). The third-
layer policies, in turn, promised to pay the amounts for which Abbott was liable, but only in
excess of the first- and second-layer policies and the deductible. The second- and third-layer
policies stated that they were subject to the same terms and conditions as the first-layer policy,
and both required that the first-layer policy remain in force. 1
¶6 The first-layer policy provided that it would pay Abbott for losses incurred resulting from
“Product Tampering or Accidental Contamination” of “Covered Products” during the policy
period. The policy also provided coverage for government drug recalls under the rather
counterintuitive rubric of “accidential contamination,” which was defined in relevant part as
“any formal or informal ruling of any regularly constituted national *** regulatory *** body
during the Policy Period requiring recall or suspending sales of the Covered Product(s),”
“Provided that the consumption or use of the Covered Product(s) *** has resulted *** in bodily
injury, sickness, disease or death to any person or animal if consumed or used ***.” “Accidental
contamination” also included any consequent adverse publicity.
¶7 The policy further stated that if Abbott merged with or acquired another entity whose
revenues were more than 5% of Abbott’s, the new entity would automatically be covered by the
policies, but Abbott had to provide written notice to the Underwriters within 90 days of the
merger or acquisition and pay an additional premium to cover the additional risk. Computation
of the premium was left open and was thus subject to negotiation on an ad hoc basis.
1
The third-layer policies required the maintenance of the second-layer policy, as well.
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¶8 Under the section “Covered Losses,” the policy provided coverage for product tampering
or accidental contamination losses during the policy term “provided that as of the inception of
this insurance, [Abbott’s] Director of Risk Management was not aware and could not reasonably
have been aware of circumstances which could produce” a covered loss. In addition, the entire
policy would be “void” if Abbott “intentionally concealed or misrepresented any material fact or
circumstance concerning this insurance” or made “any attempt to defraud [Underwriters] either
before or after a Loss.” If the policy was in effect for 60 days, Underwriters could cancel the
policy for, in addition to other reasons: (a) Abbott’s obtaining the insurance through “material
misrepresentation”; (b) Abbott’s violation of any of the terms and conditions of the insurance
agreement; and (c) “the risk originally accepted has measurably increased.” If the Underwriters
cancelled the policy, however, they agreed to refund the unearned portion of any premium paid.
Abbott initially paid an advance premium of $2.17 million for the three-year policy.
¶9 On December 15, 2000, Abbott announced that it agreed to acquire the global operations
of Knoll whose products included Synthroid and Meridia. Knoll’s revenues exceeded 5% of
Abbott’s revenues, so Abbott notified the Underwriters of the acquisition in February 2001, and
provided written notice when the acquisition closed around March 2, 2001.
¶ 10 As noted above, an additional premium covering the Knoll business had to be
determined. On February 22, 2001, Ian Harrison, an underwriter with the Beazley syndicate, 2
received Abbott’s notice and initially proposed a premium that would have been two times the
proportional increase in Abbott’s sales following the Knoll acquisition. Abbott rejected that
proposal.
¶ 11 Abbott submitted three applications to the Underwriters in connection with the Knoll
acquisition; only the last of the three was signed. Question 25 of each application asked, inter
2
The lead underwriter of the Abbott policies.
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alia, whether “the applicant, or its D&O’s [directors and officers] have any knowledge of any
current situation, fact or circumstance which might lead to a claim under an Accidental
Contamination *** policy.” Abbott answered “No” in each application. In the signature box at
the end of the application was a statement that Abbott’s signers declared “to the best of our
knowledge” that the information provided was true and that no material information that might
affect the Underwriters’ judgment had been withheld.
¶ 12 On May 14, 2001, Harrison proposed a revised premium of $616,350, 25% of which
would be refunded if no claims were made over the remaining three-year term. This proposal
contained various conditions precedent, or “subjectivities,” including a signed application and
support from the entire “following market” of underwriters (i.e., the underwriters who shared the
risk with the lead underwriters under the same terms and conditions). Justin Whitehead, a broker
with the Lloyd’s-approved brokerage firm Heath Lambert, presented this information to Kelvin
Mercer, the underwriter with American Specialty Underwriters syndicate (ASU). 3 Mercer then
proposed a 50% return premium if no claims were made, to which Harrison agreed, subject to the
conditions in the May 14, 2001 proposal. On May 22, 2001, Whitehead sent an e-mail to Walter
Kerr, Abbott’s insurance broker in the United States, noting the 50% premium refund, and
adding that it was subject to “full market support” and submission of a signed and dated
application, among other things. Abbott agreed and paid the premium to the Underwriters in
early July 2001.
¶ 13 Greg Linder, Abbott’s vice president and treasurer, signed the final application on May
29, 2001. Helmuth Fendel, an Abbott employee, e-mailed Kerr the next day, stating that Linder
would be “signing the application today [sic]” and that Fendel would forward the application via
“Fedex” to Kerr. Fendel further confirmed that the April 24, 2001, application disclosed “all
3
The co-lead underwriter for the Abbott policies.
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known losses with a financial impact greater than $1,000,000,” and added, “We are unaware of
any other losses.” Kerr forwarded this e-mail to Heath Lambert on May 31, 2001.
¶ 14 On June 1, 2001, Mark Colgate (a broker with Heath Lambert), began showing an
endorsement form summarizing the new proposed terms to the various underwriters. At 7:58
p.m. (London time) on June 1, 2001, Colgate sent Kerr an e-mail informing him that: (1) Catlin
Underwriting Group syndicate had not agreed to the endorsement; (2) Mercer (the underwriter
with the ASU syndicate) was away and therefore did not sign the endorsement; and (3) the other
syndicates agreed to the endorsement but “ ‘subject to’ your information regarding the losses and
QA integration being signed by [Harrison] and [Mercer] *** – both have seen them but we do
not have them formally agreed yet.” Colgate’s e-mail added as a further point, “This is all still
subject to the application form being signed and dated--we need this asap [sic].”
¶ 15 The Wall Street Journal article
¶ 16 On June 1, 2001, an article appeared in the Wall Street Journal entitled “FDA Could
Make Abbott Pull Synthroid, Popular Thyroid Drug, From Market.” The first paragraph of the
article noted that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) told the manufacturers
of Synthroid that the medication had a “ ‘history of problems’ ” and could not be recognized as
“ ‘safe and effective.’ ” The next paragraph added that the drug had been on the market for 40
years but had never officially been approved for use by the FDA, and it would be subject to
regulatory action that could, “in the extreme, include removal from the market—a process that
could begin as early as August.” Finally, the article quoted an Abbott representative as saying:
(1) it believed it only had to submit its application to the FDA by August 14; (2) it was
“confident” the drug would be allowed to stay on the market; and (3) the FDA’s two most recent
inspections of its Synthroid plant found no violations in its manufacturing processes.
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¶ 17 At about 2:23 p.m. Chicago time (8:23 p.m. London time) on the same day that the Wall
Street Journal article appeared, Fendel sent an e-mail to Kerr advising him that Kerr and the
Underwriters should be aware of the article. Fendel did not attach a copy of the article or
describe its contents. At approximately 9:40 p.m. (London time), Kerr forwarded that e-mail to
Whitehead and Ted James, an underwriter with PIA underwriting syndicate. The e-mail to
Whitehead was automatically forwarded to Colgate at about the same time.
¶ 18 Abbott’s Press Release
¶ 19 Also on June 1, 2001, Abbott issued a press release addressing the Wall Street Journal
article. The press release stated that Synthroid was a safe and effective treatment for
hypothyroidism and that Abbott intended to submit a “New Drug Application” (NDA) to ensure
that the 8 million patients being treated with Synthroid had “continued access to their
medication.”
¶ 20 The Underwriters’ and Abbott’s Subsequent Communications
¶ 21 The following Monday (June 4, 2001), Colgate (Abbott’s London broker) replied to Kerr
stating that he could not access the article. Kerr responded with a copy of the article attached.
Colgate then asked Kerr to obtain written confirmation from Abbott whether the article was
“correct,” but Kerr responded that Abbott did not state that it was correct. Kerr later forwarded
Abbott’s press release to Colgate.
¶ 22 On June 5, 2001, Colgate e-mailed Kerr asking why Abbott did not include the
information from the article in either its April 24, 2001, application or May 31, 2001, e-mail.
Colgate also added that: he had not approached the “Catlin syndicate,” it was unlikely that the
group would agree to the endorsement, and that the XL Brockbank underwriting syndicate had
not yet agreed to the endorsement. Colgate further expressed his intention to show the
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Underwriters the “two [sic] news articles” the following day. Colgate stated that, if any
Underwriters who had placed a subjectivity to their agreement tried to cancel their endorsement,
Colgate would argue that they were “already on risk” and would await their reaction.
¶ 23 On June 6, 2011, Colgate gave Mercer (of the ASU syndicate) a copy of the Wall Street
Journal article, and Colgate began distributing the final application, including the article, to the
underwriters on the following day. Burkinshaw, an underwriter with Catlin, initialed the
endorsement form, but added a subjectivity that the additional premium must be paid by July 1,
2001. Harrison stated that, on June 7, 2001, after learning of the Wall Street Journal article, his
syndication group, Beazley, contacted attorney Michael Leahy to investigate Abbott’s
disclosures regarding Synthroid.
¶ 24 On June 8, 2001, Colgate spoke with Wright (the underwriter with XL Brockbank) about
the Abbott application. Before reviewing the Wall Street Journal article, Wright had removed
his prior subjectivity (requiring his speaking to Harrison) from the endorsement, but he reinstated
it after reviewing the article. Other underwriters, including Harrison, Mercer, and Burkinshaw,
initialed the endorsement and added the words “without prejudice.” The phrase “without
prejudice” meant either the underwriters were “not accepting the information,” they were
reserving their rights under the policy, or there was a subjectivity in place.
¶ 25 By July 1, 2001, the subjectivity placed by Wright—requiring a discussion with Harrison,
the lead underwriter—still had not been resolved. Whitehead, the Heath Lambert broker, then
asked Wright if Wright would allow the “Lloyd’s Policy Signing Office” (LPSO) to distribute
the pro rata portions of the additional premium to the other underwriters. Wright eventually
agreed, and the LPSO distributed the premium payments to the other underwriters for the first-
and second-layer policies on July 5, 2001. Those underwriters neither refused nor returned this
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additional premium. Leahy admitted that, by July 5, 2001, his clients had already formed a
belief that Abbott had concealed material facts from them. The third-layer underwriters
negotiated a revision to the endorsement to exclude any Synthroid-related claims (as to the third-
layer policies only), and they later accepted their pro rata share of the additional premium in
January 2002.
¶ 26 During August 2001, Leahy and Marc Rosenthal, Abbott’s outside counsel, discussed a
tolling agreement between the Underwriters and Abbott that would allow the parties to preserve
their rights with respect to any Synthroid-related claims. Abbott agreed, and the Underwriters 4
and Abbott executed the tolling agreement in October 2001.
¶ 27 The Meridia / Sibutramine Claim
¶ 28 On March 6, 2002, the Italian Ministry of Health announced the suspension of all sales
and marketing of sibutramine in Italy. The parties stipulated that this action (and the resulting
negative publicity) met the definition of “Accidental Contamination” under the policies. On
March 21, 2002, Eugene Bader, Abbott’s corporate risk management director, wrote to Robert
Stellar of McLarens Toplis North America, Inc., informing Stellar of a potential loss related to
Meridia (its sibutramine product) and asking Stellar to put Abbott’s insurers on notice of the
suspension. Abbott eventually submitted a claim under the policies for losses arising from the
Meridia suspension.
¶ 29 On May 16, 2003, Holland wrote to Fendel, informing him that the Underwriters were
cancelling the tolling agreement because Abbott had not fully responded to their document and
information request. Fendel replied three days later, asking Holland to specify what information
was still missing, but Holland did not respond. On June 2, 2003, plaintiffs filed a complaint for
4
The tolling agreement did not include the third-layer underwriters as a party to the
agreement.
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rescission against Abbott, which they amended on January 16, 2004. Abbott counterclaimed for
a declaratory judgment as to coverage, for breach of contract, and for vexatious delay damages.
¶ 30 The Liability Trial
¶ 31 The case was bifurcated into liability (rescission) and damages phases. The bench trial
on liability began on September 16, 2010.
¶ 32 Leahy testified that, before July 5, 2001 (when the Underwriters accepted the additional
premium payment), he knew the “regulatory situation” surrounding Synthroid after reading the
FDA materials, and he also knew that “some people within Abbott” also knew about the
regulatory situation with respect to Synthroid prior to the date of the Wall Street Journal article.
Leahy further confirmed that his clients had “formed a belief” prior to July 5, 2001, that Abbott
had concealed material facts from them. Fendel and Linder, however, both testified that they
were unaware of any situation that might lead to a claim under the policies.
¶ 33 The trial court found that the agreement with respect to the additional Knoll premium was
subject to “at least” the following: (i) receipt of a satisfactory signed and dated application; (ii)
full support of the “following market underwriters” for the proposed premium; (iii) receipt of the
additional premium by July 1, 2001; and (iv) confirmation of no additional claims or
notifications other than those in the unsigned application of April 24, 2001. The trial court
further found that Abbott timely and sufficiently disclosed Synthroid’s regulatory situation at the
time when it provided the Wall Street Journal article with its signed May 29, 2001, application.
In addition, the trial court observed that the Underwriters accepted the additional premium paid
by Abbott, notwithstanding the testimony of Abbott’s expert that the Underwriters could have
refused the additional premium if they were unsatisfied with the terms and conditions listed on
the endorsement. Accordingly, the court rejected the Underwriters’ rescission claim on the dual
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grounds that Abbott did not intentionally make a material misrepresentation in its application and
that the Underwriters ratified the Knoll endorsement, thus waiving any claim of rescission. The
trial court, however, rejected Abbott’s counterclaim for fees and costs grounded in the
Underwriters’ alleged vexatious and unreasonable conduct with respect to the Meridia claim,
finding that a bona fide coverage dispute existed with respect to Synthroid which, if proved,
would have voided the contract and excluded coverage for the Italian government-related
Meridia claim.
¶ 34 The Damages Trial
¶ 35 The Underwriters and Abbott each presented expert witnesses regarding the calculation
of damages. Both witnesses used regression models to calculate damages. Abbott’s expert, Dr.
Joel Hay, estimated Abbott’s losses at $155.2 million, including about $5.4 million in related
out-of-pocket expenses. The Underwriters’ expert, Dr. Gregory Bell, also concluded that Abbott
incurred $5.4 million in out-of-pocket expenses related to the removal of Meridia from the
Italian market. Dr. Bell’s model, however, excluded longer-term data, which resulted in a loss in
income of only $33.2 million.
¶ 36 The trial court issued a detailed written opinion, finding Dr. Hay more credible than Dr.
Bell and that Abbott’s lost profits were therefore $155.2 million. After applying the policies’
deductible and 10% coinsurance, the trial court found the Underwriters were liable for $84.5
million, the aggregate limit under the policies. The written opinion stated that a judgment in
favor of Abbott was “enter[ed] against Underwriters in the amount of $84,500,000.”
¶ 37 The Awards of Prejudgment and Postjudgment Interest
¶ 38 On May 31, 2013, Abbott filed a motion to amend the judgment to include an award of
prejudgment interest under the Illinois Interest Act (815 ILCS 205/2 (West 2012)). The trial
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court denied that motion in a written ruling. The court recounted that there was a four-day trial
solely to determine damages, that the evidence included an “analysis of math and econometric
concepts and calculations of global business losses,” and that the Underwriters’ and Abbott’s
experts provided different models to determine Abbott’s losses. The court concluded that the
damages were neither liquidated nor easily calculable, as would be necessary to impose
prejudgment interest, and denied Abbott’s request.
¶ 39 One week later, on June 24, 2013, the trial court entered a “final judgment,” awarding
Abbott $84.5 million (the limits of its coverage), approximately $2.8 million in recoverable
costs, and postjudgment interest at the rate of 9% per year beginning on May 21, 2013, pursuant
to section 2-1303 of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2-1303 (West 2012)).
¶ 40 This appeal and cross-appeal followed.
¶ 41 ANALYSIS
¶ 42 The Underwriters’ Claim for Rescission
¶ 43 The Underwriters first claim that the trial court erred in rejecting their claim for
rescission. Among other things, they claim that because Abbott lied on the application regarding
Synthroid risks, it cannot seek coverage for Meridia claims. The Underwriters argue that
“Abbott’s fraud in the application process” was “undeniably” shown in two circumstances: (i)
when it answered “No” to question 25 in its applications that asked whether Abbott or its
directors and officers had any knowledge of a fact or circumstance that might lead to a claim;
and (ii) when Abbott and its brokers “deliberately” withheld the Wall Street Journal article from
the Underwriters “until after they were bound to the Knoll risk.”
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¶ 44 Section 154 of the Illinois Insurance Code provides in relevant part as follows:
“No misrepresentation *** made by the insured or in his
behalf in the negotiation for a policy of insurance, or breach of a
condition of such policy shall defeat or avoid the policy *** unless
such misrepresentation *** shall have been stated *** in the
written application therefor. No such misrepresentation or false
warranty shall defeat or avoid the policy unless it shall have been
made with actual intent to deceive or materially affects either the
acceptance of the risk or the hazard assumed by the company.”
215 ILCS 5/154 (West 2010).
¶ 45 This law thus establishes two situations where insurance policies may be voided: where
the statement (1) is false and made with an intent to deceive, or (2) materially affects the
acceptance of the risk or hazard assumed by the insurer. Golden Rule Insurance Co. v. Schwartz,
203 Ill. 2d 456, 464 (2003). As a result, under the statute, even an innocent misrepresentation
can serve as the basis to void a policy. Id.
¶ 46 The parties agree that, where, as here, the insurance application includes “knowledge and
belief” language, it establishes a lesser standard of accuracy than that imposed under section 154,
and thus shifts the focus in a determination of the truth or falsity of an applicant’s statement from
an inquiry into whether the facts asserted were true, to the applicant’s actual knowledge and
belief. Id. at 466. This standard, however, does not completely foreclose review of the
applicant’s responses. Instead, the phrase “knowledge and belief” requires that “ ‘knowledge not
defy belief.’ ” Id. at 467 (quoting Skinner v. Aetna Life & Casualty, 804 F.2d 148, 151 (D.C.
Cir. 1986)).
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¶ 47 “In order for a plaintiff to prevail on a claim of fraudulent misrepresentation, he or she
must establish the following elements: (1) a false statement of material fact; (2) known or
believed to be false by the person making it; (3) an intent to induce the plaintiff to act; (4) action
by the plaintiff in justifiable reliance on the truth of the statement; and (5) damage to the plaintiff
resulting from such reliance.” Doe v. Dilling, 228 Ill. 2d 324, 342-43 (2008). The trial court, as
finder of fact, is in the best position to evaluate the conduct and demeanor of the witnesses; as
such, we must give great deference to its credibility determinations, and we may not substitute
our judgment for that of the trial court. Samour, Inc. v. Board of Election Commissioners, 224
Ill. 2d 530, 548 (2007). In addition, the resolution of inconsistencies and conflicts in testimony
are for the trier of fact. York v. Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, 222 Ill. 2d 147,
179 (2006).
¶ 48 Therefore, we defer to the trial court’s factual findings unless they are contrary to the
manifest weight of the evidence. Nokomis Quarry Co. v. Dietl, 333 Ill. App. 3d 480, 484 (2002).
A finding is against the manifest weight of the evidence only if the opposite conclusion is clearly
evident or if the finding itself is unreasonable, arbitrary, or not based on the evidence presented.
Best v. Best, 223 Ill. 2d 342, 350 (2006). In other words, if there is any evidence in the record to
support the trial court’s findings, we may not disturb its findings and judgment. Nokomis Quarry
Co., 333 Ill. App. 3d at 484.
¶ 49 In this case, there was ample evidence to support the trial court’s findings. The evidence
showed that Abbott’s insurance policies automatically covered the Knoll purchase—the only
matter remaining to be determined was the amount of the additional premium. Once a premium
had been established by the lead underwriter, an endorsement summarizing the revised terms was
circulated among the other participating underwriting syndicates. As the endorsement circulated,
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various underwriters initialed their agreement but with certain subjectivities, or conditions
precedent. Among them were the receipt of a complete and signed application, full support of
the “following market,” and payment of the additional premium by July 1. Abbott presented two
unsigned applications regarding the information with respect to Knoll; with its signed and
complete application, it included information regarding the Wall Street Journal article that had
appeared that day. At the time of the receipt of the application and article, there was neither full
following market support, nor had the premium been paid (as July 1 had not yet arrived).
¶ 50 Moreover, the trial court below properly found that Abbott had disclosed the article in a
timely manner. On the same day the article appeared, Abbott (through Fendel) notified its agent
in the United States, Kerr, who then forwarded that information immediately to the Lloyd’s-
approved broker in London (Heath Lambert). On these facts, we cannot say that the trial court’s
finding that Abbott did not intend to materially misrepresent the Synthroid regulatory status was
unreasonable, arbitrary, or not based on the evidence presented, or that the opposite conclusion is
clearly evident; as such, the trial court’s holding was not against the manifest weight of the
evidence. Best, 223 Ill. 2d at 350. Since there is “any evidence” in the record to support the trial
court’s findings, we may not disturb its findings and judgment. Nokomis Quarry Co., 333 Ill.
App. 3d at 484.
¶ 51 Whether The Underwriters Ratified Coverage and Waived Rescission
¶ 52 The Underwriters also contend that the trial court erred in finding that they ratified the
terms of the policies after the Knoll acquisition (and thus waived claims of rescission) when it
accepted the premiums. The Underwriters argue that they immediately voiced their concerns
with respect to the Synthroid regulatory status and began an investigation, but their investigation
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was delayed due to Abbott’s refusal to tender the Knoll due diligence documentation. The
Underwriters further claim that they entered into a tolling agreement to preserve their rights.
¶ 53 An insurer seeking to rescind an insurance contract based upon fraud or
misrepresentation must choose to do so promptly after learning of the alleged fraud or
misrepresentation. Lumbermen’s Mutual Casualty Co. v. Sykes, 384 Ill. App. 3d 207, 223
(2008). By not taking such necessary steps to set aside a claimed fraudulent agreement in a
timely manner, a party may be found to have ratified it and be barred from later attempting to
rescind it. Id. It is well established that waiver may be found where an insurer continues under
an insurance policy “ ‘when it knows, or in the exercise of ordinary diligence, could have known
the facts in question giving rise to the defense.’ ” American States Insurance Co. v. National
Cycle, Inc., 260 Ill. App. 3d 299, 306 (1994) (quoting Kenilworth Insurance Co. v. McDougal,
20 Ill. App. 3d 615, 620 (1974)). Strong proof is not required to establish a waiver of a policy
defense, but only such facts as would make it unjust, inequitable or unconscionable to allow the
defense to be asserted. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Gray, 211 Ill. App. 3d
617, 621 (1991). The parties agree that the trial court’s findings with respect to ratification and
waiver may not be disturbed unless it was against the manifest weight of the evidence. See
Swader v. Golden Rule Insurance Co., 203 Ill. App. 3d 697, 702 (1990).
¶ 54 Here, the Underwriters, when faced with what they believed was Abbott’s intentional
misrepresentation with respect to the Knoll acquisition, did not reject the terms of the
endorsement. They initially sought the due diligence materials with respect to the Knoll
acquisition, but when Abbott responded with a request that the Underwriters provide a more
focused and concise request, they did not respond to that request nor to Abbott’s invitation to
meet in person to discuss the issues regarding the Knoll acquisition. Instead, they went ahead
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and issued the insurance by accepting the premium. It is only when the magnitude of the
Meridia claim became apparent that the Underwriters then renewed their year-old request for the
Knoll due diligence documentation. In the exercise of ordinary diligence, the Underwriters
could have ascertained the pertinent facts regarding what Abbott knew about Synthroid’s
regulatory status, but instead, it did nothing. Waiver has been found under such circumstances.
See American States Insurance Co., 260 Ill. App. 3d at 306. On this issue, as well, we cannot
say that the trial court’s finding is unreasonable, arbitrary, or not based on the evidence, or that
the opposite conclusion is clearly evident; consequently, its finding was not against the manifest
weight of the evidence. Best, 223 Ill. 2d at 350.
¶ 55 The Underwriters claim, however, that it was only when Abbott tendered its Knoll due
diligence, including Exhibit 13.19, that they became aware that Abbott had known of the
Synthroid regulatory situation prior to June 1, 2001. Dr. Stewart Ehrreich, the Underwriters’
expert witness as to FDA regulatory matters, however, admitted that all relevant facts pertaining
to the Synthroid regulatory situation was contained in the Wall Street Journal article as well as
the publicly available information referenced in that article. In addition, the Underwriters’
attorney, Leahy, admitted at trial that he and the Underwriters knew prior to accepting the
premium on July 5 that Abbott was aware of the Knoll regulatory issues. We further note that
the Underwriters delayed requesting the due diligence documentation for Knoll for more than a
year, until shortly after the time that the Meridia claim arose. Finally, Exhibit 13.19 is not the
“smoking gun” the Underwriters portray it to be: It contains no additional information not
already set forth in the Wall Street Journal article. The Underwriters’ argument on this point is
therefore meritless.
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¶ 56 The Underwriters’ Motion to Compel Production of Privileged Documents
¶ 57 The Underwriters next contend that the trial court erred in denying their motion to
compel the production of certain privileged documents to aid in their cross-examination of
Michael Skweres, a potential expert witness.
¶ 58 Even assuming, arguendo, that the trial court erred in denying the motion to compel, the
Underwriters suffered no prejudice. Skweres’s testimony only concerned the preparation of a
proof of loss for Abbott’s Meridia claim, which was rendered superfluous when the Underwriters
decided to deny coverage and seek rescission based upon an alleged fraudulent
misrepresentation. “[W]here an insurer’s denial of liability for a loss claimed by an insured is
based upon grounds other than the insured’s failure to file a proof of loss, the insurer has waived
or rendered unnecessary compliance with the proof of loss requirement in the policy.” Gray, 211
Ill. App. 3d at 621. Skweres’s testimony was solely factual in nature. To the extent that the
Underwriters claim that Skweres rendered expert testimony, their claim is without merit for two
reasons. First, the Underwriters admitted at trial that Skweres did not render expert testimony
during his direct examination, so they cannot now complain that he did. See Meyers v. Woods,
374 Ill. App. 3d 440, 448 (2007) (holding that, where the defendant agreed at trial with the trial
court’s statement that the claims were based on contract and not negligence, the defendant
waived the contention that it was error for the trial court to do so). Second, they forfeited this
issue for failure to raise it following their cross-examination. See Wheeler-Dealer, Ltd. v. Christ,
379 Ill. App. 3d 864, 870 (2008) (holding that the failure to renew an objection when allegedly
improper evidence is offered at trial results in a waiver of any challenge to the trial court’s
consideration of that evidence). We therefore reject the Underwriters’ claim of error.
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¶ 59 Postjudgment Interest
¶ 60 Finally, the Underwriters appeal from the trial court’s award of $739,375 in postjudgment
interest in favor of Abbott. This amount represents about a month’s worth of interest on the
judgment. The month in question ran from May 20, 2012 (the date of the damages award) to
June 18, 2012 (the date the court ruled on Abbott’s motion to amend the damages award to
include prejudgment interest). The Underwriters contend that the trial court should not have
awarded postjudgment interest earlier than June 18, 2012, because Abbott’s request for
prejudgment interest was still an outstanding claim that made the May judgment nonfinal and not
subject to the accrual of interest.
¶ 61 Section 2-1303 of the Code of Civil Procedure (Code) provides in relevant part:
“Judgments recovered in any court shall draw interest at the rate of
9% per annum from the date of the judgment until satisfied ***.
When judgment is entered upon any award, *** interest shall be
computed at the above rate, from the time when made or rendered
to the time of entering judgment upon the same, and included in
the judgment.” 735 ILCS 5/2-1303 (West 2012).
¶ 62 The trial court has no discretion to deny postjudgment interest, as the imposition of
statutory interest from the date the final judgment was entered is mandatory. Longo v. Globe
Auto Recycling, Inc., 318 Ill. App. 3d 1028, 1039 (2001). The Underwriters further agree that
section 2-1303 mandates the accrual of interest “notwithstanding the prosecution of an appeal, or
other steps to reverse, vacate or modify the judgment.” 735 ILCS 5/2-1303 (West 2012).
¶ 63 Andrews v. Kowa Printing Corp., 351 Ill. App. 3d 668 (2004), provides guidance on this
issue. In Andrews, the plaintiffs moved for an award of attorney fees and prejudgment interest
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on April 30, 2003. Id. at 672. On September 29, 2003, the trial court entered the final judgment,
which incorporated its findings from its earlier April 21, 2003, decision (that found in favor of
the plaintiffs) and added prejudgment interest from April 21, 2003, to September 29, 2003. Id.
On appeal, the Andrews court affirmed the trial court’s decision, stating, “The trial court’s
decision, reflected in an 11-page written opinion dated April 21, 2003, was an ‘award, report, or
verdict’ within the meaning of [section 2-1303 of] the Code; thus, the trial court was correct in
awarding interest from April 21, 2003.” Id. at 683.
¶ 64 With respect to this issue, the facts of this case are virtually indistinguishable from
Andrews. Here, the last page of the trial court’s written opinion dated May 20, 2013, awarded
Abbott its policy limits of $84.5 million, is entitled “Judgment,” and is also an award, report, or
verdict under section 2-1303. Although the Underwriters assert in reply that Andrews is
distinguishable because “the interest claimed and awarded was after a written judgment had been
entered but before the final ‘wrap up’ judgment,” we fail to see that distinction—the trial court’s
order awarding Abbott its postjudgment interest was also entered after the initial award. In any
event, Andrews does not include any such factual limitation within its holding.
¶ 65 Abbott’s Cross-Appeal
¶ 66 Abbott cross-appeals both the trial court’s rejection of its counterclaim for vexatious
delay and the denial of its request for prejudgment interest. With respect to the vexatious delay
claim, Abbott argues that the trial court erred in denying its counterclaim for damages composed
of attorney fees and costs, arising from the Underwriters’ purported “vexatious and
unreasonable” handling of the Meridia claim. Abbott claims that the trial court “did not give due
weight to its own many factual findings” in rejecting Abbott’s counterclaim because the
Underwriters had all of the information regarding the Synthroid regulatory situation by early July
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2001 but kept the additional premium payment and allegedly “resurrect[ed]” this matter upon
learning of the magnitude of the Meridia claim.
¶ 67 Section 155(1) of the Illinois Insurance Act provides in part as follows:
“In any action by or against a company wherein there is in issue
the liability of a company on *** policies of insurance ***, and it
appears to the court that such action or delay is vexatious and
unreasonable, the court may allow as part of the taxable costs in
the action reasonable attorney fees, [and] other costs ***.” 215
ILCS 5/155(1) (West 2010).
¶ 68 The determination of whether an insurer’s conduct violates section 155 requires a trial
court to consider the totality of the circumstances. Golden Rule Insurance Co., 203 Ill. 2d at
469. Delay in settling a claim may not violate the statute if there is a bona fide dispute over
coverage. Id. The award of fees under section 155 of the Illinois Insurance Code is a matter
within the sound discretion of the trial court, and we will not disturb the trial court’s decision on
absent an abuse of discretion. Buckner v. Causey, 311 Ill. App. 3d 139, 150 (1999). A court
abuses its discretion only where its ruling is arbitrary, fanciful, or unreasonable, or where no
reasonable person would adopt the court’s view. TruServ Corp. v. Ernst & Young LLP, 376 Ill.
App. 3d 218, 227 (2007).
¶ 69 Here, the trial court’s denial was not an abuse of discretion. Although the Underwriters
lost their claim for rescission before the trial court, which we have now upheld on appeal, we
nevertheless hold that this case presented a bona fide dispute. We recognize that the
Underwriters’ claim centered on the application disclosures related to Synthroid, not Meridia.
Had the Underwriters’ claim prevailed, however, they would have been granted rescission and
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would not have been required to pay the Meridia claim. See Weinstein v. Metropolitan Life
Insurance Co., 389 Ill. 571, 578-79 (1945) (“That an ailment or malady, knowledge of which an
applicant withheld from an insurer, was not actually the cause of death is not decisive against a
finding of materiality. Materiality to risk may exist notwithstanding proof of fatality owing to
another cause.”). Based upon our review of the record, as well as the trial court’s detailed
opinion, we cannot say that its decision was arbitrary, fanciful, or unreasonable, or where no
reasonable person would adopt the court’s view. TruServ Corp., 376 Ill. App. 3d at 227. As
such, the trial court’s decision to deny additional damages was not an abuse of discretion.
¶ 70 Abbott next contends that it is entitled to prejudgment interest because the amount of
damages was easily calculable in the sense that the claimed amount of its loss always exceeded
the policy limits. Therefore, according to Abbott, it is entitled to prejudgment interest on the
$84,500,000 policy limit. The Underwriters respond that the amount at issue was far from
readily determined, and thus the trial court properly denied the request for prejudgment interest.
¶ 71 Section 2 of the Interest Act, (815 ILCS 205/2 (West 2010)) states in relevant part that
creditors shall receive an additional 5% per year for all moneys due on any “instrument of
writing.” An insurance policy is a written instrument covered by this statute. Marcheschi v.
Illinois Farmers Insurance Co., 298 Ill. App. 3d 306, 314 (1998). “In order to recover
prejudgment interest, the amount due must be liquidated or subject to an easy determination.”
Santa’s Best Craft, L.L.C. v. Zurich American Insurance Co., 408 Ill. App. 3d 173, 191 (2010).
“[I]f judgment, discretion, or opinion, as distinguished from calculation or computation is
required to determine the amount of the claim, it is unliquidated.” (Internal quotation marks
omitted.) Dallis v. Don Cunningham & Associates, 11 F.3d 713, 719 (7th Cir. 1993). The award
of prejudgment interest under section 2 of the Interest Act is reviewed for an abuse of discretion.
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Marcheschi, 298 Ill. App. 3d at 313. As noted above, we will find an abuse of discretion only
where the trial court’s ruling is arbitrary, fanciful, or unreasonable, or where no reasonable
person would adopt the court’s view. TruServ Corp., 376 Ill. App. 3d at 227.
¶ 72 The trial court did not abuse its discretion on this issue. Evidence was heard over four
days solely on the issue of damages. Testimony included expert witnesses who presented
individual regression analyses supported by various econometric models to determine the
amount of future lost income that Abbott suffered from the recall of Meridia in Italy, as well as
the decrease in worldwide income from Meridia resulting from the ensuing negative publicity.
The Underwriters’ and Abbott’s experts reached wildly differing conclusions: Abbott’s expert
estimated losses at over $150 million (well in excess of the policy limits), but the Underwriters’
expert estimated losses at “only” $33 million (well within the policy limits). Although the trial
court ultimately sided with Abbott’s expert, Abbott points to nothing in the record—and we see
nothing in the 119-volume record—establishing that the Underwriters’ expert’s much lower
damages estimate was patently unreasonable.
¶ 73 CONCLUSION
¶ 74 For these reasons, the trial court’s finding against the Underwriters as to their rescission
claim was not against the manifest weight of the evidence, nor was its finding that the
Underwriters ratified coverage and waived rescission. In addition, the trial court’s denial of the
Underwriters’ motion to compel the production of certain privileged documents was not
erroneous, and in any event, any purported error was not prejudicial to the Underwriters. We
further hold that the trial court did not err in setting the date from which postjudgment interest to
Abbott would accrue. Finally, neither the trial court’s rejection of Abbott’s counterclaim for
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vexatious delay nor its rejection of Abbott’s request for prejudgment interest was an abuse of
discretion. Accordingly, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.
¶ 75 Affirmed.
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