James G. Davis Construction Corp. v. Erie Insurance Exchange

REPORTED
IN THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS
OF MARYLAND
No. 802
September Term, 2014
JAMES G. DAVIS CONSTRUCTION
CORPORATION
v.
ERIE INSURANCE EXCHANGE
Meredith,
Berger,
Leahy,
JJ.
Opinion by Berger, J.
Filed: October 28, 2015
This appeal arises out of an order of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County,
entered on May 30, 2014, granting a motion for summary judgment filed by Erie Insurance
Exchange (“Erie”). The circuit court further denied a motion for partial summary judgment
filed by James G. Davis Construction Corporation (“Davis”). In granting Erie’s motion for
summary judgment, the circuit court found that Erie did not have a duty to defend Davis in
a tort suit filed in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, despite the fact that Davis
was listed as an “additional insured” on an insurance policy issued by Erie to Erie’s
subcontractor, Tricon Construction, Inc. (“Tricon”).
On appeal, Davis presents one issue for our review, which we have rephrased as
follows:
Whether the circuit court erred in granting Erie’s motion for
summary judgment and denying Davis’s motion for partial
summary judgment.
For the reasons that follow, we reverse the judgment entered by the Circuit Court for
Montgomery County and remand this case to the Circuit Court for Montgomery County for
additional proceedings consistent with this opinion.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
I. Subcontract Agreement and Indemnification
In 2009, Davis served as the general contractor for a home construction project in
Washington, D.C. (the “Project”). On January 6, 2009, Davis subcontracted Tricon to
provide drywall, insulation, and fireplace services on the Project. The terms of the
subcontract agreement between Davis and Tricon (the “Subcontract Agreement”), as
amended on January 22, 2009, provided that:
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable state law [Tricon]
shall indemnify, save harmless [Davis] . . . from any and all
claims, and liabilities for property and personal injury, including
death, arising out of or resulting from or in connection with any
negligent act or omission of [Tricon], its sub-subcontractors,
vendors or anyone else for whom [Tricon] is responsible in the
execution of the work, whether or not caused in part by the
active or passive negligence or other fault of a party indemnified
hereunder.
The Subcontract Agreement further provided that this indemnity “shall be insured from an
acceptable insurance carrier with minimum A.M. Best rating of A, naming [Davis] as an
additional insured by ISO form CG 2010, 11/89 edition endorsement or equivalent . . . .”
Pursuant to the Subcontract Agreement, Tricon was to indemnify Davis for up to $1,000,000
per occurrence and up to $2,000,000 in the aggregate for all work performed on the Project.
Upon execution of the Subcontract Agreement, Tricon presented Davis with a
certificate of liability insurance as proof that it had procured insurance coverage for Davis
as required by the Subcontract Agreement. Attached to the certificate of liability insurance
was an additional insured endorsement (the “Certificate Additional Insured Endorsement”).
Read together, these documents provided that Tricon was issued a commercial general
liability policy by Erie (the “Policy”) and that Davis was named as an additional insured on
the Policy. The Certificate Additional Insured Endorsement provided the following:
A. Section II - Who is an insured is amended to include as an
insured the person or organization shown in the Schedule, but
only with respect to liability arising out of [Tricon’s] ongoing
operations performed for that insured.
2
B. With respect to the insurance afforded to these additional
insureds, the following exclusion is added:
2. Exclusions
This insurance does not apply to “bodily injury” or
“property damage” occurring after:
(1) All work, including materials, parts or
equipment furnished in connection with such
work, on the project (other than service,
maintenance or repairs) to be performed by or on
behalf of the additional insured(s) at the site of
the covered operations has been completed; or
(2) That portion of “[Tricon’s] work” out of
which the injury or damage arises has been put to
its intended use by any person or organization
other than another contractor or subcontractor
engaged in performing operations for a principal
as a part of the same project.
The Certificate Additional Insured Endorsement also included a schedule, listing Davis an
additional insured under the Policy.
The Policy actually issued to Tricon, however, included an additional insured
endorsement (the “Policy Additional Insured Endorsement”) with slightly different terms
from those in the Certificate Additional Insured Endorsement. The Policy Additional Insured
Endorsement provided as follows:
A. Section II - Who Is An Insured is amended to include as an
additional insured the person(s) or organization(s) shown in the
Schedule, but only with respect to liability for “bodily injury,”
“property damage” or “personal and advertising injury”
caused, in whole or in part, by:
1. [Tricon’s] acts or omissions; or
3
2. The acts or omissions of those acting on [Tricon’s] behalf;
in the performance of [Tricon’s] ongoing operations for the
additional insured(s) at the location(s) designated above.
B. With respect to the insurance afforded to these additional
insureds, the following additional exclusions apply:
This insurance does not apply to “bodily injury” or “property
damage” occurring after:
1. All work, including materials, parts or equipment
furnished in connection with such work on the project
(other than service, maintenance or repairs) to be
performed by or on behalf of the additional insured(s) at
the location of the covered operations has been
completed; or
2. That portion of “[Tricon’s] work” out of which the injury
or damage arises has been put to its intended use by any
person or organization other than another contractor or
subcontractor engaged in performing operations for a
principal as a part of the same project.
(emphasis added). The Policy Additional Insured Endorsement further referred to a set of
declarations within the Policy. One such declaration, effective January 22, 2009, indicated
that Davis was added onto the Policy as an additional insured.1
1
While we predominately refer to Davis as an “additional insured” under the Policy,
Davis also qualifies as an “insured” as defined by the Policy. The Policy provides that “[t]he
word ‘insured’ means any person or organization qualifying as such under Section II - Who
Is An Insured.” The terms of the Policy Additional Insured Endorsement amend Section II
of the Policy to include Davis as an “insured,” subject to certain restrictions in coverage that
do not apply to other “insureds.” Davis’s status as an “additional insured,” therefore, makes
it part of a subset within the larger category of “insureds.”
4
II. Tort Litigation
As part of its work on the Project, Tricon erected a scaffold, which it owned, at the
site of the Project’s construction. Another of Davis’s subcontractors, American Mechanical
Services, subcontracted Frost Fire Insulation (“Frost Fire”) to perform air conditioning and
insulation work on the Project. On September 24, 2009, two employees of Frost Fire were
using Tricon’s scaffold to complete their work on the Project when the scaffold collapsed,
injuring the two Frost Fire employees. The injured Frost Fire employees alleged that they
were authorized to use Tricon’s scaffold and were assured by Davis that the scaffolding was
safe and secure.
The two injured Frost Fire employees filed suit against Tricon and Davis in the Circuit
Court for Prince George’s County (the “Tort Litigation”). The Frost Fire employees alleged
one count of negligence against Tricon and one count of negligence against Davis. After
being served with the Frost Fire employees’ complaint, Davis notified Erie of the Tort
Litigation and tendered its defense to Erie. Erie, however, declined to assume Davis’s
defense. Erie claimed that the Policy did not cover Davis, as an additional insured, for
Davis’s own negligent acts.
III. Breach of Contract Litigation
On June 5, 2013, Davis filed a complaint in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County
alleging that Erie breached its contract with Davis by failing to honor its duty to defend and
5
indemnify Davis in the Tort Litigation. Davis claimed that the terms of the Policy required
Erie to defend Davis in the underlying litigation. Furthermore, Davis requested a declaratory
judgment from the circuit court that would declare that Davis is entitled to a defense from
Erie in the Tort Litigation; that Davis is entitled to indemnity from Erie with respect to all
costs, fees, expenses, settlements and/or judgments paid for or incurred by Davis in the Tort
Litigation; that Davis is entitled to reimbursement from Erie for all attorneys’ fees Davis
incurred defending against the Tort Litigation; and that Davis is entitled to reimbursement
from Erie for all attorneys’ fees Davis incurred in its lawsuit against Erie.
On February 10, 2014, Davis filed a motion for partial summary judgment in which
it alleged that Erie had a duty to defend Davis in the Tort Litigation. Davis asserted that it
was added to the Policy as an additional insured and that the claims asserted against it in the
Tort Litigation were covered by the Policy. Davis, therefore, claimed that Erie’s duty to
defend Davis was triggered by the complaint in the Tort Litigation. On February 25, 2014,
Erie filed an opposition to Davis’s motion for partial summary judgment that also functioned
as a cross-motion for summary judgment.
The circuit court heard the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment on April 23,
2014 and issued an oral opinion and order on the motions on May 27, 2014. The court
denied Davis’s motion for partial summary judgment and granted summary judgment in favor
of Erie. In its oral opinion and order, the court, finding no genuine dispute of material fact,
concluded that Davis was covered by the Policy as an additional insured. The court further
6
found that Erie did not have a duty to defend Davis in the Tort Litigation because the Policy
did not cover Davis for Davis’s own negligence, and the complaint in the Tort Litigation
“contain[ed] a separate allegation of negligence against Davis for Davis’[s] own acts or
omissions.” Ultimately, the circuit court concluded that the Policy only covered Davis for
claims of vicarious liability “arising out of Tricon’s performance.”2 Additionally, the court
found that Davis did not qualify for coverage under the Policy as an “indemnitee.”3
2
In its May 27, 2014 oral opinion and order, the circuit court explicitly acknowledged
that the parties disputed whether the Certificate Additional Insured Endorsement could be
considered part of the Policy that Erie actually issued to Tricon. Nevertheless, the court
analyzed the scope of coverage of the Policy by exclusively referring to the terms of the
Certificate Additional Insured Endorsement, without ever mentioning the differing terms of
the Policy Additional Insured Endorsement.
3
The Policy is structured such that Erie has a duty to defend and indemnify its
“insured.” Before the circuit court, the parties did not dispute that Davis was added to the
Policy as an “additional insured.” The terms of the Policy Additional Insured Endorsement
amend the Policy such that the parties named as “additional insureds,” like Davis, are
encompassed by the term “insured” as used throughout the Policy. The Policy Additional
Insured Endorsement, however, does place some restrictions on “additional insureds” to
which other “insureds” are not subject.
Furthermore, if Erie defends an insured “against a ‘suit’ and an indemnitee of the
insured is also named as a party to the ‘suit’ [then Erie] will defend that indemnitee”
provided a list of conditions are met. Erie, therefore, may have a duty, by virtue of the
Policy, to defend and indemnify a party who does not qualify as an “insured” under the terms
of the Policy.
Critically, Davis did not argue before the circuit court that it was basing its request for
Erie to defend it by virtue of its status as an indemnitee. Nevertheless, the circuit court
found, sua sponte, that Erie was not obligated to defend or indemnify Davis as an
“indemnitee of the insured.” Neither party challenges the validity of this finding on appeal.
In any event, this finding is rendered moot by our holding that Erie is obliged to defend Davis
by virtue of Davis’ status as an “additional insured.” See Part II(C), infra. Accordingly, it
(continued...)
7
This timely appeal followed.
DISCUSSION
I. Standard of Review
The entry of summary judgment is governed by Maryland Rule 2-501, which provides:
The court shall enter judgment in favor of or against the moving
party if the motion and response show that there is no genuine
dispute as to any material fact and that the party in whose favor
judgment is entered is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
Md. Rule 2-501(f).
The Court of Appeals has explained the standard of review of a trial court’s grant of
a motion for summary judgment as follows:
On review of an order granting summary judgment, our analysis
“begins with the determination [of] whether a genuine dispute
of material fact exists; only in the absence of such a dispute will
we review questions of law.” D’Aoust v. Diamond, 424 Md.
549, 574, 36 A.3d 941, 955 (2012) (quoting Appiah v. Hall, 416
Md. 533, 546, 7 A.3d 536, 544 (2010)); O’Connor v. Balt.
Cnty., 382 Md. 102, 110, 854 A.2d 1191, 1196 (2004). If no
genuine dispute of material fact exists, this Court determines
“whether the Circuit Court correctly entered summary judgment
as a matter of law.” Anderson v. Council of Unit Owners of the
Gables on Tuckerman Condo., 404 Md. 560, 571, 948 A.2d 11,
18 (2008) (citations omitted). Thus, “[t]he standard of review
of a trial court's grant of a motion for summary judgment on the
law is de novo, that is, whether the trial court's legal conclusions
were legally correct.” D’Aoust, 424 Md. at 574, 36 A.3d at 955.
3
(...continued)
would be premature for us to opine in this case whether Davis qualifies as an indemnitee or
what rights may flow as a result of that status. We, therefore, confine our analysis on appeal
to the question presented by Davis relating to its status as an “additional insured.”
8
Koste v. Town of Oxford, 431 Md. 14, 24-25, 63 A.3d 582, 589 (2013).
We are “obliged to conduct an independent review of the record to determine if there
is a dispute of material fact.” Injured Workers’ Ins. Fund v. Orient Express Delivery Serv.,
Inc., 190 Md. App. 438, 450-51, 988 A.2d 1120, 1127 (2010) (citing Wells Fargo Home
Mortgage, Inc. v. Neal, 398 Md. 705, 714, 922 A.2d 538 (2007)). “A material fact is one that
will alter the outcome of the case, depending upon how the fact-finder resolves the dispute.”
Id. at 451 (citing Berringer v. Steele, 133 Md. App. 442, 470-71, 758 A.2d 574 (2000)
(citations omitted)). “Mere general allegations of conclusory assertions will not suffice.”
Id. (citing Beatty v. Trailmaster Prods., Inc., 330 Md. 726, 738, 625 A.2d 1005 (1993)).
II. Erie’s Duty to Defend Davis as an “Additional Insured”
The issues presented in the instant case hinge, in some part, on this Court’s
interpretation of the terms of the Policy issued by Erie to Tricon, to which Davis was added
as an additional insured. When it comes to the interpretation of the terms of an insurance
contract, “Maryland does not follow the rule, adopted in many jurisdictions, that an insurance
policy is to be construed most strongly against the insurer.” Bausch & Lomb Inc. v. Utica
Mut. Ins. Co., 330 Md. 758, 779 (1993) (citing Cheney v. Bell National Life, 315 Md. 761,
766 (1989)). Rather, “the terms of an insurance contract are to be interpreted utilizing
well-established principles that guide the interpretation of contracts generally.” Kendall v.
Nationwide Ins. Co., 348 Md. 157, 166 (1997) (citing Pac. Indem. Co. v. Interstate Fire &
Cas. Co., 302 Md. 383, 388 (1985)). “Where terms are ambiguous, extrinsic and parol
9
evidence may be considered to ascertain the intentions of the parties.” Sullins v. Allstate Ins.
Co., 340 Md. 503, 508 (1995) (citing Cheney, supra, 315 Md. at 766-67). “If no extrinsic
or parol evidence is introduced, or if the ambiguity remains after consideration of extrinsic
or parol evidence that is introduced, it will be construed against the insurer as the drafter of
the instrument.” Cheney, supra, 315 Md. at 767 (citing Pac. Indem., supra, 302 Md. at 388-
89).
Under Maryland law, when determining whether an insurer is under a duty to defend
its insured, a court must answer two questions: “(1) what is the coverage and what are the
defenses under the terms and requirements of the insurance policy? [and] (2) do the
allegations in the tort action potentially bring the tort claim within the policy's coverage?”
Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Cochran, 337 Md. 98, 103-04 (1995) (quoting St. Paul Fire &
Marine Ins. Co. v. Pryseski, 292 Md. 187, 193 (1981)). “The first question focuses upon the
language and requirements of the policy, and the second question focuses on the allegations
of the tort suit.” Capital City Real Estate, LLC v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s London,
Subscribing to Policy Number: ARTE018240, 788 F.3d 375, 379 (4th Cir. 2015) (quoting St.
Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Pryseski, supra, 292 Md. at 193).
Critically, “[e]ven if a tort plaintiff does not allege facts which clearly bring the claim
within or without the policy coverage, the insurer still must defend if there is a potentiality
that the claim could be covered by the policy.” Brohawn v. Transamerica Ins. Co., 276 Md.
396, 408 (1975) (citing U.S. Fid. & Guar. Co. v. Nat'l Paving & Contracting Co., 228 Md.
1040, 54 (1962)). Furthermore, “[i]f there is any doubt as to whether there is a duty to defend,
it is resolved in favor of the insured.” Walk v. Hartford Cas. Ins. Co., 382 Md. 1, 16 (2004)
(citing Aetna Cas., supra, 337 Md. at 107).
On appeal, and in its motion for partial summary judgment, Davis contends that the
terms of the Policy required Erie to assume Davis’s defense in the Tort Litigation. In
analyzing this claim, we turn our attention to the terms of the Policy and the scope of
coverage it affords. First, we must resolve the discrepancy between the Certificate
Additional Insured Endorsement and the Policy Additional Insured Endorsement to
determine what the Policy actually provides regarding “additional insureds.”
A. Effect of Certificate of Insurance
The United States District Court for the District of Maryland examined a similar issue
in the case of G.E. Tignall & Co. v. Reliance Nat. Ins. Co., 102 F. Supp. 2d 300 (D. Md.
2000). In Tignall, a general contractor agreed to have a subcontractor perform lead paint
abatement work on a school renovation project. Id. at 301. The general contractor required
the subcontractor to maintain liability insurance related to lead paint abatement at the school,
so the subcontractor presented the general contractor with a certificate of insurance. Id. The
certificate of insurance described a number of insurance policies procured for the
subcontractor by an independent insurance broker. Id. The certificate identified the general
contractor as “an additional insured for liability incurred because of the lead abatement work
at the school.” Id. When a student at the school sued the general contractor for alleged lead
11
poisoning during the renovation period, the subcontractor’s insurer refused to defend and
indemnify the general contractor, claiming that its policy only required it to defend the
general contractor “where [the subcontractor’s] own operations were alleged as the basis of
liability.” Id. at 302.
The general contractor in Tignall alleged that its subcontractor’s insurer had a duty
to defend the general contractor against the lead poisoning suit based on the certificate of
insurance the subcontractor had presented to the general contractor. Id. at 302-03. The court
in Tignall, however, found that the terms of the certificate of insurance were not binding on
the subcontractor’s insurer because “[o]rdinarily, the presentation of a certificate alone does
not create coverage or legal duties.” Id. at 304. The Tignall court highlighted the fact that
the certificate was not prepared by the subcontractor’s insurer, but rather by an independent
insurance broker, so its terms could not bind the insurer. Id. at 303.
Similarly, in the instant case, the certificate of liability insurance that Tricon presented
to Davis upon execution of the Subcontract Agreement was not produced by Erie, but rather
was produced by V W Brown Insurance Service, an independent insurance broker. The text
of the certificate of liability insurance in the instant case further provides that “THIS
CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED AS A MATTER OF INFORMATION ONLY AND . . . DOES
NOT AMEND, EXTEND OR ALTER THE COVERAGE AFFORDED BY THE POLICIES
BELOW.” In light of these facts, we hold that the terms of the Certificate Additional Insured
Endorsement are not a part of the Policy and, therefore, are not binding on Erie.
12
Nevertheless, for the reasons that follow, we hold that Erie is bound to the terms of
the Policy Additional Insured Endorsement, which constitute part of the Policy. Accordingly,
the circuit court erred by exclusively analyzing the scope of coverage afforded by the Policy
under the terms of the Certificate Additional Insured Endorsement.
B. Scope of Coverage Afforded to Davis by the Policy
Having determined which terms comprise the Policy, we now turn our attention to
analyzing the scope of insurance coverage provided by those terms. The circuit court found
that the Policy did not cover Davis for Davis’s own negligence, but rather for “the acts or
omissions of the named insured -- that is Tricon -- or the acts or omissions of those acting
on the named insured’s behalf during ongoing operations for the additional insured.” The
circuit court, therefore, concluded that the terms of the Policy only covered Davis for claims
of vicarious liability based on the actions of Tricon as Davis’s subcontractor.
In analyzing the scope of coverage afforded by the Policy, the circuit court explicitly
relied on two cases: G.E. Tignall & Co., Inc. v. Reliance National Insurance Co., supra, and
Baltimore Gas & Elec. Co. v. Commercial Union Ins. Co., 113 Md. App. 540, 546 (1997).
Both Tignall and Baltimore Gas deal with factual situations similar to the instant case, in
which a general contractor is added to the insurance policy of a subcontractor as an additional
insured but the insurer refuses to defend the general contractor in a tort suit. See Tignall,
supra, 102 F. Supp. 2d at 301-02; and Baltimore Gas, supra, 113 Md. App. at 546-552.
Nevertheless, Tignall and Baltimore Gas are not directly applicable to the instant case
13
because the terms of the additional insured endorsements in both cases materially differ from
the language of the applicable Policy Additional Insured Endorsement in the instant case.
The additional insured endorsements in Tignall and Baltimore Gas mirror the
language of the Certificate Additional Insured Endorsement in the instant case in that they
limit coverage for the additional insured to “liability arising out of” Tricon’s work on the
Project. As previously discussed, the Certificate Additional Insured Endorsement is not part
of the Policy and is therefore not binding on Erie in the instant case. Accordingly, we must
analyze the Policy’s scope of coverage using the terms of the Policy Additional Insured
Endorsement, which limits coverage for the additional insured to “liability for ‘bodily injury’,
‘property damage’ or ‘personal and advertising injury’ caused, in whole or in part, by”
Tricon’s work on the Project.
Both the Certificate Additional Insured Endorsement and the Policy Additional
Insured Endorsement are standard form endorsements published by the Insurance Services
Office, Inc. (“ISO”), an industry-supported organization that develops standard insurance
policies. 4 Philip L. Bruner & Patrick J. O’Connor, Jr., Bruner and O’Connor on
Construction Law § 11:6 (2010). The Certificate Additional Insured Endorsement uses the
terms of the ISO’s standard form additional insured endorsement from the year 2000. The
Policy Additional Insured Endorsement uses the terms of the ISO’s standard form additional
insured endorsement as revised in 2004.
14
Although Maryland courts have not had an opportunity to analyze an insurance policy
utilizing the “caused, in whole or in part, by” language of the Policy Additional Insured
Endorsement, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals recently analyzed language akin to the
Policy Additional Insured Endorsement in the Policy issued to Tricon in this case. In Capital
City Real Estate, LLC v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s London, Subscribing to Policy
Number: ARTE018240, supra, 788 F.3d at 379-380, the Endorsement was copyrighted by
ISO and explicitly covered Capital City (a real estate development company) as an additional
insured for a renovation project, “but only with respect to liability for . . . ‘property damage’
. . . caused in whole or in part by [a subcontractor’s] acts or omissions; or [t]he acts or
omissions of those acting on [the subcontractor’s] behalf.” Id.
Recognizing that the “Maryland Court of Appeals has not construed the Endorsement
language presented,” the Fourth Circuit expressly held that the language is quite clear that
coverage is provided for the real estate development company, an additional insured, for
“property damages . . . caused in whole or in part by” the subcontractor. Id. Thus, the Fourth
Circuit construed the similar Endorsement language at issue here to mean that an insurer has
a duty to defend an additional insured “only if the underlying pleadings allege that” the
named insured, “or someone acting on its behalf, proximately caused” the injury or damage.
Id. (quoting Gilbane Bldg. Co. v. Admiral Ins. Co., 664 F.3d 589, 598 (5th Cir. 2011).
Notably, the “liability . . . caused, in whole or in part, by” language used in the Policy
Additional Insured Endorsement indicates that the coverage afforded to Davis, as an
15
additional insured, cannot be limited exclusively to claims of vicarious liability for Tricon’s
acts. In our view, it is unreasonable to interpret the term “liability” as used in the 2004
version of the ISO standard form additional insured endorsement as referring to “vicarious
liability” because vicarious liability is an all or nothing proposition and thus a party could not
be vicariously liable ‘in part’ for [the named insured’s] acts.
This Court has defined “vicarious liability” as “the attribution of a wrongdoer’s
actions to an innocent third party by virtue of the relationship between the wrongdoer and the
third party.” Rivera v. Prince George's Cnty. Health Dep’t, 102 Md. App. 456, 475 (1994).
Indeed, because vicarious liability is used to impute liability to “an innocent third party,”
such liability cannot be caused merely “in part.” The third party to whom liability is imputed
would not be “innocent” unless the wrongdoer’s acts caused the liability “in whole.” We,
therefore, hold that the word liability in the policy at issue relates to proximate causation and
not vicarious liability.
This holding has been echoed in Pro Con, Inc. v. Interstate Fire & Cas. Co., 794
F.Supp. 2d 242 (D.Me. 2011). There, the United States District Court for the District of
Maine “conclude[d] that [the defendant insurance company], by including the language ‘in
whole or in part’ in its [additional insured endorsement], specifically intended coverage for
additional insureds to extend to occurrences attributable in part to acts or omissions by both
the named insured and the additional insured.” 794 F. Supp. 2d at 256-57 (emphasis in
original).
16
We, therefore, hold that under the Policy Additional Insured Endorsement in the
instant case, Erie has the duty to defend Davis even if the allegations are not based solely on
vicarious liability as long as Davis is alleged to be liable, in whole or in part, by the acts or
omissions of Tricon. Accordingly, the circuit court erred in declaring that the terms of the
Policy limited coverage of Davis, as an additional insured, to claims of vicarious liability
based on Tricon’s actions.
C. Erie’s Duty to Defend Davis Was Triggered by the Tort Litigation
Now that we have determined the terms that comprise the Policy, and the scope of
coverage provided by those terms, we must determine whether the allegations in the
complaint in the Tort Litigation trigger Erie’s duty to defend Davis, as an additional insured,
under Maryland law. “In order for an insurer to be obligated to defend an insured, the
underlying tort suit need only allege action that is potentially covered by the policy, no matter
how attenuated, frivolous, or illogical that allegation may be.” Sheets v. Brethren Mut. Ins.
Co., 342 Md. 634, 643 (1996) (emphasis in original).4 The primary focus of this analysis is
4
Erie argued, before the circuit court and this Court, that it is improper to use a
“potentiality analysis” to determine whether Erie had a duty to defend Davis in the instant
case. Rather, Erie claims that the duty to defend issue in the instant case should be resolved
pursuant to the holding of the Court of Appeals in N. Assur. Co. of Am. v. EDP Floors, Inc.,
311 Md. 217, 226 (1987). In that case, the Court of Appeals held that “when . . . the question
of coverage or exclusion under the language of the insurance policy is separate and distinct
from the issues involved in the tort suit, the ‘potentiality rule’ normally has no application.”
N. Assur. Co. of Am. v. EDP Floors, Inc., 311 Md. 217, 226 (1987) (citing St. Paul Fire &
Marine Ins. Co. v. Pryseski, 292 Md. 187, 194 (1981)).
(continued...)
17
the allegations in the Tort Litigation complaint, as opposed to the specific claims asserted.
Baltimore Gas, supra, 113 Md. App. at 559. “[W]here a potentiality of coverage is uncertain
from the allegations of a complaint, any doubt must be resolved in favor of the insured.”
Aetna Cas., supra, 337 Md. at 107.
The complaint in the Tort Litigation alleges one count of negligence against Tricon
and one count of negligence against Davis. The complaint asserts that Tricon “owned and
maintained” the scaffolding that collapsed and injured the Frost Fire employees. The
complaint further claims that the injured Frost Fire employees “were authorized to use the
scaffolding and were assured by Defendant Davis and its employees that the scaffolding was
safe and secure.” The complaint maintains that both Tricon and Davis failed to exercise
reasonable care “in erecting, positioning, and maintaining the scaffolding” that ultimately
injured the Frost Fire employees. Furthermore, the complaint alleged that both Tricon and
Davis acted as the “controlling employer at the construction site” and that they both “had
4
(...continued)
The insured in EDP Floors was sued because its employee had injured an individual
in the course of unloading floor tiles from a truck. Unlike in the instant case, the insurance
policy that was at the center of EDP Floors contained an explicit, specific coverage exclusion
for injuries resulting from the “loading or unloading of . . . any automobile.” Accordingly,
“the potentiality analysis” was inappropriate in EDP Floors because the resolution of the suit
against the insured was not going to affect whether the policy covered the alleged injury. In
the Tort Litigation, however, essentially identical allegations are lodged against both Tricon
and Davis which do not constitute a clear exclusion to coverage under the Policy. The
“potentiality analysis” is, therefore, appropriate in the instant case because the resolution will
determine which party was the proximate cause of the Frost Fire employees’ injuries, which
in turn will determine whether or not Davis is covered by the Policy.
18
general supervisory authority over the construction site including the authority to correct
safety violations.”
As previously discussed, the terms of the Policy in the instant case provide coverage
to Davis for any liability “caused, in whole or in part, by” Tricon’s work on the Project. A
number of federal district courts, as well as the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, have
interpreted this language as limiting coverage for the additional insured to liability
proximately caused by acts of the named insured. Erie, therefore, has a duty to defend Davis
against any liability that could potentially be proximately caused by Tricon’s acts.
The complaint in the Tort Litigation theorizes that the negligence of Tricon, the
negligence of Davis, or the negligence of both Tricon and Davis contributed to the injury of
the Frost Fire employees. By asserting virtually identical allegations against both Davis and
Tricon for a single tortious injury, the Tort Litigation complaint suggests a lack of awareness
regarding the true cause of the Frost Fire employees’ injuries. Indeed, the Tort Litigation
complaint alleges that “as a proximate result of the negligence of [Tricon] and the resulting
accident, [the Frost Fire employees] were caused to suffer significant personal injuries.”
Similarly, the Tort Litigation complaint alleges “[t]hat as a proximate result of the negligence
of Defendant Davis and the resulting accident, [the Frost Fire employees] were caused to
suffer significant personal injuries.” Presumably, the claim of negligence asserted against
Tricon is grounded on the fact that Tricon, as the owner of the scaffolding, was responsible
for maintaining the scaffolding such that it would not collapse when used. Furthermore, the
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claim of negligence against Davis is likely based on the fact that Davis, as the general
contractor, had a duty to ensure the safety of the entire Project construction site, including
all construction equipment used.
The trial court erred in holding that the additional insured endorsements provided no
coverage to Davis if the plaintiffs’ complaint in the Tort Litigation alleged any negligence
on Davis’s part. Indeed, the endorsements contain no language excluding coverage for
Davis’s alleged acts of negligence. Instead, they require only, in the case of one
endorsement, that Davis’s alleged liability be caused in whole, or in part, by Tricon’s acts or
omissions in the performance of Tricon’s ongoing operations for Davis at the Project, and
in the case of the endorsement attached to the certificate of insurance, liability arising out of
Tricon’s ongoing operations performed for Davis. As such, the trial court erred in
concluding that those Policy conditions could not be met if the complaint contained any
allegations that Davis was alleged to be negligent for any of its own acts or omissions, even
if Tricon was also named as a defendant and alleged to be negligent in the performance of
its work for Davis.
The trial court did not examine the complaint to determine whether Davis’s liability
was alleged to be “caused in whole, or in part” by Tricon’s acts or omissions in the
performance of Tricon’s ongoing operations for Davis at the Project, or whether Davis’s
liability was alleged to arise out of Tricon’s ongoing operations performed for Davis. Had
it conducted such an analysis, it would have concluded that Davis’s liability in the Tort
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Litigation is alleged to be “caused in whole, or in part,” by Tricon’s “acts or omissions . . .
in the performance” of its “ongoing operations” for Davis at the Project. Those same
allegations compel the conclusion that Davis has been sued for “liability arising out of”
Tricon’s “ongoing operations performed for” Davis.
Plaintiffs’ complaint alleges that they were injured at the Project, where Davis “acted
as the general contractor and controlling employer . . . and had general supervisory authority
over the construction site including the authority to correct safety violations.” The plaintiffs
maintain that their injuries occurred when in the course of performing their duties on the
Project they “were working on scaffolding owned and maintained by Defendant Tricon when
the scaffolding collapsed.” In their separate count against Tricon, they recite various acts or
omissions of Tricon with respect to its scaffolding work and responsibilities which they
allege to be negligent breach of duties by Tricon to plaintiffs and the proximate cause of their
injuries. Plaintiffs’ allegations against Davis are that, as general contractor, in the exercises
of its supervisory authority, it should have “exercise[d] reasonable care in erecting,
positioning, and maintaining scaffolding,” which the complaint proceeds to specify.
The allegations of the complaint demonstrate that the claim of liability against Davis
falls within the terms of the additional insured endorsements of the Policy. They cannot be
read to mean anything other than that Davis’s liability -- its alleged negligence with respect
to supervising safety relating to the scaffolding work -- is claimed to be “caused in whole,
or in part, by . . . [Tricon’s] acts or omissions . . . in the performance of” Tricon’s scaffolding
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work for Davis at the Project. Indeed, the plaintiffs have sued Davis for liability “arising out
of” Tricon’s scaffolding work being “performed” by it for Davis.
In short, the allegations in the Tort Litigation contain claims against Davis covered
by the Policy’s endorsements. Nevertheless, even if it were not clear from the allegations
that Davis was being sued for “liability . . . caused in whole, or in part,” by Tricon’s
scaffolding work for Davis, or “arising out of” Tricon’s scaffolding work, Erie would still
have a duty to defend because the allegations recited above establish at least the “potentiality
that the claim could be covered” by the Policy’s endorsements. Brohawn v. Transamerica
Ins. Co., 276 Md. 396, 407 (1975) (citing United States Fid. & Guar. Co. v. Nat’l Paving &
Contracting Co., 228 Md. 40, 54 (1962)). Accordingly, the circuit court erred in declaring
that the Policy created no duty for Erie to defend Davis in the Tort Litigation.
JUDGMENT OF THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR
MONTGOMERY COUNTY REVERSED. CASE
REMANDED TO THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR
MONTGOMERY COUNTY FOR FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS CONSISTENT WITH THIS
OPINION. COSTS TO BE PAID BY THE
APPELLEE.
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