IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA
SCOTTSDALE INSURANCE COMPANY, )
Plaintiff and Appellant,
S123766
v.
Ct.App. 2/2 B150991
MV TRANSPORTATION et al.,
Los Angeles County
Defendants and Respondents. )
Super. Ct. No. BC231352
May a commercial general liability (CGL) insurer obtain reimbursement of
its expenses of defending its insured against a third party lawsuit, when it is
ultimately determined, as a matter of law, that the policy never afforded any
potential for coverage, and that a duty to defend thus never arose? Where, as here,
the insurer properly reserved its right to such reimbursement, we conclude that the
answer is “yes.”
Defendant MV Transportation (MV) was sued by a third party (third party
action). Plaintiff Scottsdale Insurance Company (Scottsdale) advanced the costs
of defending MV, its insured, in the third party action, but did so under a
reservation of its right, if any, to recoup such costs. While the third party action
was pending, Scottsdale sued MV (the insurance action), seeking a declaration,
inter alia, that because its policies afforded no potential coverage of the third party
action, it owed no defense, and was therefore entitled to reimbursement of its
defense costs.
1
The third party action ended in settlement. Thereafter, in the insurance
action, the superior court found a potential for coverage, but the Court of Appeal
ultimately disagreed. For reasons of law, the Court of Appeal held that the
allegations in the third party’s complaint never triggered any possibility of
coverage under Scottsdale’s policies. Nonetheless, the Court of Appeal concluded
that Scottsdale was not entitled to reimbursement. The Court of Appeal reasoned,
in essence, that its no-potential-coverage determination “extinguished”
Scottsdale’s defense duty only from that time forward. Hence, the Court of
Appeal determined, Scottsdale could not “retroactively” recover defense costs
expended before its duty was “extinguished.”
We disagree. By ruling, as a matter of law, that the third party action never
presented any possibility of coverage by Scottsdale’s policies, the Court of Appeal
established not that the duty to defend was thereupon prospectively
“extinguished,” but that it never arose. Therefore, Scottsdale may recover
amounts it expended in defending the insured under its reservation of rights. To
the extent the Court of Appeal held otherwise, its judgment must be reversed.
FACTS
Defendants in this action by Scottsdale are Scottsdale’s insured, MV, and
several of MV’s employees. The underlying lawsuit, for which Scottsdale seeks
reimbursement of defense costs, was filed by MV’s competitor in the
transportation industry, Laidlaw Transit Services, Inc. (Laidlaw). The parties do
not dispute the pertinent facts as stated by the Court of Appeal. We therefore
adopt the Court of Appeal’s statement, as follows (with bracketed insertions by
this court and deletions indicated by ellipses):
The underlying lawsuit by Laidlaw
In January of 2000, Laidlaw filed an action against MV and several of
MV’s employees who had previously worked for Laidlaw, including MV’s new
2
president and chief operating officer (Jon Monson). Laidlaw’s complaint . . .
alleged causes of action for breach of fiduciary duty, tortious inducement to
breach the duty of loyalty and fiduciary duty, intentional interference with
contractual relations and with prospective business advantage, misappropriation of
trade secrets, and unlawful, unfair, and fraudulent business practices.
In essence, Laidlaw’s suit alleged certain contractual breaches, unlawful
business practices, and misappropriation of trade secrets by using [Laidlaw’s]
confidential, proprietary information to compete unfairly in bidding for and
obtaining new busing contracts in urban public transportation services markets.
The complaint specified two markets in particular, Lawrence, Kansas, and
Indianapolis, Indiana, and noted other unspecified cities as well. The confidential,
proprietary information included bidding models, bidding formulas, and other
nonpublic information used in developing Laidlaw’s bids, such as Laidlaw’s
overhead costs and financial objectives allocated to each project. As alleged in the
complaint, MV used such information, as well as Laidlaw’s customer list and
other trade secrets, to “significantly impede Laidlaw’s ability to market itself as a
unique provider” of its services.
Soon after Laidlaw filed its complaint, MV’s legal counsel tendered the
defense to its insurer, Scottsdale. Scottsdale asserted that although one Ninth
Circuit case had “concluded that certain trade secret misappropriation claims fall
within the scope of the advertising injury liability coverage of a general liability
policy,” the underlying facts in that case . . . [were] distinguishable, and
Scottsdale’s defense obligations were not triggered by the Laidlaw suit.
Nonetheless, Scottsdale agreed to provide a defense . . . to MV and the individuals
named in the Laidlaw suit under a reservation of certain rights, including the right
to seek a declaration of its rights and duties under the policy and “[t]he right to
seek reimbursement of defense fees paid toward defending causes of action which
3
raise no potential for coverage, as authorized by the California Supreme Court in
Buss v. Superior Court (Transamerica Ins. Co.) (1997) 16 Cal.4th 35.”
In December of 2000, Laidlaw and MV agreed to settle the suit by Laidlaw.
Pursuant to the settlement agreement, MV and the individual defendants agreed to
return to Laidlaw documents containing allegedly misappropriated bid models, bid
formulas and other trade secrets, and to refrain from using such material in
developing MV’s bids or proposals to customers in the public transportation
market. However, the settlement agreement did not require that MV pay any
money to Laidlaw. Attorney fees and costs incurred [by Scottsdale] in defending
the Laidlaw suit were approximately $340,000.
The coverage dispute between Scottsdale and MV
Scottsdale issued two CGL policies to MV, one effective from December 1,
1998, to December 1, 1999 (hereinafter, the first CGL policy), and the other from
December 1, 1999, to December 1, 2000 (hereinafter, the second CGL policy).
The first CGL policy [included Scottsdale’s agreement] to defend MV against any
suit and to pay any damages due to “ ‘advertising injury’ caused by an offense
committed in the course of advertising [MV’s] goods, products or services.” The
policy defined the term “advertising injury” as including the “[m]isappropriation
of advertising ideas or style of doing business.”
The second CGL policy also obligated Scottsdale to pay MV’s damages
and costs of suit for any advertising injury. The policy language, however, was
somewhat different from that in the first CGL policy. Specifically, the second
CGL policy defined advertising injury as, in pertinent part, “[t]he use of another’s
advertising idea in [the insured’s] ‘advertisement.’ ” And the policy defined
“advertisement” as “a notice that is broadcast or published to the general public or
specific market segments about [the insured’s] goods, products or services for the
purpose of attracting customers or supporters.”
4
During the course of the underlying Laidlaw litigation, in June of 2000,
Scottsdale filed the present declaratory relief action against MV and other
defendants named in the Laidlaw action. After settlement of the underlying
action, Scottsdale moved for summary judgment seeking a determination that it
owed no legal defense obligations, and seeking reimbursement of the full amount
paid for defense costs and fees and a declaration that it owed no further costs and
fees. The trial court denied Scottsdale’s motion for summary judgment and ruled
that it had a duty to defend. The court observed that Laidlaw “alleged a broader
audience than simply” the two cities noted in the complaint where MV sought
business (i.e., Lawrence, Kansas, and Indianapolis, Indiana), and concluded that
“[b]roadly construed, the . . . [c]omplaint alleged misappropriation of Laidlaw’s
‘advertising ideas,’ for which there is at the very least the potential of coverage,
and therefore Scottsdale’s duty to defend is established as a matter of law.”[1]
Recognizing that the trial court’s ruling on the motion for summary
judgment disposed of the entire case, the parties stipulated to a final judgment
against Scottsdale. In April 2001, the superior court entered a stipulated
judgment.
Scottsdale appealed, urging that “advertising,” as used in standard CGL
policies covering advertising injury, was limited to “widespread promotional
activities directed to the public at large.” (Bank of the West v. Superior Court
(1992) 2 Cal.4th 1254, 1276, fn. 9 (Bank of the West).) Hence, Scottsdale argued,
“advertising” did not include one-on-one solicitation of individual customers
through a competitive bidding process for tailor-made services. In a 2002 opinion,
the Court of Appeal disagreed. It concluded that advertising could include MV’s
[1]
Here ends our quotation from the Court of Appeal opinion.
5
“one-on-one business solicitations that used a common style and promotional
information disseminated to more than one customer.” The Court of Appeal thus
found a potential for coverage giving rise to Scottsdale’s duty to defend. It
affirmed the judgment against Scottsdale.
We granted Scottsdale’s petition for review and held the case for Hameid v.
National Fire Ins. of Hartford (2003) 31 Cal.4th 16 (Hameid), then pending. In
Hameid we adopted the language of Bank of the West, supra, 2 Cal.4th at page
1276, footnote 9, quoted above, and interpreted “advertising,” as used in a
standard CGL policy covering liability for “advertising injury,” to mean
“widespread promotional activities usually directed to the public at large.”
(Hameid, supra, 31 Cal.4th 16, 24.) We held that use of a competing hair salon’s
customer list to identify the competitor’s clients, and to solicit them through
mailers and telephone calls, did not constitute “advertising” under such a policy.
Accordingly, we concluded that the insurer had no duty under its “advertising
injury” clause to defend the competitor’s suit seeking damages for harm caused by
such activities. We noted we had no “occasion to decide whether widespread
promotional activities directed at specific market segments constitute advertising
under the [standard] CGL policy.” (Id., at p. 24, fn. 3, italics added.)
We transferred this case to the Court of Appeal for reconsideration in light
of Hameid. Upon reconsideration, the Court of Appeal concluded, contrary to its
prior determination, that neither CGL policy issued by Scottsdale to MV afforded
potential “advertising injury” coverage for MV’s improper use of Laidlaw’s trade
secrets to prepare tailored competitive bids for specific urban transportation
contracts, as alleged in the Laidlaw complaint.
As to the first CGL policy, which used “advertising injury” language
substantially identical to that construed in Hameid, supra, 31 Cal.4th 16, the Court
of Appeal directly applied Hameid to conclude that the policy did not cover
6
solicitations of individual customers. As to the second CGL policy, which defined
“advertising” as “a notice . . . broadcast or published to the general public or
specific market segments about [the insured’s] goods, products or services for the
purpose of attracting customers or supporters” (italics added), the Court of Appeal
reasoned that the Laidlaw complaint did not allege information was “broadcast or
published” as the policy required.
Though it concluded that neither Scottsdale policy ever afforded potential
coverage of the Laidlaw suit, and that “MV should not have tendered to Scottsdale
its defense in the [Laidlaw] action” (italics added), the Court of Appeal
nonetheless ruled that Scottsdale could not recover fees and costs previously
advanced toward MV’s defense. The Court of Appeal reasoned that Scottsdale’s
defense duty arose and continued until “extinguished” by a judicial determination
that no potential for coverage existed. In the Court of Appeal’s view, Scottsdale’s
reimbursement claim was an unavailing attempt to terminate its defense duty
“retroactively.”
To limit its defense obligation, the Court of Appeal asserted, Scottsdale
could have (1) denied MV a defense, thus risking a bad faith suit by MV, or
(2) obtained a prompt declaration of its rights and duties while the Laidlaw action
was still pending. Having failed to do either, the Court of Appeal held, Scottsdale
could not recover defense costs already advanced.
We granted Scottsdale’s petition for review. We now agree with Scottsdale
that the Court of Appeal erred in its analysis of the reimbursement issue. The
Court of Appeal ruled, as a matter of law, that Scottsdale never had a duty to
defend MV in the Laidlaw action. Accordingly, Scottsdale is entitled to
reimbursement of the costs and expenses it advanced, under a reservation of rights,
7
toward the defense of that action on behalf of MV. To the extent the Court of
Appeal denied such reimbursement, we will therefore reverse its judgment.2
DISCUSSION
1. General principles.
We summarize familiar principles pertaining to an insurer’s duty of
defense. An insurer must defend its insured against claims that create a potential
for indemnity under the policy. (Montrose Chemical Corp. v. Superior Court
(1993) 6 Cal.4th 287, 295 (Montrose); Gray v. Zurich Insurance Co. (1966)
65 Cal.2d 263, 275 (Gray).) The duty to defend is broader than the duty to
indemnify, and it may apply even in an action where no damages are ultimately
awarded. (Horace Mann Ins. Co. v. Barbara B. (1993) 4 Cal.4th 1076, 1081.)
Determination of the duty to defend depends, in the first instance, on a
comparison between the allegations of the complaint and the terms of the policy.
(Montrose, supra, 6 Cal.4th 287, 295.) But the duty also exists where extrinsic
2
In its answer brief on the merits, MV has argued at length that, contrary to
the Court of Appeal’s conclusion, the allegations of the Laidlaw complaint
suggested a potential for coverage and Scottsdale thus did have a duty to defend.
We find, however, that MV has failed to preserve this issue for our consideration.
Only Scottsdale sought review in this court. MV neither filed a petition for review
nor asserted in its answer to Scottsdale’s petition that, if we granted review on the
reimbursement issue raised by Scottsdale, we should also address the duty-to-
defend issue. (See Cal. Rules of Court, rule 28.1(c).) MV’s answer did briefly
argue that the issue of potential coverage was not purely one of law, but did so
only to demonstrate that the Court of Appeal’s unpublished decision had properly
found no right of reimbursement and thus did not warrant review. Under these
circumstances, we conclude that such issues were not “raised or fairly included in
the petition or answer” (id., rule 29(b)(1)) and were not properly raised in MV’s
brief on the merits (id., rule 29.1(b)(3)). We therefore decline to address them.
For purposes of this opinion, we accept the Court of Appeal’s determination that,
as a matter of law, the policies issued by Scottsdale to MV never afforded
potential coverage of the Laidlaw action.
8
facts known to the insurer suggest that the claim may be covered. (Ibid.)
Moreover, that the precise causes of action pled by the third-party complaint may
fall outside policy coverage does not excuse the duty to defend where, under the
facts alleged, reasonably inferable, or otherwise known, the complaint could fairly
be amended to state a covered liability. (Gray, supra, 65 Cal.2d 263, 275-276;
CNA Casualty of California v. Seaboard Surety Co. (1986) 176 Cal.App.3d 598,
610-611.)
The defense duty arises upon tender of a potentially covered claim and lasts
until the underlying lawsuit is concluded, or until it has been shown that there is
no potential for coverage. (Montrose, supra, 6 Cal.4th 287, 295.) When the duty,
having arisen, is extinguished by a showing that no claim can in fact be covered,
“it is extinguished only prospectively and not retroactively.” (Buss v. Superior
Court (1997) 16 Cal.4th 35, 46 (Buss); see also Aerojet-General Corp. v.
Transport Indemnity Co. (1997) 17 Cal.4th 38, 58 (Aerojet-General).)
On the other hand, “in an action wherein none of the claims is even
potentially covered because it does not even possibly embrace any triggering harm
of the specified sort within the policy period caused by an included occurrence,
the insurer does not have a duty to defend. [Citation.] ‘This freedom is implied in
the policy’s language. It rests on the fact that the insurer has not been paid
premiums by the insured for [such] a defense. . . . [T]he duty to defend is
contractual. “The insurer has not contracted to pay defense costs” for claims that
are not even potentially covered.’ [Citation.]” (Aerojet-General, supra,
17 Cal.4th 38, 59, quoting Buss, supra, 16 Cal.4th 35, 47.)
From these premises, the following may be stated: If any facts stated or
fairly inferable in the complaint, or otherwise known or discovered by the insurer,
suggest a claim potentially covered by the policy, the insurer’s duty to defend
arises and is not extinguished until the insurer negates all facts suggesting
9
potential coverage. On the other hand, if, as a matter of law, neither the complaint
nor the known extrinsic facts indicate any basis for potential coverage, the duty to
defend does not arise in the first instance.
2. Scottsdale’s right to reimbursement.
Scottsdale advanced fees and costs to defend MV against the Laidlaw suit,
but did so under a reservation of rights. By a letter dated March 15, 2000, counsel
for Scottsdale informed MV’s general counsel that, although Scottsdale did not
believe Laidlaw’s claims fell within the scope of its policies’ “advertising injury”
provisions, Scottsdale would provide a defense subject to various reservations of
rights. These included “[t]he right to seek a declaration of [Scottsdale’s] rights
and duties under its [p]olicies regarding its defense and/or indemnity obligations,”
and “[t]he right to seek reimbursement of defense fees paid toward defending
causes of action which raise no potential for coverage, as authorized . . . in
Buss[, supra,] 16 Cal.4th 35, 65 . . . .” Scottsdale thus served notice that it might
seek to recover defense fees and costs already expended if it were later
determined that Scottsdale had owed MV no defense.
As we explained in Buss, supra, 16 Cal.4th 35, the insurer may unilaterally
condition its proffer of a defense upon its reservation of a right later to seek
reimbursement of costs advanced to defend claims that are not, and never were,
potentially covered by the relevant policy. Such an announcement by the insurer
permits the insured to decide whether to accept the insurer’s terms for providing a
defense, or instead to assume and control its own defense. (Id., at p. 61, fn. 27.)3
3
Of course, as MV’s amicus curiae, Montrose Chemical Corporation of
California, points out, an insurer cannot unilaterally “reserve” “rights” it never had
under the relevant insurance policy. (Buss, supra, 16 Cal.4th 35, 50, & fn. 12.)
Thus, the insurer cannot use a unilateral reservation of rights to create a “right” of
(Footnote continued on next page.)
10
Despite its conclusion that the Scottsdale policies never afforded any
potential coverage of the Laidlaw claims, and despite Scottsdale’s explicit
reservation of its reimbursement rights, the Court of Appeal held that Scottsdale
may not recover the costs it advanced to defend MV in the Laidlaw action. The
Court of Appeal based this ruling on the premise that a judicial “no duty”
determination “extinguishes” the duty to defend “only prospectively and not
retroactively.” (Buss, supra, 16 Cal.4th 35, 46; see Aerojet-General, supra,
17 Cal.4th 38, 58.) Thus, the Court of Appeal reasoned, if the insurer wishes to
limit its liability for defense costs, it either must adopt the “risky strategy” of
refusing a defense outright, thus exposing itself to a bad faith suit by the insured,
or must seek, during the pendency of the third party action, to terminate its
defense duty from that time forward by proving no potential for coverage.
MV and its amicus curiae advance the same premise here.4 They urge as
follows: In a CGL policy, the insured purchases a guarantee that the insurer will
absorb all costs of defending the insured against a third party action that includes
one or more potentially covered claims, and that it will continue to do so until the
third party action is concluded or the insurer can establish that no claim is even
potentially covered. Under this bargain, the insurer bears the entire risk of its
(Footnote continued from previous page.)
reimbursement of costs extended to defend claims that were potentially covered by
the policy.
4
As noted above, Montrose Chemical Corporation of California has filed an
amicus curiae brief in support of MV. Amicus curiae briefs in support of
Scottsdale have been filed by (1) the Complex Insurance Claims Litigation
Association, (2) Truck Insurance Exchange, Farmers Insurance Exchange, and
Fire Insurance Exchange, and (3) Great American Insurance Company and
London Market Insurers.
11
incorrect decision to provide or withhold a defense. Thus, if the insurer wrongly
concludes that no duty to defend has arisen, and therefore declines the insured’s
tender of defense, the insured may recover its damages in contract and tort. On
the other hand, if the insurer seeks to avoid that pitfall by assuming the costs of the
insured’s defense, those costs cannot be shifted back to the insured, even if the
insurer reserved its rights and a court later determines, as a matter of law, that
there was never any potential coverage.
We disagree with this analysis. We are persuaded that an insurer, having
reserved its right to do so, may obtain reimbursement of defense costs which, in
hindsight, it never owed.
Buss, supra, 16 Cal.4th 35, succinctly explained the scope of the
contractual right to a defense that the insured purchases with its premiums. “[T]he
insurer’s duty to defend runs to claims that are . . . potentially covered, in light of
facts alleged or otherwise disclosed. [Citations.]” (Id., at p. 46, italics added.)
This duty, having arisen, “is discharged when the action is concluded. [Citation.]
It may be extinguished earlier, if it is shown that no claim can in fact be covered.
[Citation.] If it is so extinguished, however, it is extinguished only prospectively
and not retroactively: before, the insurer had a duty to defend; after, it does not
have a duty to defend further. [Citations.]” (Ibid., italics added.)
Thus, the insurer’s duty to defend arises whenever the third party
complaint and/or the available extrinsic facts suggest, under applicable law, the
possibility of covered claims. In such circumstances, if the insured tenders
defense of the third party action, the insurer must assume it. The duty to defend
then continues until the third party litigation ends, unless the insurer sooner
proves, by facts subsequently developed, that the potential for coverage which
previously appeared cannot possibly materialize, or no longer exists. The insurer
must absorb all costs it expended on behalf of its insured while the duty to defend
12
was in effect—i.e., before the insurer established that the duty had ended.
(Montrose, supra, 6 Cal.4th 287, 295-304; see also, e.g., Haskel, Inc. v. Superior
Court (1995) 33 Cal.App.4th 963, 977 (Haskel); Hartford Accident & Indemnity
Co. v. Superior Court (1994) 23 Cal.App.4th 1774, 1780-1781.)
However, we have made clear that where the third-party suit never
presented any potential for policy coverage, the duty to defend does not arise in
the first instance, and the insurer may properly deny a defense. Moreover, the law
governing the insurer’s duty to defend need not be settled at the time the insurer
makes its decision. As several courts have explained, subsequent case law can
establish, in hindsight, that no duty to defend ever existed. “If the terms of the
policy provide no potential for coverage, . . . the insurer acts properly in denying a
defense even if that duty is later evaluated under case law that did not exist at the
time of the defense tender. [Citations.]” (Waller v. Truck Ins. Exchange, Inc.
(1995) 11 Cal.4th 1, 26, italics added; see also Hameid, supra, 31 Cal.4th 16, 20-
21, 30; McLaughlin v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. (1994) 23 Cal.App.4th 1132,
1151 [duty to defend did not arise in first instance where only potential for
liability turned on legal question later resolved in insured’s favor]; State Farm
Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Longden (1987) 197 Cal.App.3d 226, 233 [same].)
These principles are equally true where, as here, the insurer does not deny a
defense at the outset, but instead elects to provide one under a reservation of its
right to reimbursement. By law applied in hindsight, courts can determine that no
potential for coverage, and thus no duty to defend, ever existed. If that conclusion
is reached, the insurer, having reserved its right, may recover from its insured the
costs it expended to provide a defense which, under its contract of insurance, it
was never obliged to furnish.
In Buss, supra, 16 Cal.4th 35, we confirmed an insurer’s entitlement, under
a reservation of rights, to recoup its costs of defending against third party claims
13
that are not potentially covered. Buss addressed an insurer’s rights and obligations
with respect to a “mixed” third party action, in which potential coverage appears
as to some claims, but not as to others. In such circumstances, Buss noted, the
insurer must defend the entire “mixed” action. (Id., at pp. 48-49.) This is so, Buss
explained, because the contractual duty to defend the potentially covered claims
immediately and meaningfully implies the prophylactic duty to defend “entirely,”
without pausing to parse among potentially covered and clearly uncovered claims.
(Id., at p. 49.) Nonetheless, we held that the insurer, having reserved its rights,
may recover its costs of defense attributable to the claims for which there was no
potential coverage. (Id., at pp. 50-53.)
The Court of Appeal, echoed here by MV and its amicus curiae, reasoned
that Buss’s reimbursement analysis applies only to “mixed” actions, where the
insurer must defend even clearly uncovered claims and has no option to deny a
defense at the outset, or to minimize its liability by seeking a prompt judicial
declaration that it has no duty to defend. We are not persuaded. Though Buss
itself involved a “mixed” action, Buss’s analysis of the reimbursement issue
applies equally where the insurer, acting under a reservation of rights, defended an
action in which, as it turns out, no claim was ever potentially covered.
As Buss explained, the duty to defend, and the extent of that duty, are
rooted in basic contract principles. The insured pays for, and can reasonably
expect, a defense against third party claims that are potentially covered by its
policy, but no more. Conversely, the insurer does not bargain to assume the cost
of defense of claims that are not even potentially covered. To shift these costs to
the insured does not upset the contractual arrangement between the parties. Thus,
where the insurer, acting under a reservation of rights, has prophylactically
financed the defense of claims as to which it owed no duty of defense, it is entitled
to restitution. Otherwise, the insured, who did not bargain for a defense of
14
noncovered claims, would receive a windfall and would be unjustly enriched.
(Buss, supra, 16 Cal.4th 35, 47-52.)
Buss itself made clear that this analysis does not apply only when the
insurer was forced, in a “mixed” action, to defend noncovered claims along with
those that were potentially covered. On the contrary, Buss indicated it was simply
extending well-settled law to “mixed” actions.
Thus, Buss declared: “As to . . . claims that are not even potentially
covered, . . . the insurer may . . . seek reimbursement for defense costs.
Apparently, all the decisional law considering such claims in and of themselves so
assumes. (See, e.g., Hogan v. Midland National Ins. Co. [(1970)] 3 Cal.3d [553,]
563-564; American Motorists Ins. Co. v. Allied-Sysco Food Services, Inc. [(1993)]
19 Cal.App.4th [1342,] 1355-1356; Reliance Ins. Co. v. Alan [(1990)]
222 Cal.App.3d [702,] 708-710; Insurance Co. of the West v. Haralambos
Beverage Co. [(1987)] 195 Cal.App.3d [1308,] 1322-1323; Travelers Ins. Co. v.
Lesher [(1986)] 187 Cal.App.3d [169,] 203; Western Employers Ins. Co. v.
Arciero & Sons, Inc. (1983) 146 Cal.App.3d 1027, 1028-1029, 1032; Walbrook
Ins. Co. Ltd. v. Goshgarian & Goshgarian (C.D.Cal. 1989) 726 F.Supp. 777, 781-
784 [applying California law]; Omaha Indem. Ins. Co. v. Cardon Oil Co.
(N.D.Cal. 1988) 687 F.Supp. 502, 504-505; affd. (9th Cir. 1990) 902 F.2d 40
[same]; accord, Ins. Co. North America v. Forty-Eight Insulations [(6th Cir.
1980)] 633 F.2d [1212,] 1224-1225 [applying Illinois and New Jersey law, but
speaking generally].) So it has been held: ‘California law clearly allows insurers
to be reimbursed for attorney’s fees’ and other expenses ‘paid in defending
insureds against claims for which there was no obligation to defend.’ (Omaha
Indem. Ins. Co. v. Cardon Oil Co., supra, 687 F.Supp. at p. 504.)” (Buss, supra,
16 Cal.4th 35, 50-51, italics added; accord, Truck Ins. Exchange v. Superior Court
(1996) 51 Cal.App.4th 985, 994 [if insurer defends under reservation of right to
15
seek reimbursement of defense and indemnity costs, it may “seek reimbursement
for payments expended if noncoverage is ultimately proven”]; Frank and
Freedus v. Allstate Ins. Co. (1996) 45 Cal.App.4th 461, 474 [law permits insurer
to condition acceptance of defense on later right to contest coverage or seek
reimbursement of defense costs].)
As Buss further noted, “[n]ot only is it good law that the insurer may seek
reimbursement for defense costs as to the claims that are not even potentially
covered, but it also makes good sense. Without a right of reimbursement, an
insurer might be tempted to refuse to defend an action in any part—especially an
action with many claims that are not even potentially covered and only a few that
are—lest the insurer give, and the insured get, more than they agreed. With such a
right, the insurer would not be so tempted, knowing that, if defense of the claims
that are not even potentially covered should necessitate any additional costs, it
would be able to seek reimbursement.” (Buss, supra, 16 Cal.4th 35, 52-53.)
Though these comments were made in the context of “mixed” actions, they
apply equally here. An insurer facing unsettled law concerning its policies’
potential coverage of the third party’s claims should not be forced either to deny a
defense outright, and risk a bad faith suit by the insured, or to provide a defense
where it owes none without any recourse against the insured for costs thus
expended. The insurer should be free, in an abundance of caution, to afford the
insured a defense under a reservation of rights, with the understanding that
reimbursement is available if it is later established, as a matter of law, that no duty
to defend ever arose.5
5
MV urges that, like Buss, supra, 16 Cal.4th 35, our recent decision in Blue
Ridge Ins. Co. v. Jacobsen (2001) 25 Cal.4th 489 involved an element of
“compulsion” not present here. But MV’s attempt to distinguish Blue Ridge is
(Footnote continued on next page.)
16
In Tamrac, Inc. v. California Ins. Guarantee Assn. (1998) 63 Cal.App.4th
751 (Tamrac), a post-Buss decision, the Court of Appeal confirmed that if the
insurer is legally uncertain whether any claims in the third party complaint are
potentially covered, it may defend the third party action to conclusion under a
reservation of its right to reimbursement, and may then recoup all its defense costs
if an intervening decision has established, as a matter of law, that the potential for
coverage, and thus the duty to defend, never arose. (Id., at pp. 757-758.)
Tamrac expressly rejected the insured’s argument, similar to that made by
MV here, that a determination of noncoverage operates prospectively only. The
insured, said Tamrac, “misplaces reliance on cases where there was factually a
potential for coverage which imposed the duty to defend, and the insurer
subsequently developed facts showing there was no duty in the particular
circumstances. In those situations the insurer’s duty to defend ceases
prospectively from the subsequent determination but not retroactively to the
(Footnote continued from previous page.)
unavailing. There we held that, having reserved its right to dispute coverage, an
insurer may settle a third party action within policy limits, even over the insured’s
objection, then obtain reimbursement of its settlement payments from the insured
upon a later determination that the underlying claims were not covered. We
explained that because an insurer risks unlimited exposure to bad faith liability if it
declines a reasonable offer within policy limits on grounds that there is no
coverage (see Johansen v. California State Auto. Assn. Inter-Ins. Bureau (1975)
15 Cal.3d 9), an insured’s refusal to authorize the settlement unless the insurer
agreed to forgo reimbursement would place the insurer in a Catch-22 and force it
to indemnify uncovered claims, contrary to its contractual obligations. (Blue
Ridge, supra, at pp. 502-503.) Similarly, by requiring an insurer to risk bad faith
liability if it declines a defense because of its belief that the third party claims are
not potentially covered, or to forgo reimbursement if it elects to provide one, we
would place the insurer in a Catch-22 and force it to furnish a defense, at its own
expense, where none was ever owed under the policy.
17
beginning. [Citations.] Here, . . . as a matter of law there was never a potential for
coverage.” (Tamrac, supra, 63 Cal.App.4th 751, 758.) We find this analysis
persuasive.6
The instant Court of Appeal suggested that an insurer uncertain of its
defense obligations might initially assume the defense, then seek to “stop the
bleeding” by obtaining a prompt, though prospective, “extinguishment” of its duty
to defend. But where, as here, there was never a duty to defend, this limited
remedy provides the insured more, and the insurer less, than the parties’ bargain
contemplated. Moreover, as Scottsdale and its amici curiae point out, it also
forces the insurer to commence litigation of defense and coverage issues, and to
press for early resolution of those issues, while the third party litigation is still
pending. However, this is a tactic which, in many cases, the insurer is not allowed
to pursue, and in general should be discouraged for policy reasons.
“When an insured calls upon a liability insurer to defend a third party
action, the insurer as a general rule may not escape the burden of defense by
obtaining a declaratory judgment that it has no duty to defend. Were the rule
otherwise, the insured would be forced to defend simultaneously against both the
insurer’s declaratory relief action and the third party’s liability action. Because
the duty to defend turns on the potential for coverage, and because coverage
6
MV points out that in Tamrac, supra, 63 Cal.App.4th 751, the California
Insurance Guarantee Association (CIGA), acting in place of the subject policy’s
insolvent issuer, did not actually advance costs, then seek reimbursement; instead,
after initially agreeing to fund a defense, CIGA failed to pay when billed by the
insured, thus prompting the insured to sue for the unpaid amounts. However, the
Court of Appeal concluded that “this case should be analyzed under CIGA’s
reservation of a right to seek reimbursement, because it would be idle to require
CIGA to pay Tamrac if CIGA has a right to reimbursement from Tamrac.
[Citation.]” (Id., at p. 759.)
18
frequently turns on factual issues to be litigated in the third party liability action,
litigating the duty to defend in the declaratory relief action may prejudice the
insured in the liability action. To prevent this form of prejudice, the insurer’s
action for declaratory relief may be either stayed [citation] or dismissed
[citation].” (Montrose, supra, 6 Cal.4th 287, 305 (conc. opn. of Kennard, J.); see
also, e.g., David Kleis, Inc. v. Superior Court (1995) 37 Cal.App.4th 1035, 1044-
1045; Haskel, supra, 33 Cal.App.4th 963, 979 & fn. 15.)
Indeed, “[i]t is only where there is no potential conflict between the trial of
the coverage dispute and the underlying action that an insurer can obtain an early
trial date and resolution of its claim that coverage does not exist. [Citation.]”
(Haskel, supra, 33 Cal.App.4th 963, 979; see Montrose Chemical Corp. v.
Superior Court (Canadian Universal Ins. Co.) (1994) 25 Cal.App.4th 902, 910.).)
The Court of Appeal’s analysis contravenes these sound rules and policies.
Unlike the Court of Appeal, we decline to require an insurer uncertain about the
law relevant to its coverage and defense obligations to engage its insured in a
futile “two-front war.” (Montrose Chemical Corp. v. Superior Court (Canadian
Universal Ins. Co.), supra, 25 Cal.App.4th 902, 910.)
MV urges that, by limiting its reservation of reimbursement rights to those
“authorized . . . in Buss,” supra, 16 Cal.4th 35, Scottsdale did not clearly signal its
intent to seek reimbursement outside the context of a “mixed” action. We
disagree. As we have seen, Buss simply applied to “mixed” actions the general
premise that an insurer may obtain reimbursement for defending claims or suits as
to which it never owed a duty of defense. The language of Scottsdale’s
reservation of rights was amply sufficient to preserve its reimbursement rights
here.
19
Accordingly, we conclude that an insurer under a standard CGL policy,
having properly reserved its rights, may advance sums to defend its insured
against a third-party lawsuit, and may thereafter recoup such costs from the
insured if it is determined, as a matter of law, that no duty to defend ever arose
because the third party suit never suggested the possibility of a covered claim.
Such is the case here. It follows that, insofar as the Court of Appeal denied
Scottsdale’s right to reimbursement, its judgment should be reversed.
CONCLUSION
Insofar as the Court of Appeal concluded that Scottsdale may not pursue an
action for reimbursement of defense costs advanced under a reservation of rights,
its judgment is reversed. The judgment of the Court of Appeal is otherwise
affirmed.
BAXTER, J.
WE CONCUR:
GEORGE, C.J.
KENNARD, J.
WERDEGAR, J.
CHIN, J.
MORENO, J.
20
See next page for addresses and telephone numbers for counsel who argued in Supreme Court. Name of Opinion Scottsdale Insurance Company v. MV Transportation, Inc.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Unpublished Opinion
XXX NP opn. filed 2/23/04 – 2d Dist., Div. 2Original Appeal
Original Proceeding
Review Granted
Rehearing Granted
__________________________________________________________________________________
Opinion No.
S123766Date Filed: July 25, 2005
__________________________________________________________________________________
Court:
SuperiorCounty: Los Angeles
Judge: Gregory C. O’Brien, Jr.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Attorneys for Appellant:
Selman Breitman, Neil Selman, Jan L. Pocaterra, Lynette Klawon, Alan B. Yuter and Rachel E. Hobbs forPlaintiff and Appellant.
Wiley Rein & Fielding, Laura A. Fogan, Alicia C. Ritter; Sinnott, Dito, Moura & Puebla, Randolph P.
Sinnott and John J. Moura for Complex Insurance Claims Litigation Association as Amicus Curiae on
behalf of Plaintiff and Appellant.
Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland, Irving H. Greines, Feris M. Greenberger and Robert A. Olson for Truck
Insurance Exchange, Farmers Insurance Exchange and Fire Insurance Exchange as Amici Curiae on behalf
of Plaintiff and Appellant.
Hancock Rothert & Busnhoft, W. Andrew Miller, William J. Baron, Kathryn C. Ashton and Molly K.
Kane for Great American Insurance Company and London Market Insurers as Amici Curiae on behalf of
Plaintiff and Appellant.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Attorneys for Respondent:
Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe, Richard DeNatale, Peter F. McAweeney, David B. Goodwin, Deanna
M. Wilcox; and John Andrew Baird for Defendants and Respondents.
Latham & Watkins, David L. Milliken, Marc D. Halpern and Edward J. Balsamo for Montrose Chemical
Corporation of California as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Defendants and Respondents.
Counsel who argued in Supreme Court (not intended for publication with opinion):
Neil SelmanSelman Breitman
11766 Wilshire Boulevard, Sixth Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 445-0800
Richard DeNatale
Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe
333 Bush Street
San Francisco, CA 94104-2878
(415) 772-6000
Date: | Docket Number: |
Mon, 07/25/2005 | S123766 |
1 | Scottsdale Insurance Company (Plaintiff and Appellant) Represented by Rachel Elizabeth Hobbs Selman-Breitman 11766 Wilshire Blvd 6FL Los Angeles, CA |
2 | Mv Transportation, Inc. (Defendant and Respondent) Represented by Deanna Marie Wilcox Heller Ehrman, LLP 601 S Figueroa St 40th Fl Los Angeles, CA |
3 | Mv Transportation, Inc. (Defendant and Respondent) Represented by John Andrew Biard MV Transportation, Inc. 420 Executive Court, Suite G Fairfield, CA |
4 | Complex Insurance Claims Litigation Association (Amicus curiae) Represented by John J. Moura Sinnott Dito Moura & Puebla 707 Wilshire Blvd #3200 Los Angeles, CA |
5 | Truck Insurance Exchange (Amicus curiae) Represented by Feris M. Greenberger Greines Martin et al LLP 5700 Wilshire Blvd #375 Los Angeles, CA |
6 | Farmers Insurance Exchange (Amicus curiae) Represented by Feris M. Greenberger Greines Martin et al LLP 5700 Wilshire Blvd #375 Los Angeles, CA |
7 | Fire Insurance Exchange (Amicus curiae) Represented by Feris M. Greenberger Greines Martin et al LLP 5700 Wilshire Blvd #375 Los Angeles, CA |
8 | Great American Insurance Company (Amicus curiae) Represented by Kathryn C. Ashton Hancock Rothert et al LLP 4 Embarcadero Ctr 3FL San Francisco, CA |
9 | London Market Insurers (Amicus curiae) Represented by Kathryn C. Ashton Hancock Rothert et al LLP 4 Embarcadero Ctr 3FL San Francisco, CA |
10 | Montrose Chemical Corporation Of California (Amicus curiae) Represented by David L. Mulliken Latham & Watkins 600 West Broadway, Suite 1800 San Diego, CA |
Disposition | |
Jul 25 2005 | Opinion: Affirmed in part/reversed in part |
Dockets | |
Apr 1 2004 | Petition for review filed appellant Scottsdale Insurance Company |
Apr 6 2004 | Received Court of Appeal record |
Apr 21 2004 | Answer to petition for review filed counsel for resps MV Transportation, Inc., et al. |
May 4 2004 | Reply to answer to petition filed By Appellant {Scottsdale Insurance Company} / 40(K). |
May 19 2004 | Petition for review granted (civil case) Votes: George, C.J., Kennard, Baxter, Brown, and Moreno, JJ. |
May 27 2004 | Certification of interested entities or persons filed Attorney Rachel Hobbs for Appellant. |
Jun 3 2004 | Certification of interested entities or persons filed Attorney Deanna Wilcox for Respondent. |
Jun 17 2004 | Opening brief on the merits filed appellant SCOTTSDALE INSURANCE COMPANY |
Jul 8 2004 | Request for extension of time filed counsel for resp MV TRANSPORTATION, INC., ET AL. to file opening brief on the merits |
Jul 12 2004 | Extension of time granted On application of respondents and good cause appearing, it is ordered that the time to serve and file the answer brief on the merits is extended to and including July 30, 2004. |
Jul 30 2004 | Answer brief on the merits filed respondents MV TRANSPORTATION INC., ET AL. |
Aug 11 2004 | Request for extension of time filed to file reply brief/merits Scottsdale Ins. Co., asking to 09-02-04. |
Aug 18 2004 | Extension of time granted On application of appellant and good cause appearing, it is ordered that the time to serve and file the reply brief on the merits is extended to and including September 2, 2004. |
Sep 1 2004 | Reply brief filed (case fully briefed) appellant Scottsdale Insurance Company |
Sep 8 2004 | Received application to file Amicus Curiae Brief Complex Insurance Claims Litigation Assn. [in support of aplt] |
Sep 15 2004 | Permission to file amicus curiae brief granted Complex Insurance Claims Litigation Assn. |
Sep 15 2004 | Amicus curiae brief filed Complex Insurance Claims Litigation Assn. in support of appellant. Answer due within 20 days. |
Sep 28 2004 | Response to amicus curiae brief filed to ac brief of Complex Litigation Claims Assn>> respondents MV Transportation, Inc., etal |
Sep 30 2004 | Received application to file Amicus Curiae Brief from Great American Ins. Co. and London Market Insurers in support of appellant. |
Oct 1 2004 | Received application to file Amicus Curiae Brief from Montrose Chemical Corporation of California in supoort of respondent. (recv'd in San Diego) |
Oct 1 2004 | Received application to file Amicus Curiae Brief Truck Insurance Exchange, etal |
Oct 12 2004 | Permission to file amicus curiae brief granted Great American Ins. Co. and London Market Insurers |
Oct 12 2004 | Amicus curiae brief filed Great American Ins. Co. and London Market Insurers in support of appellant. Answer due within 20 days. |
Oct 12 2004 | Permission to file amicus curiae brief granted Montrose Chemical Corporation of California |
Oct 12 2004 | Amicus curiae brief filed Montrose Chemical Corporation of California in support of respondents. Answer due within 20 days. |
Oct 12 2004 | Permission to file amicus curiae brief granted Truck Insurance Exchange, et al. |
Oct 12 2004 | Amicus curiae brief filed Truck Insurance Exchange, Farmers Insurance Exchange and Fire Insurance Exchange in support of appellant. Answer due within 20 days. |
Oct 27 2004 | Response to amicus curiae brief filed by resp's MV TRANSPORTATION, INC., et al to a/c brief of GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE CO., et al., & TRUCK INSURANCE EXCHANGE, et al. |
Nov 1 2004 | Response to amicus curiae brief filed by counsel for appellant SCOTTSDALE INSURANCE COMPANY to a/c brief of MONTROSE CHEMICAL CORP. OF CALIFORNIA. |
Apr 27 2005 | Change of contact information filed for: change of firm name [Heller Ehrman, LLP]>>respondent MV Transportation, Inc., etal |
May 3 2005 | Case ordered on calendar 5/31/05, 2pm, LA |
May 5 2005 | Supplemental brief filed appellant Scottsdale Insurance Company |
May 20 2005 | Supplemental brief filed respondents MV Transportation, Inc. etal [supplemental authorities] |
May 31 2005 | Cause argued and submitted |
Jul 25 2005 | Opinion filed: Affirmed in part, reversed in part Majority Opinion by Baxter, J. joined by George C.J., Kennard, Werdegar, Chin & Moreno, JJ. |
Aug 25 2005 | Remittitur issued (civil case) |
Briefs | |
Jun 17 2004 | Opening brief on the merits filed |
Jul 30 2004 | Answer brief on the merits filed |
Sep 1 2004 | Reply brief filed (case fully briefed) |
Sep 15 2004 | Amicus curiae brief filed |
Sep 28 2004 | Response to amicus curiae brief filed |
Oct 12 2004 | Amicus curiae brief filed |
Oct 12 2004 | Amicus curiae brief filed |
Oct 12 2004 | Amicus curiae brief filed |
Oct 27 2004 | Response to amicus curiae brief filed |
Nov 1 2004 | Response to amicus curiae brief filed |