AMOS L. MAZZANT, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE.
Came on for consideration the reports of the United States Magistrate Judge in this action, this matter having been heretofore referred to the Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636. On June 15, 2017, the report of the Magistrate Judge (Dkt. # 44) was entered containing proposed findings of fact and recommendations that Plaintiff Colony Insurance Company's Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. # 32) be granted, and that Defendant Diversified Ingredients, Inc.'s Cross Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. # 34) and Defendant Custom Ag Commodities, LLC's Cross Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. # 36) each be denied.
Having received the reports of the Magistrate Judge, and no objections thereto having been timely filed, the Court is of the opinion that the findings and conclusions of the Magistrate Judge are correct and adopts the Magistrate Judge's report as the findings and conclusions of the Court.
It is, therefore,
It is further
Christine A. Nowak, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE.
Pending before the Court are Plaintiff Colony Insurance Company's Motion for Summary Judgment and Brief in Support ("Colony Motion for Summary Judgment") [Dkt. 32], Defendant Diversified Ingredients, Inc.'s Cross Motion for Summary Judgment ("Diversified Motion for Summary Judgment") [Dkt. 34], and Defendant Custom Ag Commodities, LLC's Cross Motion for Summary Judgment ("Custom Ag Motion for Summary Judgment") [Dkt. 36]. After reviewing the Motions, Responses [Dkts. 37-38; 41], Replies [Dkts. 42-43], and all other relevant filings,
The above-captioned lawsuit arises from an insurance coverage dispute. In May of 2014, Nestle Purina PetCare Company ("Purina") filed a false advertising lawsuit against The Blue Buffalo Company Ltd. ("Blue Buffalo") in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, 4:14-CV-00859-RWS. Purina's complaint alleges that, directly contrary to the "True Blue Promise" touted in Blue Buffalo's advertising, Blue Buffalo products contain substantial proportions of chicken/poultry by-product meal, along with corn and artificial preservatives. Purina alleges Blue Buffalo's use of by-product meal dates back to at least 2009 and is directly contrary to Blue Buffalo's product labels; Purina also asserts that Blue Buffalo's advertising campaign related to such products dates back to 2013 [Dkt. 34-1 at pg. 9].
In addition to the Purina lawsuit, Blue Buffalo faces class action litigation filed by consumers in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, 14-MD-02562-RWS. For the purposes of the insurance coverage action filed in this forum, the consumer class action litigation raises essentially the same false advertising allegations as the lawsuit filed by Purina [Dkt. 34-2].
Diversified filed a crossclaim against Wilbur-Ellis and a third-party claim against Custom Ag in both of the Missouri lawsuits [Dkt. 32-2; 32-3]. Diversified alleges it contracted with Wilbur-Ellis and Custom Ag to supply chicken meal, unadulterated with feathers or beaks, but that Wilbur-Ellis and Custom Ag supplied chicken by-product instead and without Diversified's knowledge [Dkt. 32-2 at 4; 32-3 at 4]. Diversified alleges that from 2011 through mid-2014, Custom Ag and Wilbur-Ellis sold "Adulterated Meal" to Diversified [Dkts. 32-3 at 4; 34-4; at pg. 11]; that Wilbur-Ellis and Custom Ag labeled the product sold "as `chicken meal' or `chicken meal blend,'" but that it actually "contained no `chicken meal' at all. Instead, the goods were comprised entirely of by-product meal, feather meal, and other products" [Dkts. 32-2 at 5; 34-3 at pg. 29]. Diversified specifically alleges:
[Dkt. 32-2 at 13]. Diversified seeks contribution from Custom Ag for all or a proportional part of any damages owed to Blue Buffalo that were caused by Custom Ag's alleged wrongful conduct [Dkts. 32-2 at 14; 32-3 at 5; 34-3 at pg. 57-58; 34-4 at pg. 14-15].
As to the claims alleged in the Missouri lawsuits, Custom Ag has demanded representation and coverage from Colony, its commercial liability insurer. Colony issued a Commercial General Liability policy to Custom Ag beginning on April 20, 2012, with the policy renewed annually each of the next three years. The initial and three renewal policies provide identical coverage, with such coverage ending on April 20, 2016 [Dkt. 32-1]. Relevant herein, Coverage B of the policy provides "Personal and Advertising Injury Liability" coverage subject to several exclusions.
[Dkt. 32-1 at 7]. As used in the Policy, "Personal and advertising injury" is defined as "injury, including consequential "bodily injury", arising out of one or more of the following offenses:
[Dkt. 32-1 at 12].
Colony further argues that, even assuming the claims against Custom Ag could be construed as "personal and advertising injury," Custom Ag is not entitled to coverage under the following policy exclusions:
[Dkt. 32-1 at 8].
Citing the language of the Policy, Colony seeks a judgment declaring it has no duty to defend and/or indemnify Custom Ag in the Missouri lawsuits. Custom Ag and Diversified seek a judgment stating Colony has a duty to defend Custom Ag.
The purpose of summary judgment is to isolate and dispose of factually unsupported claims or defenses. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 327, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). Summary judgment is proper if the pleadings, the discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits "[show] that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a). A dispute about a material fact is genuine "if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). The trial court must resolve all reasonable doubts in favor of the party opposing the motion for summary judgment. Casey Enters., Inc. v. Am. Hardware Mut. Ins. Co., 655 F.2d 598, 602 (5th Cir. 1981) (citations omitted). The substantive law identifies which facts are material. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505.
The party moving for summary judgment has the burden to show that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Id. at 247, 106 S.Ct. 2505. If the movant bears the burden of proof on a claim or defense on which it is moving for summary judgment, it must come forward with evidence that establishes "beyond peradventure all of the essential elements of the claim or defense." Fontenot v. Upjohn Co., 780 F.2d 1190, 1194 (5th Cir. 1986). But if the nonmovant bears the burden of proof, the movant may discharge its burden by showing that there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmovant's case. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 325, 106 S.Ct. 2548; Byers v. Dall. Morning News, Inc., 209 F.3d 419, 424 (5th Cir. 2000). Once the movant has carried its burden, the nonmovant must "respond to the motion for summary judgment by setting forth particular facts indicating there is a genuine issue for trial." Byers, 209 F.3d at 424 (citing Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248-49, 106 S.Ct. 2505). The nonmovant must adduce affirmative evidence. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 257, 106 S.Ct. 2505. And the Court need only consider the record materials actually cited by the parties, though the Court may consider the entire record. FED. R. CIV. P. 56(c)(3).
Under Texas law, the interpretation of an insurance policy is a matter of law for the Court to determine. Regency Title Co., LLC v. Westchester Fire Ins. Co., 5 F.Supp.3d 836 (E.D. Tex. 2013); Lubbock Cty. Hosp. Dist. v. Nat'l Union Fire Ins. Co., 143 F.3d 239, 241-42 (5th Cir. 1998). Interpretation of insurance contracts in Texas is governed by the same rules as interpretation of other contracts. Am. Mfrs. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Schaefer, 124 S.W.3d 154, 157 (Tex. 2003); Forbau v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 876 S.W.2d 132, 133 (Tex. 1994). Each insurance policy must be interpreted according to its own specific provisions and coverages. Gilbert Tex. Constr. v. Underwriters at Lloyd's London, 327 S.W.3d 118, 129 n.7 (Tex. 2010).
In determining the scope of coverage, a court examines the policy as a whole to ascertain the true intent of the parties. Utica Nat'l Ins. Co. of Tex. v. Am. Indem. Co., 141 S.W.3d 198, 202 (Tex.
Texas law is clear that "the parties' intent must be taken from the contract itself, not from the parties' present interpretation, and the contract must be enforced as written." Nicholas Petroleum, Inc. v. Mid-Continent Cas. Co., No. 05-13-01106-CV, 2015 WL 4456185, at *5 (Tex. App.-Dallas July 21, 2015, no pet.); see also Lewis v. Foxworth, 170 S.W.3d 900, 903 (Tex. App.-Dallas 2005, no pet.). Moreover, a court "may neither rewrite the contract nor add to its language." Schaefer, 124 S.W.3d at 162; see also Nicholas Petroleum, 2015 WL 4456185, at *5; Calpine Producer Servs., L.P. v. Wiser Oil Co., 169 S.W.3d 783, 787 (Tex. App.-Dallas 2005, no pet.).
"The duty to defend means the insurer will defend the insured in any lawsuit that alleges and seeks damages for an event potentially covered by the policy." Colony Ins. Co. v. Peachtree Constr., Ltd., 647 F.3d 248, 252-53 (5th Cir. 2011). An insurer owes its insured a duty to defend "if a plaintiffs factual allegations potentially support a covered claim." Zurich Am. Ins. Co. v. Nokia, Inc., 268 S.W.3d 487, 490 (Tex. 2008) (citing GuideOne Elite Ins. Co. v. Fielder Rd. Baptist Church, 197 S.W.3d 305, 310 (Tex. 2006)). Whether the insurer owes a duty to defend is a question of law for the court to decide. Ooida Risk Retention Grp., Inc. v. Williams, 579 F.3d 469, 471-72 (5th Cir. 2009). When faced with a coverage dispute, the court must give effect to the intention of the parties as that intention is expressed in the insurance policy itself. See Ideal Lease Serv., Inc. v. Amoco Prod. Co., 662 S.W.2d 951, 953 (Tex. 1983).
In deciding whether an insurer has a duty to defend, the Court must follow the "eight-corners rule" — that is, the duty to defend is determined by considering only the plaintiff's pleadings in the underlying lawsuit and the policy language. Zurich, 268 S.W.3d at 491. The focus is on the factual allegations in the underlying complaint, not on the legal theories. See id. at 495 (citing Farmers Tex. Cty. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Griffin, 955 S.W.2d 81, 82 (Tex. 1997)). The court is required to "resolve all doubts regarding the duty to defend in favor of the duty" and to "construe the pleadings liberally." Id. at 491; see also Gehan Homes Ltd. v. Emp'rs
In contrast to the duty to defend, the court generally evaluates the insurer's duty to indemnify "after the parties have developed the actual facts that establish liability in the underlying lawsuit." LCS Corr. Servs., Inc. v. Lexington Ins., Co., 800 F.3d 664, 668 (5th Cir. 2015). But the court "may decide the insurer's duty to indemnify before the conclusion of the underlying litigation if `the insurer has no duty to defend and the same reasons that negate the duty to defend likewise negate any possibility the insurer will ever have a duty to indemnify.'" LCS Corr. Servs., Inc., 800 F.3d at 669 (quoting Griffin, 955 S.W.2d at 84 (Tex. 1997)).
The insured bears the burden of showing that the claim against it is potentially within the policy's affirmative grant of coverage. Primrose Operating Co. v. Nat'l Am. Ins. Co., 382 F.3d 546, 552-53 (5th Cir. 2004); N.Y. Life Ins. Co. v. Travelers Ins. Co., 92 F.3d 336, 338 (5th Cir. 1996). If the insurer relies on the policy's exclusions to deny coverage, the burden shifts to the insurer to prove the exclusion applies. Primrose, 382 F.3d at 553; N.H. Ins. Co. v. Martech USA, Inc., 993 F.2d 1195, 1199 (5th Cir. 1993). If the insurer is successful, the burden shifts back to the insured to show that an exception to the exclusion brings the claim potentially within the scope of coverage under the insurance policy. Primrose, 382 F.3d at 553.
Before turning to consider either the duty to defend or indemnify, the Court must determine which pleadings are relevant to the instant coverage dispute (i.e., when an insured is sued under a CGL policy for contribution or indemnification). Colony argues the Court should review only Diversified's third-party complaint against Colony's insured, Custom Ag [Dkt. 41 at 11]. Diversified and Custom Ag argue, conversely, that the Court must also consider the initial complaint which
Diversified and Custom Ag have not cited, and the Court has not found, any case law supporting their argument that pleadings other than those against the insured (here Custom Ag) are relevant in determining the coverage issue. To the contrary, "it is the factual background alleged in the third-party complaints that provides the pertinent frame of reference with regard to the issue of coverage," and not the allegations within the complaints against Blue Buffalo. Gibson & Assocs., Inc. v. Home Ins. Co., 966 F.Supp. 468, 473 (N.D. Tex. 1997). Consider in Gibson, business owners filed a negligence claim against the City of Dallas for financial losses arising from a construction-related street closing. The City, in turn, filed a third-party breach of contract action against the street contractor, seeking indemnification and contribution. The contractor sought coverage under its CGL policy, arguing it was entitled to coverage since negligence claims were raised against the City. Rejecting this argument, the Gibson court held that the coverage issue is determined by reviewing the City's third-party action against the contractor, not the business owners' claims against the City. And the mere fact of incorporation did not demonstrate that the business owners' claims against the City were adopted by the City as its claims against the contractor and/or that the City was seeking recovery from the contractor on the same legal theories raised against the City. Gibson, 966 F.Supp. at 473. Gibson thus concluded that, while the business owners' negligence claims may not have been excluded under the contractor's CGL policy had the contractor been the named defendant, the Policy did not provide coverage for the City's breach of contract claims against the contractor for indemnification or contribution toward any amounts the City owed to the business owners. Gibson held the insurer was not obligated to defend those claims. See also Huffhines v. State Farm Lloyds, 167 S.W.3d 493, 497 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2005) (holding insurer's duty to defend is based on the allegations contained in the Third Party Petition for contribution or indemnification and the language of appellants' insurance policies); E & R Rubalcava Constr., Inc. v. Burlington Ins. Co., 148 F.Supp.2d 746 (N.D. Tex. 2001) (considering allegations within the third party petitions for indemnification when assessing the insurer's duty to defend and indemnify the third party defendant).
The Court finds that only the third party petition against Custom Ag is relevant in deciding whether Colony has a duty to defend and/or indemnify. A contrary ruling would expose the insurer to liability for claims and/or on theories beyond those directly involving its own insured; claims for which it received no premium and never agreed to cover. And while Diversified and Custom Ag argue that the allegations of the consumer class and Purina were incorporated by reference into the third party petitions against Diversified and Custom Ag, that incorporation merely provides context to the third party claims; it does not convert the false advertising claims against Blue Buffalo into a false advertising lawsuit against Custom Ag. Thus, when assessing the coverage issue,
Diversified and Custom Ag argue Colony has a duty to defend under the Coverage B, "Personal and Advertising Injury" terms of the Policy [Dkt. 34 at pg. 11]. Specifically, they argue that any potential third party liability of Custom Ag would be for injuries "arising out of" an "[o]ral or written publication in any manner or material that slanders or libels a person's or organization's goods, products or services," [Dkts. 34 at pg. 11; 32-1 at 12 (paragraph 14(d)], and that the claims alleged against Custom Ag are within the definition of "personal and advertising injury" covered under the Policy. Diversified and Custom Ag further assert that since Custom Ag may be liable for causing Blue Buffalo's alleged false advertising, the third party claims are for injuries "arising out of ... in any manner" Custom Ag's conduct and are covered under the Policy [Dkt. 34 at 11-12, 24]. In connection with this assertion, Diversified and Custom Ag, note that unlike other subdivisions of the Policy's definition of "personal and advertising injury," paragraph 14(d) does not require the claims to arise out of "your" (Custom Ag's) slanderous or libelous statements. They argue "Colony intended to provide coverage to insureds such as Custom Ag who are caught up in litigation involving false advertising whether or not Custom Ag actually committed the advertising offense" [Dkt. 34 at pg. 11-12].
Colony argues the allegations against Custom Ag are not within the definition of the Policy's "personal and advertising injury," explaining:
[Dkt. 41 at 9].
The Court agrees with Colony and rejects the broad interpretation argued by Diversified and Custom Ag. As to Defendants' argument comparing paragraphs 14(f) and (g) with paragraph 14(d) of the Policy's Definitions (Section V), the word "your" in paragraphs 14(f) and 14(g) is not used to modify whose conduct is the cause of personal or advertising injury, but rather to clarify that coverage is available only if another's advertising idea, copyright, trade dress or slogan is used in "your" (Custom Ag's) advertisements. As such, and contrary to the arguments made by Diversified and Custom Ag, the absence of the word "your" in paragraph 14(d) does not distinguish that paragraph from paragraphs 14(f) and (g): Its omission does not permit an interpretation of 14(d) that extends coverage to disparaging conduct committed by persons or entities other than Custom Ag.
Rather, upon reading the Policy as a whole and interpreting it consistent with its intent as evidenced by the Policy language, as to all subparts of the "personal and advertising injury" definition within the Policy, the Court finds coverage is
The Court finds that under paragraph 14(d) of the Policy, coverage is available if Custom Ag publishes statements, in any manner, which slander or libel a person or organization, or disparage their goods, products or services. The third party petitions against Custom Ag for indemnification or contribution do not raise such allegations, and no other subparts within the definition of Coverage B "Personal and advertising injury" have been argued or apply to the claims against Custom Ag. Applying the eight-corners rule, Colony has no duty to defend under the Policy terms.
Assuming arguendo that the allegations against Custom Ag could give rise to a claim for personal and advertising injury under Coverage B, the Court further considers whether coverage is unavailable because Custom Ag's alleged conduct began before it obtained a CGL Policy from Colony. Under the fortuity doctrine, an insured cannot obtain coverage for something that has already begun and which is known (or should have been known) to have begun. Summers v. Harris, 573 F.2d 869, 872 (5th Cir. 1978). "Insurance is designed to protect against unknown, fortuitous risks, and fortuity is a requirement of all policies of insurance." Warrantech Corp. v. Steadfast Ins. Co., 210 S.W.3d 760, 766 (Tex. App.-Fort Worth 2006, pet. denied).
The fortuity doctrine precludes coverage for two categories of losses: known losses and losses in progress. A "known loss" is one the insured knew had occurred before the insured entered into the contract for insurance, while a "loss in progress" involves those situations in which the insured knows, or should know, of a loss that is ongoing when the policy is issued. Warrantech Corp., 210 S.W.3d at 766.
Here, even assuming the Policy issued to Custom Ag provides coverage for Blue Buffalo's false advertising, the source of Custom Ag's liability — its alleged use of chicken by-products (chicken meal adulterated with feathers and beaks) — allegedly began in 2011 [Dkts. 32-3 at 4; 34-4 at pg. 11]. Colony first issued CGL insurance to Custom Ag in April of 2012, after Custom Ag allegedly began its ongoing conduct of providing chicken by-products (rather than chicken meal) to fulfill the contract brokered by Diversified on Blue Buffalo's behalf. While Diversified and Custom Ag argue the fortuity doctrine does not apply because Blue Buffalo's alleged false advertising — the basis of the consumer class and Purina lawsuits — did not begin until 2013 [Dkt. 34-1 at pg. 9], for the reasons already explained, the Court will not attribute Blue Buffalo's conduct to Custom Ag so as to allow coverage which is otherwise unavailable under the Policy. Moreover, the harm caused by Custom Ag began when its alleged conduct occurred: Blue Buffalo paid for superior quality chicken meal but received an inferior product instead and, in turn, consumers paid for high quality animal food they did not receive. Custom Ag's after-the-fact attempt to obtain insurance coverage for the alleged and
Finally, the Policy language includes coverage exclusions applicable to this case. Specifically, Colony argues Custom Ag is not entitled to coverage under Coverage B, Exclusion 2(f) — the breach of contract exclusion — restated below [Dkt. 32 at 29].
[Dkt. 32-1 at 8]. Custom Ag's liability undeniably rests on its alleged failure to perform a contract in accordance with the express specifications demanded by Blue Buffalo and brokered by Diversified [Dkt. 41-1 at 3-4]. Under Exclusion 2(f) of Coverage B, personal and advertising injury "arising out of a breach of contract" is not covered [Dkt. 32-1 at 8]. Diversified's complaint against Custom Ag makes numerous factual allegations concerning the contract between the two and asserts repeatedly Custom Ag did not provide the products for which Diversified had contracted [see Dkt. 41 at 19-22 (citing relevant portions of Diversified's complaint)]. The Court finds that, even assuming the fortuity doctrine did not bar coverage, and that coverage was otherwise provided under the Policy, coverage would still be excluded under the breach of contract exclusion in paragraph 2(f).
While the duty to indemnify is generally evaluated only after liability is established in the underlying lawsuit, if the same reasons negating the duty to defend likewise negate "any possibility the insurer will ever have a duty to indemnify," the court may decide at the outset of a case that an insurer has no duty to indemnify. LCS Corr. Servs., Inc., 800 F.3d at 669 (quoting Griffin, 955 S.W.2d at 84). Custom Ag is not alleged to have engaged in false arrest, detention or imprisonment; malicious prosecution; wrongful eviction; any slanderous, libelous or disparaging oral or written publications; any oral or written publication that violated someone's right of privacy; or the use of another's advertising idea, or the copyright, trade dress or slogan of another, in Custom Ag's advertisements. As such, Custom Ag's conduct did not cause personal and advertising injury covered under the terms of Coverage B [Dkt. 32-1 at 12]. And the alleged actions of Custom Ag violated the terms of its contact brokered by Diversified on behalf of Blue Buffalo, with that contract (as alleged) providing the sole source of any obligation owed by Custom Ag to Blue Buffalo. As such, the indemnification and contribution claims against Custom Ag sound in breach of contract. Having thoroughly reviewed the claims alleged in the Parties' pleadings and the terms of the Policy, the Court finds the same facts
Accordingly, as to both the duty to defend and the duty to indemnify, Colony's motion for summary judgment should be granted.
For the foregoing reasons, the Court recommends that Plaintiff Colony Insurance Company's Motion for Summary Judgment [Dkt. 32] be
Within fourteen (14) days after service of the magistrate judge's report, any party must serve and file specific written objections to the findings and recommendations of the magistrate judge. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). In order to be specific, an objection must identify the specific finding or recommendation to which objection is made, state the basis for the objection, and specify the place in the magistrate judge's report and recommendation where the disputed determination is found. An objection that merely incorporates by reference or refers to the briefing before the magistrate judge is not specific.
Failure to file specific, written objections will bar the party from appealing the unobjected-to factual findings and legal conclusions of the magistrate judge that are accepted by the district court, except upon grounds of plain error, provided that the party has been served with notice that such consequences will result from a failure to object. See Douglass v. United Servs. Auto. Ass'n, 79 F.3d 1415, 1417 (5th Cir. 1996) (en banc), superseded by statute on other grounds, 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) (extending the time to file objections from ten to fourteen days).
