DOLLY M. GEE, District Judge.
This matter is before the Court on the parties' cross-motions for summary judgment. The hearing took place on June 13, 2014. [Doc. ## 27, 28]. The Court has duly considered the arguments and evidence presented in support of and in opposition to the Motions, including arguments made at the hearing. For the reasons discussed below, Plaintiff FDIC's Motion is
The parties raise voluminous evidentiary objections to exhibits filed by the opposing party. [Doc. ## 43-2, 42-2, 48-1, 49-1, 49-2, 49-3, 50, 51.] The Court addresses the objections as necessary below. The Court does not address objections pertaining to facts it deems immaterial to the resolution of the Motions.
In January 2007, Banclnsure issued a Directors' and Officers' Liability Insurance Policy Including Company Reimbursement, No. 04DO00378-2 (the "Policy") to Security Pacific Bank, under which the Bank's Directors and Officers ("D & Os") qualified as "Insured Persons." (Plaintiff's Statement of Uncontroverted Facts ("PSUF") ¶ 1 [Doc. # 27-2].) The Policy period was from January 2007 to January 2010. (Id. ¶ 3.) On November 7, 2008, the California Department of Financial Institutions ("DFI") closed Security Pacific Bank, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") was appointed as receiver. (PSUF ¶ 19.) Under the terms of the Policy, when the Bank ceased operations on November 7, 2008, the Policy coverage also ceased. (Id. ¶ 12.)
The Policy is a "Claims-Made Policy" containing a "Notice of Claim" provision as follows:
(Sandra I. Weishart Decl. ¶ 4, Exh. 2 at 10 (Policy at Section IX) [Doc. # 27-3].)
In addition, the Policy's "Insured v. Insured Exclusion" provides, in relevant part:
(Id. at 7.) The Policy also contains a "Regulatory Endorsement," which deletes the regulatory coverage exclusion.
On November 5, 2008, Amy B. Briggs, counsel for Security Pacific, sent a letter to BancInsure.
On November 6, 2008, BancInsure responded to Briggs' letter, acknowledging "receipt of your notice of a potential claim," and assigning Donald R. Pratt, Jr. to the investigation of the claim. (Weishart Decl. ¶ 18, Exh. 16.)
On November 6, 2008, Briggs wrote a second letter to BancInsure, to "ensure
(Weishart Decl. ¶ 19, Exh. 17.)
On November 7, 2008, Claims Adjuster Ted Equals sent a letter to Briggs, requesting that Briggs provide him a list of current D & Os of the Bank, along with a copy of the FDIC's April 2008 cease and desist letter. (Weishart Decl. ¶ 21, Exh. 19.) That same day, Briggs emailed Equals the requested information. (Defendant's Statement of Genuine Dispute of Material Fact ("DSGDMF") ¶ 32.)
On November 13, 2008, Briggs sent a letter to Equals and Claims Manager William Van Butler, notifying them that the FDIC had been made receiver of the Bank and the D & Os could face regulatory action or civil suits. (Weishart Decl. ¶ 27, Exh. 25.)
On November 18, 2008, Briggs sent another letter to Van Butler and Equals, notifying them of, among other things, the names and titles of 14 D & Os of the Bank. (Weishart Decl. ¶ 28, Exh. 26.)
On October 11, 2011, counsel for the FDIC notified BancInsure of the FDIC's impending lawsuit against the D & Os. (DSGDMF ¶¶ 76-77.) Shortly thereafter, the FDIC also provided BancInsure a copy of a complaint the FDIC was prepared to file, which set forth specific claims and money damages to be pursued by the FDIC. (Id. at 78.)
On November 30, 2011, BancInsure issued its coverage determination as to the FDIC's claims. (Weishart Decl. ¶ 57, Exh. 56.) First, it found that the Insured v. Insured Exclusion precluded coverage because the FDIC was acting as a receiver of the Bank. (Id. at pg. 5) Second, the letter specified that the notice requirements of Section IX.B of the Policy were not satisfied within thirty days of expiration of the Policy. (Id. at pg. 7.)
Subsequently, the FDIC, the D & Os, and BancInsure entered into a settlement agreement, effective August 8, 2012, whereby: (1) the D & Os assigned their rights under the Policy to the FDIC; (2) the parties agreed that the merits of the FDIC's claims against the D & Os would not be litigated and that instead the FDIC would file suit against BancInsure to determine whether the Policy provided coverage; and (3) that if coverage was found to exist, BancInsure would pay the Policy's $6,000,000 coverage limit to the FDIC. (DSGDMF ¶ 80).
Accordingly, on November 19, 2012, the FDIC filed a complaint in this Court for declaratory relief and breach of contract. [Doc. #1.] The complaint asserts that BancInsure wrongfully denied coverage for the FDIC's claims against Security Pacific Bank's former D & Os. Both parties have moved for summary judgment as to the two coverage defenses asserted by BancInsure. [Doc. ## 27, 28.]
Summary judgment should be granted "if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a); accord
The moving party bears the initial burden of establishing the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). Once the moving party has met its initial burden, Rule 56(c) requires the nonmoving party to "go beyond the pleadings and by her own affidavits, or by the `depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file,' designate `specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.'" Id. at 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548 (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c), (e) (1986)); see also Norse v. City of Santa Cruz, 629 F.3d 966, 973 (9th Cir.2010) (en banc) ("Rule 56 requires the parties to set out facts they will be able to prove at trial."). "[T]he inferences to be drawn from the underlying facts ... must be viewed in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion." Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986).
A court presented with cross-motions for summary judgment should review each motion separately, giving the nonmoving party for each motion the benefit of all reasonable inferences from the record. Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, Inc. v. Los Angeles County Sheriff Dep't, 533 F.3d 780, 786 (9th Cir.2008), cert. denied, 555 U.S. 1098, 129 S.Ct. 903, 173 L.Ed.2d 108 (2009). The Court must consider all evidence submitted by both parties when ruling on cross-motions for summary judgment. Fair Hous. Council of Riverside Cnty., Inc. v. Riverside Two, 249 F.3d 1132, 1136 (9th Cir.2001).
"Under California law, the interpretation of contract language is a question of law." Atel Fin. Corp. v. Quaker Coal Co., 321 F.3d 924, 925-26 (9th Cir. 2003). "The interpretation of a contract, including the resolution of any ambiguity, is solely a judicial function unless the interpretation turns on the credibility of extrinsic evidence." Am. Alternative Ins. Corp. v. Superior Court, 135 Cal.App.4th 1239, 1245, 37 Cal.Rptr.3d 918, 923 (2006) (citations omitted).
Insurance contracts are governed by ordinary rules of contract interpretation. Bank of the W. v. Superior Court, 2 Cal.4th 1254, 1264, 10 Cal.Rptr.2d 538, 833 P.2d 545 (1992). Under California rules of contract interpretation, "the mutual intention of the parties at the time the contract is formed governs interpretation." Hervey v. Mercury Cas. Co., 185 Cal.App.4th 954, 961, 110 Cal.Rptr.3d 890, 895 (2010) (quoting AIU Ins. Co. v. Superior Court, 51 Cal.3d 807, 821-822, 274 Cal.Rptr. 820, 799 P.2d 1253 (1990)). A Court must construe contract terms in their ordinary sense. Van Ness v. Blue Cross of Cal., 87 Cal.App.4th 364, 372, 104 Cal.Rptr.2d 511, 516 (2001) (citing Cal. Civ. Code § 1644); see also Bodell v. Walbrook Ins. Co., 119 F.3d 1411, 1413 (9th Cir.1997) ("The policy should be read as a layman would read it and not as it might be analyzed by an attorney or an insurance expert.") (quoting Crane v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 5 Cal.3d 112, 95 Cal.Rptr. 513, 514, 485 P.2d 1129 (1971)). "Where contract language is clear and explicit and
To determine ambiguity, the Court first considers whether, in light of the extrinsic evidence, the language is "reasonably susceptible" to the interpretation urged. Hervey, 185 Cal.App.4th at 961-62, 110 Cal.Rptr.3d 890 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). If so, then the Court admits the evidence to interpret the contract. Id. at 962, 110 Cal.Rptr.3d 890. While extrinsic evidence "may be admissible to determine whether the terms of a contract are ambiguous ... it is not admissible if it contradicts a clear and explicit policy provision." Id. (internal citations omitted).
"Insurance policies are to be broadly construed to afford the greatest possible protection to the insured." Bodell, 119 F.3d at 1413 (citing State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Partridge, 10 Cal.3d 94, 109 Cal.Rptr. 811, 816, 514 P.2d 123 (1973)). The insurer bears the burden of establishing that an exclusion applies, and exclusionary clauses are "strictly" and "narrowly" construed against the insurer. HS Servs., Inc. v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 109 F.3d 642, 645 (9th Cir. 1997) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). If there is ambiguity, it is the insurers' "burden to establish that their interpretation is the only reasonable one." Fire Ins. Exch. v. Superior Court, 116 Cal.App.4th 446, 466, 10 Cal.Rptr.3d 617, 633 (2004).
The parties agree that the Policy is a "claims-made policy." "Notice provisions in `claims made' policies are strictly construed because notice determines if coverage is available under such policies." Aletheia Research & Mgmt., Inc. v. Houston Cas. Co., 831 F.Supp.2d 1210, 1220 (C.D.Cal.2011) (citing Am. Cas. Co. of Reading, PA. v. Continisio, 17 F.3d 62, 69 (3d Cir.1994); FDIC v. Barham, 995 F.2d 600, 604 n. 9 (5th Cir.1993)).
The parties dispute whether the notice was sufficient under Policy Section IX, Part B. Specifically, BancInsure asserts that the FDIC failed to timely provide, by December 7, 2008, "any of the information required." (Def's Mot. at 21.) The FDIC contends that the information contained in the letters from Briggs fulfilled the notice requirements, as stated in the Policy. The Court agrees with the FDIC.
First, the letters sent before December 7, 2008 provided the reasons for anticipating the FDIC's claims. The November 5, 2008 letter stated that the Bank had failed to maintain an adequate level of capital, the FDIC had notified the Bank of this failure in its Cease and Desist Order, and the Bank was in violation of the Order. (Weishart Decl. ¶ 17, Exh. 15.) In addition, the November 6, 2008 letter listed the provisions of the Cease and Desist Order that were allegedly violated. (Id. ¶ 19, Exh. 17.) The November 18, 2008 letter also stated that the Bank had operated with specific deficiencies. (Id. ¶ 28, Exh. 26.) These letters sufficiently notified BancInsure of the reasons for anticipating claims.
Second, the letters describe the nature of the wrongful acts. The November 6, 2008 letter states that any civil lawsuit
(Id.) The Policy defines "Wrongful Acts" as "any actual or alleged error, misstatement, misleading statement, act or omission, or neglect or breach of duty by any Insured Person acting solely in their insured capacities." (Weishart Decl. ¶ 4, Exh. 2 pg. 99.) These descriptions of alleged errors and breaches of duty fall within the Policy's "Wrongful Acts" definition. Cf. Davis v. BancInsure, Inc., No. 12-113, 2013 WL 1223696, *5 (N.D.Ga. Mar. 20, 2013) (notice insufficient under identical notice provision because the plaintiff failed to "identify any actual or alleged error, misstatement, misleading statement, act or omission or neglect or breach of duty").
BancInsure asserts that the acts enumerated in the letter differ materially from the acts in the Draft Complaint. The Court rejects this contention. As detailed by the FDIC, each of these acts relate to facts underlying the claims in the Draft Complaint. (See FDIC's Opposition at 20 [Doc. # 20]; Draft Complaint [Doc. # 46].) Moreover, the Policy provides only that a potential claimant who is "aware of any circumstances that may give rise to a Claim" must provide notice of the alleged wrongful acts — not that the specific claims or legal theories later pleaded in the complaint must be set forth in the notice. (Weishart Decl. ¶ 4, Exh. 2 at 10.)
Although the dates of the acts are not specifically identified, the November 5, 2008 letter states that the FDIC issued a Cease and Desist Order in April 2008 that the Bank had not complied with and that, as a result, it was possible that the FDIC would liquidate and take possession of the Bank. (Weishart Decl. ¶ 17, Exh. 15.) BancInsure points to no case law supporting the proposition that the actual date of each "Wrongful Act" must be provided, as opposed to a time period (April 2008), and it is unreasonable to assume, without a specific requirement in the Policy, that a more precise date is required for ongoing acts such those listed in the Cease and Desist Order.
Third, the letters provided notice of the alleged injury to the FDIC. The November 6, 2008 letter informs BancInsure of a possible enforcement action and a civil action by the FDIC, as receiver for the Bank, against the individual D & Os "seeking to recover monetary damages as a result of their alleged conduct. See 12 U.S.C. § 1821(k)." (Id. ¶ 19, Exh. 17.)
Fourth, the November 6, 2008 letter gave notice that the FDIC was a potential
Finally, the November 5, 2008 letter indicated the manner in which the FDIC first became aware of the potential claims, by stating that the Bank had failed to comply with its April 2008 Cease and Desist Order. (Weishart Decl. ¶ 17, Exh. 15.)
Accordingly, the notice to BancInsure comported with the notice requirements as stated in the Policy. To the extent the notice was not as detailed or specific as BancInsure would have preferred, it is not clear from the terms of the Policy that more specificity was required. Coverage must be construed broadly in favor of the insured. Bodell, 119 F.3d at 1413. The FDIC's Motion for Summary Judgment on the issue that notice under Policy Section IX, Part B, was sufficient as a matter of law is
BancInsure asserts that coverage for the FDIC's claims against the Bank's D & Os is barred by the Insured v. Insured Exclusion. According to BancInsure, the FDIC is both a "receiver" and a "successor" to the Bank. It thus contends that the plain text of the Exclusion applies. The FDIC does not dispute that the Exclusion language, when considered alone, appears to apply to it. Instead, it argues, among other things, that the "shareholders' suit exemption" to the Exclusion is evidence of BancInsure's intent to cover claims brought by the FDIC.
Under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 ("FIRREA"), Pub.L. 101-73, 103 Stat. 183, when the FDIC is appointed "for the purpose of liquidation," or to "wind up the affairs" of a failed bank, it does so as the bank's receiver. 12 U.S.C. § 1821(c)(2)(A)(ii). As a receiver, the FDIC "shall ... succeed to ... all rights, titles, powers, and privileges of the insured depository institution, and of any stockholder, member, accountholder, depositor, officer, or director of such institution with respect to the institution and the assets of the institution...." Pareto v. F.D.I.C., 139 F.3d 696, 700 (9th Cir.1998) (quoting 12 U.S.C. § 1821(d)(2)(A)(i); omissions in the original). In Pareto, the Ninth Circuit held that Section 1821(d)(2)(A)(i) "vests all rights and powers of a stockholder of the bank to bring a derivative action in the FDIC." Id.
Thus, by operation of section 1821(d)(2)(A)(i), the FDIC differs from
As BancInsure itself acknowledges, the Court must construe the terms of the contract in context. Under applicable case law, the "statutes and statutory definitions raised by the claim must be consulted in interpreting the policy." (Def's Mot. at 9 [Doc. # 28].) For this proposition, BancInsure relies upon Bank of the West v. Superior Court, where the California Supreme Court held that insurance policy terms "damages" and "unfair competition" could not be viewed in the abstract and must be read in context of what remedies were available under California statutory and case law. 2 Cal.4th 1254, 1265-67, 10 Cal.Rptr.2d 538, 833 P.2d 545 (1992); see also Cal. Civ.Code § 1647 ("A contract may be explained by reference to the circumstances under which it was made, and the matter to which it relates."). Therefore, the Court construes the Policy by looking to the applicable statutory context, as other courts have.
The Court's conclusion that the Insured v. Insured Exclusion does not bar the FDIC's claims accords with that of the majority of courts to construe similar insurance exclusions and exemptions as applied to the FDIC. See Am. Cas. Co. v. F.D.I.C., 791 F.Supp. 276, 277-78 (W.D.Okla.1992), aff'd sub nom. Am. Cas. Co. of Reading, Pa. v. F.D.I.C., 33 F.3d 62 (10th Cir.1994) (collecting cases); see also BancInsure, Inc. v. McCaffree, 3 F.Supp.3d 904, 913-14 (D.Kan.2014) (recognizing the majority view); Davis v. BancInsure, Inc., No. 12-113, 2013 WL 1223696, *9 (N.D.Ga. Mar. 20, 2013) (same).
BancInsure relies on three district court cases that examined the identical Insured v. Insured Exclusion and held that the FDIC is excluded from coverage by the provision. See Hawker v. BancInsure,
BancInsure's reliance on O'Melveny & Myers v. F.D.I.C., 512 U.S. 79, 86, 114 S.Ct. 2048, 2054, 129 L.Ed.2d 67 (1994), is also misplaced. In O'Melveny & Myers, the Supreme Court held that under 12 U.S.C. § 1821(d)(2)(A)(i), which provides that the FDIC shall "succeed to — all rights, titles, powers, and privileges of the insured depository institution," the "FDIC as receiver `steps into the shoes' of the failed S & L." Id. at 86, 114 S.Ct. 2048. Yet, O'Melveny & Myers concerned California tort claims and whether the FDIC was estopped from asserting those claims because it stepped into the shoes of a savings & loan that would be estopped from asserting them — not the operation of a shareholders' suit exemption or anything analogous to the issue before this Court. Moreover, the Ninth Circuit, on remand, clarified that the Supreme Court's decision in O'Melveny & Myers does not establish that the FDIC always steps directly into the shoes of a failed bank. It held that the FDIC's tort claims were not barred, even though the savings & loan it succeeded as a receiver could not have raised them, finding "significant ... the fact that the receiver becomes the bank's successor as part of an intricate regulatory scheme designed to protect the interests of third parties who also were not privy to the bank's inequitable conduct." F.D.I.C. v. O'Melveny & Myers, 61 F.3d 17, 19 (9th Cir.1995).
As numerous courts have similarly held, the shareholders' suit exemption evidences an "intent to place on [insurer] the risk for actions against the D & Os based upon allegations of mismanagement, waste, fraud, or abuse of the failed institution — precisely the claims brought by the FDIC against the D & Os."
That the Insured v. Insured Exclusion is ambiguous when applied to the FDIC is
In conclusion, BancInsure has not met its burden of establishing that the Insured v. Insured Exclusion precludes coverage of the FDIC's claims, given the presence of the shareholders' suit exemption and the fact that the FDIC, in its unique statutory role, succeeds to all rights, powers, and privileges of shareholders by operation of law. At minimum, whether the Exclusion applies to the FDIC is ambiguous. Therefore, the Court construes the Exclusion in favor of coverage. Bodell, 119 F.3d at 1413 ("if any reasonable interpretation of the policy would result in coverage, a court must find coverage even if other reasonable interpretations would preclude coverage.").
The FDIC's Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED as to its claim that the Insured v. Insured Exclusion does not preclude coverage of the FDIC's claims.
For the same reasons that the FDIC is entitled to summary judgment on its claims for declaratory relief and breach of contract based on the applicability of the Insured v. Insured Exclusion and compliance with the Policy's notice requirements, BancInsure is not. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Plaintiff does not alter this result. Accordingly, Defendant BancInsure's motion for summary judgment is
In light of the foregoing, Plaintiff FDIC's Motion for Summary Judgment on all claims is
In addition, because the Court finds in favor of the FDIC on the basis of the inapplicability of the Insured v. Insured Exclusion, it does not address FDIC's other arguments in favor of coverage, such as coverage under the Regulatory Endorsement and its alleged conflict with the Insured v. Insured Exclusion.