BRYAN, Justice.
Shane Traylor Cabinetmaker, L.L.C. ("STC"), and Michael Shane Traylor sued American Resources Insurance Company, Inc. ("American Resources"), alleging breach of contract and bad faith, based on American Resources' refusal to defend or to indemnify STC and Traylor on counterclaims filed against them by Robert L. Barbee and R.L. Barbee Builders, Inc. (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Barbee"), in a separate action. The circuit court entered a summary judgment in favor of American Resources, and STC and Traylor appealed. We affirm.
In 2005 and 2006, Barbee hired STC to perform cabinetry and woodworking on homes Barbee was building in Baldwin County ("the subject properties"). One of the subject properties was Robert L. Barbee's
Barbee filed an answer and counterclaim, alleging breach of contract, money lent, money paid by mistake, negligence, misrepresentation, slander of title based on a lien placed on one of the subject properties, unjust enrichment, and conversion. Barbee also sought a judgment determining the respective ownership rights in STC and requested the dissolution of STC. In July 2008, Barbee amended its counterclaim, adding additional claims for interest and seeking mental-anguish damages on its slander-of-title claim.
STC and Traylor notified American Resources, with whom they had a business-liability insurance policy ("the policy"), of Barbee's claims against them asserted in its counterclaim and requested that American Resources defend and indemnify STC and Traylor against those claims under the policy. American Resources refused, arguing that Barbee's claims were not covered by the policy. STC and Traylor again requested that American Resources indemnify and defend them pursuant to the terms of the policy; American Resources again refused.
In November 2008, STC and Traylor sued American Resources in the Mobile Circuit Court, alleging breach of contract and bad faith. American Resources moved the circuit court for a summary judgment, arguing, among other things, that STC and Traylor had not identified an "occurrence" that would have triggered coverage under the policy and that American Resources had acted on the advice of counsel in denying coverage. The circuit court denied American Resources' motion. In February 2011, STC and Traylor moved the circuit court for a partial summary judgment on their breach-of-contract claim. American Resources filed a response and a supplemental "cross-motion" for a summary judgment on both claims. In May 2011, American Resources amended its supplemental summary-judgment motion.
The circuit court held oral argument on the motions for a summary judgment, and, on September 6, 2011, the circuit court granted American Resources' motion and entered a summary judgment in its favor
STC and Traylor moved the circuit court to alter, amend, or vacate its judgment. After additional oral argument, the circuit court denied STC and Traylor's motions, and STC and Traylor appealed.
STC and Traylor present three issues for this Court's review on appeal: (1) whether "Barbee's [counterclaim in STC and Traylor's action against Barbee, as amended,] allege[d] an occurrence for which [American Resources] was required to provide ... a defense and coverage under [the] policy"; (2) whether "Barbee's [counterclaim, as amended,] allege[d] a cause of action against [STC and] Traylor for which [American Resources] was required to provide [them] with a defense and coverage under the `Products—completed operations hazard' coverage provisions"; and (3) whether "[American Resources] [was] entitled to rely upon [various] ... purported exclusions [in the policy] or the advice of counsel defense to deny [STC and] Traylor a defense and coverage for Barbee's [counterclaim]."
Dow v. Alabama Democratic Party, 897 So.2d 1035, 1038-39 (Ala.2004) (quoting West v. Founders Life Assur. Co. of Florida, 547 So.2d 870, 871 (Ala.1989)).
STC and Traylor first argue that the circuit court erred in entering a summary judgment in favor of American Resources because, they argue, Barbee's counterclaim, as amended, alleges an occurrence that triggers a duty to provide coverage under the policy. The policy provides, in pertinent part:
(Emphasis added.)
An "occurrence" is defined in the policy as "an accident, including continuous or repeated exposure to substantially the same general harmful conditions." In its summary judgment, the circuit court stated:
STC and Traylor argue that "Barbee's counterclaim alleged that Traylor's cabinet
In Town & Country I, we explained that "[t]his Court has previously considered cases requiring it to determine whether damage alleged to be the result of faulty workmanship is covered under a CGL policy, and, in each case, its decision has hinged on the nature of the damage caused by the faulty workmanship." 111 So.3d at 699 (emphasis added). This Court went on to contrast two cases: United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Warwick Development Co., 446 So.2d 1021 (Ala.1984) ("Warwick"), and Moss v. Champion Insurance Co., 442 So.2d 26 (Ala.1983). Town & Country I, 111 So.3d at 707. It noted that the Court in Warwick held that no recovery was available under a CGL policy for the cost of repairing or replacing the portions of a new house that had been defectively constructed by the insured. In contrast, we noted that "in Moss we held that there had been an occurrence for CGL policy purposes when the contractor's poor workmanship resulted in not merely a poorly constructed roof but damage to the plaintiff's attic, interior ceilings, and at least some furnishings." Town & Country I, 111 So.3d at 699.5
This Court then explained:
Town & Country I, 111 So.3d at 706.
As STC and Traylor themselves argue, Barbee's counterclaim alleged "that the work by [STC and] Traylor `was not performed in a workmanlike manner ... requiring Robert L. Barbee to repair and/or replace the work performed by [STC and Traylor]." STC and Traylor's brief, at 51 (emphasis added). Neither the counterclaim nor the amended counterclaim alleged damage to the subject properties as a result of the alleged faulty workmanship, additional repairs or remodeling to the subject properties necessitated by STC and Traylor's allegedly faulty work, or any loss of use of the subject properties. Nor did the counterclaim or the amended counterclaim allege damage resulting from "`continuous or repeated exposure' to some other `general harmful condition'" (i.e., a condition other than STC and Traylor's allegedly defective work). Town and Country I, 111 So.3d at 706.
STC and Traylor attempt to argue that, "[b]y reasonable inference, the Barbee counterclaim set[s] forth claims for damage[] to other property," STC and Traylor's brief, at 50, including damage for loss of use. They cite United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Andalusia Ready Mix, Inc., 436 So.2d 868 (1983), in support of this argument. Andalusia Ready Mix
Andalusia Ready Mix requested coverage under its CGL policy after it was sued by Will M. Gregory, Inc. ("Gregory"), for damage allegedly caused by defective grout Andalusia Ready Mix had sold to Gregory, which Gregory had used in constructing a water-treatment plant. Gregory argued that "`due to the defective quality of said grout, it [had been] necessary to do extensive repairing and remodeling of said Waste Water Treatment Plant ... which included the purchase of additional grout and materials and the payment by [Gregory] to mechanics and laborers who performed the corrective work and installed the new materials.'" Andalusia Ready Mix, 436 So.2d at 870. Andalusia Ready Mix filed a declaratory-judgment action against United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company ("USF & G"), seeking a defense and indemnity on Gregory's claims.
After reviewing the language of the products-hazard provision in the CGL policy and the relevant caselaw, the Court in Andalusia Ready Mix concluded:
436 So.2d at 871 (citing Cotton States Mut. Ins. Co. v. Norrell Heating & Air Conditioning Co., 370 So.2d 270, 275 (Ala.1979)). The Court went on to state:
Andalusia Ready Mix, 436 So.2d at 871. STC and Traylor argue that, like the complaint in Andalusia Ready Mix,
STC and Traylor's brief, at 51-53.
However, unlike Barbee's counterclaim, the complaint in Andalusia Ready Mix expressly alleged damage to property other than a defect in Andalusia Ready Mix's own product. Specifically, the complaint alleged that Andalusia Ready Mix's defective grout had damaged the water-treatment plant, requiring repairs to and remodeling of the plant. In contrast, Barbee's counterclaim alleged that STC and Traylor's defective work "requir[ed] Robert L. Barbee to repair and/or replace the work performed by Traylor and STC." It did not allege damage to other property resulting from that work. Andalusia Ready Mix is distinguishable in that regard, and we decline to infer loss of use or other injuries based on speculation as to damage that was not alleged in the counterclaim or the amended counterclaim. Thus, STC and Traylor have not demonstrated the existence of an "occurrence" in that regard that would trigger American Resources' duty to defend or to indemnify them under the policy.
STC and Traylor also argue that "[t]he Barbee counterclaim alleged covered `bodily injury.'" STC and Traylor's brief, at 47. "Bodily injury" is defined in the policy as "bodily injury, sickness or disease sustained by a person, including death resulting from any of these at any time." Barbee did allege in the counterclaim that Robert L. Barbee had suffered "emotional distress and mental anguish" as a result of STC and Traylor's alleged representations "that [Traylor] would assign a 50% interest in [STC] [to Robert L. Barbee] in exchange for payments made by Robert L. Barbee ... and that Traylor and STC would complete the cabinets and woodworking for [the subject properties]." Barbee also added a request in the amended counterclaim for "mental anguish damages on behalf of Robert Barbee" on Barbee's slander-of-title claim against STC and Traylor. STC and Traylor argue that this Court has recognized that claims alleging "mental anguish" fall within the definition of "bodily injury" as set forth in the policy, citing American States v. Cooper, 518 So.2d 708, 710 (Ala.1987) (quoting with approval the trial court's judgment in which it concluded that "in the ... policy, `bodily injury' includes sickness or disease which includes mental anguish").
Assuming without deciding that mental anguish is included within the definition of "bodily injury" in the policy, STC and Traylor have nevertheless failed to demonstrate the existence of an occurrence as defined in the policy because Robert L. Barbee's claims for mental-anguish damages did not arise from STC and Traylor's allegedly defective work or some other general harmful condition resulting from that work. Instead, the alleged misrepresentations justifying mental-anguish damages related to Robert L. Barbee's ownership interest in STC and STC and Traylor's intention to complete the work under the contract, and, in the case of the slander-of-title claim, STC and Traylor's placement of a lien on one of the subject properties. Thus, STC and Traylor have not demonstrated that Barbee's claims for mental-anguish damages arose from an occurrence as defined in the policy or our caselaw.
STC and Traylor also argue that "[t]he Barbee counterclaim alleged coverage for [STC and] Traylor under the `products—completed operations hazard' coverage provisions." STC and Traylor's brief, at
However, STC and Traylor have not identified any breach-of-warranty claims alleged in Barbee's counterclaim, as amended. Moreover, the misrepresentations alleged in the counterclaim relate to Robert L. Barbee's ownership interest in STC and to STC and Traylor's promise to complete the work on the subject properties under the contract. They do not relate to "the fitness, quality, durability, performance or use of" STC and Traylor's work. The representations here are distinguishable in that regard from those in Cotton States and Andalusia Ready Mix, which related, at least to some extent, to the quality of the work performed by the insureds in those cases
For the foregoing reasons, we hold that STC and Traylor have not presented substantial evidence of an "occurrence" that would trigger American Resources' duty under the policy to defend or to indemnify STC and Traylor on the claims asserted against them in Barbee's counterclaim and amended counterclaim, nor have they presented substantial evidence that American Resources was required to provide them with a defense and to indemnify them under the "products—completed operations hazard" provisions in the policy. Therefore, they have not rebutted American Resources' prima facie showing that there is no genuine issue of material fact, and the summary judgment in favor of American Resources is due to be affirmed. Our decision in this regard pretermits consideration of STC and Traylor's arguments regarding the applicability of various exclusion provisions of the policy or the viability of American Resources' advice-of-counsel defense.
AFFIRMED.
MOORE, C.J., and STUART, BOLIN, PARKER, SHAW, MAIN, and WISE, JJ., concur.
MURDOCK, J., concurs specially.
MURDOCK, Justice (concurring specially).
I concur in the main opinion. I write separately to comment on what I perceive to be an apparent lack of precision in this Court's assessment in Town & Country Property, L.L.C. v. Amerisure Insurance
The main opinion accurately quotes this Court's decision in Town & Country as follows:
126 So.3d at 163 (quoting Town & Country, 111 So.3d at 704) (emphasis added). In retrospect, I question the precision of the quoted passage, particularly the emphasized portions. Consistent with the opinion issued today, I would state the rule as follows: "faulty workmanship itself" is not "property damage" "caused by" or "arising out of" an "occurrence." That is, the fact that the cost of repairing or replacing faulty workmanship itself is not the intended object of the insurance policy does not necessarily mean that, in an appropriate case, additional damage to a contractor's work resulting from faulty workmanship might not properly be considered "property damage" "caused by" or "arising out of" an "occurrence."
Of course, where a "your work" exclusion
According to STC and Traylor, Robert L. Barbee did not execute the assignment of interest or the operating agreement until March 28, 2007. STC and Traylor argued that several times between December 2006 and March 28, 2007, Traylor informed Robert L. Barbee that he was revoking his decision to transfer ownership to Robert L. Barbee and that the only business relationship between STC and Barbee was the one that had existed prior to Traylor's execution of the operating agreement and the assignment of interest. On March 29, 2007, Traylor filed in the Mobile Probate Court a "Declaration of Membership and Status" on behalf of STC, declaring that he had revoked his intention to transfer ownership to Robert L. Barbee and that STC was still a single-member limited-liability company. According to STC and Traylor, Robert L. Barbee never filed the assignment of interest or the operating agreement with the probate court.
Hartford Cas. Ins. Co. v. Merchants & Farmers Bank, 928 So.2d 1006, 1011 (Ala.2005).