WYNN, Circuit Judge.
In this appeal, accounting firm Trice, Geary & Myers, LLC ("TGM") and Kevin Myers, CPA ("Myers") contend that their professional liability insurer CAMICO Mutual Insurance Company ("CAMICO Insurance") breached its duty to provide a defense in connection with three state court lawsuits filed against them. CAMICO Insurance responds that the claims arose from TGM's and Myers's work as insurance agents and that it was thus not obligated to provide coverage because the policy excluded claims "in connection with or arising out of any act, error or omission by any Insured in his/her capacity as an [insurance] agent or broker." J.A. 40.
However, the underlying actions allege that TGM and Myers rendered substandard tax and accounting advice. Because these claims raise a potentiality that there is coverage under the professional liability policy, we conclude that CAMICO Insurance's duty to defend is triggered. We therefore reverse the district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of CAMICO Insurance and remand for further proceedings. Furthermore, because any determination as to whether CAMICO Insurance has a duty to indemnify TGM and Myers must await the resolution of the underlying actions, we reverse the district court's award of summary judgment in favor of CAMICO Insurance on its Counterclaim.
In 2007, CAMICO Insurance issued a "claims made and reported" Accountants Professional Liability Insurance Policy (the "Policy") to TGM. J.A. 20. The Policy, effective from July 1, 2007 to July 1, 2008, insured TGM for claims arising out of professional accounting services.
The Policy's Insuring Agreement provides in pertinent part:
J.A. 21. Additionally, under the Insuring Agreements section of the Policy, CAMICO Insurance "has the right and duty to defend and settle Claims alleging Damages potentially covered by this Policy, even if the Claim is groundless, false or fraudulent." J.A. 21.
The Policy also defines "Professional Services" as "any professional services performed by an Insured as long as the fees or commissions, if any, or other benefits from such services inure to the benefit of the Named Insured[.]" J.A. 26.
Most pertinent to this matter, the Policy includes the following "Special Exclusion Endorsement":
J.A. 40.
In April 2009, Thomas R. Ruark ("Ruark"), Baja Holdings, Inc. ("Baja Holdings"), Baja Holdings, Inc. Defined Benefit Pension Plan ("Baja Defined Benefit Plan"), and Bruce Abresch ("Abresch"), business clients of TGM and Myers (and collectively referred to herein as the "Ruark Companies"), filed a complaint (the "Ruark Action") against Myers and TGM alleging causes of action for negligence and negligent misrepresentation in the provision of professional accounting and tax services.
The Ruark Action alleged that while "purporting to act as an accountant and tax advisor," Myers recommended that Ruark create the Baja Defined Benefit Plan, which would be wholly funded by a life insurance policy and annuities written by Hartford Life Insurance Company ("Hartford Insurance"). J.A. 44, ¶ 13. Further, according to the complaint, Myers represented that this arrangement would comply with Internal Revenue Code section 412(i). Allegedly in reliance upon this advice, Baja Holdings invested some $14 million in life insurance to fund the Baja Defined Benefit Plan. The Ruark Companies contend that because of Myers's incorrect advice, they were audited by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"), incurred substantial related expenses, and expect to have a substantial tax debt.
The Ruark Companies also filed a suit against Hartford Insurance; Michael A. DiMayo, a Hartford insurance agent; and DiMayo's employer, Insurance Alternatives, Inc. ("Insurance Alternatives") in the Circuit Court for the County of Baltimore ("Hartford Action").
In turn, Insurance Alternatives filed a third-party complaint ("Insurance Alternatives' Third-Party Action") against Myers and TGM seeking indemnification and contribution for any liability it incurs in connection with the Hartford Action. Insurance Alternatives' Third-Party Action also alleged that TGM and Myers provided tax and accounting services for the Ruark Companies. The Insurance Alternatives' Third-Party Action alleged that "Myers advised [Baja Holdings], through Abresch, that the premiums for the insurance products that funded the [Baja Holdings] 412(i) Plan were tax deductible expenditures under the Internal Revenue Code." J.A. 91, ¶6.
Similar to the Ruark Action, Caleb Fowler and his company, Arbitration & Mediation, Inc. ("A&M"), filed a complaint (the "Fowler Action") against TGM and Myers alleging causes of action for negligence and negligent misrepresentation.
According to the Fowler Action, in late 2005 and/or early 2006, Myers prepared and filed income tax returns for 2004 for plaintiffs without including forms required for a listed transaction, and without advising plaintiffs of the penalties that would be incurred for failing to file such forms. As a result, A&M was audited in 2006, incurred audit-related legal and accounting fees and expenses, and will likely face significant tax liability. The Fowler Action also alleged that TGM and Myers received professional fees and failed to inform plaintiffs that TGM and Myers would receive substantial commissions on the sale of insurance policies to A&M.
CAMICO Insurance declined to defend TGM and Myers in the actions brought by Ruark, Insurance Alternatives' Third-Party, and Fowler (collectively the "underlying actions"). CAMICO Insurance explained that the claims at issue were "alleged to have arisen because Mr. Myers sold `defective' insurance products." J.A. 163. Therefore, according to CAMICO Insurance, the "Special Exclusion Endorsement" and "Product Liability" exclusion barred coverage.
In turn, on September 14, 2009, TGM and Myers filed a declaratory judgment and breach of contract action pertaining to CAMICO Insurance's duty to defend the underlying actions. On October 22, 2009, CAMICO Insurance removed TGM's and Myers's action to federal district court based on diversity jurisdiction. On October 29, 2009, CAMICO Insurance filed its answer and counterclaim seeking a declaration that it had no indemnity obligation to TGM and Myers arising from the claims in the underlying actions.
In response, TGM and Myers moved to dismiss the counterclaim and for partial summary judgment, seeking a declaration that CAMICO Insurance had an obligation to provide TGM and Myers with an ongoing defense in the underlying actions and that CAMICO Insurance was liable for TGM's and Myers's previously incurred defense costs. TGM and Myers argued CAMICO Insurance had a duty to defend them because the claims in the underlying actions arose from covered "Professional Services."
CAMICO Insurance filed a cross-motion for summary judgment as to all counts in TGM's and Myers's complaint. CAMICO Insurance argued that the underlying actions all related to Myers's sales of Defined Benefit Plans in his capacity as a Hartford Insurance agent, which was excluded from coverage by the "Special Exclusion Endorsement" and the "Products Liability" exclusion.
On March 25, 2010, the district court denied TGM's and Myer's motions and granted CAMICO Insurance's motion for summary judgment. The district court determined that the claims were excluded under the "Special Exclusion Endorsement" because all of the claims asserted in the underlying actions were "in connection with or arising out of" Myers's acts, errors, and omissions regarding the sale of the Hartford life insurance and annuity products.
We first consider TGM and Myers's argument that the district court erred in finding no duty on the part of CAMICO Insurance to defend TGM and Myers under the Policy.
We review de novo a grant of summary judgment.
Maryland law governs our analysis in this matter because this is a diversity action in which the Policy was issued to TGM in Maryland.
Maryland courts construe an insurer's duty to defend its insured very broadly:
To determine whether there is a potentiality of coverage giving rise to the duty to defend, the Maryland Court of Appeals in
In addressing the first prong of the
Under the Policy, CAMICO Insurance owes a duty to defend claims "arising out of an Insured's negligent act, error or omission in rendering or failing to render Professional Services." J.A. 21. The Policy defines "Professional Services" as "any professional services performed by an Insured as long as the fees or commissions, if any, or other benefits from such services inure to the benefit of the Named Insured[.]" J.A. 26.
The "Special Exclusion Endorsement," which seeks to limit coverage, includes an insurance agent or broker exclusion. However, this "Special Exclusion Endorsement" contains several materially different versions of exclusionary language that create inconsistencies in the scope of the limitation of coverage.
As guidance for interpreting an ambiguity in an insurance policy, we observe that the Maryland Court of Appeals has held that:
We agree with TGM's and Myers's assertion that because CAMICO Insurance invoked the exclusion for claims "
Three similar, but not identical, clauses of the "Special Exclusion Endorsement" concern the scope of the endorsement. First, the introductory paragraph of the "Special Exclusion Endorsement" states in an incomplete clause: "This policy does not apply to any Claims in
We decline to accept CAMICO Insurance's argument that when CAMICO Insurance and its insureds agreed to the "in connection with or arising out of" language in the "Special Exclusion Endorsement", they also agreed that, even if there were several grounds for a claim, coverage would be barred so long as
We find these two cases inapposite, as the present case deals with a "Special Exclusion Endorsement" in a professional liability policy, whereas
Here, the focus of the exclusion is not a particular type of accident or instrumentality of the injury. Instead, we must interpret whether the acts, errors, or omissions of the insureds arise out of their capacity as brokers and agents. "To be sure, the phrase `arising out of' is used frequently in insurance contracts, and has been the subject of prior interpretation by Maryland courts . . . . Nevertheless, it does not have a single, `settled meaning' that applies to every insurance policy. Contractual language cannot be construed in a vacuum."
Additionally, CAMICO Insurance asserts that merely "acting" as an agent or broker is itself sufficient to invoke the "Special Exclusion Endorsement". The terms "agent" and "broker" are not defined in the policy. But they are terms of art under Maryland law, which sets forth three factors to determine whether a principal-agent relationship exists: "(1) the agent's power to alter the legal relations of the principal; (2) the agent's duty to act primarily for the benefit of the principal; and (3) the principal's right to control the agent."
Thus, in answer to the first part of our inquiry under
Under the next prong of the
This Court must analyze each of the complaints filed against TGM and Myers and compare the allegations to the scope of the Policy's coverage to determine if TGM and Myers are entitled to a defense in each of the actions.
The Ruark Action contained specific assertions regarding Myers's and TGM's professional accounting and tax services to plaintiffs. Myers and TGM were retained to provide accounting and tax advice. Acting on Myers's advice, Ruark and Baja Holdings allegedly invested some $14 million in life insurance to fund the Baja Defined Benefit Plan. Thereafter, the IRS audited Ruark and disallowed deductions based on the Baja Defined Benefit Plan. In 2004 and 2005, Myers prepared tax returns for Ruark and did not include required forms for the listed transaction.
The Ruark Action alleged that TGM and Myers received professional fees in connection with the accounting and tax advice they provided but failed to disclose that they would receive substantial commissions on the life insurance sales. However, the Ruark Action did not identify TGM or Myers as agents or brokers, and there were no allegations that plaintiffs relied on them to perform any duties on their behalf as insurance agents or brokers. In fact, the Ruark Action specifically identified Michael DiMayo as the Hartford insurance agent: "Myers put [Ruark and Baja Holdings] in contact with Michael DiMayo (`DiMayo') . . ., a licensed Hartford agent, who provided Plaintiffs with various proposals to implement the 412(i) Concept." J.A. 45, ¶14. DiMayo allegedly represented that the arrangement would comply with tax regulations, and Myers concurred with those representations in his advisory capacity.
The Insurance Alternatives' Third-Party Action also included specific allegations relating to TGM's and Myers's role as accountants and tax advisors. The Insurance Alternatives' Third-Party Action alleged specifically that "Myers and TGM . .. have performed tax and accounting services for Ruark Company." J.A. 91, ¶3. The Insurance Alternatives' Third-Party Action also alleged that Baja Holdings, through Abresch, relied upon TGM and Myers's tax advice. The Action further alleged that Myers and TGM "had a duty to ensure that information conveyed . . . as to the deductibility of premiums . . . was accurate." J.A. 94, ¶21.
The Fowler Action also included allegations that TGM and Myers provided negligent accounting and tax services:
J.A. 108, ¶45. Myers and TGM allegedly breached the duty of care by "[f]ailing to advise Plaintiffs of the February 2004 IRS Guidance making the 412(i) Concept a listed transaction; [n]ot advising Plaintiffs to file the required listed transaction forms with their 2004 and 2005 tax returns; [and]. . . [a]dvising Plaintiffs that IRS Ruling 2004-20 would not apply to Plaintiffs." J.A. 109, ¶46.
In sum, contrary to the district court's interpretation, all of the underlying actions asserted that Myers and TGM acted as accountants and tax advisors. Only the Insurance Alternatives' Third-Party Action, which seeks indemnification and contribution from TGM and Myers, contained a fleeting allegation relating to Myers's status as a Hartford Insurance agent. Even so, this sole allegation does not irrefutably put all of the underlying actions within the "Special Exclusion Endorsement." There are no allegations in the Ruark and Fowler Actions that Myers acted as an insurance agent or broker. Additionally, although CAMICO Insurance and the district court noted that Myers and TGM received a commission on the insurance sales, this fact does not show a principal-agent relationship or employment as a broker, and there is no evidence in the record to support such a conclusion. Moreover, even if such evidence existed, it would not change the fact that the underlying actions raise the specter of coverage. And "[s]o long as a complaint raises a potentiality of coverage, an insurer is under a duty to defend an insured named in that complaint."
We conclude that CAMICO Insurance has a duty to defend TGM and Myers. Accordingly, we reverse the district court's judgment to the contrary and direct the district court to grant TGM and Myers's motion for partial summary judgment seeking a declaration that CAMICO Insurance must provide them with a defense in the underlying actions.
TGM and Myers also argue on appeal that the district court erred by granting summary judgment on CAMICO Insurance's Counterclaim seeking a declaration that it had no duty to indemnify. "Under the potentiality rule, the insurer will be obligated to defend more cases than it will be required to indemnify because the mere possibility that the insurer will have to indemnify triggers the duty to defend."
The issue of whether Myers acted as Hartford Insurance's agent or broker is not independent and separable from the issues to be decided in the underlying actions. Again, the gravamen of the underlying actions is that Myers and TGM rendered substandard accounting and tax advice. Nevertheless, the underlying actions also contain causes of action for negligent misrepresentation, based in part on TGM's and Myers's failure to disclose that they would receive substantial commissions on the life insurance sales.
Additionally, although CAMICO Insurance is obligated to defend the underlying actions based on the allegations as set forth in the complaints, the "ultimate findings of fact,"
Consequently, a declaration as to CAMICO Insurance's duty of indemnification would be premature at this time; such a declaration should instead be made after the underlying actions are resolved.
In sum, because there is a potentiality of coverage, we hold that CAMICO Insurance has a duty to defend TGM and Myers. We therefore reverse the district court's ruling to the contrary and direct it to grant TGM and Myers's motion for partial summary judgment seeking a declaration that CAMICO Insurance is obligated to defend them in the underlying actions. Further, because any determination as to whether CAMICO Insurance has a duty to indemnify TGM and Myers must await the resolution of the underlying actions, we reverse the district court's award of summary judgment in favor of CAMICO Insurance on its Counterclaim.