Wm. C. HETHERINGTON, Jr., Chief Judge.
¶ 1 Kentucky Bluegrass Contracting, LLC (KBC) filed this action for breach of contract and duty of good faith and fair dealing (bad faith) against The Cincinnati Insurance Company (Insurer) after the latter denied KBC's claim for coverage and a defense in a federal action. KBC now appeals a trial court order sustaining Insurer's motion for summary judgment. We affirm.
¶ 2 This appeal is governed by and follows the procedure set forth in Oklahoma Supreme Court Rule 1.36, 12 O.S. 2011, ch. 15, app. 1, without appellate briefs. The appellate standard of review for an order granting summary judgment is de novo. Carmichael v. Beller, 1996 OK 48, ¶ 2, 914 P.2d 1051, 1053. When one party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law because there are no material disputed facts, summary judgment will be affirmed. Id.
¶ 3 According to undisputed facts revealed by the accelerated record, KBC is a construction company formed under Kentucky law. Insurer is an Ohio stock insurance company in the business of "selling general liability insurance to commercial business within the State of Oklahoma." Its agent sold KBC a commercial general liability (CGL) policy, which in relevant part, was effective for three years, "03-06-2007 to 03-06-2010" (the CGL Policy).
¶ 4 Pursuant to a subcontract with PPR/ Lyon's Pride (PPR), KBC agreed to perform "electrical connection work, exterior cladding and interior finishes" at a federal construction project for barracks and officers' quarters at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in 2008. To obtain laborers for the same project, KBC contracted with CLP Resources, Inc. (CLP).
¶ 5 On some unknown date, PPR rejected KBC's work for "failure to complete the work as required." Because PPR's charges for completion and/or repair of KBC's defective work exceeded the amount due KBC under the subcontract, it "could not afford to pay CLP for the labor services."
¶ 6 Seeking payment under their contract, CLP sued KBC in the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Oklahoma, No. CIV-08-1198-M (federal case). KBC subsequently filed a third-party petition against PPR, several sub-contractors, and the general contractor at the Ft. Sill project.
¶ 7 In June 2009, one "third party defendant" in the federal case, Morgan Building & Spas, Inc., together with its surety, Travelers Casualty & Surety Company of America (collectively, Morgan), filed an answer to CLP's first amended petition joined with a cross-claim against KBC. In pertinent part, Morgan raised the affirmative defenses of KBC's "first and prior breach of contract," accord and satisfaction, and payment.
¶ 8 In Morgan's cross-claim, it alleged KBC was responsible for "supervising and paying for any contract labor employed by it in the performance of such work" and for "the completion of certain work to PPR's satisfactory inspection," which work PPR rejected and declined to certify "based on failure to complete the work as required." Morgan further alleged "[t]o the extent that [KBC] wrongfully, maliciously, recklessly or in bad faith failed to pay," Morgan was seeking to be "indemnified, reimbursed and held harmless for all losses, expenses and damages incurred by [it] relating thereto, including, without limitation, costs and reasonable attorneys' fees." Morgan prayed for judgment in their favor, recovery of damages in the amount shown by the evidence, and all other relief to which they are entitled.
¶ 9 In December 2009, KBC submitted a claim to Insurer for coverage and a defense in the federal case. Insurer denied the claim by letter dated January 7, 2010, explaining "there are no claims that would constitute an `occurrence' in this matter" and, based upon the policy's "Expected or Intended Injury" and "Contractual Liability" exclusions. KBC's counsel responded by letter dated January 15, 2010, claiming Insurer had incorrectly
¶ 10 In October 2011, KBC filed a petition for breach of contract and for bad faith against Insurer in Comanche County District Court (state case), KBC alleged Insurer had unreasonably denied and failed to properly investigate KBC's requests in January 2010 "to defend against Morgan's cross-claim" and "to indemnify [KBC] from any loss incurred as a result of the cross-claim." As a consequence, KBC alleged it had incurred defense costs in the federal case in excess of $75,000.00 and was subjected to damage, contraction of its business, loss of operating funds and required to incur indebtedness to continue operation during the pendency of that case.
¶ 11 Insurer filed an answer in the state case in June 2012, acknowledging receipt of KBC's notice of the pending federal action and admitting its duty under the terms of the CGL Policy to provide a defense to any civil lawsuit filed against KBC for damages resulting from an "occurrence." However, Insurer specifically and generally denied that the cause of action asserted against KBC in the federal case "raised any duty on the part of [Insurer] to provide a defense to [KBC]."
¶ 12 Over a year later, Insurer moved for summary judgment in the state case, arguing Kentucky law should be applied to interpret the CGL Policy that had been "issued" in that state. Relying on "a recent Kentucky case on point," Cincinnati Ins. Co. v. Motorists Mutual Ins. Co., 306 S.W.3d 69 (Ky. 2010), for holding "claims of faulty workmanship, standing alone, are not `occurrences' under CGL policies," Insurer argued there was no potential for coverage under the CGL Policy for Morgan's cross-claim because the policy limits coverage to "property damage caused by an `occurrence'" and "does not extend to allegations relating to the failure to pay or complete work in connection with the project" at Ft. Sill. Based thereon, Insurer argued it is under no duty to defend and/or to indemnify KBC and no bad faith exists.
¶ 13 To support its arguments, Insurer attached the following evidentiary material: a) five pages of the twenty-three page CGL Policy, b) the joint answer/cross-claim filed by Morgan in the federal litigation, c) KBC's counsel's letter dated January 15, 2010 to Insurer,
¶ 14 KBC opposed summary adjudication, arguing a choice of law analysis was unnecessary for lack of a conflict between Oklahoma and Kentucky law at the time Insurer denied its claim, and even if the latter were to
¶ 15 KBC also argued the term "occurrence" in the CGL Policy is ambiguous and that several facts precluded summary judgment, including: 1) Morgan and PPR had alleged KBC's "defective work ... and fail[ure] to properly supervise its contract labor, result[ed] in damage to the project, including the work of other sub-contractors... which had to be repaired at additional expense to PPR and Morgan"; 2) PPR and Morgan submitted "$168,642.25 in back charges to KBC ... which included the additional expenses incurred by PPR and Morgan to repair the damage to the work of other contractors ... which was outside of KBC's contract scope"; and 3) "if [Insurer] had contacted KBC's attorney in January of 2010 regarding the specific nature of Morgan's and PPR's allegations against KBC and the reasons for the back charges submitted to KBC, Timothy Harlow at that time would have given [Insurer], through KBC's attorney, all the information contained in his affidavit." These facts were supported by an affidavit of KBC's member/Vice-President, Mr. Harlow. Also attached are excerpts from depositions of two of Insurer's representatives, whose admissions KBC claims supports potential liability under the CGL Policy.
¶ 16 Insurer filed a reply brief, citing authority for its choice of law argument and clarifying its counsel had prior and personal knowledge of Motorists Mutual which opinion admittedly was decided two months after Insurer's denial of KBC's request for a defense to the cross-claim and indemnification.
¶ 17 By "Order" filed. December 10, 2013, the trial court found Insurer's summary judgment "motion is addressed to the interpretation of the [CGL] policy" and that "Kentucky law should be applied in interpreting the duties and obligations of [Insurer] to defend and to pay claims under that policy." Based on its review of the parties' "briefs, authorities, and contract of insurance,"
¶ 18 "The applicability and tenor of foreign law is a matter for the court." Panama Processes, S.A. v. Cities Service Co., 1990 OK 66, ¶ 47, 796 P.2d 276, 294. "As a question of law, we review the trial court's decision on the choice of law issue de novo." Edwards v. McKee, 2003 OK CIV APP 59, ¶ 9, 76 P.3d 73, 76.
¶ 19 In this case, Insurer asserts "[it] issued an insurance policy in Bausch, Kentucky to [KBC]" and argues that Kentucky law applies to the interpretation of the CGL policy "because [it] was initiated and signed in Kentucky for a Kentucky-based contracting company doing work in Oklahoma." KBC admits the Policy was issued in Kentucky but claims such fact is "immaterial" because there was no conflict of law at the time Insurer denied KBC's defense and coverage request in January 2010, since neither Oklahoma nor Kentucky had then decided
¶ 20 According to our research, "the threshold question in determining the application of choice of law rules is whether there is a true conflict, a false conflict, or no conflict." 16 Am.Jur.2d Conflicts of Law § 4. "If the law and interests of the concerned states are not in conflict, the result is deemed a `false conflict' or no conflict at all, and no choice of law analysis need be made." 15A C.J.S. Conflicts of Law § 31. See also Rogers v. Dell Computer Corp., 2005 OK 51, ¶ 19, 138 P.3d 826, 831 (noting "where neither party argued a difference in Texas or Oklahoma law `any perceived choice of law issue is contrived'"); Roby v. Bailey, 1993 OK CIV APP 93, 856 P.2d 1013, 1016 ("A choice of law question always involves choosing between the `conflicting laws' of two or more states.")
¶ 21 Our research also reveals Oklahoma has long abided by the rule that "the law of another jurisdiction presents a question of fact and must be pleaded and proved before it could be considered by the trial court." C.I.T. Corp. v. Edwards, 1966 OK 180, ¶ 12, 418 P.2d 685, 688; Gray v. Martin, 1952 OK 96, ¶ 0, 206 Okla. 167, 242 P.2d 698. More recently, the Oklahoma Supreme Court held "[o]ne who asserts that a law different from that of Oklahoma governs the dispute bears the burden of identifying and invoking that other law. Unless foreign law is invoked, Oklahoma's domestic law will be deemed to govern." (Emphasis added.) Lewis a Sac and Fox Tribe of Oklahoma Housing Authority, 1994 OK 20, ¶ 21, 896 P.2d 503, 513, cert. denied, 516 U.S. 975, 116 S.Ct. 476, 133 L.Ed.2d 405 (1995).
¶ 22 Lewis, which we find instructive here, involved a dispute over whether a 1974 agreement between the tribal members (plaintiffs) and the Housing Authority (Authority) required the mineral estate to be conveyed with the home and surface rights after the plaintiff's payoff of the loan. The trial court denied the Authority's request to take judicial notice and to apply four tribal laws enacted in 1983, specifically the one amended in 1987 requiring the Authority to retain title to any mineral interest acquired by it in fee simple and to keep any revenues for tribe-related purposes.
¶ 23 After a bench trial, the trial court in Lewis found the land was not in Indian country when the parties' agreement was signed, and Authority appealed the judgment directing transfer of the mineral estate to the plaintiffs. The Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's choice of law decision, finding state contract and conveyance law applied because 1) the parties' "agreement was executed before the Tribe reorganized Authority in 1983 as a tribal agency," 2) "at the time of... the [parties'] contract execution" Authority was acting as a state agency under state law, and 3) "when the parties entered into [their] Agreement, the project area involved was not ... a `dependent Indian community.'" (Emphasis added.) Id., 1994 OK 20, ¶¶ 21-22, 896 P.2d 503. Thus, there was no conflict between the state and tribal laws at the time relevant to the plaintiff's action for specific performance of their contract, i.e., when it was executed, because, at that time, the tribal laws were not then in effect.
¶ 24 In this case, Insurer's "liability for breach of its duty to provide a defense is measured by the facts that were known and knowable — by what the insurer knows or by what the insurer was capable of discovering itself — at the time the insured's request was tendered." (Italics in original.) First Bank of Turley v. Fidelity and Deposit Insurance Company of Maryland, 1996 OK 105, ¶ 15, 928 P.2d 298, 305. Similarly, in a bad faith tort claim, "the decisive question is whether the insurer had a `good faith belief, at the time its performance was requested, that it had a justifiable reason for withholding payment under the policy.'" Newport v. USAA, 2000 OK 59, ¶ 10, 11 P.3d 190, 195 (quoting
¶ 25 Insurer has carried its burden for asserting Kentucky law. However, based on Lewis, this Court agrees with KBC that Insurer has failed to demonstrate an actual conflict of law between that state and Oklahoma at the time relevant for deciding this case, i.e., when Insurer denied KBC's request for a defense to the cross-claim asserted against it in the federal case and for coverage of its claim.
¶ 26 Turning to Insurer's argument, Oklahoma's choice of law statute for contract actions, 15 O.S. § 162, was enacted in 1910 and still today provides, "[a] contract is to be interpreted according to the law and usage of the place where it is to be performed, or if it does not indicate a place of performance, according to the law and usage of the place where it is made." (Emphasis added.) Citing § 162, the Court in Harvell v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., 2006 OK 24, ¶ 14, 164 P.3d 1028, 1033-1034, held "[i]n Oklahoma... the established choice of law rule in contract actions known as lex loci contractus is that, unless the contract terms provide otherwise, the nature, validity, and interpretation of a contract are governed by the law where the contract was made." (Emphasis added.)
Thus, as the movant for summary judgment advocating for application of Kentucky law to interpret the CGL Policy at issue in this contract action filed in Oklahoma, Insurer has the burden under § 162 and Harvell to demonstrate the CGL policy does not identify "where it is to be performed," i.e., lacks a choice of law provision and/or Insurer and KBC did not otherwise agree to or "indicate a place of performance."
¶ 27 When reviewing an order granting a motion for summary judgment, this Court "bears an affirmative duty to test all evidentiary material tendered in summary process for its legal sufficiency to support the relief sought by the movant." Murray County v. Homesales, Inc., 2014 OK 52, ¶ 4, 330 P.3d 519, 523. During the summary judgment process in this case, Insurer has made no attempt to establish the policy does not indicate a place of performance. Insurer has failed to demonstrate § 162's mandate, which proof would then permit the state law where the policy was made to govern its interpretation in a contract action filed in Oklahoma. Accordingly, we conclude the trial court erred by finding Kentucky law governs KBC's action. The order on appeal, however, does not require reversal, because we find, as discussed below, the trial court nevertheless reached the correct result. Morales v. City of Oklahoma City, ex rel.
¶ 28 Under the "Insuring Agreement" section of the CGL Coverage Form submitted to the trial court, the Policy provides, in relevant part:
¶ 29 As explained in the CGL Coverage Form, the "words and phrases that appear with quotation marks have a special meaning" and are defined in Section V. The following terms are used in the Policy's Insuring Agreement:
¶ 30 The parties correctly point out, and our research confirms, a split of authority on the issue upon which they focus in this case, i.e., whether claims for "faulty workmanship" are caused by an "occurrence" under CGL policies.
¶ 31 Assuming arguendo the alleged "property damage" in this case was caused by an "occurrence" as defined by the Policy,
¶ 32 The Oklahoma Supreme Court in Dodson v. St. Paul Ins. Co., 1991 OK 24, ¶ 5, 812 P.2d 372, 374, addressed a similar exclusion for "liability assumed by the Insured under contract or agreement" in a CGL policy in which the insurer, like in this case, had agreed to pay all sums for which the insured "shall become legally obligated to pay as damages because of ... property damage to which this insurance applies, caused by an occurrence."
¶ 33 More recently, another panel of the Court of Civil Appeals in Alfalfa Electric Cooperative, Inc. v. Mid-Continent Casualty Company, 2015 OK CIV APP 53, 350 P.3d 1276 (mandate issued May 28, 2015), interpreted an exclusion in a commercial auto policy which similarly excluded "liability imposed under any contract or agreement." The insurer in Alfalfa Electric argued the contractual liability exclusion eliminated coverage for its insured who had been sued for, inter alia, breach of a bailment contract and negligence.
¶ 34 The Court in Alfalfa Electric concluded the holding in Dodson aligned with the current majority of state courts who had interpreted exclusions in CGL policies for "liability assumed under any contract or agreement" to apply without any limitation, i.e., no coverage for a contract-based claim. Based on Dodson, the Court in Alfalfa Electric agreed with the insurer, finding the unambiguous terms of the exclusion "removes from coverage any cause of action grounded on a liability arising under contract or agreement, i.e., contract-based claims." (Emphasis added.) 2015 OK CIV APP 53, ¶ 50, 350 P.3d 1276. The Court found the contractual liability exclusion applies to exclude the claim against its insured for breach of bailment agreement unless one of that exclusion's two exceptions "reserves coverage." Id.
¶ 35 After considering the evidentiary materials and the parties' arguments about the exceptions, the Court in Alfalfa Electric affirmed the trial court's judgment in favor of the insured based on the exception for "liability for damages ... b. That the `insured' would have in the absence of the contract or agreement." Under the facts of that case, the Court found, regardless of the bailment agreement, the insured was liable under general common law negligence and Oklahoma's motor carrier regulations.
¶ 36 In this case, the following facts are either admitted by KBC or are not disputed: 1) KBC had a contractual duty to complete the work to PPR's satisfactory inspection; 2) damages for which KBC was contractually responsible had to be repaired
¶ 37 The only reasonable inference from these undisputed material facts is that pursuant to the parties' subcontracts Morgan and PPR had the right to deduct and KBC agreed to pay damages for its work that either was not completed or failed to meet or perform to PPR's satisfaction. Morgan's cross-claim, filed as part of the original contract-based claim between CLP and KBC for the latter's failure to pay under their contract for contract labor, is also a contractbased claim which clearly and unambiguously denies any and all liability for KBC's alleged debt, justifies PPR's rejection of KBC's work and nonpayment under their subcontracts, and requests indemnification from KBC in the event judgment is granted against KBC and/or Morgan.
¶ 38 KBC argues Insurer's reliance on this exclusion is misplaced, because "Morgan's cross-claim is not limited to breach of contract allegations but includes negligence allegations as well." We disagree. There are no actual allegations in the cross-claim of negligence, supervision or otherwise, against KBC. Morgan's references to "specific duties" owed by KBC to CLP
¶ 39 Based on Dodson and Alfalfa Electric, we conclude the contractual liability exclusion in the CGL Policy applies here to remove coverage for the contract-based claims alleged against KBC in the federal case unless such coverage is reserved by one of its two exceptions.
¶ 40 To support reservation of coverage by the remaining "insured contract" exception, KBC argues "Insurer admits that the contract pursuant to which Morgan sued may be an insured contract to which the contractual liability exclusion in the CGL policy does not apply." The deposition testimony of Insurer's two representatives, upon which KBC relies to support this argument, simply refers to the contract between KBC and CLP. Based on our reading of the one-page contract, Insurer correctly argues it contains no assumption of liability for damages for bodily injury or property damage and the language upon which KBC cites as a division of liability is merely a division of responsibilities under the contract. Insurer
¶ 41 The trial court erred in ruling that Kentucky law governed the interpretation of the CGL Policy Insurer issued to KBC. Applying Oklahoma case law, we find there was no potential for liability under the CGL Policy for the cross-claim asserted against KBC in the federal case which cause of action and property damages were clearly "contract-based." Consequently, Insurer had no duty to defend the cross-claim or to indemnify KBC's losses. Although based on other grounds, we affirm the trial court's summary judgment in favor of Insurer.
MITCHELL, P.J., and JOPLIN, J., concur.
