Tred R. Eyerly | Insurance Law Hawaii
Granting the insured’s motion for partial judgment on the pleadings, the court determined the insurers had a duty to defend. Suez Treatment Solutions, Inc. v. Ace Am. Ins. Co. & Liberty Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 59044 (S. D. N. Y. March 30, 2022).
Suez Treatment Solutions, Inc. held policies from Chubb and Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company to cover its operations in connection with the development of a pollution treatment system in North Carolina. When the project ultimately failed, an underlying action sought damages from Suez, alleging breach of contract, negligence, and fraud. Suez filed this case seeking a declaratory judgment that Chubb and Liberty were each obligated to defend and indemnify Suez in the underlying case.
The City of High Point hired Suez to upgrade the facilities at its wastewater treatment plant staring in 2021. Because mercury levels were too high in emissions from sewage-sludge incinerators, Suez began working on the installation of a Mercury Removal System. After installation, a leak occurred in a component known as the heat exchanger. The leak caused the system to shut down and weeks-long repairs began.
The underlying complaint alleged that the day after the system shut down for repairs, Suez and its subcontractor left and did not instruct High Point on how the system should be monitored during the shutdown. The shutdown caused an increase of the carbon monoxide levels. High Point contacted Suez who instructed the plant to open an outlet damper to evacuate the heat. This action caused temperatures to increase, however. A fire ignited, and the burning carbon created high concentrations of toxic sulphur-dioxide gas. It was alleged that fire created health and safety hazards at the treatment plant and surrounding area. The fire was finally extinguished almost a month after the shutdown by dumping the carbon out of the unit.
According to the City, Suez did nothing to repair the unit for months. When attempts to repair were made, they were fruitless. Another fire occurred during the planned start-up, causing extensive damage to the system.
High Point sued for breach of contract, breach of warranties, negligence, negligent misrepresentation, fraud, and unfair and deceptive trade practices.
When a defense was denied, Suez sued Chubb and Liberty for a declaratory judgment. The Chubb policy was a Contractors Pollution Liability and Errors & Omission Policy that ran from July 24, 2016 to July 24, 2017. Liberty issued a CGL policy with a policy period from March 1, 2016 to March 1, 2017. Suez moved for partial judgment on the pleadings.
Chubb relied upon a Products Liability Exclusion to deny coverage. The exclusion barred coverage for any suit against Suez “arising out of or related to” “[a]ny goods, products or equipment designed, manufactured, sold, supplied or distributed by [Suez].” The underlying complaint alleged that Suez supplied the mercury removal system that caused the loss and that Suez served as a sales force and distributor. Other underlying allegations, however, related to professional services rendered at the facility, therefore falling outside the scope of the Products Liability Exclusion and triggering a duty to defend. There was a question of fact with respect to whether the damages arose entirely from the “design, manufacture, sale, supply or distribution” of the mercury removal system by Suez, or if other actions taken by Suez – such as a failure to train or supervise – also gave rise to the damage at the High Point facility. Therefore, the Products Liability Exclusion did not, at this stage, preclude coverage as a matter of law.
Numerous issues of fact meant that Liberty also had a duty to defend. Liberty argued there was no occurrence because the damage arose from faulty workmanship. But Liberty read the underlying complaint too narrowly. The complaint alleged damage beyond the property Suez supplied, caused by an accident or repeated exposure to conditions. For example, the underlying complaint alleged that the fire damaged other components of the system.
The business risk exclusions in Liberty’s policy also did not bar coverage because issues of fact were present. Further, although the underlying complaint alleged “design and oversight responsibilities” were breached, the Professional Liability Exclusion did not bar coverage because the underlying complaint did not allege that the property damaged arose solely out of a failure to render professional services.
Therefore, the court granted Suez’s motion against both Chubb and Liberty, granting declaratory relief with respect to the duty to defend.
When one of your cases is in need of a construction expert, estimates, insurance appraisal or umpire services in defect or insurance disputes – please call Advise & Consult, Inc. at 888.684.8305, or email experts@adviseandconsult.net.