AI Case Brief
Generate an AI-powered case brief with:
đKey Facts
âïžLegal Issues
đCourt Holding
đĄReasoning
đŻSignificance
Estimated cost: $0.10â$0.50 per brief, depending on opinion length and retries
Full Opinion
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER KEITH P. ELLISON, District Judge. Before the Court are the Motions for Summary Judgment of Third-Party Defendants Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company (âLiberty Mutualâ) (Docket Entry (âDoc.â) No. 64) and Underwriters of Lloydâs, London (âLloydâsâ) (Doc. No. 66), and all objections, responses and replies thereto (respectively, Doc. Nos. 74, 76, 84 & 85; Doc. Nos. 76, 81, 87, 88 & 90). Also before the Court are the Partial Motions for Summary Judgment of Third-Party Plaintiff Union Pacific Railroad Company (âUPâ) (Doc. Nos. 67 & 69) and Intervenor Metropolitan Transit Authority (âMetroâ) (Doc. No. 65), and all objections, responses and replies thereto (respectively, Doc. Nos. 71, 77, 89 & 91; Doc. Nos. 70, 78, 86). After reviewing the Motions, all related filings, and the relevant law, the Court finds, for the reasons discussed below, that Liberty Mutualâs Motion for Summary Judgment should be granted in part and denied in part, that Lloydâs Motion for Summary Judgment should be denied, that UPâs Motions for Partial Summary Judgment of UP should be granted in part and denied in part, and that Metroâs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment should be granted in part and denied in part. I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND A. Metroâs Light Rail Project In 2001, Metro began construction of a light rail transportation system in Houston, Texas. The initial phase of the light rail project included the construction of a 7.5 mile light rail system with 16 stations, downtown street improvements, a Transit Administration building, Park and Ride lots, a test track, a rail operations building, and the design, manufacture, assembly, testing and acceptance of 18 light rail vehicles (âLRVsâ). Metro obtained seven major contracts for the construction of the light rail system. One of Metroâs contracts for construction was with Siemens Transportation Systems (âSiemensâ), the Vehicle and Systems Contractor. Metroâs contract with Siemens was on a âready to goâ turnkey basis, which meant that Siemens was responsible for virtually all aspects of the light rail project related to the vehicles and systems, including the track, the LRVs, fare collection, catenary, substations, signaling, and communications. In particular, the âready to goâ contract made Siemens responsible for the installation of the 18 LRVs, which each required separate testing before Metro would take final acceptance for their use in its light rail transportation system. This testing, *783 or âburning-inâ process, also referred to as commissioning, necessitated Siemensâ use of a suitable test track. Siemens was also required to provide Metro employees with operator training and to supervise the LRVs. B.Metroâs Lease Agreement with Union Pacific In order to facilitate the installation or testing by Siemens of Metroâs new fleet of LRVs, Metro entered into negotiations with Union Pacific (âUPâ) for a five year lease agreement to construct, maintain, and operate a test track on UPâs land. Because the premises Metro sought to lease for its light rail project were located in close proximity to a railroad right-of-way owned by UP, on which it operated two active rail lines, there was an increased risk that accidents might arise from Siemensâ use of the property. Due to the increased risk, Metro and UP agreed to incorporate two important requirements into the lease agreement to protect UP. First, pursuant to the terms of the lease agreement, Metro was required to purchase specified insurance to protect UP from the increased risk. The agreement provides: [Metro] shall, at its sole costs and expense, procure and maintain during the life of this Agreement the following insurance coverage: A. Commercial General Liability insurance. This insurance shall contain broad form contractual liability with a single limit of at least $5,000,000 each occurrence or claim and an aggregate limit of at least $10,000,000. Coverage must be purchased on a post 1998 ISO or equivalent form. B. Railroad Protective Liability insurance naming only [UP] as the insured with a combined single limit of $2,000,000 per occurrence with a $6,000,000 aggregate C. Workers Compensation and Employers Liability insurance ... D. Umbrella or Excess Policies In the event [Metro] utilizes Umbrella or excess policies, these policies shall âfollow formâ and afford no less coverage than the primary policy. (Doc. No. 55, Ex. A-4 at Bates 1590-91.) Metro separately agreed to release and indemnify UP for losses as follows: [Metro], to the extent it may lawfully do so, waives and releases any and all claims against [UP] for, and agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless [UP], its affiliates, and its and their officers, agents and employees (âIndemnified Partiesâ) from and against, any loss, damage (including without limitation, punitive or consequential damages), injury, liability, claim, demand, cost or expense (including, without limitation, attorneysâ fees and court costs), fine or penalty (collectively, âLossâ) incurred by any person (including, without limitation, [UP], [Metro], or any employee of [UP] or [Metro]) and arising from or related to (i) any use of the Premises by [Metro] or any invitee or licensee or [Metro], (ii) any act or omission of [Metro], its officers, agents, employees, licensees or invitees, or (iii) any breach of this Lease by [Metro]. (Id. at Bates 1587.) The agreement limited the indemnity to situations where UP was not solely negligent. (Id.) C.The Insurance Policies To secure insurance coverage for the light rail transportation system, Metro retained the services of Willis of Texas, an insurance broker. With the assistance of Willis of Texas, Metro purchased a Railroad Protective Liability policy (âRPLâ), a Wrap-Up policy, and an Umbrella or Ex *784 cess policy. First, with regard to the RPL, in exchange for Metroâs payment of a $29,760 advance premium, which was based on a contract cost of $30,000,000, Liberty Mutual issued RPL policy number TE2-691-004173-031. The RPL listed âUnion Pacific Railroad Companyâ as the Named Insured and âMetropolitan Transit Authority of Harris Countyâ as the âDesignated Contractor.â (Doc. No. 64, Ex. A.) The policy provided liability limits in the amount of $2,000,000 per occurrence, or an aggregate limit of $4,000,000. The effective dates of coverage under the RPL were from March 14, 2001 to September 14, 2004. (Id.) Liberty Mutual also issued Wrap-Up policy number RG2-691-004173-011, in which âMetropolitan Transit Authority of Harris Countyâ was listed as the Named Insured. (Doc. No. 64, Ex. B.) The Wrap-Up policy, consisting of three layers, included an Owner Controlled Consolidated Insurance Program (âOCCIPâ), a General Amendatory Endorsement (âGAEâ), and a Commercial General Liability Insurance (âCGLâ) policy. (Id.) The policy provided a limit of liability for personal injury and property damage to $2,000,000 per occurrence, a general aggregate limit (other than Products-Completed Operations) of $4,000,000, and a Products-Completed Operations Aggregate Limit of $4,000,000. (Id.) The effective dates for coverage under this policy were from March 14, 2001 to September 14, 2001. In addition, Lloydâs issued Commercial Umbrella or Excess policy number 576/ UF72727000, with effective dates of coverage from March 14, 2001 to September 14, 2004. (Doc. No. 65, Ex. B.) The âScheduleâ listed âthe Assuredâ as âThe Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (Metro) and others, all as more fully set forth in the attached Policy Wording.â The Declarations listed the âNamed Insuredâ as âTHE METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS (METRO), Contractors, Subcontractors of any tier and Consultants and Sub-Consultants of any tier, for whom any afore-mentioned Insureds have agreed by contract to furnish the insurance coverage provided under this policy per the project.â (Id.) As set forth in the Declarations page, the Umbrella policy provided limits of $50,000,000 per occurrence, $50,000,000 General Aggregate (in accordance with Section III, Limits of Insurance), and $50,000,000 Products-Completed Operations Aggregate for the period (otherwise in accordance with Section III, Limits of Insurance). The Declarations page also provided that there was a $25,000 âSelf Insured Retention (inclusive of Defense Costs).â (Id.) D. The Accident, Subsequent Claims & Settlements On January 23, 2004, Christopher McGinnis, a UP worker, was operating one of UPâs Hyrail vehicles. He was traveling to a work site on the railroad tracks. As he waited behind another Hyrail vehicle that had already crossed the LRV test track and had maneuvered onto the rail road tracks, another UP employee manually lifted the crossing arm so that McGinnis could also cross the test track and maneuver his Hyrail vehicle onto the railroad tracks. McGinnis was not aware that a LRV was approaching the crossing. The LVR, unable to stop, collided with McGinnisâs Hyrail vehicle. The collision seriously injured McGinnis. Several individuals on the LRV also sustained injuries. Following the collision, the individuals on the LRV who were injured brought suit against UP and McGinnis, and McGinnis filed the instant suit against UP. UP placed Liberty Mutual on notice of the loss, tendered both the claims and suits brought against it to Liberty Mutual under the RPL policy, and demanded a defense *785 and indemnity. In addition, pursuant to the contractual indemnification obligation in the Lease Agreement, UP tendered the claims and suits brought against it to Metro. Metro, in turn, tendered UPâs demands for contractual indemnity to Liberty Mutual and demanded a defense and indemnity under the CGL policy. Liberty Mutual denied UPâs demand for defense and indemnity under the RPL policy. Liberty Mutual also denied Metroâs demand for coverage. UP and Metro made similar demands for defense and indemnity to Lloydâs under the Umbrella policy, but their demands were denied. After conducting an investigation of the accident, UP decided to settle the claims brought by the individuals on the train, as well as the lawsuit brought by McGinnis. UP alleges that it paid close to six million dollars to settle all the bodily injury and property damages claims arising out of the accident. II. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND Plaintiff Christopher McGinnis filed his Complaint against UP on January 19, 2007. McGinnis settled his claims UP on March 23, 2007. On March 29, 2007, before the case was officially closed, UP filed its Third-Party Complaint against Liberty Mutual and Lloydâs for the following: (1) breach of contract under the RPL and the Umbrella policy; (2) declaratory judgment; (3) violations of Sections 541.060, 541.061, 541.151, and 542.051 of the Texas Insurance Code; (4) fraud; and (5) in the alternative, reformation of the policies based on mutual mistake, and relief based on waiver and estoppel. (Doc. Nos. 9 & 46.) Metro successfully intervened in the action on April 5, 2007. (Doc. Nos. 13 & 14.) Metroâs Complaint, and Amended Complaint in Intervention, allege the same causes of action brought by UP. (Doc. No. 47.) Meanwhile, on April 5, 2007, Liberty Mutual and Lloydâs filed a lawsuit based on the same policies and events in the 133rd Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas, effecting service on April 10, 2007. Discovery in the state case was conducted for use in either court. Thereafter on January 30, 2008, UP filed an Amended Third-Party Complaint (Doc. No. 46) and Metro filed an Amended Intervenor Complaint (Doc. No. 47.) Amended Answers were then filed by Third-Party Defendants Liberty Mutual and Lloydâs. Each of the parties then filed Motions for Summary Judgment. On June 16, 2008, Liberty Mutual and Lloydâs filed their respective Motions for Summary Judgment with each maintaining that, for various reasons, no coverage exists under the Railroad Protection Liability policy (âRPLâ), the Wrap-Up policy, or the Umbrella policy. Also on June 16, 2008, Metro filed its Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Doc. No. 65) and, on June 19, 2008, UP filed Motions for Partial Summary Judgment with regard to the RPL and the Umbrella policy. (Doc. Nos. 67 & 69.) The parties have filed their respective responses and replies and, thus, this case is ripe for adjudication. III. SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD Summary judgment is appropriate âif the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.â Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). A fact is âmaterialâ if its resolution in favor of one party might affect the outcome of the suit under governing law. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 , 106 S.Ct. 2505 , 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); see also United *786 States v. Arron, 954 F.2d 249, 251 (5th Cir.1992). âAn issue is genuine if the evidence is sufficient for a reasonable jury to return a verdict for the nonmoving party.â Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. v. Farese, 423 F.3d 446, 454 (5th Cir.2005). Under Rule 56(c), the moving party bears the initial burden of informing the court of the basis for its belief that there is an absence of a genuine issue for trial and of identifying those portions of the record that demonstrate such an absence. See Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586-87 , 106 S.Ct. 1348 , 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986); see also, Burge v. Parish of St. Tammany, 187 F.3d 452, 464 (5th Cir.1999). Where the moving party meets its initial burden under Rule 56(c), the burden then shifts to the nonmovant to show a genuine issue of material fact exists that precludes summary judgment. â[T]he nonmoving party must come forward âwith specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.â â Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586-87 , 106 S.Ct. 1348 (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)) (emphasis in original); see also, Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 , 106 S.Ct. 2548 , 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). To sustain the burden, the nonmoving party must produce evidence admissible at trial. See Anderson, 477 U.S. at 242 , 106 S.Ct. 2505 ; see also, Thomas v. Price, 975 F.2d 231, 235 (5th Cir.1992) (âTo avoid summary judgment, the nonmoving party must adduce evidence which creates a fact issue.â). At the summary judgment stage, the court views the facts in a light most favorable to the nonmoving party and draws all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmovant, but only when âthere is a âgenuineâ dispute as to those facts.â Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372 , 127 S.Ct. 1769, 1776 , 167 L.Ed.2d 686 (2007); see also Goodson v. City of Corpus Christi 202 F.3d 730, 735 (5th Cir.2000) (â[T]he nonmoving party may not rest on the mere allegations or denial of its pleadings, but must respond by setting forth specific facts indicating a genuine issue for trial.â). â[A] nonmovant cannot overcome summary judgment with conclusory allegations and unsubstantiated assertions.â Mace v. City of Palestine, 333 F.3d 621 , 624 n. 7 (5th Cir.2003); see also Johnston v. City of Houston, Tex., 14 F.3d 1056, 1060 (5th Cir.1994) (âonly evidence-not argument, not facts in the complaint-will satisfy the burden.â). Nor can the nonmovant overcome summary judgment by showing âsome metaphysical doubt as to the material factsâ in an attempt to create a genuine dispute. Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 584-86 , 106 S.Ct. 1348 . IV. ANALYSIS Texas rules of contract interpretation apply in this diversity case. Canutillo Indep. Sch. Dist. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co., 99 F.3d 695, 700 (5th Cir.1996). The interpretation of insurance contracts is governed by the same rules that apply to contracts generally. Id. They must be interpreted to effectuate the intent of the parties at the time the contracts were formed. Kelley-Coppedge, Inc. v. Highlands Ins. Co., 980 S.W.2d 462, 464 (Tex.1998); Glover v. Natâl Ins. Underwriters, 545 S.W.2d 755, 761 (Tex.1977). When the words of a policy are unambiguous, they are to be given their plain, ordinary, and generally accepted meaning, unless the policy clearly indicates that the contractual terms have been used in a different of technical sense. Puckett v. U.S. Fire Ins. Co., 678 S.W.2d 936, 938 (Tex.1984). When the language of a policy is susceptible to more than one construction, however, it should be construed strictly against the insurer and liberally in favor of the insured. Barnett v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 723 S.W.2d 663, 666 (Tex.1987); see also, Natâl Union Fire Ins. Co. v. Hudson Energy Co., 811 S.W.2d 552 , *787 555 (Tex.1991) (holding that any ambiguities in a policy are construed against the drafter). Where the question of interpretation involves an exception or limitation on the insurerâs liability under the policy, an even more stringent construction is required. Barnett, 723 S.W.2d at 666 . V. RAILROAD PROTECTIVE LIABILITY ACT A. Liberty Mutual and UPâs Cross Motions for Summary Judgment Liberty Mutual and UP have filed cross motions for Summary Judgment regarding the RPL policy. Liberty Mutual contends that there is no coverage for UP under the RPL for the following reasons: (1) the bodily injury and property damage were not related to or in connection with the âworkâ described in the policy; and (2) any coverage would be excluded based on the âcompleted workâ exclusion, the non-insuredâs contractual liability exclusion, and the sole proximate cause exclusion. (Doc. No. 64.) UP responds that the bodily injury and property damage fall were covered, and that Liberty Mutual failed to establish the application of its policy exclusions. (Doc. No. 74.) UP seeks declaratory relief under the RPL policy based on the following grounds: (1) that the policy provides coverage for bodily injury or property damage arising out of acts or omissions at the test track and related to work or operations performed by Metro or its subcontractors; (2) that liability is established, as a matter of law, by the settlement of the underlying claims; (3) that Liberty Mutual breached its duty to defend UP; (4) that the âcompleted workâ exclusion does not apply; and (5) that Liberty Mutual breached its duty to pay for property damage to UPâs Hyrail vehicle. (Doc. No. 67.) UP also contends that it is entitled to recover attorney fees from Liberty Mutual. (Id.) B. Coverage for Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liberty Mutual contends that, under the RPL policy, the covered work, as described in the Declarations, was clearly and unambiguously limited to laying the test track, and the accident occurred after the test track was completed. Conversely, UP maintains that the covered work, as described in the Declarations, was not limited to (or intended to be limited to) the construction of the test track, but also included the testing or commissioning of the LRV on the test track. The Court starts with the policy language. As contained in âSection I â Coverages,â the RPL provides: ... [Liberty Mutual] will pay those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of âbodily injuryâ or âproperty damageâ ... [arising] out of acts or omissions at the âjob locationâ which are related to or are in connection with the âworkâ described in the Declarations. (Doc. No. 64, Ex. A; Doc. No. 65, Ex. A-6.) There is no dispute that UP is the named insured under the policy. (Doc. No. 64, Ex. A.) Nor can there be any dispute that UP was âlegally obligated to payâ damages because of âbodily injuryâ or âproperty damage.â Lennar Corp. v. Great Am. Ins. Co., 200 S.W.3d 651, 680 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, pet. denied) (interpreting âlegally obligated to payâ to mean an obligation imposed by law, such as an obligation to pay pursuant to a judgment, settlement, contract or statute); Comsys Info. Tech. Serv., Inc. v. Twin City Fire Ins. Co., 130 S.W.3d 181 , 189 n. 3 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet. denied) (recognizing a judgment is not the only manner by which an insured can become legally obligated to pay because a legal obligation can also arise *788 out of a contract, such as a settlement); Texas Prop. & Cas. Ins. Guar. Assân v. Boy Scouts of Am., 947 S.W.2d 682, 691 (Tex.App.-Austin 1997, no writ). The policy defines âjob locationâ as follows: âthe job location designated in the Declarations including any area directly related to the âworkâ designated in the Declarations. âJob locationâ includes the ways next to it.â (Doc No. 64, Ex. A, Section V â Definitions.) The Declarations page designates âHouston, Texasâ as the âjob location.â (Id.) 1 The bodily injury or property damage arose out of acts or omissions at the job location, which was Houston, Texas. The dispute between the parties is over the policy provision which requires that the acts or omissions at the âjob locationâ must be related to or connected with the âworkâ as described in the Declarations. âRelated to or connected withâ is not defined in the policy. Texas courts have broadly construed the phrase âarising] out of [or] ... related to or ... in connection with.â Utica Natâl Ins. Co. v. American Indem. Co., 141 S.W.3d 198, 203 (Tex.2004) (â âarise out of means that there is simply a âcausal connection or relation,â which is interpreted to mean that there is but for causation, though not necessarily direct or proximate causationâ); Scottsdale Ins. Co. v. Texas Sec. Concepts & Investigation, 173 F.3d 941, 943 (5th Cir.1999) (phrase âarising out ofâ means that âa claim need only bear an incidental relationship to the described conduct[.]â); Fontenot v. Mesa Petroleum Co., 791 F.2d 1207, 1214 (5th Cir.1986) (language âarising in connection herewithâ contained in indemnity agreement unambiguously encompasses all activities reasonably incident to or anticipated by principal activity of contract). The policy defines âworkâ to mean âwork or operations performed by the âcontractorâ including materials, parts or equipment furnished in connection with the work or operations.â âOperations,â while not defined in the policy, 2 ordinarily means âthe operating of or putting and maintaining in action of something (as a machine or an industry).â Websterâs Third New International Dictionary 1581 (1993). The cornerstone of the partiesâ dispute centers on the meaning and scope of the âworkâ described in the Declarations. In particular, Item 6 of the Declarations page, which is titled the âDesignation of the Job Site and Description of Work,â provides the following: Two mile test track built 25 feet from existing track. Metro will be laying track across an existing bridge that runs over Union Pacific tracks (no bridge construction). (Doc. No. 64, Ex. A.) Liberty Mutual contends that â[t]he above designation unambiguously limits the scope of the âworkâ to the laying of a two-mile test trackâ and since the accident occurred after the test track was completed, there is no coverage. UP counters that Liberty Mutualâs position is flawed for several reasons. First, UP contends that Liberty Mutual only reaches this interpretation by reading the first and second sentences together and, thus, arguing that the work described in the Declarations only consisted only of laying the â[t]wo mile test trackâ that was â25 feet from existing track.â UP maintains that Liberty Mutual has improperly *789 merged the two sentences together because each sentence actually refers to a separate job site. In support of its argument, UP offers evidence, in the form of the RPL Policy Questionnaire, which it states clarifies that the two sentences, in fact, refer to two separate areas or job sites where an exposure point existed. Second, UP argues that, once clarified, Item 6 is ambiguous because it can reasonably be read as describing the job site (i.e., the two-mile test tract which was built 25 feet from an existing track) as opposed to providing a description of the work to be done at this location. 1. Whether an Ambiguity Exists Determining whether an ambiguity exists in a contract is a question of law which a court decides in light of the surrounding circumstances. R & P Enterprises v. LaGuarta, Gavrel & Kirk, Inc., 596 S.W.2d 517, 518 (Tex.1980). âA court may conclude that a contract is ambiguous even in the absence of such pleading by either party.â Sage Street Assoc. v. Northdale Construction Co., 863 S.W.2d 438, 445 (Tex.1993); see also, Texas v. American Tobacco Co., 463 F.3d 399 , 407 n. 14 (5th Cir.2006). A contract is not ambiguous if it can be given a definite or certain meaning as a matter of law. Natâl Union Fire Ins. Co. v. CBI Industries, Inc., 907 S.W.2d 517, 520 (Tex.1995). An ambiguity will exist if the contract language is âuncertain and doubtful or it is reasonably susceptible to more than one meaning.â Coker v. Coker, 650 S.W.2d 391, 393 (Tex.1983). An ambiguity does not arise based merely on conflicting interpretations of the contract language. Forbau v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 876 S.W.2d 132, 134 (Tex.1994). Parole evidence is also not admissible to render a contract ambiguous. Sun Oil Co. (Delaware) v. Madeley, 626 S.W.2d 726, 732 (Tex.1981). An ambiguity may be patent (ie., evident on the face of the contract), or latent (i.e., apparent when a contract is applied to the subject matter with which the contract deals). CBI Indus., Inc., 907 S.W.2d at 520 (a latent ambiguity exists when the contract appears to convey a sensible meaning on its face, but it cannot be carried out without further clarification). When a latent ambiguity arises, the focus shifts to the facts and circumstances under which the agreement was made (CenterPoint Energy Houston Elec., L.L.P. v. Old TJC Co., 177 S.W.3d 425, 431 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2005, pet. denied)), and parol evidence is admissible for the purpose of ascertaining the true intention of the parties as expressed in the agreement. CBI Indus., Inc., 907 S.W.2d at 520 ; see also, Balandran v. Safeco Ins. Co. of America, 972 S.W.2d 738, 741 (Tex.1998) (court examined surrounding circumstances); Bache Halsey Stuart Shields, Incorp. v. Alamo Savings Assoc. of Texas, 611 S.W.2d 706, 708 (Tex.Civ.App.-San Antonio 1980, no writ) (quoting Murphy v. Dilworth, 137 Tex. 32 , 151 S.W.2d 1004, 1005 (1941) (â[W]here a question concerning the interpretation of a contract arises, a court will âtake the wording of the instrument, consider the same in light of the surrounding circumstances and apply the pertinent rules of construction thereto and thus settle the meaning of the contract.â â)). âThis does not mean, however, that the parties may prove the making of an agreement different from that expressed in the written contract, nor that the unambiguous language used in the contract may be violated or the legal effect thereof changed.â Murphy, 151 S.W.2d at 1005 . Instead, â[i]t can do no more than explain the doubtful relations of the instrument consistently with the relations of the parties, the subject matter of the contract, and the other incidents thereof.â Id. at 1006. *790 In the instant case, in an attempt to show the surrounding circumstances from which a latent ambiguity emerged, UP asks the Court to consider the RPL Policy Questionnaire. While Liberty Mutual objects to the introduction of the RPL Application on the ground that consideration of the extrinsic evidence it is improper, the Court OVERRULES the objection as the evidence is permissible to show the circumstances surrounding the contract. As urged by UP, the RPL Policy Questionnaire clarifies the circumstances surrounding the policy. The responses to the RPL Policy Questionnaire were provided to Liberty Mutual by Willis of Texas. (Doc. No. 67, Ex. 4.) The responses to the questionnaire provided that the total estimated cost of the job was $30 million with an estimated $4.5 to $4.7 million of the total amount attributed to the cost of the work within 50 feet of the railroad tracks. (Id.) In response to a question regarding the âduration of the work within 50 feet of tracks,â Willis of Texas responded that â[b]ecause LRV testing will be done assume testing will occur on tracks within 25 feet of existing track for the term.â (Id.) Further, when asked about the âLocation/Description of Project plus work directly affecting railroad operations,â Willis of Texas responded that â[t]here will be a two mile test track built 25 feet from existing track. Metro will by laying track across an existing bridge that runs over Union Pacific tracks (no bridge construction).â (Id.) However, Willis of Texas further qualified that â[t]wo exposure points exist. The rail yard where the light rail vehicles (LRVs) are being assembled and tested and railroad overpass. The overpass is an existing bridge.â (Id.) In light of the surrounding circumstances of the contract, the two sentence description contained in Item 6 referred to two different sites. Given this clarification, as urged by UP, the Court agrees that an ambiguity exists because an alternate, but just as reasonable, interpretation of Item 6 is that the first sentence (âTwo mile test track built 25 feet from existing trackâ) merely describes the location where work would be done, but not the action to be taken at that location. 2. The Effect of the Ambiguity Generally, Texas law provides that, when an insurance contract is susceptible to more than one reasonable interpretation, a court must resolve the uncertainty by adopting the construction that most favors the insured. Barnett, 723 S.W.2d at 666 . This rule is derived from the more general rule that ambiguous contracts are construed against the drafter. Balandran, 972 S.W.2d at 741 n. 1; TempleEastex, Inc. v. Addison Bank, 672 S.W.2d 793, 798 (Tex.1984). However, in the present case, the Courtâs concern is that the description of the work found in Item 6 of the Declarations was derived, almost verbatim, from the RPL application that Willis of Texas completed and provided to Liberty Mutual, and, given the incorporated language, it is far from clear what the parties actually intended. Therefore, the Court cannot automatically find coverage based on ambiguity in the insurance agreement. Because the Court finds that this coverage dispute cannot be resolved based on available rules of contract interpretation, the court must resort to parole evidence to determine whether the contracting parties intended the RPL to provide coverage for building the test track, as well as for the use of the track to commission the LRVs. While it is true that the parties have offered parole evidence regarding their intent, the scope of the light rail project, the carrierâs classification of the policy, the amount of the premium paid in relation to the project, and the purported post-accident conduct by Liberty Mutual in extending the policy for testing, *791 genuine issues of material fact exist which preclude this Court from deciding this issue as a matter of law. Instead, the Court reserves for the trier of fact the disputed issue concerning the scope of the work as set forth in the Item 6 of the Declarations. Accordingly, on the issue of coverage under the RPL policy, Liberty Mutualâs Motion for Summary Judgment and UPâs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on this issue of coverage under the RPL policy are both denied. C. Coverage for UPâs Property Damage UP also seeks a declaration that it is entitled to coverage for the damage to its property. (Doc. No. 67 at 21.) Liberty Mutual responds that the policyâs liability coverage will not extend to cover damage to UPâs own property. (Doc. No. 71 at 17.) UP clarifies that it is not making a claim under Coverage A (Liability), but is instead making a claim under Coverage B (first-party property damage coverage). (Doc. No. 91 at 19.) Coverage B provides: We will pay for âphysical damage to propertyâ to which this insurance applies. The âphysical damage to propertyâ must occur during the policy period. The âphysical damage to propertyâ must arise out of acts or omissions at the âjob locationâ which are related to or in connection with the âworkâ described in the Declarations. The property must be owned by or leased or entrusted to you under a lease or trust agreement. (Doc. No. 64, Ex. A.) The policy defines âphysical damage to propertyâ as âdirect and accidental loss of or damage to rolling stock and them contents, mechanical construction equipment or motive power equipment, railroad tracks, roadbeds, catenaries, signals, bridges or buildings.â (Id.) Liberty Mutual does not dispute that the damage to UPâs signal clearly falls within the definition of âphysical damage to property.â Liberty Mutual disputes whether the Hyrail vehicles involved in the accident fall within the definition of âphysical damage to propertyâ because they are not âmechanical construction equipment or motive power equipment.â (Doc. No. 71 at 17.) The policy does not define âmechanical construction equipmentâ or âmotive power equipmentâ and, as such, the terms should be given their plain, ordinary meaning. (Doc. No. 91 at 19.) UP urges that the âundisputed evidence is that the two [Hyrail] vehicles involved in the Accident were âmechanical [track] construction equipmentâ and/or âmotive power equipmentâ in the ordinary sense of those words.â (Id.) The Court agrees with UP; however, this does not resolve the dispute. Similar to the coverage provision discussed above, Coverage B still requires that the âphysical damage to property must arise out of acts or omissions at the âjob locationâ which are related to or in connection with the âworkâ described in the Declarations.â (Doc. No. 64, Ex. A.) For the same reasons previously discussed, the Court reserves for the trier of fact the disputed issue concerning the scope of the work as set forth in the Item 6 of the Declarations. Accordingly, UPâs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment as to the RPLâs coverage for property damage is denied. D. The Completed Work Exclusion Liberty Mutual and UP have also filed cross-motions on whether the RPL excludes coverage for bodily injury or property damage that occurs after the work is completed. In particular, the Completed Work Exclusion in the policy provides: The âworkâ will be deemed completed at the earliest of the following times: (1) When all the âworkâ called for in the âcontractorâsâ contract has been completed. *792 (2) When all the âworkâ to be done at the âjob locationâ has been completed. (3) When that part of the âworkâ done at the âjob locationâ has been put to its intended use by you, the governmental authority or other contracting party. âContractorâ is defined under the policy to mean âthe contractor designated in the Declarations and includes all subcontractors working directly or indirectly for that âcontractorâ but does not include you.â Metropolitan Transit Authority of Houston is listed on the Declarations page as the âDesignated Contractor.â In addition, the policy defines âworkâ to mean âwork or operations performed by the âcontractor,â including materials, parts or equipment furnished in connection with the work or operations.â There is no real dispute that the test track at this job location was laid or that the testing of the light rail trains was in progress. Instead, once again, the dispute centers on the meaning and scope of âworkâ as defined in the policy and as harmonized with the âworkâ described in the Declarations. {See Doc. No. 91 at 18.) Liberty contends that the completed work exclusion was triggered because the earliest of the times delineated was when Metro completed laying the test track 25 feet from the UP track, and the test track was put to its intended use by the contracting party, whereas UP counters that the âworkâ did not just consist of laying the track, but also included the testing or commissioning of each of the light rail trains. Once again, for the same reasons previously discussed, the Court reserves for the trier of fact the disputed issue concerning the scope of the work as set forth in the Item 6 of the Declarations. Accordingly, both Liberty Mutualâs Motion for Summary Judgment and UPâs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on this point must be denied. E. The Non-Insured Contract Liability Exclusion Liberty Mutual maintains that coverage does not extend to UP under the RPL due to the non-insured contract liability exclusion. (Doc. No. 64 at 11-12.) The policy excludes coverage âfor which the insured is obligated to pay damages by reason of the assumption of liability in a contract or agreement.â (Doc. No. 64, Ex. A.) For the purposes of the exclusion, Union Pacific did not assume the liability in a contract or agreement; rather, it was Metro who assumed the liability, and Metro is not an insured as defined under the policy. Thus, this exclusion is inapplicable and Liberty Mutualâs Motion for Summary Judgment on this point is denied. F. Sole Proximate Cause of Loss Exclusion Liberty Mutual claims that âUnion Pacific is solely to blame for the accidentâ and, therefore, coverage is precluded based on the policyâs sole proximate cause of loss exclusion. (Doc. No. 64 at 12.) The RPL policy contains an exclusion for âActs or Omissions of Insured.â The exclusion provides: âBodily injuryâ or âproperty damageâ, the sole proximate cause of which is an act or omission of any insured other than acts or omissions of any of âyour designated employeesâ. This exclusion does not apply to injury or damage sustained at the âjob locationâ by any of âyour designated employeesâ or employee of the âcontractorâ, or by any employee of the governmental authority or any other contracting party (other than you) specified in the Declarations. (Doc. No. 54, Ex. A at 2.) UP counters that Liberty Mutual has not established, as a matter of law, that UP was âthe sole proximate causeâ of this accident. UP initially maintains that this exclusion is limited to UP or its corporate *793 executives and does not apply to any alleged negligence on the part of either UP worker Christopher McGinnis or the other UP worker involved in the accident. For purposes of this exclusion, the policy defines âinsuredâ as: â(1) âyouâ (the named insured shown in the declarations or [UP]); (2) your âexecutive officersâ and directors, but only with respect to their duties as your officers and directors; (3) your stockholders; and (4) any railroad operating over your tracks.â (Id., Ex. A at 3.) Notably, as urged by UP, the policyâs definition of âinsuredâ does not include all UP employees. 3 Under Texas law, exclusions in an insurance policy must be construed narrowly. Barnett, 723 S.W.2d at 666 ; Glover, 545 S.W.2d at 761 . Had Liberty Mutual wanted to exclude coverage when the sole proximate cause of the loss was caused by either UP or any of UPâs employees, it could have explicitly done so, and the failure to include UPâs employees within the explicit definition of âinsuredâ suggests that this particular policy exclusion should be construed against Liberty Mutual. Barnett, 723 S.W.2d at 665 . Notwithstanding this fact, summary judgment is inappropriate because, as conceded by the parties (See Doc. No. 74 at 16-20; Doc. No. 84 at 9 n. 11), the determination of whether UPâs acts or omissions were the sole proximate cause of the collision is normally a question of fact. See generally, Texas Pacific Indem. Co. v. Bldg. Material Distrib. Inc., 508 S.W.2d 488, 489 (Tex.Civ.App.-Waco 1974, writ ref'd n.r.e.) (sole proximate cause was defined for a jury to mean âthe only proximate cause [and] [i]f there is more than one proximate cause of an event, then no single proximate cause can be the sole proximate cause.â). Furthermore, as urged by UP, this exclusion does not apply to bodily injury or property damage sustained by employees of the âcontractor,â or by any employee of the governmental authority, or any other contracting party specified in the declarations. âContractorâ is defined to include the contractor designated in the Declarations, which is Metro, and âall subcontractors working directly for that âcontractorâ [Metro].â (Doc. No. 64, Ex. A. at p. 6 of 7.) Thus, with regard to the injury or damage sustained by either Metro employees or employees of its subcontractors, the exception to the exclusion applies. Thus, this exclusion would not preclude coverage for the $465,702.05 UP paid to settle injury or damage claims brought by either Metro employees or its subcontractors. (Doc. No. 74 at 17.) Accordingly, based on the reasons stated, Liberty Mutualâs Motion for Summary Judgment based on the sole proximate cause of loss exclusion is denied. G. Fraud, Mutual Mistake And Estoppel Liberty Mutual seeks dismissal of UP and Metroâs claims of fraud, mutual mistake and estoppel as it relates to the RPL policy. (Doc. No. 64 at 21-24.) These issues, however, are inextricably linked to the determination regarding the scope of work to which the RPL policy applied. The Court, having reserved the disputed issue concerning the scope of the work to a trier of fact, defers these issues as well. Liberty Mutualâs Motion for Summary Judgment on the ground that *794 UP and Metroâs claims for fraud, mutual mistake, and estoppel with regard to the RPL is denied. H. UPâs Insurance Code Claims Liberty Mutual seeks dismissal of UPâs claims which allege violations of various insurance provisions. Liberty Mutual contends that where there is no coverage, there can be no violation. Liberty Mutual also asserts that UPâs claims under the insurance code are barred by limitations. (Doc. No. 64 at 20.) The Court concludes that the determination of these issues is best deferred pending the resolution of the coverage issues. Liberty Mutualâs Motion for Summary Judgment on this ground is, therefore, denied without prejudice to reconsideration if appropriate. I. Attorneyâs Fees UP seeks to recover attorney fees for the prosecution and defense of this suit pursuant to Sections 37.009 and 38.001 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. (Doc. No. 67 at 22.) Liberty Mutual argues that UP is not entitled to recover attorneyâs fees under Section 38.001 because it has not prevailed. (Doc. No. 71 at 24.) Liberty Mutual also argues, relying on Utica Lloydâs of Texas v. Mitchell, 138 F.3d 208, 209 (5th Cir.1998), that UP is not entitled to attorneyâs fees under Section 37.009. (Doc. No. 71 at 24.) Section 38.001 of the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code, in relevant part, provides that â[a] person may recover reasonable attorneyâs fees from an individual or corporation, in addition to the amount of a valid claim and costs, if the claim is for: ... an oral or written contract.â Tex. Crv. Prac. & ReM.Code § 38.001. In order to recover attorneyâs fees pursuant to Section 38.001, a party must be a prevailing party and recover actual damages on its claim. See Green Intâl, Inc. v. Solis, 951 S.W.2d 384, 390 (Tex.1997) (âTo recover attorneyâs fees under Section 38.001, a party must (1) prevail on a cause of action for which attorneyâs fees are recoverable, and (2) recover [actual] damages.â); see also, Mustang Pipeline Co. v. Driver Pipeline Co., 134 S.W.3d 195, 201 (Tex.2004) (per curiam) (noting that even though the claimant had a valid claim, it âwas not entitled to recover attorneyâs fees because it was not awarded damages on its breach of contract claimâ). In this ease, it is premature to consider UPâs entitlement, if any, to attorneyâs fees under Section 38.001. See Solis, 951 S.W.2d at 390 . Section 37.009 of the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code provides that in any proceeding under the Texas Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act (âDJAâ), âthe court may award costs and reasonable and necessary attorneyâs fees as are equitable and just.â Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code § 37.009. However, as urged by Liberty Mutual, the Fifth Circuitâs holding in Utica forecloses UPâs request for attorneyâs fees under Section 37.009. Utica Lloydâs of Texas v. Mitchell, 138 F.3d 208 , 209 (5th Cir.1998) (holding that âa party may not rely on the Texas DJA to authorize attorneyâs fees in a diversity case because the statute is not substantive law.â); see also, Camacho v. Texas Workforce Commân, 445 F.3d 407, 409-410 (5th Cir.) (reaffirming validity of Utica), cert. denied, 549 U.S. 826 , 127 S.Ct. 349 , 166 L.Ed.2d 44 (2006). UPâs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment seeking attorneyâs fees under Section 37.009 is denied with prejudice, but its request for attorneyâs fees under Section 38.001 is denied, without prejudice, as premature. VI. WRAP UP POLICY A. Liberty Mutualâs Motion for Summary Judgment 1. Whether UP is an Insured Liberty Mutual maintains that UP is not an insured under the Wrap Up *795 policy. UP responds by requesting the Court to defer any determination of whether it is an insured under this policy until after addressing the RPL policy. In particular, UP argues that if no coverage is afforded under the RPL, then it may qualify as an insured under the GAE. However, considering UPâs response to Liberty Mutualâs Motion, the Court sees no compelling reason to defer this determination. Metro procured a Wrap-Up policy for the Light Rail Project. As explained by Liberty Mutual, the Wrap Up policy consists of âa three-layered pyramidâ of coverage with the base layer being the Commercial General Liability (âCGLâ) policy, which was modified by a General Amendatory Endorsement (âGAEâ), and then further modified by the Owner Controlled Consolidated Insurance Program Amendment of Coverage (âOCCIPâ Amendments). (Doc. No. 64 at 12-13, Ex. B.) The OCCIP Amendment provides that the insureds protected by the Wrap Up policy include the First Named Insured (Metro), the Additional Named Insureds set forth in the Schedule of the OCCIP Amendment, and any Additional Named Insureds identified in the underlying CGL or GAE. (Doc. No. 64, Ex. B at Bates âMetro 1484â.) The âADDITIONAL NAMED INSURED SCHEDULEâ provides: All subcontractors of any tier, as their interests may appear, for whom the First Named Insured has agreed by contract to provide general liability coverage under the owner controlled insurance program, excluding vendors, suppliers, off-site fabricators, material dealers and others who merely make deliveries to or from the Project Site(s). (Doc. No. 64, Ex. B at Bates âMetro 1485â.) UP is not a subcontractor of Metro. Thus, UP is not an additional insured under the provisions of the OCCIP policy. UP also does not qualify as the Named Insured or as an additional insured under the definitions contained in the CGL policy. (Doc. No. 64, Ex. B at Bates âMetro 1465; 1509; 1519-20â.) Finally, the GAE policy contains a âBlanket Additional Insuredâ Amendment that provides: SECTION II â WHO IS AN INSURED is amended to include as an insured any person, organization, state or other political subdivision, trustee or estate for whom you have agreed in writing to provide liability coverage. But: The insurance provided by this amendment: 1. Applies only to âpersonal injuryâ or âproperty damageâ arising out of (a) âyour workâ or (b) premises or other property owned by or rented to you; 2. Applies only to coverage and limits of insurance required by the written agreement, but in no event exceeds either the scope of coverage or the limits of insurance provided in this policy; and 3. Does not apply to any person, organization, state or other political subdivision, trustee or estate for whom you have procured separate liability insurance while such insurance is in effect, regardless of whether the scope of coverage or limits of insurance of this policy exceed those of such other insurance or whether such other insurance is valid and collectible. (Doc. No. 64, Ex. B at Bates âMetro 1479â.) In the present case, while it is true that Metro was required by the Lease Agreement to provide coverage for UP, there is no dispute that Metro procured separate liability insurance for UP in the form of the RPL. 4 Nor is there any dispute *796 that the RPL policy was in effect on the date of the incident. The Court, therefore, grants Liberty Mutualâs Motion for Summary Judgment on the ground that UP is not an insured under the Wrap-Up policy. YII. METROâS CLAIM FOR DECLARATORY RELIEF 5 Liberty Mutual and Lloydâs assert that Metro should not be permitted to proceed with its Complaint in Intervention seeking declaratory relief because no justiciable controversy exists between the parties-namely, Metro and UP. The federal Declaratory Judgment Act providĂ©s, in part, the following: In a case of actual controversy within its jurisdiction, ... any court of the United States, upon the filing of an appropriate pleading, may declare the rights and other legal relations of any interested party seeking such declaration, whether or not further relief is or could be sought. 28 U.S.C. § 2201 . The purpose of the Act âis to settle âactual controversiesâ before they ripen into violations of law or a breach of contractual duty.â Hardware Mut. Cas. Co. v. Schantz, 178 F.2d 779, 780 (5th Cir.1949). A district court has discretion in deciding whether to entertain a declaratory judgment action. St. Paul Ins. Co. v. Trejo, 39 F.3d 585, 590 (5th Cir.1994). In making this determination, the court must consider (1) whether the declaratory action is justiciable; (2) whether the court has authority to grant declaratory relief; and (3) whether to exercise its discretion to decide or dismiss the action. Orix Credit Alliance, Inc. v. Wolfe, 212 F.3d 891, 895 (5th Cir.2000). The law provides that for an action to be justiciable, an âactual controversyâ must exist between the parties. Wolfe, 212 F.3d at 895 . In other words, to be justiciable, the action âmust be such that it can presently be litigated and decided and not hypothetical, conjectural, conditional or based on the possibility of a factual situation that may never develop.â AXA Re Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Day, 162 Fed.Appx. 316, 319 (5th Cir.2006) (quoting Brown & Root, Inc. v. Big Rock Corp., 383 F.2d 662, 665 (5th Cir.1967)); see generally, 10B Charles A. Wright, Arthur R. Miller & Mary Kay Kane, Federal Practice And Procedure § 2757 (2008). In the present case, Liberty Mutual and Lloyds contend that no substantial controversy exists between the parties for several reasons. First, they contend that Metro âhas never been sued by the McGinness [sic] Plaintiffs or any other person injured in the Accident,â and â[a]t this point in time, more than four years after the Accident, it is clear that no meritorious bodily injury claims will ever be made against METRO.â (Doc. No. 64 at 18.) This argument is not persuasive. Even if the injured partiesâ suits against Metro were barred by the statutory limitation period for torts, any such bar would not preclude UP from pursuing Metro on its contractual indemnity claim. See Houston Lighting & Power Co. v. Eller Outdoor Advertising Co. of Texas, 635 S.W.2d 133, 134-35 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1982, writ ref'd n.r.e). Second, Liberty Mutual and Lloydâs argue that, despite the contractual indemnity agreement, Metro âhas never paid a dime to Union Pacific as a result of the Acci *797 dent,â and â[w]hatever demands, if any, Union Pacific may have made to METRO, the demands were never reduced to a final judgment and are not the subject of any pending litigation.â (Doc. No. 64 at 18.) Metro counters that the carrierâs argument âcompletely ignores the fact that the critical inquiry is whether METRO has a justiciable controversy,â not with UP, but with the insurance carriers. (Doc. No. 76 at 3.) Metro maintains that a controversy exists between itself and the insurance carriers regarding the obligations under the insurance contract and, thus, it is entitled to seek a declaration of its rights against the carriers. (Id.) The Court agrees. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code Ann. § 37.004(a) (Vernon Supp.2007) (authorizing a person interested under a written contract to seek declaratory relief); American States Ins. Co. v. Bailey, 133 F.3d 363, 368 (5th Cir.1998) (recognizing that even where a tort action has not proceeded to judgment, a dispute concerning an insurerâs duty to defend or indemnify its insured for losses sustained by a third party presents an actual controversy within the meaning of the federal Declaratory Judgment Act); Farmers Texas County Mut. Ins. Co. v. Griffin, 955 S.W.2d 81, 84 (Tex.1997) (recognizing the necessity of a declaratory judgment action to determine the partyâs obligation to defend or indemnify even before either a judgment is rendered or a settlement reached); see generally, Collier v. Allstate County Mut. Ins. Co., 64 S.W.3d 54, 62 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 2001, no pet.) (recognizing duty to indemnify arises after claim has been adjudicated by judgment, settlement or contract to be legally responsible to pay damages). Third, Liberty Mutual and Lloydâs contend that Metroâs contractual indemnity obligation to UP is âwholly illusoryâ and, thus, unenforceable, for the following reasons: (1) the indemnity obligation does not satisfy the basic conspicuous test required of indemnity agreements in Texas; (2) a condition precedent to indemnity by Metro is the lack of sole negligence on the part of UP; (3) Metro is not legally liable for any claims stemming from the accident because it enjoys sovereign immunity; and (4) Metroâs indemnity agreement with UP is void because it violates Article XI, § 7 of the Texas Constitution, which forbids a governmental entity from creating a debt. (Doc. No. 64 at 19; Doc. No. 66 at 5-10.) The Court will address each argument in turn. 6 A. Whether Validity Of Indemnity Agreement & The Express Negligence Rule Precludes Metro From Bringing This Action Under Texas law, release or indemnity agreements are valid and enforceable. However, because such provisions involve an extraordinary shifting of risk, Texas requires compliance with fair notice requirements. See Dresser Indus., Inc. v. Page Petroleum, Inc., 853 S.W.2d 505, 508-09 (Tex.1993). The fair notice requirement is two-fold: (1) the party seeking to enforce a release provision must comply with the express negligence doctrine, and (2) the provision must be conspicuous. Id. Under the express negligence rule, âa partyâs intent to be released from [or indemnified for] all liability caused by its own future negligence must be expressed in unambiguous terms within the four corners of the contract.â Arthurâs Garage, Inc. v. Racal-Chubb Sec. Sys., Inc., 997 S.W.2d 803, 814 (Tex.App.Dallas 1999, no pet.) (citing Ethyl Corp. v. Daniel Const. Co., 725 S.W.2d 705 , 708 *798 (Tex.1987)); see also, Storage & Processors, Inc. v. Reyes, 134 S.W.3d 190, 192 (Tex.2004). The conspicuousness rule provides that the releasing language must be conspicuously written so that a reasonable person against whom it is to operate should notice it. Reyes, 134 S.W.3d at 192 ; Dresser, 853 S.W.2d at 508 n. 2; Cate v. Dover Corp., 790 S.W.2d 559, 561 (Tex. 1990) (party who, prior to entering into contract, has actual knowledge of its terms cannot escape enforcement of those terms on the ground that the terms are inconspicuous); Coastal Transp. Co. v. Crown Cent. Petroleum Corp., 20 S.W.3d 119, 126 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, pet. denied) (holding indemnity agreement read by indemnitor conspicuous and rejecting indemnitorâs argument that indemnitee must show that indemnitor actually noticed the indemnity language when reading the agreement). The language âany negligenceâ contained in the Lease Agreement (Doc. No. 65, Ex. A-4, at Bates 1587) expressly identifies Metroâs intent to release UP from liability for UPâs negligence (see Reyes, 134 S.W.3d at 192 ); thus, the provision satisfies the express negligence doctrine. See Atlantic Richfield Co. v. Petroleum Pers., Inc., 768 S.W.2d 724, 726 (Tex.1989) (although not differentiating between degrees of negligence, a contractual indemnity provision that included âany negligent act of ARCOâ was sufficient to satisfy the express negligence doctrine). Turning to the conspicuousness rule, Metro concedes that it had actual knowledge of the release provision in the agreement which renders compliance with the fair notice requirement irrelevant. See Reyes, 134 S.W.3d at 192 (conspicuousness rule satisfied where party has actual knowledge). The indemnity provision contained in the Lease Agreement is valid and enforceable under Texas law. B. Whether Condition Precedent In Indemnity Agreement Precludes Metro From Brining This Action Liberty Mutual and Lloydâs next argue that no substantial controversy exists between Metro and UP because Metroâs contractual obligation to indemnify UP is contingent on a determination that UP is not solely negligent. (Doc. No. 64 at 19.) This argument is not persuasive. See generally, 10B Charles A. Wright, et al., Federal Practice And Procedure § 2757 at 476 (2008) (recognizing that â[i]t is clear that in some instances a declaratory judgment is proper even though there are future contingencies that will determine whether a controversy ever actually becomes realâ). Further, at issue is Metroâs contract with its insurance carrier, not with UP. C. Whether Sovereign Immunity Precludes Metro from Bringing This Action Liberty Mutual and Lloydâs claims that no substantial controversy exists because Metro enjoys sovereign immunity and, thus, will never be legally liable for any damages. (Doc. No. 64 at 19; Doc. No. 66 at 6-9.) Metro counters that it lawfully purchased insurance to cover UPâs potential liability stemming from and as a condition of the Lease Agreement, a fact known to the carriers, and, in the alternative, any immunity Metro may enjoy does not shield the insurance carriers or excuse their performance under the insurance contract. (Doc. No. 76 at 12-20; Doc. No. 86 at 4-8.) In Texas, sovereign or governmental immunity deprives a trial court of subject matter jurisdiction for lawsuits in which the state or certain governmental units have been sued unless the entity consents to suit. Texas Depât of Transp. v. Jones, 8 S.W.3d 636, 638 (Tex.1999); Fed. Sign v. Tex. S. Univ., 951 S.W.2d 401, 405 (Tex.1997), superseded by statute on other *799 grounds as stated in General Serv. Comân v. Little-Tex Insulation Co., Inc., 39 S.W.3d 591, 593 (Tex.2001); Duhart v. State, 610 S.W.2d 740, 741 (Tex.1980); Hosner v. DeYoung, 1 Tex. 764, 769 (1847). Governmental immunity includes two distinct principles, immunity from suit and immunity from liability. Jones, 8 S.W.3d at 638 ; Fed. Sign, 951 S.W.2d at 405. Immunity from liability is an affirmative defense, while immunity from suit deprives a court of subject matter jurisdiction. Jones, 8 S.W.3d at 638 ; Fed. Sign, 951 S.W.2d at 405. It is true that a governmental entity does not waive immunity from suit simply by contracting with a private party. Little-Tex, 39 S.W.3d at 594 . Nevertheless, âlegislative control over waiving immunity from suit does not mean that the State can freely breach contracts with private parties, or that the State can use sovereign immunity as a shield to avoid paying for benefits the State accepts under a contract.â Rather, when a governmental entity contracts with a private party, it waives -immunity from liability. Id.; Tooke v. City of Mexia, 197 S.W.3d 325, 344-45 (Tex.2006); Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco Consol. Indep. School Dist. v. Political Subdivisions Prop./Casualty Joint Self-Insurance Fund, 212 S.W.3d 320, 327 (Tex.2006); Catalina Development Inc. v. County of El Paso, 121 S.W.3d 704, 705 (Tex.2003). In the present case, the insurance carriers 7 contend that even if Metro had waived immunity from liability by entering into the lease agreement with UP, its immunity from suit has not been waived and, as such, the carriers are shielded from indemnity. In support of their position, the carriers rely on cases that hold that, unless waived, a governmental entity, like Metro, is immune from suit. Notably, however, the carriers point to no authority that extends the immunity of a governmental entity to its insurance carriers. Instead, as urged by Metro, analogous case law supports the opposite conelusionnamely, that Metroâs immunity will not shield the insurance carrier. United Services Auto. Assân v. Blakemore, 782 S.W.2d 277, 279 (Tex.App.-Waco 1989, writ denied) (in a case where the driver enjoyed sovereign immunity from both suit and damages, the court determined that the driverâs immunity did not preclude recovery from the insurance carrier who provided uninsured motorist coverage; to hold otherwise, â[t]he policy language would be rendered absolutely meaningless by interpreting âlegally entitled to recoverâ as the ability to sue the United Statesâ when sovereign immunity precluded suit). Similarly, in the context of bankruptcy cases, courts have determined that, even where a debtor is discharged, this does not preclude recovery from an insurance carrier who may be liable on behalf of the debtor. Watkins v. United States, 462 F.Supp. 980, 991 (S.D.Ga.1977) (explaining that âany difference between [sovereign immunity] and the effect of a bankruptcy discharge, is legally insufficientâ and, therefore, concluding that uninsured motorist coverage was available even though state enjoyed sovereign immunity); Matter of Edgeworth, 993 F.2d 51, 54 (5th Cir.1993) (recognizing that âscope of a section 524(a) injunction does not affect the liability of liability insurers and does not prevent establishing their liability by proceeding against a discharged debtor.â); In re Jet Florida Systems, Inc., 883 F.2d 970 , 975 (11th Cir.1989) (emphasizing that neither bankruptcyâs â âfresh startâ policyâ nor â § 524 was designed to immunize âthird parties such as insurers who may be liable on behalf of the debtor,â and the insurer *800 should not gain a benefit that was not intended or in any way computed within the rate charged for its policy.â). As aptly explained by one court, â[a]ny other outcome would result in a windfall to insurers, which receive premiums as the quid fro quo for providing insurance. Any other outcome would also disadvantage both innocent, third party, personal injury claimants .In re White, 73 B.R. 983, 985 (Bkrtcy.D.D.C.1987). Further, to allow the insurance carrier to escape liability on this basis would be âfundamentally wrong.â In re Lembke, 93 B.R. 701, 703 (Bkrtcy.D.N.D.1988). The holdings in these cases persuades this Court that, while the purpose of sovereign immunity is to protect Metro (and the public), it will not shield third parties, like insurance carriers, who may be liable on behalf of Metro. D. Whether Article XI, § 7 Of The Texas Constitution Precludes Metro From Bringing This Action Liberty Mutual and Lloydâs contend that the indemnity clause in the lease agreement is void because it creates an impermissible debt under the Texas Constitution. Article 11, § 7 of the Texas Constitution, Vernon's Ann. St., provides, in part, that: (N)o debt for any purpose shall ever be incurred in any manner by any city or county unless provision is made, at the time of creating the same, for levying and collecting a sufficient tax to pay the interest thereon and provide at least two per cent (2%) as a sinking fund; * * *. This section, by its own terms, appears limited to city and counties. Moreover, neither insurance carrier offers any authority to indicate that this section would be applied to a governmental entity such as Metro. Assuming Section 7 applied to Metro, Texas law does provide that an indemnity agreement is a âdebtâ within the meaning of Article 11, § 7 of the Texas Constitution. Brown v. Jefferson County, 406 S.W.2d 185, 188 (Tex.1966); Texas & New Orleans R.R. v. Galveston County, 141 Tex. 34 , 169 S.W.2d 713 (1943) (citing to McNeal v. City of Waco, 89 Tex. 83 , 33 S.W. 322 (1895) and Stevenson v. Blake, 131 Tex. 103 , 113 S.W.2d 525 (1938)). However, this does not mean, as suggested by the insurance carriers, that the indemnity obligation contained in the Lease Agreement created an impermissible debt in violation of the Texas Constitution. For example, in Brown , the Texas Supreme Court concluded that an indemnification obligation incurred by a county government was valid and enforceable, even though there was a theoretical possibility that the countyâs future financial obligations under the indemnity obligation might exceed the countyâs taxing authority. Brown, 406 S.W.2d at 189-90 . Distinguishing the facts of its case from Texas & New Orleans R.R. v. Galveston County, where the county incurred an open-ended indemnity agreement, which spanned 99 years, without providing any mechanism for paying a future claim under the obligation, the Court in Brown upheld the countyâs obligation because, at the time it agreed to the indemnification, the county put in place sufficient provisions to ensure the satisfaction of any claim on the obligation. Id. Similar to Brown , when Metro assumed the indemnity obligation, it provided a mechanism for the payment of claims that might arise under the indemnity agreement by purchasing the insurance policies. In addition, Metro can levy any necessary taxes to fund its obligations incurred in connection with the light rail project. Thus, the Court cannot conclude that the indemnity obligation contained in the Lease Agreement created an impermissi *801 ble debt in violation of the Texas Constitution. E. Whether Metroâs Allegations Of Insurance Code Violations Should Be Dismissed In Absence Of Coverage Under the Policy Liberty Mutual seeks dismissal of Metroâs claims under various provisions of the Insurance Code on the grounds that where there is no coverage, there can be no violation of the Insurance Code provisions. Liberty Mutual also contends Metroâs claims are barred by the two year statute of limitations. (Doc. No. 64 at 20.) Metro responds by urging that, to the extent there is coverage under the policy, it would be premature for the Court to address the viability of the extra-contractual issues, particularly before any discovery is completed. The Court agrees. Liberty Mutualâs Motion for Summary Judgment on this ground is denied without prejudice. VIII. METROâS MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON THE WRAP-UP POLICY Metro seeks a declaration that the accident and the resulting liability of Metro and UP triggered Liberty Mutualâs obligations under the CGL policy. Metro contends that â[t]he general liability policy issued by Liberty Mutual to Metro contractually obligates Liberty Mutual to indemnify Metro and Union Pacific for personal injuries and property damage claims resulting from the accident that gives rise to this coverage dispute.â (Doc. No. 65 at 3.) Metro also contends that âLiberty Mutual incorrectly states that at least two exclusions preclude coverage: (1) the âProducts-Completed Operations Hazardâ exclusion and (2) the âautoâ exclusion.â (Id.) In response Liberty Mutual asserts the following: (1) whatever coverage applies to Metro as a result of the accident is not ripe for adjudication in this declaratory judgment action; (2) Metro is not âlegally obligated to payâ any damages because of bodily injury or property damage; and (3) Liberty Mutual does not contend that the âProducts-Completed Operations hazardâ precludes coverage under the Wrap-Up policy. (Doc. No. 70 at 2-4.) The Court proceeds to address the issues. In the Wrap-Up policy, the CGL Coverage Form contains an insuring agreement which provides: We will pay those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of âbodily injuryâ or âproperty damageâ to which this insurance applies. (Doc. No. 64, Ex. B (CGL policy tab).) According to the OCCIP Amendment, the insurance agreement only applies to bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury arising out of: 1. Operations performed for the First Named Insured or Additional Named Insured by an Additional Named Insured at a Project Site listed in the Designated Project Schedule; or 2. Acts or omissions of the First Named Insured in connection with its supervision of operations performed by an Additional Named Insured at a Project Site listed in the Designated Project Schedule.... (Doc. No. 64, Ex. B (OCCIP Amendment tab).) Metro contends that the undisputed facts giving rise to the accident establish coverage under the insuring agreement. First, for purposes of the insuring agreement, there is no dispute that the First Named Insured is Metro. Second, Metro maintains that Siemens was an Additional Named Insured under the Wrap-Up policy. In order to qualify as an Additional Named Insured, Siemens must be *802 Metroâs subcontractor for whom Metro âagreed by contract to provide general liability coverage under the owner controlled insurance program [âOCIPâ], excluding vendors, suppliers, off-site fabricators, material dealers and others who merely make deliveries to or from the Project Site(s).â (Doc. No. 64, Ex. B (OC-CIP Amendment tab) at Bates âMetro 1484â.) While Liberty Mutual concedes that âthe Siemens contract provides that Metro will provide an OCIP policy for Siemens,â it asserts that âit is not clear that Siemens is Metroâs subcontractor or that Siemens is not a vendor or off-site fabricator.â (Doc. No. 70 at 6.) Based on the plain language of this policy provision, vendors and off-site fabricators are excluded only if they âmerelyâ make deliveries to or from the Project Site, which, based on the undisputed evidence, would clearly not have included Siemens. Third, Metro contends that there is no dispute that: (1) the bodily injury and property damage arose out of the commissioning of LRV 115; (2) that Siemens was performing operations for Metro by supervising the commissioning of LRV 115; and (3) that Siemens was engaged in these operations for Metro at a âProject Site listed in the Designated Project Schedule.â (Doc. No. 65 at 13-15.) In support of its contentions, Metro relies on the affidavit of Sharon K. Messa, the Risk Manager for Metro who monitored and directed the resolution of any claims resulting from the light rail project. (Doc. No. 65, Ex. A at 2, ¶¶ 1-3.) In her affidavit, Messa swears to the following: Siemens delivered the first LRV to METRO in April 2003 and the installation and commissioning of these vehicles, including the training for METROâS LRV operators, began shortly thereafter. Oh January 23, 2004, a light rail vehicle (âLRV 115â) being commissioned by Siemens and being operated by a METRO employee on the test track located on the Lease premises collided with a Union Pacific welding truck at crossing #755612H, also identified as the intersection of Kirby Drive and the railroad tracks in Houston, Harris County, Texas (the âAccidentâ). At the time of the Accident, Siemens was training and supervising the METRO employee that was operating LRV 115. (Id. at 8-9 ¶ 20.) Liberty Mutual asserts that, aside from the affidavit of Sharon K. Messa, which it claims is conclusory and not based on personal knowledge, there is no evidence that Siemens was âeven present at the time of the Accident, let alone conducting operations.â (Doc. No. -70 at 6.) However, given Messaâs position with Metro (ie., Risk Manager who monitored and directed the resolution of any claims resulting from the light rail project), the Court simply cannot agree with Liberty Mutual and, therefore, overrules Liberty Mutualâs objection to Messaâs affidavit. Fourth, Metro contends that the accident did not occur within the âProducts-Completed Operations Hazard.â (Doc. No. 65 at 15-16.) Metro claims that the undisputed facts demonstrate that Metroâs âworkâ was ongoing at the time of the accident because the Siemensâ Contract called for commissioning of all 18 LRVs prior to final acceptance for use in Metroâs operation of the Light Rail system. Notably, however, in its response, Liberty Mutual clearly states that it âdoes not contend that the âproduets-completed operations hazardâ precludes coverage under the Wrap-Up policy.â (Doc. No. 70 at 3.) Finally, perhaps the central issue related to the insuring agreement is whether Metro is âlegally obligated to payâ for bodily injury or property damage. Liberty Mutual maintains that âlegally obligated to payâ can only be established by a judgment against the insured, and since Metro *803 is immune from suit, this has not been established, and, until such point in time as it is, Liberty Mutual is under no obligation to pay under the Wrap-Up policy. There is, of course, no dispute that the Lease Agreement contained the indemnity agreement or that the agreement was entered into before the accident occurred. Nor is there any dispute that, in the Lease Agreement, Metro contractually agreed to assume UPâs tort liability as long as UP was not the sole, direct cause of the loss. Finally, there is no dispute that UP has paid to settle the claims arising from this accident and requested Metro indemnify it for the amount it paid pursuant to the indemnity agreement. Turning back to the insurance policy, the Court finds that the phrase âlegally obligated to payâ is not defined in the policy. However, giving the phrase its ordinary meaning (Pa. Pulp & Paper Co. v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 100 S.W.3d 566, 574 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet. denied) (recognizing that courts give terms used in an insurance contract their ordinary and generally accepted meaning unless the policy shows the words were meant in a technical sense)), âit means an obligation imposed by law, such as an obligation to pay pursuant to a judgment, settlement, contract, or statute.â Lennar Corp., 200 S.W.3d at 680 ; see also, Comsys, 130 S.W.3d at 189 n. 3 (recognizing a judgment is not the only manner by which an insured can become âlegally obligated to pay,â because a legal obligation can also arise out of a contract or a settlement); Boy Scouts of America, 947 S.W.2d at 691 (same). Here, Metroâs legal obligation to pay is by contract. Once UP settled the claims and suits arising from this accident, Metroâs obligation under the agreement was triggered. Accordingly, Metroâs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on the grounds that coverage is triggered under the Wrap-UP policy is granted. 8 IX. UMBRELLA POLICY A. Lloydâs, Metro, and UPâs Motions for Summary Judgment With regard to the Umbrella policy, the parties have filed competing Motions for Summary Judgment. In its Motion for Summary Judgment, Lloydâs maintains that the action against it must be dismissed on the following grounds: (1) Metro and UP lack standing to pursue their claims (Doc. No. 66 at 5-6); (2) immunity bars UP from asserting any claim against Metro (Id. at 6-9); (3) the indemnity provision in the lease agreement is void (Id. at 9-10); (4) UP is not an additional insured under the Umbrella policy (Id. at 11-12); (5) the auto exclusion precludes coverage for the accident (Id. at 12-13); (6) the Umbrella policy only provides coverage during construction (Id. at 13-15); (7) the claims are barred by late notice (Id. at 15); (8) the insured(s) failed to obtain Lloydâs consent to settle the McGinnis case (Id. at 15-16); (9) the Umbrella policy restricts legal action against the insurer because the sums sought by Metro and UP were not judicially determined (Id. at 16-17); (10) Lloydâs had no duty to defend because the Complaint alleged facts excluded by the policy (Id. at 17); and (11) even to the extent coverage existed, Lloydâs did not act in bad faith (Id. at 17-18). Metro and UP have responded to each of Lloydâs arguments. In addition, both UP and Metro have filed Motions for Partial Judgment. In its *804 Motion, UP maintains that it is an insured under the Umbrella policy (Doc. No. 69 at 8-12), the scope of coverage includes the test track and operations on the test track as required under the contract documents {Id. at 18-19), the auto exclusion does not preclude coverage under the policy (Id. at 13-18), and it is entitled to attorneys fees from Lloydâs under section 38.006 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. (Id. at 12-13). In its Motion, Metro maintains that Lloydâs is obligated to indemnify Metro for the amounts it owes UP (Doc. No. 65 at 15), the âProducts-Completed Operations Hazardâ is not applicable because Metroâs work was not complete on the date of the accident (Id. at 16), the auto exclusion does not preclude coverage (Id. at 16-22), and all the conditions precedent of the Umbrella policy have been performed. (Id. at 22). B. Metroâs Standing In its Motion, similar to the claim asserted by Liberty Mutual, Lloydâs maintains that Metro lacks standing to bring this suit. (Doc. No. 66 at 5-6.) Having discussed the issue above, the Court will not reiterate it herein. Lloydâs Motion for Summary Judgment on the ground that Metro lacks standing to bring this Declaratory Judgment is denied. 1. Whether UP Lacks Standing Because It Is Not An Additional Insured Lloydâs maintains that UP is not an insured under the Umbrella policy. Lloydâs also maintains that Texas is not a direct action state and UP, being nothing more than a third-party claimant, âhas no standing to pursue any claims against [it].â (Doc. No. 66 at 6; 11-12.) Conversely, in its Motion, UP maintains that it is an insured under the Umbrella policy based on the following: (1) pursuant to the terms of the Lease Agreement, if Metro purchased an Umbrella or Excess policy, Metro was required to name UP as an additional insured; and (2) UP qualifies as an insured based on the definitions contained in the Umbrella policy. (Doc. No. 81 at 2, 8.) It is true that by the terms of the Lease Agreement, Metro was required, at its own cost and expense, to procure and maintain commercial liability insurance, railroad protection insurance, liability insurance, workerâs compensation and employerâs liability insurance, and umbrella or excess policies, in the event lessee utilizes umbrella and excess policies ---- (Doc. No. 64, Ex. C). Further, Exhibit C of the Lease provides that â[a]ll pohcy(ies) required above (excluding Workers Compensation) ... name [UP] as an additional insured.â (Id.) Contrary to UPâs contentions, as written, this provision cannot be read as requiring Metro to buy an umbrella or excess policy under the Lease Agreement for UP. Instead, the Lease Agreement merely provides that âin the eventâ Metro purchases one, it shall âfollow formâ and âafford no less coverage than the primary policy.â UPâs argument, therefore, fails. The Court now examines the definitions of âinsuredâ found in the policy. The Umbrella policy, in relevant part, defines âinsuredâ as follows: 4. Any person or organization, other than the Named Insured, included as an additional insured in the policies listed in the Schedule of Underlying Insurance but not for broader coverage than is available to such person or organization under such underlying policies. 7. Any person, organization, trustee, or estate to whom you are obligated by a written Insured Contract to provide insurance such as is afforded by this policy but only with respect to: a. liability arising out of operations conducted by you or on your behalf; or *805 b. facilities owned or used by you. (Doc. No. 66, Ex. B at 10.) The term âInsured Contractâ means: â[a]ny oral or written contract or agreement entered into by you and pertaining to your business under which you assume the tort liability of another party to pay for Bodily Injury, Property Damage, Personal Injury or Advertising Injury to a third person or organization. Tort liability means a liability that would be imposed by law in the absence of any contract or agreement.â (Id. at 11.) Under the policy âyouâ ârefers to the Named Insuredâ which, in this case, is Metro. (Id. at 7,10.) For purposes of paragraph (4), while the Schedule of Underlying Insurance includes the RPL and the Wrap-Up policy, UP was the named insured, not an additional insured, under the RPL policy. Further, UP was not a named or additional insured under the Wrap-Up policy. 9 Accordingly, contrary to its argument, UP would not qualify as an insured under subparagraph 4. Turning to paragraph (7), UP maintains that the Lease Agreement, which required Metro to indemnify UP for tort liabilities, is an âInsured Contractâ under the Umbrella policy. Lloydâs disputes UPâs contention on the basis that the Lease Agreement is invalid. Lloydâs argument is unavailing. A concern regarding the validity of the indemnity agreement is a separate and distinct determination from construing the scope of an âinsured contractâ under an insurance policy. Mid-Continent Cas. Co. v. Swift Energy, 206 F.3d 487, 492-93 (5th Cir.2000) (construing âinsured contractâ broadly when carrier challenged demand for coverage); LeBlanc v. Global Marine Drilling Co., 193 F.3d 873, 875 (5th Cir.1999); Certain Underwriters at Lloydâs London v. Oryx Energy Co., 142 F.3d 255, 258 (5th Cir.1998); see also, Motiva Enterprises, L.L.C. v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 2006 WL 3246039 , *9-10 (S.D.Tex.2006). As urged by UP, the indemnity agreement contained in the Lease Agreement is an âInsured Contractâ for purposes of the Umbrella policy. Thus, under paragraph IV.E.7, UP is an âinsuredâ under the Umbrella policy. 10 Accordingly, Lloydâs Motion for Summary Judgment on the ground that UP is not an insured under the Umbrella policy and, thus, has no standing to bring this action is denied; and UPâs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on these grounds is granted. 2. Whether Governmental Immunity Or Article XI, § 7 Of The Texas Constitution Preclude This Action Lloydâs contends, similar to Liberty Mutualâs arguments, that governmental immunity (Doc. No. 66 at 6-9), and a violation of Article 11, § 7 of the Texas Constitution precludes this action. (Id. at 9-10.) Having addressed these issues above, the Court will not reiterate its discussion here. Lloydâs Motion for Summary Judgment on these points is denied. 3. Whether the Auto Exclusion Precludes Coverage Lloydâs, Metro and UP all seek summary judgment regarding the applica *806 tion of the auto exclusion. In its Motion, Lloydâs argues that UP and Metroâs claims are specifically excluded because the accident arises from the use of an auto, which, by endorsement, is not covered under the policy. (Doc. No. 66 at 12-13.) In their respective Motions, Metro and UP dispute Lloydâs contention that the auto exclusion applies and argue that a Hyrail vehicle is âmobile equipmentâ and, thus, not excluded. (Doc. No. 65 at 21-27; Doc. No. 69 at 13-18.) The auto exclusion in the Umbrella policy is found in âEndorsement No. 16.â The exclusion reads: âIt is understood and agreed that this Insurance does not apply to Bodily Injury or Property Damage arising out of the ownership, maintenance, operation, use, loading or unloading of any Auto.â 11 Under the policy, âautoâ is defined as âa land motor vehicle, trailer or semi trailer designed for travel on public roads, including any attached machinery or equipment. But auto does not include mobile equipment.â (Doc. No. 66, Ex. A, at Bates UW/WĂ100009.) Based on the policy language, Lloydâs argues that the truck or welding truck, as referred to in various documents, 12 is a land motor vehicle and, being licensed and registered, was designed for travel on the public roads and, thus, it is clearly an âauto.â. Conversely, Metro and UP contend that the Hyrail vehicle qualifies as âmobile equipment,â as defined in the policy, for two reasons. First, Metro and UP maintain that the Hyrail vehicle falls under the policyâs first definition of âmobile equipmentâ which broadly reads, in part: âany of the following type of land vehicles, including any attached machinery or equipment,â such as âbulldozers, farm machinery, forklifts and other vehicles designed for use principally off public roads.â There is, of course, no dispute that the Hyrail vehicle is a land vehicle. Further, as urged by the parties, the operative issue is not whether the vehicle can or does travel on public roads, but whether it was designed for use principally off public roads. Doty v. Safeco Ins. Co., 400 So.2d 718, 723 (La.App.1981) (explaining that the phrase âdesigned for use principally off public roadsâ makes clear that the determining issue is not whether the vehicle is or can be used on public roads, but the primary purpose for which the vehicle is designed or structurally suited). While Lloydâs appears to suggest that the fact the Hyrail vehicle is registered negates this interpretation, there is nothing in the policy provision that requires the vehicle not be subject to motor vehicle registration to fall within its parameter. In fact, whether the vehicle was registered and licensed to operate on the public roadways is not controlling in deciding that it was not designed for use principally off public roads. Republic Ins. Co. v. Bolton, 564 S.W.2d 440, 442 (Tex.Civ.App.-Dallas 1978, writ refd n.r.e.) (recognizing that â[t]he vehicleâs susceptibility to state inspection and licensing, together with its present use as a racing vehicle, were simply evidentiary considerations bearing on the vehicleâs design.â). Rather, as stated, the purpose for which the vehicleâs use was principally âdesignedâ is the operative question. See generally, Malbrough v. Wheat, 428 So.2d 1110, 1113 (La.App. 1st Cir.1983) (although a farm tractor may be driven on public *807 roads, the evidence established that it was not principally designed for this purpose). In the present case, Metro and UP offer evidence, by way of an affidavit from Jeffrey Crook, which supports their contentions that the Hyrail is âmobile equipment.â (Doc. No. 67, Ex. E (Affidavit of Jeffrey Crook).) Lloydâs objects to Crookâs affidavit (Doc. Nos. 72 & 73) on the basis that Crook lacks personal knowledge, and his affidavit is based on hearsay, conclusory opinions, and speculation. However, having considered Crookâs affidavit, the Court finds that Lloydâs objections are without merit and, thus, they are overruled. Accordingly, the competent summary judgment evidence before this Court demonstrates that the truck, modified into a Hyrail vehicle, was âdesigned for use principallyâ on the railroad tracks and, thus, off public roads. The mere fact that the Hyrail vehicle can operate on public roads does not alter this conclusion. See Malbrough, 428 So.2d at 1113 ; Second, Metro and UP maintain that the Hyrail vehicle falls under the policyâs fourth definition of âmobile equipmentâ because it is a vehicle that is âmaintained primarily to provide mobility to permanently mounted ... [pjower cranes.â Significantly, the definition does not require that the vehicle be maintained for the âsoleâ purpose of providing mobility to the power crane. Instead, as provided by the very terms of the policy, the vehicle must only be maintained (not used) primarily to provide mobility to a permanently mounted power crane. The competent evidence before the Court establishes that the Hyrail was equipped with a âtelescope power crane with [a] 20-foot reach that [was] permanently mounted to the vehicle.â (Doc. No. 67, Ex. E (Affidavit of Jeffrey Crook).) While the Hyrail had other uses, the evidence before the Court establishes that it was maintained primarily to provide mobility to the permanently mounted power crane for work done on the railroad tracks. Not dissuaded, Lloydâs insists that the mobile equipment exception to the auto exclusion specifically provides that âself-propelled vehicles with the following types of permanently attached equipment are not mobile equipment but will be considered autos ... welding.â However, as urged by UP, this argument is flawed. Definition number 6, by its own terms, serves as a âcatch-allâ provision and applies only when the other provisions do not. (Doc. No. 89 at 18-20.) In addition, as written, the second phrase of Definition number 6 (â[h]owever...â), can only be construed to modify this particular provision or paragraph, as opposed to all the preceding classes of mobile equipment. Accordingly, having failed to establish the application of the auto exclusion, Lloydâs Motion for Summary Judgment on this ground must be denied, and both Metroâs and UPâs Motions for Partial Summary Judgment on this issue must be granted. 4. Whether Coverage Under Umbrella Policy Limited To Construction Lloydâs argues that the Umbrella policy does not respond to the claims at issue because the construction of the test track was completed. (Doc. No. 66 at 13-15; see also, Doc. No. 77 at 21-22; Doc. No. 87 at 15.) Lloydâs relies upon the âRisk, Interest, Location and Limits of Liabilityâ provision contained in the âSchedule,â the âDivided Work Endorsementâ found in Endorsement No. 19, and the definitions contained in Endorsement No. 1 concerning the âProject Siteâ and âWork.â UP responds that the Umbrella policy cannot reasonably be interpreted to be limited to construction of the test track. (Doc. No. 69 at 18; see also, Doc. No. 89 at 20-21.) *808 The âRisks, Interests, Location and Limits of Liabilityâ provision found in the âScheduleâ provides the following: This Policy provides Umbrella Liability coverage in respect of the construction of Light Rail System â 7.5 miles with 16 stations, including (but not limited to) Downtown improvement, Transit Administration Building and Park/Ride Lots, as per wording attached hereto which is hereby declared to be incorporated in and to form an integral party of this Policy. (Doc. No. 66, Ex. B at Bates UW/Wil 4.) In addition, the âDivided Risk Endorsementâ states that â[i]t is hereby understood and agreed that this Policy applies only to liability which arises in connection with Work, at or emanating from the Project Site.â (Doc. No. 66, Ex. A at Bates 41.) Endorsement No. 1 defines âWorkâ as â[t]he entire completed construction or the various separately identifiable parts required to be furnished under the contract documents.â (Id. at Bates 24.) In addition, âProject Siteâ means â[t]hat area described in the construction contract documents including the area available for Contractor operations, access routes, right-of-ways, and approved additional sites necessary or incidental thereto.â (Id.) âContractorâ includes â[a]ny individual, partnership, firm or corporation which has entered into a Contract for construction with The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (Metro) to perform Work at the Project Site unless such entity is specifically excluded from the OCIP.â Based on these policy provisions, Lloydâs argues that the Umbrella policy âclearly only provides coverage with respect to construction of the listed itemsâ and â[n]o coverage is afforded for operational use ofâ the listed items. (Doc. No. 66 at 14.) Lloydâs interpretation of these policy provisions is too strained. Under the policy, the âProject Siteâ includes the test track, not only because it was the âarea described in the construction contract documentsâ (Doc. No. 65-2, Ex. A at 2, ¶ 5; 7, ¶ 17), but also because it was the âarea available for Contractor operations,â which included the testing or commissioning the LRVs. In addition, as provided in the policy language, âthe construction of the Light Rail Systemâ included âthe final design, manufacturing, supply, installation, testing, training, spare parts, and operations and maintenance technical supportâ of the LRVs was a necessary and required part of the construction of the Light Rail System. (Doc. No. 65-3, Ex. 1-A at 12 of 113; see also, Doc. No. 65-3, Ex. 1-A at 14 of 114.) Finally, as broadly defined in the policy, the testing of the LRVs, which is part of the âentire completed construction or the various separately identifiable parts required to be furnished under the contract documents,â clearly falls within the policyâs definition of âwork.â Thus, because the provisions of the Umbrella policy are not limited to construction, the Court concludes that Lloydâs Motion for Summary Judgment on this ground is denied, and UPâs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on this issue is granted. 5. Whether Alleged Violations Of The Conditions Precedent Preclude Coverage Metro and Lloydâs filed competing Motions for Summary Judgment regarding the issue of whether the conditions precedent to coverage under the Umbrella policy have been met. (Doc. No. 65 at 22; Doc. No. 66 at 15-16.) UP filed a response to Lloydâs Motion. (Doc. No. 81 at 11-14). The Court begins by addressing Metroâs Motion. In its Motion, Metro appears to seek a declaration that Lloydâs has waived âany challenge to Metroâs averment that it âhas complied with and performed under *809 the essential terms and elements of ... the Lloydâs Policy and any defects in performance by Metro do not prevent the parties from accomplishing the purposes of the policiesâ [reference omitted], by not specifically, and with particularity, denying performance, as is required by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 9(c).â (Doc. No. 65 at 22.) Lloydâs responds that, contrary to Metroâs assertions, when Lloydâs filed its Answer, it specifically denied Metroâs performance of the conditions precedent. (Doc. No. 78 at 12.) The Court agrees. Metroâs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on the ground that Lloydâs waived compliance with the conditions precedent by failing to comply with Rule 9(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is denied Turning to the competing Motion, Lloydâs contends that coverage is precluded under the Umbrella policy on the grounds of (1) delayed notice, and (2) failure to obtain consent to settle or the âno-actionâ clause. (Doc. No. 66 at 15-17.) UP filed a response refuting each of Lloydâs arguments. The Court addresses each issue in turn. 6. Whether Delayed Notice Precludes Coverage Lloydâs contends that the delayed notice by Metro and UP precludes coverage under the Umbrella policy. (Doc. No. 66 at 15.) 13 UP counters that Lloydâs has not established late notice and, even of they had, they have failed to show prejudice. (Doc. No. 81 at 11.) The Umbrella policy requires Metro 14 to notify Lloydâs âas soon as practicable of an Occurrence which may result in a claim under this policy.â (Doc. No. 66, Ex. B at Bates UW/Wil 20.) The policy further provides that â[i]f a claim is made or suit is brought against any Insured that is reasonably likely to involve this policy [Metro] must notify [Lloydâs] in writing as soon as practicable.â (Id.) This provision of the policy was further modified by Endorsement 17, which stated â[i]: is understood and agreed that notice of Occurrence, claim or Suit shall be made in accordance with Condition F. Duties In The Event Of An Occurrence, Claim Or Suit via the following entity: âWillis of Texas.â â (Id. at Bates UWWil 40.) There is no dispute that Willis of Texas had notice of the accident and UPâs claims shortly after the occurrence in 2004. Thus, pursuant to the terms of the agreement, notice to Willis of Texas satisfied the terms of this condition. Notwithstanding this fact, under Texas law, an insuredâs failure to give timely notice will not defeat coverage absent a showing by the insurer that they have been prejudiced. PAJ, Inc. v. Hanover Ins. Co., 243 S.W.3d 630, 636-37 (Tex.2008); Hernandez v. Gulf Group Lloyds, 875 S.W.2d 691, 693 (Tex.1994); Hanson Prod. Co. v. Americas Ins. Co., 108 F.3d 627 ,. 629-30 (5th Cir.1997) (insurer must establish it was prejudiced by late notice). Prejudice will not be presumed from either delayed notice or âsettlement without consent.â PAJ, 243 S.W.3d at 634 ; Hanson, 108 F.3d at 631; Comsys, 130 S.W.3d at 191-92 . Instead, an insurer âmust demonstrate a material change in position to establish prejudiceâ and âmay not disclaim coverage on the basis of prejudice that is only theoretical or presumed merely from *810 the length of delay.â Coastal Refining & Marketing Inc. v. U.S. Fidelity & Guaranty Co., 218 S.W.3d 279, 288 (Tex.App.Houston [14th Dist.] 2007, pet. denied). âWhether an insurer is prejudiced by delayed notice is generally a question of fact,â but a court may determine the issue as a matter of law when the material facts are undisputed. St. Paul Guardian Ins. Co. v. Centrum, G.S. Ltd., 383 F.Supp.2d 891, 902 (N.D.Tex.2003). Willis of Texas notified Lloydâs of the loss sometime in late September 2006. There is no dispute that, in early November 2006, UP provided all the information requested by Lloydâs for the stated purpose of evaluating the coverage applicable to the accident. (See Doc. No. 66, Ex. C-l at Bates W17054.) On November 28, 2006, UP communicated with Lloydâs regarding the direct settlement negotiations involving the claims made by Plaintiff McGinnis. (Doc. No. 66, Ex. C-l at Bates W17052-54; Doc. No. 77, Ex. U.) Lloydâs did not affirm or deny coverage or tender a reservation of rights and also did not participate in the settlement negotiations or instruct either Metro or UP to refrain from settlement to allow Lloydâs to determine whether to participate. Following several telephone discussions with Lloydâs counsel, on February 27, 2007, UPâs counsel, sent a letter to Lloydâs counsel in which he provided the status of the case, demanded a defense, demanded âfirst-dollar liability coverage under the Lloydâs Umbrella Policy for the Incidentâ or, in the alternative, âwithout waiver, Union Pacific demands that Lloydâs provide indemnity excess to the underlying scheduled policies,â and demanded Lloydâs âimmediately effect a settlement of the McGinnis claim.â (Doc. No. 89, Ex. A-l.) On March 13, 2007, Lloydâs denied coverage under the Umbrella policy. (See Doc. No. 66, Ex. C-2.) On March 22 and 23, 2007, UP emailed counsel for Liberty Mutual and Lloydâs once again requesting their participation in the settlement and also informed them of UPâs intent to accept the settlement offer sought by Plaintiff McGinnis unless directed not to by either carrier. (Doc. No. 66, Ex. C-2; Doc. No. 77, Exs. Y & Z.) Without hearing from Lloydâs, on March 23, 2007, after both insurers not only declined to participate in the settlement discussions, but also declined coverage, UP settled Plaintiff McGinnisâ claims. (Doc. No. 66, Ex. C-2.) On March 27, 2007, a letter from Lloydâs counsel âreiteratesâ their declination of coverage. (Id.) In the letter, although having previously declined coverage, Lloydâs objected to the increased settlement amount contemplated by UP to settle Plaintiff McGinnisâ claims, complained that they did not have adequate information upon which to evaluate the reasonableness of the new settlement amount, objected that UP gave them only 24 hours to consider Plaintiffs new settlement demand, and reserved their right to contest the reasonableness of the settlement amount. (Id.) Notably, however, Lloydâs was notified of the suit before trial and had previously been invited to participate in the settlement discussions. Lloydâs not only declined, but denied coverage under the policy before any settlement was reached. As pointed out by UP, in its Motion for Summary Judgment, Lloydâs only specific claims of prejudice are as follows: [it was] prejudiced by the ultimate settlement Union Pacific entered into with Plaintiff McGinnis because the original settlement agreement reached between the two was for considerably less. See Exhibit âC.â For reasons unknown to Underwriters, Union Pacific failed to formalize the original settlement, allowing a significant increase in the demands of Plaintiff McGinnis, to the extreme prejudice of Underwriters. *811 (Doc. No. 66 at 23.) To the extent that Lloydâs suggests that its inability or failure to obtain a smaller settlement, or more favorable settlement, constitutes prejudice sufficient to relieve an insurer of its duty to defend or indemnify its insured, any such assertion would not suffice to establish prejudice. Centrum G.S. Ltd., 383 F.Supp.2d at 902 (recognizing that inability to obtain a more favorable judgment is not a circumstance that will establish prejudice). Based on the evidence presented, the Court cannot conclude that Lloydâs was prejudiced as a matter of law. See Coastal Refining & Marketing, 218 S.W.3d at 290-92 (delayed notice to insurer of suit until less than a month before trial did not prejudice insurer where it learned of suit while defense and negotiations were still ongoing, insurer was provided access to litigation file, and insxrrer was invited to participate in settlement discussions). Lloydâs Motion for Summary Judgment on the ground of late notice is, therefore, denied. 7. Whether âNo Actionâ Clause Precludes Coverage Lloydâs next contends that the âno actionâ clause precludes coverage under the policy. (Doc. No. 66 at 16.) In particular, the Umbrella policy contains the following clause: There will be no right of action against us under this insurance unless: 1. You have complied with all the terms of this policy; and 2. The amount you owe has been determined with our consent or by actual trial and final judgment. (Doc. No. 66, Ex. B at Bates UW/Wil 20.) UP responds that Lloydâs âreliance on the no-action clause ... is misplaced because they denied coverage.â (Doc. No. 81 at 14.) While it is true that âthe insurance company may ordinarily insist upon compliance with this condition for its own protectionâ (Gulf Ins. Co. v. Parker Prods., Inc., 498 S.W.2d 676, 679 (Tex.1973)), the law is well-settled that once an insurer has breached its duty to defend, the insured is free to proceed as he sees fit; he may engage his own counsel and either settle or litigate, at his option. Great American Indemnity Co. v. Corpus Christi, 192 S.W.2d 917, 919 (Tex.Civ.App.-San Antonio 1946, writ ref'd n.r.e.). Having forfeited its right to conduct the defense, the insurer is bound by the judgment or settlement. Ridgway v. Gulf Life Insurance Co., 578 F.2d 1026, 1029 (judgment), rehâg denied, 583 F.2d 541 (5th Cir.1978); Ranger Insurance Co. v. Rogers, 530 S.W.2d 162, 166-67 (Tex.Civ.App.-Austin 1975, writ ref'd n.r.e.) (settlement). Furthermore, another consequence of a breach of the duty to defend is the inability to enforce against the insured any conditions in the policy; the insured is no longer constrained by âno actionâ or âno voluntary assumption of liabilityâ clauses. Parker Products, Inc., 498 S.W.2d at 679 . Thus, a consequence of breach is that an insurer who wrongfully failed to defend its insured is liable for any damages assessed against the insxired, up to the policy limits, subject only to the condition that any settlement be reasonable. Western Alliance Ins. Co. v. Northern Ins. Co. of New York, 176 F.3d 825, 830 (5th Cir.1999). The insured must demonstrate only that, in settling, his conduct conformed to the standard of a prudent uninsured. Simon v. Maryland Cas. Co., 353 F.2d 608, 612 (5th Cir.1965) (citing United Services Auto. Assân v. Russom, 241 F.2d 296, 301 (5th Cir.1957)) (when the insurer repudiates coverage, an assured is entitled to exercise the judgment of a prudent uninsured person in compromising the claim); Willcox v. American Home Assur. Co., 900 F.Supp. 850, 855-56 (S.D.Tex.1995) (recognizing that â[w]hen an insured compromises and settles the *812 case without the sanction of a judgment, the insured may, in a separate suit initiated against the insurer, recover the amount of damages he paid or promised to pay in settlement of the case upon sufficient proof of facts establishing that the settlement was made in good faith, upon reasonable basis, and for a reasonable amountâ); see also, ATOFINA Petrochemicals, 256 S.W.3d at 677 (when an insurer wrongfully denies coverage and its insured enters into an agreed judgment, the insurer may not contest the reasonableness of the agreed judgment). Finally, when an insured settles a claim, without knowing whether or not it would be covered by the policies, this âleav[es] in place its motive to minimize the settlement amount in case it became solely responsible for payment.â Id. at 674. Accordingly, Lloydâs Motion for Summary Judgment based on the âno-actionâ clause is denied. 8. Whether Lloydâs Breached Duty to Defend In its Third-Party Complaint, UP alleges that Lloydâs breached its duty to defend. In its Motion for Summary Judgment, Lloydâs maintains that it had no duty to defend because the complaint alleged facts excluded by the policy. (Doc. No. 66 at 17.) The Umbrella policy, in relevant part, provides: II. Defense A. We shall have the right and duty to defend any claim or suit seeking damages covered by the terms and conditions of this policy when: 1. The applicable limits of Insurance of the underlying policies listed in the Schedule of Underlying Insurance and the limits of Insurance of any other Underlying Insurance providing coverage to the Insured have been exhausted by payment of claims to which this policy applies; or 2. Damages are sought for Bodily Injury, Property Damage, Personal Injury, or Advertising Injury covered by this policy but not covered by any underlying insurance listed in the Schedule of Underlying Insurance or any other underlying insurance providing coverage to the Insured. (Doc. No. 66, Ex. B at Bates UW/Wil 7.) UP maintains that it âhas demonstrated that the various suits filed against it arising out of the Accident fall within the scope of coverageâ (Doc. No. 69 at 9), and Lloydâs âmust defend [UP] under the Umbrella policy if (i) the RPL Policy covers the claims and is exhausted by payment; or (ii) if the RPL Policy does not cover the claims.â The Court agrees. Since the Complaintâs alleged facts fall within the scope of coverage and were not otherwise excluded by the policy, Lloydâs Motion for Summary Judgment on this ground is denied. 9. Whether UP is Entitled to Attorneyâs Fees UP maintains that it is entitled to attorneyâs fees under Section 38.001 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code for bringing this action against Lloydâs for breach of contract. (Doc. No. 69 at 12.) While Lloydâs filed a response to UPâs Motion, it did not address UPâs argument that it is entitled to attorneyâs fees. (See Doc. Nos. 77 & 87.) As previously discussed, in order to recover attorneyâs fees pursuant to Section 38.001, a party must be a prevailing party and recover actual damages on its claim. See Mustang Pipeline Co., 134 S.W.3d at 201 (noting that even though the claimant had a valid claim, it âwas not entitled to recover attorneyâs fees because it was not awarded damages on its breach of contract claimâ); Solis, 951 S.W.2d at 390 (where breach of contract was established, but jury awarded no damages for the breach, the party was not entitled to attorneyâs *813 fees under statute). In this case, it is premature to consider UPâs entitlement, if any, to attorneyâs fees under Section 38.001. See Solis, 951 S.W.2d at 390 . Accordingly, UPâs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment seeking attorneyâs fees under Section 38.001 is denied without prejudice as premature. 10. Whether No Coverage Under Policy Precludes Bad Faith Claim Lloyds argues that since no coverage existed under the policy, any claim that it acted in bad faith fails. (Doc. No. 66 at 17-18.) UP responds that, while the carriers âhave correctly recited Texas law on the issue,â to the extent coverage exists under the policy, additional discovery would be necessary and, thus, it would be âpremature for the Court to consider and rule on the viability of the extra-contractual claims.â (Doc. No. 81 at 15.) Insofar as coverage exists under the policy, the Court agrees with UP. Lloydâs Motion for Summary Judgment is denied on this point. X. CONCLUSION For all the reasons set forth above, the following is ORDERED by the Court: A. Liberty Mutualâs Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. No. 64) is GRANTED as to the issue that UP is not an insured under the Wrap-Up policy, but DENIED as to all other relief sought within its Motion; B. Metroâs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Doc. No. 65) is GRANTED as to the following issues: (1) liability coverage exists for Metro under the Wrap-Up policy; (2) the auto exclusion does not apply to preclude coverage for Metro under the Wrap-Up policy; and (3) the Lease Agreement is an âinsured contractâ under the Wrap-Up policy, and DENIED as to all other relief sought within its Motion; C. Lloydâs Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. No. 66) is DENIED in its entirety; D. UPâs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment under the RPL Policy (Doc. No. 66) is DENIED; and E. UPâs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment under the Umbrella Policy (Doc. No. 69) is GRANTED as to the following issues: (1) UP is an additional insured under the Umbrella policy; (2) UP has standing to bring this action; (3) the auto exclusion does not apply to preclude coverage under the Umbrella policy; and (4) the Umbrella policy is not limited merely to construction, and DENIED as to all other relief sought within its Motion. IT IS SO ORDERED. 1 . Inconsistent with the Declarations page, Liberty Mutual erroneously refers to the Job Location as "a two-mile span 25 feet from existing track.â (Doc. No. 64 at 6.) 2 . When not defined in an insurance policy, a court will give the terms used in the insuranee contract their ordinary and generally accepted meaning. Pa. Pulp & Paper Co. v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 100 S.W.3d 566, 574 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet. denied). 3 . Although irrelevant given the facts in this case, the policy also defined âinsuredâ to include âyour designated employeesâ which were defined as: "(a) [a]ny supervisory employee of yours at the 'job locationâ; (b) [a]ny employee of yours while opĂ©rating, attached to or engaged on work trains or other railroad equipment at the 'job location' which are assigned exclusively to the 'contractor'; or (c) [a]ny employee of yours not described in a. or b. above who is specifically loaned or assigned to the work of the 'contractor' for the prevention of accidents or protection of property.â (Doc. No. 64, Ex. A at 7.) 4 . By the terms of the terms of the Lease of Property agreement, Metro was required, at its own cost and expense, to procure an RPL policy for UP. (Doc. No. 64, Ex. C.) 5 . The issue regarding whether Metroâs action presents a justiciable controversy is one which is raised against Metro by both Liberty Mutual and Lloyds under their respective policies. In fact, in their respective Motions for Summary Judgment against Metro, Liberty Mutual and Lloyd's adopted and incorporated by reference each others arguments. To avoid unnecessary duplication, the Court addresses all the insurance carriers arguments against Metro based on justiciability herein. 6 . The Court once again notes that, while presented in a different order, these same arguments are made by both Liberty and Lloyd's in their Motions for Summary Judgment. (Doc. No. 66 at 5-10.) 7 . Supra note 8. 8 . Metro also moves for summary judgment on whether the Wrap-Up policy's auto exclusion precluded coverage and whether the Lease Agreement constituted the Insured Contract. Liberty Mutual does not dispute Metroâs position on either; therefore, Metroâs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment is granted as on both issues. 9 . An issue would appear to exists as to whether, based on the Lease Agreement, Metro was required to name UP as an additional insured under the CGL. However, since this issue was not clearly raised by the parties, the Court declines to address it. 10 . JPâs coverage as an additional insured under the Umbrella policy is separate from Metnt's coverage as the named insured. See Evanston Ins. Co. v. ATOFINA Petrochemicals, Inc., 256 S.W.3d 660, 663-64 (Tex.2008) (recognizing difference between contractual liability coverage supporting the contractor's (named insuredâs) indemnity, and the coverage owed directly to Atofina as an additional insured). 11 . Unlike the CGL policy, which by its terms is limited to the operation and use of an auto by "any insured," the auto exclusion in the umbrella policy is more broadly worded and applies to the use of "any autoâ regardless of insured status. 12 . In its pleadings, Lloyd's makes much of the terms that lay people use to refer to the Hyrail vehicle; however, this is not relevant when determining whether the vehicle falls within the policy's definitions. 13 . Lloydâs complains that it did not receive timely notice of the accident or the suit and that it was given less than 24 hours to consider a settlement offer to Plaintiff McGinnis. 14 . This provision of the policy uses the term âyouâ, which refers to the Named Insured as defined in the Insuring Agreement IV, Definitions. (Doc. No. 66, Ex. B at Bates UW/Wil 7, 20). The Named Insured is Metro, thus Metro is "you.â (Doc. No. 66, Ex. B at Bates UW/Wil 10). Case Information
- Court
- S.D. Tex.
- Decision Date
- March 16, 2009
- Status
- Precedential