Travelers Property Casualty Co. of America v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, PA

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY No. 2:23-cv-00974-DAD-AC COMPANY OF AMERICA, 12 Plaintiff, 13 ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION v. FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND 14 GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR NATIONAL UNION FIRE INSURANCE SUMMARY JUDGMENT 15 COMPANY OF PITTSBURGH, PA, 16 Defendant. (Doc. Nos. 17, 24) 17 18 This matter is before the court on the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment. On 19 July 19, 2024, plaintiff Travelers Property Casualty Company of America (“plaintiff”) filed a 20 motion seeking summary judgment in its favor (Doc. No. 17), and on August 12, 2024, defendant 21 National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA (“defendant”) filed a response and 22 cross-motion seeking summary judgment in its favor (Doc. No. 24). The pending motions were 23 taken under submission on the papers on September 5, 2024. (Doc. Nos. 26, 27.) For the reasons 24 explained below, plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment will be denied and defendant’s cross- 25 motion for summary judgment will be granted. 26 ///// 27 ///// 28 1 BACKGROUND 2 A. Factual Background1 3 The Ohio Security Insurance Company (“Liberty”)2 issued a Business Auto Policy to the 4 company Western Engineering Contractors, Inc. (“WEC”) for the period covering April 1, 2020 5 to April 1, 2021 (“the Liberty policy”). (DUF ¶ 4.) The Liberty policy provides in relevant part: 6 ITEM TWO: SCHEDULE OF COVERAGES AND COVERED AUTOS 7 This policy provides only those coverages where a charge is 8 shown in the premium column below. Each of these coverages will apply only to those “autos” shown as covered 9 “autos”. “Autos” are shown as covered “autos” for a particular coverage by the entry of one or more symbols from 10 the COVERED AUTO Section of the Business Auto Coverage Form next to the name of the coverage. . . . 11 SUMMARY OF COVERED VEHICLES . . . 12 UNIT YEAR MAKE/MODEL VIN 13 002 2014 FORD F-150 1FTFX1CF4EFB31500 . . . 14 ITEM THREE: COVERED VEHICLES AND PREMIUM 15 DETAIL . . . 16 UNIT 002 2014 FORD F-150 VIN: 1FTFX1CF4EFB31500 17 . . . 18 BUSINESS AUTO COVERAGE FORM 19 SECTION I – COVERED AUTOS 20 ITEM TWO of the Declarations shows the “autos” that are covered “autos” for each of your coverages. The following 21 1 The facts that follow are undisputed unless otherwise noted and are derived from the 22 undisputed facts as stated by plaintiff (Doc. No. 17-1) and responded to by defendant (Doc. 23 No. 24-2) (“PUF”); the undisputed facts as stated by defendant (Doc. No. 24-1) (“DUF”); and the exhibits attached to the affidavits filed by the parties in support of their respective briefs (Doc. 24 Nos. 17-6, 17-7, 24-6, 24-7). Plaintiff did not file a response to defendant’s statement of undisputed facts, presumably because, as discussed in this order, the resolution of the pending 25 motions turns on the court’s interpretation of the relevant contracts, and the language of those contracts is not in dispute. 26 27 2 The parties contend that the Ohio Security Insurance Company is affiliated with the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. (See Doc. No. 24 at 2 n.1.) The parties refer to this entity as 28 “Liberty” throughout their briefing. The court adopts the same convention to avoid confusion. 1 numerical symbols describe the “autos” that may be covered “autos”. The symbols next to a coverage on the Declarations 2 designate the only “autos” that are covered “autos”. . . . 3 SECTION II – LIABILITY COVERAGE 4 A. Coverage 5 We will pay all sums an “insured” legally must pay as damages because of “bodily injury” or “property damage” to 6 which this insurance applies, caused by an “accident” and resulting from the ownership, maintenance or use of a 7 covered “auto.” 8 (Doc. No. 24-7 at 31–33, 55–56.) It is undisputed that the Liberty policy specifically identifies a 9 2014 Ford F-150 truck by its year, make, model, and vehicle identification number (“VIN”) 10 1FTFX1CF4EFB31500 (“the Vehicle”). (DUF ¶ 5.) 11 Defendant also issued a Business Auto Policy to WEC for the period of April 1, 2020 to 12 April 1, 2021 (“the National policy”). (Id. ¶ 8.) It is undisputed that the National policy does not 13 specifically identify the Vehicle, by VIN or any other means, and that the National policy is 14 excess to the Liberty policy. (See id. ¶ 9; PUF ¶ 4; Doc. No. 17 at 10.) 15 Plaintiff issued an Excess Follow-Form and Umbrella Liability Policy to WEC for the 16 period of April 1, 2020 to April 1, 2021 (“the Travelers policy”). (DUF ¶ 6.) The Travelers 17 policy provides in relevant part: 18 SECTION I – COVERAGES 19 A. COVERAGE A – EXCESS FOLLOW-FORM LIABILITY 20 1. We will pay on behalf of the insured those sums, in excess 21 of the “applicable underlying limit”, that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages to which 22 Coverage A of this insurance applies, provided that the “underlying insurance” would apply to such damages but 23 for the exhaustion of its applicable limits of insurance. . . . 24 2. Coverage A of this insurance is subject to the same terms, 25 conditions, agreements, exclusions and definitions as the “underlying insurance”, except with respect to any 26 provisions to the contrary contained in this insurance. 27 ///// // 28 1 3. The amount we will pay for damages is limited as described in SECTION III – LIMITS OF 2 INSURANCE. . . . 3 SECTION V – CONDITIONS . . . 4 M. OTHER INSURANCE 5 This insurance is excess over any valid and collectible “other insurance” whether such “other insurance” is stated to be 6 primary, contributing, excess, contingent or otherwise. . . . 7 SCHEDULE OF UNDERLYING INSURANCE . . . 8 Automobile Liability 9 Carrier: NATIONAL UNION FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY 10 Limits of Liability: 11 Bodily Injury and Property Damage Combined Single Limit 12 $2,000,000 . . . 13 Type Of Coverage: AUTOMOBILE LIABILITY 14 Carrier: OHIO SECURITY INSURANCE COMPANY 15 Limits of Liability 16 $1,000,000 CSL 17 (Doc. No. 24-6 at 5, 19, 33–34.) The Travelers policy further provides that it “includes this 18 Declaration Page and any forms and endorsements shown on the Listing of Forms, Endorsements 19 and Schedule Numbers.” (PUF ¶ 5; see also Doc. No. 17-6 at 2.) 20 WEC owned the Vehicle. (PUF ¶ 1; DUF ¶ 2.) On or about August 14, 2020, Darren 21 Wilkinson, a WEC employee, was driving the Vehicle when he allegedly rear-ended a vehicle 22 being driven by Teresa McIntosh. (PUF ¶ 1.) McIntosh’s vehicle was allegedly pushed forward 23 into a vehicle being driven by Alvenia Scott. (Id.) McIntosh and Scott each filed actions against 24 WEC in the Sacramento County Superior Court seeking to recover for their injuries arising from 25 the accident (“the McIntosh action” and “the Scott action,” respectively). (DUF ¶ 1.) 26 WEC tendered its defense of the McIntosh action to plaintiff on or about May 24, 2022. 27 (PUF ¶ 6.) Plaintiff requested that WEC tender its defense of the McIntosh action to defendant. 28 (Id. ¶ 7.) The McIntosh action settled for approximately $1.25 million; the Liberty policy covered 1 $975,045.65, while plaintiff paid the remaining $274,954.36.3 (Doc. No. 17-7 at ¶ 15.) In April 2 2024, plaintiff settled the Scott action for $575,000; plaintiff also incurred $62,069.41 in expenses 3 in the course of defending the Scott action.4 (PUF ¶ 11.) Defendant has not paid plaintiff for any 4 of the costs of the McIntosh and Scott actions, contending that the National policy is excess to 5 Travelers policy by operation of California Insurance Code § 11580.9(d). (PUF ¶ 18.) 6 A. Procedural Background 7 Plaintiff filed its complaint on May 23, 2023, asserting four claims against defendant. 8 (Doc. No. 1.) First, plaintiff asserts a claim for declaratory relief, seeking a judicial declaration 9 that defendant is obligated to: (1) defend and indemnify WEC on a primary basis with respect to 10 the Scott action; (2) reimburse plaintiff for all costs incurred in defending the Scott action; and 11 (3) reimburse plaintiff in the amount of $274,954.36 in connection with the McIntosh action 12 because the Travelers policy is excess to the National policy. (Id. at ¶¶ 24–35.) Plaintiff also 13 brings claims against defendant for equitable subrogation, equitable indemnity, and equitable 14 contribution, all premised on plaintiff’s contention that the Travelers policy is excess to the 15 National policy. (Id. at ¶¶ 36–60.) 16 On July 19, 2024, plaintiff filed its motion for summary judgment in its favor on all of its 17 claims. (Doc. No. 17.) On July 23, 2024, this case was reassigned to the undersigned. (Doc. 18 No. 18.) On August 12, 2024, defendant filed its combined opposition and cross-motion for 19 3 Defendant purports to dispute the amount paid by plaintiff in relation to the McIntosh action. 20 (See PUF ¶ 11.) Defendant does not argue that the declaration submitted by plaintiff in support of this fact is deficient due to, for instance, lack of personal knowledge. Nor does defendant dispute 21 that plaintiff contributed some amount of money toward the settlement of the McIntosh action. (See id. ¶ 13.) Instead, defendant argues that plaintiff has provided “no independent 22 documentation” of the settlement agreement. (Id. ¶ 11.) Defendant does not provide any 23 evidence actually calling into dispute the amount paid by plaintiff as part of the settlement of the McIntosh action. Because the court will conclude that plaintiff’s policy is primary and 24 defendant’s policy is excess, the court will deny plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and grant defendant’s cross-motion regardless of the outcome of defendant’s evidentiary objection on 25 this point. Consequently, the court hereby overrules defendant’s objection as moot in light of this order. 26 27 4 Defendant disputes these amounts on the same grounds discussed in the prior footnote, namely that plaintiff has provided no independent documentation of these costs. (See PUF ¶ 11.) The 28 court hereby overrules defendant’s objection as moot for the same reasons explained above. 1 summary judgment in its favor on all of plaintiff’s claims. (Doc. No. 24.) Plaintiff filed its 2 opposition to defendant’s cross-motion on September 3, 2024. (Doc. No. 25.) On September 13, 3 2024, defendant filed its reply thereto. (Doc. No. 28.) 4 LEGAL STANDARD 5 Summary judgment is appropriate when the moving party “shows that there is no genuine 6 dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. 7 Civ. P. 56(a). 8 Each party’s position, whether it be that a fact is disputed or undisputed, must be 9 supported by (1) “citing to particular parts of materials in the record, including depositions, 10 documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations (including 11 those made for purposes of the motion only), admissions, interrogatory answers, or other 12 materials”; or (2) showing that such materials “do not establish the absence or presence of a 13 genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact.” 14 Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(A), (B). The court may consider other materials in the record, even if not 15 cited by the parties, but it is not required to do so. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(3); Carmen v. S.F. 16 Unified Sch. Dist., 237 F.3d 1026, 1031 (9th Cir. 2001). 17 When resolving cross-motions for summary judgment, the court has an “independent duty 18 to review each cross-motion and its supporting evidence . . . to determine whether that evidence 19 demonstrates a genuine issue of material fact.” Fair Hous. Council of Riverside Cnty., Inc. v. 20 Riverside Two, 249 F.3d 1132, 1137 (9th Cir. 2001). Therefore, each motion is evaluated 21 separately, “giving the nonmoving party in each instance the benefit of all reasonable inferences.” 22 Lenz v. Universal Music Corp., 815 F.3d 1145, 1150 (9th Cir. 2016) (citation omitted). If the 23 moving party will bear the burden of proof on an issue at trial, “the movant must affirmatively 24 demonstrate that no reasonable trier of fact could find other than for the moving party.” 25 Soremekun v. Thrifty Payless, Inc., 509 F.3d 978, 984 (9th Cir. 2007). However, when the non- 26 moving party will bear the burden of proof on an issue, “the movant can prevail merely by 27 pointing out that there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party’s case.” Id.; see 28 also In re Oracle Corp. Sec. Litig., 627 F.3d 376, 387 (9th Cir. 2010) (stating that when the non- 1 moving party bears the burden of proof at trial, “the moving party need only prove that there is an 2 absence of evidence to support the non-moving party’s case”) (citing Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 3 477 U.S. 317, 325 (1986)); Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(B). Indeed, after adequate time for discovery 4 and upon motion, summary judgment should be entered against a party who fails to make a 5 showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case and on 6 which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. See Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322. “[A] 7 complete failure of proof concerning an essential element of the nonmoving party’s case 8 necessarily renders all other facts immaterial.” Id. at 322–23. In such a circumstance, summary 9 judgment should be granted, “so long as whatever is before the district court demonstrates that the 10 standard for the entry of summary judgment . . . is satisfied.” Id. at 323. 11 If the moving party meets its initial responsibility, the burden then shifts to the opposing 12 party to establish that a genuine issue as to any material fact actually does exist. See Matsushita 13 Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986). In attempting to establish the 14 existence of this factual dispute, the opposing party may not rely upon the allegations or denials 15 of its pleadings but is required to tender evidence of specific facts in the form of affidavits or 16 admissible discovery material in support of its contention that the dispute exists. See Fed. R. Civ. 17 P. 56(c)(1); Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586 n.11; Orr, 285 F.3d at 773 (“A trial court can only 18 consider admissible evidence in ruling on a motion for summary judgment.”). The opposing 19 party must demonstrate that the fact in contention is material, i.e., a fact that might affect the 20 outcome of the suit under the governing law, and that the dispute is genuine, i.e., the evidence is 21 such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party. See Anderson v. 22 Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 250 (1986). 23 In the endeavor to establish the existence of a factual dispute, the opposing party need not 24 establish a material issue of fact conclusively in its favor. It is sufficient that “the claimed factual 25 dispute be shown to require a jury or judge to resolve the parties’ differing versions of the truth at 26 trial.” T.W. Elec. Serv., Inc. v. Pac. Elec. Contractors Ass’n, 809 F.2d 626, 630 (9th Cir. 1987). 27 Thus, the “purpose of summary judgment is to ‘pierce the pleadings and to assess the proof in 28 ///// 1 order to see whether there is a genuine need for trial.’” Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587 (citations 2 omitted). 3 “In evaluating the evidence to determine whether there is a genuine issue of fact,” the 4 court draws “all inferences supported by the evidence in favor of the non-moving party.” Walls v. 5 Cent. Contra Costa Cnty. Transit Auth., 653 F.3d 963, 966 (9th Cir. 2011). It is the opposing 6 party’s obligation to produce a factual predicate from which the inference may be drawn. See 7 Richards v. Nielsen Freight Lines, 602 F. Supp. 1224, 1244–45 (E.D. Cal. 1985), aff’d, 810 F.2d 8 898, 902 (9th Cir. 1987). Finally, to demonstrate a genuine issue, the opposing party “must do 9 more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts. . . . Where 10 the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the non-moving party, 11 there is no ‘genuine issue for trial.’” Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586–87 (citations omitted). 12 ANALYSIS 13 A. Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment 14 “In circumstances where two or more liability insurance policies cover the same accident, 15 the California Legislature has adopted ‘conclusive presumptions’ to minimize insurance coverage 16 litigation and resolve the question of which policy is ‘primary’ (such that its policy limits must be 17 exhausted first), and which is ‘excess.’” Hallmark Specialty Ins. Co. v. Continental Ins. Co., 18 No. 20-cv-02046-HSG, 2020 WL 6342932, at *3 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 29, 2020) (citing Cal. Ins. Code 19 § 11580.9), aff’d No. 20-17314, 2022 WL 382037 (9th Cir. Feb. 8, 2022). Under certain 20 circumstances such as those present here, “where two or more policies . . . apply to the same 21 motor vehicle . . . it shall be conclusively presumed that the insurance afforded by that policy in 22 which the motor vehicle is described or rated as an owned automobile shall be primary and the 23 insurance afforded by any other policy or policies shall be excess.”5 Cal. Ins. Code § 11580.9(d). 24 “The California courts have interpreted § 11580.9(d) to require a ‘particularization’ of the vehicle 25 5 The conclusive presumption imposed by § 11580.9(d) “may be modified or amended only by 26 written agreement signed by all insurers who have issued a policy or policies applicable to a loss 27 described in these subdivisions and all named insureds under these policies.” Cal. Ins. Code § 11580.9(f). Here, the parties do not argue that any such written agreement was signed, nor does 28 any evidence before the court on summary judgment suggest that such an agreement exists. 1 in the policy, such that the statute does not reach a policy that does not describe or rate any 2 particular vehicle, but simply insures all vehicles owned by a named corporation.” 20th Century 3 Ins. Co. v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 965 F.2d 747, 755 n.7 (9th Cir. 1992) (citing Hartford Accident 4 & Indem. Co. v. Sequoia Ins. Co., 211 Cal. App. 3d 1285, 1297 (1989)). If multiple policies 5 particularize a vehicle, then both may be found to be primary. See Wilshire Ins. Co. v. Sentry 6 Select Ins. Co., 124 Cal. App. 4th 27, 35 (2004); see also Scottsdale Indem. Co. v. Nat’l 7 Continental Ins. Co., 229 Cal. App. 4th 116, 1173 (2014) (“We accept Scottsdale’s premise that 8 two insurance policies can be equally ranked or coprimary under section 11580.9.”) (citing 9 Wilshire, 124 Cal. App. 4th 27).6 10 Plaintiff moves for summary judgment in its favor, arguing that the Travelers policy does 11 not describe or rate the Vehicle, that the Travelers policy is therefore excess under § 11580.9(d), 12 and that the unambiguous language of the two alleged excess policies—i.e., the Travelers policy 13 and the National policy—requires that defendant reimburse plaintiff for the defense costs incurred 14 in the McIntosh and Scott actions. (Doc. No. 17.) In its combined opposition and cross-motion 15 for summary judgment in its favor, defendant argues only that the Travelers policy does indeed 16 describe the Vehicle, meaning that the Travelers policy is primary and the National policy is 17 excess pursuant to § 11580.9(d). (Doc. No. 24.) Specifically, defendant argues that the Travelers 18 policy is a “follow form” contract that incorporates by reference the description of the Vehicle in 19 the Liberty policy. (Doc. No. 24 at 17–24.) 20 Plaintiff contends in response that the Travelers policy does not follow form to the Liberty 21 policy’s declarations page which contains the description of the Vehicle. (See Doc. Nos. 17 at 22 14–16; 25 at 6–8.) Plaintiff argues that the Travelers policy is only subject to the terms and 23 conditions of the Liberty policy “except with respect to any provisions to the contrary contained 24 in” the Travelers policy. (Doc. No. 17 at 14) (quoting Doc. No. 17-6 at 3). Moreover, plaintiff 25 6 It is unclear whether plaintiff argues in its opposition to defendant’s cross-motion for summary judgment that even if multiple policies describe a vehicle with particularization, § 11580.9(d) 26 requires that only one of those policies is primary. (Doc. No. 25 at 8–9.) In any event, as noted 27 above, the court rejects any such argument as contrary to California law. See also Hartford, 211 Cal. App. 3d at 1298 (concluding that one policy described the vehicle at issue but nevertheless 28 considering whether another policy “also describe[d] or rate[d] the” vehicle). 1 asserts, the Travelers policy “clearly states that ‘the Excess Follow-Form . . . Policy numbered 2 above includes this Declarations Page’” (Doc. No. 17 at 14) (quoting Doc. No. 17-6 at 2), and 3 that the declarations page of the Travelers policy does not specifically identify the Vehicle. (Doc. 4 No. 17 at 14–15.) 5 In reply, defendant argues that the Travelers policy stating that it includes “this” 6 declarations page does not imply that the Travelers policy also excludes the declarations page 7 from the Liberty policy. (Doc. No. 28 at 4.) Defendant argues that “Travelers fails to explain 8 how the Liberty Policy’s description of the [Vehicle] by make, model, year, and VIN is ‘contrary’ 9 to a single word in the Travelers Policy.” (Id.) 10 1. Whether the Travelers Policy Incorporates by Reference the Description of the 11 Vehicle in the Liberty Policy 12 “When [a] district court’s decision is based on an analysis of the contractual language and 13 an application of the principles of contract interpretation, that decision is a matter of law.” Seoul 14 Semiconductor Co. v. Finelite, Inc., 694 F. Supp. 3d 1199, 1208 (N.D. Cal. 2023) (alterations in 15 original) (quoting Miller v. Safeco Title Ins. Co., 758 F.2d 364, 367 (9th Cir. 1984)); see also 16 Universal Cable Prods., LLC v. Atlantic Specialty Ins. Co., 929 F.3d 1143, 1151 (9th Cir. 2019) 17 (“[T]he interpretation of an insurance policy is a question of law . . . .”). 18 Here, under the heading “Excess Follow-Form Liability,” the Travelers policy states that 19 it “is subject to the same terms, conditions, agreements, exclusions, and definitions as the 20 ‘underlying insurance’, except with respect to any provisions to the contrary contained in this 21 insurance.” (Doc. No. 17-6 at 3.) Importantly, it has been recognized by California courts that 22 “[a] ‘following form’ excess policy . . . incorporates by reference the terms, conditions, and 23 exclusions of the underlying policy.” Energy Ins. Mut. Ltd. v. Ace Am. Ins. Co., 14 Cal. App. 5th 24 281, 286 n.2 (2017); see also Shy v. Ins. Co. of the State of Penn., 528 F. App’x 752, 754 (2013) 25 (“ISOP’s insurance policy is a following-form policy, which means that it incorporates the terms 26 of the underlying policy.”) (citing Qualcomm, Inc. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London, 27 161 Cal. App. 4th 184, 189 n.2 (2008)). “A following form excess policy generally will contain 28 the same basic provisions as the underlying policy, with the exception of those provisions that are 1 inconsistent with the excess policy.” Haering v. Topa Ins. Co., 244 Cal. App. 4th 725, 734 2 (2016). 3 Contrary to plaintiff’s assertion, nothing in the declarations page of the Liberty policy 4 (“the Liberty declarations”) is inconsistent with the declarations page of the Travelers policy (“the 5 Travelers declarations”). In fact, while plaintiff emphasizes the final clause of the follow form 6 provision (see Doc. No. 25 at 8) (“except with respect to any provisions to the contrary contained 7 in this insurance”), plaintiff never explains how any specific provisions in the Liberty 8 declarations are contrary to any provisions in the Travelers declarations. Instead, plaintiff argues 9 that the language of the Travelers policy does not “purport to incorporate the” Liberty 10 declarations. (Id.) Plaintiff’s argument is flatly contradicted by the provision in the Travelers 11 policy quoted above that expressly adopts all terms, conditions, agreements, exclusions, and 12 definitions of the Liberty policy. 13 Plaintiff suggests that by including the language “this Declarations Page”—i.e., the 14 declarations page of the Travelers policy—the Travelers policy meant to exclude the declarations 15 page of the Liberty policy. (Doc. No. 17 at 14–15.) Plaintiff offers sparse and unclear argument 16 on this point.7 (See id.) Plaintiff does not highlight any evidence before the court on summary 17 judgment that supports this suggested interpretation, nor has the court identified any upon 18 independently reviewing the evidence before it. Moreover, “[p]olicy provisions must be 19 interpreted in context, giving effect to every part of the policy with each clause helping to 20 interpret the other.” Haering, 244 Cal. App. 4th at 732 (internal quotation marks omitted). Here, 21 as defendant points out, it is undisputed that the Travelers policy incorporates by reference many 22 provisions of the Liberty policy that themselves refer to the Liberty declarations.8 (See Doc. 23 24 7 Indeed, while the court construes plaintiff to be implying this argument, the court notes that plaintiff never advanced this argument directly or clearly in its briefing on the pending motions. 25 8 To be precise, the court does not endorse or rely on defendant’s argument that the Liberty 26 provisions referenced above would be illusory if the Liberty declarations are not incorporated by 27 reference into the Travelers policy. (See Doc. No. 24 at 20–21.) Rather, the court is merely persuaded by defendant’s more general point that the Travelers and Liberty policies must be 28 interpreted in light of all the relevant provisions appearing in each contract. 1 No. 24 at 20.) Considering the plain language of the relevant Travelers and Liberty policy 2 provisions, which the court does not find to be ambiguous, the court is not persuaded by 3 plaintiff’s proposed interpretation of the Travelers policy. See Haering, 244 Cal. App. 4th at 732 4 (“Interpretation of an insurance policy . . . follows the general rules of contract interpretation. . . . 5 The ‘clear and explicit’ meaning of these provisions, interpreted in their ‘ordinary and popular 6 sense,’ unless ‘used by the parties in a technical sense or a special meaning is given to them by 7 usage’ . . . controls judicial interpretation.”). 8 The court also observes that the authority cited by plaintiff does not support its argument 9 in this regard. Plaintiff cites multiple decisions that did not involve follow form contracts. (See 10 Doc. No. 17 at 15) (citing Hartford, 211 Cal. App. 3d 1285; Highlands Ins. Co. v. Continental 11 Cas. Co., 64 F.3d 514 (9th Cir. 1995)). Of the decisions cited by plaintiff that did involve follow 12 form contracts, two are inapposite because the courts in those cases were confronting arbitration 13 provisions with entirely different language from that appearing in the Travelers and Liberty 14 policies now before this court. See Arch Specialty Ins. Co. v. Univ. of S. Cal., No. 19-cv-06964- 15 DDP-AS, 2020 WL 11272316, at *3–6 (C.D. Cal. July 20, 2020); Lennar Corp. v. General Sec. 16 Indem. Co., No. G053418, 2017 WL 4294481, at *4 (Cal. Ct. App. Sept. 28, 2017) (“There is no 17 reason anyone would expect an insurance company based in Arizona that issued an insurance 18 policy from offices in New York to multiple corporations based in Delaware and California to 19 incorporate a provision from an Irish-based insurance company requiring arbitration in London, 20 England, pursuant to English arbitration rules.”). 21 The only other decision cited by plaintiff also does not support its argument. (See Doc. 22 No. 25 at 7–8) (citing Starr Indem. & Liab. Co. v. Belger, No. 15-cv-02566-SVW-DTB, 2016 23 WL 7646996, at *5 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 13, 2016)). In its decision in Starr, the district court 24 concluded that the follow form clause at issue in that case did not incorporate a particular portion 25 of the underlying policy where the follow form clause did not specifically identify that portion. 26 2016 WL 7646996, at *5. Crucially, however, the portion of the underlying policy at issue in 27 Starr was a limit of liability. See id. (“[F]ollows form clauses are generally understood to apply 28 to the scope of coverage, which includes conditions and exclusions, not to the limits of liability. 1 . . . There is no serious dispute that the [portion of the underlying policy] functions as a limit of 2 liability rather than a limit on the scope of coverage.”); id. at *6 (“[T]he follows form clause in 3 the Starr Policy explicitly incorporates the ‘terms, definitions, conditions and exclusions’ of the 4 [underlying policy], while limits of liability [are] conspicuously absent from the list.”). But 5 plaintiff does not contend that the description of the vehicle in the Liberty declarations is a limit 6 of liability rather than a limit on the scope of coverage. Nor would any evidence before the court 7 on summary judgment support such a finding. The district court’s decision in Starr is therefore 8 inapposite. 9 The court therefore finds that, in light of the follow form clause and no provision to the 10 contrary, the Travelers policy incorporates by reference the description of the Vehicle contained 11 in the declarations page of the Liberty policy. See Shy, 528 F. App’x at 754; Haering, 244 Cal. 12 App. 4th at 734. 13 2. Whether the Travelers Policy Describes or Rates the Vehicle 14 The California Court of Appeal has implied that if an underlying policy describes a 15 vehicle with particularization, and an excess policy then incorporates by reference that underlying 16 policy, then the excess policy also describes that vehicle within the meaning of § 11580.9(d). See 17 Hartford, 211 Cal. App. 3d at 1298–99; see also id. at 1298 (“The question, thus, is whether the 18 language of the Hartford Umbrella policy is reasonably susceptible to the interpretation that it 19 incorporated the Hartford Business Auto policy by reference.”); cf. id. at 1299 (“There being no 20 incorporation by reference of the Hartford Business Auto policy into the Hartford Umbrella 21 policy, the 1976 Chevrolet Blazer is not ‘described or rated as an owned automobile’ in the 22 umbrella policy and the trial court did not err in holding that section 11580.9 did not apply to the 23 Hartford Umbrella policy.”). At least one federal district court has concluded that a vehicle may 24 be described for the purposes of § 11580.9(d) via incorporation by reference. See Zenith Ins. Co. 25 v. Old Republic Ins. Co., 392 F. Supp. 3d 1108, 1115–16 (N.D. Cal. 2019) (“The ORIC Policy 26 incorporated by reference the vehicle lists that were in ORIC’s underwriting files. . . . [T]he lists 27 were incorporated by reference into the ORIC Policy and included a particularized description of 28 ///// 1 the accident vehicle. Therefore, the accident vehicle was described for purposes of section 2 11580.9(d).”). 3 Plaintiff suggests that an excess policy does not describe a vehicle where it merely lists 4 the underlying policy in its extension schedule.9 (Doc. No. 17 at 15) (citing Hartford, 211 Cal. 5 App. 3d 1285; Highlands, 64 F.3d 514). However, as noted above, the California Court of 6 Appeal in Hartford—and the Ninth Circuit in Highlands, which followed the analysis in 7 Hartford, see 64 F.3d at 519—were confronting different circumstances than those presented 8 here. In the decision in Hartford, “the court determined that an excess policy which merely 9 referenced an underlying policy describing the vehicle, but did not actually incorporate that 10 underlying policy by reference . . . did not describe the specific vehicle.” Mercury Ins. Co. v. 11 Chartis Prop. Cas. Co., No. G054369, 2018 WL 739755, at *11 (Cal. Ct. App. Feb. 7, 2018).10 12 The court agrees with the parties that the Liberty policy—which lists the year, make, 13 model, and VIN of the Vehicle—describes the Vehicle within the meaning of § 11580.9(d). See 14 Highlands, 64 F.3d at 519 (“Both parties agree that Continental’s policy on the truck is primary 15 under the statute because it describes the truck as an owned automobile by reference to the 16 Vehicle Identification Number.”). Because the court has concluded that the Travelers policy is a 17 follow form contract that incorporates by reference the Liberty policy, the court therefore finds 18 that the Travelers policy also describes the Vehicle. 19 The undisputed evidence before the court on summary judgment thus shows that by 20 operation of California Insurance Code § 11580.9(d) the Travelers policy is primary here. And as 21 mentioned above, it is undisputed that the National policy is excess. Therefore, plaintiff’s motion 22 for summary judgment in its favor, seeking declaratory judgment that plaintiff is entitled to 23 9 Again, it is not entirely clear from plaintiff’s briefing on the pending motions whether plaintiff 24 is advancing such an argument. The court nevertheless addresses the argument briefly out of an abundance of caution. 25 10 Federal courts “may consider unpublished state decisions, even though such opinions have no 26 precedential value.” Employers Ins. of Wausau v. Granite State Ins. Co., 330 F.3d 1214, 1220 n.8 27 (9th Cir. 2003); see also Magadia v. Wal-Mart Assocs., Inc., 999 F.3d 668, 681 n.12 (9th Cir. 2021) (“Although these [California Court of Appeal] decisions are unpublished with no 28 precedential value, we may still consider them to interpret California law.”). 1 recover from defendant all sums paid by plaintiff to defend and indemnify WEC with respect to 2 the McIntosh and Scott actions, will be denied. See Zenith, 392 F. Supp. 3d at 1110, 1113–17 3 (denying the defendant’s motion for summary judgment where “the parties’ cross-motions ask the 4 court to decide whether the accident vehicle is ‘described or rated’ as an owned car in the ORIC 5 Policy” and the court found that the defendant’s policy described the accident vehicle). 6 B. Defendant’s Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment 7 Defendant moves for summary judgment in its favor as to all of plaintiff’s claims on the 8 grounds that, because the Travelers policy is primary and the National policy is excess, plaintiff is 9 not entitled to any declaration to the contrary, nor is plaintiff entitled to any equitable indemnity, 10 subrogation, contribution, or reimbursement from defendant. (Doc. No. 24 at 2.) As discussed 11 above, the court has concluded that the undisputed contract language demonstrates that the 12 Travelers policy is primary and the National policy is excess pursuant to § 11580.9(d). 13 Accordingly, defendant’s cross-motion for summary judgment in its favor as to plaintiff’s claims 14 will be granted. Cf. Zenith, 392 F. Supp. 3d at 1110, 1113–17 (granting the plaintiff’s motion for 15 summary judgment “to the extent Zenith seeks a determination that ORIC Policy is conclusively 16 presumed to be primary” where the ORIC Policy incorporated by reference documents that 17 described the relevant vehicle). 18 ///// 19 ///// 20 ///// 21 ///// 22 ///// 23 ///// 24 ///// 25 ///// 26 ///// 27 ///// 28 ///// 1 CONCLUSION 2 For the reasons explained above, 3 1. Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment in its favor (Doc. No. 17) is DENIED; 4 2. Defendant’s motion for summary judgment in its favor (Doc. No. 24) is 5 GRANTED; and 6 3. The Clerk of the Court is directed to enter judgment in favor of defendant and 7 close this case. 8 IT IS SO ORDERED. | Dated: _ March 20, 2025 Dae A. 2, sel 10 DALE A. DROZD UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 16