Coverage Pointers - Volume IV, No. 6

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09/17/02:         TOWN OF MASSENA v. HEALTHCARE UNDERWRITERS MUT. INS. CO.

New York Court of Appeals

Personal Injury Liability Policy Covered Claim for Defamation despite Exclusion for Statements Made with Knowledge of Falsity where Claim only Required Proof of Recklessness

Physician brought an underlying action for damages against a hospital and others alleging a conspiracy to deprive the physician of his civil rights.  The complaint alleged that the hospital engaged in a concerted campaign of harassment consisting of “overt and malicious acts” designed to “excommunicate him from, and ruin him in, the Massena medical community”, disparagement in internal reviews and refusing to renew his hospital privileges. Physician also alleged defamation, tortious interference with business relations and contracts. In this declaratory judgment action, the hospital and others sought a declaration that three insurers, (Healthcare Underwriters Mutual Insurance Company (HUM), Federal Insurance Company (Federal) and Physicians Reciprocal Insurers (PRI)), owed them a defense in the underlying action.

 

The court held that HUM was obligated to defend the underlying action under its policy because it covered all personal injury damages arising out of “the publication or utterance of a libel or slander” or of other defamatory or disparaging material. The complaint alleged that the hospital “intentionally and maliciously made false statements to Franzon’s patients, potential patients, and the community at large in an effort to damage his reputation as a doctor”, and that those statements were untrue. HUM could not rely on its exclusion for defamatory statements made within a business enterprise with knowledge of its falsity. The district court in the underlying action concluded that the physician was a limited public figure and, as such, the defamation claim would require proof of actual malice, defined as either knowledge of the falsehood or recklessness as to the falsehood.  In this case, there was no allegation that the statements were made with knowledge of their falsity, and actual malice requires only recklessness as to the truth of the statement, not knowledge of its falsity. For the same reasons, the claim was not excluded as an intentional wrongdoing. Thus, defense coverage was proper. 

 

Federal had no duty to defend the hospital because its policy excluded any loss “arising out of” or otherwise related to “bodily injury … libel, slander, defamation of character” or similar torts, and also excluded any loss resulting from performance of “professional services,” including services on “a formal medical accreditation or similar medical professional board or committee of an Insured.” The exclusions negated coverage for all but the tortious interference claim, and the hospital failed to meet its burden that this claim was covered because they failed to demonstrate that the conduct occurred while the doctors were acting in their “insured capacity.”  PRI’s policy also excluded coverage for “any willful, fraudulent or malicious civil act,” any claim resulting from “defamation, libel, slander,” and any claim for interference with contract or with prospective business advantage. Thus, it was not obligated to defend.

 

ACROSS BORDERS

 

Visit the HOT CASES section of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel website for cases covering a broad range of legal issues from other jurisdictions:  www.thefederation.org.

 

09/18/02:            MCDANIEL v. SIERRA HEALTH AND LIFE INSURANCE

Nevada Supreme Court

Nevada Supreme Court Upholds Accidental Death Policy Exclusion

In this case, the Nevada Supreme Court upheld a California based insurance company’s accidental death policy exclusion for felonies. In brief, the policy's exclusion read that “[a] loss that is directly or indirectly a result of one of the following is not a Covered Loss even though it was caused by an accidental bodily injury . . . An Attempt to commit, or committing, an assault or felony by the insured.” On appeal, the Appellant argued that the policy’s felony exclusion does not bar his claim for recovery because: (1) it is ambiguous and must, therefore, be interpreted in his favor; (2) it does not include felonious drunk driving, which is not an intentional crime; and (3) the felony-exclusion provision is not triggered here because the insured's death was not proximately caused by his felonious drunk driving. The Nevada Supreme Court concluded that all of the Appellant’s arguments lacked merit.

 

Prepared by Daniel Burke and Gary Crapster of Strasburger & Price LLP in Dallas

 

09/16/02:            OGDEN v. AUTO-OWNERS INS. CO.

Georgia Supreme Court

Agent Cannot Waive Contractual Statute of Limitations, But Carrier Can

A fire damaged plaintiff’s house in May 1992, and he sued his homeowners carrier for coverage under his policy in September 1994. The trial court granted summary judgment to the insurer based on a contractual provision requiring that the insured bring a claim within 12 months of the loss. The Court of Appeals for the State of Georgia reversed, finding a disputed issue of fact concerning whether the insurer waived the contractual limitation period through its adjuster’s actions after the expiration of that period. The Supreme Court granted a petition for writ of certiorari to consider whether an insurance adjuster can waive a policy provision requiring suit to be brought within 12 months of the loss after the limitation period has already expired. Relying on longstanding precedent, the Court held that an independent insurance adjuster couldn’t waive the limitations provision in the insurance contract after it has expired without express authority from the insurance company. Nevertheless, there are disputed issues of fact concerning whether the insurance company waived the limitations period by admitting liability and offering to settle the claim.

 

09/13/02:            SCHAEFFER v. NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE

Ohio Court of Appeals

No Auto Coverage For Daughter Who No Longer Lives At Home

Plaintiff sought coverage for injuries she sustained while a passenger in an uninsured vehicle. Although Schaeffer was described as a principal driver of one of the insured vehicles under her parents’ Nationwide policy, she was not a named insured. Schaeffer also argued that Nationwide should cover her injuries because it was the parties’ intent for her to be a named insured. The Court of Appeals rejected this argument, citing an utter lack of evidence that Schaeffer had ever paid any premiums on her parents’ policy or of the insurance agent having intentionally created the policy to benefit Schaeffer with the knowledge that she no longer lived with her parents. The court also found that the “you or a relative” language in the policy did not include her as “relative” which is defined within the policy as “one who regularly lives in your household and who is related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption.”

 

Prepared by Bruce Celebrezze and Randall Berdan of Celebrezze & Wesley in Los Angeles

 

Hurwitz & Fine, P.C. is a full-service law firm
providing legal services throughout the State of New York.


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TOWN OF MASSENA v. HEALTHCARE UNDERWRITERS MUT. INS. CO.

 

Smith, J.:

 

The issue here is whether the defendant insurers have a duty to defend Massena Memorial Hospital and related litigants in an underlying Federal lawsuit. We conclude that one insurer has a duty to defend, and we, therefore, modify the order of the Appellate Division.

 

Olof Franzon is a duly licensed physician and the sole shareholder in his practice, Women's Medical & Surgical Health Care, P.C. Franzon and Women's Medical brought the underlying Federal action for damages against Massena Memorial Hospital, its Board of Managers, its Medical Executive Committee and a number of physicians and hospital executives, alleging a conspiracy to deprive Franzon of his civil rights as guaranteed by the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and 42 USC 1983, and alleging that he is entitled to attorneys' fees pursuant to 42 USC 1988. More specifically, Franzon alleged that he publically advocated that the hospital provide nurse-midwifery services and further alleged that the hospital had not previously provided such services for anti-competitive reasons. Franzon alleged that in response, the hospital engaged in a concerted campaign of harassment designed to punish him for exercising his right to free speech. The campaign consisted of defendants' (1) "overt and malicious acts" designed to "excommunicate him from, and ruin him in, the Massena medical community," (2) disparagement in internal reviews and to his patients and (3) refusing to renew his hospital privileges. Franzon alleged that this harassment caused him to suffer various injuries, including "extreme emotional disturbance." Franzon also alleged defamation, tortious interference with business relations and tortious inference with contract pursuant to the common law of New York State.

 

In the present action, the Town of Massena, the owner of Massena Memorial Hospital, and the hospital (collectively, the hospital) seek a declaration that three of their insurers -- Healthcare Underwriters Mutual Insurance Company (HUM), Federal Insurance Company (Federal) and Physicians Reciprocal Insurers (PRI) -- owe them a defense in the Federal action. Supreme Court held that "each insurer owes their insureds a defense in the underlying lawsuit" because each policy did not exclude coverage of all of the underlying claims as a matter of law. The Appellate Division reversed, concluding that the alleged acts were either intentional, and therefore excluded as a matter of public policy, or specifically excluded under the applicable policies' provisions (282 AD2d 107 [2001]). We granted leave to appeal to the hospital and to third-party defendant Dr. Rowe-Button. We conclude that HUM is obligated to defend the Federal action and we, therefore, modify the order of the Appellate Division.

 

"[T]he duty to defend is broader than the duty to indemnify" (Fitzpatrick v American Honda Motor Co., 78 NY2d 61, 65 [1991]; see also Goldberg v Lumber Mut. Cas. Ins. Co., 297 NY 148, 154 [1948]). "[A]n insurer's duty to defend arises whenever the allegations in a complaint state a cause of action that gives rise to a reasonable possibility of recovery under the policy" (Fitzpatrick, 78 NY2d at 65). If the allegations of the complaint are even potentially within the language of the insurance policy, there is a duty to defend (see Technicon Electronics Corp. v American Home Assur. Co., 74 NY2d 66, 73 [1989]; Ruder & Finn, Inc. v Seaboard Sur. Co., 52 NY2d 663, 669-670 [1981]). "If any of the claims against [an] insured arguably arise from covered events, the insurer is required to defend the entire action" (Frontier Insulation Contrs. v Merchants Mut. Ins. Co., 91 NY2d 169, 175 [1997]). Indeed, "[t]he duty to defend arises whenever the allegations in the complaint against the insured fall within the scope of the risks undertaken by the insurer * * * [and, it is immaterial] that the complaint against the insured asserts additional claims which fall outside the policy's general coverage or within its exclusionary provisions" (Seaboard Surety Co. v Gillette Co., 64 NY2d 304, 310 [1984][citations omitted]). When an exclusion clause is relied upon to deny coverage, the burden rests upon the insurance company to demonstrate that the allegations of the complaint can be interpreted only to exclude coverage (see International Paper Co. v Continental Cas. Co., 35 NY2d 322, 325 [1974]; Technicon, 74 NY2d at 73-74). The merits of the complaint are irrelevant and, "[a]n insured's right to be accorded legal representation is a contractual right and consideration upon which his premium is in part predicated, and this right exists even if debatable theories are alleged in the pleading against the insured" (International Paper, 35 NY2d at 325).

 

HUM contracted with the hospital for coverage under three policies - - the Personal Injury Liability (PIL) policy, the Hospital Professional Liability (HPL) policy, and the Comprehensive General Liability (CGL) policy. The plain language of the PIL policy obligates HUM to provide a defense to plaintiff. Specifically, the PIL policy covers all personal injury damages arising out of various offenses including "the publication or utterance of a libel or slander" or of other defamatory or disparaging material. The complaint contains allegations that the hospital "intentionally and maliciously made false statements to Franzon's patients, potential patients, and the community at large in an effort to damage his reputation as a doctor." The complaint additionally alleges that the statements are untrue.[1]

 

HUM relies on its exclusion for defamatory statements made within a business enterprise with knowledge of its falsity. Defamation is defined as a false statement that exposes a person to public contempt, ridicule, aversion or disgrace (see Foster v Churchill, 87 NY2d 744, 751 [1996]). A party alleging defamation must allege that the statement is false (see Immuno AG v Moor-Jankowski, 77 NY2d 235, 245 [1991], cert denied 500 US 954). In addition, where the party is a public figure, that party must allege that the statement was made with "actual malice," defined as either knowledge of the falsehood or recklessness as to the falsehood (see New York Times v Sullivan, 376 US 254, 279-280 [1964]). Where the party alleging defamation is not a public figure, a showing of common law malice, or ill will, is necessary (see Liberman v Gelstein, 80 NY2d 429, 437 [1992]). Even though a statement is defamatory, a qualified privilege exists where the communication is made to persons who have some common interest in the subject matter (see id. at 437-439).

 

The district court in the underlying action held that Franzon was a limited public figure who must prove actual malice, namely that the statements were false and were made with knowledge of the falsity or recklessness as to their falsity (see Franzon v Massena Mem. Hosp., 89 F Supp 2d 270, 278 [NDNY 2000]). Even if the allegedly defamatory statements concerned the "business enterprise" of Franzon's practice of medicine, and even if the statements were intentionally and maliciously made, there was no allegation that the statements were made with knowledge of their falsity. Moreover, because Franzon is a limited public figure, actual malice requires only recklessness as to the truth of the statement, and not knowledge of the falsity. Thus, defense coverage is proper based on the policy terms.

 

HUM also argues, and the Appellate Division agreed, that it had no duty to indemnify because the allegations of malice were equivalent to allegations of intentional wrongdoing. This Court has stated that "an insurer can be relieved of its duty to defend if it establishes as a matter of law that there is no possible factual or legal basis on which it might eventually be obligated to indemnify insured under any policy provision" (Allstate Ins. Co. v Zuk, 78 NY2d 41, 45 [1991]). As a matter of policy, conduct engaged in with the intent to cause injury is not covered by insurance (see Public Service Mut. Ins. Co. v Goldfarb, 53 NY2d 392, 399-400 [1981]; Messersmith v American Fid. Co., 232 NY 161, 163-165 [1921]). As we have stated, because of Franzon's status as a limited public figure, he could recover on his defamation claim if he established that defendants' defamatory statements were made with reckless disregard of their truth. Such defamatory statements would be covered by HUM's policy and would not be precluded by public policy. Because HUM has a duty to defend the defamation claims under the HUM PIL policy, it consequently has a duty to defend the entire action brought under any of the HUM policies (see Frontier Insulation Contrs. v Merchants Mut. Ins., 91 NY2d at 175 ["If any of the claims against the insured arguably arise from covered events, the insurer is required to defend the entire action"]). We therefore hold that HUM necessarily has a duty to defend all of the claims. Since HUM is obligated to defend the action under the PIL policy, it is unnecessary for us to discuss the HPL and the CGL policies.

 

Federal Insurance Company has no duty to defend the hospital. Its Executive Liability and Indemnification Insurance Policy provides coverage for "all loss" that the insured is "legally obligated to pay" for any "wrongful act." A wrongful act is "any error, misstatement, misleading statement, act, omission, neglect, or breach of duty committed * * * by any Insured Person, individually or otherwise, in his Insured Capacity, or any matter claimed against him solely by reason of his serving in such Insured Capacity." "Insured Capacity" means as a director or officer. The policy limits this coverage by excluding, among other things, any loss "arising out of" or otherwise related to "bodily injury * * * libel, slander, defamation of character" or similar torts. The policy also excludes any loss resulting from performance of "professional services," including services on "a formal medical accreditation or similar medical professional board or committee of an Insured." This broad exclusionary language negates coverage for all but the tortious interference claim in the Franzon complaint. The hospital has not, however, met its burden of showing that the tortious conduct is covered. Franzon's tortious interference claims against the hosptial are centered around three physicians' failure to refer patients to him. This conduct could only occur in the doctors' respective roles as members of an insurance network. Franzon's complaint, however, does not allege whether the doctors' conduct in question occurred while they were acting in their "insured capacity" as officers or directors or otherwise. Federal argues that the conduct surrounding the tortious interference claim occurred outside the doctors' insured capacity, or in the alternative, in the excluded performance of "professional services" category. Once the insurance company asserted the exclusion, the hospital defendants had the burden of showing that the conduct alleged was covered and they have failed to make that requisite showing. Federal therefore has no duty to defend under the policy.

 

Physicians Reciprocal Insurers (PRI) is also under no duty to defend the individual doctors. Under the PRI policy, the insurer was obligated to pay "all sums which you become legally obligated to pay for a claim," excluding punitive damages, and to defend every "claim" arising from the insured's performance of "professional services." "Professional services" includes "services as a member of a formal accreditation board or any committee of a hospital where" the insured is "engaged in accreditation review and standards review." The policy's exclusions are extensive including "any willful, fraudulent or malicious civil act;" any claim resulting from "defamation, libel, slander" and similar torts; and any claim for interference with contract or with prospective business advantage. The policy stated that the exclusions applied even after the amendment of the definition of professional services to include accreditation review and standards review. These exclusions eliminate any duty PRI could have to defend the hospital against Franzon's claims.

 

Accordingly, the order of the Appellate Division should be modified, without costs, by reinstating so much of Supreme Court's order as declared a duty to defend by HUM and, as so modified, affirmed.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Order modified, without costs, by reinstating so much of the order of Supreme Court, St. Lawrence County, as declared a duty to defend by Healthcare Underwriters Mutual Insurance Company and, as so modified, affirmed. Opinion by Judge Smith. Judges Levine, Ciparick, Wesley, Rosenblatt and Graffeo concur. Chief Judge Kaye took no part.

 

Decided September 17, 2002

 

[1]The complaint also specifies that Dr. Jhaveri told another patient that Franzon "was going to be booted out of Massena;" that it was "bull" that a patient had an ultrasound in Franzon's office as the patient "should not have any ultrasounds done in Franzon's office;" and that Dr. Maresca told a resident during a repeat mammogram that "if you were Dr. Franzon's patient, I wouldn't even be talking to you."

 

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