appalachian insurance company v. insurance company of north america complaint

8/8/2019 APPALACHIAN INSURANCE COMPANY v. INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH AMERICA Complaint

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) UNITED STATES DISTRICT C O U R ~ ~ F O R THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA

10 7614APPALACHIAN INSURANCE COMPANY,Plaintiff, CIVIL ACTION NO.

~ ~ ;

v.COMPLAINTINSURANCE COMPANY OFNORTH AMERICA,

Defendant.

Plaintiff, Appalachian Insurance Company ("Appalachian"), and for its Complaintagainst Defendant, Insurance Company of North America ("INA"), alleges as follows:

PARTIES1. Appalachian is incorporated under the laws of the State of Rhode Island with its

principal place ofbusiness located at 1301 Atwood Ave., Johnston, Rhode Island 02919.2. INA is incorporated under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania; with its principal

place ofbusiness located at 436 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106.JURISDICTION AND VENUE

3. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 V.S.c. 1332(a)(1)because the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000 exclusive of interest and costs and becausethere is complete diversity of citizenship in that Appalachian is a Rhode Island,corporation withits principal place of business in Rhode Island and INA is a Pennsylvania corporation with itsprincipal place ofbusiness in Pennsylvania.

Case 2:10-cv-07614-RB Document 1 Filed 12/30/10 Page 4 of 16


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4. This Court has personal jurisdiction over INA because it is a Pel1l1lsylvaniacorporation with its principal place ofbusiness in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

5. Venue is proper in this Court because INA's principal place ofbusiness is locatedin this district and a substantial part of the events giving rise to this action occurred in thisdistrict. 28 U.S.C. 1391(a).

NATURE OF THE ACTION6. This action arises out of and seeks damages and other relief in c9nnection with

INA's breach of a reinsurance contract.7. In a reinsurance contract, a reinsurer agrees to indemnify the reinsured against all

or part of the loss that the reinsured may sustain under an insurance policy or policies that thereinsured company has issued, in exchange for a portion of the premium paid to the reinsured forthe insurance policies.

8. A "facultative" reinsurance contract reinsures a specific insurance policy or risk,as opposed to "treaty" reinsurance, which reinsures mUltiple insurance policies or an entire bookof business written by the reinsured.

THE CERTIFICATE OF FACULTATIVE REINSURANCE9. For the period April 1, 1972 to April 1, 1975, Appalachian e n t e r ~ d into a

facultative reinsurance contract with INA, Certificate Number FRC 00585 ( " F a ~ u l t a t i v e Certificate"), pursuant to which INA agreed to reinsure an excess umbrella liability policy,Number 71074, that Appalachian issued to Union Carbide Corporation ("Uniof\ CarbidePolicy"). A true and correct copy of the Facultative Certificate is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

1O. Under the Facultative Certificate, INA agreed to reimburse Appalachian for certain amounts that Appalachian incurred in connection with the Union Carbidle Policy.

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11. The Facultative Certificate provided that INA's liability "shall follow that of[Appalachian] and .. . shall be subject in all respects to all the tenus and conditions of[Appalachian's] policy. . . . " Id., p. 2 at A.

12. The Facultative Certificate also contains "follow the settlements" language whichprovides that "[a]ll claims involving this reinsurance, when settled by [Appalachian], shall bebinding on [INA]." Id., p. 2 at C.

THE UNDERLYING ASBESTOS CLAIMS AND APPALACHIAN'S LOSS PAYMENTS

13. After the Facultat ive Certificate was executed, Union Carbide was named as adefendant in many asbestos products personal injury claims and lawsuits. Union Carbidetendered these claims and lawsuits to its insurers, including Appalachian, for defense andindemnity.

14. Appalachian was named as a party in a lawsuit captioned Union Carbide Corp. v.Affiliated FM Insurance Co., et al., Index No. 600804-04, Supreme Court ofthe State of NewYork, County of New York. In that lawsuit, Union Carbide alleged that its insurers, includingAppalachian, were obligated to defend and indemnify it in connection with the underlyingasbestos claims and lawsuits.

15. On or around September 10,2008, Appalachian and Union Carbide entered into aconfidential settlement agreement resolving Union Carbide's claims asserted in the above-referenced insurance coverage lawsuit. Pursuant to this settlement agreement, Appalachianagreed to make certain payments to Union Carbide, including payments under the Union CarbidePolicy. Appalachian's decision to settle Union Carbide's insurance coverage claims wasundertaken after a good faith, reasonable, and business-like assessment of Appalachian's dutiesunder the Union Carbide Policy and possible coverage defenses.

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APPALACHIAN'S REINSURANCE BILLING TO INA16. Subsequent to earlier reporting, Appalachian issued a billing, including certain

proofs ofloss, to INA pursuant to the Facultative Certificate on or around July 29, 2010. Theseproofs of loss exceed $2 million.

17. The Facultative Certificate provides that "[p ]ayment of its proportion of loss andexpense paid by the [Appalachian] will be made by [INA] promptly following receipt ofproofofloss." Exhibit A, p. 2 at D.

18. INA has not paid Appalachian's billings.COUNT ONE

Breach of Contract19. Appalachian repeats and incorporates herein by reference the allegations

contained in the foregoing paragraphs 1-18 as if fully set forth herein.20. Appalachian has fully performed its obligations under the Facultative Certificate

and has properly billed INA for amounts due thereunder.21. In breach of the Facultative Certificate and in violation of its duty ofutmost good

faith to Appalachian, INA has refused to pay Appalachian's billings.22. INA's failure to pay Appalachian's billings have damaged Appalachian.WHEREFORE, Appalachian demands that judgment be entered in its favor and against

INA as follows:(a) Awarding Appalachian money damages plus interest with respect

to outstanding billings;(b) For attorneys' fees, interest and costs of suit; and(c) Such other relief the Court deems appropriate.

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COUNT TWODeclaratory Relief23. Appalachian repeats and incorporates herein by reference the allegations

contained in the foregoing paragraphs 1-18 as if fully set forth herein.24. Under the settlement agreement, Appalachian will make additional future

payments to Union Carbide under the Union Carbide Policy. Appalachian anticipates billingappropriate portions of these future payments to INA under the Facultative Ce1]1:ificate.

25. An actual controversy exists with respect to the parties' rights under theFacultative Certificate, including but not limited to, the obligations of INA to pay past, currentand future billings in a timely manner.

26. Appalachian is entitled to a declaration of its rights under the FacultativeCertificate.

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WHEREFORE. Appalachian demands that judgment be entered in its f:,tvor and againstINA as follows:

(a) Declaring that INA is obligated to pay past, current and futurebillings from Appalachian regarding the Union Carbide Policy in atimely manner;

(b) Awarding Appalachian attorneys' fees, interest and costs of suit;and

(c) Awarding Appalachian such other relief the Court d e e m ~ appropriate.

Respectfully submitted,

CHRISTIE, PABARUE, MORTENSEN andiYOUNG, r Vessional Corporation

[email protected] JFK Boulevard, 10 th FloorPhiladelphia, P A 19103(215) 587-1600Attorneys for Plaintiff,

DATED: December 30,2010 Appalachian Insurance Compapy OfCounsel Robert J. Bates, Jr. Bates Carey Nicolaides LLP 191 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2400 Chicago, Illinois 60606 (312) 762-3100

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mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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EXHIBIT A

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O O U ~ ) ; Q , q 1 : ' G O S!)nsIJJllffl':!'I ~ l ) t l , l {} \0AGitIlI!MIUia'"TS AND ~ i n c s ~ U e;.i".ruT OO,i,t.f.I}\!SO iml'.i1.aJ. ! J b Q , i . ~ ,!al5tJ5l,bl:VQ'Xi!. b.nMe'lo'-! 1 t ~ , f ' . ~ .. ~ ~ i n ~ 1 ' T t ; "O.t .W .JA. Tho CDmp.tty wur"nt. to , , ,hi . for it! loin ~ " c c " r . ! 0' moOt of it . D.t r ~ . t y r .. i l \ ~ " r .. r Illlno a....ount cf U.h/lity ' p . e i l i ~ t l in lI"m of thD Oadara.

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: :ERTtFI OF FJt;C.U\...TATtVE RE l .... S U RA N CE lS$UEC) BYF Re 00585

INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH AMERICA1600 Arch StreetPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania 19101

DEClARATlONSINTERMEDIARYCEDING cOMPANY ANO ADDRESSr Appalachian Insurance Companyc/o New Providence Corporation ,RCEtVO1500 Turks Head Building

P r o v i d e n c e ~ Rhode' Island 0.2904 OCT 27 '972ATTEKTION Mr. Mal Poignand N. P. c.L

Union CarbideCI1,RTlFI


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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURt FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF P E N N S ~ VANIA l,

APPALACHIAN INSURANCE COMPANY,Plaintiff, ,\

C ~ V I L ACTION NO.wINSURANCE COMPANY OFNORTH AMERICA,

Defendant.

PLAINTIFF'S RULE 7.1 DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 7.1, Plaintiff Appalachian InsuranceCompany ("Appalachian") submits the following statement:

1. Appalachian Insurance Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of FMICHoldings, Inc.

2. FMIC Holdings, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Factory Mutual InsuranceCompany.

CHRISTIE, P ABARUE,YOUNG,B y : ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ____________

J r u vn2 i L>

jw [email protected]: December 30, 2010 WILLIAM F. [email protected] JFK Boulevard, 10th FloorPhiladelphia, PA 19103(215) 587-1600

Plaintiff_s Rule 7 1 Disclosure Statement

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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OfCounsel Robert 1. Bates, lr. Bates Carey Nicolaides LLP 191 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2400 Chicago, Illinois 60606 (312) 762-3100372135

Plaintiff_s Rule 7 1 Disclosure Statement2



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-------- ------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

PTF EF0 4 Il!I 4

'!>JS 44 (Rev. 12/07) CIVIL COVER SHEETR 1The JS 44 civil cover sheet and the information contained herein neither replace no r supplement the filing an d service of pleadings orotherlpap ers as requiredby law, eKcept as provby local rules ofcourt. This fonn, approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is required for the use of the Clerk of Court for the purpose of Initiathe civil docket sheet. (SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE REVERSE OF THE FOR,VI.)I. (a) P L A I N T I F F S

APPALACHIAN INSURANCE COMR (b) County of Residence of First Listed Plaintiff

(EXCEPT IN U.S. PLAINTIFF

Attorneys (I f Known)(c) Attorney's (Firm Name, Address, and Telephone, mber)Christie. Pabarue, Mortensen and Young, A Professionaloration. 1880 JFK Boulevard. 10th Floor, Phila. PA 1910321

i D E F E N D A N T SINSURANCE COMPANY OFi NORTH

NOTE: IN LAND CONDEMNATIO :LAND INVOLVED.

II. B A S I S O F J U R I S D I C T I O N (Place an "X"in Oue Box Only) Ill. C I T I Z . E N S H I P O F P R I N C I P A L PARTlES(plaeean "X" in One Box for Plai(For Diversity Cases Only) I and One Box for Defendant)

e O N ! I ' : R ) \ ' G 1 J : ~ " : ''t,'%.%

(j 865

fi), IfSll1\3 i!il:irES(] 610 Agriculture o 422 Appeal 28 USC 158 0 400 State ReapportiorunentPERSONAL INJURY PERSONAL INJURY

olnsurallce o 310 Airplane o 362 Personallnjnry o 620 Olher Food & Drug 0 410 Antitrusto 423 WiUldrawal ioMarine o 625 Drug Related Seizure 28 USC 157 0 430 Banks and Bankingo 315 Airplane Prodnct Med. Malpractice30 Miller Act Liability o 365 Personal Injury of Property 21 USC 881 0 450 Commercet40 Negotiable luslrument o 630 Liquor Lawso 320 Assault, Libel & Product Liability 0 460 Deportationo ISO Recovery of Overpayment Slander o 368 Asbestos Personal o 640 R.R. & Truck o 820 Copyrights 0 470 Racketeer Influenced an&EuforcementofJudgmen o 330 Federal Employers' . Injury Product o 650 Airline Regs. Comlpt Organizationso 1St Medicare Act o S30P"tento 660 Occupational o 840 Trademarko 152 Recovery of Defaulted Liability Liability (j 480 Conslmler Credito 340Marine PERSONAL P ROPERTY Safety/Healf11 0 490 Cable/Sat TVStudent Loans o 6900lher(Excl. Veterans) o 345 Marine Product o 370 OUler Fraud 0 810 Selective ServiceLiability o 371 TruuI in Lending " " t g e R ~ L j ~ ~[j : 153:Recovery of Overpayment 0 850 Securities!Commoditieso 350 Motor Vehicle o 380 otiler Personal 0710 Fair Labor Standards o 861 HIA (J395tl) Exchange\ ... ,; . ofVeterall's B e n ~ f i l ' i Act o 862 Black Lung (923). 0160 Stockholders' SUIts o 355 Motor Vehicle Property Damage ( ] 875 Customer ChallengeProduct Liability o 385 Property Damage o 720 Labor/Mgmt. Relations (] 863 DIWC/DIWW (405(g))GJ\ 190 OUler Contract 12 USC 3410o 360 Other Persollal Product Liability o 730 LaborlMgmt.Reporting (j 864 SSID Title XVIo 195 Contract Product Liability 0 890 Other Statutory Actions& Disclosure Acto 196 Franchise In'u ( ] 891 Agricultural Acl'i

. l i . l i l l ~ M r u ~ l f W S ' ; ' scJ"R1SGNERf,EmJIDrONS.iII! ( j 740 Railway Labor Act 0 892 Economic Stabilization;::::i",d;;;;RW_.BROBERTV :'!l1j,(j 510 Motions to Vacate ( j 790 Other Labor Litigationo 210 Land Condemnation ( j 441 Voting o 870 Taxes (U.S. laintif f (j 893 Enviroum ental MattersScntence (] 791 Empl. Ret Inc.(j 442 Employmento 220 Foreclosure or D e f e n d a l ~ t ) (j 894 Energy Allocation Acto 230 Rent Lease & Ejeclment (] 443 Housing! Habeas Corpus: Security Act o 871 IRS-TIlird Party 0 895 Freedom of InformationAccollunodatiOllS o 530 Generalo 240 Torts to Laud 26 USC 7 6 0 ~ Act:o 535 Death Penaltyo 245 Tort Product Liability o 444 Welfare 0 900Appeal of Fee Determino 290 All Other Real Property o 445 Amer. wlDisabilities CJ 540 Mandamus & Other o 462 Naturalization Application Under Equal AccessEmployment ( ] 550 Civil Rights o 463 Habeas Corpus to Justiceo 446 Amer. wlDisabilities (] 555 Prison Condition Alien Detainee 0 950 Constitutionality ofOther o 465 Other lnunigratiou State Statuteso 440 OUler Civil Rights Actions

(Place au "X" in One Box Only) Appeal to DistI Judge fromo 2 Removed from 0 3 Remanded from 0 4 Reinstated or 0 5 Transferred ~ r o m o 6: Multidistrict o 7State Court Appellate Court Reopened anoth;r dIstrict Litigation Magistrates eClf' Jud entC ~ r , t ' a . ' S ~ ( ; ~ i ~ ~ f J ~ ~ I J f l j ~ : ! ( ~ ) t r ' f u are filing (D o no t cite jurisdictional statutes unless ~ i v c r s i t y ) :

OriginalProceeding

I . C A U S E O F A C T I O N 1-:::-:-::-:---:--.----:::-__ ....:....:...:.....:_______________________ -Briefdescription of cause:Breach ot Contract, DeClaratory JUdgment

'\tll. R E Q U E S T E D I N o CHECK IF THIS IS A CLASS ACTION DEMAND $ CHECK! YES only if demanded .C O M P L A I N T : UNDER F.R.C.P. 23 75,000.00 JURY ~ E M A l " l D : 0

VIIl. R E L A T E D C A S E ( S ) (See instructions):I F ANY JUDGE DOCKET NUMBER

DEC 3 0 201RECEIPT # AMOUNT JUDGE MAG. JUDGE

Federal Qnestion0 1 U.S. Govennnent (U.S. Government Not a Party)Plaintiff

Diversityo 2 U.S. GovernmentDefendant (indicate Citizenship ofPafries in Item III)

N A T U R E O F S U I T Place an "X"inOneBoxOlll

PTF DEF :Citizen of This Stale o 1 0 1 IncorPorated or Principal Place

ofBl/siness In This StateICitizen of Another State o 2 o 2 Incorporated andPrincipal Place

oflBusiness In Another StateCitizen or Subject of a o 3 o 3 Foreip Nation

Forei I COlmtrv : o 6 0

http:///reader/full/75,000.00http:///reader/full/75,000.00


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---'-'--"===-=...;..;;:;.;.;:;.;:.=..:=-:...::..;;.;'-_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ " C{Hm.;et of record do1>I.!t'SlllUlt to ["''Clil Cbi'H Rule 53.2., Sef Contract>1.0 FELli. 1. A i:rphmr Pcl'Sonl1 I II1JIlf),:1. D J O I ~ e . s ActPersonal Injury 3. 0 A 8::;'IIUI1, I J c ~ i a n n i t i o [,4. 0 Amtt!ll;'l 4. 0 Madne ! ' e r s o n l l ~ Injury5, D"lllfut 5. 0 [I.;1otor Vehicle InJury

(/. 0 O I \ ~ r l ' e t $ ; ) 1 . 1 l l n ~ l j W ' y {I'le1''''e7. OPmuu


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B IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTFOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA',' f

CASE MANAGElVIENT TRACK DES1GNATION FORM .APPALACHIAN INSURANCE COMPANY, :" CIVIL ACTION

v. ~ F . I ~ . A:to 'I ' U . l . ~ INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH AMERICA,

In accordance with the Civil Justice Expense and Delay Reduction Plan of ithis court, counsel forplaintiff shall complete a Case Management Track Designation Form in all dvil cases at the time offiling the complaint and serve a copy on all defendants. (See 1:03 of the plan set forth on the reverseside of this form.) In the event that a defendant does not agree with the plaintiff regarding saiddesignation, that defendant shall, with its first appearance, submit to the clerk Qf court and serve on the, , , " plaintiff and all other parties, a Case Management Track Designation Form s p e c ~ f y i n g the track to whichthat defendant believes the case should be assigned.SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CASE MANAGEMENT TRACKS:(a) Habeas Corpus Cases brought under 28 U.S.C. 2241 through 2255. ( )(b) Social Security Cases requesting review of a decision of the Secretary of Health

and Human Services denying plaintiff Social Security Benefits. ( )(c) Arbitration Cases required to be designated for arbitration under Local Civil Rule 53.2. ( )(d) Asbestos - Cases involving claims for personal injury or property damage ifrom

exposure to asbestos. I ( )i(e) Special Management - Cases that do not fall into tracks (a) through (d) th* are

commonly referred to as complex and that need special or intense managerPent bythe court. (See reverse side ofthis form for a detailed explanation of specijalmanagement cases.) ( )

(f) Standard Management Cases that do not fall into anyone ofthe other tracks. {}December 30, 2010 APPALACHIAN tNS. CO.Date Attorney for Plaintiff

215.587.1600 215.587.1699 [email protected] FAX Number E-Mail Address. ,(Civ. 660) 10/02 DEC 3 0 2019

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

appalachian insurance company v. insurance company of north america complaint

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