The opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT September 24, 2019
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS David J. Bradley, Clerk
HOUSTON DIVISION
PRINCETON EXCESS AND §
SURPLUS LINES INSURANCE CO., §
Plaintiff, §
§
v. § CIVIL ACTION NO. H-18-2705
§
US GLOBAL SECURITY §
INCORPORATED, et al., §
Defendants. §
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
By Order [Doc. # 32] entered March 5, 2019, the Court referred all potentially
dispositive motions to United States Magistrate Judge Dena Palermo for a Report and
Recommendation. On August 5, 2019, Magistrate Judge Palermo issued her Report
and Recommendation (“R&R”) [Doc. # 38], addressing the Rule 12(c) Motion for
Judgment on the Pleadings [Doc. # 19] filed by Plaintiff Princeton Excess and Surplus
Lines Insurance Company (“Princeton”), the Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc.
# 22] filed by Defendant Maxum Indemnity Company (“Maxum”), and Maxum’s
Motion for Summary Judgment on US Global Security, Inc.’s Crossclaims [Doc.
# 24]. The Magistrate Judge recommended that this Court hold that Treasures and
Brannen are additional insureds under Maxum’s insurance policy, and that the
“Designated Operations Exclusion” (“Exclusion”) in Maxum’s policy applies. The
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Magistrate Judge recommended further that an exception to the Exclusion applies
because the allegation that the plaintiff in the underlying state court lawsuit was taken
“outside” created a reasonable inference that he was taken to a parking lot where
security operations occurred. The Magistrate Judge recommended also that Princeton
is entitled to contribution from Maxum for the defense costs in the underlying state
court lawsuit. Regarding the crossclaims asserted against Maxum by US Global
Security Inc. (“Global”), the Magistrate Judge recommended a ruling that Maxum
owes a duty to defend Princeton’s insureds in the underlying state court lawsuit, and
that Maxum owes no duty to defend Global against Princeton’s claims against it in
this lawsuit. Lastly, the Magistrate Judge recommended denying Maxum’s motion
for summary judgment on Global’s crossclaim for indemnity as premature, citing
Northfield Ins. Co. v. Loving Home Care, Inc., 363 F.3d 523, 529 (5th Cir. 2004).
Maxum filed timely Objections [Doc. # 41] to the R&R. Maxum objects to the
Magistrate Judge’s recommendation that Maxum owes a duty to defend Princeton’s
insureds in the underlying state court lawsuit, and to the recommendations that flow
from the duty to defend recommendation. Princeton filed a Response [Doc. # 42], and
Maxum filed a Reply [Doc. # 43]. No other objections to the R&R were filed.
The Court has reviewed the R&R, as well as Maxum’s Objections. The Court
has applied relevant legal authorities, and has made a de novo review of those portions
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of the report or specified proposed findings or recommendations to which Maxum
objected. See FED. R. CIV. P. 72(b); 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Funeral Consumers
Alliance, Inc. v. Serv. Corp. Int’l, 695 F.3d 330, 347 (5th Cir. 2012). The Court has
not conducted a complete de novo review of those recommendations to which no
objection was filed, but has verified that the recommendations are legally and
factually sound. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).
The Court adopts the R&R in part. The Court applies the well-established
“eight-corners” rule,1 sustains Maxum’s Objections, and does not adopt the
recommended ruling that Maxum has a duty to defend in the underlying state court
lawsuit.2 Because this Court holds that Maxum does not owe a duty to defend in the
1 As discussed more fully below, under the eight-corners rule, the Court limits itself to
considering the “facts alleged within the four corners of the petition (or complaint)
in the underlying lawsuit,” and “the language within the four corners of the insurance
policy.” Lyda Swinerton Builders, Inc. v. Oklahoma Sur. Co., 903 F.3d 435, 446 (5th
Cir. 2018) (quoting Ewing Constr. Co. v. Amerisure Ins. Co., 420 S.W.3d 30, 33 (Tex.
2014)); see also Century Sur. Co. v. Seidel, 893 F.3d 328, 333 (5th Cir. 2018), cert.
denied, __ U.S. __, 139 S. Ct. 1326 (2019); City of College Station, Tex. v. Star Ins.
Co., 735 F.3d 332, 336 (5th Cir. 2013). The Court then determines whether “the facts
alleged present a matter that could potentially be covered by the insurance policy.”
Lyda Swinerton, 903 F.3d at 446.
2 The Fifth Circuit recently certified to the Texas Supreme Court the question “Is the
policy-language exception to the eight-corners rule articulated in B. Hall Contracting
Inc. v. Evanston Ins. Co., 447 F. Supp. 2d 634 (N.D. Tex. 2006), a permissible
exception under Texas law?” State Farm Lloyds v. Richards, __ F. App’x __, 2019
WL 4267354, *3 (5th Cir. Sept. 9, 2019). In the Richards case, the Fifth Circuit noted
that the Texas Supreme Court has never expressly adopted the exception to the eight-
corners rule. See id. See footnote 5, infra.
3
underlying state court lawsuit, Princeton is not entitled to judgment on its contribution
claim, and Maxum is entitled to summary judgment on Princeton’s claims against it.
Maxum is also entitled to summary judgment on the crossclaim by Global asserting
that Maxum owes it a duty to defend in this federal lawsuit. The Magistrate Judge
correctly concluded that Maxum’s request for summary judgment on the crossclaim
for indemnity is premature.
I. BACKGROUND
The Magistrate Judge accurately set forth the background of this dispute in her
R&R. See R&R [Doc. # 38], pp. 2-7. Princeton issued a Commercial General
Liability insurance policy (“Princeton Policy”) to D. Texas Investments, Inc. The
Princeton Policy provides insurance coverage to the men’s club Treasures and its
employees, including its manager, Jason Brannen. See Princeton Policy, Exh. 3 to
Complaint [Doc. # 1]. Princeton’s Policy provides insurance that is excess over any
other primary insurance policy available to Princeton’s insureds covering liability for
damages arising out of the premises or operations for which they are additional
insureds through an endorsement to the other policy. See id. at ECF p. 58. The
dispute in this case involves whether the Princeton Policy is the primary insurance or
is excess insurance for the underlying state court lawsuit.
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D. Houston, Inc. d/b/a Treasures entered into a Security Service Contract
(“Service Contract”) with Global for “security guard protection services” for
Treasures and its parking lot areas. See Security Contract, Exh. 2 to Complaint, p. 1.
The Security Contract required Global to provide security services and patrols for the
“area immediately outside the premises of the Nightclub, such as the front door area
and entry way, the periphery of the building, the parking lot and the remote parking
lot areas.” Id. Global was not required to provide security services inside Treasures,
other than in the door area, “unless specific assistance is requested by managerial staff
of Nightclub.” Id. Global agreed to obtain a general liability insurance policy with
Treasures and its employees as additional insureds.3 See id. at 2.
Maxum issued a Commercial General Liability Insurance Policy for Global,
Policy Number GLP-6021221-05 (the “Policy”). The Policy contains an Additional
Insured endorsement, which provides additional insured status for:
3 The Court discusses the Security Contract only as background, and because it is the
contract that requires Global to obtain a general liability insurance policy with
Treasures and its employees as additional insureds. The Court notes that the Service
Contract requires Global to provide security services at various areas outside the
Treasures building including, but not limited to, parking lots. This provision clarifies
that there are locations outside Treasures that are not within a parking lot. The
Service Contract, however, is beyond the eight corners that the law currently permits
the Court to consider. Therefore, for purposes of the coverage analysis, the Court’s
review is limited to the Maxum insurance policy and the Fourth Amended Petition in
the underlying state court lawsuit.
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Any person or organization for whom [Global is] performing operations
when [Global] and such person or organization have agreed in writing in
a contract or agreement prior to the date of loss that such person or
organization be added as an additional insured on [Global’s] policy.
Policy, Exh. 4 to Complaint [Doc. # 1], ECF p. 44. The parties all agree that
Princeton’s insureds – Treasures, and its manager, Jason Brannen – qualify as
additional insureds under this endorsement to the Policy.
The Policy provides coverage for “those sums that the Insured becomes legally
obligated to pay as “damages” because of “bodily injury” or “personal injury” to
which the Policy applies. See Policy, ECF pp. 16, 22. The Policy applies to “bodily
injury” that is caused by an occurrence that takes place in the “coverage territory” and
during the Policy period. See id. at ECF p. 16. The Policy applies also to “personal
injury” caused by an offense arising out of the insured’s business, with certain
exclusions, if the offense was committed in the “coverage territory” during the Policy
period. See id. at ECF p. 22. The Policy defines “personal injury” to mean an injury,
other than “bodily injury,” arising out of certain offenses, including false
imprisonment and malicious prosecution. See id. at ECF p. 31.
The Policy provides that Maxum has the “duty to defend the Insured against
any ‘suit’ seeking those ‘damages,’” but has no duty to defend the Insured against a
suit seeking damages to which the Policy does not apply. See id.
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The Policy contains a “Designated Operations Exclusion” (“Exclusion”) that
states:
This insurance does not apply to “bodily injury”, “property damage”,
“personal injury” or “advertising injury” arising out of the operations
shown in the Schedule.
Schedule
Description of Operation:
Any Work at or in Bars, Restaurants, Taverns or any other
Establishments Selling or Providing Alcoholic Beverages.
Id.
Significantly, the Designated Operations Exclusion states also that it “does
NOT apply to Parking Lot Security at Gentlemen’s Clubs.” Id. (emphasis in original).
This provision creates an exception (“Exception”) to the Designated Operations
Exclusion.
Wesley O’Neill, an individual residing in Scotland, filed a lawsuit in Texas
state court, Wesley O’Neill versus D. Houston, Inc. d/b/a Treasures, et al.
(“Underlying Lawsuit”). In the Underlying Lawsuit, O’Neill alleges that he was in
Houston in September 2017 for business, and an Uber driver suggested taking him to
Treasures. O’Neill alleges that he had “never been to a ‘men’s club’ in the United
States and, curious to see what one was like, he agreed.” See Fourth Amended
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Petition, Exh. B to Maxum’s Motion for Summary Judgment, p. 2. O’Neill alleges
that while he was at Treasures, a woman invited him “upstairs,” where she said
O’Neill would buy a bottle for the two of them to share and the woman would dance
for him. See id. at 3. O’Neill alleges that he was charged $1,500.00 for a bottle of
champagne for which he expected to pay $300.00. See id. O’Neill alleges that
Treasures manager Brannen insisted O’Neill pay the full price, began “poking”
O’Neill, grabbed him by his shirt collar, and “using a sharp object, slugged Mr.
O’Neill in his left eye, shattering his eye socket, fracturing another facial bone, and
causing a deep gash above his left eye.” See id. O’Neill alleges that Brannen
continued to beat him. See id. at 4. O’Neill alleges further that he insisted that the
police be called. See id.
O’Neill alleges that Global personnel handcuffed him and “took him outside to
wait for the police.” Id. O’Neill alleges that the police placed him in the back of a
squad car and “went to talk to Brannen.” See id. O’Neill alleges that, at Brannen’s
request, he was charged with “theft of service” and was taken to the Harris County Jail
where he remained for almost three days. See id. The charge against him was later
dismissed.
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O’Neill alleges that he was required to delay his return to Scotland for almost
a month because the pressure from flying would be extremely dangerous for his eye.
See id. He alleges further that the damage to his eye is permanent. See id. at 5.
O’Neill filed the Underlying Lawsuit asserting causes of action for infliction
of bodily injury, false imprisonment, malicious criminal prosecution, negligence,
negligent hiring, a violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and fraud.
By letter dated March 20, 2018, Princeton “tendered defense and indemnity of
Treasures and Brannen in the Underlying Lawsuit to Maxum.” See Complaint [Doc.
# 1], ¶ 39. Maxum responded that it did not owe a duty to defend or indemnify in the
Underlying Lawsuit. See id., ¶ 40. Princeton and Maxum each seek summary
judgment on whether Maxum owes a duty to defend Treasures and Brannen in the
Underlying Lawsuit. Additionally, Maxum seeks summary judgment on Global’s
crossclaims against it.
II. APPLICABLE LEGAL AUTHORITIES
The Magistrate Judge accurately stated the applicable legal principles, including
the legal standards for a Rule 12(c) judgment on the pleadings (R&R at 7-8) and for
summary judgment (R&R at 8-9).
The Magistrate Judge also accurately stated the governing Texas law regarding
an insurer’s duty to defend. See R&R at 10-12. An insurer owes its insured a duty to
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defend “if a plaintiff’s factual allegations potentially support a covered claim.” Zurich
Am. Ins. Co. v. Nokia, Inc., 268 S.W.3d 487, 490 (Tex. 2008). Under Texas law, the
insured has the burden to establish coverage under the terms of the policy. See
Crownover v. Mid-Continent Cas. Co., 772 F.3d 197, 201 (5th Cir. 2014). If the
insured establishes coverage, then the insurer can avoid liability by proving that the
injury is within a policy exclusion. See id. The burden then shifts back to the insured
to show that an exception to the exclusion applies to “bring the claim back within
coverage.” Id. at 202. Therefore, in this case, Princeton as representative of
additional insureds Treasures and Brannen, has the burden to establish that the
Exception to the Designated Operations Exclusion applies to the claims in the
Underlying Lawsuit.
In deciding whether an insurer has a duty to defend, the Court must follow the
“eight-corners rule” that provides that the duty to defend is determined by the
plaintiff’s pleadings in the underlying lawsuit. See Zurich, 268 S.W.3d at 491; see
also LCS Corrections Servs., Inc. v. Lexington Ins. Co., 800 F.3d 664, 668 (5th Cir.
2015); Test Masters Educ. Servs., Inc. v. State Farm Lloyds, 791 F.3d 561, 564 (5th
Cir. 2015). If the underlying complaint “potentially includes a covered claim, the
insurer must defend the entire suit.” Id. (quoting Zurich, 268 S.W.3d at 491).
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If the complaint in the underlying lawsuit clearly alleges facts that would
exclude coverage under the insurance policy, there is no duty to defend. See
Northfield Ins. Co. v. Loving Home Care, Inc., 363 F.3d 523, 528 (5th Cir. 2004)
(citing Fidelity & Guar. Ins. Underwriters, Inc. v. McManus, 633 S.W.2d 787, 788
(Tex. 1982)). If, however, it is unclear from the complaint in the underlying lawsuit
whether the factual allegations fall within the policy’s coverage, the “insurer is
obligated to defend if there is, potentially, a case under the complaint within the
coverage of the policy.”4 See Zurich, 268 S.W.3d at 491; Gore Design Completions,
4 The Fifth Circuit’s ruling in Fed. Ins. Co. v. Northfield Ins. Co., 837 F.3d 548 (5th
Cir. 2016), reinforces this doctrine. In Federal, ExxonMobil and Bryan Wagner were
sued for damages in Louisiana. ExxonMobil separately sued Wagner in Texas for
breach of a contract of assignment in which Wagner promised ExxonMobil indemnity
for damages arising from the Louisiana properties (the “ExxonMobil suit”). Federal,
837 F.3d at 550-51. Wagner was insured by both Federal and Northfield. Northfield
asserted a Pollution Endorsement as an exclusion to coverage under its policy as
applied to the breach of contract claims in the ExxonMobil suit. See id. at 551.
Federal filed suit in federal court seeking a declaration that Northfield owed a duty
to defend Wagner in the ExxonMobil suit. See id. at 551. The petition filed by
ExxonMobil in the Texas state court action contained only the most general reference
to the claims in the Louisiana litigation, calling them claims for “environmental
damage,” and did not attach any of the Louisiana petitions. See id. at 553. The Fifth
Circuit held, on the basis of the eight-corners rule, that Northfield had a duty to
defend Wagner in the Texas ExxonMobil suit because “environmental damage” could
potentially include claims based on non-pollution related damage to vegetation or
wildlife habitat, claims that would not be excluded under the Pollution Endorsement
in the Northfield policy. See id. at 554.
In the coverage case at bar, the Court has before it – and is bound to consider the
specific allegations in – the Underlying Lawsuit petition. Here, the Fourth Amended
Petition in the Underlying Lawsuit is one of the two documents on which the Court
(continued...)
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Ltd. v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 538 F.3d 365, 368 (5th Cir. 2008). The Court may not,
however, “(1) read facts into the pleadings, (2) look outside the pleadings, or
(3) imagine factual scenarios which might trigger coverage.” Test Masters, 791 F.3d
at 564 (quoting Gore Design, 539 F.3d at 369).
Although courts are generally limited to the factual allegations in the pleadings
and the terms of the policy when deciding whether the insurer owes its insured a duty
to defend, courts may also consider reasonable inferences that may be drawn from the
factual allegations in the pleadings.5 See Allstate Ins. Co. v. Hallman, 159 S.W.3d
640, 645 (Tex. 2005); Gen. Star Indem. Co. v. Gulf Coast Marine Assoc., Inc., 252
4 (...continued)
must base its eight-corners analysis for coverage purposes. There is no need to rely
on a party’s broad and general description of claims asserted in twice-removed
underlying litigation.
5 In the Richards case, a 10-year-old boy died in an ATV accident while staying at his
grandparents’ house. See Richards, 2019 WL 4267354, at *1. The boy’s mother sued
the grandparents (the Richards), who had an insurance policy issued by State Farm.
See id. The State Farm policy contained two potentially applicable exclusions. The
first excluded “coverage for bodily injury arising from the use of an ATV while off
the Richards’ premises.” See id. The state court petition did not state whether the
accident occurred on or off the grandparents’ property. The second exclusion
excluded coverage for bodily injury to the insured, defined to include relatives “if
residents of your household.” See id. at 2. There were no allegations in the state
court petition that the boy was or was not a resident of the Richards’ household.
Neither the district court nor the Fifth Circuit inferred facts not in the state court
petition to answer these two coverage issues. Instead, the Fifth Circuit certified to the
Texas Supreme Court the issue regarding whether there is a recognized exception to
the “eight corners” rule that would allow consideration of extrinsic evidence.
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S.W.3d 450, 456 (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.] 2008, review denied) (noting that
the “eight corners rule does not require us to ignore those inferences logically flowing
from the facts alleged in the petition”).
III. ANALYSIS
A. Treasures and Brannen as Additional Insureds
Maxum did not contest, and Magistrate Judge Palermo recommended, a ruling
that Treasures and Brannen are additional insureds under the Policy. Maxum does not
object to this aspect of the R&R, and the Court finds it well supported legally and
factually. As a result, the Court adopts the Magistrate Judge’s recommended ruling
that Treasures and Brannen are additional insureds under the Policy.
B. Applicability of Exclusion in Policy
As noted above, the Policy contains a Designated Operations Exclusion that
excludes coverage under the Policy for injuries arising out of “any work at or in bars,
restaurants, taverns or any other establishments selling or providing alcoholic
beverages.” See Policy, ECF p. 48. The Magistrate Judge recommended a ruling that
this Exclusion applies because the injuries alleged in the Underlying Lawsuit arose out
of the defendants’ work in an establishment selling alcoholic beverages. No party
filed an Objection to this recommended ruling. The Court finds the recommendation
to be legally and factually sound and, therefore, adopts the R&R to the extent it
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recommends a ruling that the Designated Operations Exclusion in the Policy applies
to the claims in the Underlying Lawsuit and would exclude coverage under the Policy.
C. Applicability of Exception to Exclusion
The Designated Operations Exclusion contains an Exception for the operation
of “parking lot security at Gentlemen’s Clubs” such as Treasures. See id. The
Exception is clear and specific, relating only to “parking lot security.” Therefore, if
O’Neill alleges bodily injury or personal injury arising out of the operation of
“parking lot security” at Treasures, then the Designated Operations Exclusion would
not apply and Maxum’s Policy would provide coverage for the Underlying Lawsuit.
Maxum objects to the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation regarding the applicability
of the Exception because (1) there are no allegations in the Underlying Lawsuit that
raise a reasonable inference that the operation of “parking lot security” was involved,
and (2) there are no allegations that any of O’Neill’s injuries arose out of the operation
of “parking lot security.” Each of the objections is well-taken, and both are sustained.
Parking Lot Security Operations.– Maxum argues that the Exception does not
apply because there are no allegations in the Underlying Lawsuit from which one
could reasonably infer that parking lot security operations were involved in the
September 2017 incident. O’Neill has filed several petitions in state court; indeed, the
most recent is the Fourth Amended Petition. O’Neill alleges in this operative pleading
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that he was assaulted and handcuffed while inside Treasures. See Fourth Amended
Petition, p. 4. He alleges that, while he was still handcuffed, Global personnel “took
him outside to wait for the police.” See id. The Magistrate Judge construes this
allegation to create a reasonable inference that waiting “outside” Treasures for the
police to arrive “could only have occurred on or adjacent to the parking lot.”6 This
assumption ignores equally reasonable inferences that O’Neill waited with Global
personnel on a sidewalk or other area immediately outside the Treasures doorway or,
indeed, anywhere outside the building other than in a parking lot. Although the live
pleading in the Underlying Lawsuit is O’Neill’s Fourth Amended Petition, it contains
no allegations or reference to a parking lot at Treasures. If O’Neill had been taken to
a parking lot, he could easily (and would likely) have said so in the detailed Fourth
Amended Petition. Yet there are no allegations, either direct or through a reasonable
inference, that O’Neill was taken to a parking lot. Consequently, absent an allegation
that O’Neill was taken to a parking lot over which Global had security responsibilities,
6 R&R, pp. 18-19. The Court does not adopt the Magistrate Judge’s comments at page
16 of the R&R that the term “parking lot” includes areas that are “adjacent to” a
parking lot.
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there is no allegation of any actions constituting operation of “parking lot security,”
and the Exception does not apply.7
“Arising Out of” Parking Lot Security Operations.– Maxum argues that even
if the allegations in the Fourth Amended Complaint were construed to allow an
inference that O’Neill was taken to a parking lot for which Global provided security,
the injuries he alleges did not arise out of the operation of parking lot security. Maxum
is correct that O’Neill does not allege that any of his injuries arose out of parking lot
security operations.
O’Neill alleges that the injury to his eye, the subject of Count 1 - Infliction of
Bodily Injury, occurred when he was struck by Brannen while inside Treasures.
O’Neill alleges that the false imprisonment asserted in Count 2 occurred when
he was pinned on the ground and handcuffed, events that he alleges occurred inside
Treasures. See id. at 4 (alleging that, while inside Treasures, Brannen knocked him
to the ground, got on top of him, and beat him, after which Global personnel
handcuffed him). O’Neill alleges that the injuries resulting from the false
7 The Court does not adopt the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation at page 16 of the
R&R that “parking lot security operations” would include standing outside with an
individual, who was handcuffed while inside the club, waiting for the police to arrive,
particularly where the police were summoned at that individual’s request.
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imprisonment were the “shattered eye socket and broken facial bone,” each of which
were alleged to have been caused while O’Neill was inside Treasures. See id. at 5.
In connection with the malicious criminal prosecution claim asserted in Count 3
of the Fourth Amended Complaint in the Underlying Lawsuit, O’Neill alleges that the
malicious prosecution arose after the police “went to talk to Brannen” and, at
Brannen’s request, O’Neill was charged with “theft of service.” See id. at 6.
Regarding his damages, O’Neill alleges that he was detained in jail for three days and
suffered “the following damages: harm to his reputation, emotional distress, and cost
of defense.” See id. These injuries are “personal injuries” as defined in the Policy.
See Policy, ECF p. 31 (defining “personal injury” to include injury arising out of
malicious prosecution). There are no allegations, however, that O’Neill’s injuries
from the alleged malicious prosecution arose out of the operation of parking lot
security. Initially, as noted above, there are no allegations that raise a reasonable
inference that any conduct or injury occurred in a parking lot. Instead, O’Neill alleges
that Global personnel took him outside and waited with him until the police arrived.
See Fourth Amended Petition, at 4. These allegations do not allow a reasonable
inference that Global personnel’s allegedly wrongful acts were in the course of
providing security for a parking lot when they took O’Neill from inside Treasures
“outside” to wait with him for the police to arrive.
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In the Negligence (Count 4) claim in the Underlying Lawsuit, O’Neill alleges
a breach of the duty “to protect him from harm while inside” Treasures. See id. at 7.
O’Neill does not allege that he suffered an injury arising from negligent provision of
parking lot security operations.
In the Negligent Hiring (Count 5) claim, O’Neill alleges that he suffered bodily
injury and personal injury due to the negligent hiring of “employees who restrained
and falsely imprisoned” him. See id. As discussed above regarding the false
imprisonment claim, there are no allegations that any of O’Neill’s injuries arose out
of Global’s parking lot security operations.
The Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (Count 78) and the fraud (Count 8)
claims are based exclusively on conduct that O’Neill alleges occurred inside Treasures
in connection with the dispute regarding the price of the champagne. See id. at 8-9.
The allegations cannot reasonably be interpreted to assert injury arising out of parking
lot security operations.
The Exception to the Designated Operations Exclusion applies only to parking
lot security operations at Treasures, and none of the bodily or personal injuries to
O’Neill are alleged to have arisen out of such operations. As a result, the Exception
8 Count 6 in the Fourth Amended Petition is an assertion of vicarious liability and
respondeat superior. See Fourth Amended Petition, p. 8.
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does not apply, leaving the Exclusion in place to exclude coverage under Maxum’s
Policy to Global.
D. Remaining Issues Addressed in the R&R
In addition to its request for a declaration that (1) Treasures and Brannen are
additional insureds under the Policy and (2) that Maxum has a duty to defend
Treasures and Brannen in the Underlying Lawsuit, Princeton asserts an equitable
contribution claim seeking reimbursement from Maxum of its defense costs incurred
in defending Treasures and Brannen in the Underlying Lawsuit.9 Because this Court
holds that Maxum does not owe a duty to defend in the Underlying Lawsuit, Princeton
is not entitled to judgment on its contribution claim.
In addition to Maxum’s Motion for Summary Judgment on all claims asserted
against it by Princeton, Maxum seeks summary judgment on Global’s crossclaims
seeking indemnity and reimbursement for defense costs in the Underlying Lawsuit.
The Magistrate Judge recommended granting Maxum’s motion for summary judgment
regarding its duty to defend Global, and recommended denying without prejudice as
premature Maxum’s motion for summary judgment regarding its duty to indemnify
9 Princeton also asserts an equitable subrogation claim against Global that was not the
subject of any of the motions addressed in the R&R.
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Global. Global did not file any objections to that recommendation. This aspect of the
R&R is well-reasoned and is adopted by this Court.
IV. CONCLUSION AND ORDER
Based on the foregoing, the Court adopts the Magistrate Judge’s R&R to the
extent it recommends a ruling that Treasures and Brannen are additional insureds
under the Policy. The Court further adopts the R&R to the extent it recommends a
ruling that the Designated Operations Exclusion in the Policy applies to the claims in
the Underlying Lawsuit. Additionally, the Court adopts the R&R to the extent it
recommends granting Maxum’s Motion for Summary Judgment on Global’s
crossclaim for defense costs for the Underlying Lawsuit and for this lawsuit, and to
the extent it recommends denying without prejudice as premature Maxum’s Motion
for Summary Judgment on Global’s crossclaim for indemnity.
The Court does not adopt the recommendation that the Exception to the
Exclusion applies such that Maxum owes a duty to defend Treasures and Brannen in
the Underlying Lawsuit. There are no allegations in the Underlying Lawsuit that
could be reasonably construed to allege an injury arising out of Global’s parking lot
security operations. As a result, the Exception does not apply and the Exclusion
precludes coverage for the allegations in the Underlying Lawsuit. It is hereby
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ORDERED that the Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation [Doc.
# 38] is ADOPTED in part as set forth herein. It is further
ORDERED that Princeton’s Rule 12(c) Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings
[Doc. # 19] is DENIED. It is further
ORDERED that Maxum’s Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 22] on
Princeton’s claims against it is GRANTED. It is further
ORDERED that Maxum’s Motion for Summary Judgment on Global’s
Crossclaims [Doc. # 24] is GRANTED as to the duty to defend and DENIED AS
PREMATURE as to the duty to indemnify.
The case remains referred to Magistrate Judge Palermo pursuant to the March 5,
2019 Order.
SIGNED at Houston, Texas, this 24th day of September, 2019.
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