Lead Opinion
delivered the Opinion of the Court.
We granted certiorari to review the court of appeals' published opinion in Copper Mountain, Inc. v. Industrial Systems, Inc., No. 06CA0560,
We hold that the contract does not bar Copper's claims against Amako and Industrial for damages to property that was not part of the contractual Work, despite the fact that Copper insured the damaged property under an existing policy covering the Work. Under paragraph 114.7 of the contract, Copper waived rights against Amako for damages caused by fire "to the extent covered by property insurance obtained pursuant to this Paragraph 11.4 or other property insurance applicable to the Work...."
In Town of Silverton v. Phoenix Heat Source System, Inc.,
I.
Copper hired Amako to perform renovations on and build an addition to the Union Creek Lodge at Copper Mountain Resort. On August 10, 2001, Copper and Amako entered into a standard American Institute of Architects ("AIA") Owner-Contractor Agreement to govern the construction. Amako subcontracted with Industrial to build the steel framework for the addition.
The Work of the contract is defined by paragraph 1.1.8 as "the construction and services required by the Contract Documents, whether completed or partially completed, and ... all other labor, materials, equipment, and services provided or to be provided by the Contractor to fulfill the Contractor's obligations."
Several relevant provisions of the contract set forth Amako's responsibilities concerning liability and insurance. Paragraph 3.8.2 provides that Amako "shall be responsible to [Copper] for acts and omissions of [Amako's] employees [and] Subcontractors and their agents and employees...." Paragraph 10.2.5 requires Amako to "promptly remedy damage and loss (other than damage or loss insured under property insurance required by the Contract Documents)" that Amako or its subcontractors caused to the Work, or to other property at or adjacent to the site, such as structures not designated for removal, relocation, or replacement during the construction.
Copper's responsibilities for procuring insurance are set forth in paragraph 11.4.1:
Unless otherwise provided, [Copper] shall purchase and maintain ... property insurance written on a builder's risk "all-risk" [7 ] or equivalent policy form in the amount of the Initial Contract Sum, plus value of subsequent Contract modifications and*695 cost of materials supplied or installed by others, comprising total value for the entire Project at the site on a replacement cost basis without optional deductibles.
If Copper did not purchase insurance to cover the Work, Amako could "effect insurance [to] protect the interests of [Amako and its subcontractors] in the Work," and charge that cost to Copper, pursuant to paragraph 11.4.1.2.
The contract includes the following waiver of legal rights in paragraph 11.4.7:
The Owner and Contractor waive all rights against [] each other and any of their subcontractors ... for damages caused by fire or other causes of loss to the extent covered by property insurance obtained pursuant to this Paragraph 11.4 or other property insurance applicable to the Work....
Finally, paragraph 11.4.5 of the contract further delineates the waiver of Copper's claims for damages as follows:
If during the Project construction period the Owner insures properties, real or personal or both, at or adjacent to the site by property insurance under policies separate from those insuring the Project, or if after final payment property insurance is to be provided on the completed Project through a policy or policies other than those insuring the Project during the construction period, the Owner shall waive all rights in accordance with the terms of Subpara-graph 11.4.7 for damages caused by fire or other causes of loss covered by this separate property insurance.
Copper chose to comply with paragraph 11.4.1 by adding a "Newly Acquired Property and Property Under Construction" endorsement to its general Ski Areas Property Coverage ("SAPC") insurance policy, rather than by purchasing a separate insurance policy to cover the Work.
On November 26, 2001, while Industrial was performing welding work, a fire broke out at the Union Creek Lodge. The fire caused significant damage to the existing lodge and its contents. All real and personal property damaged in the fire was covered under the SAPC insurance policy, though Copper was responsible for paying the policy's $1 million deductible.
Copper sued Amako and Industrial in the District Court for Summit County for negligence, negligent supervision, breach of contract, and indemnification, seeking approximately $1 million in damages. Amako and Industrial asserted that paragraphs 11.4.7 and 11.4.5 of the contract barred Copper's suit.
Copper moved the trial court for a determination that paragraph 11.4.7 does not bar claims for damages to property other than the Work.
The court of appeals affirmed the trial court's judgment. Copper Mountain, No. 06CA0560, op. at 696. It disagreed with Silverton, holding that paragraph 11.4.7 applied to all damaged property covered under Copper's SAPC policy. Id. at 696-97. The court of appeals gave three reasons for its decision:
First, the general waiver clause "waive[d] all rights against [contractors] ... for damages caused by fire ... to the extent covered by insurance obtained pursuant to this Paragraph 11.4 or other property insurance applicable to the Work." (Emphasis added.) The emphasized language does not define waived claims by what property is harmed, that is, the work, but by the policy of insurance "applicable to the Work" that pays for the damage.
Second, paragraph 11.4.1 of the contract states the requirements for obtaining property insurance that is applicable to the work. "Unless otherwise provided," Copper was to purchase an " 'all risk' or equivalent policy" to protect its, Amako's, and Industrial's interests in the work. Thus, Copper could have purchased an all-risk policy limited to the work to satisfy its obligations under the contract, or, as it chose to do, it could have relied on its existing SAPC policy.
Third, other clauses in the contract show the parties intended to waive claims for damages beyond those defined by the work. Paragraph 11.4.5 provides that, if Copper insured property separate from the project that was located "at or adjacent to the site," claims for damages to that property would also be waived.
Id. at 696 (internal citations omitted). The court of appeals did not further explain this reasoning or the significance it ascribed to Copper's decision to rely on its existing SAPC policy.
The court of appeals also stated:
Although the trial court based its analysis on paragraph 11.4.5, which extends the waiver to insurance policies separate from that insuring the work, Copper stated in its C.R.C.P. 56(h) motion for determination of a matter of law that it satisfied its obligation to insure the work under an endorsement to its SAPC policy, and that this policy covered Union Creek Lodge. Thus, because the SAPC was the policy Copper relied on to insure the work, and because that policy covered all the property damaged by the fire, we need not consider whether paragraph 11.4.5 applies.
Id. at 696 (emphasis added). The court of appeals appears to have meant that paragraph 11.4.5 is not relevant because the SAPC policy did insure the Work, and therefore was not "separate from that insuring the work."
IL
We hold that the contract does not bar Copper's claims against Amako and Industrial for damages to property that was not part of the contractual Work, despite the fact that Copper insured the damaged property under an existing policy covering the Work.
A. -Standard of Review
We review a trial court's grant of summary judgment de novo. Friedland v. Travelers Indem. Co.,
Contract interpretation is a question of law for the court to decide. Pepcol Mfg. Co. v. Denver Union Corp., 687 P.2d
To determine the intent of the parties, the court should give effect to the plain and generally accepted meaning of the contractual language. E. Ridge of Fort Collins, LLC v. Larimer and Weld Irrigation Co.,
B. Persuasive Precedent
The court of appeals has previously addressed the scope of the waiver clause at issue in Silverton, which concerned a similar set of facts.
The court of appeals reversed with respect to the town's claims for damages to non-Work portions of the town hall. Id. at 12. The court observed that the Work of the contract was limited to the reroofing of the town hall, and that "[the waiver of subrogation provisions placed defendants essentially in the position of co-insureds on the town's property insurance policy only with respect to damages to the work." Id. The court held that the parties agreed to exculpate each other from liability for damages to the Work, but not from liability for damages to non-Work. Id. The Silverton court apparently did not view that contract's analogue to paragraph 11.4.5 as manifesting an intent to restrict claims for damages to non-Work, since the court held that "nothing in the agreement shows an intent to extend this mutual exeulpation to parts of the building other than the work." Id.
The Silverton opinion reached the same result as a number of other jurisdictions. See Midwestern Indem. Co. v. Sys. Builders, Inc.,
The analysis of New York's highest court in S.S.D.W. Co. v. Brisk Waterproofing Co., Inc.,
It makes no difference whether the policy under which subrogation is sought is one which the owner purchased specifically to insure the Work pursuant to [the article requiring the owner to procure property insurance] or some other policy covering the owner's property in which the owner has also provided coverage for the Work. In either event, the waiver clause, if given its plain meaning, bars subrogation only for those damages covered by insurance which the owner has provided to meet the requirement of protecting the contractor's limited interest in the building-i.e., damages to the Work itself.
Id.,
As Amako and Industrial note, a number of other jurisdictions have reached a different conclusion: that paragraph 11.4.7 in the AIA contract bars an owner's claims for damages to non-Work property to the extent the owner's insurance policy covering Work also covers the non-Work property. See, eg., Lexington Ins. Co. v. Entrex Commc'n Servs., Inc.,
C. Application to this Case
The parties do not ask us to resolve whether a waiver provision in this context is valid or supportable. Despite the fact that such clauses are exculpatory in nature, "when the language of the agreement discloses an intent to waive claims, the courts will enforce that agreement." May Dep't Stores Co. v. Univ. Hills, Inc.,
Amako and Industrial argue that Silverton was incorrectly decided or distinguishable from the current case. They contend that paragraph 11.4.7 waives Copper's rights to the extent damages are covered by Copper's insurance, and that paragraph 11.4.5 further waives claims for damages to the owner's covered property at or near the construction site, without regard to whether that property is Work or non-Work property.
In construing the contract between Copper and Amako, we bear in mind the Silverton court's construction of the relevant contractual provisions. Although we are not bound by the court of appeals' holding or reasoning in Silverton, as we have not had this question before us until now, we conclude that Silver-ton was correctly decided and sets forth a more persuasive construction of the contract than the more recent court of appeals opinion that we consider in the present case.
We conclude that neither paragraph 11.4.7 nor paragraph 11.4.5 bars Copper's claims for damages to its non-Work property. Several aspects of the contract lead to our determination. Most significantly, the plain language of paragraph 11.4.7 does not waive Copper's claims for damages to non-Work
Analysis of contextual provisions in the contract further supports our interpretation of paragraph 11.4.7, because this interpretation gives effect to paragraph .5 of article 11 and to paragraph 10.2.5. See Budget Rent-A-Car,
article 11 requires the contractor to procure insurance covering liability for claims arising out of the contractor's or subcontractor's operations "for damages, other than to the Work itself, because of injury to or destruction of tangible property, including loss of use resulting therefrom."
Amako's and Industrial's interpretation would also render paragraph 10.2.5 meaningless. Paragraph 10.2.5 obligates Amako to remedy damage, other than that insured under property insurance required by the Contract Documents, that Amako or its subcontractors cause to the Work or other property at or adjacent to the site. The contract only "requires" Copper to insure the Work. A harmonious reading of paragraphs 10.2.5 and 11.4.7 points to the conclusion that Amako is responsible for damages to non-Work, while Copper is responsible for the cost of damages to the Work.
The language of paragraph 11.4.5 does not alter this conclusion. It might appear that this clause expands the seope of the waiver in paragraph 11.4.7 to cover damages to any adjacent property the owner insures, including non-Work property, but a closer reading reveals that this is not the correct interpretation. Rather, paragraph 11.4.5 makes clear that, should the owner purchase additional insurance coverage at or adjacent to the site of the Work either during or after construction, such insurance will be subject to "the terms of Subparagraph 11.4.7." Paragraph 11.4.5 provides that if, "during the Project construction period," the owner insures properties "at or adjacent to the site by property insurance under policies separate from those insuring the Project," the owner waives rights "in accordance with the terms of Subparagraph 11.4.7 for damages caused by fire ... covered by this separate property insurance."
In this case, the record shows that Copper obtained insurance for the Work through an
Furthermore, paragraph 11.4.5 is limited by the terms of paragraph 11.4.7, because it states that "the Owner shall waive all rights in accordance with the terms of Subpara-graph 11.4.7...." (Emphasis added). Instead of expanding the scope of paragraph 11.4.7, paragraph 11.4.5 clarifies what type of insurance will be subject to the waiver in paragraph 11.4.7. Specifically, the purpose of paragraph 11.4.5 is to clarify that if, subsequent to the execution of the contract and during the construction period, the owner acquires additional insurance under separate policies for properties at or adjacent to the site that have been added to the Project, the owner waives rights to the extent of that insurance.
The purpose of paragraph 11.4.5 cannot be to waive the owner's rights to sue for damages to non-Work, because that interpretation would render paragraph 11.4.5 inconsistent with paragraph 11.4.7, which only waives the owner's rights to sue for damages to Work. Under such an interpretation, the more limited waiver in paragraph 11.4.7 would be superceded by the broader waiver of paragraph 11.4.5, and paragraph 11.4.7 would be superfluous We choose a construction of the contract that harmonizes provisions instead of rendering them superfluous. See Pepcol Mfg. Co.,
Our interpretation - harmonizing paragraphs 11.4.7 and 11.4.5 effectuates the contract's purpose. Like other AIA Owner-Contractor Agreements, this contract represents a nuanced and intertwined set of agreements between commercial entities about how to allocate risks and responsibilities concerning the possibility of property damage. See Brisk Waterproofing,
Amako's and Industrial's proposed interpretation of the contract would benefit owners who fail to insure their non-Work property by allowing those owners to pursue claims for damages to non-Work property, and would penalize owners who insure non-Work property by disallowing many claims by such owners. Our construction of the contract, like the Silverton court's construction, avoids penalizing owners who procure property insurance. - Silverton's contract construction accords with ordinary principles of liability under which an actor is responsible to a property owner for property damages it negligently causes, absent a clear intent appearing otherwise in the parties' agreement. We choose to follow such a construction here.
IH.
Accordingly, we reverse the court of appeals' decision and remand this case for fur
Notes
. We granted certiorari on the following issue: Whether the court of appeals erred in ruling a waiver of subrogation provision in an American Institute of Architects ("AIA") form contract barred all of owner-plaintiff's claims, thereby creating a conflict with another decision of the court of appeals, Town of Silverton v. Phoenix Heat Source System, Inc.,
. This type of provision is often referred to as a "waiver of subrogation." In most reported cases concerning analogous provisions, property owners have subrogated their claims to insurers, and in some instances the insurer has assigned its subrogation rights back to the owner. See, eg., Silverton,
. We granted certiorari to review Silverton on December 2, 1997, and dismissed certiorari based on a stipulated motion for dismissal on June 30, 1998.
. In turn, Amako and Industrial entered into a subcontract that incorporated the terms of the contract between Copper and Amako.
. The "Project" is defined by paragraph 1.1.4 as "the total construction of which the Work performed under the Contract Documents may be the whole or a part and which may include construction by the Owner or by separate contractors." Counsel for Copper informed us at oral argument that the Project and Work were co-extensive in this case.
. Paragraph 10.2.5 reads: "The Contractor shall promptly remedy damage and loss (other than damage or loss insured under property insurance required by the Contract Documents) to property referred to in Clauses 10.2.1.2 and 10.2.1.3 caused in whole or in part by the Contractor, a Subcontractor, [or their employees]...." Paragraph 10.2.1.2 covers "the Work and materials and equipment to be incorporated therein, whether in storage on or off the site, under care, custody or control of the Contractor or the Contractor's Subcontractors. ..." Paragraph 10.2.1.3 covers "other property at the site or adjacent thereto, such as trees, shrubs, lawns, walks, pavements, roadways, structures and utilities not designated for removal, relocation or replacement in the course of construction."
. All-risk policies cover all losses, except those specifically excluded. Heller v. Fire Ins. Exch.,
. It is not unusual for a property owner with existing property insurance to decide to add contractual work to its existing policy. "While the ATA language references a builder's risk' form, it does permit this coverage to be provided under an equivalent policy form. Large owners with a significant property coverage program in place often find that it is easier to meet this insurance requirement through modifying their current program to list the project and add the necessary clauses to cover the other parties with insurable interests in the project." 2 Philip L. Bruner & Patrick J. O'Connor, Jr., Bruner & O'Connor on Construction Law § 5:220 (2002).
. Copper alleged that the Union Creek Lodge was non-Work property because it was not "construction and services required by the Contract Documents," but rather was a "structure" adjacent to the site "not designated for removal, relocation or replacement in the course of construction," pursuant to paragraph 10.2.1.3 of the contract. Amako and Industrial argued that the lodge fell within the scope of the Work because Amako performed extensive work throughout the lodge. The question of whether the lodge was Work or non-Work property is not currently before us.
. - The trial court distinguished Silverton in part on the grounds that the Work could be segregat
. In Silverton, the analogue to paragraph 11.4.7 was identical to paragraph 11.4.7 in the present case, except that it referred to "damages caused by fire or other perils," rather than "damages caused by fire or other causes of loss."
[I]f after final payment property insurance is to be provided on the completed Project through a policy or policies other than those insuring the Project during the construction period, the Owner shall waive all rights in accordance with the terms of Subparagraph 11.3.7 for damages caused by fire or other perils covered by this separate property insurance.
Id. In the present case, paragraph 11.4.5 refers to "damages caused by fire or other causes of loss."
. Paragraph 11.4 also requires the owner to procure boiler and machinery insurance thai shall include the parties' interests in the Work; permits the owner to procure loss of use insurance; and directs the owner to procure insurance for risks other than those described in paragraph 11.4, if the contractor so requests, and at the contractor's expense.
. The temporal focus of paragraph 11.4.5 also is evidenced in the second clause of that paragraph, which waives certain claims regarding the "completed Project" if "after {inal payment" the owner obtains insurance policies separate from those insuring the Project during the construction period. (Emphasis added).
. Given the parties' careful allocation of risk of the contractor's negligent harm to non-Work property to the contractor, we do not conclude that the parties intended to reverse this allocation of risk. Faced with two readings of a contract, we choose the one that harmonizes interrelated contract provisions.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
In contrast to the majority, I would find the contractual provisions in question bar Copper Mountain, Inc. ("Copper") from recovering for damages to both the contractual Work and non-Work property.
The waiver provisions at issue here-paragraphs 114.7 and 114.5 of the standard American Institute of Architects ("AIA") contract-have been interpreted by a majority of jurisdictions as barring an owner's claims for damage to non-Work property to the extent the owner's insurance policy covering the Work also covers the non-Work property. See, eg., Rahr Malting Co. v. Climatic Control Co., Inc.,
Paragraph 114.1 gave Copper the option to purchase and maintain "property insurance written on a builder's risk 'all-risk' or equivalent policy form" in an amount comprising the "total value for the entire Project at the site on a replacement cost basis." If Copper did not purchase a new all-risk policy to cover the Work under paragraph 11.4.1, it could rely on its all-purpose Ski Area Property Coverage ("SAPC") insurance policy. The SAPC policy covered claims by Intrawest, Copper's parent company, and its resorts for damage to properties that were already constructed at the time the policy was issued. In addition, a "Newly Acquired Property and Property Under Construction" endorsement to the SAPC policy allowed Intrawest and its resorts to obtain coverage for construction projects if the construction work to be performed was valued at less than $1 million. Instead of purchasing a new all-risk policy to cover the Work, Copper relied on its existing SAPC policy. This policy, plus the endorsement, insured all of Intrawest's property, including the Work and Union Creek Lodge-the structure at which the Work was performed.
Paragraph 11.4.7 states Copper and Ama-ko Resort Construction, Inc. ("Amako") agree to "waive all rights against each other and any of their subcontractors ... for damages caused by fire or other causes of loss to the extent covered by property insurance obtained pursuant to this Paragraph 11.4 or other property insurance applicable to the Work. ..." Paragraph 11.4.5 states if, during the Project construction period, Copper insures property, "real or personal or both, at or adjacent to the site by property insurance under policies separate from those insuring the Project," Copper "shall waive all rights in accordance with the terms of Subparagraph 11.4.7 for damages caused by fire or other
Copper had the option of purchasing a new policy specifically covering the Work or relying on existing property insurance to cover the Work. The waiver clauses contained in paragraphs 11.4.5 and 11.4.7 create the Work/non-Work distinction based upon the owner's decision to purchase a new policy or to rely upon an existing one. Paragraph 114.7 states Copper "waive[d] all rights against [contractors] ... for damages caused by fire ... to the extent covered by insurance obtained pursuant to this Paragraph 11.4 or other property insurance applicable to the Work." (Emphasis added.) This language does not define waived claims by what property is harmed, but rather by the policy of insurance applicable to the Work that pays for the damage. Under the waiver provisions, Copper agreed to waive the right to sue for damages to the Work if it purchased a separate policy specifically covering the Work. However, if Copper instead relied on an existing policy covering both Work and non-Work property, it waived the right to sue for any damages to property covered by the policy.
Instead of purchasing a new all-risk policy, Copper chose to rely on its existing SAPC policy. As such, Copper "waive[d| all rights against [Amako and Industrial Services, Inc.] ... for damages caused by fire." Therefore, Copper cannot recover against Amako and Industrial Services Inc. for damages caused by the fire to either Work or non-Work property. - However, if Copper had purchased a new all-risk policy to cover the Work instead of relying on its existing SAPC policy, Copper would be able to recover for damages caused to non-Work property. I believe this interpretation of the waiver provisions is more consistent with the plain language of the contract than the majority's interpretation.
Accordingly, I respectfully dissent.
I am authorized to state Justice COATS joins in this dissent.
. The contract between Copper Mountain and Amako Resort Construction, Inc. defined the work to be performed as:
The term "Work" means the construction and services required by the Contract Documents, whether completed or partially completed, and includes all labor, materials, equipment and services provided or to be provided by [Amako] to fulfill [Amako's] obligations. The Work may constitute the whole or a part of the Project.
