This аppeal arises from a dispute over insurance coverage between appellees Main Street Homes, Inc. and Main Street, Ltd. (together “Main Street”), and appellants CU Lloyd’s of Texas and Potomac Insurance Company of Illinois (together “Lloyds”). Lloyds, Main Street’s insurance provider, refused Main Street’s request to defend Main Street in two suits brought against it. Following Lloyds’ refusal, Main Street sued Lloyds, seeking, inter alia, a declaratory judgment that Lloyds had a duty to defend Main Street. 1 Main Streеt moved for partial summary judgment that its insurance policies contractually obligated Lloyds to defend it in the underlying suits. Lloyds also moved for partial summary judgment, arguing that there was no duty to defend because the underlying suits’ pleadings did not allege an “occurrence” and, alternatively, that the policies’ business-risk exclusions applied. The district court granted Main Street’s motion and denied Lloyds’. The court then granted an agreed motion to sever, rendering the duty-to-defend issue appealable. Lloyds appeals the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Main Street and the denial of its own motion. We will affirm the district court’s judgment.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Main Street, a general contractor, constructed residential homes in two subdivisions, Chimney Hills North in Austin and Ashford Park in Buda. At Chimney Hills, Main Street hired Professional Design Group (“PDG”) to design foundations for the homes. Kevin and Denise Holiday purchased one of the homess and subsequently observed structural defects in the home’s construction. The Holidays filed suit against Main Street as a result of alleged foundation defects. 2 The Holiday petition asserts that Main Street received warnings that the foundations of the Chimney Hills homes, as designed, were inappropriate for the subdivision’s soil conditions, and that Main Street disregarded the warnings and knowingly proceeded with construction. The Holidays seek damages for violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, fraud, breach of implied warranty, negligence, and fraudulent conveyance.
At Ashford Park, Main Street subcontracted with PDG and another foundation engineering firm
3
for the design and construction of residential foundations. Several Ashford Park homeowners brought a suit similar to the Holidays’,
4
alleging that Main Street and PDG relied on an inaccurate soil survey, which resulted in deficient foundation designs that they knew were destined to fail. The
Armstrong
petition does not seek damages from Main Street
Lloyds was Main Street’s insurance carrier from September 1998 to September 2000, the period in which the Holiday and Armstrong causes of action arose. During this time, Main Street was covered by two identically worded comprehensive general liability insurance policies (the “policies”). 5 “Coverage A,” the applicable portion of the policies, insured Main Street for “bodily injury” and “property damage” and provided that Lloyds would defend Main Street from suits brought against it. 6 Upon learning of the Holiday and Armstrong petitions, Main • Street notified Lloyds, requesting that it provide a defense to the suits. Lloyds declined on the basis that the petitions failed to allege claims covered by the policies. Main Street then brought this suit.
Main Street moved for partial summary judgment on the grounds that the pleadings in the underlying petitions contained allegations of covered occurrences and allegations falling within the “products-completed operations hazard” clause of the policies.
7
Lloyds also moved for partial summаry judgment, asserting that the policies did not require it to defend because the facts alleged in the underlying pleadings do not allege an “occurrence,” and, in the alternative, that the policies’ “business risk” exclusions negated coverage for faulty workmanship, thereby failing to trigger a duty to defend. The district court rendered partial summary judgment, granting Main Street’s motion and denying Lloyds’. In the summary judgment, the district court found that Lloyds had a duty to defend Main Street, which it breached, and that Lloyds was obligatеd to reimburse Main Street for its defense costs. The parties then jointly moved to sever, requesting that these issues be made final and appealable. The district court grant
DISCUSSION
When both sides move for summary judgment and the trial court grants one motion and denies the other, the appealing party may appeal both the prevailing party’s motion as well as the denial of its own.
Holmes v. Morales,
To determine an insurer’s duty to defend, Texas courts follow the “eight сorners” rule.
See National Union Fire Ins. Co. v. Merchants Fast Motor Lines, Inc.,
A. Occurrence
The applicable portion of the policies is Section I, Coverage A, which states:
1. Insuring Agreement
a. We will pay those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of “bodily injury” or “property damage” to which this insurance applies. We will have the right and duty to defend any “suit” seeking those damages....
b. This insurance applies to “bodily injury” and “property damage” only if:
(1) The “bodily injury” or “property damage” is causеd by an “occurrence” that takes place in the “coverage territory”; and
(2) The “bodily injury” or “property damage” occurs during the policy period.
The policies define “occurrence” as “an accident, including continuous or repeated exposure to substantially the same general harmful conditions.” However, the policies do not define “accident.”
“Accident,” in the context of a general liability insurance policy, “include[s] negligent acts оf the insured causing damage which is undesigned and unexpected.”
Massachusetts Bonding & Ins. Co. v. Orkin Exterminating Co.,
Recently, the court again addressed “accident” in an insurance-coverage context and stated that,
an injury is accidental “if from the viewpoint of the insured [it is] not the natural and probable consequence of the action or occurrence which produced the injury; or in other words, if the injury could not reasonably be anticipated by the insured, or would not ordinarily follow from the action or occurrence which causеd the injury.”
Mid-Century Ins. Co. v. Lindsey,
Thus, if the tortfeasor’s acts are deemed intentionally harmful, there is no accident, therefore nо occurrence, no duty to defend, and no policy coverage. However, if intentionally performed acts are not intended to cause harm but do so because of negligent
performance,
a duty to defend arises.
See Federated Mut. Ins. Co. v. Grapevine Excavation, Inc.,
Simply put, Lloyds’ assertions are that the underlying petitions allege intentional conduct by Main Street, and thereby, because of the eight-corners rule, deprive Main Street of insurance coverage.
The
Holiday
petition alleges that both a construction superintendent and Main Street’s concrеte contractor informed Main Street, before construction of the Chimney Hills homes, that the foundation designs “were totally inappropriate” for the soil conditions. The construction superintendent had the soil tested, revealing a higher plasticity index
8
than the designs anticipated. The petition contends that despite
We need not determine whether the
Holiday
petition alleges an intentional tort as the petition’s allegations against Main Street include allegations of negligence.
See Grapevine Excavation,
The Armstrong petition alleges that PDG designed the Ashford Park foundations in accordance with a geotechnical investigation identifying the soil’s maximum plasticity index as 32. However, a post-construction investigation revealed a significantly higher plasticity index. Additionally, the Armstrong plaintiffs contend Main Street “was aware, prior to the construction of the foundations ... that the slabs as designed would be inadequate,” and that Main Street failed to disclose this to the homebuyers. This knowledge is undisputed, the assertions continue, because some Main Street foundations at Chimney Hills had failed, and Main Street had previously filed suits against PDG for “inadequate foundation designs.”
The Armstrong petition does not preclude coverage. The petition fails to allege facts that Main Street intentionally designed the foundations to fail. Conversely, the petition alleges that Main Street built the foundations at Ashford Park in reliance on a geotechnical survey of the area that Main Street received when it purchased the lots. Additionally, Main Street’s second survey, showing a higher plasticity index, was conducted after the homes had been built in reliance on the earlier report. These allegations do not preclude damages due to an “accident,” and therefore an “occurrence,” rather than a result of an intent to construct defective foundations.
When construed liberally in favor of the insured, 9 the entirety of the pleadings’ allegations, particularly those relating to Main Street’s potential liability for violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the Texas Residential Construction Liability Act, does not restrict the Armstrong plaintiffs’ to successfully prosecuting their suit only if they prove an intentional tort on Main Street’s part.
Lloyds directs this Court to
Hartrick v. Great American Lloyds Insurance Co.,
which held that a homebuilder’s failure to comply with its own implied warranties by not properly preparing the soil or constructing the foundation was intentional conduct, and therefore was not a covered “occurrence” under the insured’s policy.
Lloyds also relies on this Court’s opinion in
Devoe.
B. Business Risk Exclusions
Insurance policies are contracts, and their construction is governed by the same rules of construction applicable to all contracts. Bal
andran v. Safeco Ins. Co. of Am.,
A written contract that can be given a definite or certain legal meaning is not ambiguous.
National Union,
Without making specifiс arguments, Lloyds contends that “one or more of the policies’ ‘business risk’ exclusions are triggered by the allegations in the underlying lawsuit.” Generally, Lloyds contends that “there is no coverage for faulty workmanship or for a contractor’s failure to perform his contract.” Additionally, Lloyds argues that “the business risk exclusions are designed to protect insurers from a contractor’s attempt to recover funds to correct deficiencies caused by the contractor’s questionable performance” and specifically cites exclusions A.2.j.(5), (6),
1. Exclusion A.2.j.(5)
The policies contain numerous exclusions to property-damage liability, including section A.2.j.(5), which states:
2. Exclusions. This insurance does not apply to:
j. Damage to Property
“Property damage” to:
(5) That particular part of real property on which you or any contractors or subcontractors working directly or indirectly on your behalf are performing operations, if the “property damage” arises out of those operations ....
Main Street posits that this exclusion should not apply, bеcause Main Street is not presently “performing operations.” The underlying petitions allege that the homebuyers purchased the homes after Main Street completed construction. Giving the exclusion its plain meaning, the use of the present tense indicates that the exclusion applies to circumstances where the contractor or subcontractors are currently working on the project. Words such as “working,” “are,” “performing,” and “arising” are not used to extend the policy еxclusion to a home purchased after construction is complete.
In
Houston Building Service, Inc. v. American General Fire & Casualty Co.,
the court, interpreting a similarly worded exclusion, addressed the same argument as Lloyds asserts here.
2. Exclusion A.2.j.(6)
Lloyds also contends that business-risk exclusion A.2.j.(6) denies coverage for faulty workmanship. The exclusion states:
2. Exclusions. This insurance does not apply to:
j. Damage to Property
“Property damage” to:
(6) That particular part of any property that must be restored, repaired or replaced because “your work” was incorrectly performed on it.
Paragraph (6) of this exclusion does not apply to “property damage” included in the “products-completed operations hazаrd.”
Main Street argues that this exclusion “would be applicable but for the fact that the policy contains an exception to this exclusion,” the products-completed operations hazard. The products-completed operations hazard states the following:
“Products-completed operations hazard” includes all “bodily injury” and “property damage” occurring away from premises you own or rent and arising out of “your product” or “your work” 10 except:
(1) Products that are still in your physical possession; or
(2) Work that has not yet been completed or abandoned. 11
Main Street assеrts that the exception to exclusion A.2.j.(6) applies because the claims “involve: (1) property that was put to its intended use by the homeowners who purchased the homes, (2) property damage that occurred away from premises owned or rented by Main Street, and (3) [the claims] arise out of Main Street’s work.” The underlying petitions support Main Street’s contention, because Main Street and its subcontractors worked on and completed the homes, which Main Street later sold to the plaintiffs. For these reasons, Lloyds’ assertion that Main Street’s application of the products-completed operation hazard “fails to negate the application of exclusion A.2.j.(5)” is without merit. Main Street completed and sold the homes before the alleged damages; therefore, the products-completed operations hazard exception is not applicable to A.2.j.(5), which contains language that refers to ongoing оperations.
3. Exclusion A.2.k.
Lloyds also relies on Exclusion A.2.k. for the denial of a duty to defend. This provision excludes coverage for “ ‘[property damage’ to ‘your product’ arising out of it or any part of it.” Lloyds argues that Main Street’s homes are its “products,” and therefore it should preclude Lloyds’ duty to defend. The term “your product,” as stated in the policy includes “goods or products ... manufactured, sold, distributed, or disposed of....” The term also includes “Warranties or representations madе at any time with respect to the fitness, quality, durability, performance or use of ‘your product,’ ” as well as “providing or failing to provide warnings or instructions.”
Main Street responds that the definition of “your product” does not apply to a building and its components. In support of its argument, Main Street relies on
Mid-United
Contractors,
Inc. v. Providence Lloyds Insurance Co.,
which interpreted the term as “not applying] to the construction of [a] building because in ordinary language buildings are constructed or erected, not manufactured, and because any ambiguity in the policy language must be construed against the insurer and in favor of the insured.”
4. Exclusion A.2.1.
Finally, Lloyds argues that Exclusion A.2.1. applies to preclude its duty to defend Main Street against the underlying suits:
2. Exclusions. This insurance does not apply to:
1. Damage to Your Work
“Property damage” to:
“Property damage” to “your work” arising out of it or any part of it andincluded in the “products-completed operations hazard.”
However, the policy provides that the exclusion does not apply “if the damaged work or the work out of which the damage arises was pеrformed on your behalf by a subcontractor.” Both the Holiday and Armstrong petitions allege that the property damage was caused by the subcontractors who designed and constructed the foundations. Specifically, the Holiday petition alleges that: “Michael Alexander and PDG were hired by Main Street, Inc. to design foundations for the homes.... ” The Armstrong petition alleges that “Main Street contracted with two foundation engineering firms ... to design the foundations in the subdivision.” A plain reading of this exclusion in light of the underlying pleadings demonstrates that the subcontractor exception applies and the exclusion does not preclude Lloyd’s duty to defend.
CONCLUSION
We hold that the pleadings in each underlying suit allege an “occurrence” that would trigger Lloyds’ duty to defend under the policy, and that no “business risk” exclusions preclude this duty to defend. Accordingly, we overrule Lloyds’ issues and affirm the district court’s judgment.
Notes
. Main Street also sought monetary damages, attorney’s fees, and court costs.
. Holiday v. Main St. Homes, Inc., No. GN003243 (98th Dist. Ct., Travis County, Tex. Nov. 6, 2000).
. For convenience, we will rеfer to the two foundation engineering firms as PDG.
. Armstrong v. Main St., Ltd., No. GN003566 (98th Dist. Ct., Travis County, Tex. Dec. 13, 2000).
. The first policy, issued by Potomac to Main Street, was in effect from September 23, 1998, to September 23, 1999. CU Lloyd’s issued the second policy, which was effective from September 23, 1999, to September 23, 2000.
. The duty-to-defend language stated that the insurer would "pay those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of 'bodily injury’ or 'property damage’ to which this insurance applies” and that "[w]е will have the right and duty to defend any 'suit' seeking those damages,” and that "[w]e may at our discretion investigate any 'occurrence' and settle any claim or ‘suit’ that may result.”
. The policy includes a definitions section, which states in pertinent part:
"Products-completed operations hazard” includes all "bodily injury” and "property damage” occurring away from premises you own or rent and arising out of "your product” or "your work" except (1) Products that are still in your physical possessiоn; or (2) Work that has not yet been completed or abandoned.
"Your product” means: (a) Any goods or products, other than real property, manufactured, sold, handled, distributed or disposed of by: (1) You; (2) Others trading under your name; or (3) A person or organization whose business or assets you have acquired....
"Your work” means: (a) Work or operations performed by you or on your behalf; and (b) Materials, parts or equipment furnished in connection with such work or operations.
The definitions of "your product” and "your work” include:
(a) Warrantiеs or representations made at any time with respect to the fitness, quantity, durability, performance or use of ["your product” or "your work”]; and (b) The providing of or failing to provide warnings or instructions.
As used in the policies, "you” and "your” refers to Main Street.
. A soil’s “plasticity index” describes the range within which the soil, due to water content, moves or changes its shape, thus behaving “plastically.” A higher plasticity index indicates a soil more prone to shifting and flexing.
.
See National Union Fire Ins. Co. v. Merсhants Fast Motor Lines, Inc.,
. See footnote 7, supra, for definitions of "your product” and "your work.”
. The policy states that: " '[Main Street's] work’ will be deemed completed at the earliest of the following times: (1) When all of the work called for in your contract has been completed, (2) When all of the work to be done at the site has been completed if your contract calls for work at more than one site, (3) When that part of the work done at a job site has been put to its intended use by any person or organization other than another contractor or subcontractor working on the same project.”
