PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO, a Colorado corporation,
Plaintiff-Appellee/Cross-Appellant,
v.
CONTINENTAL CASUALTY COMPANY, d/b/a CNA Insurance,
Defendant-Appellant/Cross-Appellee.
Nos. 90-1320, 91-1201.
United States Court of Appeals,
Tenth Circuit.
June 3, 1994.
Timothy J. Flanagan of Kelly, Stansfield & O'Donnell (Daniel M. Fowler of Fowler, Schimberg & Cowman, and James R. McCotter of Public Service Co. of Colorado, Denver, CO, with him on the brief), for plaintiff-appellee/cross-appellant Public Service Co. of Colorado.
Susan Smith Fisher, P.C., Littleton, CO, for defendant-appellant/cross-appellee Continental Cas. Co. d/b/a CNA Ins.
Before SEYMOUR, Chief Judge, HOLLOWAY, Circuit Judge, and ROGERS,* District Judge.
HOLLOWAY, Circuit Judge.
Plaintiff-appellee Public Service Company of Colorado (PSC) brought this suit for declaratory relief and damages against defendant-appellant Continental Casualty Co., d/b/a CNA Insurance (CNA), seeking a declaratory judgment that an insurance policy issued by CNA to PSC covers the liability and expenses incurred by PSC in defending and settling a civil action entitled Waranch v. Public Service Company of Colorado, Civil Action No. 77-Z-491 (D.Colo.) (the Waranch action). CNA appeals the district court's entry of partial summary judgment in favor of PSC on the issues of coverage and damages. CNA also appeals the court's judgment, following a bench trial, finding CNA liable under its policy for most of the attorneys' fees and costs incurred by PSC in defending the Waranch action. PSC in turn cross-appeals the district court's denial of attorneys' fees and costs incurred in maintaining this action seeking a declaratory judgment and damages.
I.
A. The CNA Policy.
The insurance policy at issue is an Excess Third Party Liability Policy issued by CNA to PSC to provide excess coverage arising from third party bodily injury, property damage or workers compensation liability. The policy was attached as a "following form" to a Lloyd's of London renewal policy effective from December 31, 1973, to December 31, 1974. The Lloyd's renewal policy provided indemnity for 30% of $500,000 per covered loss, in excess of a $100,000 self-insured retention. The CNA excess policy insured the remaining 70% of any covered loss. Both policies contained the following insuring provisions:
1. To indemnify the Assured for any and all sums which they, the Assured, shall be legally liable to pay and shall pay as damages, direct or consequential, and/or expenses, as more fully defined by the term "ultimate net loss", on account of personal injuries and/or property damage caused by or growing out of each occurrence arising out of or due wholly or in part to the conduct of the Assured's business and/or act or omission of the Assured's agents and/or employees and/or contractors and/or subcontractors and/or public authorities when acting for the Assured.
(a) The term "occurrence" wherever used herein shall mean an accident or a happening or event or a continuous or repeated exposure to conditions which results in personal injury or property damage.
(b) The term "personal injuries" wherever used in this contract shall mean bodily injuries and/or disease and/or death including mental injury, mental anguish, shock, sickness, disability, false arrest, false imprisonment, wrongful eviction, detention, malicious prosecution, discrimination, humiliation; also libel, slander or defamation of character or invasion of rights of privacy, except that which arises out of any advertising activities.
Principal Brief of Appellant, App. 1 at 0022.
B. The Waranch Action.
The Waranch action against PSC was filed in May 1977. In their complaint, the plaintiffs (Mr. Waranch and his partner) alleged that during the policy period, PSC breached a contract with them by failing to provide natural gas service to a mobile home park they were then constructing, and that the failure to provide such service constituted common law discrimination and an unlawful statutory preference in violation of Colorado Revised Statutes Sec. 40-3-106 (1973). Plaintiffs sought compensatory damages, including lost profits of $3,000,000 and punitive damages of $2,000,000.
In July 1977 PSC's attorney, Mr. Bryans, notified Lloyd's of the suit by a letter. With regard to coverage, Mr. Bryans stated:
I expect there may be some argument over whether or not Public Service Company is covered under its excess policies in this action, but I did want to put you on notice in any event.
Principal Brief of Appellant, App. 1 at 0109.
In April 1980 the state trial judge granted partial summary judgment in favor of PSC on Waranch's contract claim. The judge also stayed the state court action, ordering the Waranch plaintiffs to exhaust their administrative remedies with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) first. The PUC concluded that PSC had discriminated against the Waranch plaintiffs and other mobile home park owners in furnishing gas service in 1974. Principal Brief of Appellant, App. 1 at 0081-0083. However, before issuance of PUC's order, the state district judge set a jury trial on the remaining issues of common law discrimination and unlawful statutory preference.
In May 1983 the jury returned a general verdict against PSC, awarding the Waranch plaintiffs $300,000 in compensatory damages and $150,000 in punitive damages. Shortly thereafter the parties settled the Waranch litigation for $328,000 paid by PSC.
C. The Coverage Dispute.
In a letter to CNA's counsel in July 1983, PSC's attorney, Mr. Flanagan, indicated that the $328,000 settlement represented the jury's compensatory award plus the Waranch plaintiffs' out-of-pocket expenses in the Waranch litigation, not including attorneys' fees. Principal Brief of Appellant, App. 1 at 0111-0113. Mr. Flanagan stated: "I will be discussing this matter with my client [PSC] and determine whether it wishes to pursue the coverage issue with you." Id.
In a letter to Lloyd's agent Mendes & Mount in September 1983, PSC requested reimbursement from Lloyd's and CNA of $382,583.77, the purported excess covered loss over PSC's $100,000 self-insured retention, including both the settlement and cost of defense in the Waranch action. Principal Brief of Appellant, App. 1 at 0092. On October 6, 1983, Mendes & Mount denied the claim in writing. Id. at 0114-0115.
D. The Insurance Coverage Litigation.
In August 1986 PSC filed this suit for a declaratory judgment and damages against Lloyd's and CNA, alleging breach of the insurance contract. PSC sought a determination that the policy covered the settlement of the Waranch litigation, plus PSC's litigation costs, including attorneys' fees associated therewith. Shortly thereafter PSC settled its claim against Lloyd's, leaving CNA as the sole defendant.
In October 1986 CNA sought discovery from PSC, including all documents relating to the Waranch action. CNA also served document requests on Kelly, Stansfield & O'Donnell, the law firm that had represented PSC in the Waranch action, demanding all documents relating to the Waranch action, including invoices, bills and other documents reflecting attorney time or fees incurred in connection with the litigation.
In January 1987 PSC filed a motion for summary judgment in the instant case, arguing that as a matter of law, coverage existed under the CNA policy for its Waranch settlement and litigation expenses and that no genuine issue of material fact existed as to the amount of insured loss, including attorneys' fees. In its response, CNA argued that (1) the Waranch action was not an "occurrence" within the meaning of the policy, (2) triable issues of fact existed concerning damages to which PSC was entitled under the policy, and (3) triable issues existed concerning CNA's defense of waiver of coverage. CNA also noted that it had outstanding discovery requests relevant to both coverage and damages and that discovery could establish additional issues of fact for trial.
The district court denied PSC's motion for summary judgment as to damages but granted it as to coverage, stating:
[T]he language of the ... policy appears to be sufficiently clear that the Court can conclude as a matter of law that it covers this incident. The policy says the following: "The term 'occurrence' wherever here used shall mean an accident or a happening or event or a continued or repeated exposure to conditions which results in personal injury or property damage."
Contrary to some of the cases which have been cited by Defendant [CNA] and argued by Defendant which talk about accident which have specific clauses which rule out intentional discrimination--I have seen such policies--this one does not. It says, "accident or happening or event," which is certainly pretty broad, "resulting in personal injury or property damage." And then in fact we do have another definitional term which talks about personal injury and which does say personal injury covers; and then it lists many things, including discrimination.
Principal Brief of Appellant, App. 2 at 0266.
Meanwhile CNA had noticed the depositions of two members of the Kelly, Stansfield & O'Donnell firm who had been involved in defending PSC in the Waranch action. PSC moved for protective orders shielding PSC from CNA's deposition notices. In response, CNA argued that the requested depositions might uncover evidence relevant to the coverage and damages issues raised by PSC in its pending motion for summary judgment and thus were integral to CNA's defense.
The discovery motions were heard by the magistrate and taken under advisement. However, the magistrate's ruling was not issued until after the August 1987 hearing on PSC's motion for summary judgment, which resulted in partial summary judgment for PSC on the coverage issue. In his ruling on the discovery issues, the magistrate limited CNA's discovery to items relating to damages, the only remaining issue following the partial summary judgment ruling on the coverage issue.
After further discovery on damages, PSC filed a second motion for summary judgment as to the damages, including attorneys' fees, incurred by it in connection with the Waranch litigation. The district court granted PSC's motion as to the $328,000 paid by PSC in the settlement of the Waranch litigation.1 The court also agreed with PSC that the CNA policy covered attorneys' fees incurred in defending the Waranch litigation, but concluded that summary judgment would be denied as to attorneys' fees and expenses relating to the PUC administrative proceedings. An evidentiary hearing was set on those matters for October 4, 1990. Id. at 0246.
The issue of reasonable attorneys' fees was tried to the district court in the October 1990 hearing. After reviewing the evidence and hearing the testimony of PSC's experts, the judge concluded that fees and expenses totaling $152,996.64 were reasonable. Adding this amount to the $328,000 already awarded to PSC, and deducting PSC's $100,000 retention and Lloyd's 30% share of coverage, the judge entered judgment for PSC in the amount of $459,477.17 (including prejudgment interest of 8% per annum from the date of demand in 1983). Id. at 0248-0251, 0253. The judge denied PSC's post-trial motion for attorneys' fees incurred by PSC in prosecuting the instant coverage suit against CNA. Appellee's Supp.App. 2 at 0163-0166.
II.
In its appeal, CNA makes four principal arguments. First, it claims that its insurance policy does not cover PSC's defense and settlement of the Waranch litigation. Second, CNA insists that the evidence before the district court on summary judgment created a triable issue of fact as to its defense of waiver of coverage. Third, CNA argues that the district court erred in granting partial summary judgment on the coverage issue before all outstanding discovery on that issue had been completed, including discovery pertaining to CNA's waiver defense. Finally, CNA contends the district court's award of attorneys' fees and expenses was unsupported by the evidence and should not have included legal expenses incurred in connection with the PUC proceedings because such expenses are not covered under the CNA policy. Part IV of this opinion will treat PSC's cross-appeal in which PSC claims the district court erred in refusing to award the fees and expenses incurred by PSC in the present coverage case.
A. The Coverage Issue Under the CNA Policy.
As noted, the CNA policy provides coverage for liability arising from an "occurrence," defined as "an accident or happening or event ... which results in personal injury or property damage." Principal Brief of Appellant, App. 1 at 0022. In the summary judgment ruling, the district court held that the insuring provisions provide coverage for the Waranch action against PSC as a matter of law, thus creating a duty on the part of CNA to pay the cost of PSC's defense in the Waranch action and to indemnify the company for the amount paid in settlement of it. The district court thus rejected CNA's claim that the language of the policy excludes coverage for intentional discrimination.
We review the district court's grant of summary judgment de novo, construing all facts and reasonable inferences in a light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Eaton v. Jarvis Prods. Corp.,
Citing Reed v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co.,
We are not persuaded by CNA's analysis or authorities on the coverage issue. The proper interpretation of the CNA policy is governed by Colorado contract and insurance law. Broderick Inv. Co. v. Hartford Acc. & Indemn. Co.,
In our view, CNA's interpretation of the relevant policy language conflicts with the applicable rules of construction. Nothing in the CNA policy limits its coverage to damages caused by unintentional or accidental conduct. On the contrary, in addition to providing indemnity for damage resulting from "accident[s]," the policy provides indemnity for liability caused by any "happening" or "event" not otherwise excluded. This policy thus differs from those in Reed, Hartford and St. Paul, relied on by CNA, because coverage is not limited to "accident[s]" or damages "neither expected nor intended" by the insured. Instead, the policy covers separately any non-excluded "happening or event." Without addressing the meaning of the term "happening," we conclude that the term "event" is reasonably susceptible to an interpretation that includes intentional conduct.
It is true, as CNA points out, that Black's Law Dictionary (6th ed. 1990) in one place indicates that an "event" is "[d]istinguished from an act in that an act is the product of the will whereas an event is an occurrence which takes place independent of the will such as an earthquake or flood." Id. at 555. While this isolated statement may seem to support an interpretation of the term "event" that excludes intentional conduct, a closer look at the relevant authorities shows variations and considerable ambiguity in the way the term has been used and understood.
In addition to the language quoted above, Black's Law Dictionary describes the term "event" as "[t]he consequence of anything; ... that in which an action ... terminates." Id. at 554-55 (emphasis added). The latter, more inclusive, definition comports better with definitions found elsewhere, including Webster's Third New International Dictionary 788 (1981) ("event" includes "something that happens," "ACTIVITY", and "the outcome or consequence of anything"), Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary 392 (1979) ("event" includes "something that happens", and "a social occasion or activity"), and The American Heritage Dictionary 635 (3d ed. 1992) ("event" includes "[s]omething that takes place", "[a] social gathering or activity", and "[t]he final result; the outcome").
We note further that the context in which the term "event" appears in the CNA policy indicates that the term was intended to encompass intentional conduct. "The context does not suggest that the term 'event' is synonymous with 'accident'--and therefore simply redundant--since it appears in a definition purporting to provide additional coverage." United Pacific Ins. Co. v. McGuire Co.,
In short, because the term "event" is reasonably susceptible to the interpretation advanced by PSC, that interpretation controls for purposes of determining potential coverage in this case. Hecla,
Finally, we note that CNA's position is undermined by insuring provision 1(b), quoted in Part I-A of this opinion. There, "personal injuries" are defined as including, inter alia, "false arrest, false imprisonment, wrongful eviction, detention, malicious prosecution, discrimination...." Defining personal injuries growing out of an "occurrence" as including false arrest, false imprisonment, and malicious prosecution is surely not consistent with CNA's position that an "occurrence" does not include intentional conduct. The Colorado courts have recognized that the latter three terms involve intentional acts.3 Thus while the conduct of Public Service here would appear to be deliberate discrimination and intentional conduct, we hold that it is within the broad coverage of CNA's policy.
On the coverage issue, CNA on appeal makes an additional brief contention. CNA argues that there is no coverage because "it has been held that a contract of insurance to indemnify a person for damages resulting from his own intentional wrong is void as against public policy, and that the courts will not construe a policy to provide such coverage. Industrial Sugars, Inc. v. Standard Accident Insurance Co.,
We decline to consider this additional argument made by the statement quoted above. Although PSC does not argue that CNA failed to make the public policy argument in the district court, we note that the record indicates no assertion of this theory there, either in CNA's summary judgment brief or at the summary judgment hearing. Moreover, no mention of such an argument was made in the district judge's order or remarks. "The failure to raise the issue with the trial court precludes review except for the most manifest error.... [Appellant] offers no reason why we should grant an exception to the general rule here, and, after reviewing the record, we believe no basis for an exception is present." Hicks v. Gates Rubber Co.,
In sum, we hold that the district court was correct in determining that CNA's policy afforded coverage and obliged CNA to defend and indemnify PSC in connection with the Waranch litigation.
B. The Claim of Waiver of Coverage by PSC.
In its opposition to PSC's motion for summary judgment, CNA presented evidence purportedly creating triable issues of fact as to waiver of coverage by PSC.5 CNA introduced a July 25, 1977, letter from PSC's attorney, Mr. Bryans, to Lloyd's agent Mendes & Mount, notifying the insurer of the Waranch action. In part the letter stated that "I expect there may be some argument over whether or not Public Service Company is covered under its excess policies in this action...." Principal Brief of Appellant, App. 1 at 0109. CNA also introduced a telephone notation written by counsel for CNA, Mr. Brandt, summarizing a conversation with counsel for PSC, Mr. Bryans, on May 20, 1980. The notation stated:
5/20/80 I called Dick Bryans--Case has been taken over by Jim Tarpey but he told me that they had filed another motion for summary judgment with the [court] and that the [court] finally denied all claims except for civil discrimination and that has been sent to the Public Utilities Commission for further attention. Mr. Bryans stated that was the only claim left and that was not covered under the policy so we would not be involved. He did not want to send me anything in writing because he did not want to put himself in a position of telling us we could close our file. He suggested that I check back with him in Sept. since case has not yet been disposed of. I don't feel HO [Home Office] will allow me to close yet. Will diary for Sept.
Id. at 0110 (emphasis in original). In addition, CNA introduced a July 13, 1983, letter to Lloyd's agent, Mendes & Mount, in which PSC's counsel, Mr. Flanagan, stated that "I will be discussing this matter with my client [PSC] and determine whether it wishes to pursue the coverage issue with you." Id. at 0111-0113.6 Finally, CNA contends that its waiver defense is supported by the fact that CNA did nothing to pursue its claim between an October 6, 1983, letter from Lloyd's to PSC's Claims Director--stating that "[a]fter further study and reflection [PSC] might consider withdrawal of this claim," id. at 0115,7--and the spring of 1986. Principal Brief of Appellant at 22.
We feel that the district judge properly held that the evidence introduced by CNA failed to create a triable issue of fact as to waiver of insurance coverage by PSC. CNA had the burden of proof on the waiver issue. See Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. v. Louisiana Land and Exploration Co.,
The evidence of CNA on the waiver issue would not support a finding that PSC voluntarily abandoned a known right to coverage with the intent that such right be surrendered. At best, the evidence shows that PSC recognized that coverage was questionable and a potential subject of disagreement, and that PSC delayed for some time the assertion of its claim.9 However, the mere statement that there may be argument over coverage does not, without more, estop an insured from asserting coverage. See Dryden v. Ocean Accident & Guarantee Corp., Ltd.,
In short, CNA's waiver defense, on which CNA bore the burden of proof, was supported at best by a "scintilla of evidence" insufficient for a fair-minded jury to reasonably find for CNA on the waiver issue. Anderson,
C. CNA's Claim of Error in the Judge's Not Compelling
Discovery Before Entry of Summary Judgment on Coverage.
CNA contends that the district court should not have ruled on PSC's motion for summary judgment before allowing CNA to conduct additional discovery relating to coverage, including its affirmative defenses, and damages. CNA says that by entering summary judgment on coverage before granting relief on its motions for protective orders and its motion to compel discovery, the district court failed to exercise its discretion and unfairly prejudiced CNA. CNA relies principally on Garrett v. City and County of San Francisco,
In Garrett the Ninth Circuit reversed a summary judgment where the trial judge had granted judgment without first determining the merits of plaintiff Garrett's pending discovery motion. The Ninth Circuit held that Garrett's pending discovery motion satisfied the Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(f) requirement of an affidavit. The rule provides that where it appears from affidavits of a party opposing a summary judgment motion that the party cannot "for reasons stated[,] present by affidavit facts essential to justify the party's opposition," the court may refuse the application for summary judgment or order a continuance to permit affidavits to be obtained, or depositions to be taken, or discovery to be had, or may make such other order as is just. The Garrett opinion held the discovery motion, already pending there, satisfied Rule 56(f) by making clear the information sought--personnel records of named persons to show disparate treatment.
We are satisfied that the showing made here by CNA is clearly different from that made in Garrett where the specific need for designated records was shown by the pending discovery motion. Here, CNA filed no Rule 56(f) affidavit below. Moreover, the portions of the record relied on by CNA relating to the waiver defense make no showing of specific evidence expected to be obtained by CNA. We have examined CNA's Combined Response to PSC's motions for protective orders respecting depositions and documents, and CNA's Motion to Compel Discovery, Principal Brief of Appellant, App. 1 at 0144-0156, and the transcript of the hearing on the motion for summary judgment where CNA's arguments on discovery were reiterated. Principal Brief of Appellant, App. 2 at 0255-0269. CNA did not develop in its pleadings or argument a showing of reasons sufficient to defeat the entry of summary judgment on coverage.
We have observed that "[t]here is no requirement in Rule 56, Fed.R.Civ.P., that summary judgment not be entered until discovery is complete." Weir v. Anaconda Co.,
[a]lthough the Supreme Court has held that, under Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(f), "summary judgment [should] be refused where the nonmoving party has not had the opportunity to discover information that is essential to his opposition," Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.,
Id. at 1376. We are not persuaded that CNA made such a showing of inability to oppose the summary judgment motion on coverage without discovery sought.
We note that CNA based a major part of its objection to the entry of summary judgment on the need for discovery pertaining to the billings by counsel for PSC. Those billings were relied on by PSC as the basis of its claim for reimbursement for fees and costs, and thus were at the heart of the damages issue. However, the trial judge did not enter a summary judgment ruling on damages; instead, as CNA's brief notes, further discovery on damages was in fact allowed after the summary judgment ruling. Principal Brief of Appellant at 24 n. 7. Moreover, while CNA also complains of the denial of discovery which it says was relevant to CNA's affirmative defense of waiver, Principal Brief of Appellant at 23, CNA indicates no specific type of evidence that would have been probative of waiver of coverage under the standard for proof of such waiver.
In sum, we are persuaded that no reversible error has been demonstrated by CNA with respect to the entry of summary judgment on coverage before additional discovery was allowed.
III.
The Award of Attorneys' Fees and Costs Incurred by PSC in
the Waranch Suit and the Colorado PUC proceeding.
Following a bench trial on damages, the district judge awarded PSC final judgment for $459,477.17 with interest from entry of judgment at 7.78% per annum. This included 70% of the Waranch settlement plus 70% of most of the attorneys' fees and costs incurred by PSC in the defense of the Waranch case and the proceedings before the Colorado PUC, less PSC's $100,000 self-insured retention. CNA argues that the award was in error because (1) PSC was not entitled to reimbursement of any fees or costs incurred in the PUC proceedings; and (2) PSC failed to meet its burden of proving the reasonableness of its attorneys' fees and costs in the Waranch suit and the proceedings before the Colorado PUC.
A. Recoverability of Attorneys' Fees and Costs in the
Colorado PUC Proceedings.
CNA argues that because the Colorado PUC proceedings were administrative and could not result in a determination of liability (Principal Brief of Appellant, App. 1 at 0073-74), attorneys' fees and costs incurred by PSC therein are not covered by CNA's policy, citing Reisner v. Vigilant Ins. Co.,
We are in agreement with the ruling of the trial judge. Unlike the malpractice policy in Reisner, the CNA policy at issue here does not limit coverage to "suit[s] ... alleging liability." Instead, the policy obligates CNA to indemnify PSC for "expenses ... on account of personal injuries and/or property damage caused by or growing out of each occurrence." Principal Brief of Appellant, App. 1 at 0022. Covered expenses include "all sums paid as salaries, wages, compensation, fees, charges and law costs, ... expenses for ... lawyers ... and other persons, and for litigation, settlement, adjustment and investigation of claims and suits which are paid as a consequence of any occurrence covered hereunder." Id. at 0024.
We are persuaded that PSC's attorneys' fees and costs in the Colorado PUC proceedings constituted "expenses," as the term is broadly defined in the CNA policy, arising out of a covered occurrence. The PUC proceedings were instituted by the parties (the Waranch plaintiffs and PSC) as required by the federal district judge handling the Waranch case. At the time she granted summary judgment for PSC on the contract claim, she also stayed the balance of the action pending factual determinations by the Colorado PUC and exhaustion of administrative remedies there. Appellee's Supp.App. 1 at 00063-66. Those PUC proceedings thus necessarily arose out of and were necessitated by the circumstances giving rise to the Waranch action. The resulting attorneys' fees and costs incurred by PSC in the administrative proceedings therefore resulted from a covered occurrence under the CNA policy and are proper for indemnification thereunder.
B. The Reasonableness of PSC's Attorneys' Fees and Costs in
the Waranch Litigation.
The right to recover attorneys' fees is substantive and therefore determined by state law in diversity cases. King Resources Co. v. Phoenix Resources Co., (In re King Resources Co.),
In federal proceedings, the "district courts [should] articulate specific reasons for fee awards to give us an adequate basis for review." Ramos v. Lamm,
The trial judge's findings and conclusions on fees and costs found the hourly rates for attorneys who worked on the Waranch case were reasonable, and that their reasonableness was not contested. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law at 2. The judge found that PSC's witnesses, Lyons and Flanagan, who testified on such fees, were credible. Id. Three small deductions were made by the judge ($815.00 billed on defense of the Waranch case; $195.00 billed for an attorney to hear the closing argument; and $212.50 for a 1981 overcharge). Id. The judge found that 1,575 hours were reasonably spent on the Waranch case defense. Principal Brief of Appellant, App. 2 at 0249-50. This is the matter in controversy on appeal as the rates for the attorneys are not challenged here.
Applying a lodestar approach, the judge concluded that $121,684.25 of the adjusted fees were reasonable; he also said this was confirmed by the totality of the circumstances test and application of the A.B.A.Code of Professional Responsibility. He applied a PSC formula for calculating total damages and arrived at a final judgment on damages of $459,477.17.
In its brief, CNA points to various legal charges for which no specific task description appears in billing statements introduced to the court below. Principal Brief of Appellant at 31-32. While the absence of specific task descriptions may preclude an award of fees in cases arising under a federal fee-shifting statute (e.g., Ramos v. Lamm,
Accordingly, despite the apparent absence of detailed task descriptions relating to some of the time billed by counsel to PSC in the Waranch action, the district court did not err in ordering CNA to indemnify the expenditures for these legal services. PSC introduced testimony indicating that the hours billed did in fact reflect actual Waranch-related work, albeit unspecified, and the district judge found Mr. Flanagan, who testified on these matters, to be credible. Principal Brief of Appellant, App. 2 at 0279-95; id. at 0249-50.
CNA also contends the district court erred in awarding certain fees for which PSC purportedly never paid its Waranch counsel, and other fees which allegedly did not relate to the Waranch litigation at all. Principal Brief of Appellant at 33. Regardless of the merits of these claims, we decline to address them to the extent they were not raised below. We do not feel that the trial judge was obligated to comb the evidence before him--consisting of voluminous attorney billing records--to ferret out gaps or inconsistencies in the evidence presented on the fees. Instead, if PSC believed the evidence was somehow deficient, it should have brought the matter to the court's attention.
In sum, we are not persuaded that CNA has demonstrated that the findings of fact were clearly erroneous as to the fee award made for the Waranch litigation, including the Colorado PUC proceedings. With one minor modification we make,12 we accordingly uphold the fee award.
IV.
PSC's Request for Fees and Costs Incurred in this Action.
In its cross-appeal, PSC contends that the trial judge erred in denying PSC's motion for attorneys' fees and costs in the instant coverage litigation.13 PSC distills its cross-appeal arguments by saying that it seeks reimbursement of its coverage litigation expenses in three ways, any one of which supports its right to recover such fees and expenses. The three asserted grounds for recovery are: (1) a "simple and straightforward application of the Lloyd's of London policy"; (2) recovery of consequential damages flowing from the breach of the insuring agreement; and (3) equitable considerations. Reply Brief on Cross-Appeal of Public Service Company of Colorado at 2.
The trial judge denied PSC's motion for fees and costs expended in maintaining this suit for declaratory relief and for damages by an Order of May 1, 1991. Appellee's Supp.App. II at 000163. The judge noted that both sides assumed Colorado law applied and he abided by that assumption. The judge held that Colorado law generally permits such recovery of fees and costs only if an agreement or statute authorizes recovery, citing Bunnett v. Smallwood,
the sums for which the Assured actually became liable for personal injury and property damage claims, including consequential damages, ... and shall also include ... all sums paid as salaries, wages, compensation, fees, doctors, lawyers, nurses, investigators and other persons, and for litigation, settlement, adjustment and investigators and settlement, adjustment and investigation of claims and suits which are paid as a consequence of any occurrence covered hereunder, excluding only the salaries of the Assured's permanent employees.
Appellee's Supp.App. II at 000165. The judge concluded that the fees were not recoverable because PSC's having to sue to enforce its rights under the policy was not a consequence of the "occurrence" of discrimination. Id. The judge further concluded that although the policy clearly intends coverage for attorneys' fees arising out of the underlying Waranch litigation, there is no such clear intention concerning fees arising out of the instant breach of contract action. Id. Finally, the judge said PSC's argument for recovery of the fees on the basis of policy considerations does not justify such an award here, citing Rhodes and Bunnett. Id.
We agree with the ruling of the trial judge. Colorado has for some time followed the American rule that in the absence of a contractual or statutory basis therefor, attorneys' fees and litigation expenses are generally not recoverable as an item of damages in a contract or tort action. Beebe v. Pierce,
There is some uncertainty arising from Hedgecock v. Stewart Title Guaranty Co.,
We disagree. In Allstate the court based its ruling for recovery of the fees sought on the policy language. The policy provided that the insurance company would reimburse the insured for all reasonable expenses "incurred at the company's request." The filing of Allstate's declaratory judgment suit was held to constitute such a "request" and thus the insured's expenses in that suit were recoverable.
More recently, the Colorado Court of Appeals in Rhodes v. Copic Ins. Co., supra, denied recovery of an insured plaintiff's fees incurred in prosecuting a declaratory judgment suit. That suit sought both declaratory relief that coverage applied and an award of attorney's fees incurred in maintaining the declaratory judgment action. The court followed the "American rule" in conformity with Bunnett and Beebe. Rhodes distinguished the Allstate v. Robins case because it "rested upon specific language contained in the insurance contract and the ruling stands only for the proposition that attorney fees may be recovered as provided under the terms of a contract."
We feel that in the circumstances before us, Hedgecock does not apply. There is no contract language here supporting an award of the fees in PSC's suit for declaratory relief and damages. Moreover, we note that in Rhodes the suit was for a declaratory judgment and for the fees in defending the malpractice case in prosecuting the declaratory judgment action. The Colorado court said the "Plaintiff's action for declaratory judgment is a statutory rather than an equitable action."
Lastly PSC argues that equitable considerations support an award of the litigation expenses of PSC in this action. PSC complains of CNA's conduct as delaying the litigation and relies on the court's sanction powers, citing Chambers v. NASCO, Inc.,
V.
In No. 90-1320, the summary judgment for PSC on coverage and the judgment on damages, as modified, see supra note 12, are AFFIRMED. In No. 91-1201, the denial of the expenses and fees incurred by PSC in maintaining the instant case is AFFIRMED.
Notes
The Honorable Richard D. Rogers, Senior United States District Judge of the District of Kansas, sitting by designation
While there was a question raised below about the reasonableness of the settlement cost of $328,000, Principal Brief of Appellant, App. 2 at 0245, on appeal CNA does not raise an issue as to the amount paid in the settlement, although it does dispute the recoverability under the CNA policy of the settlement payment as a whole
See Appellee's Supp.App., Vol. I at 91 (instructing jury that it may award a reasonable sum of punitive damages if it finds that PSC's conduct was "willful", i.e. "voluntar[y] and intentional[ ]")
"[T]o confine one intentionally without lawful privilege and against one's consent within a limited area for any appreciable time, however short, constitutes the tort of false imprisonment." Blackman for Blackman v. Rifkin,
Similar attempts to erect new coverage barriers for the first time on appeal have been rejected, e.g., Ohio Cas. Ins. Co. v. Bazzi Const. Co., Inc.,
Waiver was one of CNA's affirmative defenses
In response to the foregoing letter, Mr. McCullen of Mendes & Mount wrote back on October 6, 1983, requesting that PSC withdraw its claim because Lloyd's and CNA had never been requested to authorize the involvement of excess funds in the Waranch settlement. Id. at 0092
This October 6, 1983, letter from Lloyd's to PSC's Claims Director responded to a September 15, 1983, letter from the PSC Claims Director and attachments to it. That letter said in part that "the amount due as reimbursement to Public Service Company is $382,583.73," and "Thank you for your cooperation in the expedition of the reimbursement amount noted above." Principal Brief of Appellant, App. 1 at 0092. The attachments listed total expenditures by PSC on the Waranch case of $482,583.73, and then noted that less "Retention" (the self-insured portion), the total due PSC was $382,583.73. Id. at 0094
"The burden of defendant [insurer] was to show that it had a ground of defense fairly arguable and of a substantial character." Robson v. American Casualty Co.,
The remark quoted above from the July 25, 1977, letter from PSC's attorney to Lloyd's agent saying, in part, that some argument over coverage was expected, could not, in context, support an inference of waiver. The first paragraph of the letter stated that the summons and complaint in the Waranch case were enclosed, thus giving notice of the suit to the insurer. The last paragraph of the letter also said that Mr. Bryans (the writer of the letter and counsel for PSC) was "enclosing a copy of our Answer for your information." Principal Brief of Appellant, App. 1 at 0109
Some courts have reached contrary results concerning coverage of administrative proceedings based on the word "suit." See, e.g., A.Y. McDonald Industries, Inc. v. Ins. Co. of North America,
However, because this case involves an award of attorneys' fees to enforce a contractual obligation, the intense scrutiny required in fee awards under the federal Civil Rights Act provisions does not apply. See United States v. Western States Mechanical Contractors,
We feel the record does not support the court's award of one hour billed to the Waranch case by Mr. Bryans on August 23, 1977 (Principal Brief of Appellant, App. 3 at 0392) and 1/4 hour billed by Mr. Bryans on February 6, 1981 (id. at 0574, 0590). Neither time entry was shown to have any connection with the Waranch case. Principal Brief of Appellant, App. 2 at 0296-0298. Accordingly, the district court's damage award in favor of PSC will be reduced by $70.00, including $50.00 for Mr. Bryans' time and $20.00 for Mr. Tarpey's time. As so modified, the damage award will be affirmed
PSC brought this action by filing its "Complaint For Declaratory Relief And Compensatory Damages." Principal Brief of Appellant, App. 1 at 0001-04. After the complaint's "General Allegations," asserting diversity and jurisdictional amount and claiming jurisdiction under the 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1332 diversity provisions and under the Federal Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2201, the complaint averred its "First Claim For Relief (Declaratory Judgment)," alleging that a controversy exists within the contemplation of Fed.R.Civ.P. 57 and 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2201. Then the "Second Claim For Relief (Breach of Contract)" was averred, demanding judgment for "at least $462,060.38."
PSC also relies on an unpublished order in Broderick Investment Co. v. Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co.,
The Broderick case is distinguishable as to the policy language because the CNA policy here contained no such provision. Moreover the policy argument articulated in Broderick has not been adopted by the Colorado Supreme Court. See Bunnett v. Smallwood,