(ASIC)) and will reverse the judgment and remand for further proceedings.
I.
MOTIONS IN THE CROSS-APPEALS
A. Lack of Record References in the Briefs
Without full and complete record references in the parties' briefs, we have no
independent obligation to search the record either to determine what happened in the trial
court, to determine the accuracy of what the parties say happened, or to search for
evidence. (Schmidlin v. City of Palo Alto (2007) 157 Cal.App.4th 728, 738.) To the
contrary, the party submitting a brief has the duty to support all arguments by appropriate
record references to the underlying evidence and procedure related to each argument.1
(Duarte v. Chino Community Hospital (1999) 72 Cal.App.4th 849, 856; Cal. Rules of
Court, rule 8.204(a)(1)(C).) Where a brief does not comply with this requirement, we
1 For an accurate record reference to an assertion of fact, a party must cite to evidence, not merely to the same unsupported statement contained in the party's points and authorities in the trial court. Likewise, a citation to a separate statement is not a citation to evidence. (See Stockinger v. Feather River Community College (2003) 111 Cal.App.4th 1014, 1024-1025.)
2
have the option of either striking (Chan v. Lund (2010) 188 Cal.App.4th 1159, 1171, fn.
15) or "at a minimum" disregarding (Liberty National Enterprises, L.P. (2011) 194
Cal.App.4th 839, 846 (Liberty)) the unsupported assertions.
Having failed to provide complete record references, both McMillin and ASIC
violated rule 8.204(a)(1)(C) of the California Rules of Court. Pursuant to this rule and
Liberty, supra, 194 Cal.App.4th at page 846, we have disregarded representations of
important facts or underlying procedure in all briefs that have not been supported by
accurate record references.
McMillin filed two motions to strike or disregard specifically identified portions
of ASIC's two briefs based on ASIC's arguable noncompliance with California Rules of
Court, rule 8.204(a)(1)(C). ASIC filed oppositions that do not overcome most of
McMillin's objections.2 ASIC filed a motion to strike McMillin's December 2, 2014
letter brief for arguable noncompliance with rule 8.204(a)(1)(C). McMillin filed an
opposition.3 Given our ruling in the immediately preceding paragraph regarding lack of
record references, we deny all relief requested under rule 8.204(a)(1)(C) on the ground
those portions of the parties' motions are moot.
2 We have not considered, and thus deny, ASIC's request for judicial notice in its opposition filed July 10, 2014, on the basis it was not presented in a separate motion, as required by rule 8.809(a) of the California Rules of Court.
3 In the opposition, McMillin "move[s] and request[s]" that we "amend the case caption" to add certain parties. To the extent McMillin considers its request a motion, we deny it on procedural grounds for failing to comply with rule 8.54(a) of the California Rules of Court. For the reasons stated at footnote 4, post, we deny the request on substantive grounds.
3
B. ASIC's Cross-appellant's Reply Brief
In its second motion, McMillin also asks that we strike or disregard specifically
identified portions of ASIC's cross-appellant's reply brief on grounds other than
California Rules of Court, rule 8.204(a)(1)(C). Again, ASIC's opposition does not
overcome most of McMillin's objections. Thus, we grant the motion in part, disregarding
the statements identified at parts VIII.A. ("ongoing operations" under the first policy),
VIII.B. (other litigation between the parties) and VIII.D. (eight McMillin-related entities
as "additional insureds" under the relevant subcontract) of the motion and deny the
motion as to part VIII.C. (relating to the word "fabricate").
II.
ISSUES IN THE CROSS-APPEALS
A. The Entities
McMillin was the general contractor and B&B Framing, Inc. (B&B) was the
framing subcontractor in a series of construction contracts related to various residential
real estate development projects in Temecula, Riverside County, California.
ASIC is a non-admitted insurance company that issued two policies of commercial
general liability insurance to B&B: policy No. XGI 02-2922-001, covering the time
period January 18, 2002, to January 18, 2003; and policy No. XGI 03-2922-002, covering
the time period January 18, 2003, to January 18, 2004. Although both policies are
alleged in the original and first three amended complaints in this action, the parties agree
that only the first policy, No. XGI 2-2922-001 (Policy) is at issue.
4
B. The Construction Defect Litigation
In October 2007, 117 homeowners in the Brookhaven, Castle Pines and Cypress
Point projects (projects) filed an amended complaint in Riverside County Superior Court
against McMillin and others, alleging construction defect claims related to the
homeowners' residences in the projects (Baker litigation).
In December 2007, McMillin (and a number of its related entities named as
defendants in the Baker litigation) tendered the defense of the Baker litigation to ASIC
under the terms of both of the policies, contending it was an additional insured under the
policies. Approximately six months later, ASIC denied the tender.
C. The Present Insurance Coverage Litigation
1. The Complaint and Amended Complaints
In February 2009, eight McMillin-related entities (but not McMillin) filed the
underlying complaint against ASIC and 11 other insurance companies. The plaintiffs
alleged that each of the defendants was an insurer to one or more of the subcontractors on
the projects, that each of the plaintiffs was an additional insured under each of the
respective policies, that each of the defendant insurers owed each of the plaintiffs a duty
to defend the Baker litigation, and that by denying the tender of the defense of the Baker
litigation each of the defendants breached a contract of insurance and its implied
covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
In a first amended complaint filed in July 2010, McMillin and nine related entities
named the same defendants as in the original complaint and alleged essentially the same
facts and causes of action.
5
Two months later, in a second amended complaint (SAC), McMillin and two
related entities (SAC plaintiffs) named the same defendants as in the first two complaints
and alleged essentially the same facts and causes of action.
In November 2011 McMillin, as the sole plaintiff, filed a third amended complaint
(TAC) against ASIC, as the sole defendant, alleging essentially the same facts and causes
of action as in the prior three complaints.4 This was after the denial of ASIC's motion
4 Over the course of the litigation, there have been at least 12 named plaintiffs in various combinations in the original and three amended complaints. The judgment identifies three plaintiff insureds, referring to their "amended complaint"; and McMillan's notice of appeal and most of both sides' appellate briefing refer to the plaintiffs/appellants in the plural, identifying them differently in different documents. However, the TAC — i.e., the operative complaint when the court granted the dispositive motions and when the court entered judgment — identifies the only plaintiff as "McMillin Construction Services, L.P. dba McMillin Homes a Corky McMillin Company." This is the entity defined as "McMillin" in the opening paragraph of this opinion, ante. We asked the parties for Government Code section 68081 supplemental briefing in order to determine for purposes of appellate jurisdiction which of the allegedly insured entities is "aggrieved" by the judgment and thus has standing to appeal. (Code Civ. Proc., § 902.) ASIC responded, identifying only McMillin. McMillin responded, identifying: "McMillin Construction Services, L.P., by way of its real party in interest, McMillin Homes Construction, Inc., and McMillin Companies, LLC." In order to explain the identified entities, McMillin's response included three paragraphs describing various companies' corporate relationship with each other — including conversions, mergers and stock ownership. This description was unaccompanied by any record references or evidence. "The amended complaint furnishes the sole basis for the cause of action, and the [prior] complaint ceases to have any effect either as a pleading or as a basis for judgment." (State Comp. Ins. Fund v. Superior Court (2010) 184 Cal.App.4th 1124, 1131.) An entity that was a party but ceased to be a party prior to entry of judgment ordinarily has no appellate standing. (Bates v. John Deere Co. (1983) 148 Cal.App.3d 40, 53 [plaintiff-in-intervention that voluntarily dismissed complaint on eve of trial not an "aggrieved" party for purposes of appellate standing].) Accordingly, we hereby dismiss all appellants other than McMillin Construction Services, L.P., dba McMillin Homes, a Corky McMillin Company, the sole plaintiff in the TAC. We express no opinion as to the effect of this dismissal on the underlying 6
for summary judgment, the settlements with all defendants except ASIC, and the filing of
the parties' pretrial motions in limine, but before the rulings on the in limine motions —
all discussed post.
2. ASIC's Motion for Summary Judgment
In January 2011, ASIC filed a motion for summary judgment directed to the then-
operative SAC. ASIC argued that all three causes of action — declaratory relief, breach
of contract and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing — failed as
a matter of law on the following independent grounds: (1) none of the SAC plaintiffs
qualified as an "additional insured" under the terms of the Policy; (2) the Policy only
covered B&B's "ongoing operations," which ASIC contended had ceased prior to the
occurrences alleged in the Baker litigation; (3) the Policy only covered liability arising
out of B&B's negligence; (4) the Policy's exclusion j.(5) precluded coverage; and (5) the
Policy's exclusion j.(6) precluded coverage.5 We will discuss the substance of the
specific arguments, as necessary, in the Discussion, post.
The SAC plaintiffs opposed the motion, ASIC replied to the opposition, and the
court issued a tentative ruling and entertained lengthy oral argument.
judgment or orders preceding it, other than to note that once this opinion becomes final, the judgment will be reversed.
5 The motion was also directed to the SAC's claims under ASIC's second policy, No. XGI 03-2922-002. In their opposition to the motion, the SAC plaintiffs agreed that ASIC's second policy did not provide a potential for coverage of the claims in the Baker litigation. Accordingly, there is no need for ASIC to have argued in its cross-appeal — and, indeed, we have not considered — whether any of the SAC plaintiffs was entitled to insurance benefits under the second policy.
7
By minute order filed July 29, 2011, the court denied ASIC's motion, ruling in
relevant part: (1) ASIC met its initial burden of establishing that there is not an
"additional insured endorsement" on the Policy expressly identifying any of the SAC
plaintiffs; (2) the SAC plaintiffs then did not meet their burden of raising a triable issue
of material fact as to the absence of an effective "additional insured endorsement"
identifying any of the SAC plaintiffs; but (3) the applicable " 'blanket' additional insured
endorsement" contained in the Policy provided benefits in circumstances that ASIC did
not disprove as a matter of law.
3. The Settlements
During the time period May 2010 through October 2011, the SAC plaintiffs settled
their claims in the coverage action with all the defendants except ASIC (Settlement). Of
the total $690,154 in Settlement proceeds, the Settlement documentation affirmatively
allocated $274,154 to defense expenses from the Baker litigation, and $416,000 was
unallocated.6
6 For all dollar amounts in this opinion, we have used whole numbers, usually rounding off to the nearest dollar. Importantly, however, because we will be reversing the judgment and remanding the matter for further proceedings, our recitation of the dollar amounts merely reflects what the parties have represented the amounts to be — at times without satisfactory record references or explanations of calculations. We have not verified the calculations, and on remand neither the parties nor the court should accept our recitation as findings or an affirmance of findings; i.e., on remand, the parties must prove the dollar amounts to the satisfaction of the trier of fact without relying on the amounts recited in this opinion.
8
4. The Motions in Limine
In October 2011, in anticipation of trial, the parties filed motions in limine. One
dealt with ASIC's alleged duty to defend, and two dealt with the effect of the Settlement
proceeds on the SAC plaintiffs' alleged damages.
With regard to the duty to defend, the SAC plaintiffs filed a motion to exclude
testimony and argument disputing that ASIC had a duty to defend the Baker litigation.
With regard to the Settlement proceeds, the SAC plaintiffs filed a motion to exclude
evidence or argument about the Settlement (or any of its details); and ASIC filed a
motion to preclude McMillin from arguing either (a) that the Settlement proceeds are not
offsets to McMillin's alleged damages for breach of the duty to defend (breach of contract
claim) or (b) that the Settlement proceeds are allocated to McMillin's alleged damages
for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing (tort claim). By the time
the motions were fully briefed and decided, the operative complaint was the TAC filed by
McMillin. Since McMillin was the only plaintiff at the time the court ruled on the
motions, we will refer only to McMillin unless context requires otherwise.
a. Duty to Defend
Relying on Horace Mann Ins. Co. v. Barbara B. (1993) 4 Cal.4th 1076, 1078
(Horace Mann), and Montrose Chemical Corp. v. Superior Court (1993) 6 Cal.4th 287,
301 (Montrose), McMillin argued that the denial of ASIC's motion for summary
judgment established as a matter of law that ASIC had a duty to defend them in the Baker
litigation. Opposing the motion, ASIC disputed the legal effect of the denial of its
summary judgment motion, contending that because the court did not deny the motion by
9
expressly finding a disputed factual issue, the effect of the ruling did not establish the
duty to defend as a matter of law.
In denying summary judgment, the court (Judge Nevitt) had ruled that, with regard
to four allegedly undisputed issues, "ASIC has not met its initial burden of proof."
During the in limine proceedings, ASIC argued that the court (Judge Alksne) could not
consider the denial of the summary judgment, relying in part on Judge Nevitt's following
comments at the conclusion of the hearing in which he denied ASIC's motion:
"However, I remind counsel that this ruling is of no evidentiary value later. I don't know what other evidence may be presented to the Court when these issues are next presented. Whether foundations may have been laid for things, not laid here, and so forth. And so should this issue come before the Court again under different circumstances and with potentially different evidence, you should not necessarily count on the same result."
Considering both Judge Nevitt's comment and the written order, Judge Alksne
explained at the in limine hearing that ASIC's failure to meet its initial burden in its
summary judgment motion was a decision that there was a disputed issue of material fact
as to coverage, and that such a disputed issue established the duty to defend. The court's
minute order granted the motion to exclude testimony and argument disputing that ASIC
had a duty to defend the Baker litigation.
10
b. Offset7
Both motions sought pretrial rulings as to whether the court would allow evidence
of the Settlement and, more specifically, whether the parties could present evidence or
argument as to the application of the Settlement proceeds as an offset to the alleged
damages.8 McMillin's alleged damages were limited to: contract damages for breach of
ASIC's duty to defend (consisting of McMillin's unreimbursed defense expenses from the
Baker litigation (Baker fees)9); and tort damages for breach of the implied covenant of
good faith and fair dealing (consisting of McMillin's attorney fees and costs incurred to
compel payment from ASIC of insurance benefits under the Policy (Brandt fees)10).
7 We will use the word "offset," although we do not differentiate between the words "offset" and "setoff" in the various authorities cited. (See Dillingham Construction, N.A., Inc. v. Nadel Partnership, Inc. (1998) 64 Cal.App.4th 264, 278.)
8 There were at least three rounds of briefing and two oral argument hearings. The parties' arguments developed as the briefing continued.
9 McMillin contends its Baker fees are $334,620, whereas ASIC suggests the Baker fees are limited to those incurred after tender of the defense of the Baker litigation — $309,957. This is not an issue in the appeal, and we express no opinion. For purposes of this opinion only (see fn. 6, ante), we will assume McMillin is alleging its contract damages — namely, the amount of Baker fees — to be $309,957.
10 In Brandt v. Superior Court (1985) 37 Cal.3d 813 (Brandt), our Supreme Court ruled that an insured that is able to prove breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing may recover as damages its reasonable attorney fees incurred in obtaining the policy benefits wrongfully denied. (Id. at p. 817; see Essex Ins. Co. v. Five Star Dye House, Inc. (2006) 38 Cal.4th 1252, 1257-1258.) The parties agree that McMillin contends the Brandt fees total $87,762.
11
In its motion in limine, McMillin principally argued in the alternative: (1) all
evidence of the Settlement was inadmissible under the collateral source rule;11 or
(2) where the Settlement agreements with the settling insurers did not expressly allocate
their Settlement payments either to unreimbursed defense expenses in the Baker litigation
(after Settlement, $416,000)12 or to consideration for the settlement of the coverage
action, ASIC should not be allowed unilaterally to allocate those proceeds to Baker fees.
ASIC responded: (1) the collateral source rule was inapplicable, since it affects only tort,
not contract, claims, and McMillin's principal claim here was breach of contract; and
(2) application of Emerald Bay Community Assn. v. Golden Eagle Ins. Corp. (2005) 130
Cal.App.4th 1078 (Emerald Bay) required the court to offset all Settlement proceeds
(whether allocated or unallocated) from McMillin's alleged damages in order to preclude
McMillin from recovering more in contract damages than it actually suffered.13
11 The collateral source rule "precludes deduction of compensation the plaintiff has received from sources independent of the tortfeasor from damages the plaintiff 'would otherwise collect from the tortfeasor.' " (Howell v. Hamilton Meats & Provisions, Inc. (2011) 52 Cal.4th 541, 548.)
12 Notably, $274,154 of the Settlement proceeds is expressly allocated in the Settlement documentation to McMillin's defense of the Baker litigation — which leaves $416,000 unallocated ($690,154 - $274,154). The $309,957 in Baker fees, claimed as contract damages by McMillin, includes full credit for the specifically allocated Settlement proceeds ($274,154).
13 In relevant part, as discussed in the text post, Emerald Bay held that, where one insurer provided the insured with a complete defense at all times, the insured " 'suffered no cognizable damages' " in its claims both for breach of contract and for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. (130 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1087-1096.)
12
In its motion in limine, ASIC affirmatively sought the relief it argued in opposition
to McMillin's motion. Again relying on Emerald Bay (see fn. 13, ante), ASIC attempted
to establish that McMillin suffered no contract damages. Given that McMillin had, in
fact, incurred unreimbursed defense expenses during the Baker litigation (i.e., Baker
fees), the only way for ASIC to prove its point was to have the trial court apply the
equitable doctrine of offset, such that each dollar of Settlement proceeds offset each
dollar of Baker fees.14 More specifically, ASIC argued that because McMillin had
recovered more in Settlement proceeds than its Baker fees, McMillin could no longer
prove an essential element of its cause of action for breach of contract — namely,
damages. From there ASIC reasoned that, without the ability to recover for breach of
contract, as a matter of law McMillin could not prove an essential element of its cause of
action for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing — namely,
breach of the insurance contract.
In opposition to ASIC's motion, McMillin argued that, of the total Settlement
proceeds ($690,154), only $274,154 had been allocated specifically to settle the contract
claim, leaving $416,000 in unallocated Settlement proceeds; that McMillin still had
unreimbursed defense expenses from the Baker litigation of $309,957; and that ASIC
could not arbitrarily and unilaterally allocate the $416,000 to Baker fees.
14 ASIC contended: "[W]hatever [S]ettlement amounts [the SAC p]laintiffs recover . . . from other insurance carriers should be applied to equitably reduce the damages that they can seek against [ASIC], as was done in Emerald Bay . . . ." (Italics added.)
13
At a hearing on August 1, 2012, Judge Alksne orally ruled that the court would
allow evidence of the Settlement at trial.15 Following many rounds of briefing and oral
argument hearings, Judge Alksne took under submission the in limine motions regarding
the Settlement. In a minute order filed in October 2012, the court granted ASIC's motion
in limine without further explanation, thereby ruling that McMillin would be precluded
from presenting evidence or argument that the Settlement proceeds either are not offsets
to the Baker fees (McMillin's contract damages) or are allocated to the Brandt fee
(McMillin's tort damages).16 In so doing, Judge Alksne necessarily allocated at least
$309,957 of the previously unallocated Settlement proceeds ($416,000) to McMillin's
breach of contract cause of action against the settling insurers, completely offsetting
McMillin's contract damages (i.e., Baker fees) by Settlement proceeds.
5. The Judgment
The parties agreed that the effect of the rulings in the in limine motions — namely,
that although ASIC had breached its duty to defend, the Settlement proceeds ($690,154)
15 Presumably, this ruling was the denial of the SAC plaintiffs' motion in limine No. 2. However, the August 1, 2012 minute order indicates a ruling that does not appear in the reporter's transcript, and the clerk's transcript does not contain a ruling on the SAC plaintiffs' motion in limine. From our review of the record, we are satisfied the reporter's transcript is correct, and the minute order is not. (See In re P.A. (2012) 211 Cal.App.4th 23, 30, fn. 4 ["We rely on the reporter's transcript based on the rule that '[c]onflicts between the reporter's and clerk's transcripts are generally presumed to be clerical in nature and are resolved in favor of the reporter's transcript unless the particular circumstances dictate otherwise.' "].)
16 The record on appeal does not contain a ruling on McMillin's motion in limine regarding evidence of the Settlement. Given Judge Alksne's ruling on ASIC's in limine motion, we can infer the court also denied McMillin's related motion.
14
would be applied as an offset to McMillin's Baker fees ($309,957) — was that McMillin
could not prove any contract damages, and without contract damages, McMillin could not
maintain a cause of action for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair
dealing. The parties further agreed that, based on the effect of the rulings, judgment
could be entered in favor of ASIC — with all parties reserving their rights to appeal.
The court entered judgment, and ASIC gave notice of its entry on March 5, 2013.
McMillin timely appealed, and ASIC timely cross-appealed.
III.
DISCUSSION
As we explain post, the trial court erred in granting McMillin's motion in limine to
preclude evidence or argument that disputed ASIC's duty to defend; the trial court erred
in granting ASIC's motion in limine to preclude McMillin from presenting evidence or
argument either that the Settlement proceeds are not an offset to McMillin's Baker fees or
that the Settlement proceeds are allocated to Brandt fees; and we are unable to affirm that
portion of the judgment in favor of ASIC on McMillin's cause of action for breach of the
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
A. The Trial Court Erred in Granting the Motions in Limine
1. Introduction and Standard of Review
Motions in limine are designed to facilitate management of a case by deciding
difficult evidentiary issues in advance of trial. (Amtower v. Photon Dynamics, Inc.
(2008) 158 Cal.App.4th 1582, 1593 (Amtower); see Super. Ct. San Diego County, Local
Rules, rule 2.1.18 ["Motions in limine must be limited in scope in accordance with
15
Clemens v. American Warranty Corp. (1978) 193 Cal.App.3d 444, 451: e.g., evidentiary
issues where attempts to 'unring the bell' would be unduly prejudicial or futile."].)
Although trial courts may exercise their inherent powers to permit other uses of motions
in limine (Amtower, at p. 1595; Coshow v. City of Escondido (2005) 132 Cal.App.4th
687, 701-702 [proper exercise of "inherent powers" by construing motions in limine as a
motion for judgment on the pleadings]), when used in such fashion they become
substitutes for dispositive statutory motions (Amtower, at p. 1594).
Like many evidentiary rulings, orders on motions in limine are generally reviewed
for abuse of discretion. (Piedra v. Dugan (2004) 123 Cal.App.4th 1483, 1493.)
However, as we explain post, that standard does not apply where (as here) the grant of the
motion becomes a substitute for a summary adjudication or nonsuit motion, which
requires a ruling as a matter of law in the first instance and de novo review on appeal.
By granting McMillin's motion as to the duty to defend, the court essentially
granted a summary adjudication motion in favor of McMillin on one of the elements of
its cause of action for breach of contract, ruling as a matter of law that ASIC had a duty
to defend. (See Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subd. (f)(1) ["party may move for summary
adjudication as to . . . one or more issues of duty"].) For this reason, we will review de
novo the order granting McMillin's in limine motion. (Lomes v. Hartford Financial
reviews an order granting summary adjudication of the duty to defend"].)
Similarly, by granting ASIC's motion as to offset, the court essentially granted "a
motion for nonsuit after [McMillin's] opening statement" in favor of ASIC on McMillin's 16
causes of action for breach of contract and breach of the implied covenant of good faith
and fair dealing — all resulting from ASIC's alleged breach of the duty to defend.17
(Amtower, supra, 158 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1594, 1595; see Edwards v. Centex Real Estate
Corp. (1997) 53 Cal.App.4th 15, 27 (Edwards) [where the grant of defendant's motion in
limine precludes plaintiff from presenting all evidence on an issue at trial, the effect is
"the functional equivalent of an order sustaining a demurrer to the evidence, or
nonsuit"].) Accordingly, like the trial court in ruling on a motion for nonsuit, "on this
appeal we must view the evidence most favorably to [McMillin], resolving all
presumptions, inferences and doubts in [its] favor, and uphold the judgment for [ASIC]
only if it was required as a matter of law" (Edwards, at p. 28), recognizing that "the grant
of such a motion is not favored" (Amtower, at p. 1595). Since this determination raises
only an issue of law, we review the order de novo. (M&F Fishing, Inc. v. Sea-Pac Ins.
Managers, Inc. (2012) 202 Cal.App.4th 1509, 1532.)
2. Duty to Defend
An insurer owes a duty to defend any lawsuit "which potentially seeks damages
within the coverage of the policy." (Gray v. Zurich Insurance Co. (1966) 65 Cal.2d 263,
275.) Since the duty arises whenever the claim against the insured seeks damages on any
17 The parties recognized the effect of the ruling on ASIC's in limine motion in their stipulation to enter judgment: After offsetting the amount of Baker fees by the amount of Settlement proceeds: (1) McMillin could not prove contract damages, an essential element of its contract claim (Careau & Co. v. Security Pacific Business Credit, Inc. (1990) 222 Cal.App.3d 1371, 1388); and (2) without a breach of the insurance contract, McMillin could not prove an essential element of its related tort claim (see California Shoppers, Inc. v. Royal Globe Ins. Co. (1985) 175 Cal.App.3d 1, 54). 17
theory that, if proved, would be covered by the policy, the insurer is relieved of its duty
only when " 'the third party complaint can by no conceivable theory raise a single issue
which could bring it within the policy coverage.' " (Montrose, supra, 6 Cal.4th at p. 300.)
Thus, where the insurer moves for summary judgment based on the lack of a duty to
defend, the insurer must present undisputed facts that establish "the absence of any such
potential" for coverage.18 (Id. at p. 300.) In so doing, if coverage depends on an
unresolved dispute over a factual question, the very existence of that dispute would not
only result in a denial of the motion, but also establish a possibility of coverage and thus
a duty to defend. (Horace Mann, supra, 4 Cal.4th at p. 1085.)
In its cross-appeal, ASIC's principal argument is that Judge Alksne erred when she
ruled that, based on Judge Nevitt's denial of ASIC's motion for summary judgment, ASIC
was precluded from presenting evidence or argument disputing that ASIC owed the SAC
plaintiffs a duty to defend the Baker litigation.19 Although Judge Alksne's minute order
merely granted, without explanation, McMillin's motion in limine, Judge Nevitt's minute
order denying ASIC's summary judgment motion explained:
18 That is because while "the insured need only show that the underlying claim may fall within policy coverage[,] the insurer must prove it cannot." (Montrose, supra, 6 Cal.4th at p. 300.) For an insurer to succeed on a motion for summary adjudication on the duty to defend, the insurer must be able to negate coverage as a matter of law. (Maryland Casualty Co. v. National American Ins. Co. (1996) 48 Cal.App.4th 1822, 1832.)
19 ASIC does not argue on appeal that Judge Nevitt erred in denying its motion for summary judgment.
18
" 'Undisputed issue' 7 concerns ASIC's contention that there is not an 'additional insured endorsement on the policies which specifically identifies any of the [SAC p]laintiffs' [citation]. [The SAC p]laintiffs appear to agree with ASIC . . . . Therefore, ASIC has met its initial burden of proof, and [the SAC] plaintiffs have not raised a triable issue of material fact as to the absence of an effective additional insured endorsement specifically naming [the SAC] plaintiffs (or any of them) as an additional insured. However, this is not dispositive.
"ASIC acknowledges that there is a ' "blanket" additional insured endorsement' (AIE) . . . . The AIE includes an Amendment limiting coverage. ASIC's 'undisputed issues' 1, 2, 5 and 6 are based on provisions of this Amendment. ASIC contends that the underlying action [citation] does not involve, or potentially involve, '[o]ngoing operations performed by the Named Insured [B&B Framing] on or after the effective date [of] this endorsement,' '[l]iability arising out of or relating to the Named Insured's sole negligence,' or ' "bodily injury" or "property damage" caused by an "occurrence" under Coverage A not otherwise excluded in the policy to which the Endorsement applies.' (AIE's Amendment, emphasis added.) ASIC's arguments are not persuasive as to any of these four 'undisputed issues,' i.e., ASIC has not met its initial burden of proof." (Last italics added.)
We focus on the last statement that "ASIC has not met its initial burden of proof."20
Horace Mann instructs: Where "factual issues exist precluding summary
judgment in the insurer's favor . . . , the duty to defend is then established, absent
additional evidence bearing on the issue." (Horace Mann, supra, 4 Cal.4th at p. 1085.)
Given this language, ASIC contends that, because Judge Nevitt denied ASIC's motion on
20 The moving party bears the initial burden of production to make a prima facie showing that there are no triable issues of material fact. (Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 850.) Only if the moving party carries its initial burden is the opposing party then subject to its own burden of production to make a prima facie showing that a triable issue of material fact exists. (Ibid.)
19
the basis ASIC "has not met its initial burden" — not because factual issues existed —
the duty to defend was not established as a matter of law. McMillin's response is that
under the "doctrine of implied findings," Judge Nevitt's denial of ASIC's motion
necessarily found that the SAC plaintiffs were additional insureds under the "blanket
additional insured endorsement."21 We agree with ASIC. The reason for the above-
quoted language in Horace Mann is that, "[i]f coverage depends on an unresolved dispute
over a factual question, the very existence of that dispute would establish a possibility of
coverage and thus a duty to defend." (Mirpad, LLC v. California Ins. Guarantee Assn.
judgment ruling did not find a factual dispute that necessarily established a possibility of
coverage. Rather, the ruling established only that ASIC did not meet its initial burden of
production to make a prima facie showing that there are no triable issues of material fact.
As further support for this position, we note that Judge Nevitt did not "specify one or
more material facts raised by the motion" — a requirement when the court denies the
21 We are unaware of how the doctrine of implied findings applies in this instance, and McMillin does not provide any authority for its position. (ASIC also relies on this doctrine in support of its position on a different issue in its cross-appeal; and likewise, ASIC does not provide authority for application of this doctrine.) The doctrine of implied findings provides that, if the parties in a civil court trial waive a statement of decision, then on appeal the appellate court will presume that the trial court made all factual findings necessary to support the judgment for which substantial evidence exists in the record; i.e., the necessary findings of ultimate facts will be implied, and the only issue on appeal is whether the implied findings are supported by substantial evidence. (Michael U. v. Jamie B. (1985) 39 Cal.3d 787, 792-793.) In civil cases, statements of decision generally are not required after a ruling on a motion. (Mechanical Contractors Assn. v. Greater Bay Area Assn. (1998) 66 Cal.App.4th 672, 678; see Code Civ. Proc., § 632 [statement of decision required only after a bench trial, upon timely request].)
20
motion "on the ground that there is a triable issue as to one or more material facts."
(Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subd. (g).)22
Judge Alksne's statement from the bench indicates a possible source of
misunderstanding. In granting McMillin's motion in limine as to the duty to defend, she
explained to ASIC's counsel: "[Judge Nevitt's] written order says . . . that you [ASIC]
didn't meet your burden of proof. And the case law says [if] you don't meet your burden
of proof, [then] you" have "a duty to defend." However, as we clarified ante, in order for
the denial of an insurer's motion for summary judgment to establish a duty to defend, the
denial must be based on "an unresolved dispute over a factual question," because only
that type of dispute "establish[es] a possibility of coverage and thus a duty to defend."
(Mirpad, supra, 132 Cal.App.4th at p. 1068; see Horace Mann, supra, 4 Cal.4th at
p. 1085.) Denying a summary judgment motion because the moving party failed to meet
its initial burden of production is not the same as denying the motion based on an
unresolved factual dispute.
Accordingly, the trial court erred in ruling prior to trial that ASIC was precluded
from presenting evidence or argument that disputed whether ASIC had a duty to defend
the SAC plaintiffs in the Baker litigation.23 In making such a ruling in limine, the trial
22 "Upon the denial of a motion for summary judgment, on the ground that there is a triable issue as to one or more material facts, the court shall, by written or oral order, specify one or more material facts raised by the motion as to which the court has determined there exists a triable controversy. . . ." (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subd. (g).)
23 Because the parties dispute the burden of proof on the duty to defend, we provide the following guidance in the event the case goes to trial following remand. McMillin, as 21
court essentially granted summary adjudication as to the breach of ASIC's alleged duty to
defend without requiring the statutory procedural protections associated with summary
judgment proceedings, thereby not requiring McMillin to prove its case and not allowing
ASIC to defend McMillin's proof.
3. Offset
McMillin contends the court erred in ruling that McMillin was precluded from
arguing or presenting evidence either that the Settlement proceeds are not offsets to the
contract damages or that the Settlement proceeds are allocated to settling the tort (as
opposed to contract) cause of action. We agree, but not for the same reasons suggested
by McMillin. As we will explain post, because of procedural context of the requested
relief (in limine proceedings) and the standard of review (de novo), on this record ASIC
was not entitled to an offset based on equitable principles at this stage of the litigation.
the alleged insured, has the burden of proving both the existence of the Policy and its material terms. (Searle v. Allstate Life Ins. Co. (1985) 38 Cal.3d 425, 438.) Since McMillin's contract claim is based on an alleged breach of the duty to defend the Baker litigation, proof of actual coverage is not required; rather, McMillin's burden is to present only a prima facie case of entitlement to a defense by showing that the claims in the Baker litigation potentially fall within the insuring provisions of the Policy. (Montrose, supra, 6 Cal.4th at pp. 300, 304; 2 Croskey et al., Cal. Practice Guide: Ins. Litigation (The Rutter Group 2014) ¶ 7:571.6, p. 7B-26.) The burden then shifts to ASIC to show conclusively that the claims alleged in the Baker litigation were not covered under the Policy. (Mostrose, at pp. 300, 304; Croskey et al., supra, at ¶ 7:571.7, p. 7B-26.) If ASIC carries its burden by the application of an exclusion in the Policy, then McMillin has the burden of establishing an exception to the exclusion. (Aydin Corp. v. First State Ins. Co. (1998) 18 Cal.4th 1183, 1188 [duty to indemnify, though same standard applies to duty to defend]; Croskey et al., supra, at ¶ 7:571.6, p. 7B-26.)
22
a. Offset as an Affirmative Defense
Based on inconsistencies in the record and appellate briefing, we requested and
received Government Code section 68081 supplemental briefing on the issue whether
ASIC was asserting offset as an affirmative defense. (See Code Civ. Proc., § 431.70.)
We received responses from both McMillin and ASIC, and they are in agreement:
ASIC's claim of offset at issue in this appeal is not being asserted or defended as an
affirmative defense.
While that answer satisfies our inquiry, we note the parties' lack of clarity in their
appellate briefing regarding the basis of ASIC's requested application of offset and the
related burden of proof, especially in light of the parties' express arguments in the trial
court regarding the affirmative defense of offset and the parties' citations to and reliance
on authorities in their appellate briefing applicable to the affirmative defense of offset.
b. Offset as Equitable Relief
From the parties' presentations throughout this case, we perceive a basic
misunderstanding as to the effect of the type of equitable offset ASIC is asserting. Both
ASIC and McMillin treat the entire Settlement proceeds ($690,154) as potential offsets to
damages. The Settlement proceeds do not affect McMillin's damages. Rather, in the
event of an award of damages at trial, Settlement proceeds that are found to be offsets by
the trial court24 affect only McMillin's right to recover the full amount of damages
24 We agree with the parties that the court, not the jury, decides whether to allow, and if so the amount of, any offset. (Prudential Reinsurance Co. v. Superior Court (1992) 3 Cal.4th 1118, 1151 [general principles of equity govern offset].) 23
awarded at trial. (See Goodman v. Lozano (2010) 47 Cal.4th 1327, 1338 [in the context
of determining the prevailing party for purposes of awarding costs, settlement offsets
affect whether a party has a " 'net monetary recovery' "].) If we assume (solely for the
purpose of this illustration) that ASIC breached its duty to defend, "the proper measure of
damages is the reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred by [McMillin] in defense of
the [Baker litigation]." (Marie Y. v. General Star Indemnity Co. (2003) 110 Cal.App.4th
928, 961 (Marie Y.); see Hogan v. Midland National Ins. Co. (1970) 3 Cal.3d 553, 564
[same, even where no duty to indemnify].) In the context of this record, that means all
attorney fees and costs McMillin incurred other than those that were paid by insurer(s)
that accepted the tender of, and participated in, the defense of the Baker litigation. The
significance of this distinction — namely, that an offset affects the right to recover
damages, not the amount of damages suffered — is that McMillin should be allowed to
present at trial evidence of the contract damages it suffered; and if the trier of fact awards
contract damages and finds support for the other elements of McMillin's claim for breach
of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, then McMillin may also recover
tort damages, subject to proof (and the potential posttrial request for offset to reduce
McMillin's recovery). The fact that the 11 other insurer defendants settled with McMillin
should not, and does not, affect whether ASIC breached the duty to defend or the implied
covenant of good faith and fair dealing. At best, the Settlement proceeds from the other
11 insurers may reduce (by way of offset) the amount ASIC ultimately owes McMillin
for contract or tort damages.
24
In our Government Code section 68081 letter, we indicated an intent to treat
Judge Alksne's ruling on the motion in limine as a ruling on a motion for nonsuit,
inquiring if the result would be different depending on whether ASIC had asserted its
right to offset as an affirmative defense or as an equitable claim. McMillin responded
that the result would be the same, repeating its request for a reversal.
Rather than responding to the question presented, ASIC argued that its motion in
limine was not really a motion in limine; "it is better understood as a shifting of the order
of proof." According to ASIC, "the parties stipulated that the court was to make certain
damage determinations before presenting the remainder of the case." ASIC described its
understanding of the stipulated procedure as follows:
"The setoff issue was thus decided by the trier of fact (stipulated to be the trial judge who usually addresses third party payments post trial) following the presentation of the evidence — the only difference being that Judge Alksne made the same factual and legal determinations at the start of trial that she would have made after trial."
From this description of the procedure, ASIC argued that because the parties presented
evidence in support of their respective positions, some of which Judge Alksne credited
and applied as an offset to damages, McMillin is not entitled to the presumptions,
inferences and doubts that benefit an appellant in an appeal from the grant of a nonsuit
after opening statement, as we suggested in our Government Code section 68081 letter.25
25 ASIC's position on the standard of review is not clear. In its respondent's brief, ASIC suggested an abuse of discretion standard of review for application of an offset, citing Margott v. Gem Properties, Inc. (1973) 34 Cal.App.3d 849, 854. In Margott, however, the denial of the offset that was reviewed for an abuse of discretion was an 25
Finally, ASIC repeated its principal (already briefed) contention that, because Emerald
Bay is factually and legally indistinguishable from the present case, the trial court
correctly ruled as it did, and we have no choice but to affirm based on the standards of
review suggested by ASIC.
We disagree with ASIC's representation of the scope of the proceedings before
Judge Alksne (and, accordingly, the standard of review to be applied) and with ASIC's
insistence that Emerald Bay and similar cases are controlling. As we will explain post,
Emerald Bay and ASIC's related authorities are factually distinguishable and thus
inapplicable. In Emerald Bay, the insured did not suffer any damages because the
participating insurers paid the insured's entire costs of defense as they were incurred,
whereas here McMillin actually suffered contract damages of at least $309,957, even if
affirmative defense of offset — i.e., where " '[a] court of equity will compel a set-off when mutual demands are held under such circumstances that one of them should be applied against the other and only the balance recovered' " (ibid.) — which ASIC expressly tells us is not being asserted here. In its letter brief, ASIC contends that, because the proceedings were essentially a stipulated trial (not a motion in limine), McMillin's appeal presents issues to be reviewed under the "more lenient" standards of "substantial evidence and abuse of discretion." In so doing, however, ASIC fails to advise what standard applies to what ruling(s) or to provide any authority for its position. In the same sentence, ASIC describes the procedure as "a pre-trial determination of mixed legal and factual issues" — which, if true, would suggest a de novo standard of review. (Ghirardo v. Antonioli (1994) 8 Cal.4th 791, 799-801 [mixed questions of fact and law are reviewed de novo where legal issues predominate].) Here, during the in limine proceedings, there were no disputes as to McMillin's alleged contract damages, the total amount of Settlement proceeds, or the amount of Settlement proceeds allocated expressly to contract damages by the settling insurers; rather, the parties' disagreements centered on who had the burden of proof and whether, as a matter of law, McMillin suffered damages. In any event, we are not persuaded by ASIC's letter brief, since ASIC's positions are inconsistent, and ASIC presents its most recent iteration without authority.
26
the eventual application of an equitable offset precludes McMillin from recovering some
or all of these damages. We will then explain that because the record on appeal does not
support ASIC's representation that the parties stipulated to have Judge Alksne decide
either the amount of damages in lieu of trial or the amount of any offset, there is no
support for ASIC's suggestion of a standard of review other than de novo with all
presumptions, inferences and doubts in favor of McMillin.
(i) Emerald Bay
Throughout the briefing at all stages in both the trial and appellate courts, ASIC
has relied on the opinion in Emerald Bay, supra, 130 Cal.App.4th 1078, as authority
requiring the court to rule as a matter of law that McMillin did not suffer any contract
damages. We disagree; Emerald Bay is not controlling, except to the extent it supports
the claim that McMillin suffered damages here, whereas the insured in Emerald Bay did
not.
In Emerald Bay, an insured sued Golden Eagle Insurance Corporation for breach
of the duties to defend and to indemnify under a policy of commercial general liability
insurance. (130 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1082-1083.) Although Golden Eagle had refused to
defend or indemnify the insured in the underlying action at a certain point in time,
Federal Insurance Company, another of the insured's insurers, provided a complete
defense (and indemnification) at all times. (Id. at pp. 1083-1084.) The trial court granted
summary judgment in favor of Golden Eagle — and the Court of Appeal affirmed — on
the ground that, since Federal had provided a complete defense at all times, the insured
27
" 'suffered no cognizable damages' " in its claims both for breach of contract and for
breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. (Id. at pp. 1087-1096.)
ASIC's reliance on Emerald Bay is misplaced, because the predicate in Emerald
Bay — namely, that at all times the insured had been provided a complete defense by a
participating insurer (130 Cal.App.4th at p. 1084) — is not present here. ASIC's other
authorities are also unpersuasive because of ASIC's failure to appreciate that, in each, the
insured was never without a complete defense provided by someone other than the
defendant. (Bramalea California, Inc. v. Reliable Interiors, Inc. (2004) 119 Cal.App.4th
468, 471-473 [in an action against subcontractors to recover costs of defense from an
underlying construction defect action, all of the contractor's attorney fees in the third
party action were paid by the contractor's insurer]; Patent Scaffolding Co. v. William
had agreed to procure fire insurance but did not and plaintiff subcontractor suffered fire
loss, because plaintiff recovered all losses from its own insurer plaintiff did not suffer
damages]; Ringler Associates Inc. v. Maryland Casualty Co. (2000) 80 Cal.App.4th
1165, 1187 [plaintiff insured did not suffer damages when defendant insurer withdrew
from providing a defense, because insured "was fully protected from having to pay any
costs of its own defense by other insurers"]; Tradewinds Escrow, Inc. v. Truck Ins.
Exchange (2002) 97 Cal.App.4th 704, 712 [defendant insurer not liable for costs of
defense in third party action "where other insurers were on the risk and assumed the
insured's defense"]; Prichard v. Liberty Mutual Ins. Co. (2000) 84 Cal.App.4th 890, 909
[no breach of duty to defend where multiple insurers shared total defense expenses];
28
Ceresino v. Fire Ins. Exchange (1989) 215 Cal.App.3d 814, 823 [where one insurer paid
for insured's defense in underlying litigation, second insurer's failure to do so "was of no
consequence" to insured].) ASIC fails to distinguish the situation where the insured is
provided a complete defense (plaintiffs in Emerald Bay and related authorities) from the
situation where the insured is without a complete defense but later, following litigation,
recovers payments from others that arguably compensate the insured for having to
provide its own defense (McMillin here).
On appeal, ASIC acknowledges that only a portion of McMillin's defense
expenses in the Baker litigation were covered by other insurers, thereby essentially
conceding that McMillin did, in fact, suffer damages in the amount of the unpaid portion
defense expenses in the Baker litigation.26 (Marie Y., supra, 110 Cal.App.4th at p. 961
["the proper measure of damages [for breach of the duty to defend] is the reasonable
attorneys' fees and costs incurred by the insured in defense of the claim"].) In its most
recent letter brief, in reliance on Emerald Bay and related authorities, ASIC emphasizes
that "the measure of damages for breach of the duty to defend are the costs and attorney
26 Citing Buss v. Superior Court (1997) 16 Cal.4th 35, 48-49, and Presley v. American States Ins. Co. (2001) 90 Cal.App.4th 571, 575, ASIC also claims that, because other insurers had accepted McMillin's tender of the defense of the Baker litigation, the other insurers were required to "defend immediately and entirely." We have not considered this argument, since ASIC presents no record references or any arguments as to how this authority might apply here. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.204(a)(1)(B) & (C); Liberty, supra, 194 Cal.App.4th at p. 846 ["at a minimum," we may disregard unsupported assertions in briefs].) In any event, ASIC does not explain how the other insurers' alleged breach of their duties to defend is a defense to McMillin's claim against ASIC, as opposed to a potential claim ASIC may have against those other insurers.
29
fees that were paid by McMillin and remain 'unreimbursed.' " ASIC presents no
authority (and we are aware of none) that supports the italicized portion of ASIC's
statement requiring an insured's damages to "remain 'unreimbursed ' " at the time of trial
in order to establish damages as an element of the cause of action. The timing and source
of "reimbursement" may affect the insured's ability to recover damages awarded, but not
whether the insured suffered the damages.
Emerald Bay is neither controlling nor persuasive, except to the extent it confirms
that, in contrast with the insured in Emerald Bay, the insured here (McMillin) does have
evidence of damages — namely, McMillin's attorney fees and costs incurred in defending
the Baker litigation that were not paid by the insurers that participated in McMillin's
defense of that action. Thus, according to Emerald Bay and ASIC's related authorities,
the existence of the Settlement proceeds is irrelevant to the determination of whether
McMillin suffered damages as a result of the alleged breach of the duty to defend.
(ii) Purported Stipulation
After merits briefing of 152 pages and amicus briefing of 32 pages, for the very
first time in its letter brief, ASIC advises that "the parties stipulated that [Judge Alksne]
was to make certain damage determinations before presenting the remainder of the case"
and "McMillin agreed to have [Judge Alksne], not the jury, decide whether [McMillin]
still had damages at the start of trial." In support of this new revelation, ASIC refers us to
the following statements, which it attributes to McMillin during the in limine
proceedings:
30
" 'Plaintiff MCMILLIN joins with Defendant ASIC in requesting that the court address the issue of offset before the remainder of the case. Plaintiff concurs with Defendant ASIC that the issue of damage offsets is one for the trial judge, not the jury to decide.' "
" 'MCMILLIN joins . . . in requesting that the court address the issue of offset before the remainder of the case.' "
The first statement is contained in one of McMillin's briefs on the issue of offsets.
ASIC did not provide a record reference for the second statement, and thus we may
disregard it. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.204(a)(1)(C); Liberty, supra, 194 Cal.App.4th at
p. 846.) In any event, neither statement alone nor both statements together establish an
agreement by McMillin and ASIC to have Judge Alksne decide the issue of damages
based on declarations and oral argument. At most, McMillin asked the court to decide
the potential effect of the Settlement proceeds on McMillin's alleged damages in order to
limit or exclude evidence of the Settlement,27 not to preclude McMillin from going to
trial on the causes of action in the TAC. Finally — and tellingly — ASIC does not tell us
where in the record it agreed to the procedure that it now contends was intended by the
parties and accepted by the court; and our familiarity with the record does not disclose
such an agreement.
(iii) Trial Court's Error
As explained at part III.A.1, ante, we consider ASIC's motion in limine as if it had
been a motion for nonsuit after opening statement. As such, we review the trial court's
27 Consistently, McMillin had filed a motion in limine asking for an order excluding evidence of or reference to the Settlement.
31
ruling de novo, viewing the evidence and offers of proof most favorably to McMillin, and
resolving all presumptions, inferences and doubts in its favor; and we will uphold the
order granting ASIC's motion only if it is required as a matter of law. (Edwards, supra,
53 Cal.App.4th at p. 28; Amtower, supra, 158 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1594-1595.) Under this
standard, Judge Alksne's order granting ASIC's motion in limine — and, therefore, the
related judgment — must be reversed.
The parties do not dispute that pursuant to express language in certain of the
Settlement agreements, $274,154 was allocated to McMillin's defense expenses in the
Baker litigation. McMillin presented this evidence to the trial court, explaining: "[I]f it
was McMillin and the settling carriers' intent to allocate a portion of the [settlement]
funds to settlement of defense costs, then the allocation would have been set forth
explicitly in the settlement agreement[s]." This statement and a reasonable inference
from it establish that because the remaining Settlement proceeds ($416,000) were
unallocated, the settling parties did not intend that those funds be allocated to Baker fees
— i.e., those Settlement funds instead should be allocated to settling insurers' resolution
of the cause of action for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing,
not to the cause of action for breach of the contract duty to defend. Doing so leaves
McMillin with its claim for Baker fees — sufficient evidence to defeat a motion for
nonsuit after opening statement, the standard we are to apply.28
28 We do not have to apply the inference from the evidence related to the allocation of Settlement proceeds. The mere fact that McMillin incurred the Baker fees (regardless of the amount) is sufficient evidence to defeat a motion for nonsuit. 32
Thus, under the standards for ruling on motions for nonsuit — which are the same
for purposes of our standard of review on appeal (Edwards, supra, 53 Cal.App.4th at
p. 28) — Judge Alksne erred in rejecting McMillin's presentation (that unallocated
Settlement proceeds be allocated to resolving the tort claim) and accepting ASIC's
presentation (that unallocated Settlement proceeds be allocated first to resolving the
contract claim), leaving McMillin without evidence of damages. In making such a ruling
in limine, the trial court essentially granted a nonsuit as to the issue of McMillin's alleged
damages without requiring the statutory procedural protections associated with nonsuit
proceedings, thereby precluding McMillin from trying its case.
(iv) Conclusion
In ruling that McMillin was precluded from arguing that the unallocated
Settlement proceeds either are not an offset to contract damages or are allocated to the
tort damages, the trial court erred in essentially granting a nonsuit in ASIC's favor.
ASIC's arguments regarding offsets based on the Settlement proceeds do not
defeat McMillin's right to go to trial on the TAC. The fact that McMillin may have
obtained the Settlement from 11 other insurers years after the tender of defense to ASIC
— regardless how the Settlement proceeds are allocated — affects only McMillin's
potential right to recover damages from ASIC, not whether McMillin suffered damages
as a result of ASIC's alleged breaches.29
29 Thus, we agree generally with ASIC's statement that based on its claim for breach of contract "McMillin is only entitled to a [final] judgment for the balance of defense fees and costs (the contract damages) that were not paid by others." Importantly, however, the 33
4. The Orders Granting the Motions in Limine Are Reversed
The minute order filed July 26, 2012, precluding ASIC from disputing its alleged
duty to defend is reversed; and on remand, the court should enter an order denying the
SAC plaintiffs' motion in limine. The minute order filed October 22, 2012, precluding
McMillin from arguing that the unallocated Settlement proceeds either are not an offset
to contract damages or are allocated to the tort damages, is reversed; and on remand the
court should enter an order denying ASIC's motion in limine.30
As evidenced in this appeal, using an in limine motion as a substitute for a
potentially dispositive statutory motion produces substantial risk of prejudicial error.
"The disadvantages of such shortcuts are obvious. They circumvent procedural
protections provided by the statutory motions or by trial on the merits; they risk
blindsiding the nonmoving party; and, in some cases, they could infringe a litigant's right
"balance of defense fees and costs" can only be determined following a trial (at which McMillin is given the opportunity to prove both contract and tort damages) and, if necessary, posttrial offset proceedings (at which ASIC may attempt to limit recovery of any damages awarded).
30 Both in briefing and at oral argument, ASIC insisted Atlantic Mutual Ins. Co. v. J. Lamb, Inc. (2002) 100 Cal.App.4th 1017 precludes McMillin from arguing that any portion of the unallocated Settlement proceeds be allocated to Brandt fees (tort damages) before allocating sufficient Settlement proceeds to fully reimbursing McMillin for its Baker fees (contract damages). We disagree. In the context of an equitable subrogation dispute between two insurers, J. Lamb merely stated that a settlement agreement between an insured and its insurer "which does not even reflect that a claim for bad faith was pending or existed" — combined with the testimony of a representative from the settling insurer regarding the insurer's intent — was not evidence that the settlement proceeds were intended by the settling parties as "a payment 'for defense and indemnity of bad faith.' " (Id. at p. 1042.) On remand, McMillin and ASIC may each present whatever evidence it has regarding the intent of any of the settling parties here. 34
to a jury trial." (Amtower, supra, 158 Cal.App.4th at p. 1594.) Accordingly, "[t]he better
practice in nearly every case is to afford the litigant the protections provided by trial or by
the statutory processes." (Id. at p. 1588.)
B. ASIC Is Not Entitled to Judgment on McMillin's Cause of Action for Breach of the Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing
As part of its cross-appeal, ASIC asks us to affirm that portion of the judgment in
its favor on McMillin's third cause of action for breach of the implied covenant of good
faith and fair dealing.
However, since only a "party aggrieved" can prosecute an appeal (Code Civ.
Proc., § 902), we question whether ASIC has standing to raise this request in its cross-
appeal. A party is legally "aggrieved" for appeal purposes only if its "rights or interests
are injuriously affected by the judgment." (County of Alameda v. Carleson (1971) 5
Cal.3d 730, 737.) Here, ASIC raised the request as an appellant (in a cross-appeal), yet
ASIC's rights or interests are hardly "injuriously affected" (ibid.) by a judgment that is
entirely in its favor — including specifically as to McMillin's cause of action for breach
of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
Even if we treat this portion of ASIC's cross-appeal as if it were raised by ASIC as
the respondent in McMillin's appeal (as an alternative way to affirm the judgment as to
the tort claim), we still are unable to grant the relief. ASIC moved only for summary
judgment and did not seek summary adjudication on the cause of action for breach of the
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and we may not consider relief ASIC did
35
not request in the summary judgment proceedings.31 (Barber v. Chang (2007) 151
Cal.App.4th 1456, 1469; Motevalli v. Los Angeles Unified School Dist. (2004) 122
Cal.App.4th 97, 114 ["a motion for summary adjudication cannot be considered by the
court unless the party bringing the motion for summary judgment duly gives notice that
summary adjudication is being sought as an alternative to summary judgment, in the
event summary judgment is denied"].)
31 We express no view on the merits of ASIC's argument that the application of genuine dispute doctrine entitles ASIC to judgment as a matter of law on McMillin's cause of action for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. (See Opsal v. United Services Auto. Assn. (1991) 2 Cal.App.4th 1197, 1205-1206 ["[B]ad faith liability cannot be imposed where there 'exist[s] a genuine issue as to [the insurer's] liability under California law.' "]; but see Mt. Hawley Ins. Co. v. Lopez (2013) 215 Cal.App.4th 1385, 1424 ["doubtful that the so-called 'genuine dispute doctrine' applies in third party duty to defend cases"].) 36
DISPOSITION
The appeal is dismissed as to all appellants other than McMillin Construction
Services, L.P., dba McMillin Homes, a Corky McMillin Company. The judgment is
reversed and the matter remanded for further proceedings. The parties will bear their
respective costs on appeal. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.278(a)(3), (5).)
IRION, J.
WE CONCUR:
NARES, Acting P. J.
AARON, J.
37
AI Brief
AI-generated · verify before citing
Holding. The court held that the trial court erred in its rulings on motions in limine, which functioned as improper substitutes for dispositive motions, and remanded the case for further proceedings. The appellate court determined that the trial court improperly decided issues of duty to defend and the application of settlement offsets as a matter of law without proper evidentiary foundation.
Issues
Whether the trial court erred in granting a motion in limine that established the insurer's duty to defend as a matter of law.
Whether the trial court erred in granting a motion in limine that mandated the offset of settlement proceeds against contract damages as a matter of law.
Disposition. reversed and remanded
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“The trial court erred in granting McMillin's motion in limine to preclude evidence or argument that disputed ASIC's duty to defend”
“the trial court erred in granting ASIC's motion in limine to preclude McMillin from presenting evidence or argument either that the Settlement proceeds are not an offset to McMillin's Baker fees”