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Illinois Court of Appeals, District 1 SECOND DIVISION
August 16, 2011
ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS, INC.,PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT,v.COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY INSURANCE COMPANY ANDUNITED STATES FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, DEFENDANTS-APPELLEES
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County Honorable Kathleen M. Pantle, (United National Insurance Company, Defendant). Judge Presiding. No. 06 CH 09619
JUSTICE KARNEZIS delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Presiding Justice Cunningham and Justice Harris concurred in the judgment and opinion.
¶ 1 Plaintiff Illinois Tool Works filed an action against defendants Commerce and Industry Insurance Company (C&I) and United States Fire Insurance Company (USF) seeking a declaration that defendants had a duty to defend plaintiff in an underlying lawsuit and to reimburse plaintiff for its defense costs in that suit. The court granted judgment on the pleadings to defendants. Plaintiff argues on appeal the court erred in finding defendants had no duty to defend plaintiff in the underlying action because (1) plaintiff was assigned the benefits of insurance policies issued by defendants; (2) the underlying lawsuit had sought to impose liability on plaintiff as successor to the corporation which was the insured under the policies; (3) plaintiff was a putative insured under the policies because the underlying complaint alleged plaintiff was the successor to the insured under the policies; (4) the court relied on documents that were not part of the pleadings; and (5) the court considered new and contradictory facts raised in defendants' motions for judgment on the pleadings. We reverse and remand.
¶ 2 Background
¶ 3 Bruno Enssle owned a building and property (collectively the property) in Boulder, Colorado. In 1959, Binks Manufacturing Company began leasing the property from Enssle. In 1963, Binks R&D, a wholly owned subsidiary of Binks Manufacturing, began leasing and occupying the property. Binks R&D designed and manufactured electrostatic coating application equipment and related industrial products. In 1979, Frieda E. Enssle, Burke E. Enssle and Heidi Enssle Wilson (the Enssles) became the owners of the property. They continued leasing the property to Binks R&D.
¶ 4 Binks Manufacturing subsequently changed its name to Binks Sames Corporation then to Sames Corporation (collectively referred to as Binks). In 1998, plaintiff entered into an agreement with Binks for the purchase and sale of assets and stock relating to Binks' electrostatic coating application equipment and related products business. With the Enssles' consent, Binks R&D assigned the lease for the property to Binks and Binks assigned it to plaintiff. Binks R&D dissolved in 1999 and its remaining assets were distributed. In 2001, Binks filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy in federal court in Illinois. Plaintiff continued to lease and use the Enssles' property until 2003.
¶ 5 In 2003, the Enssles filed suit against plaintiff, Binks, Binks R&D and assorted former Binks officers in the United States District Court in Colorado (Enssle action or lawsuit).*fn1 They sought a judgment of joint and several liability against the defendants, whom they referred to as "tenant(s)," for their alleged environmental contamination of the property and refusal to clean it up. They asserted a myriad of claims, including breach of contract, negligence and violation of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. § 9607(a) (2006)) (CERCLA). They requested common law and statutory damages, reimbursement and assorted other relief.
¶ 6 The Enssles alleged that Binks' and plaintiff's business activities throughout their tenancy on the property caused the release of hazardous materials into the building and environment, including soils and groundwater. The Enssles alleged that, in anticipation of the termination of the lease and in preparation for the Enssles' sale of the property, plaintiff informed them in 2002 that it would fix the environmental problems at the property prior to expiration of the lease on July 31, 2003. The Enssles hired a consultant to perform a limited environmental investigation of the property.
¶ 7 The consultant found that, in 1987, Binks had notified the
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) that
Binks was generating various hazardous waste solvents.*fn2
He found that, in 1990, the CDPHE had issued an
inspection report identifying numerous environmental contamination
violations by Binks, including improper storage and disposal of
hazardous wastes without a permit and soil contamination emanating
from the outdoor storage area. After the CDPHE report, Binks had an
evaluation done of the groundwater at the property. The evaluation
showed hazardous wastes were in the ground water and had migrated to
the property boundary. Binks proposed a remediation plan for the
contaminated soil and ground water to the CDPHE. The CDPHE required
Binks to implement the plan but Binks did not perform any of the
cleanup. The Enssles alleged Binks continued contaminating the soil
and groundwater and allowing the passive migration of the illegally
disposed hazardous wastes after the CDPHE's order.
¶ 8 Inspecting the inside of the building in 2002, the Enssles' consultant found assorted areas contaminated by hazardous substances. The Enssles alleged they required Binks and plaintiff to investigate the extent of the environmental contamination but they refused. The Enssles asserted that, in violation of the lease, plaintiff told them it would not perform investigation and cleanup and would not allow them access to the interior of the premises.
¶ 9 The Enssles alleged that, after plaintiff purchased Binks R&D in 1998, plaintiff substantially continued the Binks company with the same name, same operation, same products, same customers and same lease and held itself out to be a continuation of Binks. They contended that plaintiff was assigned the lease by Binks and, by that assignment, assumed and agreed to discharge all of Binks' obligations under the lease from and after the date of its purchase of Binks R&D. The lease requires, in part, that tenants indemnify the Enssles and hold them harmless from and against all obligations or liabilities arising from any violation of the law arising from the tenants' conduct; surrender the property at the end of the lease in good condition except for reasonable wear and tear; maintain and repair the property; and not commit waste. The Enssles claimed plaintiff refused to investigate the extent of the environmental contamination of the property and to clean up the contamination in violation of the lease and CERCLA. Plaintiff filed a cross claim against Binks for indemnification.*fn3
¶ 10 Defendants had each issued liability insurance policies to Binks. C&I's policies covered the period from December 1976 to December 1981. USF's policies covered from December 1981 to December 1984. Defendants defended Binks in the Enssle action. They refused to defend plaintiff in the Enssle action. The Enssle case and plaintiff's cross-claim against Binks were ultimately settled.
¶ 11 In May 2006, plaintiff filed a declaratory judgment action in the circuit court of Cook County against defendants.*fn4 Plaintiff sought a declaration that defendants had (a) owed it a duty to defend in the Enssle action because it was an insured under the policies defendants had issued to Binks and (b) breached their insurance policies by refusing to defend plaintiff. It asserted it was an insured because it was a successor to Binks R&D and/or it had been assigned the benefits of the policies under its purchase agreement for Binks R&D. Plaintiff requested, in part, reimbursement for all defense costs it expended in the Enssle action and damages for defendants' breach of their duties to defend plaintiff under the policies.
¶ 12 On the parties' cross-motions for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to section 2-615(e) of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2-615(e) (West 2008)) (the Code), the court granted defendants' motion and denied plaintiff's motion. The court found defendants had no duty to defend plaintiff in the Enssle case, holding that the benefits of a defense had not been assigned to plaintiff in 1998 and plaintiff was, by its own admission in the underlying Enssle action, not a corporate successor to Binks. Plaintiff timely appealed.
¶ 13 Analysis
¶ 14 Standard of Review
¶ 15 Plaintiff argues the court erred in granting defendants' motion for judgment on the pleadings based on its finding defendants had no duty to defend plaintiff against the Enssle complaint. "Any party may seasonably move for judgment on the pleadings" pursuant to section 2-615(e) of the Code. 735 ILCS 5/2-615(e) (West 2008). Judgment on the pleadings is proper when the pleadings disclose no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Gillen v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., 215 Ill. 2d 381, 385 (2005); Intersport, Inc. v. National Collegiate Athletic Ass'n, 381 Ill. App. 3d 312, 318 (2008). It is similar to a motion for summary judgment but is limited to the pleadings. Gillen,215 Ill. 2d at 385; Intersport, Inc., 381 Ill. App. 3d at 318.
¶ 16 In ruling on a motion for judgment on the pleadings, the court must consider only those facts apparent from the face of the pleadings, judicial admissions in the record and matters subject to judicial notice. Gillen, 215 Ill. 2d at 385. A party moving for a section 2-615(e) judgment on the pleadings concedes the truth of the well-pled facts in the respondent's pleadings. McCall v. Devine, 334 Ill. App. 3d 192, 198 (2002). The court must take as true all reasonable inferences from those facts but construe the evidence strictly against the movant and disregard any conclusory allegations and surplusage. McCall, 334 Ill. App. 3d at 198; Gillen v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., 215 Ill. 2d 381, 385 (2005). We reviewa court's order granting or denying a motion for judgment on the pleadings de novo. McCall, 334 Ill. App. 3d at 198.
¶ 17 Plaintiff argues the court erred in finding no duty to defend and granting judgment on the pleadings to defendants on that basis because (1) the purchase agreement expressly assigned to plaintiff all of Binks' rights to a defense for lawsuits such as the Enssle lawsuit and the insurance coverage claim for the Enssle lawsuit; (2) the Enssle suit sought to hold plaintiff liable as a successor to Binks R&D and, plaintiff having purchased substantially all of Binks R&D's assets, it was a successor to Binks' rights under the liability insurance policies; (3) plaintiff was a putative insured under the liability insurance policies; (4) the court improperly relied on documents that were not part of the pleadings; and (5) the court improperly considered new and contradictory facts raised in defendants' motions for judgment on the pleadings.
¶ 18 An insurer's duty to defend arises if the facts alleged in the underlying complaint fall within or potentially within an insurance policy's coverage. Allstate Insurance Co. v. Lane, 345 Ill. App. 3d 547, 550 (2003). To determine whether a duty to defend exists, a court must compare the allegations of the underlying complaint with the relevant coverage provisions of the insurance policy. Allstate Insurance Co., 345 Ill. App. 3d at 550. There is little question that the Enssle complaint triggered defendants' duty to defend Binks, if Binks requested such a defense. Binks was defendants' insured under the policies and the policies covered the period for which Binks was being sued. The question is whether the complaint triggered a duty to defend plaintiff, which was not a named insured on the policies.
¶ 19 Assignment Clause
¶ 20 Plaintiff first argues that defendants had a duty to defend it or reimburse its defense costs against the Enssle lawsuit because it had been assigned the benefits of the insurance policies in section 1.2.9 of its purchase agreement with Binks. Contract interpretation is a question of law, which we review de novo. Marx Transport, Inc. v. Air Express International Corp., 379 Ill. App. 3d 849, 854 (2008). In that vein, assignments are governed by contract law and, therefore, reviewed de novo. Cincinnati Insurance Co. v. American hardware Manufacturers Ass'n, 387 Ill. App. 3d 85, 99 (2008). An assignment happens when some identifiable interest is transferred from the assignor to the assignee. Cincinnati Insurance Co., 387 Ill. App. 3d at 100. All that is needed is a document showing the intent of the assignor to vest ownership in the assignee of the " 'the whole or a part of some particular thing, debt, or chose in action' " that is described with " 'sufficient particularity to render it capable of identification,' " to the assignee. Cincinnati Insurance Co., 387 Ill. App. 3d at 100 (quoting Klehm v. Grecian Chalet, Ltd., 164 Ill. App. 3d 610, 616 (1987)). The assignee receives all the assignor's right, title or interest in the thing assigned and can claim no greater right or interest than the assignor possessed. Cincinnati Insurance Co., 387 Ill. App. 3d at 100. Proof of intent to make the assignment and manifestation of that intent are necessary for a valid assignment. Cincinnati Insurance Co., 387 Ill. App. 3d at 100.
¶ 21 Under section 1.2.9 of the purchase agreement, plaintiff was assigned:
"The benefits, including all rights to defense and indemnity coverage, under any and all policies of liability insurance issued to [Binks] prior to the Closing Date *** with respect to insurance coverage for accidents, occurrences, claim, suits, actions or proceedings arising from the operations, activities or conduct of the Binks Business prior to the Closing Date; provided, however, that such benefits shall transfer to [plaintiff] to the extent liabilities for such accidents, occurrences, claims, suits, actions or proceedings are threatened against, transferred to or otherwise imposed upon [plaintiff]."
¶ 22 Plaintiff argues that, under the plain terms of this section, Binks assigned to plaintiff all Binks' rights to a defense in the Enssle lawsuit because all criteria for the assignment set forth in section 1.2.9 were met: defendants' insurance policies were issued to Binks prior to the closing date in September 1998; the groundwater and soil contamination for which the Enssle suit sought damages was an accident or occurrence that arose from the operations and activities of Binks prior to the closing date; and the liability for the contamination was "threatened against" or "otherwise imposed upon" plaintiff by the Enssle lawsuit.
¶ 23 Plaintiff's argument is premised on its assertion that the Enssles' suit sought to hold plaintiff liable for groundwater and soil contamination that occurred during Binks R&D's tenancy on the property from 1959 to 1998, even though plaintiff did not begin to lease the property until 1998. In other words, that, as required in section 1.2.9, the claims asserted against plaintiff were for "accidents, occurrences, claim, suits, actions or proceedings arising from the operations, activities or conduct of the Binks Business prior to the Closing Date" for which Binks had insurance coverage. The Enssle complaint sought to hold all defendants, including plaintiff, jointly and severally liable for the contamination of the property. It asserted the contamination started sometime during Binks' use of the property, was discovered by the CDPHE in 1990 and was continued and unremediated by Binks thereafter, all of which occurred prior to the closing date. This fact scenario does appear to meet the section 1.2.9 parameters within which Binks assigned all its rights to defense and indemnity coverage to plaintiff.*fn5
¶ 24 Defendants respond that reading the section 1.2.9 assignment as plaintiff suggests would improperly increase defendants' risk because (a) they might have to defend both Binks and plaintiff and (b) the scope of their coverage would increase to cover the period plaintiff used the property, from 1998 to 2003. Defendants would neither have to defend both Binks and plaintiff nor provide a defense for plaintiff's post-purchase. First, an assignee receives all the assignor's right, title or interest in the thing assigned (Cincinnati Insurance Co., 387 Ill. App. 3d at 100), and that is exactly what section 1.2.9 conveys. Pursuant to section 1.2.9, "all" Binks' rights to insurance defense and indemnity coverage would be categorically assigned to plaintiff if certain stated conditions occurred. Giving "all" its customary meaning, this would necessarily mean that, when those conditions did occur and the concomitant assignment to plaintiff of all Binks' rights took place, Binks would not be able to use those rights itself because it retained none of those rights. It had given them all away. So, if plaintiff is correct that section 1.2.9 assigned it all Binks' rights to a defense under the policies, defendants were bound to defend plaintiff and not Binks. They were not bound to defend both Binks and plaintiff. The fact that defendants chose to defend BInks has absolutely no bearing on whether they had a duty to defend plaintiff. It may very well be that defendants defended Binks in error, especially if, as plaintiff asserts, Binks never requested such defense.
¶ 25 Second, an assignee can claim no greater right or interest than the assignor possessed (Cincinnati Insurance Co., 387 Ill. App. 3d at 100) and nothing in the pleadings shows that plaintiff seeks anything from defendants that is beyond the scope of Binks' rights under the policies, i.e., anything more than a defense for occurrences during the policy coverage periods. Indeed, plaintiff had its own insurers for the period after the purchase. Accordingly, defendants's scope of coverage was not increased by the assignment.
¶ 26 We must always interpret a contract as a whole. Joyce v. DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary LLP, 382 Ill. App. 3d 632, 637 (2008). When we do so here, reading section 1.2.9 in context with the rest of the agreement, it is clear that Binks did not assign its actual liability insurance policies to plaintiff. Section 1.2 of the agreement defines the section 1.2.9 insurance defense and coverage benefits as an "asset" plaintiff was purchasing from Binks. Section 1.3.4 then provides that the assets plaintiff purchased did not include any of Binks' liability insurance policies. The section states that, "notwithstanding the above [including section 1.2.9]," Binks retained and did not transfer "all insurance policies of [Binks], including liability *** insurance policies *** other than liability insurance policies in which [plaintiff] is a named insured." Plaintiff is not a named insured on any of Binks' liability insurance policies. Accordingly, under section 1.3.4, Binks retained those policies. Section 1.2.9 transferred only Binks' rights under some of the policies, not the policies themselves.
¶ 27 Notwithstanding defendants' argument to the contrary, interpreting section 1.2.9 as plaintiff suggests would not rob section 1.3.4 of its meaning. It is entirely possible for an entity to retain ownership of its insurance policies while assigning the benefits under those policies to another upon the occurrence of certain specified conditions.*fn6 The named insured may be left without coverage for a particular liability if it gives the benefits of its policies away, but that is the insured's choice to make.
¶ 28 There is nothing in the agreement to show that Binks did not intend to do as section 1.2.9 clearly states: to assign all its benefits under "any and all policies of liability insurance issued to [Binks] prior to the Closing Date" to plaintiff if certain parameters were met. The description of the assignment sufficiently identifies the asset plaintiff purchased and that Binks conveyed. The description is necessarily broad, because neither party knew at the time of purchase whether, which or when liabilities for accidents, occurrences, claims, suits, actions or proceedings arising from the operations, activities or conduct of the Binks business prior to the closing date would be threatened against, transferred to or otherwise imposed upon plaintiff. But it is clear that the asset being conveyed is Binks' rights to defense and liability coverage under the insurance policies it held prior to the purchase date should plaintiff be pursued for any of Binks' actions prior to that date.
¶ 29 Further, in section 3.18 and its accompanying schedule, Binks identified all the insurance policies covering Binks from 1961 to 1998, including the policies at issue here. There would be no need to identify these policies for plaintiff unless, as stated in section 1.2.9, Binks intended to convey to plaintiff the benefits thereunder if plaintiff was subjected, as here, to liability for Binks' activities during the coverage period prior to the closing date.
¶ 30 Section 5.4 of the agreement reinforces our determination that Binks intended to assign all its rights to insurance defense and indemnity coverage under the policies to plaintiff. Section 5.4, titled "Consent of Third Parties," provides:
"Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, this Agreement shall not constitute an agreement to assign or transfer any *** instrument, contract, lease, permit or other agreement or arrangement, or any claim, right or benefit arising thereunder or resulting therefrom, if an assignment or transfer or attempt to make such assignment or transfer without the consent of a third party would constitute a breach or violation therefore, or affect adversely the rights of the Purchaser or Seller thereunder, and any transfer or assignment to [plaintiff] by [Binks] of any interest under any such instrument, contract, lease, permit or other agreement or arrangement that requires the consent of a third party shall be made subject to such consent or approval being obtained."
Section 5.4 then continues that, if the consent is not obtained on or before the closing date, Binks would continue to try to obtain the consent and "will cooperate with [plaintiff] in any lawful and economically feasible arrangement to provide that [plaintiff] shall receive the interest of [Binks] in the benefits under any such [agreement or arrangement], including performance by [Binks], as agent, if economically feasible ***. Nothing in this Section 5.4 shall be deemed a waiver by [plaintiff] of its right to have received on or before the Closing the effective assignment of all of the Acquisition Assets, nor shall this Section 5.4 be deemed to constitute an agreement to exclude from the Acquisition Assets any assets described under Section 2.1"
¶ 31 In other words, if Binks' failure to obtain a third party's consent to an assignment such as the section 1.2.9 assignment of Binks' rights under the policies resulted in a breach of the policies or adversely affected Binks' or plaintiff's rights under the policies, the purchase agreement would not constitute an agreement to assign those benefits and the assignment was made subject to obtaining the necessary consent. However, nothing in section 5.4 was to be deemed a waiver by plaintiff of its right to receive an effective assignment of the assets it purchased, i.e., of the section 1.2.9 assignment of Binks' benefits under the policies. Further, Binks agreed to "cooperate with plaintiff in any lawful and economically feasible arrangement" in order to assure that plaintiff would receive the benefits for which it had bargained, "including performance by [Binks], as agent, if economically feasible." In no way does section 5.4, as defendants suggest, prohibit any assignment that would adversely affect Binks' rights. Instead, Section 5.4 shows that Binks agreed to provide plaintiff with any assigned benefits that proved unavailable because of Binks' failure to obtain consent for that assignment, presumably paid from Binks' own funds.
¶ 32 This is similar to Binks' indemnification of plaintiff in sections 1.9.1 through 1.9.3, in which Binks agreed to indemnify plaintiff for (section 1.9.1) any costs, damages or liability plaintiff suffered arising from Binks' untrue representations, breach of warranty or non-fulfillment of a covenant; (section 1.9.2) any injuries suffered in connection with Binks' liabilities that plaintiff had not expressly assumed; and (section 1.9.3) any of Binks' debts, liabilities or obligations which existed or would arise after the Closing Date for acts or omissions which occurred or existed on or before the closing date, "whether or not then known," including "Schedule 3.21 regarding environmental matters for which [Binks] will indemnify [plaintiff] regardless of any facts or circumstances of which [plaintiff] may have knowledge."*fn7 (Emphasis added.) Indeed, in section 10.3 of the agreement, Binks agreed to indemnify plaintiff for up to $25 million, almost one-third of the approximately $80 million purchase price paid by plaintiff for the asset purchase. Taken as a whole, the contract shows that, in exchange for plaintiff's $80 million, Binks intended to indemnify plaintiff for much that could go wrong or might prove false under the agreement, including its inability to transfer its benefits under the insurance policies due to failure to obtain consent. There is no question Binks intended to assign those benefits to plaintiff. Its failure to request a defense from defendants shows as much.
¶ 33 Consent
¶ 34 This brings us to the question of whether Binks could assign its benefits under the policies without defendants' consent to the assignment. It is uncontested that defendants were not aware of and, therefore, did not agree to Binks' assignment or potential assignment of any policy benefits to plaintiff. Defendants argue, therefore, as they did below, that Binks' insurance rights were not assignable in 1998 absent the insurers' consent and such consent was not given. They assert the insurers' policies all contained consent-to-assignment clauses prohibiting assignment of any interest under the policies without insurer consent. The circuit court granted judgment on the pleadings to defendants partially on this basis, finding that plaintiff did not qualify as an insured under defendants' policies because defendants did not agree to the assignment.
¶ 35 Defendants do not, however, refer us to where the anti-assignment clauses are in the record nor do they quote those clauses. They only refer us to the court's order, which states that there are anti-assignment clauses. To determine whether the consent requirements in the clauses apply to assignment of the policies and/or to assignment of benefits under the policies, we need to see those clauses, in context with whole of the policies, for ourselves. It is defendants' burden to present an argument section "with citation of *** the pages of the record relied on." Ill. S. Ct. R. 341(h)(7) (eff. Sept. 1, 2006). Defendants failed to meet this burden. Since we have no intention of searching through the 25-volume record for these clauses, we need not consider defendants' argument that no assignment of the benefits of the policies occurred because consent to the assignment as required by the policies was not given.
¶ 36 Further, assuming arguendo that thee policies did contain anti-assignment clauses or consent clauses, no consent was needed here for Binks' assignment of its benefits under defendants' policies. The policies are occurrence-based policies - meaning that they provide coverage for occurrences during the coverage period, no matter when the claims for those occurrences might be pursued. They provide protection against future claims for losses that occur during the coverage period, and defendants could expect to pay for such losses, possibly many years after the policy expired. Assignment of payment for those losses or of a defense relating to those losses, incurred by a named insured during the policy period and assigned after the loss has been incurred, does not require consent even if the policy contains an anti-assignment or consent provision because it involves the payment of a claim already accrued.
¶ 37 The purpose of an anti-assignment clause is to prevent the increase of risk to an insurer without the insurer's consent. National Discount Shoes, Inc. v. Royal Globe Insurance Co., 99 Ill. App. 3d 54, 58 (1981). The insurer has the right to the benefit it anticipates from the character, credit and substance of the party with which it contracted. Ginsburg v. Bull Dog Auto Fire Insurance Ass'n of Chicago, 328 Ill. 571, 573 (1928). However, once an insurance policy has been executed, those elements are no longer material and all that remains to be done under the policy is to pay the amount due, if any. Ginsburg, 328 Ill. at 573. The insurer had the opportunity to choose its insured, to choose the risks attendant to the insured's business operations that it wished to cover and to choose how much it wanted to charge for covering the risks. Once the policy is executed, the risks are set. Whether a named insured or an assignee claims coverage or defense for the occurrences/risks covered by the policy, those risks remain the same.
¶ 38 Once an insurance policy is executed, it only remains to be seen whether any occurrences/losses for which the insurer took on the risk and the insured bought coverage will occur during the policy coverage period and whether claims for those losses will be brought. The risks do not change or increase after the period expires or if someone other than the named insured seeks coverage for losses. The final dollar amount of the defense/liability might be in question but the underlying risk is the same.
¶ 39 If Binks had assigned its benefits under the policies to multiple parties, defendants might have been required to defend the same action multiple times and its risks could arguably have been increased by the assignment. But Binks only assigned its benefits to a single assignee and the risk to defendants, therefore, remained the same. As stated previously, when Binks transferred its rights to a defense to plaintiff, it no longer had those rights because it gave them all away.
" 'The idea that an insurer would have to defend both the transferor and the transferee for the same risk is not sound. If the right to a defense has been transferred to a successor, the transferor no longer has that right. The right cannot both be transferred and retained.' " Cincinnati Insurance Co., 387 Ill. App. 3d at 105 (quoting Pilkington North America, Inc. v. Travelers Casualty & Surety Co., 2006-Ohio-6551, 861 N.E. 2d, at ¶ 75 (2006)).
Defendants would not have to defend both Binks and plaintiff and the risks it contracted for would remain the same after the assignment.
¶ 40 There is a difference between assignment of an insurance policy before loss and assignment of a claim for loss after the loss has occurred. Ginsburg, 328 Ill. at 572. An assignment of a policy after loss relates to the cause of action and not to the policy. Ginsburg, 328 Ill. at 574. Therefore, notwithstanding the existence of an anti-assignment or consent provision, a policy may be assigned after a loss without notice to or consent of the insurer, unless such is required by statute. Ginsburg, 328 Ill. at 574.
"An assignment after loss is not the assignment of the policy but the assignment of a claim or debt - a chose in action." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Ginsburg, 328
Ill. at 574.
¶ 41 "An insurance policy that is assigned after a claim arises is an assignment of the policy proceeds; such a transaction results in an assignment of a chose in action which does not require the insurer's consent." Young v. Chicago Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n, 180 Ill. App. 3d 280, 285 (1989).
" '[T]he great weight of authority supports the rule that general stipulations in policies prohibiting assignments thereof except with consent of the insurer apply to assignments before loss only, and do not prevent an assignment after loss, for the obvious reason that the clause by its own terms ordinarily prohibits merely the assignment of the policy, as distinguished from a claim arising thereunder, and the assignment before loss involves a transfer of a contractual relationship while the assignment after loss is the transfer of a right to a money claim.' " Young, 180 Ill. App. 3d at 284 (quoting 16 Mark S. Rhodes, Couch Cyclopedia of Insurance Law, § 63:40, at 763-65 (2d rev. ed. 1983)).
So the question is whether the assignment here occurred before or after the loss.
¶ 42 We find the assignment occurred after the loss.
"[A]n insured's loss would seem to be his or her injury, whether to himself, property, or business expectations. Under a fire policy, for example, an insured's loss may be the damage to the burned building, contents, and interruption of business. The loss would not equate with the actual reconstruction of the building ***." Loyola University Medical Center v. Med Care HMO, 180 Ill. App. 3d 471, 477 f.2 (1989).
Following this reasoning, contrary to the circuit court's finding, we find the chose in action here was not the Enssle suit, which was filed in 2003 and a defense to which could, therefore, not have been assigned in 1998. Rather, the chose in action came into existence when the contamination of the property occurred, when the loss for which Binks had arguably bought coverage came about. Once an injury or loss occurs, the chose in action is established and assignable without the consent of the insurer. Ginsburg, 328 Ill. at 573.
¶ 43 Pursuant to the Enssle complaint, the contamination occurred well before the assignment in 1998. The Enssles asserted the CDPHE found environmental violations, including soil contamination, in 1990, and Binks knew about its obligation to remediate the problem and failed to do so. Further, in section 3.24 of the 1998 purchase agreement, Binks disclosed to plaintiff that it was involved in proceedings with the CDPHE regarding "contamination of soil and groundwater" at the property. Since the problems were discovered in 1990 and, as BInks disclosed in 1998, it was still dealing with the CDPHE over that contamination at the time of the purchase, the contamination must necessarily have occurred prior to the purchase/assignment. Defendants admitted such in their answers to plaintiff's complaint, stating that the allegations in the Enssle complaint "rest significantly upon the ongoing claims of the CDPHE since 1990."
The contamination existed well before the sale of Binks' assets in 1998 and any chose in action based on that contamination was, therefore, assignable in 1998. What Binks assigned was its then-present conditional right to the insurance proceeds and a valid assignment of a conditional right is enforceable in equity. Loyola University Medical Center, 180 Ill. App. 3d at 478.
¶ 44 We find no merit to defendants' assertion that plaintiff is judicially estopped from asserting its rights as an assignee. Defendants argue that plaintiff's position that it was assigned all Binks' rights to coverage is inconsistent with its earlier position in the bankruptcy action that Binks retained all its coverage. Putting aside the question of whether documents from the bankruptcy proceeding, i.e., documents arguably outside the pleadings, can be relied on in deciding a motion for judgment on the pleadings, we do not find plaintiff's assertions inconsistent. Here, plaintiff is only seeking a defense for property damage that occurred during the coverage period of defendants' policies, 1976 through 1986.
¶ 45 As plaintiff explained to the bankruptcy courtwhen it requested relief from the automatic stay in Binks' bankruptcy case, it intended to file a cross-claim against Binks in the Enssle case in order to enforce its contractual indemnification rights against Binks under the purchase agreement "against [Binks'] insurance coverage." Plaintiff told the bankruptcy court its cross-claim against Binks "could permit it to recover part or all of its indemnification claim against [Binks] from [Binks'] insurance carriers." As discussed previously, Binks had agreed to indemnify plaintiff for a myriad of costs, liabilities and problems that might arise as a result of Binks' actions prior to the purchase or under the agreement. Schedule 3.18 of the agreement lists all the insurance policies maintained by Binks, covering from 1961 to 1998, 43 pages of them. Binks did not just have defendants' policies, it had a score of others, among them contractual liability and general liability policies that could be called on by Binks to pay the judgment on plaintiff's cross-claims, policies entirely unrelated to the policies providing plaintiff with a defense against liability for Binks' contamination of the property. Plaintiff's position in the bankruptcy court is not inconsistent with its stance here and it is not estopped from arguing it was assigned Binks' right to a defense under defendants' policies.
¶ 46 Based on the pleadings, we find that plaintiff sufficiently showed that it had been assigned Binks' right to a defense under Binks' insurance policies with defendants, the assignment was valid, no consent was required for the assignment and the Enssle complaint on its face alleged facts within or potentially within coverage, seeking to hold plaintiff jointly and severally liable for Binks' actions/contamination of the property throughout Binks tenancy which included the coverage period of defendants' policies.
¶ 47 "The threshold for pleading a duty to defend is minimal. [Citation.] If an underlying complaint alleges facts within or potentially within coverage, an insurer is obligated to defend its insured even if the allegations are groundless, false or fraudulent." Cincinnati Insurance Co., 387 Ill. App. 3d at 107. An insurer can justifiably refuse to defend an insured only if it is clear from the face of the underlying complaint that the allegations do not state acts which bring the cause of action within or potentially within coverage. Cincinnati Insurance Co., 387 Ill. App. 3d at 108. Here, the underlying complaint sufficiently alleged that the loss occurred during the period of coverage and, concomitantly, that the conditions upon which the assignment would take place had occurred. Defendants, therefore, had a duty to defend plaintiff and the court erred in finding otherwise. Given this determination, we need not address plaintiff's other points of error.
¶ 48 For the reasons stated above, we reverse the finding of the circuit court granting judgment on the pleadings to defendants and order it to grant judgment on the pleadings to plaintiff.
¶ 49 Reversed and remanded.
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US approves first nuclear plant in decades
Commissioners of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) voted 4-1 to approve the construction of two 1,100 megawatt Westinghouse-Toshiba AP1000 at power generator at Vogtle in Georgia.
The site for the proposed plant already has two old reactors.
Only one member of the five-person NRC, Chairman Gregory Jaczko, dissented, citing safety concerns following a triple meltdown last year at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan.
He argued that the new licenses don't go far enough in requiring the builders to incorporate lessons learned from the Japanese nuclear disaster last year.
"In a 4-1 vote, the Commission found the staff's review adequate to make the necessary regulatory safety and environmental findings, clearing the way for the NRC's Office of New Reactors to issue the COLs (combined licenses)," a official release said.
The Commission imposed a condition on the COLs requiring inspection and testing of squib valves, important components of the new reactors' passive cooling system, it said.
The NRC certified Westinghouse's amended AP1000 design on December 30, 2011.
The AP1000 is an electric pressurised-water reactor that includes passive safety features that would cool down the reactor after an accident without the need for electricity or human intervention, it said.
The NRC decision in this regard is significant one. Though the last new nuclear reactors came up in 1996; this is for the first time that NRC issued a license to build a new reactor after 1978.
The US froze construction of nuclear power plants after the partial core meltdown at Three Mile Island in 1979.
Congressman Joe Barton, Chairman Emeritus of the House Energy and Commerce Committee applauded the NRC's decision.
"For the first time since parachute pants and shoulder pads were all the rage, construction will soon begin on two new nuclear reactors," he said.

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Prices, promotions, styles and availability may vary by store and online.
Action - Bolt Action
Caliber - .243 Win.
Barrel Length - 20"
Weight - 7.4 Lbs.
Sights - Tasco 3-9x40mm Scope
The most respected bolt-action rifle in the world, the Model 70 remains the all-American rifleman's rifle. The Model 70 features Winchester's M.O.A. trigger system, improved fit and finish, and enhanced accuracy to go along with its classic pre-'64 controlled round feeding, three-position safety and solid, sure handling. This rifle features a Tasco 3-9x40mm scope and a 3-position safety. Its wood and metal are in good condition and its bore is in very good condition.


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Insurance regulator to examine hybrids
The US National Association of Insurance Commissioners is setting up a new working group to examine the classification of hybrids. The move follows a dampening of demand for the security following new rules the US insurance regulator introduced earlier this year.
The issuance of hybrid capital, which has features of debt and equity, increased last year following Moody's decision to change the way it assessed the instrument, classifying it with a rating closer to debt than equity.
This was reversed this year with the insurance regulator's decision to classify Ecaps, a hybrid structure developed by Lehman Brothers, as common equity. Following the classification Ecaps have had a much higher risk weighting than debt.
Yesterday two NAIC task forces met to hear public testimony on the regulatory treatment of hybrids in a meeting attended by more than 250 regulators, financial and insurance industry representatives.
The regulator said it will establish a new working group within the next week, and it will be charged with reporting recommendations and clarification for the appropriate regulatory treatment of hybrid securities.
A report is expected at the NAIC national meeting in September.


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Primary skill -Core Javaneed strong hands on over core java, Multithreading, OOPs and design patterns.Should be technically very sound.
Core Java
More applications and a highlighted profile mean more chances of getting noticed.
The new Application Feedback facility for Platinum Members helps you know the status of your application when you believe a job is highly suited to you.
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Bechtel is among the most respected engineering, construction, and project management companies in the world.
Together with our customers, we deliver landmark projects—the modern marvels of the world—that foster sustainable progress and grow economies.
With every project we undertake, no matter the scale, we place a core focus on protecting people and the environment, promoting local economic development, and partnering with communities and society.
For the second time in four years, Bechtel and its joint-venture partner ENKA have won an International Road Federation (IRF) Global Road Achievement Award for the Kosovo motorway project.
Bechtel has been recognized as one of the U.S. Navy Reserve's "Outstanding Navy Reserve Employers" for 2016.
The inaugural list of the UK's Top 50 Women in Engineering has been published on National Women in Engineering Day. Two Bechtel senior, female engineers have been recognized for their contribution to the industry.
Bechtel has extended its partnership with the Central African nation of Gabon, which it has been working with since 2010 to create and implement a $25 billion national infrastructure plan. Together they have established a national infrastructure agency to deliver approximately a hundred projects spanning transportation, housing, education and medical facilities, water and waste management. Achievements so far include completion of more than 800 homes, 600 classrooms, 600 kilometers of roads and Gabon's first community wastewater treatment plant.
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Since our founding in 1898, we have delivered to our customers:
Infrastructure Quality, Environmental and Health and Safety policies are available on request, please contact us.
Please contact Linsey Hamilton, Bechtel Marketing Representative.


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Content That cdthorste Likes
cdthorste 1,396 Views
Joined Sep 29, '12. Posts: 14 (57% Liked) Likes: 28
Jul 27By nurse_kimbo In Is there a JOB i can get after being reported to GROUP ONE in TX..black listed :( →
I'm sorry for your situation, we're all just human. Maybe there is some kind of continuing education clss you could take that would look beneficial on your resume? It seems our society places a high value on rehabbing yourself (even if it's just for simple human error). I would look for options that would make me "look good on paper". I'm sure there is something you can do, and I hope you find what works for you. *hugs*
May 30
I would approach her and thank her for giving you feedback. Then ask her how she would have handled it because you are learning.
Mar 31
That is absurd. Leave Texas.
Feb 18By Farawyn In Insensitive Husband →
If you want to know her opinion better, ask her, not us.
Nov 25 '15
If the threats during staff meetings are correct, then breathing wrong will make you loose it :P