Landmark Am. Ins. Co v. Hilger

Hilger, the president of Allied, which provides customized products to financial institutions, was named in separate lawsuits brought by credit unions in Michigan and Tennessee. Hilger’s codefendants include O’Malley, who sells life insurance through O’MA, and Phillips, who brokers the sale of life-insurance to third parties through Berkshire and Capital. The credit unions allege that the defendants persuaded them to fund loans used to pay life-insurance premiums by overstating the value of the policies that would serve as collateral. Hilger tendered his defense to Landmark under a professional liability policy held by O’MA. Although Hilger is not a named insured under O’MA’s policy, the policy defines “covered persons and entities” to include O’MA’s independent contractors. Landmark sought a declaratory judgment that it has no duty to defend, arguing that Hilger did not perform the professional services at issue in the Michigan and Tennessee suits as an O’MA independent contractor. The district court, applying Illinois law, entered judgment on the pleadings for Hilger. The Seventh Circuit reversed. Landmark is entitled to take discovery and offer evidence regarding the true nature of Hilger’s relationship to O’MA. Judgment on the pleadings was inappropriate. Under Illinois law an insurer that seeks a declaration of its duty to defend may offer evidence outside the underlying complaint for purposes of establishing that no duty exists. View "Landmark Am. Ins. Co v. Hilger" on Justia Law