Summary
holding that the subrogation waiver applies to post-construction losses and that the plain language of the AIA General Conditions obviates the need to ascertain the contracting parties' intent
Summary of this case from Superior Court Corcoran Mgmt. v. Fireguard Automatic Sprinkler Co.Opinion
Civil Action No. 06-1488 (JBS).
December 21, 2007
A. Richard Bailey, Esq., COZEN O'CONNOR, P.C., Philadelphia, PA, Attorney for Plaintiff Argonaut Great Central Insurance Company.
Jay A. Gebauer, Esq., POST SCHELL, P.C., Princeton, NJ, Attorney for DiTocco Konstruction, Inc.
Linton W. Turner, Jr., Esq., CRAWSHAW, MAYFIELD, TURNER, O'MARA, DONNELLY McBRIDE, Cherry Hill, NJ, Attorney for Ronald G. Maise, d/b/a Gloucester County Plumbing.
Michael J. Revness, Esq., KURTZ REVNESS, P.C., Wayne, PA, Attorney for John Suggs, d/b/a JMS Services.
OPINION
This matter arises out of a fire that occurred at a T.G.I. Friday's restaurant in Turnersville, New Jersey in 2005. In short, Plaintiff Argonaut Great Central Insurance Co., as alleged subrogee for the owners of the T.G.I. Friday's, brings negligence and breach of warranty claims against DiTocco Konstruction, Inc., John Suggs (d/b/a JMS Services) and Ronald G. Maise (d/b/a Gloucester County Plumbing) (collectively, the "Defendants"). Defendants now individually move for summary judgment [Docket Item Nos. 40, 45 and 47] on the grounds that Argonaut's insureds, the owners of the T.G.I. Friday's, had previously waived any subrogation rights they had against the Defendants. The central issue in this case is whether the waiver of the subrogation clause present in the construction contract between the owners of the T.G.I. Friday's and the Defendants applies to post-construction losses. For the reasons expressed below, the Court holds that the waiver does apply to post-construction losses. Therefore, the Court will grant the Defendants' motions for summary judgment.
I. BACKGROUND
A. The 1999-2000 Renovation of the T.G.I. Friday's Restaurant
This matter involves a T.G.I. Friday's restaurant located on Route 42 in Turnersville, New Jersey. The restaurant is owned by two entities: Brick Township Pubs, Inc. and Northeast Concepts, Inc. (collectively, the "Owners"). In August, 1999, Brick Township Pubs, Inc. entered into an agreement with a construction company named Design Kontractors, Inc. to renovate and remodel the restaurant. The agreement between the parties governing the construction of the restaurant is called Standard Form of Agreement between Owner and Contractor, AIA Document A101-1997 (the "Construction Contract"). Defendant DiTocco Konstruction, Inc. actually performed the renovation and remodeling work contemplated in the Construction Contract, serving as general contractor for the restaurant renovation project. Defendants Ronald G. Maiese (d/b/a Gloucester County Plumbing) and John Suggs (d/b/a JMS Services) served as subcontractors on the project.
According to the Affidavit of Thomas H. DiGiorgio (president of DiTocco Konstruction, Inc.), although the original Construction Contract was executed by Design Kontractors, Inc., the job was completely re-bid due to a change order and construction did not actually begin until February 19, 2000. (DiTocco Konstruction Reply Br. at Ex. A, Affidavit of Thomas H. DiGiorgio ¶ 7.) The parties disagree on the relationship between Design Kontractors, Inc. and DiTocco Konstruction, Inc. According to Plaintiff, DiTocco Konstruction, Inc. and Design Kontractors, Inc. are separate companies. According to DiTocco Konstruction, Design Kontractors, Inc. was merged into DiTocco Konstruction, Inc. in February of 2000 (with DiTocco Konstruction as the surviving entity). This was accomplished upon the filing of Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State in Florida in 2000, prior to the start of construction. (Articles of Merger of Design Kontractors, Inc. into DiTocco Construction, Inc.) Pursuant to the merger, DiTocco Konstruction assumed all rights and liabilities under the Construction Contract. (DiGiorgio Aff. ¶¶ 5-7.) Thus, at the time construction began, Design Kontractors and DiTocco Konstruction were fully merged and the surviving entity was DiTocco Konstruction.
B. The Standard Form of Agreement between Owner and Contractor, AIA Document A101-1997
The Construction Contract, Standard Form AIA Document A101-1997, incorporates by reference a document titled General Conditions of the Contract for Construction known as AIA Document A201-1991 (the "General Conditions"). The General Conditions includes a waiver of subrogation provision (Section 11.4.7) which states:
The Owner and Contractor waive all rights against (1) each other and any of their subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, agents and employees . . . for damages caused by fire, or other causes of loss to the extent covered by property insurance obtained pursuant to this paragraph 11.4 or other property insurance applicable to the Work, . . . A waiver of subrogation shall be effective as to a person or entity even though that person or entity would otherwise have a duty of indemnification, contractual or otherwise, did not pay the insurance premium directly or indirectly, and whether or not the person or entity had an insurable interest in the property damaged.
General Conditions § 11.4.7. "Work" is defined as "the construction and services required by the Contract Documents, whether completed or partially completed, and includes all other labor, materials, equipment and services provided or to be provided. . . ." General Conditions § 1.1.3.
The General Conditions also contains a subrogation continuation clause for damages suffered after Work is completed. The clause states, in pertinent part:
If . . . after final payment property insurance is to be provided on the completed Project through a policy or policies other than those insuring the Project during the construction period, the Owner shall waive all rights in accordance with the terms of Section 11.4.7 for damages caused by fire or other causes of loss covered by this separate property insurance. All separate policies shall provide this waiver of subrogation by endorsement or otherwise.
General Conditions § 11.4.5. The meaning of this subrogation continuation clause is at the heart of this dispute.
C. The Fire at the T.G.I. Friday's Restaurant
On February 15, 2005, almost five years after the project was completed, a fire destroyed the restaurant and all of the equipment inside. According to the Gloucester County Fire Marshal's report, heat from the restaurant's kitchen broiler ignited an accumulation of grease inside the wall behind the broiler. The fire occurred, according to the fire marshal's report, because DiTocco Konstruction and its subcontractors negligently installed a broiler and broiler table directly against a combustible wood wall in the kitchen of the restaurant and the contractors failed to seal cut-outs in the wall made in order to run natural gas lines to the broiler. Because the cut-outs were unsealed, grease was permitted to accumulate inside the wall.
At the time of the fire, Argonaut Great Central Insurance Co. ("Plaintiff") insured the premises and business property located therein through a policy issued to the Owners. After the Owners made claims upon the policy, Plaintiff paid them $3,224,290.99 to repair and replace the damaged property and for lost profit and extra expenses incurred as a result of the fire.
In 2004, Brick Township Pubs, Inc. and Northeast Concepts purchased a commercial property insurance policy from Plaintiff Argonaut which insured the restaurant property from October 1, 2004 to October 1, 2005.
D. Procedural History
Plaintiff, as alleged subrogee, filed a six-count Complaint on March 30, 2006 alleging claims against DiTocco Konstruction, Inc., Gloucester County Plumbing and JMS Services for negligence and breach of warranty. Defendant DiTocco Konstruction moved for summary judgment, [Docket Item No. 40], followed by Defendants JMS Services and Gloucester County Plumbing. [Docket Item Nos. 45, 47.] Briefing was completed and the Court heard oral argument on the motions on August 9, 2007. II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
While the motions for summary judgment were pending before the Court, all Defendants, individually, filed motions for leave to file an amended answer and additional affirmative defenses. [Docket Item Nos. 44, 46, 49.] Specifically, each Defendant sought to amend their answer to add the affirmative defense of waiver of subrogation rights. These three motions relate to the three motions for summary judgment because, in opposition to the Defendants' motions for summary judgment, Plaintiff argues that Defendants have waived the right to assert an affirmative defense of waiver. These three motions were granted by Magistrate Judge Donio on August 8, 2007 and all three Defendants filed amended answers between August 9 and 13 that included the affirmative defense of waiver of subrogation rights. [Docket Item Nos. 64, 65, 69.]
Summary judgment is appropriate when the materials of record "show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). In deciding whether there is a disputed issue of material fact, the court must view the evidence in favor of the non-moving party by extending any reasonable favorable inference to that party; in other words, "the nonmoving party's evidence `is to be believed, and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in [that party's] favor.'" Hunt v. Cromartie, 526 U.S. 541, 552 (1999) (quoting Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986)). The threshold inquiry is whether there are "any genuine factual issues that properly can be resolved only by a finder of fact because they may reasonably be resolved in favor of either party." Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. at 250; Brewer v. Quaker State Oil Ref. Corp., 72 F.3d 326, 329-30 (3d Cir. 1995) (citation omitted).
A dispute is "genuine" if "the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party."See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). A fact is "material" only if it might affect the outcome of the suit under the applicable rule of law. See id. Disputes over irrelevant or unnecessary facts will not preclude a grant of summary judgment. See id.
The moving party always bears the initial burden of showing that no genuine issue of material fact exists, regardless of which party ultimately would have the burden of persuasion at trial. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986);Country Floors v. Gepner, 930 F.2d 1056, 1061-63 (3d Cir. 1991).
III. DISCUSSION
A. Waiver of Subrogation Rights
Defendants JMS Services and Gloucester County Plumbing also argued that waiver of the subrogation provision in the Construction Contract precludes a subrogation claim by Plaintiff not only against DiTocco Konstruction, but against the subcontractors, JMS Services and Gloucester County Plumbing. At oral argument, Plaintiff conceded as much, stating that if the Court rules that DiTocco Konstruction (the general contractor) has the benefit of the waiver of subrogation, JMS Services and Gloucester County Plumbing (the subcontractors) do as well.
According to Defendants, the entire basis for Plaintiff's claims is subrogation of its insureds, the Owners of the restaurant. Defendants argue that, under the plain meaning of the General Conditions (which is a document incorporated by reference by the Construction Contract), the Owners are precluded from asserting subrogation claims against either the general contractor or any subcontractor. Indeed, the Construction Contract reads that "the Owners and Contractor waive all [subrogation] rights against (1) each other and any of their subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, agents and employees . . . for damages caused by fire or other causes of loss to the extent covered by property insurance . . . or other property insurance applicable to the Work. . . ." General Conditions at § 11.4.7. Thus, according to Defendants, this clear and unambiguous language must be enforced as written and consequently, summary judgment should be granted in favor of Defendants.
In asserting its subrogation claims against Defendants, Plaintiff (as alleged subrogee) is, in effect, "stepping into the shoes" of the insured, the Owners of the T.G.I. Friday's. As a subrogee, then, Plaintiff has no more rights than those of its insureds. See Aetna Ins. Co. v. Gilchrist Bros., Inc., 85 N.J. 550, 560 (1981); Commercial Union Ins. Co. v. Bituminous Cas. Corp., 851 F.2d 98, 100 (3d Cir. 1988). In addition, subrogation waiver clauses in construction contracts are recognized and enforceable under New Jersey law. See Sch. Alliance Ins. Fund v. Fama Constr. Co., 353 N.J. Super. 131 (Law Div. 1988), aff'd 353 N.J. Super. 1 (App.Div. 2002) (holding that the purpose of waivers of subrogation is to place the risk of loss on the insurer regardless of the relative fault of the parties);Commercial Union Ins. Co., 851 F.2d at 101. Moreover, the additional purpose of such a waiver of subrogation is to prevent a windfall to insurers at the expense of contractors, where insurers presumably have considered the risk of loss in establishing premiums and, in such cases, "the insurer should not have the ability to recoup that loss by subrogation against the other parties allegedly causing the loss." Id.
In Sch. Alliance Ins. Fund, a property owner's insurer, acting as the owner's subrogee, brought an action against the construction manager, general contractor and subcontractors to recover money spent for cleanup, removal and rebuilding of walls.See 353 N.J. Super. at 134. In holding that the insurer had no subrogation right against either the general contractor or the subcontractor, the New Jersey court found that the purpose behind the mutual waiver of subrogation was "to assure that, to the extent any loss is covered by a policy [of insurance], the insurer should bear the risk of loss, regardless of any fault on the part of one or both of the parties." Id. at 140.
Thus, it follows that if the subrogation clause in the General Conditions applies to post-construction losses (as discussed in Section III.B, infra), Plaintiff will be contractually barred from bringing this subrogation action, as next discussed.
Plaintiff argues that DiTocco Konstruction cannot use the terms and conditions of the Construction Contract (or General Conditions) as the basis for a motion for summary judgment because the Construction Contract was between Brick Township Pubs, Inc. and Design Kontractors, Inc. (not DiTocco Konstruction). According to Plaintiff, the Construction Contract does not reference the interest of DiTocco Konstruction.
Plaintiff contends that, under New Jersey law, a contract is not binding upon non-signatories to the contract. See Comley v. First Camden Nat'l Bank, 36 A.2d 591, 593 (N.J.Super.Ct. 1944) (an action on a contract cannot be maintained against a person who is not a party to it). Indeed, according to Plaintiff, a waiver of subrogation is an exculpatory agreement, a release which, like any contract under New Jersey law, can only bind the individuals who signed it. See Gershon v. Regency Diving Ctr., Inc., 368 N.J. Super. 237, 246 (App.Div. 2004). Because the only signatories to the Construction Contract are Brick Township Pubs and Design Kontractors, Inc., no other party (including DiTocco Konstruction) can rely on the contract for a defense. At best, according to Plaintiff, there is a genuine issue of material fact regarding whether Plaintiff's subrogation claims against DiTocco Konstruction and its subcontractors are barred by the waiver of subrogation provision in the Construction Contract because there are factual issues regarding DK's contention that Design Kontractors is now DiTocco Konstruction.
The Court disagrees and finds that DiTocco Konstruction does have standing to raise the waiver of subrogation in the Construction Contract (and General Condition) as a defense because on February 11, 2000 Design Kontractors, Inc. was merged with DiTocco Konstruction with DiTocco Konstruction being the surviving entity. According to the articles of merger, DiTocco Konstruction assumed all rights and liabilities under the Construction Contract. Moreover, under New Jersey law, after a merger of two companies takes place, the surviving corporation possess all the rights, privileges and immunities of each of the merging corporations. See N.J. Stat. Ann. 14A:10-6(e). Consequently, DiTocco Konstruction is entitled to use the waiver of subrogation in the Construction Contract in defense of this action.
B. Whether the Waiver of Subrogation Applies to Post-Construction Damage
1. The Parties' Positions
The more complex issue here is whether the waiver of subrogation contained in the General Condition applies to post-construction losses, as is the case here. Defendants argue (and Plaintiff agrees) that neither state nor federal courts in New Jersey have addressed the issue of subrogation waivers involving post-construction losses. In support of their position that the subrogation waiver in the Construction Contract covers the loss at issue in this case, Defendants make a number of arguments. First, Defendants argue that the plain language of the Construction Contract states that the waiver of subrogation applies to post-construction damages. Defendants' interpretation of the plain language of the Construction Contract, according to Defendants, is buttressed by the commentary to the Construction Contract which states that the waiver of subrogation in Section 11.4.5 extends to other policies of insurance that a property owner may purchase. Second, Defendants cite numerous cases from other jurisdictions in which courts, when presented with claims arising from post-construction damage, have granted summary judgment on behalf of contractors and subcontractors based upon waiver of subrogation language virtually identical to the Construction Contract. See Midwestern Indem. Co. v. Sys. Builders, Inc., 801 N.E. 2d 661, 669 (Ind.Ct.App. 2004); Royal Surplus Lines Ins. Co. v. Weis Builders, Inc., 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16316, *3 (W.D. Ky. 2006); Town of Silverton v. Phoenix Heat Source System, Inc., 948 P.2d 9, 13 (Colo.Ct.App. 1997);Colonial Properties Realty L.P. v. Lowder Constr. Co., Ins., 256 Ga. App. 106 (Ga.Ct.App. 2002).
Plaintiff argues that the waiver of subrogation in the Construction Contract does not bar Plaintiff's claims against Defendants because the waiver of subrogation only applies to losses that occurred during the construction project and the fire at issue occurred almost five years after the construction of the building was completed. Indeed, the "Work" contemplated in the contract was substantially completed in May, 2000 and the fire occurred well after the Work was completed and the final payment made. According to Plaintiff, the case law cited by Defendants in support of their position (1) is readily distinguishable from the present case (see School Alliance Ins. Fund, 353 N.J. Super. at 1), or (2) should not be followed by this Court in light of a more recent case on point from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, namely, Lumbermens Mut. Cas. Co. v. Grinnell Corp., 477 F. Supp. 2d 327 (D. Mass. 2007) (Gorton, J.).
First, Plaintiff argues that this Court is not bound by the holding of School Alliance Ins. Fund, because the case is distinguishable from the facts of the present case. School Alliance Ins. Fund, according to Plaintiff, stands for the well-settled proposition that waivers of subrogation bar builder's risk insurers from pursuing subrogation claims against contractors for property damages that occur during the construction project. See 353 N.J. Super. at 140. Plaintiff argues that this case is distinguishable because the defendant did not seek waiver of subrogation based on post-construction losses.
Next, Plaintiff argues that this Court should not extend the waiver of subrogation to post-construction losses as the courts in Silverton, Colonial Properties Realities, L.P., and Midwestern Indem. Co. did. Rather, Plaintiff urges this Court to follow the holding of the District of Massachusetts in Lumbermens, in which the court analyzed the waiver language in the AIA 201-1997 General Conditions, Silverton, Colonial Properties Realities, L.P., and Midwestern Indem. Co., and determined that the AIA waiver of subrogation does not extend to post-construction losses. Lumbermens, 477 F. Supp. 3d at 331. Plaintiff highlights three points raised in Lumbermens that are also applicable in this case:
First, the Silverton court relied on the fact that the parties agreed to extend the same insurance policy that was in effect during the construction project and, along with it, the related waiver of subrogation rights. Specifically, Judge Gorton held that:
The same insurance policy (in Silverton) provided coverage for the town hall from construction to the fire [nearly a year and one-half after construction ended]. Silverton is, however, distinguishable from the instant case because the parties here did not agree to extend an existing insurance policy. Rather, the policy covering the construction period terminated on the date of the last payment and the plaintiff subsequently purchased a separate, post construction policy. [Thus] Silverton does not . . . stand for the proposition that a waiver of subrogation rights automatically extends to a separate policy purchased after final payment on the project.Lumbermens, 477 F. Supp. 2d at 331-32. Plaintiff argues that the same distinction exists here, as the Owners added the restaurant to their commercial policy after substantial completion of the construction project and final payment was made. Second, Plaintiff argues that this Court, like the court in Lumbermens, should reject the argument put forth by Defendants that § 11.4.5 applies to post-construction losses. According to Plaintiff, the words "to be provided" indicate that § 11.4.5 applies only to a situation in which the parties agree, in advance, that post-construction property insurance will be provided by the Owner — not to cases such as this where the parties did not contemplate such a policy as part of the construction contract.See Lumbermens, 477 F. Supp. 2d at 331. Finally, Plaintiff argues, as the Court held in Lumbermens, that the primary policy justification for enforcing a waiver of subrogation is to prevent protracted disputes during the course of the construction project. According to Plaintiffs (and the court in Lumbermens), the same policy justifications are not implicated after the construction is completed.
2. Analysis
As it must, this Court's analysis of whether the waiver of subrogation rights extends to post-construction losses begins with the Court interpreting the contracts at issue in this case (the Construction Contract (AIA A101-1997) and the General Conditions (AIA A201-1997)). Under New Jersey law, "when interpreting an insurance policy, courts should give the policy's words their plain, ordinary meaning." Colliers Lanard Axilbund v. Lloyds of London, 458 F.3d 231, 236 (3d Cir. 2006) (quoting NAV-ITS, Inc. v. Selective Ins. Co. of Am., 183 N.J. 110, 118 (2005)). "When the terms of the contract are clear and unambiguous, the Court is without power to do anything but enforce those terms." Harbour Cove Marine Servs. v. Rabinowitz, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36794, *8-9 (D.N.J. 2005); see also Mellon Bank, N.A. v. Aetna Business Credit, Inc., 619 F.2d 1001, 1009 (3d Cir. 1980) ("Courts must eschew the ideal of ascertaining the parties' subjective intent and instead bind parties by the objective manifestations of their intent.")
As a preliminary matter and addressing an issue raised by Plaintiff at oral argument, the Court finds that the parties are bound by the terms and conditions of the General Conditions (A201-1997) as well as by the terms of the Construction Contract. This is because the Construction Contract (A101-1997) signed by both parties incorporates by reference the General Conditions. The fact that the terms of the General Conditions are incorporated is highlighted in several places in the Construction Contract. First, the first page of the Construction Contract states that "AIA Document A201-1997, General Conditions of the Contract for Construction, is adopted in this document by reference." Second, Article 1 of the Construction Contract, states that the "Contract Documents" that bind the parties consist of "this Agreement, Conditions of the Contract (General, Supplemental and other Conditions), Drawings, Specifications, [and] Addenda issued prior to execution. . . ." Finally, Article 7.1 of the Construction Contract states that "[w]here reference is made in this Agreement to a provision of AIA Document A201-1997 . . . the reference refers to that provision as amended or supplemented by other provision of the Contract Documents." Thus, the terms and conditions contained in the General Conditions apply to this dispute.
Here, the Court finds that the language of Section 11.4.5 of the General Conditions is unambiguous and clearly extends the waiver of subrogation to post-construction losses suffered by the Owners. The Court's interpretation of the General Conditions starts with the fact that the General Conditions contains a waiver of subrogation clause. Specifically, Section 11.4.7 of the General Conditions states:
The Owner and Contractor waive all rights against (1) each other and any of their subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, agents and employees . . . for damages caused by fire, or other causes of loss to the extent covered by property insurance obtained pursuant to this paragraph 11.4 or other property insurance applicable to the Work, . . . A waiver of subrogation shall be effective as to a person or entity even though that person or entity would otherwise have a duty of indemnification, contractual or otherwise, did not pay the insurance premium directly or indirectly, and whether or not the person or entity had an insurable interest in the property damaged.
General Conditions § 11.4.7. From this language, it is clear that the Owner waives all subrogation rights against all the Defendants. The Court, however, must interpret Section 11.4.5 in order to determine whether this waiver of subrogation applies to post-construction losses. Section 11.4.5 states:
If during the Project construction period the Owner insures properties . . . at or adjacent to the site by property insurance under policies separate from those insuring the Project, or if after final payment property insurance is to be provided on the completed Project through a policy or policies other than those insuring the Project during the construction period, the Owner shall waive all rights in accordance with the terms of Section 11.4.7 for damages caused by fire or other causes of loss covered by this separate property insurance. All separate policies shall provide this waiver of subrogation by endorsement or otherwise.
General Conditions § 11.4.5 (emphasis added).
The Court interprets this language in Section 11.4.5 (that states that "a policy or policies other than those insuring the Project during the Construction period") as contemplating that the Owners may obtain a different policy in order to insure the property after the completion of construction. This clause makes clear that the parties contemplated that the Owners would acquire additional insurance (possibly but not necessarily through the same insurer) and that the waiver of subrogation contained in the General Conditions would apply to those additional policies. In fact, the Court is hard-pressed to determine a purpose for this clause other than to extend the waiver of subrogation to additional insurance policies after construction has been completed. The Court finds that the clause "if . . . property insurance is to be provided" does not suggest, as Plaintiff argues, that the waiver is only applicable if the insurer that provided insurance during construction also provides property insurance to the Owner after the construction. Indeed, the language does not say that "only in the event that the same policy is extended" will the waiver of subrogation apply. Rather, the General Conditions is a form contract that must fit a variety of circumstances, including a situation where the Owner self-insures. This clause merely triggers the applicability of the waiver.
In addition, the final sentence of Section 11.4.5, which states that "[a]ll separate polices shall provide this waiver of subrogation by endorsement or otherwise," leads the Court to conclude that the General Conditions contemplated that a new property insurer would be made aware of the Owner's waiver of subrogation, thus applying to post-construction losses when a new insurer would take over. Absent such an interpretation, it is difficult to imagine the purpose of the final sentence of Section 11.4.5.
The Court's interpretation that the waiver of subrogation applies to post-construction loss is consistent with both the Commentary prepared by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) with respect to the General Conditions and numerous other courts that have interpreted Section 11.4.5. To be sure, the Commentary prepared by the AIA states that Section 11.4.5:
extends the provision of waiver of subrogation to other property insurance the owner may purchase. Such policies may cover property at or adjacent to the project site, or they may replace the property insurance that was in effect on the work during construction.
(AIA Commentary at 86.) Thus, the Commentary instructs that the waiver of subrogation applies to property insurance the Owner may purchase (rather than is required by agreement to subsequently purchase) and that the waiver extends to property insurance that replaces the policy in place during construction (rather than an extension of the same policy already in place). Id. The Court's interpretation is consistent with the Indiana Court of Appeals, which, in Midwestern Indem. Co., held that "[b]ecause property insurance applicable to the work . . . may remain in effect after the final completion date, so too may a waiver of subrogation rights . . . remain in effect" and that the subrogation waiver was not destroyed simply because the insured purchased a different insurance policy for post-construction liabilities. 801 N.E. 2d at 668-69. Moreover, in Silverton, 948 P.2d at 11-13, the Colorado Court of Appeals held that the waiver of subrogation in the General Conditions (Form AIA A201-1997) applied to an insured who suffered fire damage to its roof approximately 18 months after it was installed. In this case, General Conditions contains virtually the same waiver of subrogation and subrogation continuation language that was found enforceable in Silverton and Midwestern. Additional support for the Court's interpretation is found in Royal Surplus Lines Ins. Co., 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16316, *3, in which the court discussed changes the parties had made to the language in the standard AIA Form A101-1997 and A201-1997 and held that:
The parties intentionally chose not to include AIA-A111 sections 11.4.5 and 11.4.7, which clearly extend the waiver beyond completion of the contract if property insurance is obtained on the completed Project, in the Contract.Id.
In interpreting Sections 11.4.5 and 11.4.7 so that the waiver of subrogation applies to post-construction losses, the Court will not follow the decision in Lumbermens as Plaintiff advocates. The Court finds that the district court's analysis inLumbermens would not be appropriate under New Jersey law. Indeed, in Lumbermens, which was not decided under New Jersey law, the court began its analysis of this issue by reviewing how other courts had interpreted Sections 11.4.5 and 11.4.7, moving on to an analysis of the parties' intentions and the policy reasons behind a waiver of subrogation clause. In contrast, New Jersey law requires that a Court first interpret the contract and surmise its plain meaning. See Colliers Lanard Axilbund, 458 F.3d at 236. Only if the Court concludes that the contract language is ambiguous does the Court look to the intent of the parties or policy or fairness issues. Having interpreted the plain language of the General Conditions as applying the waiver of subrogation to post-construction losses, the Court need not address issues raised by the Plaintiff such as the Plaintiff's intent in entering into the Construction Contract.
VI. CONCLUSION
For the reasons expressed in this Opinion, the Court finds that the waiver of subrogation contained in the General Conditions is applicable to post-construction losses. Therefore, Plaintiff's claims are contractually barred. Consequently, the Court will grant Defendants' Motions for Summary Judgment.
The accompanying Order will be entered.