Powerine Oil Co. v. Superior Court

O'Melveny & Myers, Richard B. Goetz, Los Angeles, Martin S. Checov, San Francisco, Carlos E. Needham and Eric Y. Kizirian, Los Angeles; Berman & Aiwasian and Ray Tamaddon for Real Party in Interest Central National Insurance Company of Omaha.

Hancock, Rothert & Bunshoft, William J. Baron, and Kathryn C. Ashton, San Francisco, and Patrick A. Cathcart, Los Angeles, for London Market Insurers as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Real Party in Interest.

Wiley, Rein & Fielding, Laura A. Foggan and John C. Yang; Sinnott, Dito, Moura & Puebla, Randolph P. Sinnott and John J. Moura, Los Angeles, for Complex Insurance Claims Litigation Association as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Real Party in Interest.

No appearance by Real Parties in Interest Century Indemnity Company, ACE Property and Casualty Company, and Pacific Employers Insurance Company.

ALDRICH, J.

In this writ proceeding, we hold the indemnification language in nine excess/umbrella liability policies obligates the insurer Central National Insurance Company of Omaha (Central National) to indemnify its insured Powerine Oil Company, Inc. (Powerine) for expenses Powerine incurs in responding to two orders issued by the California Regional…