Pringle
Pringle v. Water Quality Insurance Syndicate
Opinion
Opinion
Pregerson, J.
ORDER GRANTING SUMMARY JUDGMENT TO WQIS AND EPG; DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
[Motions filed on August 8, 2006, Dkt. No. 72, September 18, 2006, Dkt. No. 97.]
I. BACKGROUND
A. The City Action
From approximately 1984 to 2003, San Pedro Boat Works (“SPBW”) operated boatyards at Berths 44 and 57 in the Port of Los Angeles. SPBW used copper-nickel sandblast material in its boatyard operations that it knew to “produce ... slag containing hazardous wastes (i.e., marine paint particles, residue etc.).” (SPBW Reply 3.) Beginning in 1989, the City of Los Angeles (the “City”) began investigating SPBW for alleged environmental pollution occurring at Berths 44 and 57. (SGI ¶¶ 6, 30-33.) The City’s 1989 investigation led to a June 1990 order requiring SPBW to investigate and remediate any contamination.
In February 1992, SPBW purchased a marine pollution liability insurance policy from Water Quality Insurance Syndicate (‘WQIS”) with a one-year policy period (“Policy #8602-01”). (SGI ¶34.) This policy covered specific pollution liabilities relating to SPBW’s ownership and operation of three vessels — two drydocks referred to as AFDL 19 and AFDL 27 (collectively, “the…