David Lira v. Chicago Insurance Company

967 F.2d 587 NOTICE: Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3 provides that dispositions other than opinions or orders designated for publication are not precedential and should not be cited except when relevant under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel. David LIRA, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. CHICAGO INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant-Appellee. No. 91-15350. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Argued and Submitted June 10, 1992. Decided June 29, 1992. Before GOODWIN, SCHROEDER and BEEZER, Circuit Judges. 1 MEMORANDUM * 2 This case addresses a professional malpractice insurer's duty to defend its insured against a suit by a former employer and current competitor alleging wrongful solicitation of clients and slander. The district court granted summary judgment against David Lira on the ground that his business dispute with Charter and Company (Charter) did not fall within the scope of coverage provided by Chicago Insurance Company's (Chicago's) professional liability policy. We have jurisdiction and we affirm. 3 * Lira worked for Charter for approximately one and a half years before striking out on his own. On May 2, 1989, shortly after setting up his own…