Sentience Studio, LLC v. Travelers Insurance

MEMORANDUM *

Sentience Studio and David E. Kronemyer (collectively the “Sentience appellants”) sought a declaratory judgment that a Travelers insurance policy (the “Policy”) issued to some of their corporate business partners provided coverage for their claims of stolen and damaged property. In particular, Sentience sought coverage for damages to its studio equipment, and Kronemyer sought to recover damages caused by the extirpation of his name from the credits of several independent films— most notably My Big Fat Greek Wed ding—for which he claims to have been the executive producer. The district court *79 granted summary judgment for Travelers, finding that there was no genuine issue of material fact for trial because the policy unambiguously precluded coverage for the claims asserted.

We review the district court’s grant of summary judgment de novo, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. See United States v. City of Tacoma, 332 F.3d 574, 578 (9th Gir.2003). We also must make an independent determination of the meaning of the relevant language of the insurance policy. Conestoga Seros. Corp. v. Executive Risk Indem., Inc., 312 F.3d 976, 981…