Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation v. Hamrick & Evans, LLP

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 LIBERTY SURPLUS INSURANCE Case No. 20-cv-03669-EMC

CORPORATION,

8 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY v. JUDGMENT 10 SETH SAMUELS, et al., Docket No. 49 11 Defendants. 12 13 Plaintiff Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation initiated this insurance coverage action against two groups of defendants: (1) the Hamrick Defendants1 ( “Hamrick”) and (2) the Samuels Defendants2 (“Samuels”). Liberty’s insured is Hamrick. Hamrick consists of a law firm and lawyers who work there. Hamrick was sued for malpractice by its clients, the Samuels. At the trial level, the Samuels prevailed, obtaining a judgment of approximately $4.8 million against Hamrick, but the case is currently on appeal. Liberty filed the instant case, primarily seeking a declaration that (1) under the insurance policy purchased by Hamrick, Liberty has a limit on liability of $2 million and (2) once that $2 million has been exhausted, Liberty has no…