Mitch, aka “the coffee man,” has owned and operated his coffee shop for almost a decade. His shop is located on Market Street and comprises about 900 square feet of leased space in an office building. Mitch is having his attorney, Diana, negotiate the renewal of his five-year lease with the building owner/landlord. Diana has arranged to meet with Mitch and Mitch’s insurance agent, Dennis because the landlord is proposing changes to the lease’s insurance requirements.
SUBROGATION
While the lease requires Mitch to purchase insurance for his contents (and the landlord has agreed to insure the building), the landlord is now demanding that Mitch obtains from his property insurance company a waiver of subrogation endorsement in favor of the landlord. Diana explains to Mitch the principle of subrogation – after paying Mitch for a covered loss, his insurance company acquires a right to “step into Mitch’s shoes” and recover from the wrongdoer that caused the loss.1
What is different is that the landlord is now requiring Mitch to change his property insurance policy to give up or “waive” the insurance company’s right to subrogation against the landlord. In other words, if Mitch’s property is damaged due to the negligence of the landlord, such as a roof leak, Mitch’s insurance company will not be able to recover from the landlord.
MITCH’S INSURANCE
Dennis has placed Mitch’s insurance with RM Insurance Company. RM has issued a standard ISO commercial package policy that provides coverage for Mitch’s contents (business personal property), business income and extra expense, as well as commercial general liability insurance using the latest standard ISO2 policy forms.
A WAIVER OF SUBROGATION ENDORSEMENT THAT DOES NOT EXIST
Dennis has known for quite some time that there is no ISO commercial property waiver of subrogation endorsement – it does not exist.
THE USUAL PRACTICE
She explains to Diana that the requested waiver does not exist and that the usual practice is to handle rights of recovery by the lease wording, not by an endorsement to the policy. The lease wording usually states that, if (and to the extent) a loss is covered by Mitch’s insurance, Mitch agrees to release the landlord from liability. Dennis shows Diana the policy condition, which specifically permits Mitch to waive his rights of recovery in writing prior to a loss – and that Mitch’s insurance is not restricted if he waives his rights.3 Diana understands that the result to the landlord would be the same. The right of the insurance company to recover from the landlord will be extinguished. Subrogation is derivative – the right stems from Mitch’s rights.
As Mitch has given up his rights to recovery, his insurance company does not have a right to recover from the landlord.4
MORE SUBROGATION
The landlord accepts Diana’s new lease wording and drops the requirement for a waiver of subrogation endorsement. However, the discussion is not yet complete. With all this talk of subrogation, Mitch is now concerned about the landlord’s insurance company’s right to recover from him. What if Mitch negligently damages the section of the building he occupies?
DAMAGE TO PREMISES RENTED TO YOU
During the discussion, Dennis points out to Mitch that his commercial general liability insurance policy does provide some coverage for property damage – by fire only and then only for a $50,000 limit – if Mitch negligently damages the space that he leases.5 This is insufficient. In particular, Mitch is concerned about property damage caused to his space if the water pipe he uses ruptures. The use of water is important in making a good cup of coffee. Mitch’s commercial general liability insurance policy provides no coverage for his liability for water damage to the space he leases. Dennis agrees to explore other insurance options available to Mitch.
ATTORNEY’S ROLE
As Mitch’s attorney, Diana attempts to negotiate with the landlord to include similar wording that applies to Mitch – to the extent the landlord has insurance for the loss, the landlord gives up the right to seek recovery from Mitch. Even though this is the usual practice, the landlord flatly refuses. As Mitch needs his Market Street location, Diana pursues some other possibilities.
THE SUTTON RULE
Diana finds the coffee shop is located in a state the follows the “Sutton Rule.6” Diana explains to Mitch that this means that unless Mitch’s lease stated differently (and it did not), under the “Sutton Rule,7” the tenant, in this instance Mitch, is deemed by law to be a “co-insured” on the property insurance policy of the landlord. If the landlord’s insurance company did pay a loss to the space occupied by Mitch that resulted from Mitch’s negligence, the “Sutton Rule” would prevent the landlord’s insurance company from seeking subrogation from Mitch. Subrogation does not permit recovery from an insured – and Mitch is considered an insured on the landlord’s property insurance policy. The practical effect is that to the extent that the landlord’s property insurance policy provides coverage for a loss to the portion leased to Mitch, the insurance company cannot seek recovery from Mitch by subrogation.
OTHER OPTIONS
Dennis also provides insurance options to Mitch – including the purchase of Legal Liability coverage8 as part of Mitch’s property insurance policy. This option would provide coverage for Mitch’s legal liability for property in his care, custody or control for the same causes of loss that apply to his contents – Causes of Loss – Special Form, with a limit that is more commensurate with the actual exposure.
CONCLUSION
While insurance may protect a tenant against the landlord’s insurer’s attempt to subrogate, the actual liability of the tenant to the landlord is ultimately a question of law. Accordingly, asserting defenses to the tenant’s liability, such as the application of the Sutton Rule or amending the lease agreement, is the practice of law. As insurance agents and brokers are generally not qualified to practice law, tenants should always consult with and rely upon the advice of qualified legal counsel regarding questions of liability, including the consideration of the various approaches to limiting that liability to the landlord.
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1 Subrogation – The principle under which an insurer that has paid a loss under an insurance policy is entitled to all the rights and remedies belonging to the insured against a third party with respect to any loss covered by the policy. – Black’s Law Dictionary (7th Edition)
2 Insurance Services Office, Inc. or ISO
3 CP 00 90 I. Transfer of Rights of Recovery Against Others to Us.
4 Subrogation is not the same contribution. An insurer’s right of contribution arises when the insurer has paid more than its share of loss when two (or more) insurers insure the same loss for the same insured. A contribution is not derived from the rights of an insured.
5 CG 00 01 – “Exclusions c. through n. do not apply to damage by fire to premises while rented to you…A separate limit of insurance applies to this coverage described in Section III –Limits of Insurance.”
6 Sutton v. Jondahl, 532 P.2d 478 (Okla. App. 1975)
7 For a more detailed explanation of the Sutton Rule and how it applies in all 50 states, see Landlord/Tenant Subrogation in All 50 States published by Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, S.C. www.mvl-law.com (updated July 26, 2016)
8 Legal Liability Coverage Form CP 00 40
This article by Craig Stanovich, was originally published by AmWINS Group, Inc., and edited and adopted by Paperless Insurance Services. Legal Disclaimer: Views expressed here do not constitute legal advice. The information contained herein is for general guidance of matter only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. Discussion of insurance policy language is descriptive only. Every policy has different policy language. Coverage afforded under any insurance policy issued is subject to individual policy terms and conditions. Please refer to your policy for the actual language.