D.C. Court Allows St. Paul to Reargue Coverage for Surety

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A District of Columbia federal judge on June 14 vacated an earlier decision awarding summary judgment to an insured contractor seeking defense coverage for its surety, and gave the parties leave to provide extrinsic evidence on the parties' intent in negotiating the insurance contract. Pierce Associates v. St. Paul Mercury Insurance Co., No. 04-1906 (D. D.C.).

Pierce Associates wants St. Paul Mercury Insurance Co. to cover $240,000 in defense costs for Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., Pierce's co-defendant in a New York lawsuit arising from the Millennium Square hotel-condominium project in the District of Columbia.

Pierce was sued …