IN RE VIKING PUMP, INC.

No. 518, 2014 No. 523, 2014 No. 525, 2014 No. 528, 2014.

148 A.3d 633 (2016)

IN RE VIKING PUMP, INC. and Warren Pumps, LLC Insurance Appeals.

Supreme Court of Delaware.

Decided: September 12, 2016.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

David J. Baldwin, Esquire , Jennifer C. Wasson, Esquire , Michael B. Rush, Esquire , Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP, Wilmington, Delaware. Of Counsel: Robin L. Cohen Esquire (Argued), Keith McKenna, Esquire , McKool Smith , New York, New York, for Appellant Warren Pumps LLC.

Paul Cottrell, Esquire , Tighe & Cottrell, P.A., Wilmington, Delaware. Of Counsel: Laura S. McKay, Esquire , Hinkhouse Williams Walsh LLP, Chicago, Illinois; AND Anthony G. Flynn, Esquire , Timothy Jay Houseal, Esquire , Jennifer M. Kinkus, Esquire , Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor LLP, Wilmington, Delaware. Of Counsel: Lynn H. Murray, Esquire (Argued), Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP, Attorneys for The Continental Insurance Company as successor by merger to Fidelity & Casualty Company of New York.

Lisa A. Schmidt, Esquire , Travis S. Hunter, Esquire , Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington, Delaware. Of Counsel: Michael P. Foradas, Esquire (Argued), Lisa G. Esayian, Esquire , William T. Pruitt, Esquire , Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Chicago, Illinois, for Appellant Viking Pump, Inc.

Kenneth J. Nachbar, Esquire (Argued), Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP, Wilmington, Delaware AND Garrett B. Moritz, Esquire and Nicholas D. Mozal, Esquire , Ross Aronstam & Moritz LLP, Wilmington, Delaware. Of Counsel: Tancred Schiavoni, Esquire and Gary Svirsky, Esquire , O'Melveny & Myers LLP, New York, New York; AND John D. Balaguer, Esquire , White and Williams LLP, Wilmington, Delaware. Of Counsel: Brian G. Fox, Esquire and Lawrence A. Nathanson, Esquire , Siegal & Park, Mount Laurel, New Jersey, Attorneys for Defendants TIG Insurance Company, f/k/a International Insurance Company, with respect to policies numbered 5220113076 and 5220282357, and Westchester Fire Insurance Company, with respect to policy numbered 5220489339, by operation of novation; ACE Property & Casualty Insurance Company (f/k/a CIGNA Property & Casualty Insurance Company), as successor-in-interest to Central National Insurance Company of Omaha, but only as respects policies issued through Cravens, Dargan & Company, Pacific Coast (improperly named as The Central National Insurance Company of Omaha); and Century Indemnity Company, as successor to CCI Insurance Company, as successor to Insurance Company of North America and Century Indemnity Company as successor to CIGNA Specialty Insurance Company (f/k/a California Union Insurance Company).

Paul Cottrell, Esquire , Tighe & Cottrell, P.A., Wilmington, Delaware. Of Counsel: Laura S. McKay, Esquire , Hinkhouse Williams Walsh LLP, Chicago, Illinois; AND Anthony G. Flynn, Esquire , Timothy Jay Houseal, Esquire , Jennifer M. Kinkus, Esquire , Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor LLP, Wilmington, Delaware, Attorneys for Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London and certain London Market Insurance Companies, Granite State Insurance Company, Lexington Insurance Company And National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA.

Robert J. Katzenstein, Esquire , Smith Katzenstein & Jenkins LLP, Wilmington, Delaware. Of Counsel: Christopher R. Carroll, Esquire , Heather E. Simpson, Esquire , Carroll McNulty & Kull LLC, Basking Ridge, New Jersey, Attorneys for TIG Insurance Company, as successor by merger to International Insurance Company, as successor by merger to International Surplus Lines Insurance Company (Policy No. XSI 5217 only).

Thaddeus J. Weaver, Esquire , Dilworth Paxson LLP, Wilmington, Delaware. Of Counsel: Laura S. McKay, Esquire , Douglas M. DeWitt, Esquire , Hinkhouse Williams Walsh LLP, Chicago, Illinois; AND Anthony G. Flynn, Esquire , Timothy Jay Houseal, Esquire , Jennifer M. Kinkus, Esquire , Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor LLP, Wilmington, Delaware, Attorneys for OneBeacon America Insurance Company as successor to Commercial Union Insurance Company, XL Insurance America, Inc., as successor to Vanguard Insurance Company, and Republic Insurance Company, n/k/a Starr Indemnity & Liability Company.

James W. Semple, Esquire , Cooch & Taylor P.A., Wilmington, Delaware. Of Counsel: Kristin Suga Heres, Esquire , Zelle LLP, Framingham, Massachusetts, Attorneys for Defendant Westport Insurance Corporation.

Robert M. Greenberg, Esquire , Tybout Redfearn & Pell, Wilmington, Delaware. Of Counsel: Amy R. Paulus, Esquire , Mark D. Paulson, Esquire and Don R. Sampen, Esquire , Clausen Miller P.C., Chicago, Illinois, Attorneys for Old Republic Insurance Company.

Neal J. Levitsky, Esquire , Seth A. Niederman, Esquire , Fox Rothschild LLP, Wilmington, Delaware. Of Counsel: Kathleen D. Monnes, Esquire , Joseph K. Scully, Esquire and John W. Cerreta, Esquire , Day Pitney LLP, Hartford, Connecticut, Attorneys for Defendant, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company f/k/a The Aetna Casualty and Surety Company.

Before HOLLAND, VALIHURA, and VAUGHN, Justices; WALLS and RYAN, Judges, constituting the Court en Banc.


This is a consolidated appeal in an insurance-coverage dispute from separate judgments by the Court of Chancery and the Superior Court. Viking Pump, Inc. ("Viking") and Warren Pumps, LLC ("Warren") seek to recover under insurance policies issued to a third company, Houdaille Industries, Inc. ("Houdaille"). In the 1980's, Viking...

Let's get started

Leagle.com

Welcome to the leading source of independent legal reporting
Sign on now to see your case.
Or view more than 10 million decisions and orders.

  • Updated daily.
  • Uncompromising quality.
  • Complete, Accurate, Current.

Listed below are the cases that are cited in this Featured Case. Click the citation to see the full text of the cited case. Citations are also linked in the body of the Featured Case.

Cited Cases

  • No Cases Found

Listed below are those cases in which this Featured Case is cited. Click on the case name to see the full text of the citing case.

Citing Cases