Street Surfing v. Great Am. E&S Ins. Co.

This case arose from general liability insurance policies, including advertising injury coverage, that Great American issued to Street Surfing. At issue was whether those policies obligated Great American to defend Street Surfing in an action alleging trademark infringement, unfair competition, and unfair business practices under federal and California law (Noll action). The court accepted Great American's concession that the Noll action potentially falls within coverage for use of another's advertising idea, but rejected Street Surfing's argument that the action would also fall within the policies' coverage for slogan infringement. The court held that the prior publication exclusion relieves Great American of its duty to defend Street Surfing in the Noll action because the extrinsic evidence available to Great American at the time of tender conclusively establishes: (1) that Street Surfing published at least one advertisement using Noll's advertising idea before coverage began; and (2) that the new advertisements Street Surfing published during the coverage period were substantially similar to that pre-coverage advertisement. Accordingly, the court affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of Great American. View "Street Surfing v. Great Am. E&S Ins. Co." on Justia Law