Green4all Energy Solutions, Inc. v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co.

2017 IL App (1st) 162499 (Ill. App., 2017)

Words & Phrases

Personal Injury Liability Coverage

Trial Judge

Anna Helen Demacopoulos

Appellate Judge

Mikva

Holding

Patent infringement and false marketing action did not include a claim for disparagement.

Fact Summary

False marketing claim was based on insured’s allegedly falsely assertion that it had a patent pending on a product when it did not, and “patent pending” is a neutral designation that does not qualify as a disparaging statement.

The issue presented in this case is whether “State Farm Insurance Company” (State Farm) owed its insured, Green4All Energy Solutions, Inc. (Green4All), a duty to defend in an underlying lawsuit filed by Flow Dynamics, LLC (Flow). The underlying suit was filed in February 2015, Green4All tendered its defense of the underlying suit to State Farm in April 2015, and in May 2015, State Farm refused the tender. The underlying case settled in September 2015 and Green4All filed this action against State Farm, alleging that State Farm breached its insurance contract with Green4All and violated section 155 of the Illinois Insurance Code (215 ILCS 5/155 (West 2014)) by refusing to defend its insured. The circuit court granted State Farm’s cross-motion for summary judgment, holding that the underlying complaint failed to allege an advertising injury covered by the insurance policy. For the following reasons, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court.

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