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County Forest Products v. Green Mountain Agency
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MAINE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURTReporter of Decisions
Decision:	2000 ME 161
Docket: 	Aro-99-456
Argued:	April 5, 2000
Decided:	August 17, 2000

Panel: 	WATHEN, C.J., and CLIFFORD, DANA, SAUFLEY, ALEXANDER, and CALKINS, JJ.

COUNTY FOREST PRODUCTS, INC.

v.

GREEN MOUNTAIN AGENCY, INC., et al.

CALKINS, J.

	[¶1]  Green Mountain Agency, Inc., Sphere Drake Underwriting
Management, Ltd., and Terra Nova Insurance Company, Ltd., appeal the
judgment of the Superior Court (Aroostook County, Pierson, J.) in favor of
County Forest Products, Inc., on its complaint and F.A. Peabody Company on
its cross-claim.  County Forest suffered a fire loss and filed this action
against the insurance agencies and insurers alleging various claims arising
from the nonpayment of the full amount of the fire insurance.  Sphere Drake
and Terra Nova, the insurers, appeal:  (1) the court's conclusion that Green
Mountain is their agent with apparent authority to act for them; (2) the
court's reformation of the insurance contract; (3) the court's finding that
the insurers and Green Mountain are estopped from denying increased
coverage limits; (4) the award of consequential damages to County Forest;
and (5) the summary judgment in favor of County Forest affirming an
appraisal award.  Green Mountain appeals:  (1) the finding that it is
secondarily liable for the amount owing under the insurance policy; and
(2) the finding of joint and several liability for the consequential damages. 
Both the insurers and Green Mountain appeal:  (1) the refusal of the court to
reduce the judgment against them by the amount of the settlement between
County Forest and Peabody; and (2) the award of damages to Peabody on
Peabody's cross-claim.  County Forest appeals the denial of its motion to add
Galen Porter, Jr., its owner, as a plaintiff in the action.  We affirm the
judgment for County Forest in all respects except that we remand to the
Superior Court to determine whether the judgment should be reduced by
the amount of County Forest's settlement with Peabody.  We vacate the
judgment for Peabody on the cross-claim and remand the cross-claim to
allow the Superior Court to resolve the apparent inconsistency arising from
its judgment to Peabody on the cross-claim and its denial of Green
Mountain's request to reduce the judgment to County Forest.

I.  PARTIES

	[¶2]  The plaintiff is County Forest Products, Inc., a Maine corporation
that operated a sawmill, a planing mill, and sold dimensional lumber at its
place of business in Crystal.  Galen Porter, Jr., is the president and sole
owner of County Forest. 
	[¶3]  F.A. Peabody Company, one of the defendants, is a Maine
corporation with an office located in Houlton.  It is in the business of selling
and arranging for insurance.  Peabody began obtaining insurance for Porter's
businesses in the mid-1980s.  Peabody obtained the fire insurance policy for
County Forest at issue in this case.  The insurance agent employed by
Peabody who obtained the insurance for County Forest is Scott Austin.
	[¶4]  Another defendant is Green Mountain Agency, Inc., a surplus and
excess lines agency, which means that it procures insurance for customers
with specialized risks who might not otherwise be able to obtain coverage
through standard insurers.  Green Mountain has an office in Vermont.  In
late 1994 and early 1995, Peabody arranged for the issuance of a fire
insurance policy for County Forest through Green Mountain.  The
underwriter at Green Mountain with whom Peabody had contact is Thomas
Palumbo, the vice-president of Green Mountain.  Joseph Palumbo is the
president of Green Mountain.
	[¶5]  Green Mountain arranged to have two insurers, with whom it had
contracts, issue the fire insurance policy for County Forest.  The two
insurance companies, Sphere Drake Underwriting Management, Ltd., and
Terra Nova Insurance Company, Ltd., are defendants, and both are located in
England.  Green Mountain dealt with the two insurers through an
intermediary, Warren, Exall & Darby, located in England, who is not a party
to this action.

II.  SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND PROCEEDINGS

	[¶6]  County Forest sets forth two claims in its complaint against the
insurers, Sphere Drake and Terra Nova.  In count I it seeks reformation of
the insurance contract, and in count II it claims that the insurers breached
the insurance contract and the covenant of good faith and fair dealing.  In
count III County Forest claims that Green Mountain assumed a duty of
obtaining an increase in the policy limits and breached that duty.  In counts
IV through VI the complaint alleges that Peabody breached its fiduciary duty
as agent of County Forest; breached its contract with County Forest to
procure insurance; and was negligent.  The court allowed County Forest to
add count VII, an unfair claims practice count, pursuant to 24-A M.R.S.A.
§ 2436 (1990), amended by P.L. 1999, ch. 256, § I-1, against all defendants. 
In response, the insurers counterclaimed alleging that the appraisal award
should be vacated because the appraisal process was invalid.  Peabody filed a
cross-claim against Green Mountain and the insurers alleging that Green
Mountain was negligent or breached a contract in failing to procure
increased insurance coverage, and that the insurers, as principals, were
liable for Green Mountain's negligence and breach of contract.
	[¶7]  The matter was tried to the court without a jury.  As is set forth
below, County Forest settled with Peabody before trial, but Peabody
remained in the case to pursue its cross-claim against the insurers and
Green Mountain.  The court disposed of the appraisal award issue on a
summary judgment motion immediately before trial.
	[¶8]  The court filed a thorough decision with detailed findings.  The
findings begin with a statement that County Forest proved that both the
insurers and Green Mountain were guilty of "delay, incompetence,
obfuscation, gross negligence, more delay and deliberate deception."  The
findings end with the "inescapable conclusion that the conduct of the
insurers and [Green Mountain] was egregious" and their "obfuscation and
delay" were, in the end, "self-defeating."
	[¶9]  The facts, as found by the court, which led to the lawsuit are as
follows.  Peabody arranged with Green Mountain for fire insurance for County
Forest's sawmill in Crystal.  Green Mountain provided fire insurance
coverage for County Forest for calendar year 1995 through two insurers,
Sphere Drake and Terra Nova.  In February 1995, soon after the insurance
policy had been issued, County Forest requested Peabody to obtain an
increase in the liability limits of the policy.  The request was to raise the
limit on the sawmill building from $300,000 to $510,000, and to increase
the limit on the contents of the sawmill building from $320,000 to
$720,000.  Stephen Austin of Peabody requested the increased coverage to
Green Mountain through both a telephone call and a faxed document, dated
February 14, 1995.  Austin spoke with Thomas Palumbo, who told Austin
that there "should be no problem, should be fine."
	[¶10]  On June 21, 1995, the sawmill was damaged by a fire.  Green
Mountain was promptly notified of the fire loss.  It denied that the insurance
limits had been increased.  The court found that after the fire, "Green
Mountain began to work backwards."  Thomas Palumbo testified that he had
told Austin during the February telephone conversation that he did not have
the authority to handle the increased limits and that only Joseph Palumbo,
the president of Green Mountain, had that authority.  Joseph Palumbo
testified that he denied coverage and wrote notes to that effect on the
February 14 fax from Austin.  Other testimony indicated that such notes
were not on the fax at the time that Green Mountain was notified of the fire. 
In spite of the testimony of Joseph Palumbo that the coverage was denied,
Thomas Palumbo testified that he intended to pursue the request for
increased limits, but he needed more information from Peabody and that he
attempted to obtain it.  The court found that Green Mountain never sent a
notice to Peabody or County Forest refusing or declining the requested
increase in the policy limits, nor did it contact Peabody for additional
information, or communicate in any way with Peabody about the request. 
During the February telephone conversation, Austin and Thomas Palumbo
discussed other changes to the policy that are not at issue in this case. 
Green Mountain made those other changes to the policy.
	[¶11]  The trial court concluded that the testimony of the Palumbos
was not credible and that Green Mountain either waited until after the fire
to deny the increased coverage, or it "was grossly negligent in not pursuing
coverage or issuing a written notice of denial of the increased coverage." 
The court determined that Green Mountain breached its duty to procure the
requested increase in the policy limits and was estopped from denying the
increased coverage.  
	[¶12]  The trial court found that Green Mountain was an agent of the
insurers, Sphere Drake and Terra Nova, with the apparent authority to bind
the insurers.  It held that Sphere Drake and Terra Nova are bound by the
actions of Green Mountain and that the insurers are estopped from denying
the increased coverage.
	[¶13]  After the fire, Green Mountain contracted with Claims Services
of America to adjust County Forest's fire loss claim, and Claims Services, in
turn, hired Northern Maine Adjusters, Inc.  Northern Maine Adjusters was
paid by Sphere Drake and Terra Nova for its service in adjusting the fire loss
claim.  Michael Henderson is a claims adjuster employed by Northern Maine
Adjusters, who performed the adjustment work for Green Mountain and the
insurers.  He submitted low figures which came within the lower coverage
limits of the initial insurance policy.  
	[¶14]  County Forest hired the Alex N. Sill Adjustment Company to
adjust its fire loss claim.  George Hoffman was the Sill Company employee
who adjusted the claim on behalf of County Forest.  Hoffman calculated
significantly higher amounts than those submitted by Henderson.
	[¶15]  The court found that Henderson "began the adjustment process
with the goal of an adjustment of loss within the original limits of the
policy."  The court further found that whether Henderson "was acting at
specific direction -- which is clearly supported in the record -- or whether
[he] was acting under his own understanding of his obligation as an adjuster,
his adjustment process was grossly substandard and not conducted in a fair
and good faith manner."
	[¶16]  As a result of the figures provided by Henderson, the insurers
paid $428,825.52 to County Forest for the loss.  The insurers also demanded
utilization of the appraisal process provided in the insurance policy to settle
disputes between the insured and insurers.  The insurers named an
appraiser, Dennis Cricones; County Forest named Hoffman; and these two
appraisers agreed upon another independent appraiser, John Kidder, as the
umpire.  At the conclusion of the appraisal process Kidder issued an
appraisal award of $452,367.57 for damages to the building and an amount
in excess of $720,000, the increased insurance limit, for the building
contents.  
	[¶17]  Through their counterclaim, the insurers contested the
appraisal award on the grounds that Hoffman was not disinterested.  The
court disposed of this issue on summary judgment concluding that the
insurers waived their objection to the selection of Hoffman as County
Forest's named appraiser.
	[¶18]  Following the bench trial and the submission of memoranda and
proposed findings by the parties, the court granted judgment to County
Forest on count I of the complaint and reformed the insurance policy to
provide the higher limits.  The court granted judgment to County Forest
against Green Mountain, Sphere Drake, and Terra Nova on counts II and III
but, following a post-judgment motion, it clarified this portion of the
judgment.  The court further found that County Forest was entitled to
damages of $743,542.05, which is the amount of the appraisal award on the
building ($266,553.57), plus the replacement cost of the plant electrical
system ($185,814),{1} plus the policy limits on the contents ($720,000), less
the sum already paid by the insurers ($428,825.52).  In addition, the court
found that County Forest was entitled to consequential damages in the
amount of $250,000 resulting from County Forest's forced sale of
undamaged sawmill and planer equipment which the court found was a
foreseeable loss.  The court awarded additional consequential damages to
County Forest in the amount of $124,025 plus per diem interest payments,
representing the mortgage debt owed by County Forest to Katahdin Trust
Company.  The court also ordered the insurers and Green Mountain to pay
County Forest accruing per diem interest and attorney fees owed by County
Forest to a judgment creditor.  The court declined to award County Forest
any damages for lost business opportunity on the grounds that it was unable
to determine any such loss without speculation.  On the statutory unfair
claims practice count, the court awarded County Forest attorney fees.
	[¶19]  Peabody settled County Forest's claim against it for $170,000
prior to the trial.  Peabody remained in the case for purposes of its
cross-claim against Green Mountain and the insurers.  The court granted
Green Mountain's motion to amend its answer to the cross-claim to add the
defense of comparative negligence.  The court found that Peabody was 15%
at fault, and the court reduced Peabody's damages by $50,000 for its fault. 
The court noted that although Peabody was negligent it was not "tainted
with deception, bad faith and delay . . . ."  The court granted judgment to
Peabody against Green Mountain and the insurers in the amount of
$120,000.
	[¶20]  After trial, Green Mountain moved to amend the judgment and
requested the court to reduce the judgment for County Forest in the amount
of the settlement between County Forest and Peabody of $170,000, and by
striking any damages owed by Green Mountain for the increased policy
limits.  The court denied the request to reduce the judgment by the
settlement amount, finding that the injury caused to County Forest by
Peabody was different from the injury caused to County Forest by Green
Mountain and the insurers.  The court amended its judgment and ordered
Green Mountain only secondarily liable on the $743,542.05, representing
the insurance proceeds, but it found Green Mountain jointly and severally
liable with the insurers for the consequential damages.  The court clarified
that the judgment on counts I (reformation) and II (breach of contract and
covenant of good faith) were against the insurers only, and the judgment on
count III (Green Mountain's breach of duty to procure increased limits) was
as to Green Mountain only.  The court also set the amount of attorney fees to
be paid by the insurers to County Forest.

III.  AGENCY

	[¶21]  The insurers, Sphere Drake and Terra Nova, contend that
Green Mountain was not their agent and that they are not bound by Green
Mountain's actions.  The trial court found that Green Mountain was the
agent of the insurers with apparent authority to act on their behalf.  The
existence of an agency relationship is generally a question of fact, and we
review a finding of agency for clear error.  See Steelstone Indus., Inc. v.
North Ridge Ltd. Partnership, 1999 ME 132, ¶ 12, 735 A.2d 980, 983.
	[¶22]  The trial court expressly relied upon 24-A M.R.S.A. § 2422
(2000) which states:

1.  An agent authorized by an insurer, if the name of such agent
is borne on the policy, is the insurer's agent in all matters of
insurance. . . .

2.  The authorized agent of an insurer shall be regarded as in the
place of the insurer in all respects regarding any insurance
effected by him.  The insurer is bound by his knowledge of the
risk and all matters connected therewith.  Omissions and
misdescriptions known to the agent shall be regarded as known
to the insurer and waived by it as if noted in the policy.

	[¶23]  In commenting on an earlier version of this statute, we said:
"The undoubted purpose of that statute is to make it as safe for persons
seeking insurance to 'deal with the agents, with whom alone they ordinarily
transact their business, as if they were dealing directly with the companies
themselves.'"  Hurd v. Maine Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 139 Me. 103, 113, 27 A.2d
918, 924 (1942) (quoting LeBlanc v. Standard Ins. Co., 114 Me. 6, 11, 95 A.
284, 285 (1915)). 
	[¶24]  The insurance policy issued to County Forest contains, on the
covering page of the policy, the names of both insurers as well as the name
of Green Mountain.  Because "the name of such agent is borne on the
policy," Green Mountain is the "agent in all matters of insurance" and "shall
be regarded as in the place of the insurer in all respects regarding any
insurance effected by [it]."  24-A M.R.S.A. § 2422(1), (2).  The trial court did
not err in finding that Green Mountain was the agent of the insurers.{2} 
Because Green Mountain is the agent of the insurers, its actions are binding
on the insurers.  See Utica Mut. Ins. Co. v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co.,
519 A.2d 185, 186 (Me. 1986) (holding that insurer is responsible for acts
of its agents); Tracey v. Standard Accident Ins. Co., 119 Me. 131, 135, 109
A. 490, 491 (Me. 1920) (holding that insurer is charged with knowledge of
its agent).

IV.  POLICY LIMITS

	[¶25]  When it received notice of County Forest's fire loss, Green
Mountain denied that the coverage limits of the policy had been increased. 
The trial court found that when Peabody requested the increased coverage
in February 1995, Green Mountain represented that increasing the policy
limits to the amount requested was "no problem," and Green Mountain
never communicated otherwise to Peabody or County Forest.  The court
further found "that the standards in the insurance industry would require a
written letter of declination had Green Mountain decided not to increase
the coverage."  For this reason, the court found that Green Mountain was
estopped from denying the increase in the policy limits.  Because Green
Mountain was the agent for the insurers, the insurers were likewise
estopped from denying the increased coverage.
	[¶26]  To assert equitable estoppel in an insurance contract, an
insured must prove two elements:  (1) unreasonable conduct by the insurer
which misleads the insured concerning the scope of coverage; and
(2) justifiable reliance by the insured upon the conduct of the insurer.  See
Roberts v. Maine Bonding and Cas. Co., 404 A.2d 238, 241 (Me. 1979).
	[¶27]  Here there is ample competent evidence to support the court's
application of equitable estoppel.  Green Mountain, through its
vice-president Thomas Palumbo, specifically told Austin that the increase in
coverage would not be a problem.  Green Mountain took no further action to
tell Peabody or County Forest that the increased limits could not be
effectuated, thereby allowing Peabody and County Forest to rely on Green
Mountain's implied assertion that the increased limits would go into effect. 
Because of the standard in the insurance industry requiring written
declination, Peabody and County Forest were justified in relying on Green
Mountain's representation.  See Depositors Trust Co. v. Farm Family Life Ins.
Co., 445 A.2d 1014, 1019 (Me. 1982) (holding that insurer's unreasonable
delay in processing insurance is sufficient to estop insurer from denying
coverage because the insurance applicant is preempted from seeking
insurance elsewhere).
	[¶28]  The insurers argue that the court erred in finding estoppel
because there was no misleading conduct.  The obvious misleading conduct
of Green Mountain that is attributed to the insurers is the affirmative
representation that the increase in the limits would be "no problem."  The
insurers also argue that there was no justifiable reliance because Peabody
knew it should receive confirmation in writing from Green Mountain that
the increased limits had been effected.  The court, however, found that the
practice in the industry was that the limits would be increased unless the
insurer notified the insured otherwise.  There is competent evidence in the
record to support the court's finding of estoppel, and we will not disturb it.
	[¶29]  The trial court also determined that the evidence was sufficient
to allow a reformation of the insurance contract to include the increased
limits.  We need not reach the issue of whether reformation was appropriate
in this case because the determination of estoppel accomplishes the same
purpose.

V.  APPRAISAL AWARD

	[¶30]  As required by 24-A M.R.S.A. § 3002 (2000), the insurance
policy between County Forest and the insurers contained the following
clause:

Appraisal.  In case the insured and this Company shall fail to
agree as to the actual cash value or the amount of loss, then, on
the written demand of either, each shall select a competent and
disinterested appraiser and notify the other of the appraiser
selected within twenty days of such demand.  The appraisers
shall first select a competent and disinterested umpire; and
failing for fifteen days to agree upon such umpire, then, on
request of the insured or this Company such umpire shall be
selected by a judge of a court of record in the state in which the
property covered is located.  The appraisers shall then appraise
the loss, stating separately actual cash value and loss to each
item; and, failing to agree, shall submit their differences, only, to
the umpire.  An award in writing, so itemized, of any two when
filed with this Company shall determine the amount of actual
cash value and loss.  Each appraiser shall be paid by the party
selecting him and the expenses of appraisal and umpire shall be
paid by the parties equally.

	[¶31]  Pursuant to this clause, the insurers selected Cricones as their
disinterested appraiser.  County Forest notified the insurers that it had
selected Hoffman.  The insurers' attorney wrote to the attorney for County
Forest stating that "the insurers are willing to accept a representative of the
Alex N. Sill Company as the assured's appraiser in this matter, in order to
facilitate the appraisal process.  The insurers' acceptance of [County
Forest's] nominee shall not be construed as a waiver of any of the terms of
the involved policy."  Cricones and Hoffman selected Kidder as the umpire. 
The appraisal process, which began in February 1996 with the nominations
of Cricones and Hoffman, concluded a year later with the award.  
	[¶32]  In its counterclaim, the insurers challenge the appraisal award
on the ground that County Forest's appraiser was not disinterested.  The
parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment on this issue, and the
court granted summary judgment for County Forest.  The court found that
the appraisal process was valid and that the insurers waived their objection
to County Forest's appraiser.{3}  We review the grant of a summary judgment
for errors of law, and we independently examine the record to determine if
a genuine issue of material fact exists.  See Nevin v. Union Trust Co., 1999
ME 47, ¶ 5, 726 A.2d 694, 696.
	[¶33]  Although the insurers contend that the issue of waiver is factual
and must be submitted to the factfinder, a review of the statements of
material facts reveals no factual dispute.  A letter from the attorney for the
insurers to the attorney for County Forest, at the time Hoffman was selected
by County Forest, states that the insurers believe that Hoffman's employer,
the Sill Company, has "a direct pecuniary interest in the outcome of the
appraisal" and is not, for that reason, "disinterested."  Nonetheless, the
letter states, "We have been instructed to advise you, however, that the
insurers are willing to accept a representative of the Alex N. Sill Company as
the assured's appraiser in this matter, in order to facilitate the appraisal
process."  Although the letter goes on to say that the acceptance of Hoffman
should not be construed as a waiver of the terms of the policy, the insurers'
specific agreement to accept Hoffman must be construed as a waiver of any
objection to Hoffman's participation.
	[¶34]  The appraisal award was not to the insurers' liking, and they
claim that they can now object on the basis that the Sill Company had an
interest in the outcome of the appraisal.  By agreeing to proceed with the
appraisal process and accepting County Forest's representative in spite of
knowledge of a possible interest by the Sill Company, the insurers waived
their right to object to the appraisal award on that basis.  The court did not
err in upholding the appraisal award. 

VI.  FINDING OF BAD FAITH

	[¶35]  The court found that the insurers acted in bad faith thereby
breaching the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.  Specifically,
the court found that Henderson, who was acting as the agent of the insurers
in adjusting the loss, adjusted the loss with the goal of coming within the
lower policy limits and that his adjustment was "grossly substandard and not
conducted in a fair and good faith manner."  This factual finding is
supported by the record.  
	[¶36]  In addition, the court found bad faith because of the failure of
the insurers to pay the appraisal award.  See 24-A M.R.S.A. §§ 2436(1)
(requiring insurer to pay undisputed fire loss claims or dispute claim in
writing within sixty days) and 3002 (requiring that contracts provide that
payment is due within sixty days of appraisal award).  The court, relying on
sections 2436 and 24-A M.R.S.A. § 2436-A (1990), repealed and replaced by
P.L. 1997, ch. 621, § 1, ordered the insurers to pay County Forest's attorney
fees because of their failure to pay the appraisal award when due.  It is not
disputed that the insurers neither paid the appraisal award nor did they
dispute the appraisal award within sixty days of its issuance.{4}  The court did
not err in its finding that the insurers acted in bad faith.

VII.  DAMAGES OWED BY INSURERS

	[¶37]  The court found that the insurers breached the insurance
contract with County Forest by not paying County Forest for its fire loss. 
Because the court found a breach and also found that the insurers acted in
bad faith, thereby breaching the covenant to deal fairly and in good faith, the
court was faced with the task of determining damages.  The damages that
flowed directly from the breach of the insurance contract were readily
determined by the appraisal award and the policy limits.  This amount was
$743,542.05, which is the sum of the appraisal award on the building
($266,553.57), the replacement cost of the plant electrical system
($185,814), and the policy limits on the contents ($720,000), less the
amount already paid by the insurers ($428,825.52).
	[¶38]  County Forest requested consequential damages.  The court
found that County Forest was forced to sell its undamaged sawmill and
planer equipment.  The evidence discloses that when County Forest
received the $428,825.52 payment from the insurers in December 1995, it
paid several creditors.  It still owed approximately $550,000 to Katahdin
Trust on a mortgage and $70,000 to a judgment creditor.  The court
impliedly found that if County Forest had received the amount owing under
the appraisal award, in a timely fashion, it would have been able to pay its
creditors.  Because of the delay, it was forced to hold an auction of the
undamaged equipment.  The court concluded that the forced sale resulted
in a loss to County Forest of $250,000.{5}  The court also awarded County
Forest consequential damages representing the interest payments owed to
Katahdin Trust by County Forest and interest payments and attorney fees
which were the result of a lawsuit by a creditor against County Forest.
	[¶39]  The insurers argue that County Forest had financial difficulties
before the fire and these damages were a result of those difficulties and not
the result of the fire or the delay in payment of the insurance proceeds. 
Although the court heard testimony and received documents regarding
County Forest's financial situation before the fire and the debts that it owed
at that time, the court was not compelled to find from that evidence that
County Forest would have been forced to liquidate its equipment or would
have been unable to pay its creditors even without the fire and delay in
payment of the insurance proceeds.  The record amply supports the court's
findings of consequential damages resulting from the forced sale as well as
the interest payments and other costs owing to the creditors.{6}

VIII.  DAMAGES OWED BY GREEN MOUNTAIN

	[¶40]  In the amended judgment, the court clarified that Green
Mountain was jointly and severally liable with the insurers for the
consequential damages resulting from the forced sale of the undamaged
equipment and the interest and attorney fees owing to creditors.  With
regard to the $743,542.05 in insurance proceeds, the court held that the
insurers are primarily liable and Green Mountain is secondarily liable.{7}
  
A.	Green Mountain's Liability

	[¶41]  Green Mountain disputes that it is liable for any of the damages. 
It argues that it cannot be held responsible on a breach of contract theory
because the contract is the insurance policy, and it was not a party to the
insurance contract.   County Forest argues that the court did not premise its
finding of Green Mountain's liability on the basis of breach of the insurance
contract.  The trial court stated that Green Mountain "breached its duty to
procure the requested increase" in policy limits.  County Forest did not
specifically plead tort or contract theories of liability, nor did the court
expressly use the words "contract" or "tort" in its discussion of Green
Mountain's liability.  
	[¶42]  If the cause of action against Green Mountain is construed as
one for breach of the insurance contract, Green Mountain would not be
liable.  When an agent is not a party to a contract between the principal and
a third party, the agent is not liable to the third party for a breach of that
contract.  See Mueller v. Penobscot Valley Hosp., 538 A.2d 294, 299 (Me.
1988) (finding hospital administrator who was not a party to contract
between hospital and employee not liable for breach).  However, it may be
possible to construe the cause of action against Green Mountain as one
sounding in contract in which the contract is one to procure insurance and
the parties to the contract are Green Mountain and Peabody or County
Forest.  See Bates v. Anderson, 614 A.2d 551, 552 (Me. 1992) (upholding
jury verdict for prospective insured against insurance agent for breach of
agent's contract with insured to procure flood insurance); Miller v. Liberty
Ins. Co., 161 Me. 438, 443, 213 A.2d 831, 833 (1965) (same).  Under this
theory, Green Mountain, as a party to the contract to procure insurance, is
liable for its breach.
	[¶43]  Cases in which an insurance agent has breached a duty to
procure insurance generally refer to the cause of action as one for
negligence.  In McAlvain v. General Ins. Co. of America, 554 P.2d 955 (Idaho
1976), the court surveyed authorities and cases from other jurisdictions and
concluded that an insurance agent who fails to procure complete coverage
can be liable in tort or contract.  See id. at 958.  The McAlvain court held
that an insurance agent who performs negligently is liable for that
negligence.  See id. at 959.  The court affirmed the jury verdict against the
agent and noted that the insurer's liability for its agent's negligence was not
in issue, but "an agent can always be held personally liable for his own
negligence under ordinary torts principles."  Id.  See also Joseph Forest
Prods., Inc. v. Pratt, 564 P.2d 1027, 1029 (Or. 1977) (referring to the action
as one for breach of contract to procure insurance and for negligence in
failing to procure insurance and stating that liability may be based on either
or both); Appleton Chinese Food Serv., Inc. v. Murken Ins., Inc., 519 N.W.2d
674, 678 (Wis. Ct. App. 1994) (stating that an agent may be "liable in tort"
to the insured for failing to procure insurance).
	[¶44]  Whether we view the failure to procure the insurance as a
breach of a contract or as a tort, there is sufficient authority for the
proposition that Green Mountain is liable for failing to procure the
requested insurance.  In a case where an insurance agent neglected to
increase the coverage limits on a fire insurance policy after being requested
to do so by the insured, we said:  "It is the law in Maine that when an
insurance broker or agent undertakes to provide insurance for another but
fails to do so, the agent is liable in the amount that would have been due if
the policy had been obtained."  Bramson v. Chester L. Jordan & Co., 379
A.2d 730, 732 (Me. 1977).  See also McAlvain, 554 P.2d at 959 (affirming
judgment against insurance agent for negligent failure to obtain requested
coverage); Joseph Forest Prods., 564 P.2d at 1029-30 (holding that
insurance agent is liable for failure to obtain fire insurance and vacating
denial of consequential damages); Appleton Chinese Food, 519 N.W.2d at
678 (affirming liability of insurance agent, following settlement by insured
with insurer, for failure to procure insurance); Restatement (Second) of
Agency §§ 217B, 359C (1958) (an action may be brought jointly against a
principal and agent for the tortious conduct of the agent).  The trial court
did not err in holding Green Mountain liable for failing to procure the
increased insurance limits.

B.	Green Mountain's Secondary Liability for Insurance Proceeds

	[¶45]  Green Mountain contends that its only malfeasance was the
failure to obtain the increased coverage limits, and once the court
construed, either on a reformation or an estoppel theory, the insurance
contract as containing the increased coverage, the situation was the same as
if it had procured the increased coverage.  It cites several cases for the
proposition that an insurance agent is not liable for damages for failing to
procure a policy when a court construes the policy as requested and finds
the insurer liable.  One of those cases neither cites authority nor offers
reasoning as to why it held that the claim against the agent for negligence
should have been dismissed.  See John Hancock Mut. Life Ins. Co. v McNeill,
556 P.2d 803, 809 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1976).{8}  Green Mountain also relies on
Trible v. Tower Ins. Co., 168 N.W.2d 148 (Wis. 1969), in which the court
held that an insured was not entitled to recover both on his contract action
against the insurer and his tort action against the agent.  The Trible case has
been distinguished by Appleton Chinese Food, 519 N.W.2d at 679, on the
basis that Trible invoked the doctrine of election of remedies, and because
the purpose of the doctrine is to prevent double recovery, the doctrine is
not applicable when there is no threat of a double recovery.  See also Zubek
v. Edlund, 598 N.W.2d 273, 276 (Wis. Ct. App. 1999) (holding that insured's
settlement with insurer did not preclude negligence claim against insurance
agent for failure to procure insurance).
	[¶46]  Green Mountain urges us to apply the election of remedies
doctrine and argues that it is inconsistent to hold Green Mountain liable for
failing to procure the increased limits and hold the insurers liable for the
increased limits.  We disagree and find no inconsistency.  The insurers are
liable to pay the proceeds of the insurance policy up to the increased limits
because they are estopped from denying the higher limits due to the actions
of their agent, Green Mountain.  Green Mountain is independently liable for
breach of its duty to procure the increased limits.  "The fundamental
purpose of the doctrine of election of remedies is to prevent double
recovery for a single wrong or injury."  Andrew M. Horton & Peggy L.
McGehee, Maine Civil Remedies § 2-3 at 23 (3d ed. 1996).  In this case there
is no possibility of a double recovery; County Forest cannot collect the entire
judgment from both the insurers and Green Mountain; it is entitled to be
made whole only once.  The election of remedies doctrine is inapplicable. 
We see no justifiable basis to release Green Mountain from secondary liability
for the insurance proceeds simply because the insurers are estopped from
denying the increased coverage limits.{9}

C.	Green Mountain's Liability for Consequential Damages

	[¶47]  Green Mountain further argues that it should not be liable for
any of the consequential damages that were caused by the bad faith refusal of
the insurers to pay the increased coverage amount.  It contends that the
consequential damages were not the proximate result of Green Mountain's
actions and were not foreseeable.
	[¶48]  Green Mountain is responsible for the damages its conduct
proximately caused.  It told Peabody that it would obtain the increased
coverage.  It did nothing further to indicate that the increased coverage was
declined, thereby causing Peabody and County Forest to assume that the
increased coverage was in effect.  When the fire occurred, instead of
recognizing that it had failed to procure the increased coverage and had
failed to so notify Peabody, it persisted in denying the increased coverage. 
At one time it asserted that it had decided to deny the increased coverage,
and at another time it said it tried to obtain additional information from
Peabody in order to effectuate the increase.  The court found Green
Mountain made no attempt to obtain additional information from Peabody.
	[¶49]  The trial court implicitly found that the refusal of the insurers
to pay the increased policy limits and the specific direction of the insurers
to its adjuster to arrive at an adjustment within the lower policy limits were
caused by the refusal of Green Mountain to acknowledge that it neglected to
obtain the increased coverage.  This leads to the conclusion that Green
Mountain's failure to acknowledge its error directly led to the nonpayment
of the increased coverage limits by the insurers and was the cause of the
consequential losses sustained by County Forest.{10}  Green Mountain's failure
to procure the requested insurance and failure to admit its error after the
fire do not have to be the sole cause of County Forest's consequential loss in
order for Green Mountain to be liable for such consequential damages. 
There may be more than one proximate cause, and Green Mountain's
conduct only needs to be a substantial cause of the damages.  See Wheeler v.
White, 1998 ME 137, ¶ 10, 714 A.2d 125, 127-28.
	[¶50]  In Lindsey v. Mitchell, 544 A.2d 1298 (Me. 1988), we noted
that the plaintiff's claim against the insurance agent was not limited to the
agent's failure to procure insurance, but it was also based upon the agent's
repeated representations to the plaintiff that the insurance was in effect. 
We affirmed the jury's finding of the agent's negligence and the finding that
the agent's actions proximately caused the plaintiff's loss of a commercial
driver's license which caused the loss of his trucking business.  See id. at
1301.  We affirmed the award of damages for loss of business and for the
forced sale of the plaintiff's trucks.  See id. at 1301-02.  As in Lindsey,
County Forest's claim against Green Mountain, as it was presented to the
court, was not limited to failure to procure insurance, but extends to all of
Green Mountain's actions.  Green Mountain's failure to procure the
increased insurance coverage before the fire, its refusal to acknowledge its
error after the fire, and its obfuscation of its actions, all contributed
substantially to County Forest's consequential damages.
	[¶51]  With regard to the foreseeability of the consequential damages,
it is possible that the consequential damages were not foreseeable at the
time Green Mountain failed to procure the increased coverage, but they
were foreseeable and readily capable of identification after the fire and
during the time Green Mountain persisted in its actions of obfuscation and
delay.  The court did not err in concluding that Green Mountain was jointly
and severally liable for the consequential damages with the insurers.

IX.  REDUCTION OF JUDGMENT AND PEABODY'S CROSS-CLAIM

	[¶52]  As we noted, County Forest and Peabody settled the claims
against Peabody before trial for the sum of $170,000.  In its motion to
amend the judgment, Green Mountain requested that this sum be applied as
a credit on the amount of the judgment owing by it to County Forest.  Green
Mountain and the insurers argue that the claim against Peabody was the
same as the claims against them.  The trial court, however, found that the
damage awards against the insurers and Green Mountain are "not for the
same injury" as the settlement paid by Peabody.  For this reason, the court
declined to credit Green Mountain and the insurers with the $170,000 paid
by Peabody to County Forest.
	[¶53]  Peabody filed a cross-claim against the insurers and Green
Mountain alleging that it requested Green Mountain to increase the
insurance coverage, that Green Mountain was negligent or breached a
contract in failing to procure the increased coverage, and that the insurers,
as principals, were liable for Green Mountain's negligence and breach of
contract.  Peabody further alleged that if it was liable to County Forest, then
Green Mountain and the insurers were liable to Peabody for any damages
paid by Peabody to County Forest.  Green Mountain raised a defense of
comparative negligence to the cross-claim.  The court found that Peabody
had been negligent in failing to inquire about premiums owing for the
increased coverage and in failing to pursue an amended declarations page
showing the increased coverage.  The court found that Peabody was 15% at
fault.  The court reduced Peabody's damages of $170,000 (the settlement
sum) by $50,000, as a just and equitable sum for Peabody's own negligence,
and granted judgment for Peabody against Green Mountain and the insurers
in the amount of $120,000.  The end result of the trial court's judgment is
that County Forest receives $170,000 from Peabody; it collects $743,542.05
on the insurance policy (from the insurers primarily and Green Mountain
secondarily); it obtains the remainder of the damages from either Green
Mountain or the insurers (joint and several liability); and Peabody is owed
$120,000 from Green Mountain and the insurers.
	[¶54]  In deciding not to reduce the judgment owing by Green
Mountain and the insurers by the settlement amount and in granting
judgment to Peabody on its cross-claim, the trial court made what appears
to be inconsistent and unreconcilable findings.  It found that the damages to
County Forest caused by Peabody and the damages to County Forest caused
by Green Mountain and the insurers were "not for the same injury." 
Nonetheless, it found that Green Mountain and the insurers contributed to
the loss incurred by Peabody.  Either Peabody's settlement with County
Forest was for a separate and distinct injury that it caused County Forest or
the settlement was for the same, or part of the same, injury caused by Green
Mountain and the insurers.  If the former is correct, then Green Mountain
and the insurers should not have to contribute to Peabody for the damages
caused solely by Peabody.  If the latter is true, Green Mountain and the
insurers are entitled to have the judgment against them reduced by the
settlement amount as required by 14 M.R.S.A. § 163 (1980).{11}  Because the
trial court's findings on the issue of the reduction of the judgment and the
cross-claim appear inconsistent, we remand these two issues to the court. 
The trial court is in a better position than an appellate court to clarify its
findings.  It may be able to reconcile the apparent inconsistency and
articulate why Green Mountain and the insurers should pay Peabody on its
cross-claim as well as pay County Forest the full amount of the judgment
with no reduction for the settlement.  If it cannot reconcile the apparent
inconsistency, it will have to modify the judgment.
	[¶55]  We do not anticipate that the trial court will need to hold a
further evidentiary hearing.  Rather, we anticipate that, on the record
already produced, the trial court will clarify the inconsistent findings and, if
necessary, modify the judgment accordingly.

X.  COUNTY FOREST'S MOTION TO ADD ANOTHER PLAINTIFF

	[¶56]  County Forest sought to amend its complaint by adding Porter,
the owner of County Forest, as a plaintiff.  We do not reverse a decision of
the trial court denying a motion to amend a pleading unless the moving
party "clearly demonstrates a manifest abuse of discretion and the necessity
to grant the motion to prevent injustice."  Falvo v. Pejepscot Indus. Park,
Inc., 1997 ME 66, ¶ 12, 691 A.2d 1240, 1243.
	[¶57]  According to County Forest, Porter was harmed by the actions
of the defendants because he personally guaranteed loans of County Forest
and is now liable for those loans.  County Forest asserts that actions of the
defendants effectively stopped County Forest from earning income which
would have paid the loans.   
	[¶58]  The court denied the motion because it found that Porter had
no interest that was not already sufficiently protected by County Forest and,
because the motion came seventeen months after the complaint was filed, it
would result in added delay and expense.  County Forest has failed to
demonstrate how the denial of the motion leads to injustice.  It has not
shown what damages Porter has suffered that would not be covered by its
own request for damages.  Furthermore, the court would have been within
the bounds of its discretion in denying a motion to add a new party on the
grounds of delay and expense alone, given that the motion was not made
until almost a year and a half after the case began.

	The entry is:
The judgment for County Forest against Green
Mountain, Sphere Drake, and Terra Nova is vacated
solely for the purpose of permitting the Superior
Court, on remand, to determine whether the
judgment should be reduced by the amount of the
settlement with Peabody, and, in all other respects,
the judgment is affirmed.  The judgment for Peabody
on the cross-claim is vacated, and the cross-claim is
remanded to the Superior Court for further
proceedings consistent with this opinion.  The case
is also remanded for the determination of attorney
fees and costs associated with this appeal pursuant
to 24-A M.R.S.A. § 2436-A(1).

Attorneys for plaintiff:

Peter J. DeTroy, Esq., (orally)
Russell B. Pierce Jr., Esq.
Norman, Hanson & DeTroy, LLC
P O Box 4600
Portland, ME 04112-4600

Attorneys for defendants:

William W. Willard, Esq., (orally)
Ronald W. Schneider Jr., Esq.
Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson, P.A.
P O Box 9729
Portland, ME 041004-5029
(for Green Mountain Agency)

Phillip D. Buckley, Esq., (orally)
Brett A. Singer, Esq.
Rudman & Winchell, LLC
P O Box 1401
Bangor, ME 04402-1401
	and
Samuel K. Rudman, Esq.
Lambert, Coffin, Rudman & Hochman
P O Box 15215
Portland, ME 04112-5215
	and
Carol A. Griffin, Esq.
Morrison, Mahoney & Miller, LLP
250 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
(for Sphere Drake and Terra Nova)

Frederick J. Badger Jr., Esq., (orally)
Mary F. Kellogg, Esq.
Richardson, Whitman, Large & Badger, P.C.
P O Box 2429
Bangor, ME 04402-2429
(for F.A. Peabody Co.)