feetive date of the Policy remained April 1, 2009 with every continuation of the temporary binder. On July 2, 2009, National Union mailed the Policy to Langdale; however, the Policy erroneously included an Endorsement 15. Endorsement 15 never was referenced on any of the binders issued by National Union and was not intended to be a part of the coverage bound. On July 7, 2009, National Union mailed a correct Policy to Langdale as originally bound with an effective date of April 1, 2009. The Policy mailed on July 7, 2009 had a completed Endorsement 8 and removed Endorsement 15.5
The Policy included a Directors and Officers (D & O) coverage section with a limit of liability of $10 million and a $100,000.00 deductible. National Union is required under the Policy to advance Defense Costs prior to the final disposition of a Claim (when the Claim is covered). The Policy does not include an allocation provision for Defense Costs.
On May 21, 2009, The Virginia Langdale Miller family filed a lawsuit against Johnny W. Langdale, Jr., Harley Langdale, Jr., and Johnny W. Langdale, Jr., as Executor of the Estate of John W. Langdale, Sr. styled Langdale Miller Nalley, et al. v. John W. Langdale, Jr.; Harley Langdale Jr.; and John W. Langdale Jr., as Executor of the Estate of John W. Langdale, Sr., Civil Action, 2009-CV-1843, Superior Court of Lowndes County, Georgia (hereinafter the “Miller Lawsuit” or “1343 Suit”). A true and correct copy of the Miller Lawsuit is found in the record at Doc. No. 52-4.
The Miller Lawsuit is against two of The Langdale Company’s shareholders, Harley Langdale (“Harley”) and Johnny Lang-dale, Jr. (“Johnny”). The Miller Lawsuit included a Count titled “Count Three Breach of Fiduciary Duty as Director” and was expressly brought against Johnny Langdale in his capacity as a Director of The Langdale Company.
On June 22, 2009, following service of the Miller Lawsuit, Johnny Langdale, Jr. sent a letter seeking indemnification from Langdale. The record testimony indicates that Langdale has fully paid the lawyers for Johnny Langdale.
On October 20, 2009, Langdale filed a Declaratory Judgment action styled The Langdale Company v. Harley Langdale, Jr. et al., Civil Action No. 2009-cv-2747, Superior Court of Lowndes County, State of Georgia (“hereinafter “Declaratory Judgment action” or “2747 Suit” ”). On November 13, 2009, the Virginia Langdale Miller family filed a Counterclaim in the Declaratory Judgment action against Langdale. The Counterclaim alleged that Langdale aided and abetted the alleged Trustees of the purported Trust, made misrepresentations together with the alleged Trustees, and schemed with the alleged Trustees. The Counterclaim filed in the Declaratory Judgment action included a Count V “Respondeat Superior Liability of [Langdale] for its Officers’ Misconduct.”
The Miller Lawsuit, the Declaratory Judgment action, and the Counterclaim were all consolidated into one action, i.e., the Underlying Litigation. These consolidated cases, according to the Georgia Court of Appeals, concern a trust created in 1959 by Judge Harley Langdale, Sr. (“Judge Langdale”) for the benefit of his daughter, Virginia Miller. The plaintiffs, who are beneficiaries under the trust or their legal representatives, filed suit in the Superior Court of Lowndes County, claim
5
Langdale has filed a Motion to Strike and Objection to Evidence (specifically portions of the declaration of Aarica Williams) [Doc. No. 79] concerning Endorsement 15 never being a "placeholder” for Endorsement 8 (to be discussed infra). Doc. No. 79, p. 13. The Court has addressed said motion by separate order.