This case involved the Treo@Kettner condominium development located in downtown San Diego, which was completed in January 2003. Treo@Kettner was the subject of a very large construction defect action beginning in 2007. The construction defect action concluded by settlements reached in 2011. More than two years later, one of the insurers who paid for the developer’s defense sued a number of the developer’s subcontractors for subrogation and express contractual indemnity, seeking damages in excess of $1.5 million. The insurer’s lawsuit, filed in May 2013, was filed more than 10 years after the applicable statute of repose had expired.
The firm, defending 10 of the subcontractors sued in the action, immediately demurred to the insurer’s complaint, arguing that it was barred by the 10 year statute of repose stated in California Code of Civil Procedure section 337.15. The San Diego Superior Court agreed, and by order dated May 2, 2014, it dismissed the insurer’s untimely lawsuit. In its ruling, the Court concluded, “[h]aving taken judicial notice of the [notices of completion] (NOCs) and the date the original complaint in this case was filed, it can be determined that this action was filed more than 10 years after the recordation of the NOCs. . . . Based on the above findings, the Court concludes that this action was untimely filed and the demurrer is sustained.”
San Diego Superior Court Case No. 37-2013-00048004-CU-BC-CTL
Counsel: David W. Smiley and Kelly A. Floyd