Zurich American Insurance v. Lexington Coal Co. (In Re HNRC Dissolution Co.)

OPINION PER CURIAM. Zurich American Insurance Co. (“Zurich”) provided insurance coverage to Horizon Natural Resources Co., et aL, (“the Debtors”) during the pendency of the Debtors’ Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. The policies issued to the Debtors were “deductible policies,” meaning that Zurich would pay the entirety of any claims made and would later seek reimbursement from the Debtors for the deductible portion. After confirmation of the Debtors’ plans, but before the expiration of the date set for the filing of administrative expense claims, Zurich filed an administrative expense claim. Zurich’s administrative expense claim seeks payment of $14,593,567.79, which is an actuarial estimate of the deductible portion of the claims that Zurich believes it will pay in the future for injuries that occurred during the coverage period but were not the subject of insurance claims until after confirmation of the Debtors’ plans. Both the bankruptcy court and the district court denied Zurich’s administrative expense claim, holding that it does not constitute an “actual, necessary cost[ ] and expense! ] of preserving the estate” as is required by 11 U.S.C. § 503(b)(1)(A). On appeal to this court, Zurich argues that the bankruptcy court and the district court misinterpreted 11 U.S.C. § 503(b)(1)(A). Furthermore, Zurich argues that the lower courts should have permitted the estimation of Zurich’s ad *684 ministrative expense claim under 11 U.S.C. § 502(c). We find no merit in Zurich’s arguments. Because it would be difficult for us to add anything of substance to the district court’s comprehensive and well-reasoned opinion, we AFFIRM for the reasons stated by Judge David L. Bunning in Zurich Am. Ins. Co. v. Lexington Coal Co., LLC (In re HNRC Dissolution Co.), 371 B.R. 210 (E.D.Ky.2007).