|
S. DEFENSE AND PROSECUTION OF ACTIONS
<br />(a) Upon written request by the Insured, and subject to the options
<br />contained in Section 7 of these Conditions, the Company, at its
<br />own cost and without unreasonable delay, shall provide for the
<br />defense of an Insured in litigation in which any third party
<br />asserts a claim covered by this policy adverse to the Insured.
<br />This obligation is limited to only those stated causes of action
<br />alleging matters insured against by this policy. The Company
<br />shall have the right to select counsel of its choice (subject to the
<br />right of the Insured to object for reasonable cause) to represent
<br />the Insured as to those stated causes of action. It shall not be
<br />liable for and will not pay the fees of any other counsel. The
<br />Company will not pay any fees, costs, or expenses incurred by
<br />the Insured in the defense of those causes of action that allege
<br />matters not insured against by this policy.
<br />(b) The Company shall have the right, in addition to the options
<br />contained in Section 7 of these conditions, at its own cost, to
<br />institute and prosecute any action or proceeding or to do any
<br />other act that in its opinion may be necessary or desirable to
<br />establish the Title or the lien of the Insured Mortgage, as
<br />insured, or to prevent or reduce loss or damage to the Insured.
<br />The Company may take any appropriate action under the terms
<br />of this policy, whether or not it shall be liable to the Insured.
<br />The exercise of these rights shall not be an admission of liability
<br />or waiver of any provision of this policy. If the Company
<br />exercises its rights under this subsection, it must do so
<br />diligently.
<br />(c) Whenever the Company brings an action or asserts a defense as
<br />required or permitted by this policy, the Company may pursue
<br />the litigation to a final determination by a court of competent
<br />jurisdiction, and it expressly reserves the right, in its sole
<br />discretion, to appeal any adverse judgment or order.
<br />6. DUTY OF INSURED CLAIMANT TO COOPERATE
<br />(a) In all cases where this policy permits or requires the Company
<br />to prosecute or provide for the defense of any action or
<br />proceeding and any appeals, the Insured shall secure to the
<br />Company the right to so prosecute or provide defense in the
<br />action or proceeding, including the right to use, at its option,
<br />the name of the Insured for this purpose. Whenever requested
<br />by the Company, the Insured, at the Company's expense, shall
<br />give the Company all reasonable aid (i) in securing evidence,
<br />obtaining witnesses, prosecuting or defending the action or
<br />proceeding, or effecting settlement, and (ii) in any other lawful
<br />act that in the opinion of the Company may be necessary or
<br />desirable to establish the Title, the lien of the Insured Mortgage,
<br />or any other matter as insured. If the Company is prejudiced by
<br />the failure of the Insured to furnish the required cooperation,
<br />the Company's obligations to the Insured under the policy shall
<br />terminate, including any liability or obligation to defend,
<br />prosecute, or continue any litigation, with regard to the matter
<br />or matters requiring such cooperation.
<br />(b) The Company may reasonably require the Insured Claimant to
<br />submit to examination under oath by any authorized
<br />representative of the Company and to produce for examination,
<br />inspection, and copying, at such reasonable times and places as
<br />may be designated by the authorized representative of the
<br />Company, all records, in whatever medium maintained,
<br />including books, ledgers, checks, memoranda, correspondence,
<br />reports, e-mails, disks, tapes, and videos whether bearing a
<br />date before or after Date of Policy, that reasonably pertain to
<br />the loss or damage. Further, if requested by any authorized
<br />representative of the Company, the Insured Claimant shall grant
<br />its permission, in writing, for any authorized representative of
<br />the Company to examine, inspect, and copy all of these records
<br />in the custody or control of a third party that reasonably pertain
<br />to the loss or damage. All information designated as
<br />confidential by the Insured Claimant provided to the Company
<br />pursuant to this Section shall not be disclosed to others unless,
<br />in the reasonable judgment of the Company, it is necessary in
<br />the administration of the claim. Failure of the Insured Claimant
<br />to submit for examination under oath, produce any reasonably
<br />requested information, or grant permission to secure reasonably
<br />necessary information from third parties as required in this
<br />subsection, unless prohibited by law or governmental regulation,
<br />shall terminate any liability of the Company under this policy as to
<br />that claim.
<br />OPTIONS TO PAY OR OTHERWISE SETTLE CLAIMS;
<br />TERMINATION OF LIABILITY
<br />In case of a claim under this policy, the Company shall have the
<br />following additional options:
<br />(a) To Pay or Tender Payment of the Amount of Insurance or to
<br />Purchase the Indebtedness.
<br />(i) To pay or tender payment of the Amount of Insurance under
<br />this policy together with any costs, attorneys' fees, and
<br />expenses incurred by the Insured Claimant that were
<br />authorized by the Company up to the time of payment or
<br />tender of payment and that the Company is obligated to pay;
<br />or
<br />(ii) To purchase the Indebtedness for the amount of the
<br />Indebtedness on the date of purchase, together with any
<br />costs, attorneys' fees, and expenses incurred by the Insured
<br />Claimant that were authorized by the Company up to the time
<br />of purchase and that the Company is obligated to pay.
<br />When the Company purchases the Indebtedness, the Insured
<br />shall transfer, assign, and convey to the Company the
<br />Indebtedness and the Insured Mortgage, together with any
<br />collateral security.
<br />Upon the exercise by the Company of either of the options
<br />provided for in subsections (a)(i) or (i), all liability and obligations
<br />of the Company to the Insured under this policy, other than to
<br />make the payment required in those subsections, shall terminate,
<br />including any liability or obligation to defend, prosecute, or
<br />continue any litigation.
<br />(b) To Pay or Otherwise Settle With Parties Other Than the Insured or
<br />With the Insured Claimant.
<br />(i) to pay or otherwise settle with other parties for or in the
<br />name of an Insured Claimant any claim insured against under
<br />this policy. In addition, the Company will pay any costs,
<br />attorneys' fees, and expenses incurred by the Insured
<br />Claimant that were authorized by the Company up to the time
<br />of payment and that the Company is obligated to pay; or
<br />(ii) to pay or otherwise settle with the Insured Claimant the loss
<br />or damage provided for under this policy, together with any
<br />costs, attorneys' fees, and expenses incurred by the Insured
<br />Claimant that were authorized by the Company up to the time
<br />of payment and that the Company is obligated to pay.
<br />Upon the exercise by the Company of either of the options provided for
<br />in subsections (b)(i) or (ii), the Company's obligations to the Insured
<br />under this policy for the claimed loss or damage, other than the
<br />payments required to be made, shall terminate, including any liability or
<br />obligation to defend, prosecute, or continue any litigation.
<br />8. DETERMINATION AND EXTENT OF LIABILITY
<br />This policy is a contract of indemnity against actual monetary loss or
<br />damage sustained or incurred by the Insured Claimant who has
<br />suffered loss or damage by reason of matters insured against by this
<br />policy.
<br />(a) The extent of liability of the Company for loss or damage under
<br />this policy shall not exceed the least of
<br />(i) the Amount of Insurance,
<br />(ii) the Indebtedness,
<br />(iii) the difference between the value of the Title as insured and
<br />the value of the Title subject to the risk insured against by
<br />this policy, or
<br />(iv) if a government agency or instrumentality is the Insured
<br />Claimant, the amount it paid in the acquisition of the Title or
<br />the Insured Mortgage in satisfaction of its insurance contract
<br />or guaranty.
<br />(b) If the Company pursues its rights under Section 5 of these
<br />Conditions and is unsuccessful in establishing the Title or the lien
<br />of the Insured Mortgage, as insured,
<br />(i) the Amount of Insurance shall be increased by 10%, and
<br />(ii) the Insured Claimant shall have the right to have the loss or
<br />damage determined either as of the date of the claim was
<br />made by the Insured Claimant or as of the date it is settled
<br />and paid.
<br />
|