Alan C. Gon Jackie Yee David Quan Richard Tsang Gilbert M. Nishimura Ira M. Sako Michael T. Ito Morris Mark v. First State Ins. Co., 871 F.2d 863 (1st Cir. 1989). · Go Syfert
Alan C. Gon Jackie Yee David Quan Richard Tsang Gilbert M. Nishimura Ira M. Sako Michael T. Ito Morris Mark v. First State Ins. Co., 871 F.2d 863 (1st Cir. 1989). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
“the obligation actually enforced by the district court's decision was a duty, under the policy, to pay defense expenses incurred. that ruling is clearly supportable, and we agree with it.”
156 citation events (102 in the last 25 years) across 29 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Starr Indemnity & Liability Company v. Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) (nysd, 2021-07-14)
Treatment trajectory · 1989 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1989 2007 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 50 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Starr Indemnity & Liability Company v. Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) (2×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
S.D.N.Y. · 2021 · signal: cf. · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
the obligation actually enforced by the district court's decision was a duty, under the policy, to pay defense expenses incurred. that ruling is clearly supportable, and we agree with it.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People of the State of California v. Chiquita Canyon, LLC (2×)
9th Cir. · 2026 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 865 (9th Cir. 1989).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State of Washington v. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
1st Cir. · 2026 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 866 (9th Cir. 1989))); see also Hoult v. Hoult, 373 F.3d 47, 53 (1st Cir. 2004) (explaining that "the propriety of the original [preliminary injunction] order" was "beyond the scope of our review" of a motion to modify that injunction (quoting 16 Wright & Miller's Federal Practice & Procedure § 3924.2 (3d ed. 2025))).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Simon v. City and County of San Francisco
9th Cir. · 2025 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 866 (9th Cir. 1989) (finding that because a subsequent order “substantially changed the terms and force of the injunction as it stood . . . the change was a modification, not a mere clarification” and was “therefore appealable under 28 U.S.C. § 1292 (a)(1)”).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Western Watersheds Project v. Debra Haaland
9th Cir. · 2025 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 865 (9th Cir. 1989) (citing 16 Charles A. Wright et al., Fed.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Amtrust International Underwriters DAC v. 180 Life Sciences Corp.
N.D. Cal. · 2024 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 868 (9th Cir. 1989), the Ninth Circuit applied 25 California law in finding that the potentially covered standard applied to a D&O policy requiring 26 the insurer to pay potentially covered legal expenses as they were incurred by the directors.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Zurn Industries Inc v. Allstate Insurance Co
3rd Cir. · 2023 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 866 (9th Cir. 1989) (exercising jurisdiction over district court order “direct[ing] [insurer] to pay defense expenses in [a particular] litigation as they were incurred”); Church Mut.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Cherry v. Prudential Insurance Company of America (2×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
W.D. Wash. · 2022 · confidence medium
Cal. Feb. 28, 2008) (quoting 17 Gon v. First State Inc., Co., 871 F.2d 863, 865 (9th Cir. 1989)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Lo v. County of Siskiyou
E.D. Cal. · 2022 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 866 (9th Cir. 3 1989)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) UMIA Insurance, Inc. v. Arguelles
D. Mont. · 2022 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 867 (9th Cir. 1989) (distinguishing a duty to defend and duty to pay legal costs).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Alyssa Jones v. Riot Hospitality Group LLC (2×) also: Cited "see"
9th Cir. · 2022 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 865 (9th Cir. 1989).
cited Cited as authority (rule) (PC) Bradford v. Usher
E.D. Cal. · 2021 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863 27 (9th Cir. 1989).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Ralph Coleman v. Gavin Newsom
9th Cir. · 2019 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 866 (9th Cir. 1989).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Ralph Coleman v. Edmund Brown, Jr.
9th Cir. · 2018 · confidence medium
Because it did not “change[] the terms and force of the injunction as it stood immediately prior,” Gon v. First State Insurance Co., 871 F.2d 863, 866 (9th Cir. 1989), it cannot be appealed. 2.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Nat'l Wildlife Fed'n v. Nat'l Marine Fisheries Serv.
9th Cir. · 2018 · signal: cf. · confidence medium
See Cunningham v. David Special Commitment Ctr. , 158 F.3d 1035 , 1037 (9th Cir. 1998) (holding that an order modifies an injunction for purposes of § 1292(a)(1) only if it "substantially alters the legal relations of the parties"); cf. Gon , 871 F.2d at 866 (holding that an order modified an existing injunction because it "substantially changed the terms and force of the injunction").
discussed Cited as authority (rule) National Wildlife Federation v. Nmfs (2×)
9th Cir. · 2018 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 865-66 (9th Cir. 1989).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Mid-Continent Casualty Co. v. Flora-Tech Plantscapes, Inc.
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 2017 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 866 (9th Cir. 1989) (noting that “original order directing] First State to pay defense expenses in the FSLIC litigation as they were incurred .... met the general definition of an injunction”).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Federal Insurance Co. v. Singing River Health System
5th Cir. · 2017 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 868 (9th Cir. 1989) (where the insurer agreed to pay defense costs that the insured is “legally obligated to pay,” the insurer “must pay legal expenses as they are incurred, because an insured becomes legally obligated to pay legal expenses as soon as the services are rendered”).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Church Mutual Insurance Co. v. Ma'Afu (2×)
10th Cir. · 2016 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 866 (9th Cir. 1989) (determining that an order directing an insurer to pay defense expenses was enforceable by contempt).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ramara Inc v. Westfield Insurance Co
3rd Cir. · 2016 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 866 (9th Cir.1989) (finding that an order directing an insurer to pay the insured’s defense expenses as they were incurred “met the general definition of an injunction” and was immediately appealable).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Reyes (Mike)
Nev. · 2015 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 866 (9th Cir. 1989) (recognizing that a modification of an injunction "substantially change[s] the terms and force of the injunction").
cited Cited as authority (rule) Roy Fisher v. Tucson Unified School District
9th Cir. · 2014 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 866 (9th Cir.1989) (holding order modified, not clarified, injunction because it “substantially changed the terms and force of the injunction”).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Connolly Ex Rel. SONICblue v. Admiral Insurance
9th Cir. · 2012 · confidence medium
Connolly’s interpretation of Admiral’s obligation is inconsistent with Gon v. First State Insurance Co., 871 F.2d 863, 868 (9th Cir.1989), which required the insurance company to “pay all legal expenses of all insureds as they are incurred,” even after the insurer had filed a complaint for rescission. 871 F.2d at 865 .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States Ex Rel. Federal Trade Commission v. Business Recovery Services LLC (2×)
9th Cir. · 2012 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 866 (9th Cir. 1989).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Germano v. Dzurenda
2d Cir. · 2012 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 865-66 (9th Cir.1989)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) 3685 San Fernando Lenders, LLC v. Cross Equities Partners, LLC
9th Cir. · 2011 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 866-67 (9th Cir.1989)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Markel American Insurance v. G.L. Anderson Insurance Services, Inc.
E.D. Cal. · 2010 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 869 (9th Cir.1989)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Valdivia v. Schwarzenegger
9th Cir. · 2010 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 865-66 (9th Cir.1989).
examined Cited as authority (rule) Abercrombie & Fitch Co. v. Federal Insurance Company (4×) also: Cited "see"
6th Cir. · 2010 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 875 (9th Cir. 1989).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) McGreevey v. Montana Power Co. (2×)
9th Cir. · 2009 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 865 (9th Cir.1989).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) McGreevey v. Montana Power Co. (2×)
9th Cir. · 2009 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 865 (9th Cir.1989).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) At & T Corp. v. Clarendon American Insurance
Del. · 2007 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 864 (9th Cir.1989) (citing California cases and holding that a D & O insurer “must pay legal expenses as they are incurred, because an insured becomes legally obligated to pay legal expenses as soon as the services are rendered.”). 16 .
cited Cited as authority (rule) Unified Western Grocers, Inc. v. Twin City Fire Insurance
9th Cir. · 2006 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 869 (9th Cir.1989); see also Gray v. Zurich Ins.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Commercial Capital Bankcorp, Inc. v. St. Paul Mercury Insurance
C.D. Cal. · 2006 · confidence medium
Gon, 871 F.2d 863, 868 (9th Cir.1989).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) In Re Lorillard Tobacco Company (2×)
9th Cir. · 2004 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 865 (9th Cir.1989). 7 17 The ex parte seizure order misses the mark on all three criteria of an injunction.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Fed. Ins. Co. v. Tyco Intl.
N.Y. Sup. Ct., New York Cty. · 2004 · confidence medium
Co. , 871 F.2d 863, 864-65 (9th Cir. 1989) (affirming district court's order that insurer pay insured's defense costs after the district court had held insurer's rescission action "in abeyance"); Indep.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Pacific Maritime Ass'n v. International Longshore & Warehouse Union
C.D. Cal. · 1998 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 865 (9th Cir.1989) (“An injunction may be defined as an order that is directed to a party, enforceable by contempt, and designed to accord or protect some or all of the substantive relief sought by a complaint in more than temporary fashion.”).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Public Service Co. of New Hampshire v. Patch
1st Cir. · 1998 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 866 (9th Cir.1989).
examined Cited as authority (rule) Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network, Inc. v. Coregis Insurance (6×) also: Cited "see", Cited "see, e.g."
D. Colo. · 1996 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 868 (9th Cir.1989).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Golden Village, Ltd. Kenneth Schofield Carole Wagner v. Insurance Company of North America, and American States Insurance Company
9th Cir. · 1995 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 869 (9th Cir. 1989). 5 4.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Aqua Queen Mfg. Co., Inc. v. Charter Oak Fire Ins. Co., Cross-Appellee
9th Cir. · 1995 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 865-66 (9th Cir. 1989). 17 The judgment entered March 3, 1993 ordered Charter Oak to pay reasonable defense costs "forthwith." It was modified by an order entered April 19, 1993, but only to provide that in case of dispute as to the amount, the dispute should be arbitrated.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Cadillac Fairview/California, Inc. v. United States
9th Cir. · 1994 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 866-67 (9th Cir. 1989). .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Cadillac Fairview/california, Inc. v. United States of America, Defendant-Cross-Claimant-Appellee, and Cabot, Cabot & Forbes Interim Co., Inc., Defendants-Third-Party-Plaintiffs, and Dow Chemical Company, Defendants-Third-Party-Plaintiffs-Appellants v. Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Co. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Third-Party-Defendants-Cross-Claimants-Appellees
3rd Cir. · 1994 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 866-67 (9th Cir.1989) 4 Section 107(a)(3) must be given "a liberal judicial interpretation ... consistent with CERCLA's overwhelmingly remedial statutory scheme." United States v. Aceto Agric.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Raychem Corp. v. Federal Insurance
N.D. Cal. · 1994 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 868-69 (9th Cir.1989) (requiring insurer to pay all legal expenses as they were incurred, subject to apportionment and reimbursement for defense of uncovered claims after settlement or judgment in the underlying action); Okada v. MGIC Indem.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Save Mart Supermarkets v. Underwriters at Lloyd's London
N.D. Cal. · 1994 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 868 (9th Cir.1989).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Dannie L. Harvey, Plaintiff-Appellant-Cross-Appellee v. Allstate Insurance Company, Defendant-Appellee-Cross-Appellant, Mark Whitaker, Deana Melchert
10th Cir. · 1993 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 868-89 (9th Cir.1989); Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. v. Liberty Mut.
examined Cited as authority (rule) National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh v. Official Unsecured Creditors' Committee of Technical Equities Corp. (In Re Technical Equities Corp.) (3×) also: Cited "see"
Bankr. N.D. Cal. · 1993 · confidence medium
Gon v. First State Insurance Co., 871 F.2d 863, 868 (9th Cir.1989); Okada v. MGIC Indemnity Corp., 823 F.2d 276, 282 (9th Cir.1987); California Union Insurance Co. v. Club Acquarius, 113 Cal.App.3d 243 , 169 Cal.Rptr. 685 (Cal.Ct.App.1980); and Hogan v. Midland National Insurance Co., 3 Cal.3d 553 , 91 Cal.Rptr. 153 , 476 P.2d 825 (1970).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Olympic Club v. Those Interested Underwriters At Lloyd's London
9th Cir. · 1993 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 867-68 (9th Cir.1989) (contrasting a duty to defend with a duty to pay defense costs).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Olympic Club v. Those Interested Underwriters at Lloyd's London
9th Cir. · 1993 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 867-68 (9th Cir.1989) (contrasting a duty to defend with a duty to pay defense costs).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Warman International Ltd., a Business Peko-Wallsend Operations Ltd., a Business v. Rm-Holz, Inc., a Business
9th Cir. · 1992 · confidence medium
Co., 871 F.2d 863, 866 (9th Cir.1989). 4 On that point, Holz relies on K-2 Ski Co. v. Head Ski Co., 506 F.2d 471 (9th Cir.1974) to argue that a preliminary injunction in a misappropriation of trade secrets action should last only for the time advantage gained by the misappropriator.
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Alan C. GON; Jackie Yee; David Quan; Richard Tsang; Gilbert M. Nishimura; Ira M. Sako; Michael T. Ito; Morris Mark, Plaintiffs-Appellees,
v.
FIRST STATE INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant-Appellant
88-2484.
Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Mar 30, 1989.
871 F.2d 863
Donald K. Fitzpatrick and Joan E. Havens, Mendes & Mount, Los Angeles, Cal., for defendant-appellant., Phyllis E. Andelin and William Goodman, San Francisco, Cal., for plaintiffs-appellees.
Pregerson, Canby, Beezer.
Cited by 89 opinions  |  Published
CANBY, Circuit Judge:

First State Insurance Company appeals an order of the district court requiring it to pay all legal expenses of the insureds as they are incurred, without contemporaneous apportionment, in ongoing litigation with the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Company. We affirm.

FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS BELOW

In September 1983, First State Insurance Company issued a Directors and Officers liability policy to Gateway Savings and Loan. The appellees are the officers and directors of Gateway insured under that policy.

On April 14, 1986, the Federal Home Loan Bank Board determined that Gateway Savings and Loan was insolvent and appointed the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Company (FSLIC) as the conservator of Gateway. On May 4, 1987, FSLIC filed suit against the former officers and directors of Gateway, alleging they had engaged in unsafe, unsound, and imprudent banking practices, which caused Gateway’s losses.

In May 1987, Gon and the other former officers and directors of Gateway tendered their defense in the FSLIC action to First State. First State responded that it had no duty to defend or to pay legal expenses as they were incurred, and that several of the claims in the FSLIC complaint were probably excluded under the terms of the policy. First State subsequently notified the insureds that it was rescinding the insurance contract because it believed that misrepresentations were made in the original application for insurance. In August 1987, First State filed a complaint for rescission in state court. That case was removed to federal court. The insureds then filed this action in federal court against First State, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief,[*865] and damages arising from First State’s refusal to defend or otherwise acknowledge its duties under the contract. The two actions were then assigned to the same district judge as related cases. The judge elected to proceed with the case brought by the insureds, and to hold the rescission action in abeyance.

On the insureds’ motion for summary judgment, the district court held that the policy required First State to pay legal expenses as they were incurred, and that California insurance law imposed upon First State a duty to defend the insureds in the FSLIC action. This order, filed November 23, 1987, required First State to pay the insureds’ legal expenses as they were incurred.

At First State’s request, the district court issued a clarification order on December 15, 1987, holding that First State did not have to pay defense costs for claims that the FSLIC complaint “clearly reveals to be based entirely on allegations of conduct not covered by the policy.” It also held that First State was not required “to pay the defense costs of non-insured persons.” The court further ordered the parties to work out an equitable apportionment formula for excluding expenses of defending claims and persons not covered by the policy.

The parties failed to agree on the apportionment of defense costs. The district court issued an order on March 16, 1988, further clarifying the original order of November and the subsequent December order. In it, the court ordered First State to pay all legal expenses of all insureds as they are incurred, without contemporaneous apportionment, because distinguishing potentially covered claims from uncovered claims was not practicable and would defeat the purpose of the insurance company’s duty to defend. Similarly, the court ordered that First State pay the legal expenses of certain of the insureds that it contends are not covered by the policy by reason of their not acting in their capacity as officers and directors of Gateway. First State reserved the right, the court held, to recover defense costs clearly attributable to uncovered claims or uncovered individuals after judgment in the FSLIC action.

First State now appeals this order. First State challenges the district court’s holding that First State has a duty to defend the insureds and pay legal expenses as incurred. It also contests the denial of its request for contemporaneous apportionment of the legal expenses. The insureds, in addition to opposing First State on the merits, assert that we lack jurisdiction over the appeal, or at least over some of the issues presented by First State. We address the latter, threshold issues before turning to the merits.

DISCUSSION

A. JURISDICTION

1. Appealability of the Order of March 16, 1988.

We have jurisdiction to review an order “granting, continuing, modifying, refusing or dissolving injunctions, or refusing to dissolve or modify injunctions” under 28 U.S. C. § 1292(a)(1). Appellee Quan contends that the district court’s order of March 16, 1988, qualifies neither as an injunction, nor as an order modifying an injunction. He therefore concludes that the order is unap-pealable for lack of finality. We disagree.

An injunction may be defined as an order that is directed to a party, enforceable by contempt, and designed to accord or protect some or all of the substantive relief sought by a complaint in more than temporary [1] fashion. 16 C. Wright, A. Miller, E. Cooper, & E. Gressman, Federal Practice & Procedure: Jurisdiction § 3922 at 29 (1977). It is to be contrasted with an order by a court that regulates the conduct of the litigation, which is not considered an injunction for purposes of appellate jurisdiction, even though punishable by[*866] contempt. Orders relating to discovery are examples of the latter. See id. at 30 (and cases cited within).

The original order of November 23, 1987, directed First State to pay defense expenses in the FSLIC litigation as they were incurred. The order met the general definition of an injunction in that it was directed to First State, was enforceable by contempt, and provided most of the substantive relief the insureds sought. It did not concern only the conduct of the litigation, as Quan contends. The order of December 15, 1987, clearly modified the original order by directing that expenses be apportioned so that First State need only pay covered expenses as they were incurred. Finally, the order of March 16, 1988, from which this appeal was taken, again modified the original injunction by providing that First State pay all defense expenses, subject to later reimbursement after a post-trial apportionment. Having concluded that the original order was an injunction, we have no difficulty characterizing the March 16th order as a modification of that injunction. The March 16th order substantially changed the terms and force of the injunction as it stood immediately prior to March 16; the change was a modification, not a mere clarification. See Movie Systems, Inc. v. MAD Minneapolis Audio Distributors, 717 F.2d 427, 429-30 (8th Cir.1983). It is therefore appealable under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(a)(1).

2. Issues Raised by Appeal Only of the March 16 Order Modifying the Injunction.

The original injunction ordering First State to pay defense expenses as they were incurred was entered on November 23, 1987. First State did not appeal that injunction, but did request clarification on December 11, 1987. The district court responded with an order of clarification on December 15, 1987, which modified the injunction by providing that First State was entitled to apportion defense costs and not pay those that were clearly excluded by the policy or that related to non-covered individuals. First State did not appeal that order. Then, on March 16, 1988, after the parties could not agree on an apportionment formula, the district court entered its order requiring First State to pay all defense costs as incurred, subject to apportionment after judgment in the FSLIC trial. From this order, First State took a timely appeal.

The insureds argue that, because First State did not appeal the earlier orders, it is precluded from attacking the ruling, embodied in the first order, that First State must pay potentially covered defense expenses as they are incurred. The insureds contend that the only issue properly before us is the modification made by the March 16th order: the ruling that First State must wait until after trial to apportion covered and uncovered defense expenses. While there is something to be said on both sides of this argument, we conclude that First State’s appeal is not so narrowly confined as the insureds would have it.

It is true that a party that has failed to appeal from an injunction cannot regain its lost opportunity simply by making a motion to modify or dissolve the injunction, having the motion denied, and appealing the denial. In such a case, the appeal is limited to the propriety of the denial, and does not extend to the propriety of the original injunction itself. Sierra On-Line, Inc. v. Phoenix Software, Inc., 739 F.2d 1415, 1418 n. 4 (9th Cir.1984). See also Denley v. Shearson/American Express, Inc., 733 F.2d 39, 42-43 (6th Cir.1984). As a result, review of denials of motions to modify or dissolve injunctions are generally limited to the “new matter” presented by the motion. Sierra, 739 F.2d at 1418 n. 4.

A somewhat more delicate question is presented when a motion to modify an injunction is granted. It is still true that one who has long since foregone a right to appeal an injunction ought not to regain it simply because a separable modification, appealable in its own right, has occurred. On the other hand, a modification may be so fundamental to the original injunction, or may otherwise present issues so inextricable from the validity of the original injunction, that review must include the[*867] whole package. Indeed, even denials of motions to modify can present such problems of entanglement, and the appellate court may decide to review the original injunction “when it perceives a substantial abuse of discretion or when the new issues raised on reconsideration are inextricably intertwined with the merits of the underlying order.” Sierra, 739 F.2d at 1418 n. 4; see Cerro Metal Products v. Marshall, 620 F.2d 964, 972 (3d Cir.1980). In order to determine whether review of the original injunction is justified in the case before us, we must turn to its particular facts and exercise a pragmatic judgment. See Fern v. Thorp Public School, 532 F.2d 1120, 1129 (7th Cir.1976).

The facts here, and the manner in which the issues are framed, lead us to conclude that we must review the major earlier rulings of the district court in order properly to decide the validity of the last modification of March 16th. First State’s original position was that its policy was one of indemnification and contained no duty to defend, and that accordingly it need pay no expenses of defense until after final judgment in the FSLIC trial. The district court firmly rejected that position in its order of November 23, 1987, holding that the policy required contemporaneous payments of covered defense expenses as they were incurred, and that California law imposed a duty to defend. The court’s actual order, however, did not impose a duty to defend; it simply required payment of defense expenses as they were incurred. Before the time for appeal of that ruling expired, First State obtained a clarification that permitted it to apportion expenses, and not to pay those that fell within clear policy exclusions or that were incurred by non-covered persons. It was only after negotiations over an apportionment formula broke down that the district court issued its March 16th order requiring First State to pay all defense expenses, subject to apportionment only after final judgment.

Now, in attacking the March 16th order on appeal, First State argues that a requirement that all expenses be paid prior to judgment is improper, even for a policy requiring payment of legal expenses as they are incurred, unless the policy embodies a duty of the insurer to defend—a duty that First State emphatically denies. Whether or not this argument proves to be meritorious, it is almost impossible to address it without examining the merits of the district court’s earlier rulings. And it is unreasonable to hold the question of a duty to defend foreclosed by First State’s failure to appeal the November 23rd order. At the time that order was issued, and after it was clarified on December 15th, the presence or absence of a duty to defend had no effect on the timing of apportionment. It is a close question whether First State should be foreclosed from challenging its duty to pay at least covered defense expenses as they are incurred, but the nature and extent of its duties in that regard similarly may affect the question whether the district court abused its discretion in ordering all expenses to be paid when incurred, subject to later apportionment. Thus the “new issues raised on reconsideration are inextricably intertwined with the merits of the underlying order.” Sierra, 739 F.2d at 1418 n. 4. We conclude, therefore, that First State, in this appeal of the March 16th modification, may dispute the earlier rulings of the district court relating to the existence of a duty to defend, and the existence and scope of the duty to pay defense expenses as they are incurred. Whether any of these points is determinative is a matter for the merits, which we address below; our ruling at this point is simply that the arguments may properly be raised by First State.

B. THE DUTY TO DEFEND AND APPORTIONMENT OF LEGAL EXPENSES

1. Duty to Defend v. Duty to Pay Legal Expenses

First State contends that a requirement of payment of all legal costs as incurred amounts to the imposition of a duty to defend. The district court did, in the first order, conclude that First State had a duty to defend. We disagree with that conclusion, and believe there is no duty to defend under the terms of the First State[*868] policy. There is no language in the policy stating that First State will defend any claims. A policy with a duty to defend typically contains a clause that provides that the insurer chooses the attorney and controls the strategy of the litigation, a valuable right to protect the insurer’s own interests. This clause is not present in the First State policy. Instead, the First State policy covers legal expenses as a loss item. Directors and officers liability policies generally do not contain a duty to defend. See Comment, Practical Aspects of Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance—Allocating and Advancing Legal Fees and the Duty to Defend, 32 UCLA L.Rev. 690, 701-12 (1985).

The absence of a duty to defend, however, is crucial neither to the district court’s decision nor to ours. The obligation actually enforced by the district court’s decision was a duty, under the policy, to pay defense expenses as incurred. That ruling is clearly supportable, and we agree with it.

In Okada v. MGIC Indem. Corp., 823 F.2d 276 (9th Cir.1986), we concluded that a policy with pertinent language identical to First State’s required payment of legal expenses as incurred. Because the policy provided coverage for loss that the insureds became legally obligated to pay, rather than loss paid out by the insureds, it was a liability policy. [2] Id. at 280. The insurer was required to pay legal expenses as they were incurred by the directors, because that is when the directors were legally obligated to pay. Id.

The language of this policy is parallel, and Okada controls. The insuring agreement under the “Directors and Officers Liability” portion of the policy provides that First State will pay 95% of all loss which the insureds shall become “legally obligated ” to pay. (Emphasis added). Loss is defined to include “damages, judgments, settlement and costs, cost of investigation ... and defense of legal actions, claims or proceedings and appeals therefrom....” This language alone supports the district court’s ruling that First State must pay legal expenses as they are incurred, because an insured becomes legally obligated to pay legal expenses as soon as the services are rendered. Okada, 823 F.2d at 280. This case is easier than Okada, however, because the policy in Okada also had a provision which sought to exclude legal expenses from expenses that were to be paid as incurred. There is no such provision in the First State policy. As a result, we agree that First State, under the terms of the policy, had a duty to pay legal expenses as they are incurred.

2. Apportionment of Legal Expenses

The final issue is whether the district court can require payment of all legal expenses as incurred, where, as here, the policy does not include a duty to defend, but only a duty to pay legal expenses. The district court found that First State was entitled to apportion the legal expenses, but that, under the facts of this case, it was impractical to do so before judgment. Here, again, we agree with the district court. Although First State is entitled to apportion the expenses between covered and uncovered claims and persons, it cannot do so at the expense of the insured.

In Okada, we favored apportionment early in the underlying suit. We found that some exclusions, such as libel or slander, are easy to distinguish from covered claims by analyzing the underlying complaint. Okada, 823 F.2d at 282. But where the nature of the claims made in the complaint do not clearly indicate whether they would be covered or uncovered, the apportionment issue is much more difficult. Where, for example, the defense of a claim based on an alleged act would be covered under the policy if the act were committed negligently, but would not be covered if it were committed intentionally, apportionment in advance would be very difficult, if not impossible.

[*869] A review of the FSLIC complaint confirms the district court’s finding that apportioning legal expenses based on the claims made in the complaint would not be feasible. Although some of the FSLIC’s claims may well include personal advantage and dishonesty, which are excluded claims, they will also include neglect, mismanagement, breach of duty, omissions, and errors and misstatements, which are covered under the policy.

Two policy reasons also support our holding. First, the third party complainant, who may overstate the claims against the insured, should not be the arbiter of the policy’s coverage. See Gray v. Zurich Ins. Co., 65 Cal.2d 263, 419 P.2d 168, 176-77, 54 Cal.Rptr. 104, 112-13 (1966). Second, apportioning legal expenses where coverage is not yet clear, because the facts are not fully developed, may deny the insureds the benefits of the protection they purchased.

We are not, however, unconcerned with First State’s predicament. First State may be advancing legal fees that it will have great difficulty in recovering should the court subsequently decide that a claim or individual was not covered by the policy. The district court may well wish to consider the use of a master or other case management techniques to monitor the legal fees in order to keep track of those which are attributable to covered and uncovered matters, and to permit an earlier apportionment if it should develop that some portions of the incurred expenses prove to be uncovered and easily separable, without prejudice to the defense of covered claims.

CONCLUSION

We agree with the district court that apportionment between covered and uncovered claims and persons is not yet feasible under the facts of this case. We affirm the district court’s order that First State must pay all legal expenses as incurred, subject to apportionment and reimbursement for defense of uncovered claims or persons after settlement or judgment in the underlying FSLIC action.

AFFIRMED.

1

. The cited source, Federal Practice and Procedure, states that the order must accord the relief "in more than preliminary fashion.” We think “temporary" is a more felicitous word. Temporary restraining orders are not appealable, while preliminary injunctions are. Id., § 3922 at 31-35.

2

. The policy defined “Loss” as "the amount which the Directors and Officers are legally obligated to pay ... for a claim or claims made against the Directors and Officers for Wrongful Acts.” Okada, 823 F.2d at 280.