Nautilus Insurance v. Dolphin Pools Corp.
Nautilus Insurance v. Dolphin Pools Corp.
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM OF OPINION AND ORDER
This is an action for declaratory relief as to plaintiff Nautilus Insurance Company’s (“Nautilus”) obligations, if any, to its insured, Dolphin Pools Corporation (“Dolphin Pools”) in two different lawsuits, Casebeer v. The Block Corporation, et al.,
Both the Dolphin Pools’ application and the policy itself conclusively establish that the parties did not intend to cover Dolphin Pools’ lifeguard operations under Policy P008005. The application contains no reference whatsoever to Dolphin Pools’ lifeguard operations and nowhere indicates that Dolphin Pools’ sought coverage that service. See Plaintiff’s Exhibit A. The application consistently described the business as “swimming pool construction and maintenance,” without any reference to lifeguard operations. The application's Schedule of Hazards makes no reference to lifeguard services and codifies the “swimming pool” hazard as “17986,” a code that specifically excludes lifeguard operations. In each and every reference to swimming pool accidents (versus maintenance-related accidents) the application represents that the accident was covered by an unrelated “Professional Liability” policy.
The Nautilus policy itself contains no reference whatsoever to Dolphin Pools’ lifeguard services.
Thus, the facts of record conclusively demonstrate that Policy P008005 did not cover Dolphin Pools’ lifeguard services. There are no facts of record (nor does defendant Embassy Row even assert) that the drowning in the Casebeer action resulted from Dolphin Pools’ construction or maintenance operations. Summary judgment in favor of plaintiff Nautilus and against defendants Embassy Row and Rosalie Casebeer shall be entered.
The Spergel case, however, presents a much different scenario since a reasonable jury could find that the decedent drowned as a result of Dolphin Pools’ negligent pool maintenance operations. The parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment ask the Court to determine as a matter of law whether the lifeguard’s alleged negligence in failing to close the pool constituted a “superceding, intervening cause” or a “concurrent cause” of the drowning. The Court can not make such a ruling on the factual record now before it. Defendants present a strong record tending to show that the lifeguard’s conduct
Hence, Nautilus has a duty under the policy to defend Dolphin Pools. Whether Nautilus has a duty to indemnify Dolphin Pools depends on a factual determination of the causation issue. Nautilus’ declaratory relief action is STAYED until resolution of the Spergel matter.
. Civil Action Number 88-01171 in the District of Columbia Superior Court.
. Civil Action Number 89-0480, now pending before this Court.
. Defendant Embassy Row points to the following language as providing coverage for all of Dolphin Pools’ operations:
The Company will pay on behalf of the insured all sums which the insured shall become legally obligated to pay as damages because of bodily injury or property damage to which this insurance applies, cause by an occurrence, and arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of the insured premises and all operations necessary or incidental to the business of the named insured conducted at or from the insured premises. Plaintiffs Exhibit B, MP 00 93, ¶ 1.
This language does not on its face provide that the lifeguard services are covered, especially when the "insured premises” are described as “swimming pool construction and maintenance” without reference to lifeguard services. Plaintiff’s Exhibit B, p. 1.
. According to the insurance industry standards, this description does not included lifeguard operations.
. Defendants’ motions for summary judgment as to Nautilus’s duty to defend are GRANTED.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- NAUTILUS INSURANCE COMPANY v. DOLPHIN POOLS CORPORATION
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published