United Farm Mutual Insurance Company v. Stacy B. Matheny, Earl R. Matheny
United Farm Mutual Insurance Company v. Stacy B. Matheny, Earl R. Matheny
Opinion
[1] United Farm Family Mutual Insurance Company ("United") appeals the trial court's denial of its motion for summary judgment. United contends the trial court's conclusion Stacy Matheny ("Stacy") and Earl Matheny ("Earl") lived in separate residences was in error. We reverse and remand with instructions.
Facts and Procedural History 1
[2] Stacy is Earl's son. Stacy lives in an apartment on the second floor of Earl's house. Stacy has lived under the same roof as his father since approximately 2000, excepting some time Stacy spent in prison. While Stacy was imprisoned and after Earl's wife died, Earl closed off access between the upstairs and downstairs of his home and rented the second floor to other people as an apartment. Thereafter, access to the upstairs apartment was via two separate entryways at the front and the back of the house. The upstairs apartment consisted of two bedrooms, a living room, and space for a kitchen; however, no appliances were ever installed to make the *882 kitchen area functional for meal preparation.
[3] To gain access to the downstairs where Earl lived, one must enter from outside and have a key. Stacy and his siblings all had keys to the part of the house where Earl lived. Stacy usually ate breakfast and lunch with Earl in Earl's living area. The two men also typically ate dinner together. Stacy was unemployed and did not have a driver's license. Earl paid Stacy's living expenses, did not collect rent from him, and transported him on errands.
[4] Earl had several long guns and a handgun. When Stacy was released from prison, Earl thought Stacy was not allowed to live in a house with guns. Earl stored his long guns off-site but kept his handgun with him for personal protection. Earl kept the gun under his pillow and took it with him in a bag when he travelled.
[5] Earl had three mobile homes that he rented to other people. Pete Paris rented one of the homes. Phillip Chase frequently visited Paris; however, both Earl and Stacy had told Chase he was not welcome on the property. Earl and Stacy did not want Chase there because Chase allegedly manufactured drugs on the property.
[6] On March 14, 2016, Earl and Stacy were headed into town when Earl noticed Paris had accumulated more than thirty bags of trash at the back of the mobile home. Earl and Stacy stopped so Earl could tell Paris to clean it up. When Earl pulled up to the mobile home, Stacy noted Chase's car was beside the home. Paris came outside, and Stacy told him to have Chase come out to talk. As they were waiting for Chase, Earl was worried the men would fight. When Chase came out, he and Stacy moved toward the back of Earl's truck to talk. Stacy shot Chase in the head with Earl's handgun. Chase died. Earl did not know when or how Stacy obtained his gun.
[7] On May 13, 2016, Chase's Estate ("Estate") sued Stacy and Earl for wrongful death alleging Stacy had "knowingly or intentionally sho[ ]t" Chase, (App. Vol. II at 14), and Earl had been negligent in storing and safe-keeping the handgun and in not controlling his son when a special relationship existed between the men. This special relationship, the Estate alleged, arose from the fact Earl knew Stacy had a history of violent and criminal activity, had been in prison for shooting someone, had an "emotional and/or mental disturbance," ( id. at 15), and was prohibited from owning or using a handgun because he is a convicted felon.
[8] Earl had homeowner's insurance with United, and United represented Earl in the negligence claim; however, on February 13, 2017, United filed a complaint for declaratory judgment alleging it was not obligated to defend or indemnify Earl or Stacy in the wrongful death suit because the policy included an exclusion for damages that were the result of a criminal act.
[9] Earl's insurance policy with United stated:
If a claim is made or a suit is brought against an "insured" for damages because of "bodily injury" or "property damage" caused by an "occurrence" to which this coverage applies, we will:
1. Pay up to our limit of liability for the damages for which the "insured" is legally liable. Damages include prejudgment interest awarded against the "insured"; and
2. Provide a defense at our expense by counsel of our choice, even if the suit is groundless, false or fraudulent. We may investigate and settle any claim or suit that we decide is appropriate. Our duty *883 to settle or defend ends when the amount we pay for damages resulting from the "occurrence" equals our limit of liability.
( Id. at 49.)
[10] The policy contains the following pertinent definitions:
In this policy, "you" and "your" refer to the "named insured" shown in the Declarations and the spouse if a resident of the same household. "We," "us" and "our" refer to the Company providing this insurance. In addition, certain words and phrases are defined as follows:
1. "Bodily injury" means bodily harm, sickness or disease, including required care, loss of services and death that results.
* * * * *
3. "Insured" means you and residents of your household who are:
a. Your relatives; or
b. Other persons under the age of 21 and in the care of any person named above.
* * * * *
4. "Insured location" means:
a. The "residence premises";
b. The part of other premises, other structures and grounds used by you as a residence and:
(1) Which is shown in the Declarations; or
(2) Which is acquired by you during the policy period for your use as a residence;
* * * * *
h. Any part of a premises occasionally rented to an "insured" for other than "business" use.
5. "Occurrence" means an accident, including continuous or repeated exposure to substantially the same general harmful conditions, which results, during the policy period, in:
a. "Bodily injury"; or
b. "Property damage."
( Id. at 37.)
[11] The policy also includes exclusions that limit coverage in certain circumstances:
We do not pay for loss to property covered by this policy, "bodily injury" or "property damage" intended by, or which may reasonably be expected to result from, the intentional or criminal acts or omissions of any "insured." This exclusion applies even if:
(1) Such "insured" lacks the mental capacity to govern his or her conduct;
(2) Such loss, "bodily injury" or "property damage" is of a different kind or degree than intended or reasonably expected;
(3) Such loss, "bodily injury" or "property damage" is sustained by a different person than intended or reasonably expected; or
(4) Such loss or "property damage" is caused by or results from an intentional or criminal act of any person to whom an "insured" has rented, leased, loaned or entrusted the property, unless the "insured" has no knowledge of or reason to suspect such intentional or criminal activity.
This exclusion applies regardless of whether or not such "insured" is actually charged with, or convicted of, any crime.
[12] On September 8, 2017, United filed a motion for summary judgment, claiming that because Stacy, as a relative residing in Earl's household, was an insured party who intentionally shot Chase, the damages claimed by the Estate were excluded from coverage. The Estate filed a response and objected, alleging that, because Stacy was not a resident of Earl's household, coverage for Earl was not excluded. On January 9, 2018, the trial court denied United's motion for summary judgment, stating:
COMES NOW THE COURT after review of the Motion for Summary Judgment filed by the Plaintiff's [sic], after review of testimony and exhibits presented at hearing on this motion, after review of submissions filed by the parties, and the court being duly advised in the premises now FINDS as follows:
1. The Plaintiff's [sic] issued a home insurance policy to Defendant, Earl R. Matheny.
2. Defendant, Stacy B. Matheny, is the adult son of Defendant, Earl R. Matheny.
3. Defendant, Stacy B. Matheny, was not listed as an insured party under the home insurance policy that was issued to Defendant Earl R. Matheny by the Plaintiff's [sic].
4. The Defendant, Earl R. Matheny, has repeatedly stated that he lives alone.
5. Testimony revealed that the Defendant, Stacy B. Matheny, lived in his own apartment alone.
6. Testimony revealed that the apartment of Defendant, Stacy B. Matheny, had no access to the home of Defendant, Earl R. Matheny.
7. Testimony revealed that the only access Defendant, Stacy B. Matheny, had to the home of Defendant, Earl R. Matheny, was through a locked door.
8. Testimony revealed that the apartment in which Defendant, Stacy B. Matheny, had been living on March 14, 2016 had previously been rented to third parties and had not been used as living quarters by Defendant, Earl R. Matheny, for many years.
9. The apartment of the Defendant, Stacy B. Matheny, was sealed off from the home of Defendant, Earl R. Matheny.
10. The apartment of the Defendant, Stacy B. Matheny, had its own outside entrance separate from that of the Defendant, Earl R. Matheny.
THE COURT NOW CONCLUDES AS FOLLOWS:
1. The homeowner's policy issued to the Defendant, Earl R. Matheny, listed only the Defendant, Earl R. Matheny, as an insured party.
2. The Defendant, Earl R. Matheny, lived separate from the Defendant, Stacy B. Matheny[,] in separate living quarters.
3. The parties intended to live separately.
4. The Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment should be denied.
IT IS THE ORDER OF THIS COURT that Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED.
(Appealed Order at 1-2.) United filed a motion requesting certification of that order for interlocutory appeal. The trial *885 court granted that motion, and we accepted jurisdiction.
Discussion and Decision
[13] We review summary judgment using the same standard as the trial court: summary judgment is appropriate only where the designated evidence shows there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
Rogers v. Martin
,
[14] When the trial court makes findings and conclusions in support of its order regarding summary judgment, we are not bound by such findings and conclusions, but they aid our review by providing reasons for the decision.
Allen Gray Ltd. P'ship IV v. Mumford
,
[15] When interpreting an insurance policy, we give plain and ordinary meaning to language that is clear and unambiguous.
Meridian Mut. Ins. Co. v. Auto-Owners Ins. Co.
,
[16] United argues it has no obligation to defend or indemnify either Stacy or Earl because Stacy was an insured party under the policy and, therefore, the exclusion for an intentional, criminal act applies. 3 Although Stacy was not a named insured on the policy, United argues he was an insured because the policy defined "insured" as relatives of the named insured who are also "residents in [the named insured's] household." (App. Vol. II at 37.)
[17] When, as here, the parties' policy leaves the term "resident in your household" undefined, we apply Indiana common law to determine its meaning.
Indiana Farmers Mut. Ins. Co. v. Imel,
[18] Alleging Stacy was a resident in Earl's household, United argues that - because Stacy obviously had a physical presence in Earl's home and obviously had access to Earl's home - the only prong of the test at issue is the subjective intent prong. United maintains Earl and Stacy subjectively intended for Stacy to be a resident of Earl's household because Stacy received all his mail at the single address for the home and Earl paid all Stacy's expenses. Stacy paid no rent. Earl stated several times that Stacy lived with him. Maybe most important, Earl, without being directed to do so by law enforcement, removed all the long guns from the downstairs because he believed Stacy, as a felon, could not live in a house with guns. Earl admitted he nevertheless kept the handgun for personal protection.
[19] Unable to find Indiana cases wherein residency was disputed when a party lived full-time under the same roof as the insured,
4
United turned to cases from other jurisdictions. United first cites
Row v. United Services Automobile Association
,
[20] As in Row , Stacy had a separate living area from Earl but had a key to Earl's living area. Additionally, Stacy did not pay rent, did not have a lease, and had virtually unrestricted use of Earl's living area. Notably, Stacy's living area was not a full apartment with kitchen facilities, nor was it in an apartment complex. Rather, Stacy's living area was, at one time, connected to the rest of the house by a staircase and would have been considered part of the main house, albeit on a different floor.
[21] United also cites
Kepple v. Aetna Casualty and Surety Company
,
[22] As in Kepple , Stacy did not have a separate address from Earl, and Stacy lived in a part of the main house that had been converted into a separate living area. He also frequently ate his meals with Earl. Unlike Kepple , Stacy did not pay even nominal rent, and his apartment did not have a functional kitchen.
[23] Using the three-part test for residency, we note Stacy had a physical presence in Earl's home, whether we define that home as both the upstairs and downstairs or whether we limit it to the downstairs. Stacy slept upstairs but spent significant time downstairs with Earl. Stacy had access to Earl's home, both upstairs and downstairs. Thus, we look to Earl's subjective intent.
[24] Earl stated during his deposition on August 22, 2017, that Stacy did not pay rent, Stacy had a key for the "whole house," (Appellant's App. Vol. III at 133), Earl provided all of Stacy's transportation, and Stacy had free access to the house. However, he then insisted Stacy "wasn't a part of [his] household, but [Stacy] did come and have his meals with me when he wanted." ( Id. at 135.) The Estate argues Earl has maintained consistently that Stacy does not live with him because in the interrogatories sent to Earl from the Estate in the underlying case Earl states none of his children live with him. ( See Appellee's App. Vol. II at 47 (when asked whether any of his children live with him, Earl answered "No").) 5
[25] The Estate's argument that Earl's subjective intent was that Stacy did not live with him is not supported by the evidence. It is undisputed that Stacy had unrestricted access to the whole house and that Stacy depended on Earl to support him by providing food, housing, utilities, and transportation. Earl's statements that Stacy did not live with him are disingenuous as his actions prior to any litigation-provision of housing, food, utilities, and transportation-show Stacy resided with Earl.
See
Quiring v. GEICO Gen. Ins. Co.
,
[26] No question of fact exists to preclude summary judgment. Stacy, like the children in Row and Kepple , was a resident of his parent's household. 6 Under the *888 policy definition, therefore, Stacy was an insured. Because Stacy qualifies as an insured, the exclusion clause applies and United is not obligated to defend or indemnify either Stacy or Earl. Therefore, as a matter of law, summary judgment for United is proper.
Conclusion
[27] Because no question of material fact existed as to whether Stacy was a resident of Earl's household, the trial court erred in denying summary judgment to United. Accordingly, we reverse and remand with instructions to grant summary judgment in favor of United.
[28] Reversed and remanded.
Baker, J., and Bailey, J., concur.
We heard oral argument on this matter on October 29, 2018, at South Dearborn High School in Aurora, Indiana. We commend counsel for their oral advocacy and for participating in the post-argument discussion with the audience. We especially thank the students and school personnel of Dearborn High School for their gracious hospitality and thoughtful post-argument questions.
United's brief indicates this exclusion is in Section II, number 1, subpart "o"; however, at the citation United provides, "Appellant's App. Vol. 2, p. 52," (Br. of Appellant at 9), the exclusion listed is in Section II, number 1, subpart "n." We believe this to be a scrivener's error.
Because the insurance policy states the exclusion applies to "the intentional or criminal acts or omissions of
any
'insured[,]' " this exclusion would apply to United's obligation or lack thereof for both Stacy and Earl even though only Stacy committed a criminal act, provided Stacy is considered an insured party.
See
Holiday Hosp. Franchising, Inc. v. Amco Ins. Co.
,
As United notes, the question Indiana courts usually have decided is whether children in college or children of divorced parents remain a resident of the insured's household.
See, e.g.
,
Quiring v. GEICO Gen. Ins. Co.
,
The Estate also argues Earl admitted "that he lived alone...; that Stacy was not living with him at that address; [and] that Stacy lived by himself at a separate apartment without an access to Earl's place of residence other than through a locked door[.]" (Br. of Appellee at 10.) However, these admissions are the result of a request from the Estate to Earl and do not bind United.
See
Herff Jones, Inc. v. State Bd. of Tax Comm'rs, Ind.Tax, No. 49T05-8610-TA-00030
,
This case is distinguishable from our holding in
Secura Supreme Ins. Co. v. Johnson
,
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.