Riverside Insurance v. Kolonich
Riverside Insurance v. Kolonich
Opinion of the Court
On February 5, 1981, plaintiff, Riverside Insurance Company, filed a complaint
The record discloses that Rosemary Kolonich filed a complaint on October 22, 1980, claiming that she suffered injuries when she slipped and fell on the Taylors’ driveway on December 17, 1979. Plaintiff initially agreed to represent the Taylors in the negligence matter under the homeowner’s insurance policy, but, after taking the deposition of Rosemary Kolonich, it filed the instant action based on the "business pursuit” exception to the policy.
The special exclusion provision of the policy stated that coverage does not apply:
"(a)(1) to any business property of an Insured or any business pursuits in connection with a business solely owned by an Insured or owned by a partnership of which an Insured is a partner other than (a) premises occupied for office, professional, private school, or studio occupancy specifically added by endorsement, and (b) activities therein which are ordinarily incidental to non-business pursuits * * *.”
Plaintiffs theory was that the Taylors were
Mary Jo Taylor’s deposition was taken in this matter on March 3, 1981. Therein* she testified that: (1) she owned a kiln for firing ceramics, over 100 ceramic molds, and more than 100 pieces of greenware, (2) she had been interested in ceramics for approximately five years and* at the time of the deposition, taught a weekly ceramics class at her home, which was comprised of five students, (3) at the time of Rosemary Kolonich’s injury, she had approximately ten students, (4) a $2 fee was charged per class, (5) pieces of greenware were sold by her, primarily to class members, (6) a portion of her ceramics activities was devoted to firing green-ware, where she charged one-half of the amount the person paid for the piece, (7) as a result of considering her ceramics functions as a hobby rather than a business venture, she neither reported any income on her tax returns nor possessed a sales tax license, and (8) her husband’s involvement in the activity was limited to carrying molds and greenware to her visitors’ automobiles.
In its summary judgment motion, plaintiff maintained that no genuine issue existed in relation to any material fact, inasmuch as the Taylor depositions established that they were not entitled to defense coverage under the policy. Defendant Kolonich maintains that the depositions established that the ceramic activites were conducted by Mrs. Taylor as a hobby, not for a profit, or, alternatively, that a question of fact exists in regard to the issue. Additionally, Rosemary Kolonich con
In State Mutual Cyclone Ins Co v Abbott,
" 'To constitute a business pursuit, there must be two elements: first, continuity, and secondly, the profit motive; as to the first, there must be a customary engagement or a stated occupation; and, as to the latter, there must be shown to be such activity as a means of livelihood, gainful employment, means of earning a living, procuring subsistence or profit, commercial transactions or engagements.’ ”
Another case involving an insurance company’s attempt to avoid extending coverage under the business-pursuit exception is Randolph v Ackerson,
In summary judgment motions based upon GCR 1963, 117.2(3), the trial court must examine the pleadings, admissions, depositions, affidavits, and other documentary evidence to determine whether a genuine issue of fact exists as to any material fact.
In the matter at bar, a question of fact was raised by the depositional testimony of Mrs. Taylor regarding whether her activities constitute a hobby or an enterprise conducted with a profit motive. Accordingly, we conclude that summary judgment was improvidently granted.
We also note that, in its order granting summary judgment on plaintiffs petition for declaratory relief, the trial court did not address defendant Kolonich’s claim that plaintiffs assumption of a defense on behalf of the Taylors constituted a waiver or estoppel of its right to deny insurance coverage based on an alleged policy exclusion. Nor
In Security Ins Co of Hartford v Daniels,
"The Court, in Meirthew, supra [Meirthew v Last, 376 Mich 33; 135 NW2d 353 (1965)], was concerned that the insurance company, by defending the insured in the principal suit but not informing him of specific defenses upon which it later intended to rely to avoid liability, denied the insured a fair and timely opportunity to protect his rights. In the instant case, however, the very reason for bringing the declaratory judgment action was to decide those issues prior to trial and, consequently, avoid prejudicing the rights of any insured party. Thus, because the instant declaratory judgment action is a suitable alternative to a 'reservation of rights’ letter, Meirthew, supra, is not applicable to the instant case.” (Footnote omitted.)8
In 44 Am Jur 2d, Insurance, § 1408, pp 348-349, an insurer’s obligation to defend is discussed:
"Where doubt exists as to the obligation of an insurer to defend, the doubt should be resolved in the insured’s favor. The determination of an insurer’s duty to defend may turn on the construction of an exclusionary clause.
"If the insurer desires to show that the claim against the insured is based on facts excluded from the policy coverage and the insurer refuses to defend, it must do so at its peril, and if the insurer guesses wrong, it must bear the consequences of its breach of contract. For this reason, where the insurer is doubtful about its liability and wishes to retain all its rights and at the same time*59 protect itself against the claim that it has unjustifiably refused to defend a suit against the insured, it may give a so-called 'nonwaiver’ notice to the insured or attempt to enter into a 'nonwaiver’ agreement with the insured by which it reserves all its rights to assert later the policy noncoverage. Another remedy available to the insurer is to secure an adjudication of nonliability by way of a declaratory judgment. Such a judgment settles definitely the question of its duty to defend. ” (Footnotes omitted, emphasis added.)
In the matter at bar, a hearing is required to determine if plaintiffs involvement in the defense of the negligence claim against its insured operates as an estoppel or waiver of its right to disclaim coverage.
Reversed and remanded.
GCR 1963, 521. For a discussion of the declaratory judgment remedy, see Demorest v DiPentima, 118 Mich App 299; 324 NW2d 634 (1982).
52 Mich App 103; 216 NW2d 606 (1974).
52 Mich App 108. For a detailed article on interpretation of business pursuits exclusions, see Anno: Construction and application of "business pursuits" exclusion provision in general liability policy, 48 ALR3d 1096 (1973).
108 Mich App 746; 310 NW2d 865 (1981).
Revitzer v Trenton Medical Clinic, 118 Mich App 169; 324 NW2d 561 (1982); Lipton v Boesky, 110 Mich App 589, 598; 313 NW2d 163 (1981); 7 Callaghan’s Mich Pleading & Practice (2d ed), § 43.05, pp 14-15.
Rizzo v Kretschmer, 389 Mich 363, 372; 207 NW2d 316 (1973); 1 Honigman & Hawkins, Michigan Court Rules Annotated (2d ed), p 362.
70 Mich App 100; 245 NW2d 418 (1976).
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting). I respectfully dissent. The majority reverse and remand on the grounds that summary judgment was improvidently granted and that an evidentiary hearing is necessary to determine if waiver or estoppel apply.
The underlying negligence action was commenced against plaintiffs insured on October 23, 1980. The insurance company caused an answer to be filed on its insured’s behalf on November 6, 1980. This action for declaratory relief was filed some three months later on February 5, 1981. Only Kolonich, the plaintiff in the underlying action, appealed.
Under the subject contract of insurance, the insurer was obligated to provide a defense to his insured and, upon any failure to do so, even if refusal was made in good faith, the insurer would be liable for a default judgment, even if in excess of the policy limits. Frank Stockdale v Jamison, 99 Mich App 534; 297 NW2d 708 (1980). The duty to defend may extend to actions which are ground
An insurer, impressed with a duty to defend, who doubts that a claim is within coverage afforded by the policy must necessarily, after assumption of defense, be afforded a reasonable opportunity to resolve the coverage question by declaratory relief without waiving any contractual rights. Security Ins Co v Daniels, 70 Mich App 100; 245 NW2d 418 (1976).
For a nonparty to a contract of insurance to assert waiver or estoppel as against an insurer’s contractual rights, he must show that he has been prejudiced by action of the insurer as to a consequential right under the contract of insurance. Hoffman v Professional Underwriters, 259 Mich 633; 244 NW 184 (1932); Beals v Central Mutual Auto Ins Co, 269 Mich 477; 257 NW 868 (1934); Meirthew v Last, 376 Mich 33; 135 NW2d 353 (1965).
In my opinion, the insurer’s timely filing of this action should negate any claim of prejudice. Security Ins Co v Daniels.
The insurance contract in question is clear and unambiguous that it does not apply to business pursuits. See State Mutual Cyclone Ins Co v Abbott, 52 Mich App 103; 216 NW2d 606 (1974).
1. Language employed must be accorded connotation which a policy holder of ordinary intelligence would usually attach to it.
2. For purposes of exclusion from comprehensive personal liability protection of standard home owners policy, the term "business pursuits” comprehends both continuity and profit motive.
The trial court, in granting summary judgment, relied upon the deposition of plaintiffs insured, Mary Jo Taylor, as taken in the underlying action. An objective analysis of that deposition establishes that Mrs. Taylor had been interested in ceramics for about five years, maintained a kiln and an inventory of more than 100 ceramic molds and more than 100 pieces of greenware upon her premises. The activities conducted upon the premises were the teaching of ceramic classes more than one night a week to groups ranging in number from five to ten, as well as the sale and firing of ceramic pieces. A fee was charged students for the taking of classes and a consideration was received for services performed or for items sold.
It is also undisputed that Rosemary Kolonich, plaintiff in the underlying action, at the time of her slip and fall on Taylor’s sidewalk, had specifi
From my reading of Home Ins Co v Aurigemma, I would hold that the two-pronged test (continuity and profit motive) as adopted by State Mutual Cyclone Ins Co is satisfied by the admissions contained in Mrs. Taylor’s deposition.
The existence of defendant Taylor’s claim that she considered her pursuits as a hobby, did not advertise, had many family members among her clientele, and possessed no records to show if the activity generated a profit or loss are subjective considerations and should not disturb the holding of the trial judge. There is no outstanding issue of material fact to prevent the granting of declaratory relief by summary judgment. Burroughs Corp v Detroit, 18 Mich App 668, 674-675; 171 NW2d 678 (1969).
Further, I do not agree with appellant’s claim that, because Mary Jo Taylor conducted the business, her husband, David Taylor, is entitled to coverage. It is the type of risk that is covered or excluded by the policy, not the individual insured.
Having answered the first three issues raised by appellant, the remaining issue, in my opinion, is rendered moot.
I would affirm.
Reference
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