Metropolitan Prop. Cas. Ins. v. Lengyel, Unpublished Decision (5-31-2000)
Metropolitan Prop. Cas. Ins. v. Lengyel, Unpublished Decision (5-31-2000)
Opinion of the Court
On August 2, 1994, Diane and Thomas Lengyel got into an argument concerning the welfare of their children. The argument became heated, and Diane struck Thomas across the mouth. Thomas then struck Diane across the jaw, causing her to fall backward and lose consciousness. Diane allegedly also suffered a chipped tooth, TMJ, permanent paraesthesia on the right side of her face, severe headaches, and bone damage to her jaw. Criminal charges were brought against Thomas in the Wadsworth Municipal Court, where he was found guilty of domestic violence, in violation of R.C.
On July 19, 1996, Diane filed a complaint for personal injuries allegedly sustained during the August 2, 1994 incident. Thomas filed an answer denying liability. On September 12, 1997, Metropolitan filed an intervening complaint for declaratory judgment asking the court to declare the duties and obligations of the parties under both the Homeowners policy on the family residence and the Renters policy on Thomas's apartment. On October 1, 1998, Metropolitan filed a motion for summary judgment, relying on the intentional acts exclusions contained in the Homeowners and Renters policies. Both policies exclude from coverage "bodily injury * * * which is reasonably expected or intended by you or which is the result of your intentional and criminal acts."1 Subsequently, the trial court entered summary judgment in favor of Metropolitan on January 20, 1999. This appeal followed.
WHETHER AN INJURY IS EXPECTED OR INTENDED BY A WRONGDOER IS A JURY QUESTION AND THE COURT CAN NOT PRESUME AS A MATTER OF LAW THAT INJURIES CAUSED BY A WRONGDOER WERE INTENTIONAL UNDER THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CASE.In the second assignment of error, appellants assert that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of Metropolitan based on the exclusionary clause in both the Homeowners and Renters policies. They further contend that as there is a genuine issue of material fact regarding whether Thomas intended to injure Diane, the trial court erred in granting summary judgment. We disagree.
Pursuant to Civ.R. 56(C), summary judgment is proper if:
(1) No genuine issue as to any material fact remains to be litigated; (2) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law; and (3) it appears from the evidence that reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion, and viewing such evidence most strongly in favor of the party against whom the motion for summary judgment is made, that conclusion is adverse to that party.
Temple v. Wean United, Inc. (1977),
"[I]n order to avoid coverage on the basis of an exclusion for expected or intentional injuries, the insurer must demonstrate that the injury itself was expected or intended." Physician'sIns. Co. of Ohio v. Swanson (1991),
In the present case, Thomas was found guilty of domestic violence, in violation of R.C.
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT FOUND THE INTERSPOUSAL EXCLUSION APPLIED TO A SPOUSE WITH NON-RESIDENT STATUS.
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY FAILING TO FIND SUMMARY JUDGMENT FOR THE MOVING PARTY.
In their first assignment of error, appellants argue that the trial court erred when it found that the interspousal exclusion applied to a spouse with non-resident status. Further, in their third assignment of error, appellants argue that the trial court erred in denying their motion for summary judgment.2 However, as we conclude that the trial court properly entered summary judgment in favor of Metropolitan for the reasons set forth above, these assignments of error are rendered moot. App.R. 12(A)(1)(c). Accordingly, appellants' first and third assignments of error are overruled.
Judgment affirmed.
The Court finds that there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common Pleas, County of Summit, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.
Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(E).
Costs taxed to Appellants. Exceptions.
_____________________________________ WILLIAM G. BATCHELDER, FOR THE COURT.
BAIRD, P.J. AND WHITMORE, J. CONCUR.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.