Reese v. Barbiere, Unpublished Decision (9-29-2003)
Reese v. Barbiere, Unpublished Decision (9-29-2003)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} On May 3, 1998, 16-year-old Chad Reese ("Reese") was a passenger on George Barbiere's motorcycle. Barbiere lost control and the motorcycle left the road. Reese was thrown from the motorcycle and he landed in a ditch, striking his head on a culvert. Reese was severely injured, suffering an anoxic brain injury as well as other less serious injuries. Reese was airlifted from the crash scene to University Hospital and was released after an extended stay.
{¶ 3} Reese's injuries are permanent and debilitating. It is unlikely that he will ever walk again. Due to his physical and mental disabilities, Reese will require a guardian. Over $500,000 has been expended for his medical care to date, and his treatment is ongoing.
{¶ 4} At the time of the motorcycle accident, Barbiere was covered by a $50,000 liability policy. Barbiere had no other insurance coverage for the accident. Barbiere tendered his policy limits to the Reeses.
{¶ 5} Barbiere and Reese's mother, Alice Reese, were employed by Ethicon Endosurgery. Ethicon Endosurgery is a subsidiary of Johnson Johnson Corporation. At the time of the accident, Johnson Johnson was covered by a commercial automobile policy, through Lumbermen's, as well as a commercial general liability policy.
{¶ 6} Appellants filed a complaint against Ethicon Endosurgery on May 2, 2000. Appellants sought to recover from Ethicon pursuant to the principals enunciated in Scott-Pontzer v. Liberty Mutual Fire InsuranceCo.,
{¶ 8} An appellate court reviews a trial court's decision to grant summary judgment de novo. Grafton v. Ohio Edison Co.,
{¶ 9} Summary judgment is properly granted when: (1) there is no genuine issue as to any material fact; (2) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law; and (3) rea sonable minds can come to but one conclusion, and that conclu sion is adverse to the party against whom the motion for summary judgment is made. Harless v. Willis DayWarehousing Co. (1976),
{¶ 10} Appellants argue that the trial court erred when it found that Wolfe did not apply to the instant case. Appellants argue that underWolfe, every automobile liability policy issued must have, at a minimum, a guaranteed two-year policy period during which the policy cannot be altered except by agreement of the parties and in accordance with R.C.
{¶ 11} R.C.
{¶ 12} "[a]s used in sections
{¶ 13} "(A) Provides automobile bodily injury or property damage liability, or related coverage, or any combination thereof;
{¶ 14} "(B) Insures as named insured, any of the following:
{¶ 15} "(1) Any one person;
{¶ 16} "(2) A husband and wife resident in the same household;
{¶ 17} "(3) Either a husband or a wife who reside[s] in the same household if an endorsement on the policy excludes the other spouse from coverage under the policy and the spouse excluded signs the endorsement."
{¶ 18} There is no genuine issue as to any material fact. The named insured on the policy is a corporation, not a single person or a husband and wife. Therefore the commercial automobile policy does not meet the statutory definition of an "automobile insurance policy" as defined in R.C.
{¶ 19} Consequently, there was no requirement for either party to produce evidence of the applicable two-year period required under Wolfe for an automobile insurance policy since the policy at issue does not fall within the category of policies to which Wolfe applies. Reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion, and that conclusion is adverse to appellants. The moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Therefore, the first assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 21} Appellants argue that the trial court erred when it imposed an exclusion or condition where UM/UIM coverage is imposed by law.
{¶ 22} The Commercial Automobile policy states that coverage extends to an "insured" except to employees if the auto in question is owned by that employee or a member of his or her household. Therefore, the policy expressly excludes an employee driving a covered auto that is owned by the employee from qualifying as an insured under the policy.
{¶ 23} Since the Commercial Automobile policy qualifies its definition of a covered auto by excluding an auto that is owned by the employee, Barbiere and appellants are not covered. See Edmundson v.Premier Indus. Corp., Cuyahoga App. No. 81132, 2002-Ohio-5573, at ¶ 27. Barbiere owned the motorcycle he and Reese were riding when the accident occurred, and therefore, Reese is not covered under the commercial automobile liability policy. Reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion, and that conclusion is adverse to appellants. The moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Accordingly, the second assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 25} Appellants argue when "a Commercial General Liability policy provides insurance covering various types of vehicles, * * * UM/UIM coverage arise[s] by operation of law."
{¶ 26} Automobile liability or motor vehicle liability policies of insurance requiring mandatory offerings of underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage are governed by R.C.
{¶ 27} The Commercial General Liability policy agrees to cover the liability that Johnson Johnson may incur if mobile equipment that is not intended for use on public roads and is not subject to registration requirements or an auto that is not owned by Johnson Johnson, but is parked on its premises or "on the ways next to" the premises, is damaged.
{¶ 28} Reese was injured while riding on Barbiere's personal motorcycle. Barbiere's personal motorcycle was not listed, scheduled or covered under the Lumbermen's Commercial General Liability policy. The Commercial General Liability policy coverage is for mobile equipment which would not be subject to motor vehicle registration. A motorcycle is subject to motor vehicle registration.
{¶ 29} Since the Commercial General Liability policy does not serve as proof of financial responsibility for motor vehicles specifically identified in the policy, it is not a motor vehicle liability policy. See Burkholder v. German Mut. Ins. Co.,
{¶ 30} Furthermore, Section II of the policy states, "[e]mployees are insured for acts only within the scope of their employment." Barbiere was not within the scope of employment when he and Reese were riding on his motorcycle.
{¶ 31} Reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion, and that conclusion is adverse to appellants. The moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Therefore, the third assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 33} Appellants argue that the trial court granted the motion for summary judgment before full discovery occurred.
{¶ 34} Civ.R. 56(F) provides as follows:
{¶ 35} "[s]hould it appear from the affidavits of a party opposing the motion for summary judgment that the party cannot for sufficient reasons stated present by affidavit facts essential to justify the parties' opposition, the court may refuse the application for judgment or may order a continuance to permit affidavits to be obtained or discovery to be had or may make such other order as is just."
{¶ 36} Appellants submitted no Civ.R. 56(F) affidavit to establish that they needed a continuance in order to respond to Lumbermen's motion for summary judgment. In its motion for summary judgment, Lumbermen's demonstrated that there was no genuine issue of material fact, and that it was entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Pursuant to Civ.R. 56(F), the trial court was not required to give appellants additional time within which to respond to Lumbermen's motion for summary judgment in the absence of an affidavit from appellants establishing their need for additional time. See Gates Mills Investment Co. v. Pepper Pike
(1978),
Judgment affirmed.
VALEN, P.J., and POWELL, J., concur.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.