Huzyak v. Nationwide Ins. Co., Unpublished Decision (7-28-2003)
Huzyak v. Nationwide Ins. Co., Unpublished Decision (7-28-2003)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
{¶ 1} On March 14, 1998, Ann Huzyak was injured in a motor vehicle accident caused by Paul Gregory. Both Mr. Gregory's personal auto policy issued by Erie Insurance Company and Ms. Huzyak's personal auto policy issued by Nationwide Insurance Company paid the limits to Ms. Huzyak.{¶ 2} At the time of the accident, Ms. Huzyak was employed with Nationwide, insured under a business auto policy and a commercial general liability policy issued by Wausau Insurance Company. Ms. Huzyak's parents were insured under a personal auto policy and an umbrella policy issued by Nationwide. Ms. Huzyak's father was employed with Mannesman Demag Corporation, insured under a business auto policy issued by American Insurance Company, and a commercial general liability policy and a commercial umbrella policy issued by Allianz Insurance Company.
{¶ 3} On September 10, 1999, Ms. Huzyak filed a complaint against Nationwide seeking underinsured motorists benefits under her parents' policies. On December 15, 2000, Nationwide agreed to advance $1,000,000 to Ms. Huzyak.
{¶ 4} On October 17, 2001, Nationwide filed a third-party complaint against Wausau, American and Allianz seeking contribution, indemnification and/or subrogation. All parties filed motions for summary judgment. By judgment entry filed December 9, 2002, the trial court found coverage to exist under Wausau's business auto policy only. The trial court concluded Wausau's policy provided primary coverage to Nationwide's excess coverage.
{¶ 5} Wausau filed an appeal and assigned the following errors:
{¶ 11} Nationwide filed a cross-appeal and assigned the following errors:
{¶ 14} Although the trial court found in American's favor, American has assigned the following errors to defend the trial court's judgment on grounds other than those relied on by the trial court:
{¶ 17} At the outset, we note the trial court decided the issues on summary judgment. Summary Judgment motions are to be resolved in light of the dictates of Civ.R. 56. Said rule was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court of Ohio in State ex rel. Zimmerman v. Tompkins,
{¶ 18} "Civ.R. 56(C) provides that before summary judgment may be granted, it must be determined that (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 nonmoving party, that conclusion is adverse to the party against whom the motion for summary judgment is made. State ex. rel. Parsons v. Fleming (1994),
{¶ 19} As an appellate court reviewing summary judgment motions, we must stand in the shoes of the trial court and review summary judgments on the same standard and evidence as the trial court. Smiddyv. The Wedding Party, Inc. (1987),
{¶ 21} In order to properly address whether the endorsement controls, it is first necessary to determine if uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage arose by operation of law. As we have stated in Greenev. Westfield Insurance Co., Stark App. No. 2002CA00114, 2002-Ohio-6179, at ¶ 24-26, conditions and restrictions do not apply when uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage arises by operation of law. See, also, Butcher v. Lewis, Stark App. No. 2001CA00219, 2002-Ohio-1858.
{¶ 22} Upon review, we find the formalities of Linko v. IndemnityInsurance Company of North America,
{¶ 23} Because uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage arises by operation of law, we must look to the definition of "Who Is An Insured" under the liability portion of Wausau's policy to see if Scott-Pontzer applies. The policy defines an "insured" as follows:
{¶ 24} "a. You for any covered `auto.'
{¶ 25} "b. Anyone else while using with your permission a covered `auto' you own, hire or borrow except:
{¶ 26} "(1) The owner or anyone else from whom you hire or borrow a covered `auto.' This exception does not apply if the covered `auto' is a `trailer' connected to a covered `auto' you own.
{¶ 27} "(2) Your employee if the covered `auto' is owned by that employee or a member of his or her household.
{¶ 28} "(3) Someone using a covered `auto' while he or she is working in a business of selling, servicing, repairing or parking `autos' unless that business is yours.
{¶ 29} "(4) Anyone other than your employees, partners, a lessee or borrower or any of their employees, while moving property to or from a covered `auto'." See, Section II(A)(1) of the Business Coverage Auto Form, attached to Nationwide's Brief as Exhibit D.
{¶ 30} By using the rationale of Scott-Pontzer, the "you" becomes Ann Huzyak. The next analysis is what constitutes a covered auto. The definition of a "covered auto" applicable to this case is as follows:
{¶ 31} "OWNED `AUTOS' ONLY. Only those `autos' you own (and for Liability Coverage any `trailers' you don't own while attached to power units you own). This includes those `autos' you acquire ownership of after the policy begins." See, Section I(A)(2) of the Business Auto Coverage Form, attached to Nationwide's Brief as Exhibit D.
{¶ 32} A "covered auto" is defined as "[o]nly those `autos' you own." By substituting Ann Huzyak for "you," a covered auto is any auto Ann Huzyak uses. Based upon this reasoning, we find Ms. Huzyak is an insured under Wausau's business auto policy and therefore is entitled to uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage by operation of law.
{¶ 33} Assignments of Error I and II are denied.
{¶ 35} As discussed supra, coverage under this policy arose by operation of law. As a result, conditions and restrictions do not apply.Greene, supra; Szekeres v. State Farm Fire and Cas. Co., Licking App. No. 02CA00004, 2002-Ohio-5989; Butcher v. Lewis, Stark App. No. 2001CA00219, 2002-Ohio-1858.
{¶ 36} Assignments of Error III and IV are denied.
{¶ 38} Ms. Huzyak was an insured under her parents' Nationwide policies as a family resident of their household. Nationwide's "other insurance" language under its uninsured motorists coverage provides as follows in pertinent part:
{¶ 39} "1. If there is other insurance for bodily injury suffered by an insured while occupying a motor vehicle other than your auto, our coverage is excess over any other collectible:
{¶ 40} "a) insurance;
{¶ 41} "b) self insurance;
{¶ 42} "c) proceeds from a governmental entity; or
{¶ 43} "d) sources or recovery other than workers' compensation benefits." See, Endorsement 2352A, attached to Nationwide's Brief as Exhibit B.
{¶ 44} It is agreed Ms. Huzyak's auto was a leased vehicle not owned by her or her parents. Therefore, this provision is controlling and Nationwide's coverage is excess to Wausau's coverage. Further, the general conditions language of Nationwide's personal umbrella policy clarifies it is "excess over any other valid and collectable insurance." See, Personal Umbrella Policy, attached to Nationwide's Brief as Exhibit C. The umbrella policy's uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage establishes it is excess coverage. See, Uninsured Motorists Coverage Endorsement Personal Umbrella Liability Policy, attached to Nationwide's Brief as Exhibit C.
{¶ 45} Given the plain meaning of the "other insurance" clauses of the Nationwide policies, we find Nationwide's coverage to be excess coverage.
{¶ 46} Assignment of Error V is denied.
{¶ 50} Although the trial court found no coverage under American's business auto policy, we will address this issue. The trial court found the endorsement did not eliminate the Scott-Pontzer ambiguity, but found no coverage due to a breach of the notice and subrogation provisions.
{¶ 51} American concedes its definition of an "insured" is the same as the definition considered in Scott-Pontzer. American's Brief at 10. The term "you" must be defined the same way throughout the policy. See, United Ohio Company v. Bird (May 18, 2001), Delaware App. No. 00CA31, adopting the philosophy of Lyttle v. Progressive CasualtyInsurance Co. (February 4, 1999), Cuyahoga App. No. 73620. Therefore, the "you" is Ms. Huzyak's father and his family members, Ms. Huzyak.
{¶ 52} However, American argues Endorsement No. CA 99 10 12 93, Drive Other Car Coverage — Broadened Coverage for Named Individuals, removes the case from Scott-Pontzer analysis. In support, American cites Section C, attached to American's June 7, 2002 Motion for Summary Judgment as Exhibit 3:
{¶ 53} "Changes in Auto Medical Payments and Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists Coverage
{¶ 54} "The following is added to WHO IS AN INSURED:
{¶ 55} "Any individual named in the Schedule or in the Declarations and his or her family members are insureds while occupying or while a pedestrian when being struck by any auto you don't own except:
{¶ 56} "Any auto owned by that individual or by any family member."
{¶ 57} According to this definition, uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage is broadened to include the Huzyaks except for when occupying any vehicle they own. As stated supra, Ms. Huzyak was not operating a vehicle owned by her or her parents.
{¶ 58} Upon de novo review, we find the endorsement does not operate to preclude coverage under American's business auto policy.
{¶ 59} American Cross-Assignment of Error I is denied.
{¶ 61} American's "other insurance" language under its uninsured motorists coverage provides as follows:
{¶ 62} "The CONDITIONS of the policy for OHIO UNINSURED MOTORISTS INSURANCE are changed as follows:
{¶ 63} " * * *
{¶ 64} "If there is other applicable insurance available under one or more policies or provisions of coverage:
{¶ 65} " * * *
{¶ 66} "b. Any insurance we provide with respect to a vehicle you do not own shall be excess over any other collectible uninsured motorists insurance providing coverage on a primary basis." See, Endorsement CA 21 33 06 95, attached to American's June 7, 2002 Motion for Summary Judgment as Exhibit 3.
{¶ 67} Because Ms. Huzyak's auto was a leased vehicle not owned by her or her parents, this provision is controlling and any coverage American would be liable for would be excess to Wausau's coverage.
{¶ 68} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Stark County, Ohio is hereby affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded.
By Farmer, J. and, Boggins, J. concur.
Dissenting Opinion
¶ 1I dissent from the majority's disposition of III. IV.
{¶ 2} I agree that, when coverage arises as a matter of law, the contractual exclusions are generally unenforceable. I disagree with the majority in finding the notice and subrogation clauses are exclusions.
{¶ 3} In my view, our analysis begins with the threshold issue who is insured. The various exclusions to coverage, if enforcible, define whether a given individual in the particular circumstances is entitled to coverage.
{¶ 4} Once we determine the person is entitled to coverage, this does not mean the person actually receives any money. There are various reasons why a covered person may not recover damages. One of those reasons is failure to meet conditions precedent, such as providing notice to the insurer and affording it the opportunity to defend its subrogation rights.
{¶ 5} I believe notice and subrogation provisions differ in essence from exclusions. In the subrogation analysis, coverage has already been established. The focus moves to whether the insured preserved his or her right to recovery.
{¶ 6} The exclusions in an insurance policy operate prior to the incident and determine coverage. The issues surrounding notice and subrogation are triggered only after the incident. Compliance is wholly within the control of the insured and the insurer has no role in the decisions which determine whether the insured is able to recover.
{¶ 7} I find notice and subrogation provisions are definitely not exclusions, but are conditions precedent to recovery. As such, I would find the provisions are enforcible. I would sustain the third and fourth assignments of error.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.