Rucker v. Davis, Unpublished Decision (6-17-2003)
Rucker v. Davis, Unpublished Decision (6-17-2003)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 3} According to the complaint, Progressive insured Mr. Rucker at the time of the accident and Travelers insured Mr. Rucker's employer, Mead Corporation, under an automobile insurance policy. The complaint alleged that these policies provided underinsured motorist coverage under which the Ruckers were entitled to collect damages.
{¶ 4} The complaint contained claims for: (1) Mr. Rucker's personal injuries, (2) Mrs. Rucker's personal injuries, (3) Mrs. Rucker's wrongful death, (4) Mr. Rucker's loss of consortium, (5) a declaratory judgment as to Progressive's insurance coverage, and (6) a declaratory judgment as to Travelers insurance coverage.
{¶ 5} All the defendants answered. Progressive cross-claimed against the other defendants. It sought a full judgment against Davis Sr. and Davis Jr. in the event that any judgment is entered against it. As to Travelers, Progressive asserted that Travelers was the primary underinsured coverage to the Ruckers and sought indemnity and/or contribution for any judgment against Progressive.
{¶ 6} In February 2002, the trial court granted the Ruckers' motion to amend their complaint to allege that Mead had two insurance policies with Travelers: the auto liability policy and a "GCL" policy.
{¶ 7} On March 15, 2002, the Ruckers sought summary judgment against Travelers.2 They relied upon the pleadings, the deposition of Mead's director of corporate risk management and insurance, Terrance A. Reiff, and the relevant insurance policies issued to Mead. The Ruckers argued that they were entitled to underinsured motorist coverage pursuant to Mead's policies with Travelers.
{¶ 8} On March 15, 2002, Travelers sought summary judgment. It argued that: (1) because Mead is a self-insurer, in the "practical sense," Travelers was not required by R.C.
{¶ 9} In March 2002, Progressive dismissed, without prejudice, its cross-claims against Davis Sr. and Davis Jr. In May 2002, the Ruckers dismissed, with prejudice, their claims against Davis Sr. and Davis Jr. pursuant to a settlement agreement.
{¶ 10} In June 2002, the trial court determined that: (1) the Progressive policy unambiguously limits each plaintiff to $100,000 per person, (2) That Progressive is not entitled to a $50,000 reduction towards the amount of underinsurance motorist coverage it must provide, and (3) that "Progressive is entitled to a $50,000 setoff from the tortfeasor's per person limit as to Jerry Rucker, Executor of the Estate of Ruth Rucker" because of expenses incurred by wrongful death settlements in probate court.
{¶ 11} In June 2002, the trial court granted in part and denied in part the Ruckers' motion for summary judgment against Travelers. In its analysis, the trial court ruled that the Ruckers are entitled to underinsured motorist coverage under the Business Auto policy issued by Travelers. In so doing, the trial court determined that Mead did not legally reject UI/UIM coverage. The trial court also ruled that Mead's GCL policy was not a motor vehicle policy of insurance as defined by former R.C.
{¶ 12} The Ruckers appeal3 and assert the following assignment of error: "The trial court erred to the prejudice of the [Ruckers], by holding that [Travelers' GCL policy] is not a `motor vehicle liability insurance policy' subject to the UM/UIM mandates of R.C.
{¶ 13} Travelers asserts the following cross-assignment of error to be considered only to prevent a reversal of the judgment on appeal: "The trial court erred in declaring that the Mead GCL policy was not a form of self-insurance, exempt from Ohio's UM/UIM statute."
{¶ 15} Summary judgment is appropriate when the court finds that the following factors have been established: (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) reasonable minds can come to only one conclusion, and that conclusion is adverse to the nonmoving party, who is entitled to have the evidence construed in his or her favor. Civ.R. 56. See Bostic v. Connor (1988),
{¶ 16} The burden of showing that no genuine issue of material fact exists falls upon the party requesting summary judgment. Dresher v.Burt (1996),
{¶ 17} We apply identical standards of interpretation to insurance contracts as we do to other written contracts. Hybud Equip. Corp. v.Sphere Drake Ins. Co., Ltd. (1992)
{¶ 18} Former R.C.
{¶ 19} Former R.C.
{¶ 20} In Selander v. Erie Ins. Group (1999),
{¶ 21} The Ohio Supreme Court was asked to extend Selander's reasoning to homeowner's insurance policy in Davidson v. Motorists Mut.Ins. Co. (2001),
{¶ 22} In Davidson, the Court also limited Selander by finding that "Selander stands only for the proposition that UM/UIM coverage is to be offered where a liability policy of insurance expressly provides for coverage for motor vehicles without qualification as to design or necessity for motor vehicle registration." Id. at 268.
{¶ 23} Here, the Ruckers argue that the GCL policy is converted into a motor vehicle liability policy by the following provisions. The policy provides that it does not apply to "g. Aircraft, Auto or Watercraft" and explains that this exclusion does not apply to: "(3) parking an `auto' on, or on the ways next to, premises you own or rent, provided the `auto' is not owned by or rented or loaned to you or the insured; * * * (5) `bodily injury' or `property damage' arising our of the operation of any of the equipment listed in paragraph f.(2) or f.(3) of the definition of `mobile equipment.'" These definitions provide: "(2) Cherry pickers and similar devises * * *; and (3) Air compressors, pumps and generators, including spraying, welding, building, cleaning, geophysical exploration, lighting and well servicing equipment."
{¶ 24} We begin our analysis by finding that vehicles described in part (5) of the above quoted policy language are not the type of motor vehicles that can be used for transportation on the highway. Thus, coverage for these types of vehicles provides only "incidental coverage" to motorized vehicles.
{¶ 25} Next, we turn our attention to part (3), the inclusion of "parking an auto" that is not owned by, rented or loaned to the insured. While the inclusion of coverage of motor vehicles does not automatically convert a policy into a motor vehicle policy, we cannot find that this provision provides merely incidental coverage of an auto. In this context, the term "parking" is slightly ambiguous. It could mean the act of parking an auto on the insured's premises, e.g., an employee valet parking a customer's car; or it could mean an auto that is parked on an insured's property. Because we must liberally construe ambiguous language in favor of the claimant, we find that this provision provides liability coverage arising from the use of automobiles. Thus, the GCL policy is a motor vehicle policy.
{¶ 27} Travelers issued the GCL policy to Mead. The policy had a two million dollar limit and had a two million dollar deductible. An endorsement to the policy requires Mead to reimburse Travelers, among other things, for all amounts paid to settle a claim or lawsuit within the policy's coverage. This includes attorneys fees and court costs.
{¶ 28} The Ruckers argue that Mead is not self-insured. They point out that if Mead becomes bankrupt or insolvent, Travelers is obligated to provide insurance coverage.
{¶ 29} Self-insurers do not need to comply with former R.C.
{¶ 30} In Musser, we also held that to determine "whether an entity is self-insured in a practical sense, courts look at who bears the risk of loss." The insurance policy in Musser had an identical liability limit and deductible, one million dollars, and contained a bankruptcy clause stating that the insurance company remained liable even if the insured became bankrupt or insolvent. In Musser, we held that the insured bore the risk of loss given the identical limit of liability and deductible even with the bankruptcy clause because the insured remained liable under the policy even in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency.
{¶ 31} Here, the insurance policy's liability limit and deductible are identical, two million dollars, and has a bankruptcy clause where the insured remains liable even if Mead becomes bankrupt or insolvent. Thus, our reasoning in Musser is applicable here and we find that Mead is self-insured in the practical sense.
{¶ 32} Because Mead is self-insured in the practical sense, R.C.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Ross County Court of Common Pleas to carry this judgment into execution.
Any stay previously granted by this Court is hereby terminated as of the date of this entry.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Exceptions.
Evans, P.J. and Abele, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.
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