Chapman v. Chapman, Unpublished Decision (9-24-2003)
Chapman v. Chapman, Unpublished Decision (9-24-2003)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 3} At the time of the accident, Brian was employed by East Ohio Gas Company, which was a named insured on a business auto policy issued by Liberty Mutual. Brian himself was the named insured on two separate policies issued by State Farm. One policy (the "truck policy") covered the truck involved in the accident, providing liability and UIM limits of $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident. State Farm paid Meredith the $50,000 per person liability limit on this policy in settlement of her claims against Brian. The other State Farm policy (the "motorcycle policy") covered another vehicle owned by Brian but not involved in the accident — a 1975 Harley Davidson motorcycle. The motorcycle policy provided liability and UIM limits of $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident.
{¶ 4} Appellant brought a declaratory judgment action against both State Farm and Liberty Mutual, seeking declarations that: (1) she is entitled to UIM coverage under the State Farm motorcycle policy, and (2) pursuant to Scott-Pontzer v. Liberty Mut. Fire Ins. Co. (1999),
{¶ 5} State Farm and Liberty Mutual each filed motions for summary judgment; on January 31, 2003, the trial court granted both motions. First, the trial court found that Meredith was a resident of Brian's house at the time of the accident. On the basis of this finding, the trial court determined that Meredith was insured under both the State Farm and Liberty Mutual policies. However, the court concluded that "other owned vehicle" exclusions contained in each policy rendered Meredith ineligible for UIM coverage.
{¶ 6} Meredith Chapman appeals and raises two assignments of error.
{¶ 7} In her first assignment of error, Appellant challenges the trial court's entry of summary judgment in favor of Liberty Mutual. We begin our analysis by noting the appropriate standard of review.
{¶ 8} An appellate court reviews an award of summary judgment de novo. Grafton v. Ohio Edison Co. (1996),
{¶ 9} Pursuant to Civil Rule 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),
{¶ 10} The party moving for summary judgment bears the initial burden of informing the trial court of the basis for the motion and pointing to parts of the record that show the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Dresher v. Burt (1996),
{¶ 11} Appellant argues that the trial court erred in determining that the "other owned auto" exclusion contained in the Liberty Mutual policy extinguished her coverage under the policy. Specifically, Appellant contends that the exclusion is invalid because it exceeds the bounds authorized by R.C.
{¶ 12} The Liberty Mutual policy contains an Ohio Uninsured Motorists Coverage — Bodily Injury endorsement, which provides the following exclusion of UIM coverage:
"This insurance does not apply to:
"5. `Bodily Injury' sustained by:
"c. Any `family member' while `occupying' or when struck by any vehicleowned by you that is insured for Uninsured Motorists coverage on a primary basis under any other Coverage Form or policy." (Emphasis added).
{¶ 13} Appellant was a family member of Brian Chapman; she sustained bodily injuries when struck by a truck owned by Brian; and that truck was insured for UIM coverage on a primary basis under another policy (the State Farm truck policy). Appellant does not dispute these facts. Nor does she challenge the trial court's determination that these facts place her injuries within the plain meaning of the exclusion. Rather, she maintains that the trial court erred in concluding that an exclusion of UIM coverage based upon such facts is "expressly permitted by R.C. 3[9]37.18(J)(1)." Essentially, Appellant argues that R.C.
{¶ 14} The applicable version of R.C.
"The coverages offered under [R.C.
"(1) While the insured is operating or occupying a motor vehicle owned by, furnished to, or available for the regular use of a named insured, a spouse, or a resident relative of a named insured[.]" (Emphasis added).
{¶ 15} Appellant contends that the statute imposes a "`named insured' limitation," permitting contractual exclusions of UIM coverage only in situations involving vehicles "owned by, furnished to, or available for the regular use of" those persons listed in an insurance policy's declarations. Appellant maintains that while, pursuant toScott-Pontzer, Brian qualifies as an "insured" under the Liberty Mutual policy issued to his employer, because he is not listed in the policy's declarations, he is not a named insured. Therefore, according to Appellant, R.C.
{¶ 16} This Court recently rejected the same argument in Mazza v.American Continental Ins. Co., 9th Dist. No. 21192, 2003-Ohio-360, appeal allowed 2003-Ohio-3717. The appellant in that case argued that "the `other owned auto' exclusion authorized by R.C.
{¶ 17} Several other districts have found similarly worded exclusions to be consistent with R.C.
{¶ 18} The trial court correctly determined that the "other owned auto" exclusion in the Liberty Mutual policy complies with R.C.
{¶ 19} In her second assignment of error, Appellant essentially challenges the trial court's grant of summary judgment in favor of State Farm. Appellant argues that the trial court erred in finding that the motorcycle policy's "other owned vehicle" exclusion rendered her ineligible for UIM coverage. We disagree.
{¶ 20} The State Farm motorcycle policy provides the following exclusion of UIM coverage:
"(2) For bodily injury to an insured:
"(a) While operating or occupying a motor vehicle owned or leased by, furnished to, or available for the regular use of you, your spouse or any relative if it is not insured for this coverage under this policy."
{¶ 21} Appellant argues that the trial court erred in finding the above exclusion applicable to the facts of this case. This argument is without merit.
{¶ 22} When terms within an insurance contract have a plain and ordinary meaning, it is not necessary or permissible for a court to construe a different meaning. Hartong v. Makary (1995),
{¶ 23} The motorcycle policy's exclusion unambiguously precludes UIM coverage for bodily injuries: (1) sustained by an insured (2) while occupying (3) a vehicle owned by "you," (4) if that vehicle is not insured for UIM coverage under the policy. The policy plainly defines the term "you" as "the named insured * * * shown on the declarations page."
{¶ 24} Appellant herself maintains that: (1) she is "an insured" under the State Farm motorcycle policy and (2) she sustained bodily injuries while occupying Brian Chapman's Ford-150 pickup truck. The State Farm motorcycle policy clearly shows that: (1) Brian Chapman is the named insured shown on the declarations page, i.e. "you," for that policy and (2) Brian's pickup truck was not insured for UIM coverage by that policy. These facts place Appellant's injuries squarely within the plain meaning of the exclusion and render her ineligible for UIM coverage under the motorcycle policy.
{¶ 25} Appellant also argues that "the policy anticipates situations in which more than one State Farm policy may apply, and provides that under such circumstances, the policy with the highest policy limit is applicable." Appellant bases this argument on the following "other uninsured motor vehicle coverage" provision:
"If There Is Other Uninsured Motor Vehicle Coverage
"* * *
"2. If Other Policies Issued By Us To You, Your Spouse or Any RelativeApply
"* * * [I]f two or more motor vehicle policies issued by us to you,your spouse or any relative providing uninsured motor vehicle coverage apply to the same accident, the total limits of liability under all such policies shall not exceed that of the policy with the highest limit of liability."
{¶ 26} Appellant points out that she was insured by two State Farm policies: the truck policy and the motorcycle policy. The motorcycle policy has a UIM limit of $100,000 per person, and the truck policy has a UIM limit of $50,000 per person. Appellant contends that under these facts, the "other uninsured motor vehicle coverage" provision quoted above requires the application of the higher motorcycle policy limit. This argument assumes the existence of a fundamental prerequisite to the relevance of this provision: the applicability of both the truck and the motorcycle policies. Because the motorcycle policy does not cover the Appellant's injuries, the "other uninsured motor vehicle coverage" provision is inoperative.
{¶ 27} Because Appellant's injuries plainly fell within the State Farm motorcycle policy's "other owned auto" exclusion, her second assignment of error is overruled.
Judgment affirmed.
SLABY, P.J. and BATCHELDER, J. concur.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.