Zappa v. Auto Owners Ins. Co., Unpublished Decision (12-30-2005)
Zappa v. Auto Owners Ins. Co., Unpublished Decision (12-30-2005)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} James Rodger Hunt was a truck diver for Ford Motor Company, who was driving from Ford's Avon Lake plant to its Lorain facility. Upon witnessing a car crash, he stopped to assist and was struck and killed by an unidentified hit-and-run driver. His sons, Andrew and Jason Hunt, filed an uninsured (UM) motorist claim with Ford's insurer, Amerisure, and sought a declaration from the court that Amerisure was liable for UM coverage over the hit-and-run driver.
{¶ 3} Amerisure moved for summary judgment on the basis that its policy with Ford was effectively a "fronting" policy; arguing that Ford did not transfer a risk of loss to Amerisure, so Ford is practically and truly self-insured. Self-insured are not obligated to provide UM coverage under R.C.
{¶ 4} The Hunts allege that the trial court erred as a matter of law by finding Ford to be practically and truly self-insured under its "fronting" policy with Amerisure, and excusing the UM requirements of R.C.
{¶ 5} Appellate courts review summary judgment de novo, viewing the facts as most favorable to the non-moving party and resolving any doubt in favor of that party. Grafton v. OhioEdison Co. (1996),
{¶ 6} The trial court analyzed this case under Grange,
{¶ 7} In these two assignments of error, the Hunts argue that the trial court erred in denying coverage because: (1) Ford's refusal of UM/UIM coverage was improper under a Linko analysis, and (2) James Rodger Hunt was acting within the scope of employment during the accident. Both the Linko analysis and the scope-of-employment analysis involve determinations which have yet to be considered by the trial court in this case. Accordingly, they are not properly before this Court for review. These two assignments of error are not addressed.
{¶ 8} The Hunts' first assignment of error is sustained. The summary judgment order of the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas is reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings consistent with this decision.
Judgment reversed, and cause remanded.
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 Lorain, State of Ohio, 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). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is instructed to mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the mailing in the docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.
Costs taxed to Appellees.
Exceptions.
Whitmore, J., and Baird, J., concur.
(Baird, J., retired, of the Ninth District Court of Appeals, sitting by assignment pursuant to, § 6(C), Article IV, Constitution.)
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