Cunningham & Walsh, Inc. v. Atlantic Mutual Insurance
Cunningham & Walsh, Inc. v. Atlantic Mutual Insurance
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
I dissent because I disagree with the majority’s conclusion that C & W is mistaken in relying on Nielsen v. St. Paul Companies, 283 Or 277, 583 P2d 545 (1978). In rejecting C & W’s contentions, the majority reads the holding in Nielsen so narrowly that it comes close to extinguishing it.
In Nielsen, the underlying complaint had alleged that St. Paul’s insured had intentionally and wrongfully entered the plaintiffs vehicle and residence in order to repossess a grandfather clock and in doing so had struck plaintiff on her arms. St. Paul contended that the complaint alleged intentional infliction of harm, which was not covered because the harm was not caused by an “occurrence.”
The court rejected St. Paul’s argument, stating that to relieve an insurer from defense of an action,
“[i]t is not sufficient that the insured’s intentional, albeit unlawful, acts have resulted in unintended harm; the acts must have been committed for the purpose of inflicting the injury and harm before [the] policy provision excluding intentional harm applies.” Nielsen v. St. Paul Companies, supra, 283 Or at 281. (Emphasis supplied).
Looking to the complaint, the court observed:
“There are no allegations * * * from which it must be concluded that the insured * * * intentionally inflicted physical injury or emotional harm upon [the plaintiff].”
Therefore, the court concluded that St. Paul had a duty to defend.
However, the Nielsen court did note that an insurer may be relieved even where intent to injure was not alleged in the complaint, when that intent would arise by necessary implication. “There are some intentional acts the nature of which is such that it must necessarily be concluded that there was an intention to injure.” Nielsen v. St. Paul Companies, supra. Deceit, the majority here states conclusorily, is such an act. 88 Or App at 255. I fail to see how the deceit alleged here
The unspoken premise of the majority’s argument is that deceit is a tort and that tort law would hold C & W liable for any intended or unintended harm caused by the tortfeasor. However, this is not a tort case. We are interpreting a contract which states that injury “expected [or] intended from the standpoint of the insured” is outside the policy’s coverage.
There is no allegation in the underlying complaint that the alleged mental anguish and pain was caused intentionally. The tortious nature of deceit is not enough to create a necessary inference that mental anguish and pain were intended. In construing this contract, in the words of Nielsen, it is not “significant that the alleged acts of the insured were unlawful. Mere unlawfulness of the act does not raise any necessary implication that it was the actor’s intent to injure.” 283 Or at 281.
I would hold that the complaint alleges mental anguish and pain caused by an occurrence, that mental anguish and pain is bodily injury
The policy language regarding coverage construed in Nielsen is identical to the policy language concerned in this case. See 88 Or App at 253.
See e.g., Bloodworth v. Carroll, 455 So 2d 1197, 1205 (La App 1984); Pacific Mortg. & Ins. Group v. Wienecke, 50 Md App 128, 436 A2d 493 (1981); NPS Corp v. Insurance Co. of North America, 213 NJ Super 547, 517 A2d 1211 (1986).
Opinion of the Court
Cunningham & Walsh, Inc., (C & W) brought this action against its liability insurer, Atlantic Mutual Co. (Atlantic), to recover the cost of defending and settling an action brought by Kline. The trial court granted summary judgment for Atlantic, and C & W appeals. We agree with the trial court’s determination that Atlantic had no duty to defend C & W and affirm.
Atlantic issued to C & W a comprehensive general liability policy, which provides, in part:
“The company will pay on behalf of the insured all sums which the insured shall become legally obligated to pay as damages because of
“A. Bodily injury or
“B. Property damage
“to which this insurance applies, caused by an occurrence, and the company shall have the right and duty to defend any suit against the insured seeking damages on account of such bodily injury or property damage, even if the allegations of the suit are groundless, false or fraudulent.”
The policy defines “occurrence” as “an accident, including continuous or repeated exposure to conditions, which results in bodily injury or property damage neither expected nor intended from the standpoint of the insured.”
In 1981, Kline sued C & W, alleging misrepresentation and deceit in connection with the sale of a beer distribution franchise. The complaint prayed for damages for “mental anguish and pain” allegedly caused by the misrepresentation. Atlantic refused to defend the claim on the grounds that the harm which was alleged was not “bodily injury” and that C & W’s alleged conduct was not an “occurrence” within the meaning of the policy, because it was intentional, i.e., not an accident. We need not reach the question whether the complaint alleged bodily injury, because we conclude that the conduct alleged necessarily includes the intentional infliction of harm and is not, therefore, an “occurrence” covered by the policy. Additionally, we conclude the conduct could not be insured, because to provide coverage for fraud would violate public policy.
“* * * p. is noi sufficient that the insured’s intentional, albeit unlawful, acts have resulted in unintended harm; the acts must have been committed for the purpose of inflicting the injury and harm before either a policy provision excluding intentional harm applies or the public policy against insurability attaches. Snyder v. Nelson/Leatherby Ins., 278 Or 409, 413-14, 564 P2d 681 (1977); City of Burns v. Northwestern Mutual, 248 Or 364, 369, 434 P2d 465 (1967).
“* * * There are no allegations in the count in question from which it must be concluded that the insured or anyone else at his direction intentionally inflicted physical injury or emotional harm upon Mrs. Palin. There are some intentional acts the nature of which is such that it must necessarily be concluded that there was an intention to injure. However, the facts alleged against the insured were not of this nature. * * *
«* * * There is nothing in the policy which limits coverage to negligent acts. It covers intentional acts as well, so long as such acts were not done for the purpose of injuring another. * * *” 283 Or at 281 (Emphasis in original.)
C & W would read that language to say that if the particular kind of harm for which damages are sought is not alleged to have been intended, the insurer is not excused from defending the claim, even if the complaint alleges intentional conduct, the necessary consequence of which is intended harm of some kind. In other words, if C & W intended to cheat Kline, but did not intend to cause him emotional distress, the
Here, the underlying complaint alleges that C & W intentionally deceived Kline with an intent to cause him to rely on the misrepresentation and to enter into a franchise agreement. Although no specific type of intentional harm is alleged, we conclude that deceit, by its nature, is an act from which an intention to cause harm must necessarily be inferred, see Nielsen v. St. Paul Companies, supra, 283 at 281, and that, when deceit is intended, it is of no consequence that the specific harm for which relief is sought is not alleged to have been intended. We hold that, when fraud or deceit is committed, its natural and intended consequence is to do harm and, whatever the harm might be, the conduct which brought it about is not an “occurrence” under the policy.
We may not read into an insurance contract that which we would regard as against public policy if it were expressly included in it. We would not enforce a provision of a policy which requires indemnity for mental distress caused by the policyholder’s fraud or deceit. If it is against public policy to insure the intended conduct, it is against public policy to insure for the harm which it causes, whether the particular harm which is intended or not.
In fact, the evidence in Nielsen v. St. Paul Companies, 283 Or 277, 583 P2d 545 (1978), was that the physical contact with Mrs. Palin was unintentional.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- CUNNINGHAM & WALSH, INC., Appellant, v. ATLANTIC MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Respondent
- Cited By
- 14 cases
- Status
- Published