Knightbrook Insurance v. Northfield Insurance
Knightbrook Insurance v. Northfield Insurance
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
In this insurance coverage declaratory judgment action,, we review obligations of an auto and a general liability insurer when a wheelchair patient accidently rolls off the back of a wheelchair accessible ambulance van' and sues in state court alleging the van operator failed to adequately strap him into the van and the ambulance lift was not in place. The injured party’s claims sounds, at least initially, in both auto and professional liability coverage. Upon closer review, we find a person falling off the back of a wheelchair accessible ambulance van because the operator did not secure the passenger or
I. UNDISPUTED FACTS
John Stratton sued Medex Ambulance, Inc. (“Medex”), its employee Nancy Ortiz (“Ortiz”), and Bala Nursing Home and Retirement Center (“Bala”) for professional liability and negligence in operating an ambulance on April 28, 2011.
A. Facts relating to the underlying action.
Mr. Stratton is a wheelchair bound Bala resident.
B. Mr. Stratton’s lawsuit.
In April 2013, Mr. Stratton sued Medex, Ortiz and Bala in state court. Medex ten
Medex then tendered the defense and indemnity of the underlying action to Northfield on August 16, 2013.
Knightbrook continued to defend Medex and Ortiz. Stratton and Medex settled on January 31, 2015.
Knightbrook then sued Northfield in this Court seeking to recover its indemnity and defense cost payments of $209,282.78 and asking we declare: 1) the Knightbrook auto policy does not provide coverage for Mr. Stratton’s claim; 2) Knightbrook did not owe a duty to defend Medex; and 3) the Northfield professional liability policy provided coverage for Mr. Stratton’s claim and Northfield owed a duty to defend Me-dex.
C. The Insurance Policies.
The Knightbrook auto policy provides coverage for accidents involving the use of an automobile:
We will pay for the benefit of insureds, up to the applicable limit of liability [ ] shown in the Declarations, those sums that insureds become legally liable to pay as damages because of bodily injury or property damage insured in this policy that is caused by an accident and results from the maintenance, ownership, or use of a covered auto.22
This auto policy insurance is primary to any other in the event of an accident involving a covered auto owned by Medex.
The Northfield policy provides general liability coverage but contains “exclusion g” as amended by the exclusion endorsement:
This insurance does not apply to ... Bodily injury or property damage arising out of the ownership, maintenance, use, or entrustment to others of any aircraft, auto, or watercraft owned or operated by or rented or loaned to any insured. Use includes operation and loading and unloading.24
The Northfield policy also defines the term “loading and unloading”:
Loading or unloading means the handling of any person or property:
a. After it is moved from the place where the person or property is accepted for movement into or onto an aircraft, watercraft, or auto
b. While in or on an aircraft, watercraft, or auto; or
c. While being moved from an aircraft, watercraft or auto to the place where*340 the person or property is finally delivered.25
The definition of loading and unloading excepts “the movement of any person or property by means of a mechanical device, other than a hand truck, that is not attached to the aircraft, watercraft or auto.”
II. ANALYSIS
Both parties move for summary judgment based on Pennsylvania law.
i. Did Mr. Stratton’s injuries occur as a result of the "use” of the ambulance?
“The interpretation of a contract of insurance is a matter of law for the courts to decide; In interpreting an insurance contract, we must ascertain the intent of the parties as manifested by the language of the written agreement. When the policy language is clear and unambiguous, we will give effect to the language of the contract.”
We now determine whether Mr. Strat-ton’s injuries occurred as a result of the
The Knightbrook policy provides coverage for injuries resulting from “the maintenance, ownership, or use of a covered auto.”
Knightbrook relies on three cases we find distinguishable. In U.S. Underwriters, Robert Hipl parked his car at a client’s office in preparation for a business meeting.
Similarly in Smith v. United Services Automobile Ass’n, 392 Pa.Super. 248, 572 A.2d 785, 785-86 (1990), children in a hay-wagon threw hay in Smith’s face temporarily blinding him and causing him to crash into a tree and fracture his skull.
Finally, in Erie Insurance Exchange v. Transamerica Ins, Co., a toddler set a parked car in motion rolling down a hill striking injuring one child and killing another.
These cases are not representative of the facts before us. In U.S. Underwriters and Smith, the instrumentality causing the injuries were clearly external to the vehicle-the grease patch and the hay. Thus, the presence of the vehicle was “merely incidental to the conditions that caused the injuries at issue.”
Mr. Stratton’s facts present a situation where the causal connection between his injuries and the ambulance is much closer. Ortiz was in the process of removing Mr. Stratton from the ambulance when he fell out of the open rear. Ortiz had allegedly failed to properly strap Mr. Stratton into his wheelchair and raise the automatic wheelchair lift to the elevation of the ambulance rear. The ambulance had “more than an ’incidental involvement ... in the situation that gave rise to [Mr. Stratton’s] injuries.’”
This is not the case where the vehicle is merely the “situs” of the injury without
We also find Knightbrook’s arguments based on Mr. Stratton’s allegations unpersuasive. True, the underlying complaint details allegations concerning Ortiz’s negligence in failing to properly strap in Mr. Stratton to his wheelchair.
There of course may be “two or even more causes of an accident.”
We find Mr. Stratton’s injuries are causally connected to Medex’s use of the ambulance. He suffered injury because he is in the vehicle. The use of the vehicle constitutes a but-for cause of the injuries and the Knightbrook Policy is triggered. Because we find the incident occurred as a result of the use of the ambulance, we need not reach Knightbrook’s other arguments.
it. Did Northñeld owe Medex a duty to defend in the underlying suit?
Knightbrook argues Northfield owed Medex a duty to defend in the underlying suit regardless of the duty to indemnify. An insurer’s “duty to defend is broader than the duty to indemnify.”
[i]n a declaratory judgment action to determine whether a claim is covered, the court resolves the question of coverage. The court’s role in the declaratory judgment action is to resolve the question of coverage to eliminate uncertainty. If the insurer is successful in the declaratory judgment action, it is relieved of the continuing obligation to defend. The court’s resolution of the question of coveragé does not, however, retroactively eliminate the insurer’s duty to defend the insured during the period of uncertainty.75
Here, we address a close call whether Northfíeld owed Medex a duty to defend in the underlying suit until such time as coverage could be resolved. Simply because we found, the Knightbrook Policy must provide coverage for indemnifying does not relieve our duty to determine whether Northfíeld should have been tendering a defense, at least in part, until a coverage determination. By not seeking a court determination, Northfíeld decided to postpone potential liability for defense costs to a later date.
Mr. Stratton’s allegations evidence Ortiz’s negligence in the use of the auto but also potential professional negligence.
On balance, we find Mr. Stratton’s allegations encompass both professional liability and injury resulting from operating the insured vehicle. We cannot find his claim did not potentially focus on Ortiz’s professional liability. Given the potential for a professional liability claim at the outset of the claim, we will divide the
Unfortunately, while both parties sought summary judgment on the duty to defend claim relating to $21,782.78 in fees and costs allegedly based in defense costs, neither party adduced evidence on the reasonableness of fees or whether they were paid. As such, while we find Knightbrook is entitled to reimbursement of one-half of its fees and costs, we cannot find the reasonableness of fees and costs without further evidence from the parties. As both parties concede we may review this issue without a jury, and we do not presently see a question of fact, we direct the parties to address this issue by petition and response in the accompanying Order.
III. CONCLUSION
Mr. Stratton’s injuries arise from falling out of the back of a wheelchair accessible ambulance van when the van driver forgot to return the ambulance lift. But for his presence in the van, he would not have been injured. The cause of his injury is his presence in the ambulance, a vehicle covered by a Knightbrook auto insurance policy. Mr. Stratton’s complaint specifically pleads both professional liability and auto negligence, including focusing on all the professional liability occurring solely around the transport of persons in a vehicle. It is difficult to discern how Northfield could have believed it had no liability on the defense costs given a fair reading of Mr. Stratton’s complaint. While we grant Northfield’s motion for summary judgment finding no duty to indemnify Medex, we deny its motion relating to the duty to defend in part and find it must" equally share in the defense costs once they are shown to the Court in a petition demonstrating the reasonableness of the fees actually paid by Knightbrook. We find Knightbrook responsible for the duty to indemnify but both insurers share the duty to defend, as reflected in the accompanying Order granting in part and denying in part both carriers’ motions.
. The Court's Policies require the movants file a Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ("SUMF”) in support of a Fed.R.Civ.P. 56 motion, as well as a joint appendix of exhibits or affidavits ("J.A.”).
. (J.A. at 9-21.)
. (Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 12.)
. (Id. at 12, ¶¶ 13-14.)
. (Id. at 12, ¶14.)
. (PL’s SUMF ¶ 19; J.A. at 271.)
. (J.A. at 291-92.)
. (J.A. at 303-305.)
. (Pl.’s SUMF ¶ 24; J.A. at 13, 306-07.)
. (J.A. at 13, ¶ 23.)
. (Id. at ¶¶ 24-26.)
. (Id. at ¶ 26.)
. (Id. at ¶ 28.)
. (PI.'s SUMF ¶ 28.)
. {Id. at ¶ 29.)
. (Id. at ¶ 30; J.A. at 173-75.)
. (J.A. at 176-78.)
. {Id. at 181-86.)
. (Pl.’s SUMF ¶ 36; J.A. at 181-86.)
. (Pl.’s SUMF ¶ 37; J.A. at 187-230.)
. (ECF Doc. No. 1, at ¶¶ 5-30.)
. (J.A. at 71) (emphasis in original).
. {Id. at 82.)
. {Id. at 142.) (internal quotations omitted).
. (Id. at 140.)
. (Id.)
. The parties do not dispute Pennsylvania Law governs the interpretation of the insurance policies. Our summary judgment analysis does not change when confronted with cross-motions for summary judgment. Lawrence v. City of Philadelphia, 527 F.3d 299, 310 (3d Cir. 2008). Summary judgment is proper when there is no genuine dispute of material fact and the movant is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P, 56(a). A dispute as to a material fact is genuine if “the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). On a motion for summary judgment, the court must consider the "underlying facts and all reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion.” Slagle v. Cnty. of Clarion, 435 F.3d 262, 264 (3d Cir. 2006) (citations omitted). If the movant carries its initial burden of show- ' ing the basis of its motion, the burden shifts to the non-moving party to go beyond the pleadings and point to “specific facts showing that a genuine issue exists for trial.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323-24, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). In other words, the non-moving party "must present more than just bare assertions, conclusory allegations or suspicions to show the existence of a genuine issue.” Podobnik v. US. Postal Serv., 409 F.3d 584, 594 (3d Cir. 2005) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). Summary judgment must be granted against a non-moving party who fails to sufficiently “establish the existence of an essential element of its case on which it bears the burden of proof at trial.” Blunt v. Lower Merion Sch. Dist., 767 F.3d 247, 265 (3d Cir. 2014).
. (ECF Doc. No. 20-1, at 8-15.)
. (Id. at 6-8.)
. (Id. at 15-19.)
. (Id. at 20-21.)
. Paylor v. Hartford Ins. Co., 536 Pa. 583, 640 A.2d 1234, 1235 (1994); Allstate Property and Cas. Ins. Co. v. Squires, 667 F.3d 388, 391 (3d Cir. 2012).
. Manufacturers Ca. Ins. Co. v. Goodville Mut. Cas. Co., 403 Pa. 603, 170 A.2d 571, 573 (1961).
. Alvarino v. Allstate Ins. Co., 370 Pa.Super. 563, 537 A.2d 18, 21 (1988).
. Squires, 667 F.3d at 391 (citing Manufacturers, 170 A.2d at 573).
. U.S. Underwriters Ins. Co. v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 80 F.3d 90, 95 (3d Cir. 1996).
. {Id. at 142.)
. (J.A. at 71.)
. {Id. at 142.)
. (ECF Doc. No. 20-1, at 8-15.)
. (Id. at 11.)
. (Id at 13-15.)
. Id.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id. at 95.
. Id.
. Id. at 786.
. Id. at 787.
. Id.
. 516 Pa. 574, 533 A.2d 1363, 1365 (1987).
. Id. at 1365.
. Id. at 1367-68.
. Id.
. Squires, 667 F.3d at 388.
. Squires, 667 F.3d at 393 (quoting Alvarino, 537 A.2d at 21.).
.Squires, 667 F.3d at 393.
. See Roach v. Port Auth. of Allegheny Cnty., 380 Pa.Super. 28, 550 A.2d 1346, 1350 (1988) (holding that a bus passenger injured by two other passengers fighting did not establish the requisite causation); Alvarino, 537 A.2d at 21 (finding passenger bitten by dog chained inside of a van did not suffer injuries arising out of the maintenance or use of a motor vehicle); Erie Ins. Exch. v. Eisenhuth, 305 Pa.Super. 571, 451 A.2d 1024, 1025 (1982) (injuries of passenger shot while seated in vehicle did not satisfy causal connection).
. (J.A. at 13-14, ¶¶ 21, 23, 26.)
. (Id. at ¶¶ 20, 22, 25.)
. See Lehrer/McGovern v. Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board, 720 A.2d 853, 854 (Pa.Commw.Ct. 1998).
. Squires, 667 F.3d at 395 (citation omitted).
. Id.
. Id.
. Id.
. We also decline to find the policies provide concurrent coverage as they insure separate risks.
. Kvaerner Metals Div. of Kvaerner US., Inc. v. Commercial Union Ins. Co., 589 Pa. 317, 908 A.2d 888, 896 n. 7 (2006).
. Britamco Underwriters, Inc. v. Grzeskiewicz, 433 Pa.Super. 55, 639 A.2d 1208, 1210 (1994).
. id.
. Am. & Foreign Ins. Co. v. Jerry’s Sport Ctr., 606 Pa. 584, 2 A.3d 526, 541 (2010).
. Alea London, Ltd v. Woodlake Mgmt., 594 F.Supp.2d 547, 550-51 (E.D.Pa. 2009) (citing Mut. Benefit Ins. Co. v. Haver, 555 Pa. 534, 725 A.2d 743, 745 (1999)).
. Jerry’s Sports Ctr., 2 A.3d at 542 (internal citations omitted).
. (J.A. at 13-14, ¶¶ 20-26.)
. (J.A. 11a ¶ 11)
. (J.A. 16a ¶3 5 (k)(n)).
. (J.A. 15a, 16a ¶¶ 35 (a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)tj)(Z )(m)(o)(p) and (q)).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- KNIGHTBROOK INSURANCE CO. v. NORTHFIELD INSURANCE CO.
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published