Krystal Comisford, et al., Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. Erie Insurance Property Casualty Company, et al., Defendants-Appellants.
Case No: 10CA3
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT GALLIA COUNTY
2-11-11
[Cite as Comisford v. Erie Ins. Property Cas. Co., 2011-Ohio-1373.]
Kline, J.
DECISION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY; File-stamped date: 2-11-11
Matthew J. Perry, Lamp, O‘Dell, Bartram, Levy & Trautwein, P.L.L.C., Huntington, West Virginia, for Defendants-Appellants.
Steven L. Story and Robert W. Bright, Story Law Office, Pomeroy, Ohio, and Jeff Finley, Eachus & Finley, Gallipolis, Ohio, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Kline, J.:
{¶1} Erie Insurance Property Casualty Company, et al., (hereinafter “Erie“) appeals the judgment of the Gallia County Court of Common Pleas, which granted summary judgment in favor of Krystal Comisford (f/k/a Krystal Hutchinson; hereinafter “Krystal“). Krystal‘s daughter, Xzandria Hutchinson (hereinafter “Xzandria“), died in a tragic fire at the home of Ronnie and Patty Hutchinson (together, the “Hutchinsons“). Erie insured the Hutchinsons at the time of the fire, and Krystal sought a declaratory judgment regarding the Hutchinsons’ insurance coverage. Essentially, Krystal asked the trial court to determine whether the Hutchinsons’ insurance policy covers the injuries that Xzandria suffered in the fire. Krystal and Erie filed competing motions for summary
{¶2} Erie asserts several arguments on appeal. Initially, we will address Erie‘s argument that the trial court should have granted a continuance before ruling on the competing motions for summary judgment. Because Erie did not file an affidavit as required by
{¶3} Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
I.
{¶4} Krystal and Heath Hutchinson (hereinafter “Heath“) are the parents of Xzandria and Orie Hutchinson (hereinafter “Orie“), and the Hutchinsons are Xzandria and Orie‘s paternal grandparents. On January 7, 2007, Xzandria died in a tragic fire at the Hutchinsons’ home. (Orie was also injured in the fire, but his injuries are not at issue in the present case.) The Hutchinsons had insurance coverage through Erie at the time of the fire. (Hereinafter, we will refer to the insurance contract between Erie and the Hutchinsons as the “Policy.“)
{¶6} In seeking a declaratory judgment, Krystal asked the court to declare whether the Policy covers the injuries that Xzandria suffered in the fire. Under the Policy, Erie promises to “pay all sums up to the amount shown on the Declarations which anyone we protect becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of bodily injury or property damage caused by an occurrence during the policy period. [Erie] will pay for only bodily injury or property damage covered by this policy.” (Emphasis sic.) The Policy, however, contains the following exclusion from coverage: ”We do not cover under Bodily Injury Liability Coverage, Property Damage Liability Coverage or Personal Injury Liability Coverage: * * * Bodily injury or personal injury to you and if residents of your household, your relatives, and persons under the age of 21 in your care or in the care of your resident relatives.” (Emphasis sic.) (Hereinafter, we will refer to this exclusionary language as the “Policy Exclusion.“) Essentially, Krystal and Erie disagree as to whether the Policy Exclusion applies to Xzandria‘s bodily injuries. Because Xzandria was five-years old at the time of the fire, it is undisputed that she was under
A. Proceedings in the Juvenile Court
{¶7} It is undisputed that, starting in June 2006, the Hutchinsons had temporary custody of Xzandria. On June 9, 2006, the Gallia County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, granted the following motion: “Now come Ronnie and Patty Hutchinson, [who] hereby move[] this court for an Order granting them Temporary Custody of their two minor grandchildren to wit: Orie Hutchinson d.o.b. 1/22/2002 and Xzandria Hutchinson d.o.b. 7/5/2000. The grounds in support of this Motion are that circumstances have arisen in the life of the natural parents Heath and Krystal Hutchinson which make it impossible for them to care for the children at this time.”
{¶8} “The parents join in the request for this temporary change of custody.”
{¶9} Accordingly, the parties agree that Xzandria lived with the Hutchinsons for a period of time starting in June 2006. The parties disagree, however, as to when Xzandria stopped being a resident of the Hutchinsons’ household.
{¶10} On October 19, 2006, Krystal filed the following pro se motion in the juvenile court: “Now comes Krystal Hutchinson [who] hereby requests the Court to schedule a hearing for the purpose of [e]mergency visitation for my two minor children. Ronnie & Patty Hutchinson are refusing visitation for me with my children. I voluntarily signed over Temp. Custody and I am now stable enough to visit with my children and have custody returned * * *.”
{¶11} On October 23, 2006, Krystal filed another motion: “Here comes Krystal Hutchinson in the matter of a pro se Emergency Visitation order on Xzandria Summer
{¶12} After the fire, on April 2, 2007, the juvenile court entered the following ORDER GRANTING CUSTODY: “This matter came on before the Court upon the joint application of all concerned parties seeking a return of custody of the two minor children to wit: Orie Hutchinson * * * and Xzandria Hutchinson * * * to their nat[u]ral parents Heath and Krystal Hutchinson.”
{¶13} “The Court finds that there had previously been a voluntary transfer of custody of the minor children to the paternal grandparents Ronnie and Patty Hutchinson due to health problems in the parents[‘] family. It appears that the situation has resolved itself and all parties have indicated that the need for the grandparents to have custody no longer exists and that the best interests require that custody be returned to the parents.”
{¶14} “It is therefore ORDERED that custody of the minor children is hereby returned to * * * Heath and Krystal Hutchinson.”
B. Affidavits and Answers to Interrogatories
{¶16} In her answers to Erie‘s interrogatories, Krystal claimed (1) that she and Heath had legal custody of Xzandria on January 7, 2007; (2) that Xzandria was a resident of her household at the time of the fire; (3) that the last time Xzandria stayed with her overnight was January 4, 2007; and (4) that the last time she saw Xzandria was the day before the fire. Erie offered no evidence to rebut Krystal‘s claims regarding either the legal custody of Xzandria or Xzandria‘s living arrangements at the time of the fire.
C. Summary Judgment Proceedings
{¶17} Both Krystal and Erie filed motions for summary judgment on the declaratory-judgment issue, and both parties based their motions, in part, on the juvenile-court proceedings. Erie claimed that the Hutchinsons had temporary custody of Xzandria from June 9, 2006 until April 2, 2007 – the date on which the juvenile court returned custody of Xzandria to Heath and Krystal. And by claiming that the Hutchinsons had
{¶18} Krystal also made arguments based on her submitted evidence, which, according to Krystal, demonstrated that Xzandria was not a resident of the Hutchinsons’ household on January 7, 2007.
{¶19} The trial court held a hearing on the competing motions for summary judgment. “[I]n chambers prior to the hearing,” Erie indicated that it “wished to call two witnesses to present testimony[.]” February 10, 2010 Journal Entry at 1. The trial court, however, did not allow the two witnesses (presumably the Hutchinsons) to testify at the hearing. During the hearing, Erie‘s attorney made the following statement: “* * * I understand that at this point and time the Court‘s not at liberty to take this under issue, but prior to the hearing I raised the fact that Ronnie and Patty Hutchinson factually completely dispute uh, Krystal[]‘s affidavit as to where the children were residing up through the point and time of the fire. Um, if the Court finds that to be a determinative
{¶20} Krystal opposed Erie‘s request. As one of Krystal‘s attorneys said, “Why bring this up now? You know, we have to, you have to rely on your decision based on what you have before it. Why were they not deposed before? Why not get an affidavit? * * * We had a briefing schedule, we‘re here for this. We had an affidavit in our very first motion we filed and then we put, and then a supplemental affidavit in the second one. We got no affidavits, no [Civ.R. 56(C)] evidence in their original motion for summary judgment nor in their response. And [Civ.R. 56(C)] says, it tells you what, that the, the uh, the average party prior to the day of hearing may, prior to the day of hearing, yesterday uh, may serve and file [appropriate evidence] to show there‘s a genuine issue to any fact. I mean [they] had up until yesterday to give an affidavit and it‘s not here.” Transcript of Proceedings at 34-35.
{¶21} The trial court did not explicitly rule on Erie‘s request for a continuance. Instead, the trial court (1) granted Krystal‘s motion for summary judgment and (2) denied Erie‘s motion for summary judgment. The trial court found that the juvenile court proceedings were “void ab initio” and, as a result, that the Hutchinsons never had custody of Xzandria. Furthermore, based on the submitted evidence, the trial court found that Xzandria was not a “resident” of the Hutchinsons’ household. For these reasons, the trial court found that Xzandria “was not excluded under the Erie policy in
D. Assignments of Error
{¶22} Erie appeals and asserts the following three assignments of error: I. “The trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of the Plaintiff-Appellee.” II. “The Trial court erred in failing to grant summary judgment for the Defendant-Appellant.” And, III. “The trial court erred in failing to grant the Defendant-Appellant a continuance of the hearing on the cross motions for summary judgment in order to secure testimony to rebut the affidavits of Plaintiff-Appellee.”
II.
{¶23} Because its resolution could impact our analysis of Erie‘s first-and-second assignments of error, we will review Erie‘s third assignment of error out of order. In its third assignment of error, Erie contends that the trial court should have granted Erie a continuance so that Erie could “compel the deposition testimony of Ronnie and Patty Hutchinson[.]” Brief for Appellant at 34.
{¶24} There is some dispute as to whether Erie actually requested a continuance. But we will assume, without deciding, that it did. And although the trial court did not explicitly rule on the request for a continuance, “motions that a trial court fails to explicitly rule upon are deemed denied once a court enters final judgment.” Savage v. Cody-Ziegler, Inc., Athens App. No. 06CA5, 2006-Ohio-2760, at ¶28.
{¶25} “Pursuant to
{¶26}
{¶27} ”
{¶28} Accordingly, we overrule Erie‘s third assignment of error.
III.
{¶29} Before addressing Erie‘s remaining assignments of error, we must note the following procedural issue. In its appellate brief, Erie has failed to separately argue its first-and-second assignments of error as required by
{¶30} In its first assignment of error, Erie contends that the trial court erred by granting Krystal‘s motion for summary judgment. “Because this case was decided upon summary judgment, we review this matter de novo, governed by the standard set forth
{¶31} The burden of showing that no genuine issue of material fact exists falls upon the party who moves for summary judgment. Dresher v. Burt, 75 Ohio St.3d 280, 294, 1996-Ohio-107. However, once the movant supports his or her motion with appropriate evidentiary materials, the nonmoving party “may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of the party‘s pleadings, but the party‘s response, by affidavit or as otherwise provided in this rule, must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.”
{¶32} “In reviewing whether an entry of summary judgment is appropriate, an appellate court must independently review the record and the inferences that can be drawn from it to determine if the opposing party can possibly prevail.” Grimes at ¶16 (citation omitted). “Accordingly, we afford no deference to the trial court‘s decision in answering that legal question.” Morehead v. Conley (1991), 75 Ohio App.3d 409, 412.
{¶33} The sole question before us is whether the Policy covers Xzandria‘s bodily injuries – or, put another way, whether Xzandria falls under the Policy Exclusion. “[T]he interpretation of an insurance contract is a matter of law, which we review de novo.” Siegfried v. Farmers Ins. of Columbus, Inc., 187 Ohio App.3d 710, 2010-Ohio-1173, at ¶11, citing Nationwide Mut. Fire Ins. Co. v. Guman Bros. Farm, 73 Ohio St.3d 107, 108, 1995-Ohio-214. “In interpreting an insurance policy, the court‘s role is to give effect to the intent of the parties to the agreement. In doing so, [w]e examine the insurance contract as a whole and presume that the intent of the parties is reflected in the language used in the policy. We look to the plain and ordinary meaning of the language used in the policy unless another meaning is clearly apparent from the contents of the policy. When the language of a written contract is clear, a court may look no further than the writing itself to find the intent of the parties.” Eastley v. Volkman, Scioto App. Nos. 09CA3308 & 09CA3309, 2010-Ohio-4771, at ¶50, citing Westfield Ins. Co. v. Galatis, 100 Ohio St.3d 216, 2003-Ohio-5849, at ¶11 (internal quotations omitted) (alteration sic). However, “[w]here provisions of a contract of insurance are reasonably susceptible of more than one interpretation, they will be construed strictly against the insurer and liberally in favor of the insured.” King v. Nationwide Ins. Co. (1988), 35 Ohio St.3d 208, syllabus.
{¶34} The Policy Exclusion states the following: ”We do not cover * * *: Bodily injury or personal injury to you and if residents of your household, your relatives, and persons under the age of 21 in your care or in the care of your resident relatives.”
A. Was Xzandria a Resident of the Hutchinsons’ Household?
{¶35} As to whether Xzandria was a resident of the Hutchinsons’ household, Erie and Krystal base much of their respective arguments on the jurisdiction (or lack thereof) of the juvenile court. Essentially, Erie contends that the Hutchinsons had temporary custody of Xzandria until April 2, 2007 – the date on which the juvenile court returned custody of Xzandria to Heath and Krystal. And for that reason, Erie argues that Xzandria was a “resident” of the Hutchinsons’ household at the time of the fire. See
{¶37} Erie produced nothing to rebut Krystal‘s evidence regarding either (1) the end of temporary custody or (2) Xzandria‘s living arrangements. Thus, Erie failed to carry its burden under
B. Was Xzandria in the Care of the Hutchinsons?
{¶38} Next, we must determine whether Xzandria was in the Hutchinsons’ care at the time of the fire. As used in the Policy Exclusion, the plain and ordinary meaning of “care” is the “responsibility for or attention to safety and well-being[.]” Webster‘s Third New International Dictionary (2002). Clearly, the Hutchinsons had the responsibility for Xzandria‘s safety and well-being while she stayed at their home. And for that reason, Erie argues that the Policy does not cover Xzandria‘s bodily injuries. Krystal, however, contends that Xzandria‘s bodily injuries are covered because “[t]he term ‘if residents of
{¶39} We find the language of the Policy Exclusion to be ambiguous. In relevant part, the Policy Exclusion applies “to you and if residents of your household, your relatives, and persons under the age of 21 in your care or in the care of your resident relatives.” (Emphasis sic.) Here, one could reasonably conclude that, for the Policy Exclusion to apply, only “your relatives” need also be “residents of your household.” Under this interpretation, the clause “if residents of your household” applies only to “your relatives” and has no bearing on “persons under the age of 21 in your care[.]” Although this is a reasonable interpretation, one could just as reasonably conclude that the clause “if residents of your household” applies to both categories in the subsequent list – that is, it applies to both “your relatives” and to “persons under the age of 21 in your care or in the care of your resident relatives.” (We note that the Policy‘s definition of ”anyone we protect” seems to support Krystal‘s interpretation of the Policy Exclusion. As defined, the Policy protects only ”you” and ”residents of your” household. According to Erie, “[t]he rationale of [the Policy Exclusion] is clear – if you are insured under the Policy, you are not also entitled to seek recovery as a third party claimant.” Defendant Erie Insurance Exchange‘s Motion For Summary Judgment at 9. Based on this rationale, it is more likely that the Policy Exclusion would apply only to residents of the household; i.e., anyone that the policy protects.) Because we believe
{¶40} “If provisions are susceptible of more than one interpretation, they ‘will be construed strictly against the insurer and liberally in favor of the insured.‘” Ohio Govt. Risk Mgt. Plan v. Harrison, 115 Ohio St.3d 241, 2007-Ohio-4948, at ¶28, quoting King at syllabus. “Moreover, ‘an exclusion in an insurance policy will be interpreted as applying only to that which is clearly intended to be excluded.‘” Ohio Govt. Risk Mgt. Plan at ¶28, quoting Hybud Equip. Corp. v. Sphere Drake Ins. Co. (1992), 64 Ohio St.3d 657, 665 (emphasis sic). Here, because the Policy Exclusion “is susceptible of more than one interpretation, it must be construed against” Erie. Ohio Govt. Risk Mgt. Plan at ¶28. Specifically, we must find that “persons under the age of 21 in your care” need also be “residents of your household.”
{¶41} As we stated earlier, no reasonable mind could conclude that Xzandria was a resident of the Hutchinsons’ household at the time of the fire. And because she was not a resident of the Hutchinsons’ household, Xzandria was not in the “care” of the Hutchinsons as contemplated by the Policy Exclusion. Therefore, as a matter of law, we find that the Policy Exclusion does not apply to Xzandria‘s bodily injuries. In other words, the Policy covers Xzandria.
C. Summary Judgment Conclusion
{¶42} After construing the record and all inferences therefrom in Erie‘s favor, we find the following: (1) there are no genuine issues of material fact; (2) as a matter of law, Krystal is entitled to a declaratory judgment finding that the Policy covers Xzandria‘s
{¶43} Accordingly, we overrule Erie‘s first assignment of error. Having overruled Erie‘s first-and-third assignments of error, and having found its second assignment of error moot, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
{¶44} I concur in judgment and opinion except for ¶36, which seems to conclude that a party to a consent judgment can unilaterally terminate a court‘s agreed judgment entry by simply and extrajudicially revoking their previously granted consent. In my view,
{¶45} Nonetheless, because the court‘s order of October 23, 2006 terminated the grant of temporary custody and thus, by operation of law, custody returned to the natural parents, I agree there is no summary judgment evidence that Xzandria was a resident of her grandparents home on the night of the fire.
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED. Appellants shall pay the costs herein taxed.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Gallia County Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. Exceptions.
Harsha, P.J.: Concurs in Judgment and Opinion with Opinion.
Abele, J.: Concurs in Judgment and Opinion.
For the Court
BY: ______________________________
Roger L. Kline, Judge
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final judgment entry and the time period for further appeal commences from the date of filing with the clerk.