Aid (Mutual) Insurance v. Steffen

423 N.W.2d 189, 1988 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 147, 1988 WL 45760
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedMay 11, 1988
Docket86-1791
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 423 N.W.2d 189 (Aid (Mutual) Insurance v. Steffen) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Aid (Mutual) Insurance v. Steffen, 423 N.W.2d 189, 1988 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 147, 1988 WL 45760 (iowa 1988).

Opinion

HARRIS, Justice.

Vincent B. and Sylvester L. Steffen are brothers who are involved in the business of creating agricultural and mechanical engineering designs, including methods and equipment for drying and storing grain. The question here is whether tort liability arising from patent litigation is covered in either of two insurance policies. The trial court determined there was no coverage and we agree.

The Steffens’ business was incorporated under the name of Harvestall Industries, Inc. When a patent is obtained it is licensed to other businesses for production and marketing. Harvestall Industries, Inc. entered into a marketing agreement with Harvestall Marketing, Inc., a Minnesota corporation owned by Donald and Charles Persson. Harvestall Marketing, Inc. was to pay Harvestall Industries, Inc. royalties for the privilege of exploiting the Steffens’ patents.

Harvestall Industries and the Steffens became involved with others in litigation to determine the validity of some of the patents. The parties with whom the Steffens had contracts alleged that they suffered personal injuries from the Steffens’ wrongful assertion of certain patents, and that nothing of value was received in the contracts. Some of the Steffens’ patents are said to be worthless. Various licensees, including Harvestall Marketing, Inc., have canceled their agreements and have refused to pay royalties to the Steffens.

Because of these difficulties the Steffens looked to two policies, neither of which named Harvestall Industries, Inc. as an insured. Sylvester Steffen had a homeowners policy with Aid Insurance Company *191 which covered his residence and personal property. The policy expressly excluded property damage arising out of “business pursuits” of Sylvester.

Grinnell Mutual Insurance Company issued policies covering Vincent Steffen’s farmstead and home, covering general farming and personal liability. Grinnell Mutual was obligated to pay on behalf of Vincent all sums which he became obligated to pay as damages because of bodily injury or property damage. These policies similarly excluded from coverage any business pursuits of Vincent.

The Steffens notified the two insurance carriers of the lawsuits and claimed that the carriers had a duty to defend and indemnify them for any losses incurred. The carriers refused, stating that the patent litigation arose from business pursuits and thus were not covered by either of the policies.

The procedural background in the litigation which followed is complex and confused. Although there is serious question whether all issues were preserved for review we prefer to address the controlling questions on their merits. The trial court, ruling on a motion for summary judgment, held there was no coverage under either policy for the patent litigation. Vincent filed a timely appeal; Sylvester did not.

I. Summary judgment is appropriate when there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Iowa R.Civ.P. 237(c). We review the district court’s granting of a summary judgment motion for correction of errors of law. Iowa R.App.P. 4. The burden of showing the nonexistence of a material fact is upon the moving party. Knapp v. Simmons, 345 N.W.2d 118, 121 (Iowa 1984). We examine the record in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion to determine whether the movant has met the burden of proof. Sandbulte v. Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co., 343 N.W.2d 457, 464 (Iowa 1984). Summary judgment is not proper if reasonable minds could draw different inferences and conclusions from the undisputed facts. Knapp, 345 N.W.2d at 121. If the trial court’s findings of fact are supported by substantial evidence and were not induced by an erroneous view of law they will be sustained. Connie’s Constr. Co. v. Fireman’s Fund Ins., 227 N.W.2d 207, 209 (Iowa 1975).

II. Vincent Steffen asserts that the risks should be covered because the patents are “securities” and personal property under the policies. Although the policies do not cover patent rights they do of course cover personal property. The claim is that the risks arose from ownership of the policies and not from the business pursuits.

Although Vincent claims otherwise we find no ambiguity in the policy. We explained the controlling principle this way:

Stated otherwise, the climate under which an insurance policy is examined favors imposition of coverage largely because the carrier drew the contract and has the expertise in the field. However, if after construing both the policy in question, the pleadings of the injured party and any other admissible and relevant facts in the record, it appears the claim made is not covered by the indemnity insurance contract issue, the insurer has no duty to indemnify. If such be the case, the words and phrases of the policy should not be strained to impose liability that was not intended and not purchased.

Central Bearings Corp. v. Wolverine Ins. Co., 179 N.W.2d 443, 445 (Iowa 1970) (citations omitted).

Several courts have discussed the “business pursuits” exception often found in insurance policies. In Fadden v. Cambridge Mutual Fire Insurance Co., 51 Misc.2d 858, 274 N.Y.S.2d 235 (1966), the court defined a “business pursuit”:

To constitute a business pursuit, there must be two elements: first, continuity, and secondly, the profit motive; as to the first, there must be a customary engagement or a stated occupation; and, as to the latter, there must be shown to be such activity as a means of livelihood, gainful employment, means of earning a *192 living, procuring subsistence of profit, commercial transaction or engagements.

Id. at 862, 274 N.Y.S.2d at 241. See also State Mut. Cyclone Ins. Co. v. Abbott, 52 Mich.App. 103, 216 N.W.2d 606, 608 (1974); Home Ins. Co. v. Aurigemma, 45 Misc.2d 875, 880, 257 N.Y.S.2d 980, 986 (1965); see generally, Annotation, Construction and Application of “Business Pursuits” Exclusion Provision in General Liability Policy, 48 A.L.R.3d 1096 (1973).

In Bertler v. Employers Insurance of Wausau, 86 Wis.2d 13, 271 N.W.2d 603 (1978), the court addressed the necessity and functioning of the “business pursuits” exclusion:

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Bluebook (online)
423 N.W.2d 189, 1988 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 147, 1988 WL 45760, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/aid-mutual-insurance-v-steffen-iowa-1988.