Allen v. Automobile Insurance Co. of Hartford Connecticut

892 S.W.2d 198, 1994 Tex. App. LEXIS 3171, 1994 WL 715801
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedDecember 29, 1994
DocketB14-93-00590-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by24 cases

This text of 892 S.W.2d 198 (Allen v. Automobile Insurance Co. of Hartford Connecticut) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Allen v. Automobile Insurance Co. of Hartford Connecticut, 892 S.W.2d 198, 1994 Tex. App. LEXIS 3171, 1994 WL 715801 (Tex. Ct. App. 1994).

Opinion

OPINION

LEE, Justice.

This Declaratory Judgment suit arises from the sexual molestation of a child, Christopher J. Allen. The Automobile Insurance Company of Hartford Connecticut (Hartford) brought this action against Clifford A. Met-calfe (Metcalfe) and Christopher Allen (Allen) requesting the court declare Hartford had no duty to defend or indemnify the molester, Metcalfe, under Metcalfe’s homeowner’s insurance policy. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the insurance companies. Allen appeals bringing four points of error. We affirm.

Hartford issued a Texas Standard Homeowners’ Policy to Metcalfe; the policy specifically excluded insurance coverage for bodily injury or property damage which the insured intentionally caused. Allen alleges Metcalfe sexually molested him on several occasions between 1987 and 1989. Allen was a minor during that time frame. On January 16, 1990, in State of Texas v. Clifford A. Metcalfe, C.A. No. 542355 in the 263rd Criminal District Court of Harris County, Texas, Met-calfe pled guilty to the felony offense of indecency with a child [Christopher J. Allen], Metcalfe was convicted and sentenced to 10 years, probated. The conviction was upheld on appeal. See Metcalfe v. State, No. C14-90-00384-CR, 1991 WL 127357 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] July 11, 1991, no pet. h.) (not designated for publication).

Allen brought a lawsuit against Metcalfe, styled John D. Allen, as next friend of Christopher J. Allen, a minor child, et al., v. Clifford J. Metcalfe, Jr., et al., C.A. No. 90-057391 in the 125th District Court of Harris County, Texas (Allen suit). In that suit, Allen asserts claims for personal injury resulting from Metcalfe’s repeated sexual molestation. Hartford then filed this Declaratory Judgment action. Farmers Insurance Exchange, Texas Farmers Insurance Company and Truck Insurance Exchange, (Farmers) and Transcontinental Insurance Company (Transcontinental) joined or intervened in the Declaratory Judgment suit. All policies in issue exclude from coverage personal injuries intentionally caused by the insured.

In his first and third points of error, Allen asserts the insurance companies failed to prove Metcalfe “intended” to injure Allen when he sexually molested him. In his second point of error, Allen further argues it is possible to have an occurrence or accident arising out of the intentional conduct of an insured. To invoke coverage under the terms of Hartford’s policy, there must be an “accident” or “occurrence.” Accident or occurrence is defined as an unexpected happening without intention or design. See Argonaut Southwest Insurance Co. v. Maupin, 500 S.W.2d 633, 655 (Tex.1973); see also Pierce v. Benefit Trust Life Ins. Co., 784 S.W.2d 516, 518 (Tex.App.—Amarillo 1990, writ denied); Travelers Ins. Co. v. Valentine, 578 S.W.2d 501, 503 (Tex.App.—Texarkana 1979, no writ).

It is undisputed that all of Allen’s claims arise out of Metcalfe’s sexual molestation of Allen. Allen argues the insurance companies failed to present evidence that Metcalfe intended to injure him and thus were not entitled to summary judgment. Moreover, Allen asserts his suit is not for injuries caused by the intentional acts of Metcalfe, but for injuries caused by negligence, gross negligence, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

We disagree. Sexual molestation is an intentional injury as a matter of law. Maayeh v. Trinity Lloyds Insurance Co., 850 S.W.2d 193, 196 (Tex.App.—Dallas 1992, no writ); see also Commercial Union Ins. *200 Co. v. Roberts, 815 F.Supp. 1006, 1007 (W.D.Tex 1992); State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Gandy, 880 S.W.2d 129, 139-140 (Tex.App.—Texarkana 1994, -writ granted). In Maayeh the court of appeals ruled that in cases of sexual molestation intent may be inferred as a matter of law and further, that intentional injury exclusions contained in homeowners’ policies exclude from coverage the insured’s acts of molestation. Maayeh, 850 S.W.2d at 196. Other courts which have adopted this rule acknowledge that in child molestation cases some harm is inherent in the act. The “act” is the “harm,” and, because there cannot be one without the other, the “intent to molest is, by itself, the same as the intent to harm.” J.C. Penney Casualty Insurance Company v. M.K., 52 Cal.3d 1009, 278 Cal.Rptr. 64, 70, 804 P.2d 689, (1991); see also Allstate Ins. Co. v. Kim W., 160 Cal.App.3d 326, 332-33, 206 Cal.Rptr. 609, 613 (1984). Thus, regardless of any subjective intent to injure, these courts hold an adult’s sexual molestation of a child is excluded from insurance coverage as a matter of law. This has become the majority rule nationwide. See, e.g., Lehmann v. Metzger, 355 N.W.2d 425, 426 (Minn.1984).

Allen relies on S.S. and G.W. v. State Farm and Casualty, 808 S.W.2d 668 (Tex.App.—Austin 1991), aff'd, State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. S.S., 858 S.W.2d 374, 379 (Tex.1993), for the proposition that intent cannot be inferred as a matter of law in cases involving sexual misconduct with a child. Allen’s reliance on this ease is misplaced. In State Farm, a woman sued a man with whom she had engaged in sexual intercourse and from whom she had contracted genital herpes. The two entered into an agreed settlement and tried to collect under the man’s homeowners’ insurance policy. State Farm claimed coverage was excluded under the intentional injury provision of the policy. State Farm further argued intent to harm could be inferred from the insured’s intentional act of engaging in sexual intercourse without informing the woman he was infected with genital herpes.

The Texas Supreme Court rejected this argument because there was evidence the man did not know he was contagious. However, it distinguished that case from those involving the sexual molestation of a child. The Court discussed the concept of inferring intent as a matter of law, setting forth the rationale underlying the doctrine, and distinguishing the facts in State Farm from those involving sexual misconduct with a child. Id. at 379 (discussing origin of rule and citing numerous cases from other jurisdictions). Thus, we conclude State Farm is not applicable in this context.

Allen also argues Metcalfe’s subjective intent should be the focus of any inquiry regarding his intent to injure Allen when he molested him.

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Bluebook (online)
892 S.W.2d 198, 1994 Tex. App. LEXIS 3171, 1994 WL 715801, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/allen-v-automobile-insurance-co-of-hartford-connecticut-texapp-1994.