Borough of Economy v. CNA & Firemen's Insurance

36 Pa. D. & C.3d 348, 1985 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 328
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Beaver County
DecidedJuly 29, 1985
Docketno. 65 of 1985
StatusPublished

This text of 36 Pa. D. & C.3d 348 (Borough of Economy v. CNA & Firemen's Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Beaver County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Borough of Economy v. CNA & Firemen's Insurance, 36 Pa. D. & C.3d 348, 1985 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 328 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1985).

Opinion

WALKO, J.,

Before the court is an action for a declaratory judgment. On September 4, 1984, the Borough of Economy was named as a defendant in a lawsuit intitiated by John and Marian Pipes, no. 1132 of, 1984 in the Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County. The borough, upon receipt of the complaint, submitted the claim to Firemen’s Insurance Company of Newark, New Jersey and to CNA Insurance Company requesting coverage and defense for the lawsuit. Both insurance companies denied such request. This declaratory judgment action was then commenced against both companies to resolve the coverage question.

The Declaratory Judgments Act, 42 Pa.C.S. §7531 et seq., is broad in its scope and is to be liber[349]*349ally construed but is not without its limitations. Doe v. Johns-Manville Corp., 324 Pa. Super. 469, 473, 471 A.2d 1252 (1984). The act itself provides inter alia that:

“Courts of record, within their respective jurisdiction, shall have the power to declare rights, status and other legal relations whether or not further relief is or could be claimed.” 12 Pa.C.S. §7532. Actions for declaratory judgments are proceedings to determine fixed legal rights, not to modify or elucidate judicial decrees or decisions. Doe, supra, at 475.

In seeking declaratory relief, a plaintiff must establish an interest which must be a direct, substantial and present interest, as contrasted with a remote or speculative interest. South Whitehall Township et. al. v. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, 82 Pa. Commw. 217, 221-222, 475 A.2d 166 (1984). In other words, for declaratory relief to be appropriate, there must be an actual controversy. S. Whitehall Twp. et. al., supra, at 222.

The court has not been provided with stipluated findings of fact, thus we must amass from the oral arguments, pleadings and briefs filed, the following scenario of facts. It appears that the Borough Council of Economy engaged an “insurance broker” in order to purchase an insurance policy for the borough protecting it from any and all liability arising out of accidents, or negligence of its employees and errors or omissions of its officers, staff and employees. Exactly what the borough instructed its “insurance broker” to purchase is an unknown fact. There is absolutely no evidence or stipulation of fact that the borough ever ordered any specific policy that it did not obtain. What in fact was provided to the borough were two' policies from defendants Firemens and CNA entitled Comprehensive General Liability [350]*350policies. Plaintiff alleges that the policy period of defendant Firemen’s is from November'10, 1975 to November 10, 1978 and that the policy period of defendant CNA is from June 1, 1983 to June 1, 1984. By reason of the decision reached in this opinion the time frame of when the alleged negligent act took place and the question of which company’s policy was or is in effect become unimportant.

The complaint in the underlying lawsuit against Economy Borough alleges that, on January 13, 1976, plaintiffs John and Marian Pipes entered into an agreement of sale to purchase a certain lot within the Borough of Economy. This agreement was contingent upon a satisfactory percolation test for installation of a septic system.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Doe v. Johns-Manville Corp.
471 A.2d 1252 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1984)
South Whitehall Township v. Commonwealth
475 A.2d 166 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 1984)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
36 Pa. D. & C.3d 348, 1985 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 328, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/borough-of-economy-v-cna-firemens-insurance-pactcomplbeaver-1985.