Bradshaw v. ST. PAUL FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY

226 F. Supp. 569
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Georgia
DecidedFebruary 19, 1964
DocketCiv. A. 7915, 7916
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 226 F. Supp. 569 (Bradshaw v. ST. PAUL FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bradshaw v. ST. PAUL FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY, 226 F. Supp. 569 (N.D. Ga. 1964).

Opinion

MORGAN, District Judge.

Plaintiffs Thomas B. Bradshaw and Thomas B. Bradshaw, as administrator of the estate of Nellie Kate Bradshaw, have obtained judgments in the DeKalb County Superior Court against Victor Herbert Mullennix, who is a named insured in an automobile liability policy issued by the defendant St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company, hereinafter referred to as St. Paul. Defendant’s policy expressly provides that any person or the legal representative thereof who has secured a judgment against the insured shall thereafter be entitled to recover under St. Paul’s policy to the extent of the insurance afforded thereby. Plaintiffs’ judgments result from a collision between plaintiff Bradshaw’s automobile and a non-owned automobile which was then being operated by the named insured Mullennix at the time when the St. Paul policy was in full force and effect. St. Paul’s policy had been issued to Mullennix for the coverage of two automobiles owned by his family, and the policy further provided coverage of any “non-owned automobile”.

The defendant, in its answer, sets forth as its defense that it was an “excess insurer” and contends that there were two policies issued by Gulf American Fire and Casualty Company, hereinafter referred to as Gulf American. Defendant claims that the Gulf American policies covered the occurrence and constituted primary insurance. Plaintiffs contend that, under the terms of the policies and the facts and circumstances here involved, St. Paul is liable for the payment of the outstanding balance due on plaintiffs’ judgments to the full extent of St. Paul’s liability.

In its answer, the defendant also asserted other defenses, but these have been withdrawn.

On January 29, 1964, the above actions, consolidated for trial, came on for trial before the Court without a jury. After receiving stipulations of agreement as to certain facts, evidence presented by one deposition, and the briefs and written arguments of the counsel, the cases are now properly before the Court for determination.

The plaintiffs being residents of the State of Georgia, and the defendant being a non-resident corporation, and the amount in controversy being in excess of $10,000.00, this Court has jurisdiction of the parties to this case by virtue of the provisions of Section 1332, Title 28 United States Code.

At about 12:45 A.M., January 1, 1958 (New Year’s Eve) there was a collision between a Cadillac Sedan driven by plaintiff Thomas B. Bradshaw and a 1958 Chevrolet Sports Coupe being driven by Mullennix. The wife of Bradshaw, Mrs. Nellie Kate Bradshaw, was a passenger in the Cadillac.

Both Bradshaw and his wife sustained serious injuries, and Mrs. Bradshaw sub *571 sequently died. Prior to the collision, the defendant St. Paul had issued to Mul-lennix and/or Mrs. Betty York Mullen-nix an automobile liability policy for the period from February 10, 1957, to February 10, 1958, covering two described automobiles — a 1957 Ford and a 1950 Chevrolet. A copy of this policy is attached to the pleadings. Prior to the occurrence here involved, St. Paul had placed into effect a broader family automobile policy form; the terms of this policy form, which is in evidence, were effective at the time of the occurrence, and the terms of the broader form coverage are applicable.

Mullennix was a salesman employed by Nalley-Chevrolet, Inc., which operated a Chevrolet automobile sales agency in Atlanta, Georgia. The Chevrolet automobile involved in the collision with plaintiff was owned by Nalley-Chevrolet, Inc., and Mullennix was using it at the time of the collision with the owner’s consent, but for Mullennix’ own convenience and pleasure.

Bradshaw filed suit in the Superior Court of DeKalb County, Georgia, against Nalley-Chevrolet, Inc., and Mul-lennix, seeking damages in the sum of $387,344.74. The damages sought included physical injuries, disfigurement, pain and suffering, and medical expenses incurred by Bradshaw in his own behalf; property damage to Bradshaw’s car; and medical, hospital, nursing, funeral and burial expenses, and loss of consortium because of injuries sustained by Bradshaw’s wife as a result of the collision.

Thomas B. Bradshaw, as administrator of the estate of his deceased wife, Nellie Kate Bradshaw, filed suit in the Superior Court of DeKalb County, Georgia, asking damages in the sum of $250,-000.00 for the physical injuries, and pain and suffering of his wife, resulting from the negligent operation of the 1958 Chevrolet driven by Mullennix. This action was filed against both Mullennix and Nalley-Chevrolet, Inc.

A third suit was filed by Bradshaw and his children seeking damages in the sum of $75,000.00 for the wrongful death of Mrs. Bradshaw.

At the time of said collision, Mullennix was a named insured in an automobile liability policy issued by defendant St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, being Policy No. 210AAC599. Said policy, by endorsement, contained liability limits with respect to personal injury of $25,000.00 for each person and $50,000.00 for each accident. Prior to the time of the collision referred to herein, St. Paul had placed into operation in the State of Georgia a broader family automobile policy form, No. 11993. The policy form used in issuing said Policy No. 210AAC599 was the old form policy. Mullennix was qualified to receive the broader family automobile coverage, and said Policy No. 210AAC599 shall be interpreted as having been written on said Form 11993.

The St. Paul policy further provides (under Coverage A and B) that the insurer will defend any suit alleging bodily injury or property damage and seeking damages which are payable under the terms of this policy, even if any of the allegations of the suit are groundless, false or fraudulent. The St. Paul policy further provides that the insurer will pay on behalf of the insured sums which the insured shall become legally obligated to pay because of bodily injury or property damage arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of the owned automobile, or any non-owned automobile. (Italics supplied.) St. Paul does not claim exemption under any exclusion. It is clear that St. Paul’s policy obligates it, to the extent of its liability limits, to pay the judgments obtained in the present case, unless St. Paul is relieved of this responsibility because of its “Other Insurance” clause.

Promptly after the two suits were filed in DeKalb Superior Court by Bradshaw, Mullennix furnished St. Paul copies of the petitions served upon him, and called upon St. Paul to defend these cases and to pay, within the limits of St. Paul’s liability, any judgment which might be rendered against him in the cases, and *572 he asked that this letter serve as an avouehment so as to bind St. Paul as to any judgments that might be recovered against him in the two cases. St. Paul returned the service copies of the suits and declined to defend the cases on Mul-lennix’ behalf. Thereafter, St. Paul refused to defend Mullennix in either case or to participate in the defense of said eases.

Prior to the collision on January 1, 1958, Gulf American had issued to Nal-ley-Chevrolet, Inc., two policies of insurance, both of which were in effect at the time of the collision. Both policies were introduced into evidence. One policy, Gulf American No.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
226 F. Supp. 569, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bradshaw-v-st-paul-fire-marine-insurance-company-gand-1964.