Cincinnati Insurance Co. v. Robert W. Setterlin Sons, 07ap-47 (9-27-2007)

2007 Ohio 5094
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedSeptember 27, 2007
DocketNo. 07AP-47.
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 2007 Ohio 5094 (Cincinnati Insurance Co. v. Robert W. Setterlin Sons, 07ap-47 (9-27-2007)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cincinnati Insurance Co. v. Robert W. Setterlin Sons, 07ap-47 (9-27-2007), 2007 Ohio 5094 (Ohio Ct. App. 2007).

Opinion

OPINION
{¶ 1} Plaintiff-appellant, Cincinnati Insurance Company ("CIC"), appeals, and defendant-appellee, Robert W. Setterlin Sons ("Setterlin"), cross-appeals, from a judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. The court's judgment concluded CIC has a duty under its general commercial liability and umbrella policies issued to Setterlin to defend Setterlin against a subcontractor's claim that Setterlin is *Page 2 liable for the subcontractor's increased workers' compensation premiums arising out of an injury Setterlin's negligence caused to the subcontractor's employee. Because the trial court properly concluded CIC has a duty to defend, we affirm that aspect of the trial court's judgment. The trial court, however, did not finally determine the issue raised in Setterlin's cross-appeal, so we dismiss the cross-appeal.

{¶ 2} In August 2001, Setterlin served as the general contractor, and A.H Sturgill Roof Inc. ("Sturgill") as Setterlin's subcontractor, for a school construction project. While working on the project, a Setterlin employee allegedly instructed the employee of another subcontractor to cut an opening in the roof and install an access door. A Sturgill employee inadvertently walked onto the partially cut area and fell through the roof, allegedly sustaining severe bodily injuries. Sturgill's employee filed a workers' compensation claim, allegedly causing Sturgill's workers' compensation premiums to increase by approximately $400,000 over a four-year period.

{¶ 3} On August 11, 2003, Sturgill filed a complaint in the Lawrence County Common Pleas Court alleging that Setterlin was liable for the increase in its workers' compensation premiums because Setterlin caused the injuries to Sturgill's employee ("the underlying litigation"). On September 19, 2003, Setterlin tendered defense of the underlying litigation to CIC, its liability and umbrella insurance carrier; CIC denied Setterlin's tender. On June 19, 2005, Setterlin again tendered defense of the underlying litigation to CIC, and on August 8, 2005, CIC accepted Setterlin's tender under a full reservation of rights. CIC then filed a declaratory judgment action in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, requesting the court to determine whether, under the policies it *Page 3 issued to Setterlin, it owed a duty to defend and/or indemnify Setterlin in the underlying litigation.

{¶ 4} On January 19, 2006, Setterlin filed a motion for summary judgment, maintaining that because the liability and umbrella policies CIC issued to Setterlin at least arguably cover the damages Sturgill claimed, CIC has a duty to defend Setterlin in the underlying litigation. Setterlin also argued it was entitled to attorney fees incurred in defending not only the underlying litigation, but also for defending CIC's declaratory judgment action. On May 18, 2006, CIC filed a memorandum opposing Setterlin's motion, as well as a cross-motion for summary judgment, claiming neither policy covered the underlying litigation because the claims were for purely economic losses that did not result from "bodily injury" or, alternatively, were otherwise precluded under certain policy exclusions.

{¶ 5} After the parties fully briefed the motions, the trial court on November 15, 2006 granted in part and denied in part Setterlin's motion for summary judgment; it denied CIC's motion for summary judgment. The trial court determined CIC owed Setterlin a duty to defend the underlying litigation, but concluded a determination of CIC's duty to indemnify Setterlin was premature without a finding of liability on the underlying claims. In granting Setterlin's summary judgment motion, the court awarded Setterlin attorney fees for defending itself in the underlying litigation. The court, however, denied Setterlin's summary judgment motion regarding the attorney fees it incurred in defending the declaratory judgment action. The trial court entered judgment accordingly, with a reference to Civ.R. 54. *Page 4

{¶ 6} CIC appeals, assigning the following errors:

FIRST ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING THE MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF CINCINNATI AND IN GRANTING THE MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF SETTERLIN AS IT RELATES TO THE DUTY TO DEFEND UNDER THE PRIMARY POLICY.

SECOND ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING THE MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF CINCINNATI AND IN GRANTING THE MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF SETTERLIN AS IT RELATES TO THE DUTY TO DEFEND UNDER THE UMBRELLA POLICY.

{¶ 7} Setterlin cross-appeals, assigning the following error:

1. The trial court erred in denying Appellee/Cross Appellant an award of attorney fees incurred in defending against the instant declaratory judgment action.

{¶ 8} When a summary judgment motion disposes of a declaratory judgment action, an appellate court conducts a review under the de novo standard. King v. Western Reserve Group (1997), 125 Ohio App.3d 1, 5. We apply the same standard as the trial court and conduct an independent review, without deference to the trial court's determination. Maust v.Bank One Columbus, N.A. (1992), 83 Ohio App.3d 103, 107. We must affirm the trial court's judgment if any of the grounds the movant raised in the trial court supports the judgment. Coventry Twp. v. Ecker (1995),101 Ohio App.3d 38, 41-42.

{¶ 9} Summary judgment is appropriate only where (1) no genuine issue of material fact remains to be litigated, (2) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a

matter of law, and (3) viewing the evidence most strongly in favor of the nonmoving party, *Page 5 reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion, that conclusion being adverse to the nonmoving party. Harless v. Willis Day WarehousingCo. (1978), 54 Ohio St.2d 64, 66.

I. CIC's First and Second Assignments of Error

{¶ 10} CIC's first and second assignments of error contend the trial court erred in concluding CIC owed Setterlin a duty to defend under the liability and umbrella policies it issued to Setterlin. The duty to defend is much broader than the duty to indemnify and can be invoked even though no liability ultimately is established. Pilkington N. Am.,Inc. v. Travelers Cas. Sur. Co., 112 Ohio St.3d 482, 2006-Ohio-6551, ¶ 35. The scope of the allegations against an insured determines whether an insurance company has a duty to defend the insured under a liability insurance policy. Id., citing Motorists Mut. Ins. Co. v. Trainor (1973),33 Ohio St.2d 41, paragraph two of the syllabus. The insurer is required to defend when the complaint brings the action within the coverage of the policy. Id.

{¶ 11}

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Bluebook (online)
2007 Ohio 5094, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cincinnati-insurance-co-v-robert-w-setterlin-sons-07ap-47-9-27-2007-ohioctapp-2007.