Cincinnati Insurance v. Argubright

502 N.E.2d 868, 151 Ill. App. 3d 324, 104 Ill. Dec. 371, 1986 Ill. App. LEXIS 3320
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedDecember 31, 1986
Docket3-86-0076
StatusPublished
Cited by29 cases

This text of 502 N.E.2d 868 (Cincinnati Insurance v. Argubright) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cincinnati Insurance v. Argubright, 502 N.E.2d 868, 151 Ill. App. 3d 324, 104 Ill. Dec. 371, 1986 Ill. App. LEXIS 3320 (Ill. Ct. App. 1986).

Opinion

JUSTICE HEIPLE

delivered the opinion of the court:

In an underlying action that gave rise to the present dispute, Jeffrey Argubright filed a complaint against the defendant, James Carretto, alleging that Carretto negligently discharged a firearm on April 17, 1983, so that a bullet struck and injured Argubright. A recovery of money damages for that injury is sought by Argubright from the defendant.

On the date of the occurrence alleged in the complaint, the defendant’s parents, Peter and Anna Carretto, had in full force and effect three liability insurance policies. The first policy was issued to them by the plaintiff herein, The Cincinnati Insurance Company, insuring a home located at 8 Oaklane, Ottawa, Illinois. Economy Fire and Casualty Company issued the second and third policies, one of which insured a business and apartment located at 750 North Columbia Avenue, Oglesby, Illinois, and the other being an estate-protector umbrella liability policy. The only policy which concerns us here is that one issued by the plaintiff, The Cincinnati Insurance Company.

The plaintiff filed the instant suit seeking a declaratory judgment that it is not obligated to defend the defendant or pay any judgment entered against him in the underlying lawsuit brought by Argubright for the reason that at the time of the occurrence complained of, the defendant was not an insured within the meaning of his parents’ policy. That policy provides:

“ ‘[Ijnsured’ means you and the following residents of your household:
a. Your spouse;
b. Your relatives;
c. Any person in the care of you or an insured spouse or relatives.”

The facts surrounding this controversy are as follows. In 1974, Peter and Anna Carretto purchased a business at 750 North Columbia Avenue, Oglesby, Illinois known as the Garzanelli Restaurant. The Carretto family moved into a four-bedroom apartment above the restaurant and began running the restaurant as a family establishment. The defendant began working at Garzanelli’s when it was purchased and continues to work there today. On the date of the occurrence complained of, the defendant was a co-manager of the restaurant.

The facts further showed that Mr. and Mrs. Carretto intended to slowly get out of the restaurant business and settle in Ottawa, Illinois. In furtherance of these plans, Mr. and Mrs. Carretto purchased a home in Ottawa in 1978, at 8 Oaklane Avenue, and sometime after 1980 began using that home as a residence. Mr. and Mrs. Carretto and the defendant all state that on the date of the occurrence complained of, they maintained dual residences, one being the Oglesby apartment and the other being the Ottawa home. They state that the Oglesby apartment is used during the times that the restaurant business is being conducted and the Ottawa home is used on days off. The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday, and during business hours, either the defendant or his brother Charles manage the restaurant. The defendant and his brother often spend working nights at the apartment. Mr. and Mrs. Carretto likewise spend many nights each week at the Oglesby apartment, depending on the demands of the restaurant business.

The apartment above the restaurant has four bedrooms and is fully equipped with furniture owned by Mr. and Mrs. Carretto. The defendant has his own bedroom at the apartment in which he keeps clothes and a stereo. The Ottawa home has two bedrooms, one for Mr. and Mrs. Carretto and the other for the defendant and his brother Charles to share. The defendant also keeps clothes at the Ottawa residence, along with a snowmobile which he owns. The defendant receives mail at both locations. The Ottawa address is used on the defendant’s driver’s license, whereas the Oglesby address is used on the defendant’s voter’s registration card, income tax returns, automobile insurance policy, and membership rosters of the Elks and Knights of Columbus.

After discovery was had in this matter, the trial court granted Argubright’s motion for summary judgment, stating:

“1. There exists no genuine issue as to the following material facts:
A. On the 17th day of April, 1983, James Carretto was a member of the household of Peter Carretto and Anna Carretto.
B. On the aforesaid date, Peter Carretto, Anna Carretto and James Carretto maintained dual residences at 750 North Columbia Avenue, Oglesby, Illinois, and 8 Oaklane, Ottawa, Illinois.
C. James Carretto was an insured as defined by the three policies of insurance sought to be construed herein, one having been issued by the Cincinnati Insurance Company, a Stock Company, and the other two policies issued by Economy Fire and Casualty Company.”

The plaintiff appeals on two grounds: (1) the trial court erred in granting summary judgment since there were genuine issues of material fact, and (2) the trial court erred in determining as a matter of law that the defendant was a resident of 8 Oaklane Avenue, Ottawa, Illinois at the time of the occurrence alleged in the complaint.

We first consider the plaintiff’s argument that the trial court was presented with material, disputed issues of fact, and therefore erred in granting summary judgment. The standard governing the determination of motions for summary judgment is set forth in the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure:

“The judgment sought shall be rendered without delay if the pleadings, depositions, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 110, par. 2— 1005(c).)

Supreme Court Rule 191(a) provides:

“Affidavits *** in opposition to a motion for summary judgment under section 2 — 1005 of the Code of Civil Procedure *** shall set forth with particularity the facts upon which the *** defense is based; shall have attached thereto sworn or certified copies of all papers upon which the affiant relies; shall not consist of conclusions but of facts admissible in evidence; and shall affirmatively show that the affiant, if sworn as a witness, can testify competently thereto.” Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 110A, par. 191(a).

The plaintiff argues that there was a material, disputed fact concerning the defendant’s statement that he spent his days off at the Ottawa home. In support of this argument, the plaintiff points to an uncertified and unsworn to report of an insurance investigator attached to its response to the motion for summary judgment. Within this report is the hearsay statement of an unnamed neighbor of the Oglesby apartment that the defendant lives in the apartment at the supper club and is usually there even on the days the restaurant is closed. This hearsay statement did not create a material, disputed fact since it could not be considered by the trial judge. The trial judge can only consider the pleadings, depositions, admissions, and affidavits on file.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
502 N.E.2d 868, 151 Ill. App. 3d 324, 104 Ill. Dec. 371, 1986 Ill. App. LEXIS 3320, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cincinnati-insurance-v-argubright-illappct-1986.