Continental Insurance Company v. Thompson

356 F. Supp. 560, 1972 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14449
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Oklahoma
DecidedMarch 29, 1972
DocketCiv. 70-C-370
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 356 F. Supp. 560 (Continental Insurance Company v. Thompson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Continental Insurance Company v. Thompson, 356 F. Supp. 560, 1972 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14449 (N.D. Okla. 1972).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

DAUGHERTY, District Judge.

This is a declaratory judgment action brought by Plaintiff Continental Insurance Company (Continental). Two insurance policies of Continental are involved. One is a Homeowner’s Policy issued to Defendants Joe and Thelma Thompson. The other is a Family Automobile Policy issued by Continental to the Defendant Richard McGuire. Preferred Risk Mutual Insurance Company (Preferred) has intervened as an additional party Plaintiff. It seeks declaratory judgment as to one policy, a Family Automobile Policy, issued by it to the Defendant Richard McGuire. Thus, we have one Homeowner’s Policy and two Family Automobile Policies involved.

The Court has conducted an evidentiary hearing, the matter has been fully briefed and argued and the Court now makes the following findings of fact, conclusions of law and decision in the case:

Defendants Joe and Thelma Thompson own a tract of land consisting of approximately three (3) acres near Depew, Oklahoma. This tract of land measures four hundred twenty-four (424) feet from East to West and three hundred ten (310) feet from North to South. There are three buildings on this tract of land. One is a dwelling house occupied by Joe and Thelma Thompson. This house is located on the west side of this tract of land. Joe and Thelma Thompson own and operate a service station located on the east side of this *562 tract of land. There is also a garage building located on the east side of this property.

On August 17, 1969, Defendant Richard McGuire, accompanied by his two young daughters, drove his pickup truck into the Thompson service station to have it filled with gasoline. Tony Thompson (Tony), an adult son of Joe and Thelma Thompson, was living temporarily at their home at this time. While at home he was helping to operate the service station. When McGuire drove up Tony came out of the service station with a cigarette in his mouth and a cigarette lighter in his hand. McGuire alighted from his pickup truck, ordered a tank of gas and stood beside the truck talking with Tony. Tony started filling the pickup with gasoline during which operation the gasoline overflowed, ignited and in jerking the nozzle from the gas tank Tony sprayed burning gasoline into the cab of the pickup truck which resulted in the death of one child and injuries to the other child. McGuire has brought suit for himself and also on behalf of his two children against the three Thompsons based on alleged negligence of Tony. These lawsuits pend in an Oklahoma State Court. The Plaintiff Continental and the Intervening Plaintiff Preferred contend that their insurance policies do not cover this unfortunate accident.

CONTINENTAL’S HOMEOWNER’S POLICY

The Court finds and concludes that Continental’s Homeowner’s Policy 1 did not cover the accident involved herein as the same was not sustained on the insured premises. The policy described the dwelling as being of frame construction, stated that no business pursuits are conducted at the premises and described the premises as follows:

“The described premises covered hereunder are located at the above address unless otherwise stated herein: West side of tract, in SE corner of SE-NE of S1-T15-R7E.”

The policy contained further provisions as follows:

“Premises. Means the premises described in the Declarations, including grounds, garages, stables and other out buildings incidental thereto, and private approaches thereto.”
MIC-4 Endorsement further provided :
“This Company Agrees With The Named Insured: Insuring Agreements—1. Coverage E—Personal Liability—5. Supplementary Definitions: (c) premises. For purposes of Section II, the definition of ‘premises’ appearing in the Basic Policy shall include: (1) all premises where the Named Insured or his spouse maintain a residence and includes private approaches thereto and other premises and private approaches thereto for use in connection with the said residence, except business property and farms,” “(d) ‘business property’ includes (1) property on which a business is conducted. . . . ”

The Court finds from the evidence that the Thompson residence was located on the west side of the tract and the service station and garage building were located on the east side of the tract. The accident did not occur on the west side of the tract but occurred at the service station on the driveway serving the same next to a gasoline pump, all located on the east side of the tract. It did not occur on private approaches to the residence. The accident occurred on business property which was open to the public. Thus, as the accident did not occur on the residence premises described and covered by Continental’s Homeown *563 er’s Policy the policy did not apply to said accident.

Moreover, Continental’s Homeowner’s Policy provides that there is no coverage if a loss arises out of a business pursuit of an insured. This policy provision provides:

“Section II of this Policy Does Not Apply:
(a)(1) to any business pursuits of an Insured, except, under Coverages E and F, activities therein which are ordinarily incident to non-business pursuits, . . . . ”

In Cherot v. United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company, 264 F.2d 767 (Tenth Cir. 1959) our Circuit said:

“What constitutes doing business is a question of law. Whether one is engaged in business under the definition is a question of fact. The books are replete with definitions defining business or what constitutes doing business. In Kelley v. United States, 10 Cir., 202 F.2d 838, 841, we defined business as follows:
‘ “Business” is a comprehensive term. It has been defined as that which “occupies the time, attention and labor of men for the purpose of a livelihood or profit.” ’ ”

The Court finds that at the time of the accident Tony was engaged in a business pursuit for his parents as their agent servicing automobiles at their service station for a profit. The fact that he personally was not on a salary does not alter the fact that the service station was a business property on which business was conducted for profit and the accident occurred thereon and in connection therewith while Tony was engaged in a business pursuit. His activities were not incident to a non-business pursuit. Rather, his activities were pursuant to a business pursuit. Coverage is not afforded under these circumstances.

It is therefore concluded that as the accident did not occur on the premises described and covered by said policy and moreover as the accident occurred while Tony was engaged in a business pursuit the policy does not cover this accident. 2

THE TWO FAMILY AUTOMOBILE POLICIES

Both Family Automobile Policies were issued to Defendant Richard McGuire.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
356 F. Supp. 560, 1972 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14449, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/continental-insurance-company-v-thompson-oknd-1972.