. 3TATE OF MAINE CumbeMnd. S!, Clerk's Office
STATE OF MAINE AUG 16 2016 SUPERIOR COURT CUMBERLAND, SS. CIVIL ACTION RECEIVED DOCKET NO. CUMSC-CV-15-437
HANOVER INSURANCE Cb MP ANY, ) ) Plaintiff/Counterclaim-Defendant, ) ) v. ) ORDER ON DEFENDANT'S MOTION ) FOR SUMNIARY JUDGMENT NATIONAL GENERAL INSURANCE ) COMPANY, ) ) Defendant/Counterclaim-Plaintiff. )
Presently before the court is Defendant National General Insurance Company's motion
for summary judgment. For the following reasons, Defendant's motion for summary judgment is
denied.
I. BACKGROUND
The following facts are not in dispute. This action for declaratory judgment arises out of
a motor vehicle accident occurred on September 18, 2013. (Def. Supp. S.M.F. 1 1; Pl. Opp.
S.M.F. 1 1.) Richard and Karen Jarry (the "Jarrys") were the owners of 2005 Jeep that was
insured under a personal automobile insurance policy issued by Defendant. (Id 1 3.) The
Jarrys' adult son, Anthony Jarry, was an insured driver under the policy. (Pl. Add'l S.M.F. 1 17;
Def. Reply S.M.F. 117.) At the time of the accident, Anthony Jarry was not permitted to drive
the Jarrys' vehicle because his driver's license had been suspended. (Def. Supp. S.M.F. 112; Pl.
Opp. S.M.F. 1 12.)
On September 18, 2013, Karen Jarry gave Kayla Bausha, a person she knew possessed
valid driver's license, permission to drive the Jarrys' vehicle to take Anthony Jarry to a medical
appointment. (Id. 113.) Bausha and Anthony Jarry were accompanied by Vaugh Hanson on the drive to the medical appointment. (Id 121.) En route to the medical appointment, Bausha drove
the Jarrys'. vehicle, with Anthony Jarry and Hanson as passengers, to the home of a friend of
Hanson. (Pl. Add'l S.M.F. 125; Def. Reply S.M.F. 125.) After dropping Anthony Jarry off at
his medical appointment, Bausha drove the Jarrys' vehicle, with Hanson as a passenger, to home
of another friend. (Def. Supp. S.M.F. 1 24; PL Opp. S.M.F. 124.) When Bausha and Hanson
returned to pick up Anthony Jarry from his medical appointment, Bausha asked Hanson to drive
the Jarrys' vehicle. (Id 126.) Bausha claimed that she was tired. (Id) Hanson told Bausha he
did not have a valid driver's license. (Id. 128.) Hanson drove the Jarrys' vehicle, with Anthony
Jarry and Bausha as passengers, to a pawnshop and then to the home of a friend of Bausha. (Id.
,r,r 29-30.) Hanson then drove the Jarrys' vehicle, with Anthony Jarry and Bausha as passengers, to Water Street in Saco, Maine. (Id ,r 34.) While parked at Water Street, a Maine Drug
Enforcement Agency agent and a Saco police officer approached the vehicle. (PL Add'l S.M.F.
,r 30; Def. Reply S.M.F. ,r 30.) Hanson drove away in the Jarrys' vehicle, with Anthony Jarry as a passenger, in an effort to flee from the law enforcement officers. (Def. Supp. S.M.F. 137; Pl.
Opp. S.M.F. 137.)
During the flight from law enforcement in the Jarrys' vehicle, Hanson struck another
vehicle owned by Harry and Sally Wellsman (the "Wellsmans") and operated by Harry
Wellsman, resulting in personal injuries and property damage. (Id ,r,r 1-2, 5.) The Wellsmans'
vehicle was insured under a personal automobile insurance policy issued by Plaintiff. (Id 1 1.)
Following an investigation, Defendant determined that it would neither defend nor
indemnify Hanson under the Jarrys' policy for any damages arising out of the September 18,
2013 accident. (Id. ,r 4.) As a result of Defendant's denial of coverage under the Jarrys' policy,
Plaintiff paid $172,500.00 to the Wellsmans for their injuries pursuant to the uninsured motorist
2 coverage of their policy. (Id. ,r 5.) Plaintiff also paid the \Vellsmans $19,751.95 for damages to
their vehicle under the property damage coverage of their policy. (Id.)
Plaintiff filed a complaint for declaratory judgment, pursuant to 14 M.R.S. § 5951 et seq.,
on September 28, 2015. Plaintiff seeks ajudicial declaration that Defendant breached its duty to
indemnify its insured when it denied Hanson coverage under the Jarrys' policy and that Plaintiff
is entitled to subrogate against, and be indemnified by, Defendant for the amounts Plaintiff paid
to the Wellsmans. (Compl. ,r,r a-b.) Defendant filed an answer and counterclaim for declaratory
judgment on October 2, 2015. Defendant asserts, inter alia, that Hanson was excluded from
coverage under the Jarrys' policy because Hanson lacked an objectively reasonable belief that he
was entitled to use the Jarrys' vehicle. (Ans. Affirm. Defense ,r 1.)
Defendant moved for summary judgment on March 28, 2016. Defendant asserts there is
no genuine issue of material fact that Hanson lacked an objectively reasonable belief that he was
entitled to use the Jarrys' vehicle. (Def. Mot. Summ. J. 7.) Following an extension of time,
Plaintiff filed its opposition on May 13, 2016. Defendant filed a reply on May 27, 2016. Oral
argument was held on June 24, 2016.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Summary judgment is appropriate if, based on the parties' statements of material fact and
the cited record, there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law. M.R. Civ. P. 56(c); Dyer v. Dep 't ofTransp., 2008 ME 106, ,r 14,
951 A.2d 821. "A material fact is one that can affect the outcome of the case. A genuine issue
of material fact exists when the fact finder must choose between competing versions of the
truth." Dyer, 2008 ME 106, ,r 14, 951 A.2d 821 (internal citation and quotation marks omitted).
,.., .J ·w hen deciding a motion for summary judgment, the court reviews the evidence in the light most
favorable to the non-moving party. Id.
If the moving party's motion for summary judgment is properly supported, the burden
then shifts to the non-moving party to respond with specific facts indicating a genuine issue for
trial in order to avoid summary judgment. M.R. Civ. P. 56(e). When a defendant moves for
summary judgment, the plaintiff must respond with evidence establishing a prima facie case.
Watt v. UniFirst Corp., 2009 ME 47, 1 21, 969 A.2d 897. The evidence proffered by the
plaintiff "need not be persuasive at that stage, but the evidence must be sufficient to allow a fact-
finder to make a factual determination without speculating." Estate of Smith v. Cumberland
Cnty., 2013 ME 13, 119, 60 A.3d 759. If a plaintiff fails to present sufficient evidence, then the
defendant is entitled to a summary judgment. Watt, 2009 ME 47, 121, 969 A.2d 897.
III. ANALYSIS
The sole issue on summary judgment is whether Hanson is excluded from liability
coverage under the "entitlement exclusion" contained in the Jarrys' policy issued by Defendant.
Under the Jarrys' policy, Defendant agreed to pay damages for all bodily injury or property
damage for which any "insured" becomes legally responsible for because of an auto accident.
(Miller Aff. 1 2, Ex. A at 2.) The Jarrys' policy defines an "insured" to include, "Any person
'using your covered auto."' (Id. at 2-3.) However, the Jarrys' policy also contained an
"entitlement exclusion" that provides as follows:
EXCLUSIONS A. We do not provide liability coverage for any "insured":
8. Using a vehicle without a reasonable belief that that "insured" is entitled to do so.
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. 3TATE OF MAINE CumbeMnd. S!, Clerk's Office
STATE OF MAINE AUG 16 2016 SUPERIOR COURT CUMBERLAND, SS. CIVIL ACTION RECEIVED DOCKET NO. CUMSC-CV-15-437
HANOVER INSURANCE Cb MP ANY, ) ) Plaintiff/Counterclaim-Defendant, ) ) v. ) ORDER ON DEFENDANT'S MOTION ) FOR SUMNIARY JUDGMENT NATIONAL GENERAL INSURANCE ) COMPANY, ) ) Defendant/Counterclaim-Plaintiff. )
Presently before the court is Defendant National General Insurance Company's motion
for summary judgment. For the following reasons, Defendant's motion for summary judgment is
denied.
I. BACKGROUND
The following facts are not in dispute. This action for declaratory judgment arises out of
a motor vehicle accident occurred on September 18, 2013. (Def. Supp. S.M.F. 1 1; Pl. Opp.
S.M.F. 1 1.) Richard and Karen Jarry (the "Jarrys") were the owners of 2005 Jeep that was
insured under a personal automobile insurance policy issued by Defendant. (Id 1 3.) The
Jarrys' adult son, Anthony Jarry, was an insured driver under the policy. (Pl. Add'l S.M.F. 1 17;
Def. Reply S.M.F. 117.) At the time of the accident, Anthony Jarry was not permitted to drive
the Jarrys' vehicle because his driver's license had been suspended. (Def. Supp. S.M.F. 112; Pl.
Opp. S.M.F. 1 12.)
On September 18, 2013, Karen Jarry gave Kayla Bausha, a person she knew possessed
valid driver's license, permission to drive the Jarrys' vehicle to take Anthony Jarry to a medical
appointment. (Id. 113.) Bausha and Anthony Jarry were accompanied by Vaugh Hanson on the drive to the medical appointment. (Id 121.) En route to the medical appointment, Bausha drove
the Jarrys'. vehicle, with Anthony Jarry and Hanson as passengers, to the home of a friend of
Hanson. (Pl. Add'l S.M.F. 125; Def. Reply S.M.F. 125.) After dropping Anthony Jarry off at
his medical appointment, Bausha drove the Jarrys' vehicle, with Hanson as a passenger, to home
of another friend. (Def. Supp. S.M.F. 1 24; PL Opp. S.M.F. 124.) When Bausha and Hanson
returned to pick up Anthony Jarry from his medical appointment, Bausha asked Hanson to drive
the Jarrys' vehicle. (Id 126.) Bausha claimed that she was tired. (Id) Hanson told Bausha he
did not have a valid driver's license. (Id. 128.) Hanson drove the Jarrys' vehicle, with Anthony
Jarry and Bausha as passengers, to a pawnshop and then to the home of a friend of Bausha. (Id.
,r,r 29-30.) Hanson then drove the Jarrys' vehicle, with Anthony Jarry and Bausha as passengers, to Water Street in Saco, Maine. (Id ,r 34.) While parked at Water Street, a Maine Drug
Enforcement Agency agent and a Saco police officer approached the vehicle. (PL Add'l S.M.F.
,r 30; Def. Reply S.M.F. ,r 30.) Hanson drove away in the Jarrys' vehicle, with Anthony Jarry as a passenger, in an effort to flee from the law enforcement officers. (Def. Supp. S.M.F. 137; Pl.
Opp. S.M.F. 137.)
During the flight from law enforcement in the Jarrys' vehicle, Hanson struck another
vehicle owned by Harry and Sally Wellsman (the "Wellsmans") and operated by Harry
Wellsman, resulting in personal injuries and property damage. (Id ,r,r 1-2, 5.) The Wellsmans'
vehicle was insured under a personal automobile insurance policy issued by Plaintiff. (Id 1 1.)
Following an investigation, Defendant determined that it would neither defend nor
indemnify Hanson under the Jarrys' policy for any damages arising out of the September 18,
2013 accident. (Id. ,r 4.) As a result of Defendant's denial of coverage under the Jarrys' policy,
Plaintiff paid $172,500.00 to the Wellsmans for their injuries pursuant to the uninsured motorist
2 coverage of their policy. (Id. ,r 5.) Plaintiff also paid the \Vellsmans $19,751.95 for damages to
their vehicle under the property damage coverage of their policy. (Id.)
Plaintiff filed a complaint for declaratory judgment, pursuant to 14 M.R.S. § 5951 et seq.,
on September 28, 2015. Plaintiff seeks ajudicial declaration that Defendant breached its duty to
indemnify its insured when it denied Hanson coverage under the Jarrys' policy and that Plaintiff
is entitled to subrogate against, and be indemnified by, Defendant for the amounts Plaintiff paid
to the Wellsmans. (Compl. ,r,r a-b.) Defendant filed an answer and counterclaim for declaratory
judgment on October 2, 2015. Defendant asserts, inter alia, that Hanson was excluded from
coverage under the Jarrys' policy because Hanson lacked an objectively reasonable belief that he
was entitled to use the Jarrys' vehicle. (Ans. Affirm. Defense ,r 1.)
Defendant moved for summary judgment on March 28, 2016. Defendant asserts there is
no genuine issue of material fact that Hanson lacked an objectively reasonable belief that he was
entitled to use the Jarrys' vehicle. (Def. Mot. Summ. J. 7.) Following an extension of time,
Plaintiff filed its opposition on May 13, 2016. Defendant filed a reply on May 27, 2016. Oral
argument was held on June 24, 2016.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Summary judgment is appropriate if, based on the parties' statements of material fact and
the cited record, there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law. M.R. Civ. P. 56(c); Dyer v. Dep 't ofTransp., 2008 ME 106, ,r 14,
951 A.2d 821. "A material fact is one that can affect the outcome of the case. A genuine issue
of material fact exists when the fact finder must choose between competing versions of the
truth." Dyer, 2008 ME 106, ,r 14, 951 A.2d 821 (internal citation and quotation marks omitted).
,.., .J ·w hen deciding a motion for summary judgment, the court reviews the evidence in the light most
favorable to the non-moving party. Id.
If the moving party's motion for summary judgment is properly supported, the burden
then shifts to the non-moving party to respond with specific facts indicating a genuine issue for
trial in order to avoid summary judgment. M.R. Civ. P. 56(e). When a defendant moves for
summary judgment, the plaintiff must respond with evidence establishing a prima facie case.
Watt v. UniFirst Corp., 2009 ME 47, 1 21, 969 A.2d 897. The evidence proffered by the
plaintiff "need not be persuasive at that stage, but the evidence must be sufficient to allow a fact-
finder to make a factual determination without speculating." Estate of Smith v. Cumberland
Cnty., 2013 ME 13, 119, 60 A.3d 759. If a plaintiff fails to present sufficient evidence, then the
defendant is entitled to a summary judgment. Watt, 2009 ME 47, 121, 969 A.2d 897.
III. ANALYSIS
The sole issue on summary judgment is whether Hanson is excluded from liability
coverage under the "entitlement exclusion" contained in the Jarrys' policy issued by Defendant.
Under the Jarrys' policy, Defendant agreed to pay damages for all bodily injury or property
damage for which any "insured" becomes legally responsible for because of an auto accident.
(Miller Aff. 1 2, Ex. A at 2.) The Jarrys' policy defines an "insured" to include, "Any person
'using your covered auto."' (Id. at 2-3.) However, the Jarrys' policy also contained an
"entitlement exclusion" that provides as follows:
EXCLUSIONS A. We do not provide liability coverage for any "insured":
8. Using a vehicle without a reasonable belief that that "insured" is entitled to do so.
(Miller Aff., 12, Ex. A. at 3-4.)
4 Our Law Court has previously construed this exact insurance policy exclusion. See
Patrons Oxford Ins. Co. v. Harris, 2006 ME 72, 1 8, 905 A.2d 819; Craig v. Estate ofBarnes,
1998 ME 110, 1 6, 710 A.2d 258. The Law Court has stated, "'A person lacks a reasonable
belief that he or she is entitled to use a vehicle if that person: (i) knows that he or she is not
entitled to use the vehicle; or (ii) lacks objectively reasonable grounds for believing that he or
she is entitled to use the vehicle."' Patrons Oxford, 2006 ME 72, 1 9, 905 A.2d 819 (quoting
Craig, 1998 ME 110, 1 7, 710 A.2d 258). To determine whether a person possessed an
objectively reasonable belief that he or she was entitled to use a vehicle, the fact finder "'must
consider any fact relevant to the objective reasonableness of that person's belief,' including
ownership of the vehicle, permission to use the vehicle, relationship to the insured, prior use of
the vehicle, and legal entitlement to drive." Patrons Oxford, 2006 ME 72, 1 9, 905 A.2d 819
(quoting Craig, 1998 ME 110, 1 8, 710 A.2d 258) (emphasis in original). The above list of
factors is not exhaustive. Patrons Oxford, 2006 ME 72, 1 9, 905 A.2d 819. No one fact is
dispositive as to whether a person has a reasonable belief. Craig, 1998 ME 110, 1 8, 710 A.2d
258.
In support of its motion for summary, Defendant has set forth the following facts, which
Defendant asserts demonstrate that Hanson lacked an objectively reasonable belief that he was
entitled to use the Jarrys' vehicle. On September 18, 2013, the day of the accident, Hanson did
not possess a valid driver's license because his license had been suspended on August 27, 2013
for failure to pay a fine. (Def. Supp. S.M.F. 1 16.) Hanson had not driven a vehicle since
August 27, 2013, because of the suspension. (Id 117.) Hanson had only met Anthony Jarry and
Bausha for the first time approximately two weeks prior to the accident. (Id 1 18.) Hanson did
not have any contact with the Jarrys. (Id 122.) The Jarrys did not give Hanson permission to
5 use their vehicle. (Id. 1 15.) Although Bausha stated she was tired, Hanson did not observe
Bausha having any problems driving the vehicle. (Id. 127.) Hanson told Bausha that he did not
have a driver's license. (Id. 1 28.) Hanson testified that he knew that fleeing the police was
illegal. (Id. 139.)
In opposition to Defendant' s motion summary judgment, Plaintiff has set forth the
following facts. Anthony Jarry was a rated driver under the Jarrys' policy. (PL Add'I S.M.F. 1
17.) The Jarrys continued to carry Anthony Jarry as an insured driver under the policy even
though his license had been suspended. (Id. 1118-19.) The day before the accident, Anthony
Jarry, Bausha, and Hanson had been partying late into the night. (Id. 121.) After Bausha and
Hanson picked up Anthony Jarry from the doctor's office, Bausha asked Hanson to drive
because she was tired. (Id. 126.) Anthony Jarry was in the vehicle while Hanson drove. (Id. 11
26-31.) When confronted by a DEA agent and Saco Police, Hanson asked Anthony Jarry what
he wanted him to do. (Id. 131.) Anthony Jarry told Hanson to "take off." (Id.)
Viewing the foregoing facts in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, the court is not
inclined to state as a matter of law that Hanson did not have an objectively reasonable belief that
he was entitled to use the Jarry vehicle. In evaluating the competing evidence, the fact finder
could conclude that Hanson had an objectively reasonable basis to conclude that he was entitled
to use the Jarry vehicle. The court notes that the "exigent circumstance" rule set out by Patrons,
likely would not apply so as to allow fleeing from law enforcement officers in the execution of a
legal stop, if in fact that is what the evidence supports. If this matter proceeds to trial, and for the
benefit of the parties as the evaluate their positions, the court will view the probative value of the
evidence and instruct the jury according to its conclusion regarding the impact of Patrons and its
apparent inapplicability to this case.
6 However, a jury may conch.ide that Hanson was entitled to operate the Jarry vehicle
before Anthony allegedly instructed him to "take off," making moot the express instruction to
elude an MDEA agent as somehow informative of Hanson' s entitlement to use the Jarry vehicle.
Plaintiff has put forth sufficient facts to create a genuine issue of material fact for trial
regarding whether Hanson has an objectively reasonable belief that he was entitled to use the
J arrys' vehicle . . Therefore, Defendant is not entitled to summary judgment.
IV. CONCLUSION
Defendant National General Insurance Company's motion for summary judgment 1s
The Clerk is directed to enter this Order on the civil docket by reference pursuant to
Maine Rul'e of Civil Procedure 79(a).
Date: August 15, 2016