JTO, Inc. v. State Automobile Mutual Insurance

956 N.E.2d 328, 194 Ohio App. 3d 319
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 25, 2011
DocketNo. 2010-L-062
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 956 N.E.2d 328 (JTO, Inc. v. State Automobile Mutual Insurance) 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
JTO, Inc. v. State Automobile Mutual Insurance, 956 N.E.2d 328, 194 Ohio App. 3d 319 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).

Opinion

Mary Jane Trapp, Judge.

{¶ 1} JTO, Inc., a construction company, appeals from a judgment of the Lake County Court of Common Pleas. The court dismissed its complaint seeking a declaration that State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company (“State Auto”) has a duty to indemnify and defend JTO in a lawsuit relating to a hotel constructed by JTO. The damage to the hotel was brought about by water infiltration, which was caused by defects in the construction of the hotel building. For the following reasons, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand.

{¶ 2} Substantive Facts and Procedural History

{¶ 3} JTO, a general contractor, entered into a contract with a hotel company to construct a Marriott Residence Inn in Mentor, Ohio. JTO subcontracted portions of the construction to Farizel Construction Company. Farizel purchased a commercial general-liability policy from State Auto, naming JTO as an additional insured on the policy.

{¶ 4} In 2000, construction of the hotel was completed. However, the hotel experienced a water-infiltration problem shortly after opening for business. The [321]*321hotel company notified JTO and requested that the problem be remedied. JTO failed to do so. In 2007, the hotel company had repairs made to correct the water-infiltration problem, at a cost of $609,000.

{¶ 5} In 2008, the hotel company filed a suit against JTO, claiming breach of contract, breach of warranty of workmanlike performance, and breach of express warranty. The hotel’s complaint alleged that shortly after opening, the hotel “began to experience water infiltration in numerous places throughout the structure, including in entrance ways and guest rooms, resulting in damages to walls and ceilings.” It sought damages in the amount of $609,000, the cost of repairing the damage caused by the water infiltration.

{¶ 6} JTO brought a third-party action against Farizel. It also requested State Auto to provide a defense. State Auto denied coverage and refused to defend JTO in the lawsuit.

{¶ 7} JTO then filed the instant action, claiming breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty. It sought a judgment declaring that State Auto is obligated to indemnify and defend JTO, as well as compensatory and punitive damages. In response, State Auto filed a counterclaim seeking declaratory relief on issues of coverage and defense.

{¶ 8} State Auto then moved for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Civ.R. 12(C). The trial court granted the motion and dismissed JTO’s complaint, declaring that State Auto does not have a duty to defend or indemnify JTO. JTO now appeals, raising the following assignment of error:

{¶ 9} “The trial court erred in granting State Auto’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings.”

{¶ 10} Standard of Review

{¶ 11} “Because Civ.R. 12(C) motions test the legal basis for the claims asserted in a complaint, our standard of review is de novo. In ruling on the motion, a court is permitted to consider both the complaint and the answer as well as any material incorporated by reference or attached as exhibits to those pleadings. In so doing, the court must construe the material allegations in the complaint, with all reasonable inferences drawn therefrom, as true and in favor of the non-moving party. A court granting the motion must find that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of the claims that would entitle him or her to relief.” (Citations omitted.) Frazier v. Kent, 11th Dist. Nos. 2004-P-0077 and 2004-P-0096, 2005-Ohio-5413, 2005 WL 2542940, ¶ 14.

{¶ 12} The appellate court reviews de novo the granting or denial of a motion for judgment on the pleadings. Westwinds Dev. Corp. v. Outcalt, 11th Dist. No. 2008-G-2863, 2009-Ohio-2948, 2009 WL 1741978, ¶ 23, citing Euvrard v. Christ Hosp. & Health Alliance (2001), 141 Ohio App.3d 572, 575, 752 N.E.2d 326.

[322]*322{¶ 13} Issue

{¶ 14} The parties do not dispute that State Auto has no obligation to provide JTO with defense or indemnification regarding the defective construction that allegedly caused the water infiltration. The only issue is whether the damage to the property caused by the water infiltration is covered under the policy.

{¶ 15} JTO argues that it is entitled to coverage for the damage caused by the water infiltration because the water infiltration was an “occurrence.” State Auto maintains that it has no duty to defend or indemnify JTO because the alleged damage to the hotel ultimately resulted from the defect in the hotel’s construction, not from an “occurrence” as defined in the policy.

{¶ 16} Analysis

{¶ 17} “To determine when the duty to defend arises, one must look to the allegations in the complaint and the insurance policy to ascertain whether the insured’s actions were within the coverage of the policy.” Snowden v. Hastings Mut. Ins. Co., 177 Ohio App.3d 209, 2008-Ohio-1540, 894 N.E.2d 336, ¶ 10, citing Preferred Mut. Ins. Co. v. Thompson (1986), 23 Ohio St.3d 78, 80, 23 OBR 208, 491 N.E.2d 688.

{¶ 18} “The scope of the allegations in the complaint against the insured determines whether an insurance company has a duty to defend the insured. The insurer must defend the insured in an action when the allegations state a claim that potentially or arguably falls within the liability insurance coverage. However, an insurer need not defend any action or claims within the complaint when all the claims are clearly and indisputably outside the contracted coverage.” (Citations omitted.) Ohio Govt. Risk Mgt. Plan v. Harrison, 115 Ohio St.3d 241, 2007-Ohio-4948, 874 N.E.2d 1155, ¶ 19.

{¶ 19} Section I, paragraph 1 of the subject policy provides:

{¶ 20} “a. We will pay those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of ‘bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ to which this insurance applies. * * *
{¶ 21} “b. This insurance applies to ‘bodily injury1 and ‘property damage’ only if:
{¶ 22} “(1) The ‘bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ is caused by an ‘occurrence’ that takes place in the ‘coverage territory’; and
{¶ 23} “(2) The ‘bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ occurs during the policy period.”

{¶ 24} The term “property damage” is defined in section V, paragraph 17 as:

{¶ 25} “(a) Physical injury, to tangible property, including all resulting loss of use of that property. * * * ”

[323]*323{¶ 26} The term “occurrence” is defined in section V, paragraph 13 as “an accident, including continuous or repeated exposure to substantially the same general harmful conditions.”

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Motorists Mut. Ins. Co. v. Ironics, Inc. (Slip Opinion)
2022 Ohio 841 (Ohio Supreme Court, 2022)
Al Neyer, L.L.C. v. Westfield Ins. Co.
2020 Ohio 5417 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2020)
Ohio N. Univ. v. Charles Constr. Servs., Inc.
2017 Ohio 258 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2017)
Pella Corp. v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.
221 F. Supp. 3d 1107 (S.D. Iowa, 2016)
Parmertor v. Chardon Local Schools
2016 Ohio 761 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2016)
Reggie Constr. v. Westfield Ins. Co.
2014 Ohio 3769 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2014)
Westfield Insurance v. Custom Agri Systems, Inc.
2012 Ohio 4712 (Ohio Supreme Court, 2012)
Burlington Insurance v. PMI America, Inc.
862 F. Supp. 2d 719 (S.D. Ohio, 2012)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
956 N.E.2d 328, 194 Ohio App. 3d 319, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jto-inc-v-state-automobile-mutual-insurance-ohioctapp-2011.