Kentucky National Insurance Co. v. Empire Fire & Marine Insurance Co.

919 N.E.2d 565, 2010 Ind. App. LEXIS 1, 2010 WL 45766
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 7, 2010
Docket22A04-0810-CV-616
StatusPublished
Cited by34 cases

This text of 919 N.E.2d 565 (Kentucky National Insurance Co. v. Empire Fire & Marine Insurance Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kentucky National Insurance Co. v. Empire Fire & Marine Insurance Co., 919 N.E.2d 565, 2010 Ind. App. LEXIS 1, 2010 WL 45766 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010).

Opinion

OPINION

BROWN, Judge.

Kentucky National Insurance Company ("Kentucky National") appeals the trial court's denial of its motion for summary judgment and partial grant of summary judgment in favor of Empire Fire and Marine Insurance Co. ("Empire Fire"), Alpha Leasing Co., Inc. ("Alpha Leasing"), *569 Todd Royse, Bill Ward, and Huntington National Bank and Huntington LT (together, "Huntington"). Kentucky National raises four issues, which we consolidate and restate as whether the trial court erred in denying its motion for summary judgment and granting partial summary judgment to Empire Fire and Alpha Leasing. On cross-appeal, Empire Fire raises two issues, which we consolidate and restate as whether the trial court erred by denying in part its motion for summary judgment. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand. 1

The relevant facts follow. Alpha Leasing, a Kentucky corporation, is a company which is engaged in the business of arranging and making leases of motor vehicles. 2 In December 1997, Alpha Leasing and Huntington entered into an Operating Agreement. The Operating Agreement set forth the terms under which Huntington acquired motor vehicles from Alpha Leasing for the purpose of leasing the vehicles to individuals or business entities. According to the Operating Agreement, written motor vehicle leases would be entered into by Huntington as lessor and the individual customers as lessees. Alpha Leasing was authorized to enter into the vehicle leases on behalf of Huntington. Alpha Leasing was required to procure and deliver to the lessees any vehicles to be leased, and Alpha Leasing was required to obtain all available warranties and guarantees applicable to the vehicles. Under Section II.C. of the Operating Agreement, Alpha Leasing was required to cause the motor vehicles to be registered, licensed, and titled solely in Huntington's name. Pursuant to Section II.D., Alpha Leasing was required, prior to delivery of a vehicle to a lessee, to verify that the lessee had insurance in effect for the motor vehicle. Alpha Leasing was also required to notify Huntington of any loss or damage sustained by the motor vehicle. Pursuant to Section K of the Operating Agreement, Alpha Leasing had the sole responsibility for the condition and performance of all leased vehicles, any actions or omissions in connection with the leases, any failure to deliver the vehicle or to perform services, and any failure to sell or dispose of any trade-in or any failure to pay in full the prior financing obligation on the trade-in.

Huntington also had a vehicle return policy pertaining to the vehicles leased pursuant to the Operating Agreement and arranged by Alpha Leasing. The return policy stated: "Alpha Leasing may only return vehicles on behalf of the lessee, as outlined in the provisions below, provided the lease has reached maturity. This policy does not apply to vehicles being returned by lessees prior to lease maturity." Appellant's Supplemental Appendix at 73; *570 Appellant's Appendix at 181. The policy permitted Alpha Leasing to pick up a vehicle from a lessee, obtain documentation, 3 and return the vehicle by appointment to Huntington's designated return location. The policy provided: "Alpha Leasing will be responsible for ensuring the vehicle is returned within (5) business days of pick up and that adequate insurance coverage is carried to cover the care and custody of the vehicle while in their possession." Appellant's Supplemental Appendix at 73; Appellant's Appendix at 181. As part of its business operations, Alpha Leasing would transport vehicles leased pursuant to its Operating Agreement with Huntington from the individual lessee to the auto auction site designated by Huntington. Huntington also maintained inspection procedures which set forth the return center for each of Huntington's operating areas. 4 Huntington's return center for its Louisville, Kentucky operating area was the Louisville Auto Auction.

Two commercial insurance policies were issued to Alpha Leasing covering July 2004. First, Kentucky National issued a Commercial Auto Policy (the "Kentucky Policy") to Alpha Leasing. 5 Second, Empire Fire issued a Business Auto Policy (the "Empire Policy") to Alpha Leasing.

In March 1998, Alpha Leasing facilitated a lease between Huntington and Ronald Carney. 6 Pursuant to a vehicle lease agreement arranged by Alpha Leasing, Huntington leased a Toyota Celica (the "Vehicle") to Carney. As required by the Operating Agreement between Alpha Leasing and Huntington, the Vehicle was titled to and registered in the name of Huntington.

On July 31, 2001, Carney executed a second lease agreement extending the Vehicle's lease for an additional three years. Section 14 of the lease shows that Alpha Leasing, as required by its Operating Agreement with Huntington, verified that Carney obtained insurance coverage for the vehicle during the term of the lease. Section 18 of the Vehicle's lease required Carney to maintain insurance coverage until he returned the vehicle. Pursuant to Section 24 of the lease, Carney was permitted to terminate the lease prior to its scheduled expiration/maturity provided he was not in default at the time of such termination. If Carney terminated the lease prior to its scheduled expiration/ma *571 turity, he would be required to pay an early termination fee. For purposes of determining the early termination fee, the lease would be considered terminated during the month during which Huntington obtained possession of the Vehicle through repossession or return, or Huntington received the proceeds of the insurance Carney obtained to cover the Vehicle if the Vehicle were to become a total loss due to collision, destruction or theft. 7

In December 2003, prior to the scheduled expiration/maturity of the lease term for the Vehicle, Carney returned the Vehicle to Bill Ward, a sales agent with Alpha Leasing, and leased a new vehicle through Alpha Leasing. 8 Alpha Leasing attempted to sell the Vehicle and made the lease payments until the scheduled lease expiration/maturity.

On July 13, 2004, during the last month of the Vehicle's lease term, Alpha Leasing hired Todd Royse 9 to drive the Vehicle from Alpha Leasing's office located in Louisville, Kentucky, to the Louisville Auto Auction located at 5425 Highway 326, Clarksville, Indiana. Later that day, the Vehicle, driven by Royse, was involved in an automobile accident in southern Indiana with a vehicle driven by Julie Speakes. 10 On May 23, 2006, Speakes filed a lawsuit against Royse and Alpha Leasing under Cause No. 22C-O01-0605-CT-316 (the "Speakes Lawsuit").

At some point, Alpha Leasing or its insurance agent notified Empire Fire of the accident involving the Vehicle, and Empire Fire sent a payment by check to Speakes for property damage to her vehicle.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
919 N.E.2d 565, 2010 Ind. App. LEXIS 1, 2010 WL 45766, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kentucky-national-insurance-co-v-empire-fire-marine-insurance-co-indctapp-2010.