Lawyer v. Kountz

716 So. 2d 493, 1998 WL 560369
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedJuly 29, 1998
Docket97-C-2701, 97-C-2918
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 716 So. 2d 493 (Lawyer v. Kountz) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lawyer v. Kountz, 716 So. 2d 493, 1998 WL 560369 (La. Ct. App. 1998).

Opinion

716 So.2d 493 (1998)

Gail M. LAWYER
v.
Succession of Eva Mae McBride KOUNTZ, et al.

Nos. 97-C-2701, 97-C-2918.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fourth Circuit.

July 29, 1998.

*494 Hulse & Wanek, Charles M. Ponder, III, New Orleans, for Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Co.

Longenecker & Associates, Ltd., Geoffrey H. Longenecker, Mandisonville, for Succession of Eva Mae McBride Kountz, Sandra Kountz Dusang, and Barbara Kountz Kupit.

Blue Williams, L.L.P., Thomas G. Buck, Robert E. Williams, IV, Metairie, for State Farm Fire & Casualty Co.

Before KLEES, LANDRIEU and CIACCIO, JJ.

KLEES, Judge.

This matter was remanded by the Supreme Court for our reconsideration of State Farm Fire & Casualty Company's and Metropolitan Property Casualty Insurance Company's writ applications for relief from the trial court's denial of their motions for summary judgment. Following the remand, we consolidated both writ applications for review herein. The issue presented for our review is whether, under Louisiana law, an action brought by a purchaser for breach of warranty/redhibition for the rescission of sale of residential property is covered under the sellers' homeowner's policies. After considering all briefs and oral argument, we find error in the judgments below and reverse.

FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS AND PROCEEDINGS BELOW

This matter arises from a redhibitory action for recission of sale brought by plaintiff, Gail M. Lawyer, against the Succession of Eva Mae McBride Kountz ("the Succession") and others. According to plaintiff's petition, plaintiff purchased a home located at 5349 Vermillion Boulevard in New Orleans on September 28, 1995 from the Succession for the sum of $68,000.00. Plaintiff alleged in her petition that the residence was infested with termites as of the date of sale, and that such condition was "covered up" by defendants. Plaintiff further alleged that there were plumbing defects or damage in the home which was discovered upon inspection for insect damage, requiring the replacement of sewer drain lines.

Sandra Kountz Dusang and Barbara Kountz Kupit are named as defendants in plaintiff's petition in their capacity as universal legatees of the Succession. Plaintiff also named as defendant the realtor and the real estate agent who listed the property on behalf of the sellers, as well as Rid-A-Pest, the termite company that issued a termite certificate on the property prior to the sale.

Plaintiff stated that defendants were liable for the following acts:

1) Selling a house that is so inconvenient and imperfect that plaintiff would never had purchased it had she known of its vices;
2) Selling a house which they knew or should have known had serious defects which they did not disclose to plaintiff purchaser;
3) For intentionally covering and concealing defects in the house;
4) For obtaining and furnishing a false termite certificate in furtherance of selling the house.

Plaintiff requested relief in the form of the return of her purchase price, reimbursement of the costs associated the sale of the property, reasonable attorney's fees, costs of repair of the property and damages for emotional *495 distress as a result of her purchase of the property.

In response to plaintiff's petition, defendants the Succession, Kupit and Dusang filed a third party demand against Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company seeking indemnity and a legal defense of plaintiffs lawsuit. Defendants alleged that at all pertinent times hereto, Metropolitan had in force and effect a policy of insurance insuring Eva Mae McBride Kountz for the acts and liability alleged by plaintiff herein. Sandra Kountz Dusang also joined as a plaintiff in the third party demand, naming as defendant State Farm Fire & Casualty Company, alleging that State Farm issued a policy of homeowner's insurance on her residence which she contends covers her for the acts and liability alleged by plaintiff. Further, Barbara Ann Kupit brought a separate third party demand against Allstate Insurance Company, alleging that Allstate issued a policy of homeowner's insurance to her which indemnified her for the relief sought by plaintiff.[1]

Metropolitan answered the third party demand, denying any coverage, indemnity or defense under its homeowner's insurance policy. Metropolitan subsequently moved for summary judgment on the basis that no coverage was afforded under its policy in connection with the sale of this residential property by the Succession to plaintiff. Specifically, Metropolitan argued that the claims asserted by plaintiff did not constitute "property damage" as defined in the Metropolitan policy. Further, Metropolitan argued that there was no "occurrence" under the terms and conditions of the policy so as to invoke coverage.

State Farm also moved for summary judgment on similar grounds as alleged by Metropolitan. State Farm argued that the redhibition action, which arises out of a sale or contract, does not constitute an occurrence giving rise to bodily injury or property damage under the policy of insurance issued by State Farm.

By judgment dated November 17, 1997, the trial court denied the motion for summary judgment brought by Metropolitan. In its reasons for judgment, the trial court stated as follows:

This Court, in denying Metropolitan's Motion for Summary Judgment, finds that the policy of insurance issued to Eva Mae Kountz does not specifically exclude coverage for the allegations of Gail M. Lawyer. This Court finds that the damage caused by the termites is an occurrence as defined under the Metropolitan policy. Since the damage is caused by "continuous or repeated exposure to the same general harmful condition." (policy of insurance issued by Metropolitan).
Additionally, Metropolitan's argument that Section II—Additional Coverages exclude the damages alleged by plaintiff. By its own language, this section explains additional coverages and is not the exclusionary portion of the policy.

By judgment dated November 20, 1997, the trial court denied State Farm's motion for summary judgment, without assigning reasons therefor. Both State Farm and Metropolitan have sought our supervisory review of these judgments. We initially denied the applications, but in light of the Supreme Court's remand, we now reconsider the issues presented therein.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

Appellate courts review summary judgments de novo. A motion for summary judgment which shows that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that mover is entitled to judgment as a matter of law shall be granted. La.Code Civ.Proc. art. 966 C(1); Smith v. Our Lady of the Lake Hosp. Inc., 93-2512 (La.7/5/94), 639 So.2d 730, 751. The standard for summary judgments under Louisiana law has been recently modified by legislative revision of Article 966 of the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure. Summary judgments are now favored, and the rules regarding such should be liberally applied. La.Code Civ.Proc. art. 966 A(2); Oakley v. *496 Thebault, 96-0937 (La .App. 4 Cir.11/13/96), 684 So.2d 488, 490.

THE INSURANCE POLICIES

The Metropolitan Policy—Writ No. 97-C-2701

The Metropolitan policy was issued to Eva Nae [sic] M Kountz as homeowner's insurance for the property at 5349 Vermillion Boulevard and the effective policy period was from February 26, 1995 through February 26, 1996.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
716 So. 2d 493, 1998 WL 560369, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lawyer-v-kountz-lactapp-1998.