Milbank Insurance Co. v. B.L.G.

484 N.W.2d 52, 1992 Minn. App. LEXIS 360, 1992 WL 72094
CourtCourt of Appeals of Minnesota
DecidedApril 14, 1992
DocketC8-91-2431
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 484 N.W.2d 52 (Milbank Insurance Co. v. B.L.G.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Milbank Insurance Co. v. B.L.G., 484 N.W.2d 52, 1992 Minn. App. LEXIS 360, 1992 WL 72094 (Mich. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinions

OPINION

HARTEN, Judge.

In this declaratory judgment action, appellant Milbank Insurance Company appeals from summary judgment declaring that damages for which respondent B.L.G. is legally liable are covered by a homeowner’s policy issued by Milbank. B.L.G. was found liable for respondent M.M.D.’s damages in a prior underlying lawsuit. There, the trial court concluded that B.L.G. breached a duty to use reasonable care to avoid transmitting genital herpes to M.M.D. The parties argue that the outcome of M.M.D.’s lawsuit is dispositive on the issue of insurance coverage. Because we find that there are genuine issues of material fact precluding summary judgment, we affirm in part, reverse in part and remand.

FACTS

In the underlying action commenced in August 1988, M.M.D. sued B.L.G. for injuries related to the transmission of genital herpes. In August 1990, after a trial to the court, the trial court made the following findings of fact:

1. On November 25, 1985, [B.L.G.] was seen by his doctor. As noted in * * * [B.L.G.'s] medical records, [B.L.G.’s] primary concern * * * was “recurring * * * [genital] sores on 2 different areas * * * occurring each one [or] two occasions over the last year. First noted 1 year ago and seen by another physician in Jordan [who] gave him some antibiotics.”
The report noted that there were no active ulcers at that time. [B.L.G.] was advised to return to the. office for a herpes culture if an active ulcer should recur. (Later notes reveal that if the ulcers are not active the herpes culture would reveal nothing.)
2. Approximately one month later the parties met. In early January, 1986, they began a sexual relationship that lasted until August, 1987.
3. Prior to starting the sexual relationship [B.L.G.] did not tell [M.M.D.] of [55]*55his concern that he might have a sexually transmittable disease.
4. On March 14, 1986, [M.M.D.] was examined by her family doctor. No symptoms of herpes were present.
5. On March 16, 1986, [M.M.D.] noticed blisters in her genital area and returned to her doctor. The blisters were so severe that [M.M.D.] was unable to urinate and she had to be [eatheterized]. The blisters were observed and a herpes culture was positive for the herpes virus.
6. [M.M.D.’s] doctor testified that herpes is a viral disease and will recur throughout [M.M.D.’s] life and that there is no known cure. Prior to the March 16, 1986 examination [M.M.D.] never was diagnosed as having herpes. The doctor further testified that there are two types of herpes outbreaks. The first type is due to a recent exposure * * * and produces [severe] lesions * * * and problems with urination. The second type of outbreak is due to a reoccurrence. The lesions are less severe * * *. In [M.M.D.’s] case the doctor could not say for sure which type of occurrence it was without further tests which were not done.
7. [M.M.D.] had a telephone conversation with [B.L.G.] on the day she was diagnosed as having herpes. In the conversation [M.M.D.] informed [B.L.G.] of the outcome of the test. She was very emotional and outraged. [B.L.G.] said he was sorry and that he thought he had had something that past fall.
8. Despite her “outrage” [M.M.D.] began to live with [B.L.G.] and continued their sexual relationship until August, 1987. During the time they lived together they talked about the condition quite a lot. On one occasion [M.M.D.] was crying in bed and asked if she had done this. [B.L.G.] replied “No, I know you didn’t.”
9. [M.M.D.’s] sister Kim, spoke with [B.L.G.] about the condition. Kim was a friend of [B.L.G.] before her sister met him and she continues to consider herself a friend. In one conversation [B.L.G.] related to her that he felt bad about the whole thing. [B.L.G.] never said that he had herpes. [B.L.G.] stated that he did feel that he had something a long time before he met [M.M.D.], but he didn’t know what it was.
10. Because of herpes [M.M.D.] has experienced physical and mental pain.
11. The disease has also caused [M.M.D.] emotional problems. * * *.
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18. That [B.L.G.] knew or should have known that he was infected with the herpes virus.
14. That [B.L.G.] was aware of the infection before he had sexual relations with [M.M.D.].
15. That [B.L.G.] did not inform [M.M.D.] prior to engaging in sexual contact with her that he had herpes or that he thought he might have herpes.
16. That because of the sexual contact, [B.L.G.] caused [M.M.D.] to become infected with the herpes virus.
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18. That [M.M.D.] has suffered [$38,-300] in damages as a result of [B.L.G.’s] conduct

The trial court also made the following conclusions of law:

1. That [B.L.G.] owed a duty of reasonable care to avoid transmitting herpes to [M.M.D.].
2. That [B.L.G.] breached this duty and was negligent by failing to warn [M.M.D.] that he had reason to believe he was infected with the herpes virus prior to sexual contact.
3. That because of [B.L.G.’s] failure to warn [M.M.D.] of his herpes infection [M.M.D.] had sexual relations with him and was infected with herpes.
4. That [M.M.D.] has suffered damages as a result of the infection.

In its memorandum, the trial court said:

The Court is convinced that [B.L.G.] knew that his problem was or probably was herpes. This is shown by his prior medical history, his reaction to [M.M.D.] informing him that she had herpes, and his later statements to [M.M.D.] and his sister.

[56]*56The trial court ordered judgment against B.L.G. for M.M.D.’s damages.

In June 1991, Milbank brought this declaratory judgment action to determine if coverage under its homeowner’s policy applies to B.L.G.’s liability to M.M.D. The parties made cross-motions for summary judgment to the same trial court judge who decided the court trial of the underlying lawsuit. On December 3, 1991, the trial court granted B.L.G.’s motion for summary judgment and denied Milbank’s motion for summary judgment. The trial court held that B.L.G.’s liability for M.M.D.’s damages was covered by the insurance policy. Milbank appeals.

ISSUES

1. Was Milbank entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law?

2. Was B.L.G. entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law?

3. Is Milbank obligated to pay B.L.G.’s attorney fees at the trial court and on appeal?

4. Should Milbank’s reply brief be stricken and sanctions imposed because the reply brief raises entirely new issues?

ANALYSIS

INTRODUCTION

Milbank disclaims coverage based on two policy provisions. “Coverage E,” provides coverage for certain personal liability. It reads:

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Milbank Insurance Co. v. B.L.G.
484 N.W.2d 52 (Court of Appeals of Minnesota, 1992)

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Bluebook (online)
484 N.W.2d 52, 1992 Minn. App. LEXIS 360, 1992 WL 72094, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/milbank-insurance-co-v-blg-minnctapp-1992.