Miller v. Harleysville Mut. Casualty Co.

37 F. Supp. 983, 1941 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3623
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Virginia
DecidedApril 4, 1941
DocketNos. 77, 76
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 37 F. Supp. 983 (Miller v. Harleysville Mut. Casualty Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Miller v. Harleysville Mut. Casualty Co., 37 F. Supp. 983, 1941 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3623 (E.D. Va. 1941).

Opinion

POLLARD, District Judge.

These two actions, which involve a common question of law and fact, were on motion of all parties consolidated for a joint hearing and trial of all matters in issue in the actions. Rule 42, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 28 U.S.C.A. following section 723c. After the pleadings were closed, the defendant moved for judgments on the pleadings. Rule 12(c), R.C.P. For the purpose of passing on the motions, the defendant concedes that all allegations sufficiently pleaded by the plaintiffs must be taken as true. From the allegations of the complaints as amended and the admissions of record made by the plaintiffs in the orders entered on February 5, 1941, the relevant facts are as follows:

The plaintiffs are residents and citizens of the State of Virginia, and the defendant is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania and having its principal offices in that State. On the 29th day of November, 1939, the plaintiffs recovered judgments against William C. De-Muth in the District Court of the United States for the District of Delaware, and executions on said judgments remain unsatisfied and no part of said judgments has been paid. The aforesaid judgments were obtained for injuries inflicted by William C. DeMuth in the negligent operation of a certain automobile of the private passenger type belonging to one Ellis Bernstein. At the time of the accident William C. DeMuth was in the employ of Reliable Home Equipment Company but was not then acting for said company, but was on a personal mission of his own. Ellis Bernstein was not employed by or connected with Reliable Home Equipment Company at the time of the accident and the automobile was being operated by DeMuth with the express permission and consent of the owner, Ellis Bernstein. On October 16, 1935, the defendant issued and delivered to Reliable Home Equipment Company an automobile liability policy covering the period of one year and said policy was in effect when the plaintiffs were injured. By the terms of said policy the defendant agreed to indemnify Reliable Home Equipment Company against loss by reason of the liability imposed upon the assured by law for damages on account of bodily injuries or death accidently sustained by any person or persons not thereinafter excepted by reason of the ownership, maintenance or use of the motor vehicles therein described. In that part of the policy which provides for a description of the motor vehicles covered under the policy these words only appear: “non-ownership policy”. The said policy contains the following provision under the heading “Omnibus Coverage” : “It is hereby understood and agreed, unless limited by endorsement hereto, that such policy is extended to cover as additional Assured, any person or persons while riding in or legally operating any automobile described in the Declaration, and any person, firm or corporation, legally responsible for the operation thereof * * * provided such use or operation is with the permission of the named Assured * * The. policy contains an endorsement which provides in part as follows: “* * * it is agreed that this policy, * * * covers the liability of the assured only, for damages arising out of accidents resulting from the operation in the business of the named Assured of any automobile * * * of the private passenger type of any person named in the schedule of this endorsement * * The endorsement expressly excludes coverage on automobiles “owned in whole or in part” by the assured or “registered in the name of the assured”. William C. DeMuth is one of fifteen persons named in the endorsement attached to said policy. Ellis Bernstein is not one of the fifteen persons named in said endorsement.

The plaintiffs contend and the defendant denies that the policy covers the accident in question. The court is called upon to determine between these conflicting contentions. The correct answer depends upon the effect to be given to the provisions of the endorsement when considered in the light of Section 4326a of the Code of Virginia, Acts of Assembly 1934, page 545.

The contract of insurance issued by the defendant to Reliable Home Equipment Company is a printed standard form policy and contains the usual clause of omnibus coverage. This clause extends the policy [985]*985to cover as additional assured any person or persons while riding in or legally operating any automobile described in the declaration with the permission of the named assured. There is attached to the printed form insurance policy a typewritten endorsement. This endorsement eliminates the omnibus coverage provisions of the printed policy. It provides that the policy “covers the liability of the assured only * * The provisions of the endorse-ment are plain and admit of no other construction. It follows that the policy is enforceable only in accordance with its terms and the plaintiffs are not entitled to coverage under the policy unless they are protected by some statute which should be read into the policy.

The plaintiffs contend that there is liability under the policy by reason of Section 4326a of the Code of Virginia. It is there provided as follows:

“§ 4326a. Third person injured by a party carrying indemnity insurance subrogated to rights of such party. — No policy of insurance against loss or damage resulting from accident to or injury suffered by an employee or other person and for which the person insured is liable, or, against loss or damage to property caused by animals or by any vehicle drawn, propelled or operated by any motive power, and for which loss or damage the person insured is liable, shall be issued or delivered to any person in this State by any corporation or other insurer authorized to do business in this State, unless there shall be contained within such policy a provision that the insolvency or bankruptcy of the person insured shall not release the insurance carrier from the payment of damages for injuries sustained or loss occasioned during the life of such policy, and stating that in case execution against the insured is returned unsatisfied in an action brought by the'injured person, or his or her personal representative in case death results from the accident, because of such insolvency or bankruptcy, then an action may be maintained by the injured person, or his or her personal representative, against such corporation under the terms of the policy for the amount of the judgment in the said action not exceeding the amount of the policy.

No such policy shall be issued or delivered in this State, to the owner of a motor vehicle, by any corporation or other insurer authorized to do business in this State, unless there shall be contained within such policy a provision insuring such owner against liability for damages for death or injuries to person or property resulting from negligence in the operation of such motor vehicle, in the business of such owner or otherwise, by any person legally using or operating the same with the permission, express or implied, of such owner.

In the case of Newton v. Employers Liability Assur. Corporation, 4 Cir., 107 F.2d 164, it was held that the provisions of the statute above quoted were a part of the contract of insurance there under consideration. But there the policy was an ownership policy as distinguished from one of non-ownership as is the policy in the instant case.

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

Related

PBM Nutritionals, L.L.C. v. Lexington Ins.
82 Va. Cir. 94 (Richmond County Circuit Court, 2011)
Clarke v. Harleysville Mut. Casualty Co.
123 F.2d 499 (Fourth Circuit, 1941)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
37 F. Supp. 983, 1941 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3623, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/miller-v-harleysville-mut-casualty-co-vaed-1941.