Occidental Fire & Casualty Co. v. Keating

276 F. Supp. 944, 1967 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8579
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Oklahoma
DecidedOctober 13, 1967
DocketCiv. 65-175
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 276 F. Supp. 944 (Occidental Fire & Casualty Co. v. Keating) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Occidental Fire & Casualty Co. v. Keating, 276 F. Supp. 944, 1967 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8579 (W.D. Okla. 1967).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

EUBANKS, District Judge.

On May 19, 1965, Occidental Fire & Casualty Co., Plaintiff, filed a Complaint seeking a judgment declaring that its Commercial Combination Automobile Policy and Oklahoma Corporation Commision Form E Endorsement issued to Dean J. Keating and Neal S. Keating did not afford coverage for a highway accident in which some defendants sustained damages or injuries.

Plaintiff alleges that on November 5, 1964, the insured -defendant, Dean J. Keating, was using a 1957 Ford truck tractor (which will be referred to as the “Ford”), a vehicle scheduled and insured under the policy, to tow an unscheduled 1955 Mack truck tractor (which will be referred to as the “Mack”) operated by defendant Wilma Jean Keating. These vehicles were involved in a highway accident with a 1964 Oldsmobile sedan driven by Lee W. Perrier and owned by defendant Phillips Petroleum Company and occupied by defendants, Mrs. Lee W. Perrier, G. W. McCullough and Mrs. G. W. McCullough. Mr. Perrier was fatally injured. The defendants, Mrs. Lee W. Perrier, Mr. G. W. McCullough and Mrs. G. W. McCullough, sustained personal injuries. The defendant Phillips’ car was extensively damaged.

[946]*946The plaintiff further alleges that the defendants and each of them contend the plaintiff is obligated to defend claims made by them under the foregoing policy of insurance and to pay judgments, up to the limits of said policy, which may be rendered against Dean J. Keating.

It is alleged in the Complaint that: (1) at the time of the accident the insured Dean J. Keating was not operating or using any motor vehicle under any permit or certificate of public convenience within the meaning of the Oklahoma Amended Motor Vehicle Form E Endorsement, and (2) that the claims being made by the defendants against Dean J. Keating are excluded from the coverage of the insurance policy by paragraph (g) under Exclusions as follows:

“Under coverages A and B, while the automobile is used for the towing of any trailer, vehicle or machine, unless such trailer, vehicle or machine is covered by like insurance in the Company; or while any trailer, vehicle or machine covered by this policy is used with any automobile not covered by like insurance in the Company.”

Plaintiff alleges that the 1955 Mack truck tractor was not covered by like insurance issued by the plaintiff company.

By answers, counter-claims and cross-claims the various defendants, except Dean J. Keating and Wilma Jean Keating, assert their respective claims for wrongful death of Lee W. Perrier, personal injuries and property damages, all of which resulted from the alleged negligence of the defendants, Dean J. Keating and Wilma Jean Keating.

The defendants in substance allege or contend that plaintiff’s insurance policy CT 137,332 on which plaintiff seeks to have a declaratory judgment provides public liability insurance in the amount of $10,000.00 property damage for each accident and $50,000.00 bodily injuries for each person and $100,000.00 bodily injuries for each accident. They allege 47 O.S.1961, Section 169 requires a liability policy approved by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission be filed with the Corporation Commission for each Class “B” Motor Carrier Permit holder such as the defendant Dean J. Keating, plaintiff’s insured. The defendants allege, pursuant to rules and regulations of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, there was attached to the insurance policy Oklahoma Corporation Commission “Motor Vehicle Form — Form E Insurance Policy Endorsement.” It is alleged that the Form E Endorsement provides that no condition, provision, stipulation or limitation in the policy shall affect the right of one injured by the negligence of the insured. The defendants allege that both the 1957 Ford and the 1955 Mack were owned and operated by the insured under a Class “B” Motor Carrier Permit and were covered by the insurance policy and the Form E Endorsement. The claimant defendants allege that the defendants, Dean J. Keating and Wilma Jean Keating, and plaintiff insurance company are jointly liable to them for their respective enumerated damages.

The parties except Dean J. Keating and Wilma Jean Keating, by Trial Stipulation have agreed:

1. Prior to November 5, 1964, plaintiff issued an automobile policy of liability insurance to Dean J. Keating and Neal S. Keating containing what is commonly referred to in the State of Oklahoma as a Form E Endorsement and that Occidental did, pursuant to the various orders of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and the laws of the State of Oklahoma, file a certificate with the Corporation Commission and became hound by all rules and regulations of the Corporation Commission pertaining thereto.
2. That if coverage as to the claimant defendants, Mrs. Lee W. Perrier, Administratrix of the Estate of Lee W. Perrier, deceased, G. W. McCullough and Betty McCullough is established only by reason of the Form E Endorsement, then the limitations of said endorsement are binding on them.
[947]*9473. That at some time prior to the date of the accident in question Dean J. Keating and his brother, Neal S. Keating, were engaged in a partnership operating a commercial cattle hauling business under w;hat is commonly known as a Class “B” Permit, and that although the insurance policy referred to and the title to certain vehicles hereinafter referred to might be in the name of the partnership or in the name of Dean J. Keating, individually, that the partnership had ceased to exist and that Dean J. Keating operated the cattle hauling business as a sole proprietorship and that he was the sole owner of the business.
4. That for some period of time prior to November 5,1964, Dean J. Keating owned a 1957 Ford, which vehicle was specifically enumerated and insured under the policy of plaintiff; also, for some time prior to said date, Dean J. Keating owned a 1948 1% ton truck and also a 1960 Ford truck, which trucks were licensed with farm license tags by Keating. These trucks were insured by a company other than this plaintiff and through an agency not licensed to write insurance with this plaintiff.
5. That five days prior to November 5, 1964, Dean J. Keating purchased a 1955 Mack and that neither this plaintiff nor its agent was notified of the acquisition of such vehicle prior to the date of the accident, November, 5, 1964.
6. Just prior to November 5, 1964, Dean J. Keating, using the 1955 Mack, was in the process of pulling a trailer loaded with live cattle, intending to deliver the same to Oklahoma City; that said trip was a commercial venture, and same was performed under - Class “B” Carrier Permit No. 14946, issued by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and in full force and effect. During the trip the 1955 Mack became disabled; that on November 5, 1964, Dean J. Keating took his 1957 Ford, attached it by some means to the 1955 Mack, the trailer having been disengaged, and with his wife, Wilma Jean Keating, steering the Mack, attempted ,to transport both units along the highway, said transportation being for the purpose of furthering his commercial venture. It is agreed that the 1955 Mack was disabled and could not run under its own power and that it was being towed by the 1957 Ford. During this attempt an accident occurred, resulting in injuries to the defendants McCullough, the death of Lee W. Perrier, and causing property damage to the Phillips Petroleum Company.

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

Related

Traill v. Felder
330 F. Supp. 560 (D. Alaska, 1971)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
276 F. Supp. 944, 1967 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8579, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/occidental-fire-casualty-co-v-keating-okwd-1967.