Regis Insurance v. Kenny's Bar & Restaurant

4 Pa. D. & C.5th 6
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Bucks County
DecidedApril 1, 2008
Docketno. 06-05703-28-5
StatusPublished

This text of 4 Pa. D. & C.5th 6 (Regis Insurance v. Kenny's Bar & Restaurant) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Bucks County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Regis Insurance v. Kenny's Bar & Restaurant, 4 Pa. D. & C.5th 6 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2008).

Opinion

GOLDBERG, J.,

— The primary issue in this case is whether an assault and battery exclusion under the controlling insurance policy relieves Regis Insurance Companyfrom providing a defense or indemnification to their insured, Kenny’s Bar & Restaurant Inc. t/a Kenny’s Spirited Eatery. Kenny’s has appealed this court’s order of May 2, 2007, finding that the exclusion applies and granting Regis’ motion for summary judgment.

This opinion is filed pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925(a).

PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Temance Oliver alleged that on October 15, 2004, he was assaulted by one or more patrons at Kenny’s. Specifically, Oliver claimed that he was beaten about the [8]*8body and head, causing him to fall to the floor and sustain severe and permanent personal injuries. Oliver averred that the incident occurred, “in the presence of the defendants’ employees, to wit, bartender and various security personnel.” (Oliver complaint ¶¶4, 5.)

On March 6, 2006, Oliver filed a complaint against Kenny’s and “John Doe Assailant,” alleging negligence against “John Doe Assailant” and Kenny’s (Counts one and four), and assault (Count two) and battery (Count three) against “John Doe Assailant.” The negligence count against Kenny’s (Count four) stated:

“(18) Plaintiff avers that the defendant owed the following duties to him:

“(a) The duty to maintain adequate and proper security policy(ies) to safeguard the general public from assault and battery;

“(b) The duty to prevent harm to customers such as the plaintiff;

“(c) The duty to provide sufficient crowd control and staff to prevent harm to persons such as the plaintiff;

“(d) The duty to control the flow of customers and others to the defendant’s establishment and otherwise prevent overcrowding;

“(e) The duty to properly train its personnel on crowd control and security management; and,

“(f) The duty to provide sufficient numbers of staff in proportion to customers to maintain a safe environment for the peaceful enjoyment and protection of its customers.

“(19) Plaintiff avers that the defendant breached all or some of the aforementioned duties owed to him and as [9]*9a direct and proximate result thereof the plaintiff sustained severe, multiple and permanent injuries and various economic damages.” (Oliver complaint ¶¶18, 19.)

Pursuant to this complaint, Kenny’s sought coverage from Regis under a special multi-peril insurance policy effective September 27, 2004 to September 27, 2005. On April 25, 2006, Regis notified Kenny’s that they would provide a defense under a reservation of rights advising that “we believe that ultimately all of the averments in the complaint and damages sought will be determined to fall within the exclusionary language of the policy ....” (Regis motion for summary judgment, exhibit B.)

On June 22, 2006, Regis filed a declaratory judgment action seeking a declaration that they had no obligation to defend or indemnify Kenny’s. In support of this action, Regis relied upon an assault and battery exclusion and coverage deletion endorsement (exclusion) which they asserted precluded coverage for Oliver’s claim. In pertinent part, this exclusion states:

“Assault And Battery Exclusion And Coverage Deletion Endorsement

“(I) In consideration of the premium charged for this insurance, it is understood and agreed that the policy to which this endorsement is attached is amended and modified as follows:

“Actions and proceedings to recover damages for ‘bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ or ‘personal injury’ arising, in whole or in part, from the following are excluded from coverage and the company is under no duty to investigate, defend or to indemnify an insured in any [10]*10action or proceeding alleging such causes of action and damages (emphasis added):

“(1) Assault and battery or any act or omission in connection with the prevention, suppression or results of such acts;...

“(5) This exclusion applies to ‘bodily injury’, ‘property damage’, ‘personal injury’ or any obligation to investigate, defend or indemnify, if such injury, damage or obligation is caused directly or indirectly by any other cause or event that contributes concurrently or in any other sequence to the injury or damage. If injury or damage from a covered occurrence, cause or event occurs, and that injuiy or damage would not have occurred but for the acts or omissions set forth in paragraphs 1 through 4 above, such injury or damage will be considered to be caused by the acts or omissions set forth in paragraphs 1 through 4 above, and would be excluded from-coverage.

“This exclusion applies regardless of the degree of culpability or intent and without regard to:...

“(B) The alleged failure of the insured or his officers, employees, agents or servants in the hiring, supervision, retention or control of any person, whether or not an officer, employee, agent or servant of the insured;

“(C) The alleged failure of the insured or his officers, employees, agents or servants to attempt to prevent, bar or halt any such conduct or to medically treat or obtain such treatment for any injuries or damages sustained.” (Regis complaint, exhibit C.)

The policy’s coverage A section for “bodily injury liability” also contained the following language:

[11]*11“The company will pay on behalf of the insured all sums which the insured shall become legally obligated to pay as damages because of[:]

“(A) bodily injury or

“(B) property damage

“to which this insurance applies, caused by an occurrence ...

The policy defines “occurrence” as: “an accident, including continuous or repeated exposure to conditions, which results in bodily injury or property damage neither expected nor intended from the standpoint of the insured.” (Regis motion for summary judgment, exhibit C.)

On January 31, 2007, Regis filed a motion for summary judgment relying on two theories. First, Regis asserted that based on the allegation of the Oliver complaint, the assault and battery exclusion precluded coverage. Regis also argued that the incident on October 15, 2004 was not an “occurrence,” as defined under the policy. (Regis motion for summary judgment.)1 Kenny’s responded that because the injuries were allegedly caused by their negligent conduct, the exclusion did not apply. Alternatively, Kenny’s requested leave to supplement the record pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 1035.3(b) to conduct further discovery limited to confirming their receipt of the policy and exclusions and its authenticity. (See generally, Kenny’s memorandum opposing summary judgment.)

[12]*12On May 2, 2007, we granted Regis’ motion for summary judgment. On May 30, 2007, Kenny’s filed a 1925(b) “concise statement of matters complained of and intended to be argued on appeal,” and alleged that:

“(1) The trial court’s order granting summary judgment to the plaintiff/insurer is unsupported by the substantive law of this Commonwealth where, as here, the underlying third-party complaint sounds only in negligence against the defendant/insured.

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Bluebook (online)
4 Pa. D. & C.5th 6, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/regis-insurance-v-kennys-bar-restaurant-pactcomplbucks-2008.