Ritchie v. Turner

547 S.W.3d 145
Court of Appeals of Kentucky·Decided March 23, 2018·No. NO. 2016–CA–000686–MR·Published·Cited by 7 cases

Opinion

NICKELL, JUDGE:

Alicia Ritchie and Jane Doe appeal from decisions of the Franklin Circuit Court denying certain coverage under Breathitt County Board of Education's insurance policy with Kentucky School Board Insurance Trust (hereinafter referred to as KSBIT). Appellants argue coverage was available for Charles Mitchell and the exclusions relied upon by KSBIT to deny coverage are void. KSBIT argues the exclusions were valid and coverage was properly denied. Finding no error, we affirm.

The underlying action is a declaratory judgment action relating to insurance coverage for damages sustained by Jane Doe. The damages relate to a sexual relationship between Mitchell, a former teacher at Sebastian Middle School in Jackson, Kentucky, and Jane Doe, an underage student at the school. Appellees Arch Turner, David Napier, Michael Bowling, and Reggie Hamilton were administrators with the Breathitt County Board of Education at the time of the illicit affair. The underlying cause of action against Mitchell and the school administrators was originally brought in Breathitt Circuit Court. Appellants filed the declaratory action in that court; however, it was transferred to Franklin Circuit Court.

This action was brought because the Breathitt County Board of Education purchased insurance from KSBIT. Appellants claim an endorsement to the policy, entitled SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, ABUSE OR MOLESTATION LIABILITY COVERAGE ENDORSEMENT, covers Mitchell *148for the damages he inflicted on Jane Doe. The endorsement provides coverage for a "wrongful act," which is defined in the endorsement as:

actual or alleged liability of a member for causing or failing to prevent any actual or alleged "sexual offense", including, but not limited to actual or alleged negligent hiring, employment, placement, training, supervision, investigation, retention or transfer or recommendation or referral of any person whose conduct results in or is alleged to have resulted in "sexual offense"; or actual or alleged negligent reporting or failure to report to proper authorities any person whose conduct results in or is alleged to have resulted in "sexual offense".

"Sexual offense" is defined in the endorsement as "an act or a series of related acts of sexual misconduct, abuse or molestation, including actual, attempted or alleged sexual conduct by a person or by persons acting together." When read together, the endorsement provides coverage for any member accused of causing or failing to prevent any act of sexual misconduct, abuse, or molestation. At first blush, it appears Mitchell would be entitled to coverage; however, we must also examine the exclusions contained in the endorsement.

Two exclusions are relevant to this case. The endorsement indicates coverage does not apply to "[a] 'wrongful act' arising out of a criminal act, including, but not limited to any 'sexual offense' committed or participated in by a 'Member'1 or any person for whom the member is legally responsible." Coverage is also excluded if there is a "[w]illful violation of a penal statute or ordinance committed by or with the consent of the Member." KSBIT denied coverage to Mitchell based on the two exclusions. The trial court in the declaratory action agreed the two exclusions denied Mitchell coverage under the policy because his actions were criminal acts and violated numerous penal statutes. This appeal followed.

"It is well established that construction and interpretation of a written instrument are questions of law for the court. We review questions of law de novo and, thus, without deference to the interpretation afforded by the circuit court." Cinelli v. Ward , 997 S.W.2d 474, 476 (Ky. App. 1998) (citations omitted).

It is axiomatic that "the terms of an insurance contract must control unless [they] contraven[e] public policy or a statute." Cheek v. Commonwealth Life Ins. Co., 277 Ky. 677, 126 S.W.2d 1084, 1089 (1939). "[C]ourts cannot make a new contract for the parties under the guise of interpretation or construction but must determine the rights of the parties according to the terms agreed upon by them." Id.

Meyers v. Kentucky Med. Ins. Co. , 982 S.W.2d 203, 209-10 (Ky. App. 1997). Thus, we "must define an insurer's liability according to the terms and conditions of the policy." Moore v. Commonwealth Life Ins. Co. , 759 S.W.2d 598, 599 (Ky. App. 1988). "Terms used within insurance contracts 'should be given their ordinary meaning as persons with the ordinary and usual understanding would construe them.' " Sutton v. Shelter Mut. Ins. Co. , 971 S.W.2d 807, 808 (Ky. App. 1997) (quoting City of Louisville v. McDonald , 819 S.W.2d 319 (Ky. App. 1991) ).

Appellants argue Mitchell is entitled to coverage under the insurance endorsement *149because the exclusions at issue make the coverage illusory; therefore, the exclusion should be deemed void.

"[I]llusory coverage" is still discussed in terms of coverage that is at least implicitly given under its provisions and then taken away, whether by virtue of a prohibition or exclusion contained in the same policy, or by virtue of a strict legal definition (i.e., the definition of a "partnership" or "corporation"). Thus, in the words of one court, "the doctrine of illusory coverage is best applied ... where part of the premium is specifically allocated to a particular type or period of coverage and that coverage turns out to be functionally nonexistent."

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Ritchie v. Turner, 547 S.W.3d 145 (Ky. Ct. App. 2018).

547 S.W.3d 145 (Ritchie v. Turner) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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