Scottsdale Insurance v. Monares

734 P.2d 106, 153 Ariz. 9, 1986 Ariz. App. LEXIS 720
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arizona
DecidedNovember 13, 1986
DocketNo. 2 CA-CIV 5740
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 734 P.2d 106 (Scottsdale Insurance v. Monares) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Scottsdale Insurance v. Monares, 734 P.2d 106, 153 Ariz. 9, 1986 Ariz. App. LEXIS 720 (Ark. Ct. App. 1986).

Opinion

HATHAWAY, Chief Judge.

This appeal involves the interpretation of several employee and worker’s compensation exclusionary clauses in a business automobile liability insurance policy. The trial court granted summary judgment against appellant, finding that the exclusions violate Arizona’s public policy as a matter of law, and are therefore void. We agree that summary judgment was proper and affirm.

The facts are uncontested. In August 1984, Wilcoxson hired Monares to help him move houses. Monares worked for about six weeks during a four-month period. He had agreed to work if he was available when Wilcoxson needed his help. He helped to move three of the four houses Wilcoxson moved prior to November 30, 1984.

In September of 1984, Wilcoxson purchased a truck with a boom to use in relocating the houses. He then contacted Bert Rapier of the Duncan Insurance Agency about insuring the truck. Through Bert Rapier, he applied for and purchased a business automobile policy from Scottsdale Insurance Company (Scottsdale). On the insurance application, Wilcoxson listed potential drivers as himself, Monares and another employee, Stergion. He also indicated that he had no worker’s compensation insurance.

Wilcoxson was driving the insured vehicle on November 30, 1984, when the boom contacted overhead power lines, severely injuring Monares. At the time, Monares was helping Wilcoxson move a house located on property owned by Phelps Dodge Corporation. On January 9, 1985, Monares filed a personal injury action against Wilcoxson and Phelps Dodge.1

Scottsdale filed a declaratory relief action and moved for summary judgment, claiming that the policy was in effect at the time of the injury, but did not cover Monares’ injuries due to the following exclusionary clauses:

Part IV-Liability Insurance
******
C. Will Not Cover—Exclusions
This insurance does not apply to:
******
2. Any obligation for which the insured or his or her insurer may be held liable under any Workers Compensation or Disability Benefits law or under any similar law.
3. Any obligation of the insured to indemnify another for damages resulting from bodily injury to the insured employee.
4. Bodily injury to any fellow employee of the insured arising out of and in the course of his or her employment.
5. Bodily injury to any employee of the insured arising out of and in the course of his or her employment by the insured. However, this exclusion does not apply to bodily injury to domestic employees not entitled to Workers Compensation benefits.

Monares opposed the motion and moved for judgment in his favor. The trial court considered Wilcoxson’s deposition, the insurance policy and the application for insurance. Finding no genuine issue as to any material fact, the court granted Monares’ cross-motion for summary judgment, stating that there was coverage to the full extent of the policy as a matter of law. In denying Scottsdale’s motion to reconsider, the court affirmed and clarified its earlier ruling stating that the exclusions violated public policy and were unenforceable as a matter of law.

On appeal, Scottsdale argues that summary judgment was improper because (1) the question of the validity of insurance contract exclusions is not proper for summary disposition; (2) there is a factual issue as to whether Monares was an employ[11]*11ee of Wilcoxson at the time of the injury; (3) Wilcoxson’s “reasonable expectations” of coverage under the policy present an unresolved question of material fact; (4) the worker’s compensation exclusions are authorized by A.R.S. § 28-1170(E); and (5) there is a fact question as to whether worker’s compensation is available to Monares, and if it is, the exclusions do not violate public policy.

Scottsdale also raises on appeal arguments pursuant to Rule 56(c) and (f), Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure, 16 A.R.S. Scottsdale claims it did not have adequate time to assemble and present the necessary evidence to oppose Monares’ cross-motion for summary judgment, and the court should have allowed a continuance of the hearing or should have accepted the affidavit of Scottsdale’s attorney outlining what the insurance agent would state in her affidavit or deposition.

First, these contentions are untimely. On appeal, Scottsdale raises these arguments for the first time in its reply brief. Second, Scottsdale did not object to the proceedings, and the complaints of counsel about not having enough time to respond, do not rise to the level of a formal objection. Furthermore, Scottsdale did not request a continuance at the summary judgment hearing. In its motion seeking reconsideration of the order granting summary judgment, Scottsdale made a timeliness argument, but based it solely on the need to address newly raised “reasonable expectations” issues. The trial court did not grant summary judgment on the complained of “reasonable expectations” issues. Even if we were to find that appellees did not comply with Rule 56(c), any alleged harm resulting from the noncompliance is de minimis. Scottsdale had a full nine days between the original summary judgment hearing and the hearing on its motion to reconsider. Yet, at the rehearing, the only additional “proof” Scottsdale presented was its own attorney’s affidavit, purporting to inform the court of the potential testimony of Bert Rapier. This affidavit contained hearsay and was properly disregarded. We will not consider its contents in this appeal. Jabczenski v. Southern Pacific Memorial Hospital, Inc., 119 Ariz. 15, 579 P.2d 53 (App.1978); Rule 56(e), Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure, 16 A.R.S.

Scottsdale supports its claim that the validity of the policy’s exclusion clause is not appropriate for summary judgment by citing Pacific Indemnity Company v. Kohlhase, 9 Ariz.App. 595, 455 P.2d 277 (1969). Kohlhase did involve an insurance policy exclusion, but the court stated that where undisputed facts demonstrate the absence of insurance coverage, the court has the duty to direct a verdict for the insurer. Id. at 597-98, 455 P.2d at 279-80. In the instant case, since there is no dispute as to material facts, the validity of the exclusion is a question of law, not fact, and is appropriate for summary judgment. (Cf. Northern Insurance Company of New York v. Superior Court of Pima County, 104 Ariz. 235, 450 P.2d 693 (1969))

The question of Monares’ employment status has been conceded by the appellees who agree that Monares was an employee of Wilcoxson. The argument pertaining to Wilcoxson’s expectations of coverage may involve questions of fact, but the trial court did not base its decision on this issue. It decided the coverage question solely on public policy grounds.

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Bluebook (online)
734 P.2d 106, 153 Ariz. 9, 1986 Ariz. App. LEXIS 720, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/scottsdale-insurance-v-monares-arizctapp-1986.