Shaw v. Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co.

178 F. Supp. 571, 1959 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3199
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Missouri
DecidedMay 11, 1959
DocketNos. 980, 981
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 178 F. Supp. 571 (Shaw v. Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Shaw v. Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co., 178 F. Supp. 571, 1959 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3199 (W.D. Mo. 1959).

Opinion

DUNCAN, Chief Judge.

These cases were brought in the State court seeking declaratory judgment to determine the respective rights of the parties under a policy of insurance issued by defendant Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company to the defendant C. M. Miller, and a truck leasing agreement between Carson and Miller. The cases were removed to this court by the defendant Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company.

Shaw is a resident of the State of Iowa, Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Connecticut, and plaintiff Carson and the defendant Miller are residents of the State of Missouri.

Although there was not complete diversity of citizenship, the court determined upon a Motion to Remand, that a separate and distinct claim or cause of action had been alleged in each instance against the resident defendant, and overruled the motion, under the provisions of § 1441(c) Title 28 U.S.C.A. Common questions of fact and law being involved in each case, they were consolidated for the purpose of trial.

C. M. Miller is engaged as a common carrier in the business of hauling livestock from Grant City to St. Joseph, Missouri. He owns and operated, among other units, a 1956 Chevrolet tractor for which Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company had issued a policy insuring Miller against loss because of liability for bodily injury and property damage arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of such units.

Carson, a resident of Maryville, Missouri, is extensively engaged in the harvesting and curing of bluegrass seed in Missouri and other states, including the State of South Dakota. Prior to June [573]*57325, 1957, the plaintiff Larry Shaw had been in the employ of the defendant Miller in the operation of his trucks in the hauling of livestock from Grant City to St. Joseph, Missouri.

On June 25, 1957, the 1956 Chevrolet tractor was leased by Miller to J. H. Carson on a temporary basis, to be used by Carson in his seed gathering business in and around DeSmet, South Dakota. The tractor was driven by Shaw to De-Smet and used in that vicinity until July 3, 1957. On that date, while returning from a delivery trip to North Dakota, the tractor was involved in a collision north of Aberdeen, South Dakota, with an automobile driven by one Volluz. Vol-luz and two passengers were killed and two other passengers were injured, as a result of which actions were brought in the United States District Court for South Dakota against Miller, Carson, and Shaw, who was the driver of the tractor at the time of the collision.

One of the above cases was tried and resulted in a judgment against defendants Carson and Shaw in the sum of $10,000. Apparently the trial of the remaining cases has been deferred until the question of Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company’s liability has been determined. At least, they have not yet been tried or disposed of.

Although Shaw had been in the employ of Miller prior to the leasing agreement between Miller and Carson, at the time of the collision he was in the employ of Carson and being paid by him. Notwithstanding that fact, he was driving and operating the truck at the time of the accident with the permission of Miller. Both Shaw and Miller contend that Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company is obligated under the terms of the policy to defend any action brought against either of them and to satisfy any judgment that has or may be recovered against them as a result of the accident.

Carson contends that the policy covers both of them in respect of the liability, and that it is its duty to defend the actions brought against Carson, Miller and Shaw, and that it is obligated to pay and satisfy any judgment or judgments that may be rendered against either or all of said parties.

Carson also contends that the court should determine that if he is not covered by the policy of insurance, then the truck leasing agreement between him and Miller should be cancelled because of false representations made to him by Miller with respect to the insurance coverage which induced him to enter into the lease.

It is the contention of the insurance company that, although the policy was in full force and effect as between it and Miller at the time of the accident, it is relieved of any responsibility because ot violation of conditions and limitations contained in the policy. This question will be discussed later in this opinion.

It is further contended by the insurer that it owes no obligation under the terms of the policy to Carson, and that he is solely liable for any damages that may result from the actions now pending in South Dakota, but that if it should be determined that the defendant is liable under the terms of its policy insofar as Miller and Shaw are concerned, under the subrogation clause of its policy it is entitled to recover from Carson for any sum or sums which it may be required to pay.

The insurance policy as originally issued, and exclusive of any endorsements, was quite broad in its coverage. The policy was applicable to accidents which might occur while the automobile was within the United States, its territories or possessions, or Canada. There were exceptions provided under a portion of the policy entitled, “Exclusions”, most of which are not in dispute and need not be considered here.

There is one exclusion, however, upon which Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company relies as a policy defense, and that is the so-called “trailer exclusion” which provides:

“This policy does not apply: * * * (c) under coverage A and C, while the automobile is used for [574]*574the towing of any trailer owned or hired by the insured and not covered by like insurance in the company; or while any trailer covered by this policy is used with any automobile owned or hired by the insured and not covered by like insurance in the company.”

In a further effort to limit its liability Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company appended a number of endorsements which were described as “forming a part of policy at issue”. Endorsement Form A-1370, which is not in dispute, is merely a list of the automobiles covered by the policy, described by make, model and motor number.

Endorsement Form A-1113 Rev. 10’54 is entitled “Motor Carrier Automobile Liability Insurance (Farm to Market— Livestock)”. It provides:

“It is agreed that such insurance as is afforded by the policy for Bodily Injury Liability and for Property Damage Liability applies with respect to the ownership, maintenance or use by or in behalf of the named insured of any automobile to which is applicable any motor carrier law under which the company has filed evidence of insurance in behalf of the named insured with any federal or public authority, subject to the following provisions:
“1. Application of Insurance
******
“b. The insurance afforded under this endorsement applies only while the automobile is being used exclusively in the business of the named insured and over a route the named insured is authorized to serve by federal or public authority under such motor carrier law.”

This is hereafter designated as the “exclusive-use limitation”. Similar language is also found in Endorsement Form A-1112, 3rd Revision, which is entitled “Farm to Market — Livestock”. It provides:

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178 F. Supp. 571, 1959 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3199, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/shaw-v-hartford-accident-indemnity-co-mowd-1959.