Travelers Indemnity Co. v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance

182 F. Supp. 881, 1960 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3044
CourtDistrict Court, D. Minnesota
DecidedApril 12, 1960
DocketNo. 4-57-Civ-15
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 182 F. Supp. 881 (Travelers Indemnity Co. v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Travelers Indemnity Co. v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance, 182 F. Supp. 881, 1960 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3044 (mnd 1960).

Opinion

DEVITT, Chief Judge.

Plaintiff seeks a declaratory judgment under 28 U.S.C. § 2201 (1952) as amended, and asks us to determine that defendant is primarily liable to an insured who is dually covered by automobile liability policies of both the plaintiff and of the defendant. The defendant answers that it is not liable because of a household exclusion clause in its policy, and has made a third party complaint against the insured for a declaratory judgment to the same effect.

The facts have been agreed upon. Reverend Vernon Stagner was required to do extensive traveling as the Secretary-Director of the Minnesota Christian Missionary Society. Stagner used his own ear, but the Society allowed him travel expenses and required him to carry an auto insurance policy covering the Society against any liability it might incur from Stagner’s use of the car. Stagner purchased a policy from the defendant and obtained an endorsement to the policy naming the Society as an additional insured. At the same time, the Society carried with the plaintiff, The Travelers Indemnity Company, a policy protecting the Society against liability from the use of any non-owned automobile, but providing that this coverage should be excess insurance over any other valid and collectible insurance.

On September 18, 1954, Reverend Stagner, in the course of his duties for the Society, was driving his car from Minneapolis to Camp Tiki Waken, a religious camp located at Lake Minne-tonka. His wife, Cecile, accompanied him as a social guest. Stagner’s car collided with the rear end of a car driven by a Mrs. Moses. Mrs. Stagner was seriously injured. She brought action against the Society and Mrs. Moses in the Minnesota District Court. The Society asked Travelers to defend the action brought by Mrs. Stagner, but Travelers, having learned that the Society was an additional insured under Reverend Stagner’s State Farm policy, tendered the defense of the action to State Farm. State Farm declined on the basis of the clause in its policy excluding coverage for liability to members of the insured’s household.

The Society then impleaded Reverend Stagner as third party defendant on the theory that he should indemnify the Society for any damages it might have to pay as a result of the accident. State Farm also declined to defend Reverend Stagner in this third party claim.

[883]*883After this suit for declaratory judgment had been initiated, Travelers, the insurer of Moses’ car, and Mrs. Stagner, agreed on a $12,000 settlement, $9,000 of which would be paid by the insurer of Moses’ car, and $3,000 of which would be paid by Travelers.

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Related

Newark Insurance v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance
436 P.2d 353 (Supreme Court of Colorado, 1968)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
182 F. Supp. 881, 1960 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3044, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/travelers-indemnity-co-v-state-farm-mutual-automobile-insurance-mnd-1960.