U.S. Specialty Insurance v. Skymaster of Virginia, Inc.

26 F. App'x 154
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
DecidedDecember 17, 2001
Docket01-1071
StatusUnpublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 26 F. App'x 154 (U.S. Specialty Insurance v. Skymaster of Virginia, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
U.S. Specialty Insurance v. Skymaster of Virginia, Inc., 26 F. App'x 154 (4th Cir. 2001).

Opinions

OPINION

GREGORY, Circuit Judge.

Skymaster of Virginia, Inc., Gary Poulin, Jane Ann Poulin, Ginger Marie Poulin, Eric Andrew Poulin, and Ruth Hodges appeal the district court’s grant of summary judgment to U.S. Specialty Insurance Company (“U.S.Specialty”). This action was filed after Gary Poulin (“Poulin”), a Skymaster officer and shareholder, piloted a U.S. Specialty-insured plane that crashed, injuring Poulin and four others. U.S. Specialty sought to avoid coverage because Poulin purportedly did not have a valid medical certificate when he flew the plane, as required by U.S. Specialty’s insurance policy (“the Policy”). In response to cross-motions for summary judgment, the district court held that Va.Code § 38.2-2227 did not preclude U.S. Specialty from avoiding coverage, that U.S. Specialty could avoid coverage even if the [156]*156crash was not caused by Poulin’s medical condition and purported lack of a valid medical certifícate, and that Va.Code § 38.2-2226 did not waive U.S. Specialty’s right to avoid coverage. The district court did not address U.S. Specialty’s alternative summary judgment motion based on Poulin’s failure to cooperate with U.S. Specialty and unclean hands. We affirm the district court, but on the alternative ground that Poulin’s failure to cooperate with U.S. Specialty allowed U.S. Specialty to avoid coverage.

I.

Poulin was diagnosed with diabetes in 1987, but never reported his condition to the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) or U.S. Specialty. On August 9, 1998, Poulin’s plane crashed, injuring Poulin and his four passengers: Jane Ann Poulin, Ginger Marie Poulin, Eric Andrew Poulin and Ruth Hodges. It is undisputed that the crash was not related to Poulin’s diabetes, but apparently was caused by a mechanic’s failure to properly fuel the plane.

While investigating the crash scene, the FAA found insulin and hypodermic needles. The FAA eventually revoked Poulin’s medical certificate on the basis of his diabetes. The FAA also refused to award Poulin a medical waiver, which would have allowed him to pilot a plane despite his diabetes.

U.S. Specialty refused to honor the Policy after it learned of the FAA’s decision, arguing that Poulin lacked a valid medical certificate, as required by the Policy. It is undisputed that the Policy excludes coverage if the pilot of an insured plane does not have a current and proper medical certificate. Specifically, the Policy provides:

The aircraft must be operated in flight only by a person shown below, who must have a current and proper (1) medical certificate and (2) pilot certificate with necessary ratings required by the FAA for each flight. There is no coverage under the policy of the pilot if he does not meet these requirements.

“Coverage Identification Page”, Item 9.

You must make certain that the pilot operating the aircraft in flight meets the requirements shown in Item 9 of the Coverage Identification Page. There is no coverage under the policy if the pilot does not meet these requirements.

Part One of the Policy entitled “General Provisions and Conditions,” paragraph 3.

We will not pay for physical loss of or damage to your aircraft ... unless the requirements of the Coverage Identification Page regarding Pilots (Item 9) ... are met____

Part Two of the Policy entitled “Aircraft Physical Damage”, paragraph 4(a).

We do not cover any ... bodily injury or property damage unless the requirements of the Coverage Identification Page regarding Pilots (Item 9) ... are met....

Part Three of the Policy entitled “Liability to Others”, paragraph 4(a).

Moreover, as part of its post-crash investigation, U.S. Specialty asked Poulin to submit to an examination under oath (“EUO”). Paragraph 6 of the Policy’s “General Provisions and Conditions” required Poulin to cooperate in U.S. Specialty’s investigation. It states as follows:

6. If You Have An Accident or Occurrence
In the event of an accident or occurrence, you and anyone we protect must:
b. Cooperate with us in the investigation, settlement or defense of any claims or suit;
[157]*157c. Answer under oath, questions asked by us or anyone we designate....

Poulin appeared for his EUO on July 21, 1999, but refused to answer any questions relating to his FAA medical certificate. Instead, Poulin invoked the Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination. In fact, Poulin refused to answer any questions about his medical certificate until his discovery deposition more than one year later, on August 1, 2000, which was scheduled as a result of the instant litigation.

U.S. Specialty brought this declaratory judgment action for a determination that it could exclude coverage. On cross-motions for summary judgment, Poulin argued that (1) Va.Code § 38.2-2227 precluded U.S. Specialty from avoiding coverage based on Poulin’s purported failure to have a valid medical certificate; (2) U.S. Specialty could not avoid coverage based on his purported failure to have a valid medical certificate because that failure was not causally related to the crash; and (3) Va.Code § 38.2-2226 waived U.S. Specialty’s right to rely on a policy exclusion. The district court denied Poulin’s summary judgment motion on all grounds and entered judgment for U.S. Specialty on its motion for summary judgment, which was based on the medical certificate policy exclusion. U.S. Specialty Ins. Co. v. Skymaster of Virginia, Inc., 123 F.Supp.2d 995 (E.D.Va. 2000). The district court did not rule on U.S. Specialty’s alternate summary judgment motions based on Poulin’s failure to cooperate with U.S. Specialty and unclean hands.

II.

A.

This Court reviews a grant of summary judgment de novo. Higgins v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 863 F.2d 1162, 1167 (4th Cir.1988). Summary judgment is appropriate only when there are no material facts in dispute and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). A material fact is in dispute when its existence or non-existence could lead a jury to different outcomes. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). A genuine issue exists when there is sufficient evidence on which a reasonable jury could return a verdict in favor of the non-moving party. Id. Mere speculation by the non-moving party cannot create a genuine issue of material fact. Beale v. Hardy, 769 F.2d 213, 214 (4th Cir.1985). The Court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Smith v. Virginia Commonwealth Univ., 84 F.3d 672, 675 (4th Cir.1996) (en banc).

B.

U.S.

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26 F. App'x 154, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/us-specialty-insurance-v-skymaster-of-virginia-inc-ca4-2001.