West American Insurance v. Allstate Insurance

295 F.2d 513
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
DecidedOctober 25, 1961
DocketNo. 6733
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 295 F.2d 513 (West American Insurance v. Allstate Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
West American Insurance v. Allstate Insurance, 295 F.2d 513 (10th Cir. 1961).

Opinion

PICKETT, Circuit Judge.

West American Insurance Company issued a public liability policy to Lawrence Blevins of Tulsa, Oklahoma covering a 1957 Mercury automobile. The policy contained the standard provision that the coverage should include “any other person using such automobile, provided [514]*514the actual use thereof is with the permission of the named insured.” Blevins loaned the Mercury to John Fender, then age 17, who, while driving the insured automobile, was involved in an accident in which a number of persons were injured. Allstate Insurance Company had issued to young Fender’s parents, on their automobile, its liability policy which provided coverage to members of the family while temporarily driving an automobile other than the insured car. With respect to the use of a temporarily substituted automobile or a non-owned automobile Allstate limited its liability to “excess insurance over any other collectible insurance.”

West American denied liability on its policy, and refused to defend the claims against Fender. Allstate brought this declaratory judgment action for a determination that West American was primarily liable for the damages caused by young Fender’s negligence, to the extent of its policy, and that it was obligated to defend the claims brought against him.

It was admitted that Blevins gave permission to young Fender to use his automobile on the night of the accident. It is contended, however, that at the time of the accident Fender had departed from the permitted use of the vehicle and was outside the scope of the permission granted. Allstate and other appellees contended that the permission to use the automobile was general in scope and not restricted in any manner. The trial court found that Blevins granted to young Fender general permission to use the car, and held that West American was obligated to defend Fender against all claims asserted against him arising out of the collision, and that it should pay on his behalf all sums which he should become legally obligated to pay as damages, within the limitations of its policy. It was further held that Allstate was liable for all sums in excess of West American’s liability, within the limitations of its policy. West American appeals.

The substance of Fender’s testimony was that he discussed with Blevins the possibility of using his automobile for the week end, and Blevins agreed to loan it to him for that period if it was satisfactory to Fender’s parents. The matter was discussed with his parents who objected to his having the car for the full week end, and authorized him to use it for one night only. He selected Friday night, and told his parents that he, with other young people, intended to drive to a particular drive-in theater near their neighborhood. The ear was not driven to the theater, and the accident occurred several miles from there. Blevins testified that he had agreed to loan the automobile for the week end without any restrictions, subject to the approval of Fender’s parents; that after the discussion with the parents it was understood that the car was to be driven to a particular drive-in theater; that the only restriction on the use was the limitation to one evening; and that he had no interest in where the vehicle was driven. In answer to a question by the court, Blevins acknowledged that he was perfectly willing, with the concurrence of Fender’s parents, to let Fender have the car for one evening.1 His only instruc[515]*515tions were that no one except Fender was to drive, and that the car was to be returned and parked at the designated place. West American admits that its policy would cover Fender if at the time of the accident the actual use of the automobile was with the permission of the insured, Blevins. See Employers Cas. Co. v. Williamson, 10 Cir., 179 F.2d 11; Indemnity Ins. Co. of North America v. Sanders, 169 Okl. 378, 36 P.2d 271. It appears quite clearly from the evidence that Blevins’ permission to use the car was general in nature, and that the only limitation placed on its use was the one which restricted the use to one evening, imposed for the purpose of enabling Fender’s parents to control the activities of their son. The court’s finding is supported by substantial evidence, and must be sustained. Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(a), 28 U.S.C.A. E. g., Denver United States Nat. Bank v. Asbell Bros. Const., 10 Cir., 294 F.2d 289; Lindsey v. Oregon-Washington Plywood Co., 10 Cir., 287 F.2d 710; Wilsey-Bennett Trucking Co. v. Frost, 10 Cir., 275 F.2d 144; Wight v. Chandler, 10 Cir., 264 F.2d 249; Federal Security Ins. Co. v. Smith, 10 Cir., 259 F.2d 294.

West American argues that the trial court’s judgment requiring it to defend claims for damages caused by the collision is contrary to United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Tri-State Ins. Co., 10 Cir., 285 F.2d 579. We find no such conflict. In that case it was held that where two insurance companies are obligated by their policies to defend the same insured, one cannot recover its expenditures for the defense, or any part thereof, from the other. The policies of Allstate and West American require the insurer to defend in actions brought against their insured for damages payable under the terms of the policy. The judgment in this case is limited to a determination of the relative liability obligations of the insurance companies and whether West American has an obligation to defend the action. It holds that West American has the primary obligation, within the limits of its policy, to pay on behalf of Fender all claims which he shall become legally obligated to pay as damages caused by the collision in question, and that Allstate is obligated to pay, within the limits of its policy, only the sums found to be due the claimants in excess of West American’s liability. These provisions are not affected by the “other insurance” clauses of the policies which provide that if the insured has other insurance against the loss, the insurer shall be liable only pro rata. Citizens Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 6 Cir., 273 F.2d 189; American Sur. Co. of N. Y. v. Canal Ins. Co., 4 Cir., 258 F.2d 934; United Services Auto. Ass’n v. Russom, 5 Cir., 241 F.2d 296; 8 Appleman, Insurance Law and Practice § 4914 (1942). It was also adjudged that, under the terms of its policy, West American is obligated to defend the claims asserted against Fender, but the trial court did not determine that Allstate’s obligation to defend was inoperative or secondary.

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295 F.2d 513, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/west-american-insurance-v-allstate-insurance-ca10-1961.