ASSAULT OR BATTERY EXCLUSION ENCOMPASSES ALLEGATIONS AGAINST INSURED FOR ALLEGEDLY CREATING CONDITIONS THAT ALLOWED THE ASSAULT OR BATTERY (Philadelphia Federal)
In this case, an insurer won declaratory judgment on coverage based on an assault or battery exclusion. Fineman Krekstein & Harris partner Diane B. Sher and associate Matthew E. Selmasska were successful counsel for the declaratory judgment plaintiff in this action.
The underlying plaintiff was shot in a parking lot, and brought an action against various parties other than the unknown assailant. The underlying complaint went out of its way to make clear that there was no assault and battery count, but only claims for negligence or recklessness against parties whose alleged failures to make the parking lot safe enabled the shooting.
One defendant in the underlying action had a commercial general liability policy with an “Assault or Battery Exclusion” excluding coverage for personal injury damages arising out of an assault, battery, or physical altercation. This exclusion had four subparagraphs defining its scope, which were broad and went well beyond the actual acts of assault, battery, or physical altercation, e.g., coverage was excluded “[w]hether or not [the personal injury from the assault, battery, or physical altercation was] caused by or arising out of an insured’s failure to properly supervise or keep an insured’s premises in a safe condition.…”
The CGL insurer filed a declaratory judgment action that there was no duty to defend or indemnify, nor any duty to defend or indemnify as to any cross-claims for indemnification or contribution against the insured in the underlying action. It moved for judgment on the pleadings.
The court concluded that “the fact that the exclusion covers acts and omissions in connection with the prevention of an assault or battery means that [the insurer] is not obligated to defend its insured from allegations that the insured’s failure to take certain precautions resulted in [the insured’s] injuries.”
Thus, the court granted the insurer’s motion for judgment on the pleadings on all counts.
Date of Decision: October 2, 2019
Great Lakes Insurance SE v. Smithwick, U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania No. 2:18-cv-04797, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 171622 (E.D. Pa. Oct. 2, 2019).
