Case ID: mass-app-div-annual_1980/html/0199-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Mullaney, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Jacqueline L. Cernak vs. Dennis M. LaBrecque & another
    
    Western District
    December 4, 1980
    Present: Walsh, P.J., Mullaney & McGuane, JJ.
    Lewis A. Whitney, Jr. for the plaintiff.
    Charles K. Bergin, Jr. for the defendant.
    
      
       Commercial Union Assurance Companies.
    
   Mullaney, J.

This is an action arising out of damage to the real property of the plaintiff occasioned by intentional acts in the nature of vandalism perpetrated by the defendant, Dennis M. LaBrecque (LaBrecque). In addition to suing LaBrecque the plaintiff also sued Commercial Union Assurance Companies (Commercial), a company which provided the compulsory property damage coverage on the LaBrecque vehicle.

LaBrecque was the owner and operator of the vehicle when it was driven onto plaintiff s hay field and the vandalism resulted in considerable damage. The court found LaBrecque’s conduct was intentional and plaintiff admits as much in her brief. The court found against LaBrecque but held that the insurer, Commercial, was not liable.

The sole issue is whether LaBrecque’s intentional conduct was covered by his Massachusetts compulsory motor vehicle liability property damage policy. The court had denied a request for ruling that “the applicable Massachusetts standard automobile policy does not exclude from property damage coverage acts of vandalism by an insured operator.”

General Laws, c. 90, §34 0, provides in part “.. .the insurer will pay on behalf of the insured all sums the insured shall become legally obligated to pay as damages because of injury to or destruction of property,... caused by accident....” Clause Six of G. L. c. 75, §47, states in part “.. .that no company may insure any person against legal liability for causing injury, other than bodily injury, by his deliberate or intentional crime or wrongdoing....” Commercial’s policy, moreover, defined accident as meaning “an unexpected, unintended event that causes ... property damage arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of an auto.”

The trial judge in his findings found that the damage caused by LaBrecque to the field of the plaintiff was as the result of an intentional act and thereby not an accident. “If conduct is negligent it cannot also be intentional. Similarly, a finding of intentional conduct precludes a finding that the same conduct was negligent. ’ ’ Sabatinelli v. Butler, 363 Mass. 565, 567 (1973).

There was no error in the denial of plaintiff s request for ruling and therefore the report is dismissed.