Case ID: ohio-law-abs_6/html/0271-03.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "KINKADE, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

COMMONWEALTH CAS. CO. v. HEADERS.
    Ohio Supreme Court.
    No. 20625.
    Decided April 18, 1928.
    6*7. INSURANCE — Liability.
    Policy indemnifying: against lo:-s by reason of judgments by parties accidentally injured qy reason of negligent operation of motor vehicles, does not require insurer to defend rgainst action arsine: out of wilful assault and battery by employe of insured.
    Error to Cuyahoga Appeals.
    Judgment reversed.
   KINKADE, J.

An insurance policy which undertaker, to indemnify the insured against loss by reason of judgments recovered against the insured by parties accidentally injured, either in person or property, by reason of the negligent operation only of motor vehicles belonging to and operated by the insured, and which further obligates the insurer to bear the expense of defending such actions seeking such recoveries from the insured, does not require the insurer to defend actions for the recovery of damages based not on negligence connected with the operation of the motor vehicles, but arising out of a wilful and intentional assault and battery inflicted upon the party injured, plaintiff in the action, by a driver in the employ of the insured, nor does such policy obligate the insurer to refund to the insured attorneys’ fees paid by the insured for professional services rendered in making such defense.

(Marshall, CJ., Day, Allen, Robinson, Jones and Matthias, JJ., concur.)