THI RD DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, M CFA DDEN and M CM I LLI A N, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Jul y 14, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A0 58 5

, A1 6 A0 8 61

. TRUSTGARD INS. CO. v

. HERNDON et

al

.

M C M ILLI A N , J u dg e.

On Ap ri l 1 1

, 2 0 1 3

, Ch arl es Hern d o n s h ot V i v i an W el k er o n hi s p ro p ert y

.

W el k er s u s t ai ned ap p ro x i m at el y $ 5 5 ,0 0 0 i n m ed ical ex p en ses

, wh i ch sh e at t em p t ed

t o co l l ect u nd er a h o m eo wn er’ s p o l i cy (“ t h e Po l icy ”) th at Tru s t gard In s u ran c e

Co m p an y (“ Tru s t g ard ”) h ad i s s u e d t o Hern do n

. Aft er Tru s tg ard d en i ed co v erag e

u n d er s ev eral Po li cy pro vi s io n s e x c l u d in g co v erag e fo r i n t en t io n al act s an d fo r

cri m i n al a ct s

, t h e co m

p an y fi led t h i s act i o n s eek i ng a d ecl arat i o n t h at it h ad n o

l i ab i l i t y u n d er t he Po l i cy i n co n n ect i o n wi t h t he sh o ot i n g

. Th e p art i es fi l ed cro s s

m o ti o n s fo r s u m

m ary ju d g m en t

, an d t h e t ri al co urt g ran t ed Hern d o n ’s two m o t i on s

fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t an d d en i ed Tru s t g ard ’ s m o t i o n . Th es e ap p eal s fo l l o wed

.In Cas e No

. A1 6 A0 5 8 5

, Tru s t g ard arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g

i t s u m m ary ju d g m en t u n der t h e Po l i cy p ro vi s i o n s ex cl u di n g co v erag e fo r i nt en t i o n al

an d cri m i n al act s an d fu rt h er as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t i n g s u m m ary

ju d g m en t t o Hern d o n o n t he in t en t i o n al act s ex cl us i o n s

. In Cas e N o

. A1 6 A0 8 6 1,

Tru s t g ard ap p eal s th e t r i a l co u rt ’ s g ran t of s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o Hern d o n o n t h e

p ro v is i o n ex cl u d in g co v erag e fo r cri m i n al act s

. Fo r th e reas o ns t h at fo ll o w, we

rev ers e t he t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd ers

.

In rev i ewi n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n s um m ary ju d g m en t, “ we co n s t ru e t h e

ev i d en ce m o s t fav o rab l y t o ward s t h e n o n m ov i n g p art y

, wh o is g i v en t he b en efi t o f

al l reas o n ab l e d o u b t s an d p o s s i b l e i n feren ces .” (Ci tat i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Ng u yen v. S o u th wes t er n Emer

g en cy Ph ys i ci a n s

, P.C.

, 2 9 8 Ga. 7 5

, 8 2 (3 ) (7 7 9 SE2 d

3 3 4 ) (2 0 1 5 ). M oreo v er, we rev i ew t h e gran t o r d en i al o f a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t d e n o v o . Id

.

Here, h o wev er, t h e fact s are l arg el y u n d i s p u t ed . Th e reco rd s h o ws t h at at t h e

t i m e o f t h e sh o o t i n g

, Hern d on

, wh o was m arri e d

, was en g ag ed i n an i n t i m at e

rel at i o n s h i p w i t h W e l k e r

, wh o m h e m et i n 2 0 12

. In ad d i t i o n t o th ei r ro m an t i c

rel at i o n s h i p

, W el k er h el ped Hern d o n wi t h rep ai rs t o hi s ren t al p ro p e r t i e s

, an d

Hern d o n p ai d h er fo r t hi s wo rk

. W el k er h ad b een t o Hern d on ’ s h ou s e o n s ev eral

2o ccas i o n s w h en h i s wi fe was o ut o f t o wn

, an d s h e wo ul d s o m et i m es g o t here t o p i ck

u p m o n ey t h at Hern do n wo u l d l eav e in t h e m ai l b ox fo r h er. On A p r i l 1 1

, 2 0 1 3,

W el k er cal l ed Hern d o n an d as k ed h i m t o l eav e h er $ 30 i n t h e m ai l b o x

. W el k er as k ed

h er fri en d M ark t o dri v e h er t o Hern d o n ’ s ho u s e to p i ck u p t h e m on ey

, b u t wh en s h e

arri v ed

, s h e d i s co v ered t hat H ern d o n h ad l eft on l y $ 1 6

. W el k er an d M ark d ro v e away

,

b u t W el ker cal led Hern d o n t o t el l h im s h e was co m i n g back fo r t h e res t o f t h e m o n ey

.

He rep l i ed

, “ Ok ay .” W h en t h ey ret u rn ed

, h o wev er, W el k er d i s co v ered t h at H ern d o n

h ad n o t p u t an y m o re m o n ey i n t h e m ai l bo x

, an d h e d id n ot co m e o u t s i d e w h en t h ey

arri v ed

. Becau s e W el k er k n ew t h at Hern d o n ’ s wi fe was ho m e, s h e as k ed M ark t o g o

t o t he d o o r t o g et t h e m o n ey

.

Aft er M ark ap p ro ach ed t h e d o o r, Hern d o n

, w h o d id n o t k no w M ark an d wh o

ap p e a r e d t o h av e b een d ri n k i n g

, cam e o u t of t h e ho u se carry i n g a g u n

. H ern d o n

ap p ro ach ed W el k er, wh o was s i t t i n g i n t h e p as s en g er seat o f M ark ’ s t ru ck

, an d s t art ed

as k i n g q u es t i o n s ab o u t M ark

. As W el k er an d Hern d on sp o k e, Hern d o n p l aced t h e g u n

o n W el k er’ s leg

. Al t h o ug h W el k er d i d n o t b el i ev e H ern d o n m ean t to h u rt h er, t h e g u n

fi red

, an d t h e b u ll et s t ru ck W el k er i n t h e kn ee. W el k er t es t i fi ed t hat Hern d on s ai d

, “ I

d o n e m es s ed u p ,” an d M ark s ped away to a n earb y ho s pi t al

, wh ere h e l e f t W el k er.

W h en t h e p o l i ce l at er q u es t i o n e d W el k er ab o u t t h e s h o o t i n g

, s he t o l d t hem t h at

3Hern d o n d i d it

, b u t s h e b el i ev ed i t h ad b een an acci d en t

. Hern d on al so as sert ed i n h i s

affi d av i t i n s u pp o rt o f h i s m o t i o n f o r s um m ary ju d g m en t t h at t h e sh o ot i n g was

acci den t al , s t at i ng t h at h e was “ v ery s urp ri s ed ” wh en t h e g u n d i s ch arg ed

.

Hern d o n w as ch arg ed wi t h ag g rav at ed as s au l t an d ag g rav at ed b at t ery in

co n nect io n w i t h t h e sh o o t in g

. He ev en tu al l y p led g u il ty t o t h e l es s er ch arg e o f

m i s d em ean o r reck l es s co n du ct u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -5 -6 0 (b ) 1 a n d was s en t en ced to

p ro b at i o n as a fi rs t o ffen d er.

At s om e p o i n t

, W el k er su b m it t ed a cl ai m t o T ru s t g ard t o reco v er her m ed i cal

ex p en s es res u lt i n g fro m t he s h o o ti n g

. Tru s t g ard d en i ed co v erag e u n d er t h ree

ex cl u s i o n s fro m p ers o n al l i ab il i t y p ro t ect io n e x p r e s s l y s et fo rt h i n t h e Po li cy

. Th e

p ert i n en t s ect i o n s o f t h e Po l i cy p ro v i d e t h at Tru s t gard ’ s co v erag e fo r p ers o n al

l i ab i l i t y an d fo r m ed i cal p ay m en t s t o o t h ers d o es n o t i n cl u d e:

6

. Bo di l y i njury

. . . cau s ed b y t h e wi ll fu l, m al i ci o u s

, o r i nt en t i o nal

act o f an y p ers o n

.

* * * *

1 H ern d o n p l ed g u i l t y t o reck l es s co n du ct i n co n n ect i o n w i t h t he ch arg e o f

ag g rav at ed as s au l t; t h e ag g rav at ed b at t ery ch arg e was n o l l e p ro s s ed

.

48

. Bo di l y i njury . . . ex p ect ed o r i n ten d ed b y an y i ns ured pers o n

.

Th i s i n cl ud es bo di l y i njury . . . :

a. cau s ed i n ten t i o n al l y b y o r at t h e d i rect io n o f an i n s u r ed

pers o n ; o r

b

. wh i ch res u l ts fro m an y occurrence cau s ed b y an i n t en t i o n al act

o f an y i ns ured wh ere t he res ul t s are reas o n ab l y fo res eeab l e.

(co l l ect i v el y , t h e “ In t en t i o nal Act s Ex cl u si o n s ”).

* * * *

1 8

. Bo di l y i njury

. . . ari s i n g fro m a cri m i n al act o r o m i s s i o n wh ich

i s co m m i tt ed b y

. . . an i ns u r e d pers o n

. Th i s ex cl u s i o n ap pl i es

reg ard l e s s of w het h er t h e ins ured pers o n is act u al l y ch arg ed

wi t h

, o r co n v i ct ed o f a cri m e.

(t he “ Cri m i n al Act Ex cl u si o n”).

H e r ndon m o ve d fo r s um m ary ju d g m en t o n t h e In t en t i o n al Act s Ex cl u s io n s

, a nd

Tru s t g ard m o ved fo r su m m ary ju d gm en t u n d er t he C r i m i n al Act Ex cl u s i o n

. On

Sep tem b er 1 5

, 2 0 1 5

, t h e tri al co u rt g ran t ed Hern do n ’ s m ot i o n, fi n d i n g th e reco rd

l ack ed ev i d en ce t o s u pp ort a fi n d in g t h at t h e s h oo t i n g w as in t en t i o nal an d t h u s t h e

In t en t i o nal Act s Ex cl u s i o n s d id n o t ap p l y as a m at t er o f l aw. T h e t ri al co u rt al s o

d en ied Tru s t g ard ’ s m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t u n der t h e Cri m i n al Act Ex cl u s i o n,

5fi nd i ng t h at T ru st g ard h ad fai l ed t o p res en t “ an y ad m i s s ib l e ev i den ce t o su p p o rt i t s

co n ten t i o n t h at t h e s ho o t i n g was a cri m i nal act ” (t h e “ Fi rs t Ord er”).

Th ree d ay s aft er t h e t ri al co u rt en t ered t h is o rd er, o n Se p t e m b er 1 8

, 2 0 1 5,

Hern d o n fi led a seco n d m o t i o n fo r s um m ary ju d g m en t

, s eek i n g ju d g m en t i n h i s fav o r

o n t h e Cri m i n al Act Ex cl u s i o n

. Su bs eq u en t l y

, o n Oct o ber 9

, 2 0 1 5

, Tru st g ard fi l ed a

t i m el y n o t i ce o f ap p e a l o f t h e Fi rs t Ord er (Cas e No

. A1 5A0 5 8 5 ) an d l at er o p p o s ed

Hern d o n ’ s s eco n d s u m

m ary ju dg m en t m o t io n o n t h e g ro un d t h at i t s ap p eal fro m t h e

Fi r s t O r d e r d i v es t ed t h e t ri al co u rt o f ju ri s d i ct io n to co n s i d er Hern d o n ’ s m o t i o n.

Des pi t e t h e pen d i n g ap p eal

, t h e t ri al co u rt co n s id ered Hern d o n ’ s m o ti o n

, ex c l u d ed

Tru s t g ard ’ s p ro ffered ev i den ce o f H ern d o n ’ s g u i l t y p l ea, a n d f o u n d th at t h e reco rd

l ack ed an y o t h er e v i d e n c e t o es t ab l i s h t h at t h e s ho o t i n g w as a cri m i n al act

.

Acco rd in g ly

, t he t ri al co u rt g ran t ed s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o Hern d o n on t h e Cri m i n al

Act Ex cl us i o n as w el l (t h e “ Seco n d Ord er”), an d Tru st g ard fi l e d a n o t i ce o f ap p eal

fro m t h at o rd er (Cas e No

. A1 6 A0 86 1 ).

Ca s e No . A1 6

A0 5 8 5

1

. W e fi rs t ad d res s Tru s tg ard ’ s arg u m en t t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y d en y i n g

i t s m o t i on fo r s u m

m ary ju d g m en t o n t h e Cri m in al Act Ex cl u s i o n

. As n ot ed ab o v e, t h e

Cri m i n al Act Ex cl u s i o n ex cl ud es fro m co v erag e an y b o d i l y i n ju ry “ ari s i n g fro m a

6cri m i n al act or om i s s i o n w h ich i s co m m i t t ed by

. . . a n i n s u red p ers o n ,” an d i t i s

u n d i s p u t ed t h a t H e r n d o n pl ed g u i l t y t o cri m i nal ch arg es i n co n n ect i o n wi t h t h e

s h o o ti n g t h at res u l t ed in W el k er’ s i nju ri es

. 2

Nev ert h el es s

, t h e t ri al co u rt h e l d i n t h e Fi rs t Ord er t h at i t co u l d n o t co n s i d er

ev i d en ce o f Hern do n’ s cri m i n al h i s t o ry

, fi n d i n g t h at ev i d en ce t h at Hern d o n h ad b een

ch arg ed wi t h a cri m i n a l o ffen s e was i n ad m i s s i bl e an d t h at b ecau s e Hern d o n ’ s p l ea

was en tered u n d er G eo rg i a’ s Fi rs t Offen d er Act

, OCGA § 4 2 -8 -6 0 et s eq

., n o

ad ju d i cat i o n o f h i s g u il t had o ccu rred

. Al t h o u g h t h e tri al co u rt i s co rrect t h at ev i d en ce

o f ch arg es fi l ed ag ai n s t Hern d o n

, s t an d i n g al o ne, wo ul d no t b e ad m is s i b l e, 3 we fi n d

2 W e n ot e t h at wh i l e Hern d on o b ject ed t o t h e ad m i s s ib i l i ty o f t h e s en t en ci n g

d o cu m en t at i o n rel at i n g to t h i s pl ea o n h ears ay g ro u n ds

, h e do es no t d i s p ut e t h e fact

o f h i s pl ea, as s ert i n g i n h i s ap p el l at e b ri ef t h at “ t h er e i s n o d i s pu t e t h at fo r t h e

i n ci d en t i n q u es ti o n

. . . [h e] en t er ed i nt o fi rs t -o ffen d er p ro b at i on .” (Em p h as i s

s u p p li ed .) Ad di t i o n al ly

, t h e s en t en ci n g do cu m en t at i o n refl ect i n g t h e cri m es

as s o ci at ed wi t h t h at g u i l t y p l ea i s s i g n ed b y

t he s am e t ri al ju d g e p res i d i n g o v er t h i s

ci v i l l i t ig at i o n an d w as en t ered i n t h e s am e s up eri or co u rt

.

3 Ou r Su p rem e Co u rt h as h el d t h at a cri m i n al ch arg e, j u d gm en t o f co n v i ct i o n,

o r an acq u i t t a l c a n no t be u s ed as ev i d en ce “ i n a p u rel y ci v i l act i o n

, t o es t ab l i s h t h e

t ru t h of t h e fact s o n wh i ch i t was ren d ered .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n c t uat i o n o m i t t ed .)

Pi er ce v. Pi er ce

, 2 4 1 Ga. 96

, 1 0 0 (3 ) (2 4 3 SE2 d 4 6) (1 9 7 8) (ex cl ud i n g ev i d en ce t h at

c h i l d ab u s e ch arg es h ad b een d i s m i s s ed ag ai n s t th e h u s b an d i n a d iv orce cas e )

. Ho wev er, b ecau s e t hi s cas e i n v o l v es a g u il t y p lea an d n o t m e r e l y c h arg es o r a

co n vi ct i o n o r acq u i t t al ari s i ng o u t o f co n t es ted ch arg es

, Pi er ce an d i t s p ro g en y are n ot

i m p l i cat ed

.

7t h at ev i d en ce of Hern d on ’ s g u i lt y p l ea t o reck l es s co n d u ct i s ad m is si b l e ev en t h o u g h

h e was s en t en ced u nd er t h e Fi rs t Offen d er Act

.

Fi rs t o ffen d er pl eas

, al t h o u g h t h ey d o n o t n eces s ari ly co n s ti t ut e co nv i ct i o n s

,

are co n s i dered g u i l t y pl eas t o t h e u n d erl y i n g o ffen s es

. Ci t y o f Al b a n y v. Pa i t

, 3 3 5 Ga.

Ap p

. 2 1 5

, 2 1 8 -1 9 (1 ) ( 78 0 SE2 d 1 0 3 ) (2 0 1 5 ). An d i n Pa i t

, t h i s Co u rt h el d t h at a

p a r t y’ s gu il t y p l ea, fo r wh i ch t h e part y was s erv i n g a p ro b at ed s en ten ce as a f i r s t

o ffen d er, co n s t i t u t ed an ad m i s s i o n t hat h e co m m i t t ed t he u n d erl y in g cri m e o f t h eft

,

wh i ch co u l d b e co n s i d ered b y th e t ri al co u rt

. Id

. at 2 1 9

. 4 In G eo rg i a, a g u i l ty p l ea i s

“ an ad m i s s i o n ag ai n st i n t eres t an d p ri m a faci e ev i d en ce o f t he fact s ad m i t t ed .”

4 M o reo v er, al t h o ug h

[f] i rs t o ffen der t reat m en t al l o ws a d efen d an t ’ s s l at e to b e wi p ed cl ean fo r

t h e p u rp o s es o f reco r d at i o n of a cri m in al co nv i ct i o n an d i t s effect o n

ci v i l ri g h t s o r l i b ert ies af t er a d efen d an t s u cces s fu l l y fu l fi ll s t h e fi rs t

o ffen d er t erm s [, i ] t d o es n o t p ro hi b i t res t ri ct i o n s on a defen d an t ’ s ci v i l

ri gh ts o r l ib ert i es i m

p os ed d u ri n g s erv i ce o f t h e fi rs t o ffen d er t erm

.

(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ; em

p has is i n o ri g i n al .) P a it

, 33 5 Ga. Ap p. at 2 1 9 (1 ). Here, H ern d o n

was ch arg ed wi t h ag g rav at ed as s au l t an d ag g rav at ed b at t ery i n co n nect i o n wi t h t h e

i n ci d en t in t h i s cas e

, an d o n J an u ary 6

, 2 0 14

, he en t ered a g ui l t y p l ea t o t h e l e s s e r

i n cl u d ed o ffen s e o f reck les s co nd u ct

, al o n g wi t h s ev eral co u n ts o f ob s tru ct i on ari s i n g

o u t o f s ep arat e ch arg es

. Th e t ri al co u rt s en t en ced Hern do n as a fi rs t o ffen d er t o a t o t al

o f 1 5 y ears t o b e s erv ed o n p ro b at i o n , a s en ten ce t h at Hern d o n i s s ti l l s erv i n g

.

8(Ci t at i o n a n d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ha s t y v. S pr u il l

, 2 0 7 Ga. Ap p

. 48 5

, 4 8 6 (4 2 8

SE2 d 4 2 0 ) (1 99 3 ). See, e.g

., Ma n n i n g v. Ma n n in g

, 27 0 Ga. 8 6

, 87 (2 ) (5 0 8 SE2 d 1 5 7 )

(1 9 9 8) (co p y o f g u i l t y p l ea h u sb an d en tered t o th e p ri o r ag g rav at ed as sau l t co n s t i t u t es

p ri m a faci e ev id en ce o f h i s co m m i s si o n o f t h at cri m e ag ai ns t h is ex -wi fe i n h er t o rt

cl ai m ag ai n s t h i m fo r t h e as s au l t ); S et l if f v. Li tt l et o n

, 2 6 4 Ga. Ap p

. 7 1 1

, 7 14 (2 ) (2 6 4

SE2 d 18 0 ) (2 0 03 ) (“ a g u i lt y pl ea [t o a t raffi c v i o l at i o n ] is an a d m i s s i on ag ai n s t

i n t eres t an d p ri m a faci e ev id en ce o f t h e fact s ad m i t t ed

, [b u t ] i t i s n ot co n cl u s i v e o f

n eg li g en ce an d i s on l y a ci rcu m s t an ce t o b e co n s i d ered wi t h ot h er ev i d en ce i n a ci v i l

act i on fo r d am ag es .”); M

i l l er v. Cr u mb l ey

, 2 49 Ga. Ap p

. 4 0 3

, 4 0 5 (2 ) (5 4 8 SE2 d 6 5 7 )

(2 0 0 1) (s am e).

Ap p ly i n g t hes e wel l es t ab l i s hed p ri n ci pl es

, t h i s Co u rt co n si d ered ev i d en ce o f

an i n s u red ’ s en t ry o f an Al f o r d p l ea 5 o f g u i l ty t o a ch arg e o f c h i l d m o l es t at i o n

s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab li s h a p ri m a faci e cas e t h at h i s in s u rer h a d n o d ut y to p ro v i d e

co v erag e o r a d efen s e u nd er t h e t erm s o f a p o l icy p ro v i s i o n ex cl u d in g co v erag e fo r

i n t en t i o n al act s

. H

a r d e n v

. S ta t e Fa rm Fi r e & Ca s. Co

. , 2 69 Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 2, 7 3 4 (1 )

(6 0 5 SE2 d 3 7) (2 00 4 ). Mo re o v e r

, w e co n s i d ered ev i d en ce o f an i n s ured ’ s p l ea o f

g u i l t y b u t m en t al l y i l l t o on e co u n t o f m urd er as p ri m a faci e ev i d en ce t h at t h e

5 See No rt h Ca r o l i n a v. Al f o r d

, 4 0 0 U .S. 2 5 (9 1 SCt 1 6 0

, 2 7 LE2 d 1 6 2) (1 9 7 0 ).

9i n s u red ’ s act i o n s fel l wi t h i n an ex cl u si o n to co v erag e fo r w i l lfu l an d m al i ci o u s act s

b y t he i n s u red

. Mer r i t t v. S t a t e Fa r m F i r e & Ca s

. Co

. , 2 1 8 Ga. A p p

. 6 5 2 (4 6 3 SE2 d

4 2 ) (1 9 9 5 ). See al so S t a te Fa r m Fi r e & Ca s. Co

. v. M o s s

, 2 1 2 Ga. Ap p. 3 2 6

, 3 2 7 (4 4 1

SE2 d 8 0 9 ) (1 9 9 4 ) (s am e fo r p l ea t o ag g rav at ed as s au l t ). In t h i s cas e, t herefo re,

Hern d o n ’ s g u i l t y p l e a w as ad m i s s i b l e p ri m a faci e ev i d en ce t h at h e co m m i t t ed a

cri m i n al act

. See OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c) (re qui ri n g t h at ad m i s s i o n s be co ns i d ered

, al o n g

wi t h o t h er p l ead i ng s an d ev id en ce o f reco rd

, i n ad d res s i ng m o t i o n s fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t ).

In ad d i t i o n, “ a gu i l t y p l ea as to wh i ch a p l ai n ti ff i n a ci v i l cas e has been g ran t ed

fi rs t o ffen d er treat m en t i s ad m i s s i b l e i n ev i d en ce t o d i s p r o v e an d co n t rad i ct s u ch

p art y ’ s t es t i m o n y g iv en i n t he ci v i l cas e.” Hi g h t o wer v. Gen

. Mo t or

s Co rp

. , 2 5 5 Ga.

3 4 9

, 3 5 1 (3 3 8 SE2 d 4 2 6 ) (1 9 8 6 ) (u p h o l d i n g ad m i ss i o n o f p l ai n t i ff’ s g u i l ty p l ea to

ars o n ch arg e t o reb ut t es t i m o n y t h at p l ai n t i ff di d n o t k n o w m en h e hi red t o s t eal h i s

car were al s o g o in g t o b u rn i t ). See al s o Ben t l ey v. B.M.W ., In c. , 2 0 9 Ga. Ap p . 5 2 6,

5 2 9 (3 ) (4 3 3 SE2 d 7 19 ) (1 9 93 ) (u p ho l d in g ad m i s s io n o f m ed i cal ex p e r t w i t n es s ’ s

p ri o r fi rs t o ffen d er p l ea t o i m p each h i s t es t i m o n y reg ard in g t h e o n l y fl aw i n h i s 5 0

-

ye a r reco rd was t hat h is h o s p i t al p ri v i leg es had b een su s p en d ed on o n e o ccas i o n ),

o v erru l ed o n o t h er g ro u n d s

, S h e r i f f v

. S t at e

, 2 7 7 Ga. 1 82

, 1 8 8 (2 ) (5 8 7 SE2 d 2 7 )

10(2 0 0 3). 6 Al t h o ug h Hi gh t o wer i n v o l v ed co n t rad i ct ed t es ti m o n y an d Hern d o n h as n ot

ex p res s l y t es ti fi ed th at h e d id n o t co m m i t a cri m e, w e s ee n o reas o n wh y Hi g h t o wer

s h o u ld n o t al s o ap p ly wh en a ci v i l p art y t ak es a l i ti g at i o n p os i t i o n co n trary t o wh at

h as b een p rev i o u s l y ad m i t ted

. Here, Hern d o n as s ert s th at t h e Cri m i n al Act Ex cl u s i o n

d o es n o t ap p l y wh en h e h as al read y ad m i t t ed t h at he co m m it t ed a cri m e b y p l ead i n g

t o i t. Acco rd i n g l y , t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ex cl ud i n g ev i d en ce o f Hern d o n’ s p l ea.

T he qu es t i o n

, t h en

, i s aft er p ro p erl y co n s i d eri n g Herndon’ s g uilty ple a

, w he the r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t i s ap pro pri at e. Becau s e Hern d o n h as fai led t o p o i nt u s t o an y

ev i d en ce reb u t ti n g t h e ev i den ce o f h is g u i l ty p l ea, w e fi n d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

d en y i n g T ru s t g ard ’ s m o t i o n f o r sum m a r y j udgm e nt unde r the C ri m i nal Act Ex cl u s i o n.

In Mer r i t t

, t h i s Co u rt fo u n d th at an in s ured fai l ed t o reas o n ab l y ex pl ai n t h e d i fferen ce

b et ween hi s p l ea o f g ui l t y bu t m en t al l y i l l t o m u rd er, wh i ch in cl u d ed an ad m i s s i o n o f

m al i ce afo ret h ou g h t

, an d h i s l at er t es t i m o n y t h at h e was i n s an e an d d i d n o t i n t en d to

s h o o t t he v i ct i m o r an y o n e el s e, n ot i n g t h at t h e i n s u r e d d i d n ot co nt en d “ t h at t h ere

6 Co m p are D a vi s v. S t a t e

, 2 6 9 G a. 2 7 6

, 2 7 7 (2 ) (4 9 6 SE2 d 6 9 9 ) (1 9 9 8 ) (“ [F] i rs t

o ffen d er reco rd o f o n e wh o i s cu rren t l y s erv i ng a fi rs t offen d e r s e n t e n ce o r o f o n e

w h o h as s u cces s fu l l y co m p l et ed t h e fi rs t o ffen d er s en t en ce m ay n o t b e u s ed i n a

cri m i n al cas e t o i m

p each t he fi rs t o ffen der o n g en eral cred ib i l i t y g ro un d s (i .e., by

es t ab l i s h in g t h at t h e fi rs t o ffen d er h as b een co n v i ct ed o f a fel o n y o r cri m e o f m o ral

t u rp i tu d e) b ecau s e n o ad

ju d i cat i o n o f g ui l t h as b een en t ered .”).

11was an i n fi rm i ty i n t h e p l ea p ro c e e d i n g s o r t h at h e was i n co m p et en t at t h e t i m e t h e

p l ea was en t ered ” n o r was t h ere ev i d en ce th at h e ev er s o ug h t t o wi t h d raw t h e p l e a

.

2 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 5 4

. See al s o Pr o p hecy Co r

p

. v. Ch a rl es Ro s si

g n o l

, In c.

, 2 5 6 Ga. 2 7,

3 0 (2 ) (3 4 3 SE2 d 6 8 0 ) (1 9 8 6 ). W e co n cl u d ed

, t h erefo re, t hat t h e t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y

g ran t ed th e i n s u rer’ s m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n it s cl ai m seek i n g a decl arat i o n

t h at i t h ad n o o b l i g at io n t o p ro v i d e co v erag e t o t h e i n su red u n d er t h e p o l i cy

, wh i ch

ex cl u d ed co v erag e fo r “ m al i ci ou s ” as wel l as in t en t i o nal act s

. Mer r i t t

, 2 1 8 G a. Ap p.

at 6 5 3

.

Fu rt her in Mo ss

, t h i s Co u rt fo un d t h at t h e i n s u red “ u t terl y fai led t o ex p l ai n t h e

co n trad i ct i o n b et ween h i s p ri o r ad m i s s io n ag ai n s t i nt eres t i n t h e fo rm o f a g u i l t y p l ea

fo r ag g rav at ed as s au l t an d h i s s u b s eq u en t d ep o si ti o n an d affi d av i t s t at i n g t h at t h e

s h o o ti n g i n q u es t i o n was m erel y an acci den t res u l t i n g fro m m ere ‘ ho rs ep l ay i n g .’ ”

2 1 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 32 7

. W e h el d t hat t h e tri al co u rt erred in d en y i n g t he i n s u rer’ s m o t i o n

fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n t h e g ro u n d t h at th e p ol i cy d i d n ot p ro v i d e co v erag e fo r t h e

i n ci d en t

, wh i ch was ex cl u d ed fro m co v erag e u n d er a “ wi ll fu l an d m al i ci o u s a c t s ”

ex cl u s i o n . Id

.

Th erefo re, n ei t h er Hern d o n ’ s affi d av it cl ai m i n g t h e s h o o t i n g was an acci d en t

n o r W el k er’ s t es t im o ny t h at s h e b el i ev ed t h e s ho o t i n g was an acci d en t i s su ffi ci en t

12t o reb u t t h e fact t hat Hern do n ad m i t t e d t o cri m in al co n d uct i n co n n ect i o n wi t h t h at

i n ci d en t

. 7 Hern d o n ’ s a f

f i d av it d o es n o t ev en m en t i on h i s gu i l t y p lea, an d n ei t h er

W el k er n o r h e h av e arg ued

, or p o i n t ed u s t o an y ev i d en ce d em o n s t rat i ng

, t h at t h e p l ea

was s o m eh o w i n v al i d

. M o reo v er, Hern d o n h as fai l ed t o ex p lai n h ow h e can t ak e t h e

p o s i t i on t h at t h e Cri m i n al Act Ex cl u s i o n d o es no t ap p l y t o t h e fact s o f t h i s cas e wh en

h e p rev io u sl y p l ed g u i l t y t o a cri m e i n co n ju n ct i o n wi t h t h e in ci den t

. Acco rd i n g l y

, we

rev ers e th e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er d en y i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o Tru s tg ard u n d er t h e

Cri m i n al Act Ex cl u s i o n

.

2

. G i v en th i s h o l d i n g

, we n eed n o t ad d res s T ru s t g ard ’s a r g u m e n t t h at i t was

al s o en t i t l ed t o s u m

m ary ju d g m en t u n d er t h e In t en t i o nal Act s Ex cl u s i o n s

.

Ca s e No . A1 6

A0 8 6 1

3

. In i t s co m

p an i o n ap p eal

, Tru s t g ard co n tes t s t h e Seco n d O rd er g ran t i n g

Hern d o n s u m

m ary ju dg m en t u n d er t he Cri m i n al A ct E x cl u s i o n

. Bas ed o n o u r h o l d i n g

i n Di v is i o n 1 ab ov e, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary ju dg m en t t o Hern d o n u n d er

t h e Cri m i n al A ct Ex cl us i on al s o m u s t b e rev e r s e d

, an d we n eed n o t ad d res s

Tru s t g ard ’ s ad d i t i o n al arg u m en t s

.

7 W e n o t e t hat t h e Cri m i n al Act Ex cl us i o n d o es n o t d i s ti n g u i sh b et ween cri m es

b as ed on m en s rea, an d i t i s un d i s p u t ed t h at reck l es s co n d uct i s a cri m e as d efi n ed by

OCGA § 1 6 -5 -6 0 (b ) ev en t h ou g h i t m ay n o t i n v o l ve an i n t en t io n al act

.

13Acco rd i ng l y

, we rem an d t h i s cas e t o t he t ri al co u rt wi t h d irect i o n t h at i t v acat e

t h e o rd er g ran t in g s um m ary ju d g m en t t o Hern d o n o n t he Cri m i n al Act Ex cl u s i o n an d

i n s t ead en t er s u m

m ary ju d g m en t i n fav or o f Tru st gard

.

Ju d g men t s r ever s ed a n d c a ses r ema n d

ed wi t h di r ect i o n

. M

cFa d d en

, J.,

co n cu r s

. Mi l l er , P. J., co n cu rs i n j u d

g men t o n l y.

14