FI RST DI VI SI ON DOYLE, C. J.

, PHI PPS, P. J.

, and BOGGS, J.

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.

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M ar ch 25, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A2 00 6

. ZOOK v

. ARC H S PECIALTY INSURANCE

COM PANY.

A1 6 A0 46 7

. M J Q CONCOURSE, INC. et al

. v

. ARCH SPECIALTY

INSURANCE COM PANY.

P H I P P S , Pres i d i n g J u dg e.

Carl D. Zo o k fi l ed a p ers o n al i n ju ry act i o n ag ai n s t M J Q Co n co u rs e, In c. an d

s ev eral of i t s em

p l oy ees (“ M J Q ” o r “ t h e i n s u red ”) fo r d am ag es ari s i ng o u t o f an

i n ci d en t at t h e i n s u red ’ s n ig h t cl u b. 1 Sp eci fi cal l y , Zo o k rai sed cl a i m s o f fal s e

im p r i sonm e nt, b at tery

, n eg l i g en ce, m al i ci o u s p rose c ution, a nd m a lic ious a r r e st. W hile

t h at act i o n was p en d i n g, Zo o k fi l ed a d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t act i o n ag ai n s t t h e s am e

d efen d an t s an d Arch Sp eci al t y In s u ran ce Co m

pan y (“ Arch ”), wi t h wh ich MJ Q h ad

1 At t h e ti m e o f t he i n c i d en t

, t he n i g h tcl u b

, wh i ch w as k n o wn as “ M J Q

Co n co u rs e,” w as own ed b y T erm i n u s , In c., a n am ed defen d an t in t h e p ers o n al i n ju ry

co m p l ai n t . Th at en ti t y

l at er ch an g ed i t s n am e t o M J Q Co n co u rs e, In c.a co m

m erci a l g en eral l i ab il i t y (“ CGL”) i n s u ran ce po l i cy

. T h e tri al co u rt g ran t ed

s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o Arch i n t h e d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t act io n , fi n d i ng t h at t h e

al l e g ed m al i ci o us p ro s ecu t i o n o ccu rred o u ts i de t h e p o li cy p eri o d an d t h at t h e

i n s u ran ce co v erag e fo r Zo o k ’ s re m a i n i n g cl ai m s was s u b ject t o a $ 5 0

, 0 0 0 s u b l i m i t

i m p o s ed b y an As s au l t an d Bat t ery en d ors em en t

, rat h er t h an t h e $ 1 ,0 0 0,0 0 0 g en eral

l i ab i l i t y li m i t

.

In Cas e No

. A1 5 A2 0 0 6, Zo o k ap p eal s fro m two o rd ers g ran t i n g s u m m ary

ju d g m en t t o Arch i n t h e d ecl arat o ry j u d gm en t act i o n

. In Cas e No

. A1 6A0 4 6 7

, M J Q

ap p eal s fr o m t he s am e s u m m ary ju d g m en t o rd ers b u t l i m i t s it s arg u m en t o n ap p eal

t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g reg ard i n g t h e m al i ci o us p ro s ecu ti on cl ai m

. Fo r th e reas on s

t h at fo l lo w, t he t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n d in g t h at t h e c l a i m fo r m al i ci ou s p ro s ecu t i o n

was n o t co v ered b y t h e p o l i cy

. Ho wev er, t h e t r i al co u rt p ro perl y co n cl u d ed t h at

co v erag e o n Zo o k ’ s rem ai n i n g cl ai m s was l i m i t ed t o $ 5 0 ,0 0 0

.

W e rev i ew d e n ov o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o d et erm i n e

“ wh et h er t h e ev i d en ce o f reco rd

, v iewed i n a l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e to t h e n o n m o v i n g

p art y , de m o n st rat es an y g en u i n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fact .” 2 Su m m ary ju d g m en t i s p ro p er

2 Bd

. o f Co mmr s

. of Cr i s p Co u n t y v. Ci t y Co mmr s

. o f Ci t y o f Co r d el e , 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p . 6 9 6 (7 2 7 SE2 d 5 24 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (p u n ct u at io n an d fo ot n ot e o m i t t ed ).

2wh en t h ere i s n o g en u i n e is s ue o f m at eri al fact an d t h e m o v an t i s en ti t led t o ju d g m en t

as a m at t er o f l aw. 3

In h is p ers o n al i n

ju ry co m p l ai n t, 4 Z oo k al l eg ed t hat h e wa s a p at ro n at t h e

i n s u red ’ s n i g h t c l ub on t h e ev en i n g o f M ay 2 1

, 2 0 0 9. Zo o k at t em p t ed t o acces s a

res t ro o m b u t w a s d en i ed en t ry b y ap p el l an t Ch ad Ph i l l i p s , an em p l o y ee o f M J Q.

Th en , acco rd in g t o th e co m p l ai n t

, “ [w] i t h o u t pro v o cat i o n o r j u s ti fi cat io n , d efen d an t

Ph i l l ip s [an d o th er em

p l o y ees of t h e i n s u red ] b eat M r. Zo ok rep eat ed l y ab o u t t h e face

an d b o d y , s eri o u s ly i n

ju ri n g p l ai n t i ff.” Zo o k m an ag ed t o free h i m s el f an d ru n o u t s i d e

t h e n i g ht cl ub

, wh ere h e cal l ed 9 1 1 fo r em erg en cy as s is tan ce. Th e po l i ce, h o w e v e r ,

arres t ed Z o o k , wh o was p ro s ecu t ed fo r s i m p l e b at t ery

.

Zo o k s ub s e q u e n t l y s u ed M J Q an d v ari o u s M J Q em p l o y ees fo r fal s e

i m p ri s o n m en t (b o t h i n s i d e t h e n i g h t cl u b an d as th e res u lt o f Z o o k ’ s arres t an d

i n carcerat i on ), b at t ery , an d n eg l i g en ce (ag ai n s t ap p el l an t s M J Q, Ben j am in Rh o ad es ,

an d Arm an d o Cel en tan o i n t h e s creen i n g, h i ri n g , an d ret en t i o n o f ap p el l an t Ph i l l i p s

3 OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c).

4 Th e p art i es s u b m i t t ed a jo i n t s t ip u lat i o n wi t h ex h i b i t s fo r t h e p urp o s e o f t h e d ecl arat ory ju d g m en t act i on

. Th es e ex h i bi t s i n cl u d ed p l ead i n g s fro m t he un d erl y i n g

p ers o n al i n

ju ry l aws u i t

, a p art i al t ran s cri p t of t h e cri m in al p ro ceed in g in wh i ch Zo o k

was ch arg ed wi t h an d acq u i t t ed o f s i m p l e b at t ery , an d t h e Arch i n s u ran ce po l i cy an d

rel at ed co rres p o n d en ce.

3an d o th er M J Q e m p l o y ees ). Zo o k l at er am en d ed h is co m pl ai n t t o ad d cl ai m s fo r

m al i ci ou s pro secu t io n an d m al i ci ou s arres t aft er h e was fo u n d n o t g u i l t y o f t h e

cri m i n al ch arg e ari s i ng o u t o f t h e i n ci den t.

Th e p art i es s ti p u l at ed th at t es t i m o n y p res en t ed at Zo o k ’ s cri m in al t ri al co u ld

b e co ns i d ered as ev i d en ce i n t he d ecl arat ory ju d g m en t act i o n , n o t i n g t h at t h ere was

a di s p u t e b et w een t he p art i es as t o wh at h ap p en ed aft er Zo ok was d en i ed acces s t o t h e

res t ro o m

. Bo t h P h i ll i p s an d Zo o k cal l ed 9 1 1 fo r em erg en cy as s is t an ce o n t h e n i g ht

i n q ues t io n , an d au di o reco rd in g s o f t h o s e cal ls were p l ay ed at Zo ok ’ s cri m in al t ri al

.

In t h e cal l m ad e b y Ph i l l i p s , Ph il l ip s s t at ed at th e o u t set th at h e h ad b een

at t ack ed b y an i n d i vi du al an d t h at h e wan t ed t o p res s ch arg es

. Ph i ll i ps rep eat ed t h at

“ t h is g u y at t ack ed m e,” t h at “ t h e as s ai l an t p u n ch ed m e i n th e face rep eat ed l y ,” an d

t h at Ph i l l i p s “ ret al iat ed in s el f-d efen s e. ” I n Zo ok ’ s 9 1 1 cal l, h e req u es t ed an

am bu l an ce, ex pres s i n g p art i cu l ar co n cern fo r h i s ey e an d s t at i n g t h at s ecu ri t y at t h e

cl u b h ad “ b eat [h i m ] d o wn .”

Th e o ffi cer wh o res p o n d ed t o th e 9 1 1 cal l s fi l l e d o u t an “ arres t ci t at i o n,”

o rd eri n g Zo o k t o ap p e a r i n m u n i ci p al co u rt

. Th e o ffi cer wro t e t hat Z o o k h ad

c o m m i t t e d t he o ffen s e o f “ d i so rd erl y co n du ct ” u n d er a m

u n ici p al o rd i n an ce i n t h at

h e d i d :

4act i n a v io len t m an n er t o ward s t he v i ct i m . W i t n es s s t at ed t hat s u s pect

ch es t b u m

p ed v i ct i m , an d al s o p un ch ed v i ct i m i n t h e face. Vi ct im t o l d

s u s p ect h e co ul d n ’ t co m e i n t o a p ort i on o f t h e l o cat io n , an d Su s pect g o t

m ad . Su s p ect al s o t o ld wi t n es s h e was g oi n g t o p u nch v ict i m

.

Th e m un i ci p al co u rt tran s ferred t h e cas e to t h e St at e Co u rt o f Fu lt o n Co u n t y

o n May 2 6

, 2 0 0 9

, an d rel eas ed Zo o k o n b o nd

. So m e m o n th s l at er, on M arch 1

, 2 0 1 0,

t h e co u n t y s o l i ci to r gen eral ch arg ed Z o o k wi t h s i m p l e b at t ery , al l eg i n g t h at “ on M AY

2 1

, 2 0 09 [Z o o k ] d i d i n t en t io n al l y m ak e p h y s i cal co n t act o f an [s i c] PROVOKING

n at u re wi t h t h e p ers o n o f CHAD PHILLIPS.”

At Zo o k’ s cri m i n al t ri al

, Ph i l l i p s t es t i fi ed t h a t

, w h i l e wo rk in g as a s o u n d

en g in eer fo r M J Q, h e was p u t t i n g away eq u i p m en t aft er a b an d fi n i s h ed p l ay i n g in

o n e o f t h e ro o m s at t h e n i g ht cl u b

. Ph il l i p s o verh eard o t h er em p l o y ees t e l l i n g Z o o k

t h at h e co u l d no t a c c e s s t h e res t ro o m i n th at part of th e n i g h tcl u b b ecau s e i t was

cl o s ed

. Ph i l l i p s rei t erat ed t h e m es s ag e to Zo o k

, wh o h a d b eco m e v ery ag i t at ed

.

Ph i l l ip s l eft t he area t o fi n i s h o t h er d u t i es an d t hen ret u rn ed t o tel l h i s co wo rk er t h at

h e was do n e fo r t h e ev en i n g

. Th e m o m en t Ph i ll i ps o pen ed t he d o o r, s o m eo n e (wh o m

h e l at er i d en t i fi ed as Zo o k ) p u nch ed hi m i n t h e face. Ph i l l i p s p u l l e d Zo o k i n t o t h e

h al l way away fro m t h e cro wd i n t h e ni g h tcl u b s o t h at t h e s i t u at i on wo u l d no t es cal at e.

5Ph i l l ip s st ru g gl ed t o res t rai n Zo o k u n t il a co w o rk er s ep arat ed t h em , an d Ph i l l i p s m ad e

h i s 9 1 1 cal l

.

Zo o k t es t ifi ed i n h i s d efen s e t h a t

, p ri o r t o t h e ev en i n g i n q u es t i o n , h e h ad

freq uen t l y vi s it ed M JQ, wh ere h e was “ k i n d o f a VIP at t h e cl u b .” W h en h e at t em p t ed

t o acces s t h e b ack res tro o m , M J Q em p l o y ees den i ed hi m a c c e s s, t au n t i n g h i m an d

t el l i n g h i m

t o l eav e. Zo o k co n t i n u ed :

An d t h ey s l a m m ed t h e d o o r i n m y face an d li t eral l y h i t m e in t h e face

wi t h t h e d o o r. I t u rn ed aro u n d t o w al k away , an d s om et h i n g t o l d m e t o

k i n d o f l o o k b ack

, b ecau s e I ju s t d i d n ’ t feel co m fo rt ab l e. Th ey p u l l ed th e

d o o r o p en an d cam e ch arg i n g at m e. At t h at p o in t

, i t ’ s a l i t t l e b i t hazy

b ecau s e i t was d ark

. An d I kn o w [Ph i l l i p s ] cam e at m e fi rs t, an d m e an d

[Ph i ll i p s ] h ad an al t ercat io n at t h at p o i n t

. . . . Th en wh i l e I was try i n g t o

as s es s t h e s it u at i o n, th ey g rab b ed m e b y m y sh i rt an d pu l l ed m e i n t o th e

b ack ro o m

. A n d w hen t h ey p u l led m e i n t o t h e b ack ro o m , [ P h i l l i p s ]

ju m p ed o n m e an d hel d m e d o wn l i k e t h i s w h i l e d ifferen t p eo p l e t o o k

t u rn s p u n ch i ng m e an d k i ck i n g m e in t h e face. An d I was on t h e g ro u n d

g o i n g p l eas e s t o p , pl eas e s t o p

. I’ m n ot fi g h t i n g

. . . . . An d th ere was a

p o i n t wh en I’ m ju st l i k e, I’ m g o in g t o di e. Th ey ’ re g o in g t o k i l l m e. An d

fo r wh at ev er reas on , I ju s t was ab l e t o ju st ru n o u t t he d o o r.

. . . An d

fi nal l y , y ou kn o w, I g o t u p an d I ran o u t t he d o o r, an d th e o ff-d u t y

o ffi cer fo l l o wed m e o u t

, wh i l e t h ey fo l l o w ed m e an d co n t i n u ed t o t au n t

m e, t el l i n g m e t h ey were g o i n g t o b eat m e u p m o re, an d I was s h ak i n g

an d t ry i n g t o cal l 9 1 1

.

6At t h e co n cl u s i o n o f t h e t ri al , a ju ry fo un d Zo o k n o t g u i l t y o f s im pl e b at tery

.

In h i s decl arat o ry ju dg m en t co m p l ai n t

, Zo o k arg u ed t h at t h e p o l i cy l i m i t s were

$ 1 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 fo r h i s cl ai m s fo r fal s e arres t

, d et en ti o n , o r i m p ri s o nm en t an d fo r

m al i ci ou s p ro s ecu t i o n. M J Q fi l ed a cro s s -cl ai m ag ai n s t Arch

, ag reei n g wi t h Zo o k t h at

t h e occu rren ces g i v in g ri s e t o t h e al l eg ed as s au l t an d t h o s e g i v i n g ri s e t o t h e al l eg ed

m al i ci ou s p ro s ecu t i o n were t w o s ep arat e an d d i s t i n ct o ccu rren ces an d t h at t h e l at t er

was n o t l i m i t ed b y t he $ 5 0

, 0 0 0 s u b l i m it i m po s ed b y t h e as s au l t an d b at t e r y

en d ors em en t . Th e p art ies fi led cro ss -m o t io n s fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t.

Th e t ri al co u rt fo u nd th at t h e p o l i cy di d n o t co ver t h e cl ai m of m al i ci ou s

p ro s ecu ti o n b ecau s e t h e p ro s ecu t io n o ccu rred o u t s i d e o f t he p o li cy p eri o d

. In a

s ep arat e o rd er, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at t he p o l i cy was cl ear an d t h a t “ al l o f t h e

cl ai m s i n [Zo o k ’ s] u n d erl y i ng co m p l ai n t ari s e o ut o f an as s au l t an d /o r b at t ery an d t h at

t h e as s au l t an d bat t ery en d o rs em en t ap p l i es t o li m i t t h e co verag e av ai l ab le t o $ 5 0 ,0 0 0

fo r al l [Zo o k ’ s ] cl ai m s .”

Ca s e No . A1 5 A2 0 0 6

1

. Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at th e r e w a s n o co v erag e fo r Zo o k’ s m al i ci ou s

p ro s ecu ti o n cl ai m b ecau s e th e pro s ecu t i o n occu rred o u t s i d e t h e p o l icy p eri od

. Zo o k

arg u es on ap p eal t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred

. W e ag ree an d rev er s e a s t o t hi s cl ai m o f

7erro r b ecau s e t h e reco rd do es n o t s h o w t h at Arch w as en t it l ed t o ju d g m en t as a m at t er

o f l aw. Al t h o u gh Zo o k was n o t ch arg ed wi t h s i m p l e b at tery u n t i l M arch 1

, 2 0 1 0

, t h e

n i g h t cl ub i n ci den t an d arres t occu rred o n M ay 2 1

, 2 00 9

, wi t h i n t h e p o l icy p eri o d

(J u n e 2 7 , 2 0 08 , t h ro u g h J un e 2 7 , 2 0 0 9 ).

Un d er Geo rg ia l aw:

Th e s i x es s en t i al e l e m e n t s o f a m al i ci o u s p ro s ecu t i o n cl ai m are (1 ) p ro s ecu t i o n fo r a cri m i n al o ffen s e; (2 ) i n s t i g a t e d w i t h ou t p ro b ab l e

cau s e; (3 ) wi th m al i ce; (4 ) u n d er a v al i d warran t, a ccu sat i o n o r

s u m m o n s ; (5 ) wh i ch h as t erm i n at ed fav o rab ly t o t h e p l ai nt i ff; an d

(6 ) h as cau s ed dam ag e t o t h e p l ai n ti ff. As t h e fo u rt h el em en t m ak es

cl ear, t o b e act io n ab l e as a m al i ci ou s p ro s ecu t i o n u n d er o u r p reced en t s ,

an at t em p t t o h av e so m eo n e p ro s ecu ted m u s t res ul t i n t h e i ss u an ce o f a

v al i d warran t , s um m on s , accu s at i o n , o r o t h er fo rm al p ro ces s

. 5

Fo r p u rp o s es o f d et erm i n i n g wh en t h e s t at u te o f l im i t at io n b eg in s t o ru n , “ [t ] h e

cri m i n al p ro s ecu t i o n fo rm i n g t h e b as i s fo r an act i o n fo r m al i ci o us p ro s ecu t i o n m u s t

b e en ded b efo re t h e ri g h t o f act i o n fo r m al i ci ou s p ro s ecu t i o n accru es

. ” 6

5 Ren t o n v. W

a t so n , 3 1 9 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9 6, 8 9 8 (1 ) (7 3 9 SE 2 d 1 9 ) (2 0 13 ) (ci t i n g OCGA § 5 1 -7 -4 0 ) (p u n ct uat i o n an d ci t at i o n s o m it ted ).

6 OCGA § 5 1 -7 -4 1 ; s ee Va l a des v. Us l u , 3 0 1 Ga. Ap p

. 88 5

, 8 8 9 (1 ) (6 8 9 SE2 d

3 3 8 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

8Geo rg i a ap p el l at e co u rt s h av e n o t ad d res s ed wh en a m al i ci o u s p ro s ecu t i o n

cl ai m ari s es fo r p u rp o s es o f t ri g g eri n g in s u ran ce co v erag e w h en t h e lan g u ag e o f t h e

co n tract d o es n o t s p eci fy

. Ot h er ju ri sd i ct i o n s are s p l i t

, wi t h a s m al l m i n ori t y o f co u rt s

req u i ri n g fav o rab l e t erm i n at i o n o f t h e u n derl y i n g p ro ceed in g , 7 a n d t h e m ajo ri t y

h o l d i n g th at co v erag e i s t ri g g ered wh en t h e i n s u r e d s et s i n m ot i o n t h e l eg al

m ach i n ery

o f t h e s t at e. 8 “ Un d er t h e m i no ri t y ru l e, th ere i s a co n fl u en ce b et w een t h e

d at e on wh i ch t h e to rt o ccu rs fo r i n s u ran ce p u rp o s es an d t h e d at e o n wh ich th e s t at u t e

o f l i m i t at i o n b eg i ns t o ru n .” 9 T h e m ajo ri t y o f co u rt s , h o w ev er, h av e reject ed t h e i dea

t h at th ey are b o u n d b y t h e s t at u t e o f l i m i tat i o n as t he u n d erl y in g p u rp o s e i s d ifferen t

. 1 0

“ St at u tes o f l i m i t at i o n are d es i g n ed to p ro m o te ju s t i ce b y p rev en t i n g s u rp ri s es

t h ro u gh t h e rev i val o f cl ai m s t h at hav e b een al l o w ed t o s l u m b er u nt i l ev id en ce h as

7 See, e.g ., S

a u vi a c v. Do b b i n s , 9 4 9 S2 d 5 1 3

, 5 1 9 (La. Ct

. Ap p

. 2 0 06 ) (fi n d i n g i n s u ran ce co v erag e f

o r “ o ffen se” co m

m i t t ed d u ri n g t h e p o l i cy p eri o d ); Ro es s v. S t

. P a u l Fi r e & Ma r in e In s

. Co

. , 3 8 3 FSu p p 1 2 3 1, 1 23 5 (M .D. Fl a. 1 9 74 ) (req u i r i n g

co n cl u s i o n o f ap p eal o f un d erl y i n g ci vi l cas e ag ai n s t t h e p l ai nt i ff t o tri g ger i n s u ran ce

co v erag e u n der Fl o ri d a l aw).

8 Gen es i s In s

. Co

. v. Ci t

y o f Co u n ci l Bl u

f f s , 67 7 F3 d 8 06

, 8 1 2 -8 1 3 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 2 ) (co l l ect in g cas es ).

9 Ci t y o f Er i e v. Gu a r a n t

y Na t l

. I n s

. Co

. , 1 09 F3 d 1 56

, 1 6 1 (B) (3 ) (3 rd Ci r. 1 9 9 7 ) (i n t erp ret i n g Pen n s y l v an i a l aw).

1 0 Id

.

9b een lo s t, m em ori es h av e fad ed

, a n d wi t n es s es h av e d is ap p eared .” 1 1 By co n t ras t

,

co u rt s g en eral l y co n s tru e in s uran ce co n t ract s i n acco rd an ce wi t h t h e reas o n ab l e

ex p ect at i o ns o f t h e i n s u red

. 1 2

Arch co n t en d s t h at

, un der ei t h er t h e m ajo ri t y o r t h e m i n o ri t y ru l e, t h e al l eg ed

m al i ci ou s p ro s ecu t i o n d i d n o t fal l w i t hi n th e co v erag e peri o d becau s e t h e p ro s ecu t o r

d i d n o t ch arg e Zo o k wi t h s i m p l e b at t ery un t i l M arch 1

, 2 0 1 0

. W e d is ag ree wi th

Arch ’ s in t erp ret at i o n o f t h e m ajo ri t y ru l e. Arch rel i es o n Ci t y o f Er i e v. G u a r an t

y Na t

.

In s

. Co

. 1 3 In t h at cas e, th e pl ai n t i ff was arres t ed an d ch arg ed on t h e s am e d at e, s o t h e

Th i rd Ci rcu i t d i d n o t n eed t o d i s ti n g u i s h b et ween t h e t wo in fi nd i n g t h at co v erag e

1 1 M A RT A v. R ei d

, 2 9 5 Ga. 8 6 3

, 8 6 7 (7 6 3 SE2 d 6 9 5 ) (2 0 1 4) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

1 2 B o a rd ma n Pet r o leu m v. Fed

er at ed Mu t

. In s

. Co

. , 26 9 G a. 3 2 6

, 3 28 (2 ) (4 9 8

SE2 d 4 9 2 ) (1 9 9 8). See al s o S t at e A u t o Pr o p er t y & Ca s

. Co

. v. Ma t t

y , 28 6 Ga. 6 1 1,

6 1 4 -6 1 5 (2 ) & n .1 (6 9 0 SE2 d 61 4 ) (2 0 10 ) (ad o p t in g t h e “ cau s e” th eo ry fo r co n s t ru i n g

t h e wo rd “ acci d en t ” wh en i t i s n o t d efi n ed i n an au t o m o b i l e l i ab i l i t y i n s u ran ce p o l i cy b u t ex p res s i n g n o o p i ni o n reg ard i n g t h e ap p l i cat i o n o f t he t h eo ry t o p ro d u ct s l i ab i l i t y , a t ort t h at m ay h av e d el ay ed m an i fes t at io n i n ju ri es an d d am ag es ).

1 3 Su p ra.

10was t ri g g ered

. 1 4 Th e rat i o n al e b eh i n d t h e m ajo ri t y ru l e i s t h at th e “ b ad act ” was d o n e

wh en t h e i n s u red s et t h e l eg al m ach i n ery o f t h e s t at e i n act i on

. 1 5

W h i l e Zo o k d i d n o t h av e a cau s e o f act i o n fo r m al i ci ou s p ro s ecu t io n (an d t h e

s t at u te o f l i m i tat i o n t h u s d i d n o t b eg i n t o ru n) u n t il fav o rab l e t erm i n at i o n o f t h e

u n d erl y i n g cri m in al p ro ceed i n g, t h e p o li cy co v ered i n

ju ry ari s i n g o u t of “ m al i ci ou s

p ro s ecu ti o n ” i f t h e “ offen s e” was co m m i t t ed d uri n g t h e p ol i cy p eri o d. O n ce Ph i l l i p s

cal l ed 9 1 1 an d g av e a rep o rt t o t h e res po n d i n g o ffi cer, wh o th en arres t ed Zo o k

, t h e

l eg al m ach i n ery

o f t h e s t at e was s et i n t o m o t i o n. 1 6

Th e p art i es d o n o t d i s pu t e t h at Z o o k was arres t ed an d r e q ui red t o po s t b ai l

wi t h i n t he co v erag e p eri o d

. T h e fact t h at Zo o k was in i t i al ly arres t ed fo r d i s o rd erl y

co n du ct bu t u l t i m at el y

p ro secu t ed fo r s i m

pl e b at t ery is i rrel ev an t, as t he i n s u red s et

1 4 Id . at 15 8

.

1 5 See S . Fr eed ma n & S o n s , In c. v. Ha r tf

o rd Fi r e In s

. Co

. , 3 9 6 A2 d 1 9 5 , 1 9 9 (D.C. Ap p

. 1 9 7 8 ). See al s o St

. Pa u l Fi r e & Ma r i n e In s

. Co

. v. Ci t y o f Zi o n , 1 8 NE3 d

1 9 3

, 2 0 0 (Il l

. Ap p

. 2 01 4 ) ( “ W h en a p ro s ecu t i on i s co m m en ced

, t h e accu s ed i s

arres t ed

, req u i red t o po s t b ai l t o s ecu re h is l i b ert y p en d i n g t ri al

, an d h i s rep u t at i o n i s ad v ers el y affect ed .”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

1 6 See S

. Fr eed ma n & S o n s , s u p ra. See al s o Mu l l er Fu el Oi l Co

. v. In s

. Co

. of

N

. Amer ica

, 2 3 2 A2 d 1 6 8 (N.J

. Su per. Ct

. A p p

. Di v

. 1 9 6 7 ) (fi nd i ng t h at “ t h e

‘ es s en ce’ o f th e t o rt i s th e w ro n g fu l co n d u ct i n m ak i n g t h e cri m i n al ch arg e” i n a cas e wh ere th e cri m i nal co m

p l ai n t, arres t

, an d i n d i ct m en t al l o ccu rred b efo re i n s u ran ce

co v erag e b eg an ).

11t h e pro s ecu t i o n in m o t i o n o n t h e n i g h t of t h e i n ci d en t

. Ph i ll i ps t o l d t h e 91 1 o p erat o r

t wi ce t h at h e h ad b een at tack ed an d s t at ed t h a t Z o o k h a d pu n ch ed h i m i n t h e face

rep eat ed l y

. Arch arg u es t h at Zo o k was n o t ch arg ed wi t h t h e cri m e fo r wh i ch h e was

act u al l y p ro s ecu t ed (s i m p l e b at t e ry ) un t i l 2 01 0

, wel l o u t s i d e t h e p o l icy p eri o d.

Ho wev er, t h e res p o n d i n g o ffi cer’ s n arrat iv e o f t h e fact s o n t h e arres t ci t at io n s h o ws

t h at t h e “ v ict i m ” (Ph i l li p s ) an d a “ wi t n es s ” rep o rt ed a b at t ery t o th e o ffi cer. 1 7 At t h e

p o i n t o f arres t

, Ph il l i p s , act i n g o n beh al f o f t he in s u red

, i n v ok ed t h e ju d i ci al p ro ces s

ag ai n s t Zo o k

. 1 8

Fro m t h e s tan d p o i n t o f a rea s o n a b l e p ers o n i n th e p o si t io n o f t h e i n s u red

,

p o l i cy co v erag e fo r i nju ry ari si n g fro m a m al i ci o u s p ro s ecu ti o n o ccu rri n g d u ri n g t h e

p o l i cy p eri o d ex i s t s i f t h e i n s u red ’ s co n d u ct i n i ns t i t u t i n g s u ch a p r o s e c u t i o n t o o k

p l ace d u ri n g t h e co vered p eri od

. Fo r t h e fo reg o i n g reas o n s , we ad o p t t h e m ajo ri t y ru l e

t h at wh en t he co n tract d o es n o t s p eci fy

, i n su ran ce co v erag e i s t ri g g ered o n a p o t en t i al

1 7 See OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 3 (a) (“ A p ers on co m m it s t h e o ffen s e o f s i m

p l e b at t ery wh en he o r s h e ei t h er: (1 ) In t en t i o n al l y m ak es p h y s i cal c o n t a c t o f an i n s ul t i n g o r

p ro v ok i ng na tur e w it h th e p ers o n o f an o t h er; o r (2 ) In t en t i o nal l y cau s es p h y si cal h arm

t o an o th er.”).

1 8 See D i xo n v

. K r a u s e , 3 3 3 Ga. Ap p. 4 1 6

, 4 1 9 (7 7 3 SE2 d 4 0 ) (2 01 5 ) (“ Th e

g rav am en o f t h e co m

pl ai n t fo r m al i ci ou s p ro s ecu ti o n i s t h e ab sen ce o f p ro b ab l e cau s e

o n t h e p art o f t h e p ers o n i ns t it u t i n g t h e p ro s ecu t io n .”).

12cl ai m fo r m al i ci o u s p ro s ecu t i o n wh en t h e i n s u red s et s i n m o t i o n t h e leg al m ach i n ery

o f t h e s t at e

. A c c o r di ng l y , we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er g ran t i n g s u m m ary

ju d g m en t i n fav o r o f Arch o n t h e m al i ci o u s p ro s ecu ti o n cl ai m

.

2

. Zo o k al s o co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y fi n d i n g t h at i n s u ran ce

co v erag e o n th e fal se i m p ri s o n m en t an d fal s e arres t cl ai m s were s u b ject t o t h e

$ 5 0 ,0 0 0 p o l i cy

l i m it i n t h e as s au l t an d b at t ery en do rs em en t

. Zo o k arg u es t h at t h es e

cl ai m s were i n d ep en d en t o f an y as s au l t o r b at t ery

.

Th e CGL p o l i c y p ro v i ded co v erag e fo r “ Pers o n al an d Ad v ert i s i n g In ju ry

Li ab i l i t y .” Arch ag reed t o “ p ay t h o s e s um s t h at t h e i n s ured b eco m es l eg al l y o b l i g at ed

t o pay as d am ag es b ecau s e of ‘ p ers o n al an d ad v er t i s i n g i n ju ry ’ t o wh i ch t h i s

i n s u ran ce ap p li es .” “ Pers o n al an d ad v e r t i s i n g in ju ry ” was d efi n ed as “ i n ju ry ,

i n cl u d i n g c o n s eq uen t i al ‘ b o d il y i n ju ry ,’ ari s i n g o u t o f” v ari ou s l i s t ed offen s es ,

i n cl u d i n g “ [f] al s e arres t

, d et en t i o n o r im p ri s on m en t ” an d “ [m ] al i ci ou s p ro s ecu t i o n.”

Th e p o li cy fu rt h er p ro v id ed t h at i t “ ap p l i e[d ] to ‘ p ers o n al an d ad v ert i s i n g i n ju ry ’

cau s ed b y an o ffen se ari s i n g o u t o f [t h e i n s u red ’ s ] b u s i n es s b u t on l y i f th e o ffen s e

was co m m i t t ed . . . d

u ri n g t he p o l i cy

p eri od .”

Th e CGL p o l i cy g en eral l y p ro v i d ed a p ers o n al an d ad v ert i s i n g li ab i l i t y l i m i t

o f $ 1 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0

, b u t referen c e d s p e c i fi c ex cl u s io n s an d en d o rs em en ts l i s t ed i n an

13at t ach ed s ch ed u l e. On e o f th es e was an “ A ss au l t an d B a tte r y C o ve r a ge En d o rs em en t ,”

wh i ch p ro v i d ed an ag g reg at e l im i t o f $ 50 ,0 0 0 fo r “ d am ag es b ecau s e o f al l ‘ p ers o n al

i n ju ry ’ ari s i n g ou t o f ‘ as s au l t an d / o r bat t ery ’ s u s t ai n ed d u ri n g t h e p o l i cy peri o d .” Th e

As s au l t an d Bat t e r y C o v erag e en d o rs em en t s t at ed i n i t s h ead i ng : “ THIS

ENDORSEM ENT CHANGES THE POLICY. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY.”

“ Th e card i nal ru l e o f [co nt ract ] co n s t ru ct i o n i s t o as cert ai n t h e i n t en ti o n o f t h e

p art i es

. If t h at i n t en ti o n i s cl ear an d i t co n t rav en es n o ru l e o f l aw an d s u ffi ci en t wo rd s

are us ed to arri v e at t h e i n t en t i o n , [t he co n t ract ] s h al l b e en fo rced irres p ect i v e o f al l

t ech n i cal o r arb i trary ru l es o f co n s t ru ct i o n.” 1 9 W h en a po l i cy o f i n s u ran ce i s s o d rawn

as t o req u i re an i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , an d it i s fai rl y s us cep t i b l e t o t wo d i fferen t

co n st ru ct i o n s , th e co n s t ru ct i o n t o b e a d o p t ed wi l l b e t he o n e m o s t fav orab l e t o t h e

i n s u red

. 2 0 “ In co n s t ru i n g an i n s u ran ce p o l i cy , t h e t es t i s n o t wh at t h e i ns u rer i n t en d ed

i t s wo rd s t o m ean , b u t w h at a reas o n ab l e p ers o n i n t h e p o si t i o n o f t h e i n s u red wo u ld

u n d ers t an d t h em

t o m ean .” 2 1

1 9 OCGA § 1 3 -2 -3

.

2 0 W es t er n P a c. Mu t

. In s

. Co

. v. Da vi es , 2 6 7 G a. Ap p. 6 7 5 , 6 80 -6 8 1 (1 ) (6 0 1

SE2 d 3 6 3) (2 0 0 4).

2 1 Ba r t let t v. A mer i ca n Al l i a n ce In s. Co

. , 20 6 Ga. Ap p

. 2 5 2

, 2 5 5 (2 ) (4 2 4 SE2 d

8 2 5 ) (1 9 9 2 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

14Zo o k arg ues o n ap p eal t hat h i s fal s e i m p ri s on m en t 2 2 an d arres t 2 3 d i d n o t ari s e

o u t o f as s au l t an d b at t ery

. W e di s ag ree. As Zo o k t es t i fi ed i n h i s cri m i n al p ro ceed i n g,

M J Q em p l o y ees s l am m ed t h e d oo r i n h i s face, l i t eral l y h i t t i n g hi m in t h e face wi t h t h e

d o o r. A s Zo o k t ri ed to w al k away , t h ey grab b ed h im b y hi s s h i rt an d pu l l ed h i m i n to

a back ro om wh ere Ph i ll i p s h el d h i m do wn an d o t h er in d iv i du al s p u n ch ed an d k i ck ed

h i m u nt i l Zo o k m an ag ed t o es cap e. Bo t h Zo o k an d Ph i l l i p s cal l ed 9 1 1 t o rep o rt t h e

i n ci d en t , an d t h e res p o nd i n g o ffi cer arres t ed Zo o k

.

Un d er t h e cl ear l an gu ag e of t h e en d o rs em en t

, Zo o k ’ s d am ag es fo r fal s e

i m p ri s o n m en t an d fal s e arres t ari s e o u t o f an al l eg ed as s au lt an d b at t ery

. 2 4 A cco rd i n g

2 2 Un d er Geo rg i a l aw, fal s e i m p ri s o n m en t i s “ u n l awfu l det en t i o n o f t he p ers o n

o f an o th er, fo r an y l en g t h o f ti m e, wh e r e b y s u ch p ers o n is dep ri ved o f h i s p ers o n al

l i bert y .” OCGA § 5 1 -7 -2 0. See Mi r a l i a kb a r i v. Pen n i co oke

, 2 5 4 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5 6

, 1 6 0

- 1 6 1 (4 ) (5 61 SE2 d 4 8 3) (2 00 2 ) (n o t i n g t h at t he res t rai n t m ay b e acco m p li s h ed by

ei t h er fo rce o r co n d u ct s u ffi ci en t t o i n d u ce a reas o n ab l e fear o f fo rce).

2 3 See OCGA § 5 1 -7 -1 (“ An arres t u n d e r p ro ces s o f law, wi t h o u t p ro b ab l e

cau s e, wh en m ad e m a l i c i o u s l y , s h al l g iv e a ri g h t o f act i o n t o t h e p art y arres t ed .”);

Fer r el l v. Mi ku la

, 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p

. 3 2 6

, 3 29

- 3 3 3 ( 2 ) (6 7 2 SE2 d 7 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (d i s t i n g u is h i n g m al i ci o u s arres t fro m f a lse im p ri s o nm en t an d m al i ci o u s p ro s ecu t i o n ).

2 4 See Co n t i n en t a l Ca s. Co

. v. Hs i Fi na n ci a l S vcs

. , 26 6 Ga. 2 6 0

, 2 6 2 (4 6 6 SE2 d

4 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (fi n d i n g th at cl ai m s fo r n eg l i g en ce an d m a l p ract i ce ag ai n s t l aw p art n ers

“ aro s e o u t o f” co n d u ct i n ex cl u s i o n ary cl au s e w h ere “ b u t fo r” t h e t o rt feas o r ’s

co n du ct

, t h ere co u l d b e no cl ai m ag ai n s t hi s p art n ers ). See al s o Jef f er s o n In s

. Co

. of

New Y o r k v. Du n n , 2 6 9 Ga. 2 1 3

, 2 1 6 (4 96 SE2 d 6 9 6) (1 9 9 8 ) (fi n d i n g n o m at eri al

d i s t i n ct i o n i n t h i s co n t ex t b et ween “ cau s ed b y ” an d “ aro s e o u t o f”).

15t o h i s t es t i m o n y , t h e i n ci d en t b eg an wh en he w as s tru ck wi th t h e d o o r a n d g rab b ed

b y h i s s h i rt

, wh i ch are b at teri es

. 2 5 A s s au l t an d b at t ery w e re t h e g en es i s o f Zo o k ’ s

cl ai m s fo r fal s e i m

p ri s o n m en t an d arres t

. 2 6 Acco rd i ng l y , th e t ri al co urt d i d n o t err in

fi nd i ng t h at

, u n der t h e p o l i cy , Zo o k ’ s cl ai m fo r d am ag es fo r fal s e i m p ri s o n m en t

“ aro s e o u t o f” an as s au l t an d bat t ery an d were t h u s su b ject t o t h e $ 5 0 ,0 0 0 s u b l i m i t in

t h e as s au l t an d b at t ery

en d o rs em en t

. 2 7

3

. Zo o k nex t co n t en ds t h at t h e p o l icy i s at l eas t am b ig u o u s an d s h o u ld

t h erefo re b e co ns t ru ed i n fav or o f co v erag e. W e d i sa gree as t h e l an g u ag e i n t h e

en d ors em en t ap p ly i n g t o “ al l ‘ p ers o n al i n j u ry ’ ari s i n g o u t of ‘ as s au l t an d / o r b at t ery ’ ”

i s cl ear an d m

u s t b e g i v en effect

. 2 8

Ca s e No . A1 6

A0 4 6 7

2 5 Ko h l er v. Va n Pet eg h em , 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 2 30

, 2 3 4 (1 ) (7 6 7 SE2 d 7 75 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (“ Th e to u ch i n g o f an o t h er wi t h o u t h er co n sen t

, ev en i f m i n i m al

, co n s t i tu t es a b at t ery

. M o reo v er, t h e u n lawfu l t o u ch i n g o f a p ers o n’ s b o d y i s act i o n ab l e ev en if t he u n l awfu l

t o u ch i n g i s i n d i rect

, as b y t hro w i n g an ob ject o r s u b s t an ce at t he pers o n

. ”) (ci t at i on s

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

2 6 See Co nt in en t a l Ca s . Co

. , s u p ra.

2 7 See Ba rt l et t

, s u p ra at 2 5 4 -2 5 5 (1 ) (g i v i n g o rd i n ar y m e an i n g t o “ b o d i l y ”

i n ju ry l i ab i l i ty co verag e an d fi n d i n g t h at i t d i d n o t in cl u de s p ou s e’ s d am ag es fo r l o ss

o f co n so rt i u m ).

2 8 See i d

.

164

. M J Q co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred i n g ran t i n g s u m m a r y ju d g m en t to

Arch o n t h e m al i ci o u s pro secu t i o n cl ai m becau s e Arch o wed i t a du t y t o d efen d u n d er

t h e g en eral l i ab i l it y p ol i cy

. I n C a s e N o

. A1 5A2 0 0 6

, we rev ers ed t he award o f

s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n t h i s cl ai m

. M J Q’ s arg u m en t i n Cas e N o

. A1 6 A 0 4 6 7

, t herefo re,

i s m o o t

, an d t h i s ap p eal m u st b e d i s m i ss ed

. W e n ot e, h o w ev er, t h at th e t ri al co u rt d id

n o t ad d res s

– an d t h u s we d o n ot reach

– wh et h er t h e as s au l t an d bat t ery en d o rs em en t

l i m i ted Arch ’ s d u ti es an d co v erag e fo r t h e m al i ci o u s p ro s ecu t i on cl ai m

.

Ju d g men t i n Ca s e No

. A1 5

A2 0 0 6 a f f ir med i n p ar t a n d r ever

s ed i n p ar t

. Ap

p ea l

i n Ca s e No . A1 6

A0 6 4 7 d i s mi s s ed

a s mo o t. Do

yl e, C. J., a n d

Bo gg s , J., co n cu r

.

17