UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

 WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS 

MIDLAND-ODESSA DIVISION

CENTRAL MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY §

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 V. § CA No.

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TRISHA LEE WELCH §

PLAINTIFF’S ORIGINAL COMPLAINT

FOR DECLARATORY RELIEF

TO THE HONORABLE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT:

COMES NOW Central Mutual Insurance Company and respectfully files this its Original 

Complaint for Declaratory Relief against Trisha Lee Welch pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a) and 

81(c) and respectfully would show the following:

1. Plaintiff Central Mutual Insurance Company is a national enrolled insurer with its 

principle place of business at 800 S. Washington Street, Van Wert, OH 45891-

2381.

2. Defendant Trisha Lee Welch is a Texas resident and can be served at her residence 

at 1301 W. 13th, Apartment 7, Odessa, Texas 79763.

3. This Court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. 1332 in that the parties are citizens of 

diverse states, and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.00.

4. Central seeks declaratory judgment under the federal Declaratory Judgment Act

28 U.S.C. §§ 2201-2202 and Fed. R. Civ. P. 57 that it owes no duty to defend or 

indemnify Trisha Lee Welch in the Underlying Suit.

5. Gemini Pilot Services LLC is the Named Insured under Central Mutual 

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Commercial Lines Policy No. CLP 9899281 10, with effective dates of 3/12/18-19

(the “Policy” or “CLP”). The policy is subject to a $1 million per occurrence limit, 

with $2 million aggregate. 

6. Gemini Pilot employee Trisha Lee Welch is the named defendant in Cause No. A19-11-1519-CV; Brad King, et al. v. Trisha Lee Welch; in the 70th Judicial District 

Court of Ector County, Texas (the “Underlying Lawsuit”). A true and correct copy 

of the Petition is attached at Exhibit “A” and incorporated herein by reference. 

7. The Underlying Lawsuit alleges that on or about February 3, 2019, at 

approximately 12:03 p.m., Defendant Welch attempted to block the northbound 

lane of traffic on the south frontage road of SH 176 due to a commercial motor 

vehicle traveling the wrong way.

8. The Underlying Lawsuit further alleges that Defendant Welch’s blocking of the 

roadway caused a tractor-trailer traveling north on SH 349 to come to an abrupt 

stop, causing the vehicle occupied by Roger Lee King and Wendy Lynn Caban to 

collide into the rear of the tractor trailer. Plaintiffs claim that as a result of the 

collision, Roger Lee King and Wendy Lynn Caban were injured and died.

9. The Underlying Lawsuit alleges causes of action against Welch for negligence, 

gross negligence, and negligence per se, allegedly resulting in various damages.

10. Central Mutual asserts the applicability of certain policy definitions, provisions,

and exclusions in the applicable Policy, which exclude any duty to defend and/or 

indemnify Welch. Specifically, Central relies on Policy Definition I, which defines 

“Insured” to mean:

2. any current ... employee ... but solely while acting on behalf of 

[Gemini Pilot] or any subsidiary and within the course and scope of 

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their duties as such.

See CLP 8-2364 01 17, p. 3 of 12.

11. Central would show that the allegations in the Underlying Lawsuit establish that 

Welch was not acting on behalf of Gemini Pilot or within the course and scope of 

her duties by attempting to stop traffic at the time of the alleged incident. Central 

attaches as Exhibit “B” a certified copy of the subject Central Mutual CLP policy, 

which is incorporated herein by reference.

12. Central also relies upon the definition of “Professional Services” in the Professional 

Liability Endorsement to the CLP policy, Definition P, which provides:

Professional services means services performed by an Insured for 

others for a fee solely while in the pursuit of the business activities 

stated in the Schedule, Declarations or Change Endorsement. 

Professional Services does not include an independent action of the 

insured outside of or not related to any business activity performed 

for a fee as stated in the Schedule, Declarations or Change 

Endorsement.

See 8-2364 01 17, p. 4 of 12. As stated in the Declarations, the Premises and 

Operations included are “Pilot Car Operations.” See 8-1527 1185, p. 6 of 7.

13. Central would show, and requests Declaratory Judgment, that the Policy 

definitions, terms, and exclusions apply to preclude coverage for Welch for the 

Underlying Lawsuit or for any potential duty to defend or indemnify arising 

therefrom under the CLP policy.

14. Central respectfully requests a bench trial as to issues of fact, if any.

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WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Central Mutual Insurance Company prays 

that the Court (1) grant Central Mutual declaratory and other relief in the form of a declaration that 

Central Mutual owes Welch neither a duty to defend nor to indemnify for the allegations of the 

Underlying Lawsuit under the Central Mutual CLP policy; and (2) grant Central Mutual costs of 

court and all other and further relief to which Central Mutual Insurance Company may be justly 

entitled.

Respectfully submitted,

CHAMBERLAIN ♦ MCHANEY

301 Congress, 21st Floor 

Austin, Texas 78701

(512) 474-9124

(512) 474-8582 (Facsimile)

By: /s/ SCOTT FRALEY

J. GORDON MCHANEY

Texas Bar No. 13670100

gmchaney@chmc-law.com

SCOTT FRALEY

Texas Bar No. 07353050

sfraley@chmc-law.com

ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF 

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EXHIBIT A

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