Case Name: RIVERSIDE INSURANCE COMPANY v. KOLONICH
Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1982-12-08
Citations: 122 Mich. App. 51
Docket Number: Docket No. 59090
Parties: RIVERSIDE INSURANCE COMPANY v KOLONICH
Judges: Before: Danhof, C.J., and Beasley and J. P. Swallow, JJ.
Reporter: Michigan appeals reports; cases decided in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Volume: 122
Pages: 51–62

Head Matter:
RIVERSIDE INSURANCE COMPANY v KOLONICH
Docket No. 59090.
Submitted June 1, 1982, at Lansing. —
Decided December 8, 1982.
Rosemary Kolonich brought an action against David and Mary Jo Taylor, alleging injuries suffered when she fell in the Taylors’ driveway. Riverside Insurance Company initially agreed to represent the Taylors in the negligence matter under a homeowner’s insurance policy, but, after taking the deposition of Rosemary Kolonich, it filed an action in Ingham Circuit Court against Kolonich and the Taylors, based on the "business pursuit” exception to the policy, seeking a judgment that it did not have a duty to defend or pay damages. Plaintiff contended that the Taylors were engaged in the continuous business for profit of firing ceramics for others at their premises and that the injuries allegedly sustained by Rosemary Kolonich were excluded from insurance coverage, since they arose out of a business conducted on the Taylors’ premises. Mary Jo Taylor’s deposition disclosed that: (1) she owned a kiln for firing ceramics, over 100 ceramic molds, and more than 100 pieces of greenware, (2) she had been interested in ceramics for approximately five years and, at the time of the deposition, taught a weekly ceramics class at her home, which was comprised of five students, (3) at the time of Rosemary Kolonich’s injury, she had approximately ten students, (4) a $2 fee was charged per class, (5) pieces of greenware were sold by her, primarily to class members, (6) a portion of her ceramics activities was devoted to firing greenware, where she charged one-half of the amount the person paid for the piece, (7) as a result of considering her ceramics functions as a hobby rather than a business venture, she neither reported any income on her tax returns nor possessed a sales tax license, and (8) her husband’s involvement in the activity was limited to carrying molds and greenware to her visitors’ automobiles. The court, Jack W. Warren, J., granted summary judgment for plaintiff. Defendant Kolonich appealed, alleging that the depositions established that the ceramic activities were conducted by Mrs. Taylor as a hobby, not for a profit, or alternatively, that a question of fact existed in regard to the issue. Additionally, she contended that, even if the activities constituted a "business pursuit”, plaintiff is es-topped from disclaiming coverage because it undertook for many months defense of the claim on the Taylors’ behalf. Held:
References for Points in Headnotes
43 Am Jur 2d, Insurance § 291.
46 Am Jur 2d, Summary Judgment § 26.
22 Am Jur 2d, Declaratory Judgments §§ 40-43.
44 Am Jur 2d, Insurance § 1408.
44 Am Jur 2d, Insurance § 1894.
1. An activity must be profit motivated and have some degree of continuity for it to constitute a "business pursuit” within the meaning of a business-pursuits exclusion in a homeowner’s insurance contract. A question of fact was raised by the depositional testimony of Mrs. Taylor regarding whether her activities constitute a hobby or an enterprise conducted with a profit motive. Summary judgment was improper.
2. In its order granting summary judgment on plaintiffs petition for declaratory relief, the trial court did not address defendant Kolonich’s claim that plaintiffs assumption of a defense on behalf of the Taylors constituted a waiver or estoppel of its right to deny insurance coverage based on an alleged policy exclusion. On remand, a hearing on this issue is required.
Reversed and remanded.
J. P. Swallow, J., dissented. He would hold that there was no genuine issue as to any material fact, that the business-pursuits exclusion applied, and that the insurer is not estopped to deny any liability. He would affirm.
Opinion op the Court
1. Insurance — Exclusions — "Business Pursuits”.
An activity must be profit motivated and have some degree of continuity for it to constitute a "business pursuit” within the meaning of a business-pursuits exclusion in a homeowner’s insurance contract.
2. Judgments — Summary Judgment — Court Rules.
A motion for summary judgment on the ground that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact tests whether there is factual support for a claim and is to be tested by the pleadings, affidavits, depositions, admissions, and other documentary evidence available to the court and is properly granted only where, giving the benefit of any reasonable doubt to the opposing party, the trial court is satisfied that it is impossible for the claim or defense to be supported at trial because of some deficiency which cannot be overcome (GCR 1963, 117.2[3]).
3. Insurance — Disclaimer of Liability — Reservation of Rights — Declaratory Judgment.
An insurance company’s action for declaratory judgment before completion of a negligence suit against its insured is a suitable alternative to a "reservation of rights” letter in which an insurer states it will defend the insured but will also reserve the right to rely on a policy provision as a defense to the insurer’s liability.
Dissent by J. P. Swallow, J.
4. Insurance — Disclaimer of Liability — Estoppel — Reservation of Rights — Declaratory Judgment.
An insurance company which allegedly failed to give its insured a "reservation of rights” letter when it undertook his defense in a negligence case is not estopped from denying liability where the insurer brought a declaratory judgment action to determine its liability within a reasonable time.
5. Insurance — Disclaimer of Liability — Estoppel — Reservation of Rights.
To assert waiver or estoppel as against an insurer’s contractual rights, a nonparty to the contract of insurance must show that he has been prejudiced by action of the insurer as to a consequential right under the contract of insurance.
Foster, Swift, Collins & Coey, P.C. (by John L. Collins and Charles E. Barbieri), for plaintiff.
Sinas, Dramis, Brake, Boughton, McIntyre & Reisig, P.C. (by Kenneth G. McIntyre), for defendant Kolonich.
Before: Danhof, C.J., and Beasley and J. P. Swallow, JJ.
Circuit judge, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
On February 5, 1981, plaintiff, Riverside Insurance Company, filed a complaint for declaratory judgment against defendants, Rosemary Kolonich, David Taylor, and Mary Jo Taylor, seeking a judgment that it did not have a duty to defend or pay damages in connection with a pending negligence action brought by Kolonich against plaintiffs insureds, David and Mary Jo Taylor. On July 16, 1981, the trial court granted plaintiffs motion for summary judgment on the basis that the incident which gave rise to the negligence claim was excluded from the homeowner's insurance coverage furnished by plaintiff to the Taylors. From the grant of summary judgment, defendants appeal as of right.
The record discloses that Rosemary Kolonich filed a complaint on October 22, 1980, claiming that she suffered injuries when she slipped and fell on the Taylors' driveway on December 17, 1979. Plaintiff initially agreed to represent the Taylors in the negligence matter under the homeowner's insurance policy, but, after taking the deposition of Rosemary Kolonich, it filed the instant action based on the "business pursuit" exception to the policy.
The special exclusion provision of the policy stated that coverage does not apply:
"(a)(1) to any business property of an Insured or any business pursuits in connection with a business solely owned by an Insured or owned by a partnership of which an Insured is a partner other than (a) premises occupied for office, professional, private school, or studio occupancy specifically added by endorsement, and (b) activities therein which are ordinarily incidental to non-business pursuits ."
Plaintiffs theory was that the Taylors were engaged in the continuous business for profit of "firing ceramics for others at their premises". Thus, it contended that the injuries allegedly sustained by Rosemary Kolonich were excluded from insurance coverage, since they arose out of a business conducted on the Taylors' premises.
Mary Jo Taylor's deposition was taken in this matter on March 3, 1981. Therein* she testified that: (1) she owned a kiln for firing ceramics, over 100 ceramic molds, and more than 100 pieces of greenware, (2) she had been interested in ceramics for approximately five years and* at the time of the deposition, taught a weekly ceramics class at her home, which was comprised of five students, (3) at the time of Rosemary Kolonich's injury, she had approximately ten students, (4) a $2 fee was charged per class, (5) pieces of greenware were sold by her, primarily to class members, (6) a portion of her ceramics activities was devoted to firing green-ware, where she charged one-half of the amount the person paid for the piece, (7) as a result of considering her ceramics functions as a hobby rather than a business venture, she neither reported any income on her tax returns nor possessed a sales tax license, and (8) her husband's involvement in the activity was limited to carrying molds and greenware to her visitors' automobiles.
In its summary judgment motion, plaintiff maintained that no genuine issue existed in relation to any material fact, inasmuch as the Taylor depositions established that they were not entitled to defense coverage under the policy. Defendant Kolonich maintains that the depositions established that the ceramic activites were conducted by Mrs. Taylor as a hobby, not for a profit, or, alternatively, that a question of fact exists in regard to the issue. Additionally, Rosemary Kolonich con tends, on appeal that, even if the activities constituted a "business pursuit", plaintiff is estopped from disclaiming coverage because it undertook for many months defense of the claim on the Taylors' behalf.
In State Mutual Cyclone Ins Co v Abbott, the insurer sought to absolve itself from extending coverage to its insured under a business-pursuit exception of the insurance policy. The insured, who was a part-time blacksmith, allegedly caused the horse that he was shoeing to strike and injure the horse's owner. In reversing the trial court's holding that the insured was not engaged in a business pursuit when the injury occurred, we set forth the following definition for "business pursuit":
" 'To constitute a business pursuit, there must be two elements: first, continuity, and secondly, the profit motive; as to the first, there must be a customary engagement or a stated occupation; and, as to the latter, there must be shown to be such activity as a means of livelihood, gainful employment, means of earning a living, procuring subsistence or profit, commercial transactions or engagements.' "
Another case involving an insurance company's attempt to avoid extending coverage under the business-pursuit exception is Randolph v Ackerson, where a farmer, the insured party, in an isolated transaction, purchased an old barn with the intention of selling the barn wood. A purchaser of the barn wood was injured while loading the wood onto a truck. We upheld the trial court's ruling that the exception to the insured's policy of insurance was not applicable because one of the two elements of the two-pronged business-pursuit test was not satisfied, namely, that the insured's involvement in the activity of selling barn wood was not of a customary or continuous nature.
In summary judgment motions based upon GCR 1963, 117.2(3), the trial court must examine the pleadings, admissions, depositions, affidavits, and other documentary evidence to determine whether a genuine issue of fact exists as to any material fact. A trial court should give the benefit of any reasonable doubt to the party opposing the summary judgment, and it must be satisfied that the nonmovant's claim or defense cannot be supported at trial as a result of a deficiency which cannot be overcome.
In the matter at bar, a question of fact was raised by the depositional testimony of Mrs. Taylor regarding whether her activities constitute a hobby or an enterprise conducted with a profit motive. Accordingly, we conclude that summary judgment was improvidently granted.
We also note that, in its order granting summary judgment on plaintiffs petition for declaratory relief, the trial court did not address defendant Kolonich's claim that plaintiffs assumption of a defense on behalf of the Taylors constituted a waiver or estoppel of its right to deny insurance coverage based on an alleged policy exclusion. Nor did the trial court rule on the question of whether defendant David Taylor is entitled to a defense and liability protection, even if his wife, Mary Jo Taylor, is excluded from insurance coverage.
In Security Ins Co of Hartford v Daniels, this Court approved of an insurance company seeking a declaratory judgment in regard to its obligation to defend its insured. Therein, we stated:
"The Court, in Meirthew, supra [Meirthew v Last, 376 Mich 33; 135 NW2d 353 (1965)], was concerned that the insurance company, by defending the insured in the principal suit but not informing him of specific defenses upon which it later intended to rely to avoid liability, denied the insured a fair and timely opportunity to protect his rights. In the instant case, however, the very reason for bringing the declaratory judgment action was to decide those issues prior to trial and, consequently, avoid prejudicing the rights of any insured party. Thus, because the instant declaratory judgment action is a suitable alternative to a 'reservation of rights' letter, Meirthew, supra, is not applicable to the instant case." (Footnote omitted.)
In 44 Am Jur 2d, Insurance, § 1408, pp 348-349, an insurer's obligation to defend is discussed:
"Where doubt exists as to the obligation of an insurer to defend, the doubt should be resolved in the insured's favor. The determination of an insurer's duty to defend may turn on the construction of an exclusionary clause.
"If the insurer desires to show that the claim against the insured is based on facts excluded from the policy coverage and the insurer refuses to defend, it must do so at its peril, and if the insurer guesses wrong, it must bear the consequences of its breach of contract. For this reason, where the insurer is doubtful about its liability and wishes to retain all its rights and at the same time protect itself against the claim that it has unjustifiably refused to defend a suit against the insured, it may give a so-called 'nonwaiver' notice to the insured or attempt to enter into a 'nonwaiver' agreement with the insured by which it reserves all its rights to assert later the policy noncoverage. Another remedy available to the insurer is to secure an adjudication of nonliability by way of a declaratory judgment. Such a judgment settles definitely the question of its duty to defend. " (Footnotes omitted, emphasis added.)
In the matter at bar, a hearing is required to determine if plaintiffs involvement in the defense of the negligence claim against its insured operates as an estoppel or waiver of its right to disclaim coverage.
Reversed and remanded.
GCR 1963, 521. For a discussion of the declaratory judgment remedy, see Demorest v DiPentima, 118 Mich App 299; 324 NW2d 634 (1982).
52 Mich App 103; 216 NW2d 606 (1974).
52 Mich App 108. For a detailed article on interpretation of business pursuits exclusions, see Anno: Construction and application of "business pursuits" exclusion provision in general liability policy, 48 ALR3d 1096 (1973).
108 Mich App 746; 310 NW2d 865 (1981).
Revitzer v Trenton Medical Clinic, 118 Mich App 169; 324 NW2d 561 (1982); Lipton v Boesky, 110 Mich App 589, 598; 313 NW2d 163 (1981); 7 Callaghan's Mich Pleading & Practice (2d ed), § 43.05, pp 14-15.
Rizzo v Kretschmer, 389 Mich 363, 372; 207 NW2d 316 (1973); 1 Honigman & Hawkins, Michigan Court Rules Annotated (2d ed), p 362.
70 Mich App 100; 245 NW2d 418 (1976).
70 Mich App 116.