Case Name: Charles W. COUSINEAU, Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES of America, Defendant, Third-Party Plaintiff and Appellee, v. AGRICULTURAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Third-Party Defendant and Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1974-02-14
Citations: 493 F.2d 692
Docket Number: No. 71-2664
Parties: Charles W. COUSINEAU, Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES of America, Defendant, Third-Party Plaintiff and Appellee, v. AGRICULTURAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Third-Party Defendant and Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter 2d Series
Volume: 493
Pages: 692–697

Head Matter:
Charles W. COUSINEAU, Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES of America, Defendant, Third-Party Plaintiff and Appellee, v. AGRICULTURAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Third-Party Defendant and Appellant.
No. 71-2664.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Feb. 14, 1974.
Arthur Tuverson (argued), Burton, Blodgett, Halloran & Drapkin, Anaheim, Cal., David L. Jolliffe, Kinkle, Rodiger, Graf, Dewberry & Spriggs, Los Angeles, Cal., for appellant.
Philip S. Malinsky, Asst. U. S. Atty. (argued), William D. Keller, U. S. Atty., Frederick M. Brosio, Jr., Asst. U. S. Atty., Los Angeles, Cal., for appellee.
Before CHAMBERS and HUFSTEDLER, Circuit Judges, and TAYLOR, District Judge.
Of the District of Idaho, sitting by designation.

Opinion:
OPINION
FRED M. TAYLOR, District Judge:
Agricultural Insurance Company (Agricultural) issued a motor vehicle liability policy to Wesley B. Gibson, doing business as Continental Leasing Company as the named insured, from June 6, 1968 to June 6, 1969. A 1961 Plymouth automobile, owned by Gibson, was expressly included as one of the insured vehicles. The Plymouth was subsequently leased by Gibson to the United States Post Office for a period in excess of 30 consecutive days. In order to exempt the vehicle from licensing fees, it was registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles in the name of the Post Office.
On July 13, 1968, a Post Office employee, driving the Plymouth in the course of his employment, became involved in an accident with the plaintiff, Charles Cousineau. Plaintiff Cousineau brought an action against the United States under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The defendant and third-party plaintiff, United States of America, filed a third-party complaint against the third-party defendant Agricultural Insurance Company seeking a judgment for any damages it might become obligated to pay to plaintiff, plus reasonable attorney's fees in defending plaintiff's action.
The plaintiff's action against the United States was compromised for $8,250.00 with the consent and approval of Agricultural and the matter went to trial on the third-party complaint. On April 9, 1971, the District Court entered a judgment in favor of the United States on its third-party complaint against Agricultural, and the insurance company appealed to this court from said judgment.
We believe the decision in this case is controlled by Metz v. Universal Underwriters Insurance Company, 10 Cal.3d 45, 109 Cal.Rptr. 698, 513 P.2d 922 (1973) and, accordingly, the judgment of the District Court is affirmed.