Case Name: Tammy J. SNIDER, Appellant, v. CONTINENTAL INSURANCE CO., Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1987-10-29
Citations: 519 So. 2d 12
Docket Number: No. 87-143
Parties: Tammy J. SNIDER, Appellant, v. CONTINENTAL INSURANCE CO., Appellee.
Judges: ORFINGER and COBB, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 519
Pages: 12–14

Head Matter:
Tammy J. SNIDER, Appellant, v. CONTINENTAL INSURANCE CO., Appellee.
No. 87-143.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.
Oct. 29, 1987.
On Motion for Rehearing Jan. 28, 1988.
Janet DeLaura Harrison of Smalbein, Eubank, Johnson, Rosier & Bussey, P.A., Rockledge, for appellant.
No Appearance, for appellee.

Opinion:
DAUKSCH, Judge.
This is an appeal from a final summary judgment entered in an action seeking declaratory relief. Snider was involved in an accident while driving a car she leased. The leasing agency had an insurance policy with Continental Insurance Co. Continental settled with the injured party for $60,-000. Continental conceded that the rental agreement did not properly shift the burden of primary insurance coverage and it was responsible for the first $10,000 of damages. § 324.021(7) and § 627.7263, Fla.Stat. (1985). Snider and Allstate appeal the trial court's determination that Allstate must pay the second layer of coverage up to the Allstate policy limits of $25,000.
Continental argued below that Snider breached the rental agreement by driving intoxicated and that the rental agreement provides that the insurance policy will not cover a lessee who operates the vehicle in violation of the rental agreement. However, a rental agreement provision cannot be relied on to establish the provisions of the insurance policy. Southeastern Fidelity Ins. Co. v. Cole, 493 So.2d 445, 447 (Fla.1986). It is the specific language of the policy, not the rental agreement, which controls the order of insurance payments. Continental's insurance policy insures the lessee regardless of whether the lessee operated the vehicle in violation of the terms of the rental agreement.
Since Snider is covered as an additional insured under the Continental policy, and Allstate had an "other insurance" clause providing that Allstate's liability insurance will be excess over other collectible insurance, Continental is obligated to pay the second level of insurance up to its policy limits. Allstate Ins. Co. v. Fowler, 480 So.2d 1287 (Fla.1985); Metropolitan Property & Life Ins. Co. v. Chicago Ins. Co., 479 So.2d 114 (Fla.1985); Holler Rental Co. v. Marsh, 488 So.2d 553 (Fla. 5th DCA 1986). The trial court's order requiring Allstate to pay the second layer of coverage and prejudgment interest is reversed.
Allstate contends that since Snider was an insured under Continental's policy, Continental should have been ordered to reimburse Snider and Allstate for the cost of the defense. The general rule is that attorney's fees incurred in the defense of a claim indemnified against are part of the damages allowable, but attorney's fees incurred in establishing the right to indemnification are not allowable. United States Automobile Assoc. v. Hartford Ins. Co., 468 So.2d 545 (Fla. 5th DCA 1985); American & Foreign Ins. Co. v. Avis Rent-A-Car System, Inc., 401 So.2d 855 (Fla. 1st DCA 1981); American Home Assurance Co. v. City of Opa Locha, 368 So.2d 416 (Fla. 3d DCA 1979). Accordingly, Allstate is entitled to only those attorney's fees it incurred in defense of Snider, but not those incurred in this indemnification claim and appeal. The case is remanded for a determination of the proper costs and fees.
REVERSED and REMANDED.
ORFINGER and COBB, JJ., concur.