Opinion ID: 1910948
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: State Farm issued an automobile insurance policy to Randall and Kathy Wertz, covering a 1986 Oldsmobile Calais automobile. According to the policy, State Farm agreed to pay damages which an insured becomes legally liable to pay because of: (a) bodily injury to others, and (b) damage to or destruction of property including loss of its use, caused by accident resulting from the ownership, maintenance or use of your car[.] (Emphasis supplied.) On August 30, 1991, their adult son Travis Wertz (Wertz) received permission to use the insured vehicle and thereby became an insured under the policy. He drove to a bar in Aberdeen, South Dakota, to talk to Dawnelle Martin, a woman with whom he had maintained a stormy relationship. In order to hold a more private discussion, the two went outside to Wertz's car to visit. An argument ensued and Wertz drove out of the parking lot, refusing to let Martin leave the vehicle. Wertz headed east from Aberdeen on Highway 12, telling Martin he was going to drive to the Interstate, find a semi-truck, and collide with it in order to kill them both. Wertz had threatened Martin in this manner on previous occasions. However, as the drive continued, Wertz's anger subsided. He returned toward Aberdeen to take Martin home. During the episode, Wertz stopped the vehicle twice; once, to allow Martin to use the restroom and another time to engage in sexual relations with her. Fearing she may be in trouble, Martin's friends left the bar in search of the couple and drove to her residence. Upon seeing the Wertz vehicle, many of Martin's friends jumped into their cars to give chase. Once again, Wertz drove out of Aberdeen with Martin, this time heading north on Highway 281. At times, Wertz veered toward the other cars and, at other times, he simply sped off. One of Martin's friends notified the Brown County Sheriff's Office of the situation. The deputy sheriff arrived on the scene, took over the chase and pursued Wertz to Ellendale, North Dakota. North of Ellendale, a semi-truck owned by Dale Anderson was parked off the road. Still under hot pursuit, Wertz deliberately steered his vehicle toward the parked semi. Martin grabbed the steering wheel in order to avoid a collision. Wertz jerked back the wheel, intentionally causing his vehicle to collide with the parked semi. Martin commenced a civil action against Wertz. She sought damages for false imprisonment, assault, and negligence. Anderson also sued Wertz on a theory of negligence for damage to his truck. State Farm responded by bringing a declaratory judgment action, seeking a determination of its rights and liabilities under the policy. It argued that, since Wertz intentionally collided with the semi, it was not an accident. State Farm alleged it had no obligation to defend Wertz under the policy. The trial court found in pertinent part: Although defendant Travis P. Wertz claimed at the trial that he did not intentionally run into the parked semi, the evidence to the contrary is overwhelming. This court finds that his actions were intentional. The trial court ruled that State Farm had no duty to defend or indemnify Wertz on the assault and false imprisonment claims. The court reasoned that false imprisonment and assault could have been accomplished without the use of a motor vehicle and injuries resulting from such torts were not a foreseeable risk contemplated by the South Dakota Legislature or State Farm. In contrast, the trial court ruled State Farm did have an obligation to defend and indemnify Wertz on the negligence claims filed by Martin and Anderson. The court concluded that the language of the policy and the state's Financial Responsibility Laws provide coverage for injuries sustained by accident. Because the injuries sustained were accidental from the standpoint of the injured parties, the court held State Farm was responsible for defending and indemnifying Wertz. State Farm appeals, raising the following issues: