Opinion ID: 1366514
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Glen Falls Policy

Text: At the time of the accident at issue, Combs was twenty-two years old and was living with Billie Joe Smith at his home in Lynco, West Virginia. [4] Billie Joe Smith was married to Leneice Combs, Appellant Combs' biological mother, from July 1967 until they divorced in July 1978. Thereafter, Leneice Combs married Clark Combs and Appellant was born of that marriage. Leneice and Clark Combs divorced in 1980, remarried and divorced again in 1983. After the second divorce, Leneice Combs and Billie Joe Smith reestablished their relationship, but did not re-marry. [5] Billie Joe Smith apparently provided emotional and financial support to Appellant Combs and held him out as a son. Although Appellant Combs refers to Mr. Smith as dad, there is no evidence on the record before this Court and no argument has been made, that Billie Joe Smith is Comb's biological father. Further, no argument has been made nor evidence produced that Mr. Smith ever legally adopted Combs or formally accepted legal responsibility for him via guardianship papers or otherwise. On or about January 29, 2002, Glen Falls issued an automobile insurance policy, having a policy period of January 22, 2002 through January 22, 2003, to Billie Joe Smith. Appellant Combs was not a named driver nor an additional insured under this policy. Nevertheless, Combs asserts a claim for underinsured motorist benefits under this policy for injuries sustained in the January 29, 2002 automobile accident arguing that Mr. Smith was his father. The Glen Falls policy defines Covered Person for the purposes of underinsured motorist coverage as: a. You for the ownership, maintenance or use of any vehicle, except for occupying, or when struck by, a vehicle owned by you which is not insured for this coverage under this policy; b. Any family member: (1) Who does not own an automobile for the maintenance or use of any vehicle; (2) Who owns an automobile but only for the use of an insured motor vehicle; Except while occupying or when struck by, a vehicle owned by you or that person which is not insured for this coverage under this policy. (Emphasis in original). The term family member is defined as: 9. Family Member means a person related to you by blood, marriage or adoption who is a resident of your household. This includes a ward or foster child. For the purposes of this definition, to be considered a resident of your household when evaluating coverage for a loss a person must have been actually residing in your household on the date the loss occurred. However, your: a. Son; b. Daughter; c. Ward; or d. Foster child; In the United States military or away at school will be considered a resident of your household unless he or she has demonstrated an intent to reside elsewhere permanently. On or about December 4, 2002, Glen Falls instituted a declaratory judgment action seeking a declaration that Combs' claim for underinsured motorists benefits was not covered under the terms of the policy issued to Billie Joe Smith. An amended complaint for declaratory relief was filed on or about April 9, 2003 seeking substantially the same relief. After discovery, Glen Falls filed a motion for summary judgment seeking a declaration that coverage did not exist under its policy because Appellant Combs was not a family member as defined by the policy terms. Following briefing by the parties, oral argument was held before the circuit court on October 3, 2003. By Order dated December 18, 2003, the circuit court granted Glen Falls' motion for summary judgment finding that Combs did not qualify as either a ward or foster child of Billie Joe Smith. The circuit court found that the term `ward' implies a guardian-ward relationship created by legal process, such as that described in W. Va. Code § 44A-1-2, and that West Virginia law does not support a finding that Johnny Combs qualifies as Billie Joe Smith's foster child. Appellant Combs now appeals the circuit court's ruling to this Court.