Opinion ID: 734239
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Americas Policy

Text: 11 The comprehensive general liability policy issued to Valsamis by Americas covered bodily and personal injury. For bodily injury, the policy restricted coverage to damages caused by an occurrence, but there was no occurrence requirement for claims of personal injury. The definition of personal injury included injury arising out of false arrest, detention, imprisonment or malicious prosecution, or a publication or utterance ... in violation of an individual's privacy. 12 Gisentaner seeks coverage for her claims in the definition of personal injury in the Americas policy. 2 In her original petition in state court, Valsamis alleged invasion of privacy, which is specifically referenced as a personal injury within Americas policy. She also now alleges that the facts in her complaint state a claim for false detention, also covered in the definition of personal injury. 13 Texas courts do not look to conclusory assertions of a cause of action in determining a duty to defend. Instead, they look to see if the facts giving rise to the alleged actionable conduct, as stated within the eight corners of the complaint, constitute a claim potentially within the insurance coverage. Adamo v. State Farm Lloyds Co., 853 S.W.2d 673 (Tex.App.-Houston 1993, writ denied). We will therefore look to see if Gisentaner alleged facts that constitute a claim for invasion of privacy or false imprisonment under Texas law to determine whether Americas had a duty to defend.
14 The Texas Supreme Court first recognized the tort of invasion of privacy in Billings v. Atkinson, 489 S.W.2d 858, 859 (Tex.1973). Texas law now recognizes three distinct torts, any of which constitutes an invasion of privacy. 3 Industrial Found. of the South v. Texas Indus. Accident Bd., 540 S.W.2d 668, 682 (Tex.1976), cert. denied, 430 U.S. 931, 97 S.Ct. 1550, 51 L.Ed.2d 774 (1977). Gisentaner did not allege that Valsamis publicly disclosed embarrassing private facts about her or appropriated her name or likeness. Gisentaner's allegations come closest to fitting the cause of action for invasion of privacy where there has been intrusion upon the plaintiff's seclusion or solitude, or into his private affairs. Texas Indus. Accident Bd., 540 S.W.2d at 682. However, no Texas court has considered whether sexual harassment is cognizable under this definition, therefore we must assess whether Texas courts could find that Gisentaner stated a claim for invasion of the right to privacy. 15 To state a cause of action under this theory of invasion of the right to privacy, Texas case law requires proof that there was an intentional intrusion upon the solitude or seclusion of another or his private affairs or concerns that is highly offensive to a reasonable person. Farrington v. Sysco Food Serv., Inc., 865 S.W.2d 247, 252 (Tex.Ct.App.-Houston 1993); Gill v. Snow, 644 S.W.2d 222, 224 (Tex.Ct.App.-Ft. Worth 1982). However, at least one Texas court has noted that this type of invasion of privacy is generally associated with either a physical invasion of a person's property or eavesdropping on another's conversation with the aid of wiretaps, microphones or spying. Wilhite v. H.E. Butt Co., 812 S.W.2d 1, 6 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 1991). Gisentaner made no such allegation in her complaint. In contrast, she alleged that Valsamis and Papapetrou made offensive comments and inappropriate advances toward her. These facts would not be cognizable as a cause of action for invasion of privacy under Texas law.
16 Americas' policy defines personal injury to include claims of false imprisonment. Gisentaner claims that the incident where Papapetrou tried to force himself on her in a closet at work states a cause of action for false imprisonment under Texas law. Texas law defines false imprisonment as willful detention without consent and without authority of law. Sears, Roebuck & Co. v. Castillo, 693 S.W.2d 374, 375 (Tex.1985). However, Gisentaner alleged that Papapetrou attempted to force himself on her in an unlocked supply room accessible to other employees. She did not allege that he kept her there by physical force or by threatening her. She did not allege detention and therefore her allegations are insufficient to state a claim for false imprisonment under Texas law. See Randall's Food Markets, Inc. v. Johnson, 891 S.W.2d 640 (Tex.1995).