Opinion ID: 2639532
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Travelers Cross-Appeal

Text: In its cross-appeal, Travelers contends that the circuit court erred in: (1)(a) concluding in its May 12, 1998 summary judgment order that Taft was sued as a co-employee of Rapoza, and (b) applying that conclusion to Travelers when Travelers was not a party to the lawsuit in 1998 and did not have an opportunity to be heard on the issue; (2) concluding that Taft had a reasonable expectation of coverage under Tri-S's worker's compensation and employer's liability insurance policy issued by Travelers; (3) granting WWI's motion for leave to file a third-party complaint for indemnification and contribution against Travelers; (4) granting TSC-Taft's motion to certify Doe Corporation ( i.e., the motion to add Travelers as a direct defendant); (5) granting summary judgment on May 7, 2001 in favor of Plaintiffs and WWI and against Travelers when there were genuine issues of material fact, including how much of Tri-S's stock Taft held at the time of Rapoza's death; (6) concluding that (a) Article 19, Section 2 of Tri-S's bylaws requires that the corporation indemnify Taft as a director and officer for all liability in connection with the death of Rapoza, and (b) Taft properly tendered the defense of his indemnity claim to Travelers; (7) concluding that Travelers breached a duty to defend and indemnify Taft for fees, costs, and damages in connection with the wrongful death action and thus was obligated to reimburse TSC-Taft for its share of $124,644.07 attorney's fees and costs expended by TSC-Taft in defending that suit and prosecuting the instant declaratory judgment action; and (8) calculating and awarding prejudgment interest accruing from September 6, 2000 even though there was no showing of unreasonable delay by Travelers in moving to judgment. Therefore, like WWI, Travelers asks this court to vacate the judgment below and remand for entry of judgment in its favor. TSC-Taft again counters that the judgment below was correct and should be affirmed. The Rapoza Estate joins in the answering brief of TSC-Taft on cross-appeal. WWI did not file an answering brief to Travelers' opening brief on cross-appeal. Based on the following, we affirm the circuit court's final judgment in favor of Plaintiffs and against WWI, but vacate the judgment against Travelers and remand for entry of judgment in favor of Travelers and against Plaintiffs and WWI.