Opinion ID: 1057335
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Myer Bentob

Text: ¶ 11. Appellants argue that no claim for which relief can be granted was asserted against Myer Bentob , and that the superior court accordingly did not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the question of whether he had coverage. We agree. ¶ 12. In this action, NSIC sought a declaration that “neither the Policy nor any other policy of insurance it has issued provides coverage . . . for the liabilities asserted” in the Bates lawsuit. As noted above, Mr. Bentob was not named in the Bates lawsuit and, naturally enough, did not seek coverage for liabilities arising out of it. As to Mr. Bentob , the declaration requested would have been that he was not entitled to something he had never sought, and which he had no reason to seek. Whether he was entitled to such a declaration is just the sort of “abstract question or hypothetical threat [that] is not a sufficient basis for a declaratory judgment.” Williams v. State , 156 Vt. 42, 60, 589 A.2d 840, 851 (1990). Mr. Bentob should have been dismissed from the action. V.R.C.P. 12(b )( 6). [2]