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

Heading: The WWI Appeal

Text: On appeal, WWI argues that the circuit court erred in: (1) granting summary judgment on May 12, 1998 in favor of Plaintiffs and against WWI when there were genuine issues of material fact, including (a) whether Taft had been sued as a co-employee of Rapoza or executive officer of Tri-S, and (b) whether Taft had a reasonable expectation of coverage under Tri-S's comprehensive general loss (CGL) insurance policy issued by WWI; (2) concluding that Taft was an insured as defined in the CGL policy; (3) concluding that no exclusion to coverage applied; (4) concluding that occurrence as defined in the CGL policy included wilful and wanton misconduct; (5) concluding that WWI breached its duty to defend Taft in the underlying wrongful death action and thus was obligated to reimburse TSC-Taft for its share of $124,644.07 in attorney's fees and costs expended by TSC-Taft in defending that suit and prosecuting the instant declaratory judgment action; (6) concluding that WWI had not rebutted the presumption that Taft was covered under the CGL policy and thus WWI had a duty to indemnify Taft for special and general damages for which he might be held liable in the underlying action; (7) denying WWI's motion for reconsideration on July 13, 1998 on the grounds that WWI had failed to present any new evidence that could not have been presented in the original motion; and (8) calculating and awarding prejudgment interest accruing from September 6, 2000 even though there was no showing of unreasonable delay by WWI and Travelers in moving to judgment. Accordingly, WWI prays that the judgment below be vacated and remanded with directions to enter judgment in favor of WWI. TSC-Taft responds that the circuit court did not err with respect to any of the points presented by WWI and thus the judgment below should be affirmed. The Rapoza Estate, in a separate answering brief, essentially seconds the defense of the circuit court judgment mounted by TSC-Taft. Finally, Travelers also takes issue with WWI's appeal, although only to the extent WWI raises any suggestion, inference, or implication . . . that Travelers somehow provides . . . coverage for Taft with respect to the claims asserted against him[.]