Opinion ID: 2338365
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Whether Stacy Was A Passenger

Text: Part of Gallegos's attack on the motor vehicle exclusion is in the form of a syllogism. She urges, as her major premise, that, even if § 19-202 permits an exclusion for offsite injuries resulting from the ownership, use, or occupancy of a motor vehicle, that exclusion would be permissible only if the injury was otherwise covered under the motor vehicle policy. Her minor premises are (1) that, under the motor vehicle policy, there would be coverage only if Stacy was a passenger in the minivan, and (2) that he was not a passenger. Ergo, she argues, as there was no coverage under the motor vehicle policy, there must be coverage under the homeowner's policy. The argument is flawed because all three of the underlying premises are incorrect. First, as we have already stated, the effect of § 19-202 does not depend on whether an insured even purchases a motor vehicle policy, much less whether he/she purchases a home day care endorsement to such a policy. It was not intended, or effective, to mandate coverage and does not preclude a motor vehicle exclusion under a homeowner's policy. Second, there clearly was liability under the motor vehicle policy in this case; Allstate conceded such liability, and for good reason. Finally, it is ludicrous to suggest that Stacy, strapped into a car seat in the vehicle, was not a passenger. JUDGMENT OF COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS AFFIRMED, WITH COSTS.