Court Opinion

ID: 2696905
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 15:45:26.945684+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:59:50.125594
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Allstate Ins. Co. v. Eyster, 189 Ohio App.3d 640, 2010-Ohio-3673.]

                       IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                           THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                               MARION COUNTY

ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY,

        APPELLANT,                                                   CASE NO. 9-10-01

        v.

EYSTER ET AL.,                                                       OPINION

        APPELLEES.

                 Appeal from Marion County Common Pleas Court
                           Trial Court No. 2008 CV 0157

                       Judgment Reversed and Cause Remanded

                             Date of Decision: August 9, 2010

APPEARANCES:

        Adam E. Carr, for appellant.

        Scott E. Wright, for appellees.

        ROGERS, Judge.
Case No. 9-10-01

       {¶1} Plaintiff-appellant, Allstate Insurance Company (“Allstate”), appeals

the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Marion County denying its motion

for summary judgment and granting summary judgment in favor of Jon, Penny,

Keisha, and Kaley Eyster (“the Eysters”). On appeal, Allstate argues that the trial

court erred in granting summary judgment to the Eysters when the trial court

improperly interpreted the resident-relative exclusion in the automobile insurance

policy as not prohibiting liability coverage to Keisha for her sister Kaley’s injuries

sustained during an accident in which Keisha was the vehicle operator.

Additionally, Allstate argues that the trial court abused its discretion in overruling

its motion to strike certain hearsay testimony and parol evidence offered by the

Eysters in support of their motion for summary judgment.              Based on the

following, we reverse the judgment of the trial court.

       {¶2} In February 2008, Allstate filed a complaint for declaratory

judgment against the Eysters, stating that it had provided personal-liability

automobile insurance coverage to the Eysters through an insurance policy issued

to them on July 27, 2007; that Jon is the father of Keisha and Kaley; that Jon and

Penny resided together in Marion, Ohio, and Keisha and Kaley also resided

together at the same Marion, Ohio address as their parents, or at an address in

Tucson, Arizona; that on July 27, 2007, in Arizona, Keisha negligently operated

an automobile resulting in bodily injury to Kaley, who was a passenger in the

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Case No. 9-10-01

vehicle; that Kaley sought recovery for her injuries from Keisha as a result of the

accident; that Keisha demanded that Allstate indemnify her against Kaley’s claim

on the basis that such indemnification was required by the liability coverage under

the Allstate policy; that the Allstate policy excludes liability coverage for “bodily

injury to any person related to an insured person by blood, marriage, or adoption

and residing in that person’s household”; and that consequently, Allstate has no

obligation to indemnify Keisha against the claims of Kaley. Attached to the

complaint was the Allstate policy, which set forth the liability-coverage exclusion

as stated in the complaint. Additionally, the “named insured(s)” under the policy

were “Jon & Penny Or Keisha Eyster,” and at the beginning of the policy was a

section providing that “the following definitions apply throughout the policy

unless otherwise indicated”:

       5. “Insured Auto” means any auto or utility auto you own which is
       described on the Policy Declarations. * * *

       ***

       8. “Resident” means a person who physically resides in your
       household with the intention to continue residence there. * * * Your
       unmarried dependent children while temporarily away from home
       will be considered residents if they intend to resume residing in your
       household.

       ***

       11. “You” or “Your” means the policyholder named on the Policy
       Declarations and that policyholder’s resident spouse.

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Case No. 9-10-01

       12. “Your Insured Auto” means an insured auto you own.

Furthermore, the policy contained an “Additional Definition for Part 1,” wherein

the resident-relative liability exclusion was contained, stating that an “insured

person” means “[w]hile operating your insured auto: a) you, b) any resident

relative, c) and any other person operating it with your permission.”

       {¶3} In July 2009, both Allstate and the Eysters filed a joint stipulation of

the parties, stating as follows:

       (1) Defendants Jon and Penny Eyster have lived for the past
       sixteen years at 1937 Chapel Heights Road, Marion, Ohio 44302. *
       **
       (2) Defendant Kaley Eyster and Keisha Eyster are daughters of
       Jon and Penny Eyster. Keisha Eyster is twenty-two years old.
       Kaley Eyster is twenty years old.
       (3) Keisha Eyster lived with her parents until July 2005, shortly
       after her graduation from high school. She then moved in with a
       girlfriend in Columbus, Ohio following a dispute with her parents.
       (4) In September 2005 Keisha moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
       to attend classes at Pennsylvania Culinary Institute. Keisha Eyster
       remained in Pittsburg until September 2006, when she completed
       her classes.
       (5) In September 2006 Keisha Eyster moved to Arizona for a four-
       month externship with Marriott as an assistant baker. She
       successfully completed the externship, received her associate
       degree, and was hired by Marriott as a line cook at the same facility
       where she had worked as an extern.
       (6) From December 2006 until June 2008 Keisha Eyster lived in
       an apartment at 1528 North Dodge Boulevard, Tuscon, AZ 85716.
       This is where she was living on July 27, 2007, the date of the
       accident at issue.
       (7) Keisha was a little homesick in Arizona so she asked her sister
       Kaley Eyster to come stay with her. At that time, Kaley Eyster was
       living with her parents. Kaley Eyster traveled to Arizona in April
       2007 and stayed with her sister until August 2007. On July 27,

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Case No. 9-10-01

      2007, the date of the accident at issue, Kaley Eyster was staying in
      the apartment rented by Keisha Eyster.
      (8) Shortly after Kaley Eyster arrived in Arizona, she got a job at
      Marriott as a cafeteria assistant. This did not require any culinary
      training such as Keisha Eyster had. * * * Kaley Eyster got the job
      in order to pay for her personal expenses in Arizona.
      (9) Kaley Eyster continued working at the Marriott in Arizona
      from April 2007 until July 2007, shortly before she was scheduled
      to leave.
      (10) Kaley Eyster was originally scheduled to travel to Ohio on July
      31, 2007 and she had purchased an airline ticket to fly to the airport
      in Columbus, OH on that date. The Eysters allege that on July 31,
      2007, Kaley was in the hospital because of injuries received in the
      accident on July 27, 2007. * * *
      (11) Kaley Eyster purchased her airline ticket from Orbitz, a travel
      website. The email confirmation from Orbitz shows a credit card
      billing address of 1528 North Dodge Boulevard, Tuscon, Arizona
      85716. This was the address on file with Kaley Eyster’s bank at the
      time of the accident of July 27, 2007.
      (12) Kaley Eyster had a checking account and a credit card with the
      same bank. In May 2007 she advised the bank of a change of
      address to 1528 North Dodge Boulevard, Tuscon, Arizona 85716.
      The bank statements had previously gone to the home of her parents
      in Marion, Ohio. Kaley Eyster says she changed her address
      because she did not want her father opening her mail. On July 27,
      2007 Kaley Eyster was receiving her checking account statement
      and credit card statement at 1528 North Dodge Boulevard, Tuscon,
      Arizona 85716. This was the apartment Keisha Eyster was renting
      and where Kaley Eyster was staying.
      (13) Kaley Eyster alleges that she was suspended from OSU Marion
      for three quarters following the Winter 2007 quarter based on her
      deficient academic performances. She was eligible to return in
      January 2008 for the Winter 2008 quarter. Financial aid forms for
      the 2007-2008 academic year were due in March 2007. Kaley
      Eyster alleges that she had submitted the forms. She did resume her
      attendance at OSU Marion in the Winter 2008 quarter.
      (14) On July 27, 2007 Keisha Eyster was driving the 2002 Honda
      Civic listed on the Allstate policy issued to Jon and Penny Eyster.
      Keisha Eyster’s sister, Kaley Eyster, was her passenger. Kaley
      Eyster claims that Keisha Eyster was negligent in her operation of

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Case No. 9-10-01

          the vehicle and that Kaley Eyster suffered bodily injury as the direct
          and proximate result of her sister’s negligence. The accident
          occurred on a state route within the tribal lands owned by the
          Tohono O’odham [sic] Nation in Arizona.
          (15) The parties agree that on July 27, 2007, Kaley Eyster was
          working in Arizona, staying overnight in her sister’s apartment in
          Arizona, and had been doing both for more than three months. The
          parties agree that the evidence indicates that Kaley Eyster intended
          to travel to Ohio thereafter.
          (16) The parties dispute whether Kaley Eyster was a “resident” of
          her sister’s apartment while she was staying there.

          {¶4} In September 2009, Allstate filed a motion for summary judgment,

arguing that no genuine issues of material fact existed on the matter of Keisha’s

liability coverage for Kaley’s bodily injury claim because the insurance policy

excluded liability coverage to a resident relative of an “insured person,” and Kaley

lived with Keisha and her parents, who were both “insured persons” under the

policy.

          {¶5} On October 2, 2009, the Eysters filed a response to Allstate’s motion

for summary judgment and their own motion for summary judgment, arguing that

no genuine issue of material fact existed on Keisha’s claim for liability coverage

under the insurance policy, as the exception to liability coverage for a resident

relative of an “insured person” did not apply because Kaley was not a resident of

Keisha’s household and because the policy cannot be logically interpreted to

include Jon and Penny as “insured person[s]” under the policy exception, as the

exception implies that the “insured person” means the tortfeasor.

                                           -6-
Case No. 9-10-01

       {¶6} Additionally, the affidavits of Jon, Penny, Keisha, and Kaley Eyster

were filed with the trial court. Kaley stated that she was a sophomore at Ohio

State University, Marion campus; that she was living with her parents at 1947

Chapel Heights Road, Marion, Ohio; that she visited her sister Keisha in Arizona

from April 2007 until August 2007; that she had no intention of staying in Arizona

with Keisha and was planning on returning home at the end of the summer; that

she was registered to vote in Marion, Ohio; that when she submitted financial aid

information in March 2007 to continue her education at Ohio State University, she

listed her address as that of her parents’ residence; that when she went to Arizona,

she did not have an official return date but discussed with her parents and

boyfriend about returning at the end of July; that when she was in Arizona, she

worked at Marriott and lived with Keisha; that she worked at Marriott until the

day before the accident; that she purchased an airline ticket for July 31, 2007, to

return to Ohio; that while in Arizona, she changed the address on her bank account

to 1528 North Dodge Boulevard, Tuscon, Arizona, because she did not want her

father to open her bank statements that were being sent to her parents’ residence;

that she did not pay for the groceries, utilities, or rent while she lived with Keisha;

that she was injured in an auto accident in which Keisha was the driver on July 27,

2007; and that as a result of the accident, she was not able to return home on her

scheduled flight.

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Case No. 9-10-01

      {¶7} Penny stated in her deposition that Kaley went to Arizona to visit

Keisha in April 2007; that she planned on returning to Marion at the end of the

summer; that her original return date was delayed due to injuries she sustained in

an auto accident; and that Kaley returned in August 2007 and currently lived with

her and Jon.

      {¶8} Jon stated in his deposition that he notified Allstate of Keisha’s

change of address when she moved to Pittsburgh and, later, Arizona; that Kaley

went to visit Keisha in Arizona in April 2007; that Kaley worked while staying

with Keisha; that while in Arizona, Kaley received her bank statements at

Keisha’s address; and that Kaley went to Arizona for an “extended vacation.”

      {¶9} Keisha stated in her deposition that her address while residing in

Arizona was on North Dodge Boulevard in Tucson; that while residing in Arizona,

she worked as a cook for Marriott; that Kaley stayed with her in Arizona from

April 2007 until August 2007; that she asked Kaley to come to Arizona because

she was homesick, and Kaley planned to come only for the summer; that Kaley

worked at Marriott with her while she was in Arizona to pay for her own

expenses; that Kaley did not pay any of the rent or utilities at the residence, but

paid for some of her food and gas for the car when she drove; that Kaley received

her bank statement for her credit card at the Arizona address, but she received no

other mail at the address; that Kaley stopped working at Marriott sometime

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Case No. 9-10-01

between July 20 and 26, 2007; and that Kaley planned to return to Ohio on July

31, 2007, but was delayed because of the injuries she sustained in the automobile

accident.

       {¶10} Moreover, the Eysters filed Kaley’s affidavit, to which they attached

her certificate of voter registration from Marion County, which indicated her

status as a registered voter as of February 2007, with her address being that of her

parents’ residence at 1947 Chapel Heights Road, Marion, Ohio. Also attached

was Kaley’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (“FAFSA”), completed in

Spring 2007, for the 2007-2008 academic year, which also indicated that her

address was that of her parents’ residence.

       {¶11} On October 19, 2009, Allstate filed a motion to strike Kaley’s

certificate of voter registration and FAFSA form, arguing that the certificate of

voter registration was inadmissible hearsay under Evid.R. 803(A) and that the

FAFSA form was not a form she had completed, but a compilation of information

from an institution, to which she was not competent to testify. Furthermore,

Allstate argued that Jon’s deposition testimony indicating that he had notified

Allstate of Keisha’s move from the family’s Marion, Ohio residence should also

be stricken, as it was inadmissible hearsay under Evid.R. 801(C) and in violation

of the parol evidence rule because the insurance policy provided that each family

member, including Keisha, resided at the Marion, Ohio residence.            Finally,

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Case No. 9-10-01

Allstate also argued that Keisha’s deposition testimony that Kaley never intended

to permanently stay with her in Arizona should be stricken, as she was not

competent to testify regarding Kaley’s intentions.

      {¶12} In December 2009, the trial court denied Allstate’s motion for

summary judgment and granted summary judgment to the Eysters, stating the

following in its judgment entry.

      (1) Kaley Eyster was a resident in the household of her parents, Jon
      and Penny Eyster at the time of the crash on July 27, 2007. Kaley
      was not a resident of her sister Keisha’s household in Arizona at the
      time of the crash.
      (2) The resident relative exclusion in the liability section of the
      Allstate policy does not preclude coverage for Defendant Kaley
      Eyster for the injuries and damages proximately caused by the
      negligence of Keisha Eyster in the July 27, 2007 motor vehicle crash,
      since Kaley was not a resident with Keisha in Arizona.
      (3) The claimed exclusion does not preclude coverage if Kaley is a
      resident with her parents in Marion, Ohio since they were not the
      tortfeasor responsible for Kaley’s injuries.
      (4) The term “that” in the resident relative exclusion refers to
      Keisha Eyster’s household in Arizona and is inapplicable to Jon and
      Penny Eyster’s household in Marion, Ohio.

      {¶13} It is from this judgment that Allstate appeals, presenting the

following assignments of error for our review.

                           Assignment of Error No. I

             The trial court erred in failing to issue a declaratory judgment
      that the Allstate policy excluded liability insurance coverage for
      bodily injuries claimed by appellee Kaley Eyster.

                           Assignment of Error No. II

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Case No. 9-10-01

             The trial court abused its discretion by overruling Allstate’s
      motion to strike certain hearsay testimony and parol evidence
      offered by the appellees in support of their motion for summary
      judgment.

                            Assignment of Error No. I

      {¶14} In its first assignment of error, Allstate argues that the trial court

erred in failing to grant its motion for summary judgment.         Specifically, it

contends that because the insurance policy excluded liability coverage for injuries

sustained to a resident relative of an “insured person,” it was not required to

provide liability coverage for Kaley’s injury claim against her sister Keisha, when

Kaley was a resident relative of Keisha’s and her parents’ household and both

were an “insured person” under the policy.

      {¶15} An appellate court reviews a summary judgment order de novo.

Hillyer v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (1999), 131 Ohio App.3d 172, 175.

Accordingly, a reviewing court will not reverse an otherwise correct judgment

merely because the lower court used different or erroneous reasons as the basis for

its determination. Diamond Wine & Spirits, Inc. v. Dayton Heidelberg Distrib.

Co., 148 Ohio App.3d 596, 2002-Ohio-3932, citing State ex rel. Cassels v. Dayton

City School Dist. Bd. of Edn. (1994), 69 Ohio St.3d 217, 222. Summary judgment

is appropriate when, looking at the evidence as a whole, (1) there is no genuine

issue as to any material fact, (2) reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion,

and that conclusion is adverse to the party against whom the motion for summary

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Case No. 9-10-01

judgment is made, and, therefore, (3) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a

matter of law. Civ.R. 56(C); Horton v. Harwick Chem. Corp. (1995), 73 Ohio

St.3d 679, 686-687. If any doubts exist, the issue must be resolved in favor of the

nonmoving party. Murphy v. Reynoldsburg (1992), 65 Ohio St.3d 356, 358-359.

       {¶16} The party moving for summary judgment has the initial burden of

producing some evidence that demonstrates the lack of a genuine issue of material

fact. Dresher v. Burt (1996), 75 Ohio St.3d 280, 293. In doing so, the moving

party is not required to produce any affirmative evidence, but must identify those

portions of the record that affirmatively support his argument. Id. at 292. The

nonmoving party must then rebut with specific facts showing the existence of a

genuine triable issue; he may not rest on the mere allegations or denials of his

pleadings. Id.; Civ.R. 56(E).

       {¶17} An insurance policy is a contract, and its interpretation is a matter of

law for the court. Sharonville v. Am. Emp. Ins. Co., 109 Ohio St.3d 186, 2006-

Ohio-2180, ¶6.     The coverage under an insurance policy is determined by

construing the contract “in conformity with the intention of the parties as gathered

from the ordinary and commonly understood meaning of the language employed.”

King v. Nationwide Ins. Co. (1988), 35 Ohio St.3d 208, 211. Contract terms are to

be given their plain and ordinary meaning, Dunson v. Home-Owners Ins. Co., 3d

Dist. No. 5-09-37, 2010-Ohio-1928, ¶13, and “[w]hen the contract is clear and

                                        -12-
Case No. 9-10-01

unambiguous, the court ‘may look no further than the four corners of the insurance

policy to find the intent of the parties.’” Fed. Ins. Co. v. Executive Coach Luxury

Travel, Inc., 3d Dist. Nos. 1-09-17 and 1-09-18, 2009-Ohio-5910, ¶23, quoting

McDaniel v. Rollins, 3d Dist. No. 1-04-82, 2005-Ohio-3079, ¶32.

       {¶18} However, when a portion of an insurance contract is reasonably

susceptible of more than one interpretation, it will be strictly construed against the

insurer and in favor of the insured. Niemeyer v. W. Res. Mut. Cas. Co., 3d Dist.

No. 12-09-03, 2010-Ohio-1710, ¶9, citing King, 35 Ohio St.3d 208, at syllabus.

Nevertheless, this rule of insurance-policy interpretation will not be applied in an

unreasonable manner. Westfield Ins. Co. v. Galatis, 100 Ohio St.3d 216, 2003-

Ohio-5849, ¶14.

       {¶19} Furthermore, when an insurance contract contains exceptions to

coverage, there is a presumption that all coverage applies unless it is clearly

excluded in the contract. Bosserman Aviation Equip. v. U.S. Liab. Ins. Co., 183

Ohio App.3d 29, 2009-Ohio-2526, ¶11, citing Andersen v. Highland House Co.

(2001), 93 Ohio St.3d 547, 549. “Accordingly, in order for an insurer to defeat

coverage through a clause in the insurance contract, it must demonstrate that the

clause in the policy is capable of the construction it seeks to give it, and that such

construction is the only one that can be fairly placed upon the language.” Id.

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Case No. 9-10-01

      {¶20} The party seeking to recover under an insurance policy bears the

burden of proof to demonstrate that the policy provides coverage for the particular

loss. Chicago Title Ins. Co. v. Huntington Natl. Bank (1999), 87 Ohio St.3d 270,

273. However, “when an insurer denies liability coverage based upon a policy

exclusion, the insurer bears the burden of demonstrating the applicability of the

exclusion.” Beaverdam Contracting, Inc. v. Erie Ins. Co., 3d Dist. No. 1-08-17,

2008-Ohio-4953, ¶19, citing Continental Ins. Co. v. Louis Marx & Co., Inc.

(1980), 64 Ohio St.2d 399, syllabus.

      {¶21} Resident-relative liability exclusions have been found to be valid in

Ohio as a means to prevent fraudulent intrafamilial lawsuits brought for the sole

purpose of reaping a monetary windfall through an insurance policy.            See

Dairyland Ins. Co. v. Finch (1987), 32 Ohio St.3d 360, overruled on other

grounds, State Farm Auto Ins. Co. v. Alexander (1992), 62 Ohio St.3d 397,

syllabus; Nussbaum v. Progressive Cas. Ins. Co. (1988), 61 Ohio App.3d 1, 6;

Kelly v. Auto-Owners Ins. Co., 1st Dist. No. 050450, 2006-Ohio-3599, ¶11.

Furthermore, a resident of a household for purposes of an insurance policy has

been defined as “one who lives in the home of the named insured for a period of

some duration or regularity, although not necessarily there permanently, but

exclud[ing] a temporary or transient visitor.” Farmers Ins. of Columbus, Inc. v.

Taylor (1987), 39 Ohio App.3d 68, 70. See also Am. States Ins. Co. v. Guillermin

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Case No. 9-10-01

(1996), 108 Ohio App.3d 547, 553; Nationwide Ins. Co. v. Alli, 178 Ohio App.3d

17, 2008-Ohio-4318, ¶26.

      {¶22} In the case at bar, the insurance policy for Keisha, Jon, and Penny

provided an exclusion for liability coverage for injuries sustained by any resident

relative of an “insured person,” and Allstate contends that whether Kaley was a

resident of Keisha’s or her parents’ household does not have a bearing on whether

the liability exclusion applies, as Keisha, Jon, and Penny were all “insured

person[s]” under the policy.

      {¶23} In viewing the evidence presented, we find that Kaley was not a

resident of Keisha’s household, but of her parents’ household, as evidenced by her

temporary stay in Arizona and intent to return to Ohio. The policy defines a

resident as “a person who physically resides in your household with the intention

to continue residence there. * * * Your unmarried dependent children while

temporarily away from home will be considered residents if they intend to resume

residing in your household.” Moreover, appellate courts have consistently found

that a resident, for purposes of an insurance policy, excludes a temporary or

transient visitor. See Farmers Ins. of Columbus, Inc., 39 Ohio App.3d at 70; Am.

States Ins. Co., 108 Ohio App.3d at 553.

      {¶24} Here, testimony was presented by Kaley, Keisha, Jon, and Penny

that Kaley intended to stay with Keisha only for the summer; that Kaley lived with

                                       -15-
Case No. 9-10-01

her parents prior to her stay with Keisha; that her stay with Keisha was only

temporary, from April until August; and that Kaley returned to Ohio to live with

her parents and attend school after her recovery from the accident. Although

evidence was presented that Kaley obtained employment while staying with

Keisha, testimony was also presented that this employment was only for the

summer, and that Kaley stopped working shortly before her planned return to

Ohio.

        {¶25} However, although Kaley was a resident relative of her parents’

household and not Keisha’s household under the policy does not mean that the

liability exclusion does not apply. Allstate contends that the policy language

clearly includes both Jon and Penny Eyster as an “insured person” under the

liability exclusion, meaning that the exclusion would apply under these

circumstances because Kaley was a resident relative of her parents’ household.

However, the Eysters argue that the liability exclusion applies only if Kaley was a

resident relative of Keisha’s household, as the term “insured person” under the

liability exclusion refers to the tortfeasor. This is so because the policy language

uses the word “that” to modify “person’s household,” with “that” indicating the

person understood from the situation, which must be the tortfeasor under a plain

and ordinary interpretation of the policy. Further, because the policy names the

insureds as Jon and Penny “or” Keisha, it thereby creates two separate groups for

                                       -16-
Case No. 9-10-01

insurance purposes and refutes any argument that all three be treated as one

“insured person” under the policy. Furthermore, the Eysters argue that if we find

the policy to be ambiguous on the issue of whether “insured person” includes

Keisha and Jon and Penny, we must interpret the policy against Allstate.

       {¶26} Here, the policy language provides liability exclusion for “bodily

injury to any person related to an insured person by blood, marriage, or adoption

and residing in that person’s household.” The policy exclusion defines “insured

person” as “[w]hile operating your insured auto: a) you, b) any resident relative, c)

any other person operating it with your permission;” “insured auto” as “any auto

or utility auto you own which is described on the Policy Declarations;” and, “you”

or “your” as “the policyholder named on the Policy Declarations and that

policyholder’s resident spouse.”

       {¶27} After reviewing the resident-relative exclusion in pari materia with

the rest of the policy, and interpreting the policy terms according to their plain and

ordinary meaning and the definitions given, we find that the term “insured person”

under the exclusion refers to Keisha and Jon and Penny. The definition for

“insured person” includes “you” while “operating your insured auto.” “You” and

“your” is defined in the policy as the policyholder as listed in the policy

declaration, which would include Jon and Penny, and/or Keisha. Furthermore,

Keisha was operating a vehicle listed in the policy declarations.

                                        -17-
Case No. 9-10-01

       {¶28} Moreover, the use of “or” in the policy cannot logically be construed

to mean that Allstate meant that either Keisha or Jon and Penny could be an

“insured person” under the policy, and contrary to the Eysters’ assertion, we also

do not find that “insured person” refers to the tortfeasor. There is no language

indicating that the term should be interpreted in that manner, including no use of

the word “tortfeasor” in the definition of “insured person.”

       {¶29} Furthermore, the Eysters’ argument that the resident-relative

exclusion refers to the tortfeasor is premised on the language in the definition of

“insured person” included in Part I of the policy, where the resident-relative

exclusion is found. However, the “insured person” definition is only an additional

definition for Part I of the policy and must also be read in conjunction with the

other definitions of “You” or “Your” contained at the beginning of the policy,

defined as “the policyholder named on the Policy Declarations and that

policyholder’s resident spouse.” The Eysters, and ultimately the trial court, failed

to consider that the additional definitions for Part I did not exclude other

definitions contained within the policy and that an “insured person” must be

interpreted according to those other definitions.

       {¶30} Consequently, because the plain language of the policy excludes

liability coverage for injuries sustained to a resident relative of an “insured

person,” because Jon and Penny were both an “insured person” under the policy,

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Case No. 9-10-01

and because Kaley was a resident relative of Jon and Penny’s household, we find

that the liability exclusion applies to exclude Kaley’s injury claim against Keisha

from liability coverage under the policy.

       {¶31} Accordingly, we sustain Allstate’s first assignment of error.

                            Assignment of Error No. II

       {¶32} In its second assignment of error, Allstate argues that the trial court

abused its discretion in admitting certain hearsay testimony and parol evidence.

Our disposition of Allstate’s first assignment of error renders its second

assignment of error moot, and we decline to address it. App.R. 12(A)(1)(c).

       {¶33} Having found error prejudicial to the appellant herein, in the

particulars assigned and argued in its first assignment of error, we reverse the

judgment of the trial court and remand for further proceedings consistent with this

opinion.

                                                                Judgment reversed
                                                              and cause remanded.

       WILLAMOWSKI, P.J., and SHAW, J., concur.

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