Court Opinion

ID: 8484036
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-15 21:02:17.111249+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:49:50.582729
License: Public Domain

2022 IL App (1st) 210628-U

                                                                            SECOND DIVISION
                                                                             November 15, 2022

                                          No. 1-21-0628

NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except in the
limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1).

                                         IN THE
                              APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
                                FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT

 ERIE INSURANCE EXCHANGE,                                     )
                                                              )      Appeal from the
        Plaintiff-Appellee,                                   )      Circuit Court of
                                                              )      Cook County.
 v.                                                           )
                                                              )      No. 19 CH 12138
 DRAGANA PETROVIC,                                            )
                                                              )      Honorable
        Defendant-Appellant.                                  )      Moshe Jacobius,
                                                              )      Judge Presiding.
                                                              )

       PRESIDING JUSTICE FITZGERALD SMITH delivered the judgment of the court.
       Justices Ellis and Cobbs concurred in the judgement.

                                           ORDER

¶1     Held: The circuit court properly granted summary judgment in favor of the insurer
             declaring that it had no duty to indemnify or defend the insureds because the
             underlying accident occurred while the insured was operating his personal vehicle
             during the scope of employment, triggering the “auto exclusion” provision of the
             policy.

¶2     This cause arises from a declaratory judgment action (735 ILCS 5/2-701 (West 2020)) filed

by the plaintiff-appellee, Erie Insurance Exchange (Erie) against the defendants, Aral Construction
No. 1-21-0628

Company (Aral) and Arunas Alasevicius (Alasevicius) and the defendant-appellant, Dragana

Petrovic (Petrovic), seeking a declaration that Erie was not obligated to defend or indemnify Aral

or Alasevicius in the underlying negligence claim brought by Petrovic. In that underlying

negligence claim, 1 Petrovic alleged that she sustained personal injuries and property damage when

a truck driven by Alasevicius struck her open car door as she was exiting her parked car and

knocked her unconscious. Petrovic further alleged that Aral owned or operated the truck that struck

her and that Alasevicius was acting in the scope of his employment with Aral at the time of the

accident. Both Aral and Alasevicius were insured under a commercial general liability policy with

Erie (the insurance policy) at that time. After receiving notice of the underlying negligence claim,

Erie filed the instant declaratory judgment action seeking a declaration that it was not obligated to

indemnify or defend Aral or Alasevicius. Specifically, Erie claimed that: (1) Alasevicius failed to

provide it with proper notice of the accident; and (2) that coverage was barred under the “auto

exclusion” provision of the insurance policy.

¶3         After discovery, Petrovic and Erie filed cross-motions for summary judgment seeking a

declaration regarding Erie’s duty to defend Aral and Alasevicius. The circuit court entered

judgment in favor of Erie and against Petrovic. On appeal, Petrovic seeks reversal of the circuit

court’s order arguing that: (1) Alasevicius provided Erie with sufficient notice of the accident; and

(2) the “auto exclusion” provision of the insurance policy did not bar coverage since, at the time

of the accident, Alasevicius was not acting as an employee of Aral but rather as its executive. For

the following reasons, we affirm.

¶4                                               I. BACKGROUND

¶5         The record below reveals the following undisputed facts and procedural history. The motor

1
    At the time this appeal was filed, the underlying negligence action was still pending in the circuit court.

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No. 1-21-0628

vehicle accident at the heart of the underlying negligence claim occurred on October 25, 2017, at

5706 North Richmond Street in Chicago. Alasevicius was driving a truck when he struck the open

car door of Petrovic’s parked car, as she was attempting to exit it, rendering Petrovic unconscious.

Alasevicius stopped the truck and exited, but when Petrovic regained consciousness, he left.

¶6     On December 13, 2018, Petrovic filed a negligence claim against Alasevicius. On August

28, 2019, she amended her complaint to include Aral. According to that amended complaint,

numerous negligent acts, and omissions by Alasevicius, including, inter alia, his failure to keep a

proper and sufficient lookout, to decrease his speed to avoid a collision, and to keep his truck under

proper control proximately resulted in Petrovic’s bodily injuries and damage to her car.

Specifically, the amended complaint alleged that Petrovic suffered a closed head injury with brain

damage including numerous side effects, such as vision impairment and headaches. Petrovic

incurred $300,000 in medical bills, $75,000 in lost income, and $2085.80 in damage to her car.

¶7     In addition, the amended complaint alleged that Aral owned and/or operated the truck

driven by Alasevicius and that Alasevicius was driving to a job site as part of his employment with

Aral when he struck Petrovic.

¶8     At the time of the accident, Alasevicius was personally insured by State Farm Insurance

(State Farm), while Aral was insured under the insurance policy with Erie.

¶9     The Erie policy titled “Fivestar Contractors Policy No. Q26-1820846” is a commercial

general liability policy and was issued to Aral for the effective dates of February 18, 2017, to

February 18, 2018, with a limit of $1 million. The policy provides liability coverage for bodily

injury and property damage arising from Aral’s business. As the policy states:

       “We will pay those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages,

       including punitive or exemplary damages, but only for vicarious liability to the extent

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No. 1-21-0628

       allowed by law because of ‘bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ to which this insurance

       applies. We have the right and duty to defend the insured against any ‘suit’ seeking those

       damages. However, we will have no duty to defend the insured against any ‘suit’ seeking

       damages for ‘bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ to which this insurance does not apply.”

¶ 10   The insurance policy defines an “insured” in the following manner:

       “SECTION II—WHO IS AN INSURED

       1. If you are designated in the Declarations as

                                                       ***

            d. An organization other than a partnership, joint venture, or a limited liability

            company, you are an insured. Your ‘executive officers’ and ‘directors’ are insureds,

            but only with respect to their duties as your officers or directors. Your stockholders are

            also insureds but only with respect to their liability as stockholders.

                                                       ***

       2. Each of the following is also an insured:

            a. Your ‘volunteer workers’ only while performing duties related to the conduct of your

            business, or your ‘employees,’ other than *** your ‘executive officers’ (if you are an

            organization other than a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company) ***

            but only for acts within the scope of their employment by you or while performing

            duties related to the conduct of your business.”

¶ 11   With respect to the scope of coverage the policy contains numerous exemptions including,

relevant to this appeal, the “auto exclusion” provision, which states that the insurance does not

apply to:

       “ ‘Bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ arising out of the ownership, maintenance, use or

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No. 1-21-0628

       entrustment to others of any *** ‘auto’ *** owned or operated by or rented or loaned to

       any insured. Use includes operation and ‘loading and unloading.’ ”

This provision further provides:

       “This exclusion applies even if the claims against any insured allege negligence or other

       wrongdoing in the supervision, hiring, employment, training or monitoring of others by

       that insured, if the ‘occurrence’ which caused the ‘bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’

       involved the ownership, maintenance, use or entrustment to others of any *** ‘auto’ ***

       that is owned or operated by or rented or loaned to any insured.”

¶ 12   With respect to the timing of a “bodily injury” or “property damage,” the policy provides

that each “will be deemed to have been known to have occurred at the earliest time when” any

insured or any employee authorized by Aral “to give or receive notice of an ‘occurrence’ or claim”:

(1) reports all or part of the injury or property damage to Erie “or any other insurer;” (2) receives

a written or verbal demand or claim for damages based on such an injury or property damage; or

(3) becomes aware by any other means that such an injury or damage has occurred or has begun

to occur.

¶ 13   The insurance policy further contains numerous conditions. Relevant to this appeal, the

condition titled “Duties in the Event of Occurrence, Offense, Claim or Suit” requires the insured

to notify Erie “as soon as practicable of any ‘occurrence’ or an offense which may result in a

claim.” In addition, this provision states that if a claim is made or a suit is brought against an

insured, the insured must “immediately record the specifics” of the claim or suit, as well as “notify”

and provide Erie with written notice of the claim or suit “as soon as practicable.”

¶ 14   Nearly two years after the accident, on September 10, 2019, Alasevicius notified Erie of

the accident and the underlying lawsuit. A month later, on October 21, 2019, Erie filed the instant

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No. 1-21-0628

declaratory judgement action seeking a declaration that it was not required to defend or indemnify

Alasevicius or Aral under the insurance policy. Only Petrovic participated in the declaratory

judgment action. Neither Aral nor Alasevicius filed any pleadings in the circuit court.

¶ 15      During discovery, Alasevicius was deposed and provided the following undisputed

testimony. Alasevicius is a self-employed carpenter. In 2007 he incorporated his company, Aral.

Alasevicius is the president and sole officer and employee of the company. Unlike subcontractors

for Aral, who receive 1099 forms, as an employee of Aral, Alasevicius receives a salary and a W-

9 form.

¶ 16      At the time of the accident, on October 25, 2017, Alasevicius personally owned the 2010

Toyota Tundra truck that struck Petrovic. He purchased the truck in his own name and with a

personal car loan that he paid off in 2015. The car was insured through his personal insurance with

State Farm with a liability limit of $25,000. Alasevicius paid his car insurance monthly using his

personal credit card. He never rented the truck to Aral, nor placed any markings on it denoting that

it was the property of Aral.

¶ 17      On the date of the incident, Alasevicius was operating his truck for work, driving it between

two construction sites, at Lake Avenue in Wilmette and at Hollywood Avenue in Chicago, where

he intended to check on a delivery of materials. One of his subcontractors, Rafal Majestic, was in

the front passenger seat of the truck, when Alasevicius struck Petrovic.

¶ 18      Alasevicius notified State Farm about the accident on October 25, 2018, twelve days after

Petrovic filed her original negligence complaint against him. He stated that at the time of the

accident, he approached Petrovic to make sure that she was alright, after which they both agreed

not to exchange insurance information since there seemed to be no damage to either vehicle, and

Petrovic appeared to be unharmed. Alasevicius was shocked when, one year later, he received

                                                    6
No. 1-21-0628

notice of Petrovic’s negligence complaint against him.

¶ 19   Alasevicius was aware that Erie insured Aral at the time of the accident and that under that

policy he had an obligation to notify Erie of the incident. Alasevicius, however, acknowledged

that he did not notify Erie about the accident until September 10, 2019. He explained that he did

so immediately after he received Petrovic’s amended complaint naming Aral as an additional

defendant in the underlying negligence suit. Prior to this he did not review his insurance policy

with Erie.

¶ 20   On September 9, 2020, Erie filed a motion for summary judgment asserting that it was

entitled to judgment as a matter of law because: (1) Alasevicius breached the notice conditions of

the insurance policy by waiting nearly two years after the accident to notify Erie of what had

occurred; and (2) the “auto exclusion” provision barred coverage of Aral and Alasevicius for the

accident because Alasevicius was operating his own truck when he struck Petrovic.

¶ 21   On September 22, 2020, Petrovic filed her own motion for summary judgment asserting,

inter alia, that she was entitled to judgment as a matter of law because: (1) Alasevicius had met

the notice conditions of Erie’s insurance policy by timely notifying his personal insurer, State

Farm; and (2) the “auto exclusion” provision did not apply.

¶ 22       On January 5, 2021, after extensive arguments, the circuit court entered summary

judgment in favor of Erie and against Petrovic. The court found that because there was no dispute

that the accident arose out of the use of a truck “owned and operated” by Alasevicius the “auto

exclusion” provision in the insurance policy barred coverage. The court further held that because

the “auto exclusion” exception was dispositive, it did not need to reach the late notice issue raised

by Erie.

¶ 23   On February 3, 2021, Petrovic filed a motion to reconsider, arguing that under the plain

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No. 1-21-0628

language of the insurance policy, because Alasevicius was an executive officer, he was only an

“insured” and therefore could only be excluded from coverage under the “auto exclusion”

provision with respect to the performance of his duties as an executive officer. According to

Petrovic, because Erie failed to establish that Alasevicius was managing the business and affairs

of the corporation, i.e., that he had his “corporate hat” on, at the time of the accident, the “auto

exclusion” provision did not apply.

¶ 24   On March 17, 2021, the circuit court denied Petrovic’s motion to reconsider. The court

found that throughout the proceedings Petrovic had made numerous judicial admissions that

Alasevicius could be both an employee and an executive officer of Aral, and that, when the

accident occurred, Alasevicius was, in fact, acting in his role as an employee, triggering the “auto

exclusion” provision. The court further found that the exception applied regardless of Alasevicius’

status as an executive officer or an employee. In addition, the court held that even if the “auto

exclusion” provision could not be triggered by Alasevicius acting as an executive officer, it

nonetheless applied because it was clear that at the time of the accident, he had loaned the truck to

Aral. Petrovic now appeals.

¶ 25                                      II. ANALYSIS

¶ 26   On appeal, Petrovic contends that the circuit court improperly held that the “auto

exclusion” provision of the insurance policy applied to Alasevicius and therefore barred coverage

for the accident. She contends that Erie failed to provide any evidence that at the time of the

accident Alasevicius was acting in the scope of his duties as an “executive officer” of Aral, so as

to be considered an “insured” under the “auto exclusion” provision. In response, Erie contends that

under the plain language of the insurance policy, Alasevicius can simultaneously act as an

“employee” and an “executive officer” of Aral and was therefore an “insured” under the “auto

                                                 8
No. 1-21-0628

exclusion” provision. In addition, Erie argues that regardless of whether the “auto exclusion”

provision bars coverage, it has no duty to defend Aral or Alasevicius because Alasevicius failed

to notify it of the accident until two years after its occurrence and therefore breached the “notice”

conditions of the policy. For the following reasons, we find that the “auto exclusion” provision

dispositively bars coverage and that the circuit court properly granted summary judgment in favor

of Erie.

¶ 27   At the outset, we note that “the construction of an insurance policy and a determination of

the rights and obligations thereunder are questions of law for the court and appropriate subjects

for disposition by summary judgment.” Konami (America), Inc. v. Hartford Insurance Co. of

Illinois, 326 Ill. App. 3d 874, 877 (2002). Summary judgment is appropriate “if the pleadings,

depositions, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no

genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter

of law.” 735 ILCS 5/2-1005(c) (West 2020); see also Green4all Energy Solutions Inc. v. State

Farm Fire & Casualty Co., 2017 IL App (1st) 162499, ¶ 21; see also Virginia Surety Co. v.

Northern Insurance Co. of New York, 224 Ill. 2d 550, 556 (2007). Where, as here, cross-motions

for summary judgment are filed, the parties acknowledge that there are no material questions of

fact and that the case disposition turns solely on the resolution of legal issues regarding the

construction of the insurance policy. Green4all Energy Solutions, 2017 IL App (1st) 162499, ¶ 21;

see also Founders Insurance Co. v. Munoz, 237 Ill. 2d 424, 432 (2010); American Family Mut.

Ins. Co. v. Fisher Development, Inc., 391 Ill. App. 3d 521, 525 (2009). We review the circuit

court’s decision on cross-motions for summary judgment de novo. Virginia Surety Co., 224 Ill. 2d

at 556; see also A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois, Inc. v. Quinn, 2011 IL 110611, ¶ 22.

¶ 28   Just as with any contract, in interpreting the provisions of an insurance policy, a reviewing

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No. 1-21-0628

court’s primary objective is to ascertain and give effect to the intention of the parties, as expressed

in the policy language. Valley Forge Insurance Co. v. Swiderski Electronics, Inc., 223 Ill. 2d 352,

362 (2006). Hobbs v. Hartford Insurance Co. of the Midwest, 214 Ill. 2d 11, 17 (2005). To

ascertain the meaning of the policy, the court must construe the policy as a whole, as well as

consider the risks undertaken, the subject matter that is insured, and the purpose of the entire

contract. Outboard Marine Corp. v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 154 Ill. 2d 90, 108 (1992). Where the

words used in the policy, given their plain and ordinary meaning, are unambiguous, they must be

applied as written. Valley Forge Insurance, 223 Ill. 2d at 363. However, if the words in the policy

are susceptible to more than one reasonable interpretation, they will be considered ambiguous and

will be strictly construed in favor of the insured and against the insurer who drafted the policy. Id.

see also Outboard Marine Corp., 154 Ill. 2d at 108.

¶ 29   To determine whether an insurer has a duty to defend an action against the insured, a

reviewing court must compare the allegations of the underlying complaint to the relevant portions

of the insurance policy. Green4all Energy Solutions, 2017 IL App (1st) 162499, ¶ 24; see also

Valley Forge Insurance, 223 Ill. 2d at 363; Outboard Marine Corp., 154 Ill. 2d at 108. The

allegations must be construed liberally in favor of the insured. Valley Forge Insurance, 223 Ill. 2d

at 363. If the underlying complaint alleges facts that fall “within or potentially within” the coverage

of the policy, the insurer is obligated to defend its insured even if the allegations are “groundless,

false, or fraudulent,” and even if only one of several alleged theories of recovery in the complaint

falls within the potential coverage of the policy. Valley Forge Insurance, 223 Ill. 2d at 363; see

also United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Wilkin Insulation Co., 144 Ill. 2d 64, 73 (1991).

Therefore, an insurer may not justifiably refuse to defend an action against the insured “unless it

is clear from the face of the underlying complaint[] that the allegations fail to state facts which

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No. 1-21-0628

bring the case within, or potentially within the policy’s coverage.” (Emphasis in original.) Wilkin

Insulation Co., 144 Ill. 2d at 73; see also Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. v. Prestige Casualty Co.,

195 Ill. App. 3d 660, 664 (1990) (“Unless the complaint, on its face, clearly alleges facts which, if

true, would exclude coverage, the potentiality of coverage is present, and the insurer has a duty to

defend.”).

¶ 30   An insurer, however, may refuse to defend when the underlying complaint considered in

light of the entire insurance policy, precludes the possibility of coverage. Illinois Emcasco

Insurance Co. v. Northwestern National Casualty Co., 337 Ill. App. 3d 356, 359-60 (2003). A

court may look beyond the allegations of the underlying complaint if the coverage issue involves

the question of whether the party asserting coverage is a proper insured under the policy.

Transcontinental Insurance Co. v. National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, 278 Ill.

App 3d 357, 368 (1996); see also State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. Shelton, 176 Ill. App. 3d 858,

867 (1988); see also Pekin Insurance Co. V. Wilson, 237 Ill. 2d 446, 460 (2010) (holding that the

trial court may look beyond the underlying complaint in determining the duty to defend); see also

American Economy Insurance Co. v. Holabird & Root, 382 Ill. App. 3d 1017, 1024, 1031-32

(2008) (holding that a trial court “need not wear judicial blinders” and may consider evidence

beyond the underlying complaint appropriate to a motion for summary judgment to determine

whether there is a duty to defend); Fidelity & Casualty Co. of New York v. Envirodyne Engineers,

Inc., 122 Ill. App. 3d 301, 304-05 (1983) (holding that an insurer may properly challenge the

existence of a duty to defend “by offering evidence to prove that the insured’s actions fell within

the limitations of one of the policy’s exclusions.”)

¶ 31   In the present case, after reviewing the “auto exclusion” provision in the insurance policy

and comparing it with the allegations in Petrovic’s amended complaint and the pleadings and

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No. 1-21-0628

exhibits offered by the parties we find that Petrovic failed to state facts which either actually or

potentially bring the case within the policy’s coverage.

¶ 32     The insurance policy to Aral is a commercial general liability policy, which contains an

“auto exclusion” provision, explicitly precluding coverage for “bodily injury” or “property

damage” “arising out of the ownership, maintenance, use or entrustment to others of any *** ‘auto’

*** owned or operated by *** any insured.” The policy defines an “insured” as, inter alia: (1)

Aral; (2) Aral’s “executive officers” and “directors” “but only with respect to their duties as [the

company’s] officers or directors”; and (3) Aral’s “ ‘employees’ other than *** [the company’s]

‘executive officers’ *** but only for acts within the scope of their employment by [Aral] or while

performing duties related to the conduct of [Aral’s] business.”

¶ 33     Here Petrovic’s amended complaint seeks recovery for bodily injury and property damage

“arising out of” “ownership” and “use” of an “auto” “owned and operated” by an insured, namely

Alasevicius. Specifically, Petrovic’s amended complaint alleged that she sustained a closed head

injury, incurred medical bills, and property damage to her vehicle when she was struck by a truck

operated by Alasevicius in the scope of his employment with Aral. The complaint further alleged

that at the time of the accident Alasevicius was driving to one of Aral’s job sites, and that Aral

“owned and/or operated” the truck used in the accident. In his deposition, Alasevicius stated that

he personally paid for and owned the truck that struck Petrovic. In addition, he admitted that he

was both the president and sole employee of Aral and that at the time of the accident he was using

his truck for his work with Aral. Specifically, Alasevicius averred that he was driving from one

job site to another to check on a delivery of materials and that he had a subcontractor inside his

truck.

¶ 34     Accordingly, comparing the plain language of the “auto exclusion” provision to Petrovic’s

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No. 1-21-0628

amended complaint and the evidence offered by Alasevicius’ deposition, there can be no dispute

that the accident alleged in the underlying complaint arose from the “use” or “operation” of an

“auto” “owned and operated” by an insured, namely Alasevicius, so as to bar coverage and absolve

Erie from defending Aral and Alasevicius in the underlying lawsuit. See e.g., Northbrook Property

& Casualty Co. v. Transportation Joint Agreement, 194 Ill. 2d 96 (2000) (after examining an

identical “auto exclusion” provision in a commercial general liability policy covering a school

district, the court held that the insurer had no duty to defend the school district against its students’

lawsuit arising from a school bus’s collision with a train because the injuries arose out of the “use

or operation” of a motor vehicle—i.e., the school bus); Oakley Transport v. Zurich Insurance Co.,

271 Ill. App. 3d 716, 726 (1995) (after examining an identical “auto exclusion” provision in a

commercial general liability policy covering a trucking company, the court held that the insurer

had no duty to defend the trucking company in a negligence lawsuit arising from an accident

caused by an employee of the trucking company running off the road while operating a semi-truck

during the course of his employment.)

¶ 35    Our conclusion is supported by the impetus for “auto exclusion” provisions in commercial

general liability policies, such as Erie’s. Oakley Transport, 271 Ill. App. 3d at 726. As we have

explained in the past:

        “The purpose of [an auto] exclusion [provision] is related to the purpose of business

        liability insurance in general. Standard commercial liability policies are issued to cover all

        hazards incident to the operation of a business with the exception of certain excluded risks,

        including those involved in the ownership maintenance, use or entrustment of an ‘auto.’

        The premium charged by the [commercial general liability] insurer reflects the

        underwriting objective of placing automobile accidents beyond the scope of coverage.

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        These latter risks involve unique hazards to which the general business of the insured is

        not subject. For that reason, they are generally covered as a special class by an automobile

        liability policy[.]” Id.

Accord Mid-Continent Casualty Co. v. Advantage Medical Elecs., LLC, 196 So. 3d 238, 245

(Ala. 2015) (the purpose of an “auto exclusion” in a commercial general liability policy “is to

proscribe coverage for liability that should more properly fall under an automobile-liability

policy”); see also BP America, Inc. v. State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance Co., 2005 OK

65, 15 (refusing to read “auto exclusion” provision so that it would “unilaterally convert a

general liability policy –without motor vehicle coverage—into a[n] automotive liability policy.”)

¶ 36    Nonetheless, on appeal, Petrovic attempts to avoid the effect of the “auto exclusion”

provision by arguing that Alasevicius is not an “insured” under the Erie policy because, as an

“executive officer,” he is covered (and therefore can only be excluded from coverage under the

“auto exclusion” provision) with respect to his duties as an executive officer. Petrovic asserts that

Erie was therefore required to affirmatively establish that Alasevicius was acting as an executive

officer at the time of the accident, i.e., that he was managing the business affairs of the corporation,

if it wished to avoid coverage. For the following, we disagree.

¶ 37    At the outset, we note that Petrovic’s argument contradicts her position in the circuit court.

The record reveals that throughout the trial court proceedings, Petrovic made numerous judicial

admissions that under the insurance policy Alasevicius could be both an executive officer and an

employee, and that at the time of the accident he was in fact performing work as an ordinary

employee of Aral, so as to trigger the “auto exclusion” provision.

¶ 38    A judicial admission is a deliberate, clear, unequivocal statement by a party concerning a

concrete fact within that party’s knowledge. 1550 MP Road, LLC v. Teamsters Local Union No.

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700, 2019 IL 123046, ¶ 37. Judicial admissions include admissions in pleadings as well as

admissions in open court. Dremco, Inc. v. Hartz Construction Co., 261 Ill. App. 3d 531, 536

(1994); see also Bank of N.Y. Mellon v. Wojcik, 2019 IL App (1st) 180845, ¶ 31 (An admission in

an unverified pleading signed by an attorney is binding on the party as a judicial admission). The

effect of a judicial admission is to withdraw a fact from issue, making it unnecessary for the

opposing party to introduce evidence in support thereof. Freedberg v. Ohio Nat’l Ins. Co., 2012

IL App (1st) 110938, ¶ 31. Judicial admissions are conclusively binding on a party and, thus, may

not be contradicted in a motion for summary judgment or at trial. 1550 MP Road, 2019 IL 123046,

¶ 37.

¶ 39    In the present case, Petrovic made numerous unequivocal judicial admissions that

Alasevicius was an employee not performing work as an executive officer. In her motion for

summary judgment, she stated that “[a]t the time of the accident, Alasevicius was an employee of

Aral, and was operating a motor vehicle owned by him personally in the furtherance of his

employment with Aral.” Similarly, in her reply brief to her motion for summary judgment, Petrovic

repeatedly argued that Alasevicius was an employee and not an executive officer. Specifically, she

began, “At the time of the accident, Alasevicius was an employee of Aral, and was operating a

motor vehicle owned by him personally in the furtherance of his employment with Aral.” She went

on, “In the accident Alasevicius was an employee of Aral, not an Executive Officer.” (Emphasis

added). Petrovic then explained “Nothing allege[d] in the underlying pleadings, or common sense,

would sustain an argument that a building contractor, an employee, traveling between [two]

jobsites, was in a role as an officer or director of a company. He was just acting as an employee

for a construction company, and there is no evidence otherwise.” (Emphasis added). Petrovic then

concluded that “Alasevicius was an employee of Aral at the time of the accident. That is not in

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dispute.”

¶ 40   In addition, during the hearing on the cross-motions for summary judgment, Petrovic’s

counsel admitted with absolute certainty that at the time of the accident, Alasevicius was an

employee and that he was not acting in his capacity as an executive officer. As the record of that

hearing establishes:

            “THE COURT: I thought you just agreed that he was acting as director or officer.

            [Perovic’s counsel] MR. MARKS: No, I don’t think he was acting as a director at the

       time when this—he was acting as the employee, which he is an actual employee of the

       company.

            THE COURT: Hold on. I’ll let you speak. I just need to understand what you are saying.

            I just asked you, I said, do you agree that he was acting as an officer, and what I

       understood you to say was, yeah, he was in the construction business. He was the president,

       so he was basically carrying on a business as president of this construction company,

       overseeing the construction.

            Didn’t you just say that?

            MR. MARKS: I said he was the president of the company, but as the—he was not acting

       as the president of the company. He was an employee of the company at this time going

       between job sites, dropping off material, taking a nail out, measuring for whatever a

       contractor does. He was an actual employee of Aral. He wasn’t acting as the president. He

       wasn’t doing things that would necessitate triggering the errors and omissions issues, which

       would be something in which he would be an executive officer doing something. That’s

       not what was happening here. Here he was just an employee.

                                               ***

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            THE COURT: All of your employees other than *** your executive officers *** but

       only for acts within the scope of their employment by you or while performing these

       duties related to the conduct of your business. So, it was not within the scope of his

       employment per se to be driving around, was it?

            MR. MARKS: Yes, that’s what he does. He has to go to job sites.

            THE COURT: Well, okay. As what? As president or --

            MR. MARKS: No.

            THE COURT: How can he -- he’s either-- he’s either one or the other. You’re saying

       he was the president, but he was also an employee.

            MR. MARKS: Exactly.

            THE COURT: How can he be both?

            MR. MARKS: Because he gets a salary. He’s a salaried employee. He gets a W-9.

       He’s operating as an employee of a corporation.”

¶ 41   These statements by counsel bind Petrovic to the facts admitted. See Dremco, 261 Ill. App.

3d 531. Accordingly, since by Petrovic’s own admissions Alasevicius was acting as Aral’s

“employee” at the time of the accident, he was an “insured” under the policy and the “auto

exclusion” provision applies to bar coverage of the accident.

¶ 42   What is more, even if, as Petrovic urges us to do, we were to disregard her judicial

admissions before the circuit court and look solely at the plain language of the insurance policy,

we would nonetheless find that whether Alasevicius was an executive officer, or an ordinary

employee is of no consequence, since under either scenario he was an “insured” at the time of the

accident.

¶ 43   By its plain and ordinary terms, the “auto exclusion” provision applies to “any insured,”

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and therefore to both Aral’s “executive officers” and “employees.”

¶ 44   Petrovic nonetheless asserts that under the plain language of the policy Alasevicius cannot

qualify as both an “executive officer” and an ordinary “employee.” In support, she points out that

the policy’s definition of an “insured” includes, inter alia, two distinct categories: (1) “executive

officers” performing their executive duties; and (2) “ ‘employees,’ other than *** [Aral’s]

‘executive officers’” “acting within the scope of their employment” or “performing duties related

to the conduct of [Aral’s] business.” (Emphasis added). Relying on the phrase “other than ***

your ‘executive officers’ ” in the second category naming employees as additional insureds,

Petrovic argues that the two categories of insureds are mutually exclusive. We disagree.

¶ 45   Contrary to Petrovic’s position, the plain an ordinary reading of the policy’s different

categories of insureds reveals that the definition of an insured is expansive rather than restrictive.

The policy’s reference to “employees” “other than” “executive officers” does not eliminate

coverage for those “employees” who are also “executive officers.” Rather it provides an additional

classification of an employee who is entitled to coverage as an “insured.” The distinction is made

only to explain that “executive officers” are covered for their duties as executive officers and

“employees” for any acts within the scope of their employment. Nothing in the policy limits a

person to coverage as either an “executive officer” or an “employee.” Nor does Petrovic cite to

any legal authority to support this position.

¶ 46   Her only citation is to Illinois Insurance Guaranty Fund v. Santucci, 384 Ill. App. 3d 927

(2008), which held that a commercial general liability policy did not cover Santucci because he

was not acting in his capacity as an executive officer when he allegedly failed to prevent his horses

from escaping his home and causing an accident. That decision, however, did not involve the

interpretation of an “auto exclusion,” provision, nor did it in any way address the interplay between

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an insured’s status as an employee and/or an executive officer of the corporation. Accordingly, it

is completely irrelevant.

¶ 47   While our research has unveiled no Illinois decision directly on point, we find the holding

of the Montana Supreme Court in Brabeck v. Employers Mutual Casualty Co., 2000 MT 468, 16

P.3d 355 (2000) instructive. In that case, an insurer brought a declaratory judgment action seeking

a declaration that it had no duty to defend a corporation against a claim in the underlying lawsuit

that it was vicariously liable for the negligent driving of the daughter of one of its employees. Id.

¶ 1. At the time of the accident, the daughter was driving a car owned by her father, Gerald, who

was both an executive officer and an employee of the corporation. Id. ¶ 3. The underlying

negligence complaint alleged that the daughter was acting on behalf of the corporation by operating

Gerald’s car at his request and for the purpose of business or work to be performed for the benefit

of the corporation. Id. ¶ 11. Gerald owned the vehicle involved in the accident and had it personally

insured. Id. ¶ 3. Gerald was also an insured under a commercial general liability policy of the

corporation. Id. ¶ 3. The language of that policy is undistinguishable from the one in the instant

case. Id. ¶¶ 13-14. It contains an identical “auto exclusion” provision and the same definition of

“insureds.” Id.

¶ 48   In Brabeck, the Montana Supreme Court found Gerald’s “alleged conduct within his

capacity either as an executive officer or an employee, thereby rendering him an insured with

respect to the alleged conduct.” Id. ¶ 17. As the court explained: “Gerald is both an executive

officer and an employee of the corporation. Thus, he qualifies as an insured whether he was

performing duties in his capacity as the corporate secretary or in his capacity as an employee of

the corporation.” Id. ¶ 15. The court therefore found that the “auto exclusion” provision applied to

Gerald and that the insurer was not required to indemnify or defend the corporation, Gerald, or his

                                                 19
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daughter for the “bodily injuries” and “property damage” sustained in the automobile accident. Id.

¶ 18.

¶ 49    We agree with Brabeck’s interpretation of the insurance policy and find that just as in that

case, here Alasevicius qualified as an “insured” regardless of whether at the time of the accident,

he was performing in his capacity as the president of Aral or as an ordinary employee. We find

this to be particularly true where Alasevicius runs a carpentry business and is both its sole

executive officer and employee.

¶ 50    Petrovic’s interpretation of the insurance policy to the contrary would lead to an absurd

result. Instead of providing comprehensive coverage to sole proprietors like Alasevicius,

Petrovic’s reading would confine Alasevicius’ coverage to his role as an executive officer, i.e., his

business strategy and decision-making, thereby eliminating any liability coverage for his field

work. Since Alasevicius is the sole employee of his carpentry business, aside from covering the

present automobile accident, Petrovic’s interpretation would eliminate coverage for literally every

other liability claim, thereby rendering his coverage illusory. See Middlesex Mut. Assurance Co.

v. Fish, 738 F. Supp. 2d 124, 135 (D. Me 2010) (refusing to interpret an insurance policy with

identical language to that of Erie’s as eliminating the executive officer from coverage when he

does the work of an ordinary employee because, under such an interpretation, coverage would be

“largely illusory, covering [the insured] only for a minute percentage of the risks;” noting that such

an argument “for practical purposes takes general liability coverage away from the [insured],

insuring only his most momentary and risk-free activity[,]” i.e., providing him coverage “while he

sign[s] the corporate tax returns but not while he ma[k]e[s] and install[s] cabinets”).

¶ 51    We further disagree with Petrovic’s position that the language of the policy is ambiguous

and therefore must be construed in her favor. Our courts have repeatedly held that “although

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‘creative possibilities’ may be suggested,” when considering the existence of an ambiguity in an

insurance policy, “only reasonable interpretations will be considered.” Hobbs, 214 Ill. 2d at 17;

see also State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Murphy, 2019 IL App (2d) 180154, ¶ 26. Moreover, the

court will not adopt an interpretation which rests on “gossamer distinctions” that the average

person, for whom the policy is written, cannot be expected to understand. Founders Ins. Co. v.

Munoz, 237 Ill. 2d 424, 433 (2010).

¶ 52   In the present case, Petrovic’s interpretation of the policy language is neither reasonable,

nor supported by legal authority. Petrovic cites to no decision in which a court has held that the

terms of the “auto exclusion” provision such as the one in the instant case are ambiguous. In

addition, Petrovic is not an insured under the policy. Accordingly, her attempt at sacrificing the

robust coverage provided to Aral and Alasevicius in favor of exceptionally limited coverage,

which would include the instant automobile accident, is at best suspect, and at worst, made

purely for personal gain. Under these circumstances, “we will not strain to find an ambiguity

where none exists.” Hobbs, 214 Ill. 2d at 17.

¶ 53                                IV. CONCLUSION

¶ 54    For the aforementioned reasons, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court.

¶ 55   Affirmed.

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