Court Opinion

ID: 4198337
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-08-23 18:12:49.665029+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:40:11.361013
License: Public Domain

J-A12018-17

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

DEBRA M. CAMPAYNO AND JILLIAN :        IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
M. CAMPAYNO                       :         PENNSYLVANIA
                                  :
                                  :
          v.                      :
                                  :
                                  :
AUTO-OWNERS INSURANCE, AND :
BAILEY   INSURANCE     COMPANY, :      No. 1210 WDA 2016
INCORPORATED,     WILLIAM      E. :
HORNICK, AND BETTY L. HORNICK, :
HUSBAND AND WIFE, AND RACHEL :
KNAPIC, AND FOOTSIE BATH, LLC.    :
                                  :
                                  :
APPEAL    OF:     AUTO-OWNERS :
INSURANCE                         :

               Appeal from the Order Dated June 28, 2016
         In the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County
                  Civil Division at No(s): 6743 of 2013

DEBRA M. CAMPAYNO AND JILLIAN :        IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
M. CAMPAYNO                      :          PENNSYLVANIA
                                 :
                                 :
           v.                    :
                                 :
                                 :
AUTO-OWNERS INSURANCE, AND :
BAILEY    INSURANCE     COMPANY, :     No. 1255 WDA 2016
INCORPORATED,      WILLIAM    E. :
HORNICK,    BETTY  L.   HORNICK, :
HUSBAND     AND   WIFE,   RACHEL :
KNAPIC, FOOTSIE BATH, LLC.       :
                                 :
                                 :
APPEAL OF: DEBRA M. CAMPAYNO :
AND JILLIAN M. CAMPAYNO, BAILEY :
INSURANCE               COMPANY, :
INCORPORATED,      WILLIAM    E. :
HORNICK AND BETTY L. HORNICK, :
RACHEL KNAPIC, FOOTSIE BATH, :
J-A12018-17

    LLC

                     Appeal from the Order Dated June 28, 2016
               In the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County
                        Civil Division at No(s): 6743 of 2013

BEFORE:        OLSON, J., SOLANO, J., and RANSOM, J.

MEMORANDUM BY RANSOM, J.:                               FILED AUGUST 23, 2017

          Debra M. Campayno and Jillian M. Campayno (collectively “Insureds”)

appeal from the order entered June 28, 2016, granting Auto-Owners

Insurance (“Insurer”) declaratory relief and holding that Insurer had no duty

to defend or indemnify Insureds in the underlying negligence action filed by

William Hornick. After careful review, we affirm.1

          The relevant facts and procedural history are as follows. In May 2010,

Jillian Campayno registered the fictitious entity La Spa Ligonier (“La Spa”)

with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, having a principal place of

business located at 201 South Fairfield Street, Ligonier, PA 15058. In June

2010, Jillian authorized her mother, Debra Campayno, to purchase an

insurance policy for La Spa. Notes of Testimony (N.T.), 12/14/2015, at 34.

On July 1, 2010, Debra signed a lease for the premises located at South

Fairfield Street. (Pl. Exhibit 10).

          We adopt the following findings of fact from the trial court’s opinion.

                [The] underlying negligence action concerns an injury to
          William Hornick allegedly suffered after receiving services,
____________________________________________

1
 The trial court certified the June 28, 2016 order as final pursuant to
Pa.R.A.P. 341(c). Order 7/26/2016; see also, infra, at 6.

                                           -2-
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     including but not limited to a foot bath, at La Spa Ligonier
     [hereinafter “La Spa.” La Spa is] owned by Jillian M. Campayno,
     Plaintiff in this action [hereinafter “Jillian”].

           At the Non-Jury Trial Plaintiff Debra Campayno [hereinafter
     “Debra”] testified that La Spa [] was a sole proprietorship
     opened by her daughter, Jillian, in June of 2010. She testified
     that La Spa [] is a fictitious name owned by Jillian, and was a
     business which offered traditional day spa services, including
     massages, facials and some nail services. Jillian testified that it
     was her dream to open a day spa, and that she was finally able
     to do so in June of 2010.

             Debra testified that she held the title of Director when she
     worked at La Spa [], which included duties such as answering
     the phone, bookkeeping, banking, paying the bills, and other
     tasks. During her three years of employment with La Spa [],
     she was an authorized signer on the business account.
     Accordingly, Debra testified that she assisted her daughter in
     doing the paperwork to establish the business. Debra testified
     that shortly after La Spa [] opened, she personally visited the
     Gooder Agency to secure insurance for the business, because
     Jillian was attending college and lived on-campus at the time.
     Jillian testified that she authorized her mother to do so. In
     attempting to carry out the task of acquiring insurance for the
     business, Debra testified that she explained to the insurance
     agent, Mr. Hoover, that she was helping her daughter establish
     her business, that she was there on her behalf, and asked for
     recommendations about what kind of insurance the business
     would need. She testified that based upon the meeting with Mr.
     Hoover, she understood that the business would need to obtain
     liability insurance as well as workmen's compensation insurance
     and a property insurance policy.

        Debra testified that during her second meeting with Mr.
     Hoover she signed a Commercial Insurance Application for
     insurance through [Insurer], marked and admitted as Exhibit 1,
     which was completed on her behalf and listed the applicant as
     “La Spa Ligonier d/o Debby Campano,” and identified the
     services as “Spa - massages, facials manicures and pedicures.”
     [Debra] testified that her name was spelled incorrectly on the
     document, as it should have been “Debbie Campayno” or “Debra
     M. Campayno,” which is how she typically would sign a
     document. [Debra] testified that she signed the document as an

                                    -3-
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       authorized representative of Jillian [] and La Spa[].

          Andrew Tews, Underwriting Administrator for [Insurer],
       testified that the proposal generated by Mr. Hoover of the
       Gooder Agency was based upon the signed application, and was
       transmitted to [Insurer]. Said proposal listed the applicant's
       name as “Debby Campano DBA La Spa Ligonier.”

          Debra testified as to the business model of La Spa [],
       explaining that in 2010 when La Spa opened, three therapists
       were employed, but they were later, sometime in 2011,
       considered independent contractors and were required to carry
       their own general liability insurance. One of said employees was
       Rachel Knapic, a Defendant in the underlying lawsuit, who was
       the technician who performed the spa services on Mr. Hornick.
       Debra testified that sometime after said services were
       performed, she received notice of the underlying lawsuit by way
       of receiving the underlying Complaint, which named Jillian
       Campayno i/d/b/a La Spa Ligonier as the sole Defendant.
       Accordingly, [Debra] submitted said Complaint to [Insurer].[2]
       Debra testified that she later received a phone call and letter
       from [Insurer], informing her that it did not appear that anyone
       insured by [Insurer] was being sued and that there was no
       obligation for [Insurer] to respond to the Complaint.
       Accordingly, she took the Complaint to her attorney, who spoke
       with opposing counsel, which caused the issuance of the
       Amended Complaint, naming as Defendants Jillian M. Campayno
       i/d/b/a La Spa Ligonier, Debra M. Campayno i/d/b/a La Spa
       Ligonier, and Rachel Knapic, and which she also faxed to
       [Insurer] with no response.

          Subsequently, Debra testified that she received the Notice of
       Preacipe to Enter Judgment by Default Upon Defendant, Debra
       M. Campayno i/d/b/a La Spa Ligonier Pursuant to Pa.R.C.P.
       237.5. This prompted her to contact [Insurer] again, after which
       time she received another letter informing her that there would
____________________________________________

2
  In March 2013, Mr. Hornick filed a civil action against Jillian Campayno
d/b/a La Spa Ligonier. See William E. Hornick and Betty L. Hornick v.
Jillian M. Campayno i/d/b/a La Spa Ligonier, No. 6D 13-4060
(Allegheny Cty. CCP Mar. 5, 2013).

                                           -4-
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      be no coverage or defense, citing an exclusion in the policy for
      bodily injury due to rendering professional services. Accordingly,
      [the trial court was] asked to determine whether coverage is
      triggered under the policy, and if so, whether [Insurer] has a
      duty to defend [Insureds] in the underlying negligence action.

Trial Ct. Op., 4/6/2016, at 2-4 (internal citations and unnecessary

references to parties’ last names omitted).

      In December 2013, the Insureds commenced a suit against Insurer

seeking declaratory relief regarding the Insurer’s duty to defend and

indemnify. In addition, the Insureds’ complaint asserted causes of action for

bad faith against Insurer and negligence against Bailey Insurance Company,

the drafter of the insurance policy.     See, generally, Second Amended

Compl., 11/12/2014.

      Following a trial in December 2015, the trial court issued an opinion

and order declaring that both Debra and Jillian Campayno were Insureds

under the subject policy, as they were sued in the capacity of “trading and

doing business as La Spa Ligonier.” See Opinion and Order, 4/1/2016. In

addition, the court ruled that, due to the professional services exclusion of

the policy in question, Insurer had no duty to defend Insureds in the

underlying action. See id.

      Thereafter, the court denied post-trial motions filed by the parties, but

clarified its prior order.   Order, 6/28/2016.    Specifically, the trial court

clarified that Insurer had neither a duty to defend nor indemnify Insureds in

the underlying action based upon the professional services exclusion. Id. at

                                     -5-
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2-3.

       The Insureds and Baily Insurance Agency filed motions to certify the

trial court’s June 28, 2016 order as final and appealable pursuant to 42

Pa.C.S. § 702(b). These motions were denied. On July 16, 2016, the court

certified the June 28, 2016 order as immediately appealable pursuant to

Pa.R.A.P. 341(c) and certified that an immediate appeal would facilitate a

resolution of the entire case. See Order, 7/16/2016.3

       On August 4, 2016, the Insureds and Insurer timely filed a joint notice

of appeal to this Court. On August 10, 2016, Insurer timely filed notice of

cross-appeal arising out of the determination of insurable interest. First, we

will address the issues presented by Insurer and then proceed to address the

issues raised by the Insureds.

           Our standard of review in a declaratory judgment action is
       limited to determining whether the trial court clearly abused its
       discretion or committed an error of law. We may not substitute
       our judgment for that of the trial court if the court's
       determination is supported by the evidence. Additionally, [w]e
       will review the decision of the lower court as we would a decree
       in equity and set aside the factual conclusions of that court only
       where they are not supported by adequate evidence.             The
       application of the law, however, is always subject to our review.

Peters v. Natl. Interstate Ins. Co., 108 A.3d 38, 42 (Pa. Super. 2014)

____________________________________________

3
  Further, the trial court certified that “the outcome of the appeal could
nullify any need for a trial of the pending bad faith claims against [Insurer]
and/or [Insureds] claims against Bailey [Insurance] Agency.”            Order,
7/16/2016, at 2 (noting a significant relationship between the declaratory
judgment and any outstanding claims).

                                           -6-
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(quoting Erie Ins. Grp. v. Catania, 95 A.3d 320, 322 (Pa. Super. 2014))

(quoting Pocono Summit Realty, LLC v. Ahmad Amer, LLC, 52 A.3d 261,

265 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citations and quotation marks omitted)).

      On appeal, Insurer raises the following three issues:

      [1.] Should the court have held that the businessowners liability
      policy afforded no coverage to Debra Campayno for the business
      operations conducted at the spa because she lacked an insurable
      interest in the business?

      [2.] Should the court have held that [Insurer] was not required
      to provide defense and indemnity because Jillian Campayno was
      not an insured under the policy?

      [3.] Whether the court erred in making its findings of fact by
      failing to consider Mr. Hoover’s deposition testimony, which was
      consistent with the documentary evidence presented at trial?

Insurer's Br. at 4-5 (reordered for ease of analysis).

      First, Insurer contends that Debra Campayno lacked an insurable

interest in the business operations conducted by her daughter Jillian at La

Spa. Insurer’s Br. at 59, 64. Insurer notes that Debra does not own La Spa

and that her application designated the insured entity as an individual, not a

business.   See id. at 60.    Insurer maintains that for an individual to be

doing business as a fictitious entity, the individual must hold an equitable or

legal interest in the business operations to establish insurable interest. Id.

at 63-64 (offering non-binding caselaw from other jurisdictions). According

to Insurer, Debra “would have had, at most, an insurable interest in the

premises where the spa was located,” based on her status as lessee of the

property, “but she would have had no insurable interest whatsoever in the

                                     -7-
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operations conducted there by her daughter, Jillian[.]”              Id. at 57.   In

support of its contention, Insurer has cited one Third Circuit case applying

Delaware law and several decisions from other forums. Id. at 62.4

       Insurer’s    reliance     on   foreign   precedent   is   misplaced.   Under

Pennsylvania law, insurable interest is measured according to the factual

expectation theory.      Van Cure v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 253 A.2d 663,

665 (Pa. 1969) (4-2 decision) (majority adopting factual expectation theory

of insurable interest); Seals, Inc. v. Tioga County Grange Mut. Ins. Co.,

519 A.2d 951, 958 (Pa. Super. 1986), appeal dismissed as improvidently

granted, 541 A.2d 314 (Pa. 1988). The factual expectation theory states:

“anyone who has an expectation of economic benefit from the preservation

of property or an expectation of loss from its destruction, regardless of his

relation to the property, has an insurable interest.” Van Cure, 253 A.2d at

665 (reasoning that “often a [person] with no legally enforceable interest

may suffer more from the destruction of property than a [person] who holds

title”); see Seals, 519 A.2d at 957.5 “Generally, whether a person has an

____________________________________________

4
  According to Insurer, the designation, doing business as, “simply indicated
that she was operating a sole proprietorship under a fictitious business
name.” Insurer’s Br. at 60-61 (citing California Court of Appeals decision).
Essentially, Insurer contends that the court failed to find that the policy only
applied to Debra as an individual based on her status as lessee of the
property, and nothing more. Id. at 61-62 (citing North Dakota decision).
5
 See, e.g., Fugah v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 145 F. Supp. 3d 415,
420 (E.D. Pa. 2015) (insurable interest established by sufficient evidence for
(Footnote Continued Next Page)

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insurable interest is an issue to be decided by the finder of fact.” Alberici v.

Safeguard Mut. Ins. Co., 664 A.2d 110, 113 (Pa. Super. 1995) (citation

omitted).

      Moreover, “one who makes a legally enforceable agreement to obtain

insurance on property for the benefit of another has an insurable interest

supporting a contract of insurance of the property even in his own name.”

Luchansky v. Farmers Fire Ins. Co., 515 A.2d 598, 600 (Pa. Super. 1986)

(citations omitted).      The expectation that payments will be used to satisfy

the insurer’s obligation to the insured has been held sufficient as evidence of

an insurable interest. Seals, 519 A.2d at 959.

      Here, the factfinder determined the following:

      La Spa Ligonier paid for insurance coverage out of its business
      account, as demonstrated by Exhibit 7, and said fictitious name
      appears on the subject policy. Additionally, the Court notes that
      Debra Campayno was the named lessee for the business
      property and had a cognizable insurable interest to trigger policy
      coverage, while Jillian Campayno was the registered owner of
      the fictitious name, which was identified on the policy.
      Accordingly, the Court finds that there was an insurable interest
      under the subject policy, entitling La Spa Ligonier to the
      coverage it paid for.

Trial Ct. Op. (TCO), 4/1/2016, at 6.              According to the Insureds, these

findings of fact led the trial court to make a reasonable conclusion that La

Spa was entitled to the insurance coverage that it paid for. See Insureds’

                       _______________________
(Footnote Continued)

factfinder to believe that he “stood to gain from the property’s continued
existence and would suffer a pecuniary loss from its destruction”).

                                            -9-
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Reply Br. at 12.

       The record supports the trial court’s findings. See Alberici, 664 A.2d

at 113.    La Spa’s name appears on the application for insurance and the

insurance policy.6 The application for insurance was in the name of “La Spa

Ligonier c/o Debby Campayno.” See N.T. at 44. Under the description of

the premises, the nature of the business was identified as “Spa - massages,

facials, manicures, and pedicures.” Id. at 45. Debra signed the document

as “authorized representative of the applicant.” Id. at 46.

       As an employee of La Spa and as lessee of the business premises,

Debra had an expectation of economic benefit from its continued operation

and an expectation of loss from its destruction. See Van Cure, 253 A.2d at

665. Thus, Debra has an insurable interest. Luchanksy, 515 A.2d at 600.

Accordingly, Insurer’s argument is without merit. The trial court did not err

or abuse its discretion.7

____________________________________________

6
  “An application is an integral part of a policy, and the questions and
answers contained therein are material to the risks which both the company
and the insured assume.” Peters v. World Mut. Health & Accident Ins.
Co., 213 A.2d 116, 118 (Pa. Super. 1965).
7
  To the extent that La Spa Ligonier was named as a defendant or entity in
Hornick’s complaint, the Insurer had a duty to examine the complaint to
determine whether or not the claim was covered by the policy, i.e., if it
arose from general liability of landowners to business invitees or fell within
the professional services exclusion. Debra’s insurable interest does not
extend to operations of the spa itself because the policy does not insure
against that type of loss, as discussed further below.

                                          - 10 -
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      Next, Insurer argues that Jillian Campayno was not an insured. See

Insurer’s Br. at 64.    Insurer argues that the express terms of the policy

define “an insured” as the individual designated in the declarations and the

individual’s spouse, “with respect to the conduct of a business of which [the

individual] is a sole owner.” AOI Policy at p. 8. Because Jillian is sole owner

of La Spa and the policy does not designate Jillian as an insured in the

declarations, Insurer maintains that Jillian is not insured. See N.T. at 187.

      According to the trial court’s findings of fact, it is “undisputed that

Debra Campayno i/d/b/a La Spa Ligonier sought insurance on her daughter’s

behalf in assisting her in opening her business.”       See TCO at 5.     Here, a

policy was issued for insurance at La Spa and premiums were paid by La

Spa’s business account with the expectation of insurance coverage. See id.

at 6 (citing Exhibit 7). Further, Jillian is the owner of the fictitious entity, La

Spa, which is named on the policy. Jillian also “‘derives pecuniary benefit or

advantage form the preservation or continued existence of [] property or will

suffer pecuniary loss from its destruction.’”       Alberici, 664 A.2d at 114

(quoting Luchansky, 515 A.2d at 599). Therefore, Jillian has an insurable

interest that arises from her ownership interest in La Spa and the fact that

La Spa paid premiums with the expectation of coverage of the type covered

by the policy. Luchanksy, 515 A.2d at 600 (noting that parents who had

purchased insurance on behalf of son had an insurable interest such that the

insurance company is contractually obligated to pay where son did not

                                      - 11 -
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purchase separate insurance even though he was true titleholder). As the

trial court’s findings are supported by the record, we discern no abuse of

discretion or error of law. Accordingly, Insurer’s argument is without merit.

      In the third issue, Insurer challenges the weight of the evidence.

Insurer asserts that the court overlooked, misapprehended, or failed to

consider certain evidence, such as Mr. Hoover’s testimony.                Insurer

maintains that Mr. Hoover’s testimony was consistent with the documentary

evidence submitted at trial.    On that basis, Insurer argues that the court

erred in finding Debra Campayno’s testimony more credible than Mr. Hoover.

Insurer urges this court to vacate the findings that Jillian and La Spa were

insured. See AOI Br. at 53-57.

      “It is well-established that decisions regarding the weight and the

credibility of testimony are within the province of the trier of fact and will not

be disturbed upon our cold review of the record.” Am. States Ins. Co. v.

Maryland Cas. Co., 628 A.2d 880, 893 (Pa. Super. 1993). “Since the trial

judge is in the best position to judge the credibility of the witnesses, an

appellate court may not re-examine the weight to be given to their

testimony.”   Alberici, 664 A.2d at 113 (citation omitted).       Here, the trial

court was free to find Debra’s testimony credible over other witnesses.

Finding competent evidentiary support for the trial court’s conclusion, we will

not usurp the trial court’s fact-finding function.      Accordingly, Appellant’s

argument is without merit.

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      We proceed to address the following issues raised by the Insureds on

appeal.

      A. Whether the trial court erred as a matter of law by construing
         the ambiguity created by the undefined term ‘Professional
         Services’ against the Insured and not against the Author of
         the contract?

      B. Whether the trial court erred as a matter of law by creating
         and analyzing the criterion of ‘skill and training’ instead of the
         conduct which allegedly caused the underlying injury?

      C. Whether the trial court erred as a matter of law by limiting its
         analysis to only the Third Amended Complaint instead of
         reviewing each of the Hornicks’ prior Complaints to determine
         if coverage was triggered under the Policy?

      D. Whether the trial court erred by failing to read the Policy as a
         whole in determining whether coverage was triggered under
         the Policy?

Insureds’ Br. at 22.

      The Insureds’ first and second issues are related to the trial court’s

interpretation of the insurance contract, in particular the professional

services exclusion.    In the first issue, the Insureds contend that the court

erred in two respects: (1) failing to find the professional services exclusion

ambiguous and (2) failing to construe the ambiguity in favor of the Insureds.

They argue that an insurer who asserts a defense based on an exclusion

bears the burden of establishing that such exclusion applies. See Insureds’

Br. at 41-42.

      In response, Insurer contends that the trial court properly held that

                                     - 13 -
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the professional services exclusion applied to services rendered at the spa

and negated coverage for the underlying claims. See Insurer’s Br. at 32.8

       Our standard of review is as follows.

          [I]t is the duty of the insurer to defend a claim that would
       support recovery until such time as it is determined that the
       claim is not covered under the policy. The first step in a
       declaratory judgment action concerning insurance coverage is to
       determine the scope of the policy's coverage. After determining
       the scope of coverage, the court must examine the complaint in
       the underlying action to ascertain if it triggers coverage.

Stevens Painton Corp. v. First State Ins. Co., 746 A.2d 649, 656 (Pa.

Super. 2000) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted).               The

interpretation of an insurance policy involves the interpretation of a contract.

The interpretation of a contract is an issue of law for which our standard of

review is de novo. 401 Fourth Street v. Investors Insurance Co., 879
A.2d 166, 170 (Pa. 2005).           Our primary goal is to ascertain the parties'

intentions as manifested by the policy's terms and to give effect to language

that is clear and unambiguous. 401 Fourth Street, 879 A.2d at 170.

         Where the language of the insurance contract is clear and
       unambiguous, a court is required to give effect to that language.
____________________________________________

8
  Insurer relies heavily on Knorr v. Commercial Cas. Ins. Co., 90 A.2d
387 (Pa. Super. 1952) (holding that policy with professional services
exclusion precluded coverage for an injury at a barbershop where beauty
shop patron was injured in the head by a hair dryer) (application for
allocatur denied on Sept. 24, 1952). In that case, the court recognized the
admissibility of parol evidence to clarify a policy-based exclusion where the
court finds such terms to be ambiguous. Here, the trial court did not find
the terms of the exclusion ambiguous.

                                          - 14 -
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      When construing a policy, words of common usage are to be
      construed in their natural, plain and ordinary sense and we may
      inform our understanding of these terms by considering their
      dictionary definitions.    While a court must not distort the
      meaning of the language or resort to a strained contrivance in
      order to find an ambiguity, it must find that the contractual
      terms are ambiguous if they are subject to more than one
      reasonable interpretation when applied to a particular set of
      facts. Where a provision of a policy is ambiguous, the policy
      provision is to be construed in favor of the insured and against
      the insurer, the drafter of the agreement.

Egger v. Gulf Ins. Co., 864 A.2d 1234, 1242-43 (Pa. Super. 2004), aff'd,

903 A.2d 1219 (Pa. 2006) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted)

(emphasis added). Moreover,

      … contractual terms are ambiguous if they are subject to more
      than one reasonable interpretation when applied to a particular
      set of facts. We will not, however, distort the meaning of the
      language or resort to a strained contrivance in order to find an
      ambiguity.    The polestar of our inquiry, therefore, is the
      language of the insurance policy.

Madison Const. v. Harleysville Mut. Ins., 735 A.2d 100, 106 (Pa. 1999)

(internal citations omitted) (emphasis added).

      “Where an insurer relies on a policy exclusion as the basis for its denial

of coverage and refusal to defend, the insurer has asserted an affirmative

defense and, accordingly, bears the burden of proving such defense.”

Madison Const., 735 A.2d at 106. Moreover, if an insurer relies on a policy

exclusion that is reasonably susceptible to two interpretations, “it is to to be

construed in favor of the insured in order not to defeat, without plain

necessity, the claims to indemnity which it was the insured's object to

obtain.” Egger, 864 A.2d at 1245 (quoting Peters, 213 A.2d at 218).

                                     - 15 -
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       The language of the insurance policy under which the Insureds claim

coverage states:

       A. COVERAGES

          1. Business Liability We will pay those sums that the
             insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages
             because of “bodily injury”, “property damage”,
             “personal injury” or “advertising injury” to which
             insurance applies. No other obligation or liability to pay
             sums or perform acts or services is covered unless
             explicitly provided for….

              a. This insurance applies only:

                 (1) To “bodily injury” or “property damage”:

                     (a) That occurs during the policy period;
                          and

                     (b)   That is caused by an “occurrence”.
                            The “occurrence”[9] must take place
                            in the “coverage territory”.

                 (2) To “personal injury” caused by an offense:

                     (a) Committed in the “coverage territory”
                           during the policy period; and

                     (b) Arising out of the conduct of your
                          business, excluding advertising,
                          publishing,     broadcasting    or
                          telecasting done by or for you.

                                          […]

              b. We will have the right and duty to defend any
                 “suit” seeking those damages.[10] But
____________________________________________

9
 ¶ 9 “Occurrence” is defined as an accident, including continuous or repeated
exposure to substantially the same general harmful conditions. See AOI
Policy at 13.

                                          - 16 -
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                 (1) The amount we will pay for damages is
                 limited as described in Section D – Limits of
                 Insurance;

                 (2) We may investigate and settle any claim
                 or “suit” at our discretion; and

                 (3) Our right and duty to defend end when
                 we have used up the applicable limit of
                 insurance in the payment of judgment or
                 settlements or medical expenses.

Auto-Owners Insurance Policy at 1 (“AOI Policy”).

      The policy also provides six pages of exclusions, of particular relevance

is the exclusion for injuries arising from professional services, which states:

      B. EXCLUSIONS

          1.     Applicable to Business Liability          Coverage     –This
                 insurance does not apply to: […]

               j. “Bodily Injury” or “property damage” due to
               rendering or failure to render any professional
               service. This includes but is not limited to:

                 (1) Legal, accounting or advertising services;

                 (2) Preparing, approving, or failing to
                 prepare or approve maps, drawings,
                 opinions, reports, surveys, change orders,
                 designs or specifications;

                 (3) Supervisory, inspection or engineering
                 services;

                 (4)     Medical,    surgical,   dental,   x-ray   or
                       _______________________
(Footnote Continued)
10
   ¶ 13 “Suit” is defined as a civil proceeding for damages because of “bodily
injury”, “property damage”, “personal injury” or “advertising injury” to which
this insurance applies are alleged. See AOI Policy at 14.

                                           - 17 -
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                nursing services or treatment;

                (5) Any health service or treatment;

                (6) Any cosmetic or tonsorial service or
                treatment;

                (7) Optometry or optical or hearing aid
                services     including    the     prescribing,
                preparation,    fitting, demonstration,     or
                distribution of ophthalmic lenses and similar
                products or hearing aid devices;

                (8) Ear piercing services; and

                (9) Services in the practice of pharmacy; but
                this exclusion does not apply to an insured
                whose operations include those of a retail
                druggist or drugstore.

AOI Policy at 2, 4-5 (emphasis added).

      The professional services exclusion is unambiguous. According to the

plain and ordinary meaning of its terms, this provision excludes coverage for

bodily injury or property damage arising out of any professional services.

401 Fourth Street, 879 A.2d at 170. The exclusion further provides a non-

exhaustive list of examples, clarifying what constitutes a professional

service.     Here, the court found that “although spa services are not

specifically listed … the policy states that it ‘includes but is not limited to the

enumerated services[.]’”      TCO at 8.     We agree.     Contrary to Insureds’

contention, there was no ambiguity in the policy terms for the court to

construe in their favor. Accordingly, their argument is without merit. We

now turn to address the application of this exclusion to the services rendered

by La Spa.

                                      - 18 -
J-A12018-17

      In their second issue, the Insureds contend the trial court erred by

focusing on the “skills and training” of La Spa’s independent contractors to

determine whether the professional services exclusion as opposed to the

“nature of the conduct alleged” in Hornick’s complaint. Insureds’ Br. at 49.

They claim that the court erred in focusing on the fact that the “Footsie

Bath” machine was operated only by licensed spa technicians.        Id.   They

maintain that there was no evidence offered to establish that the operation

of the Footsie Bath required a special license or skill. See id. The Insureds

maintain that Insurer failed to sustain its burden to prove that the exclusion

applied to La Spa’s operations. The Insureds’ argument is without merit.

      To meet its burden of proof to establish that the exclusion applied to

professional services rendered by La Spa, Insurer provided evidence that La

Spa primarily is in the business of offering cosmetological services. As noted

above, the insurance policy does not apply to bodily injury due to rendering

or failure to rend any professional service, including but not limited to, “any

cosmetic … service or treatment.” AOI Policy at 4-5. Cosmetic services are

services performed by cosmetologists. Cosmetology is defined by statute to

include “any or all work done for compensation by any person, which work is

generally and usually performed by cosmologists[.]”       63 P.S. § 507.    In

order to provide such services for compensation, La Spa Ligonier’s

employees were required to hold a professional license provided by the State

Board of Cosmetology.       See id. at § 508 (authorizing only licensed

technicians to practice cosmetology for compensation); see id. at § 514

                                    - 19 -
J-A12018-17

(cosmetology services can only be performed in a licensed salon).

      Based on this evidence, the court concluded that the service provided

to   Mr.   Hornick   required   special   “skills   and   training”    of   a   licensed

cosmetologist. TCO at 8. Moreover, the court found “all of the allegations

for negligence in the underlying Complaint suggest negligence in the

discharge of services which require special skill or training.”          See id. The

allegations regarding the spa technicians’ skills and training, i.e. licensure,

was relevant to determining whether the policy coverage was available for

the bodily injury alleged in the complaint.           The allegations were made

against Jillian, Debra, and Knapic, that they provided services in their

respective capacities as “owner, director and/or licensed cosmetologist

and/or licensed massage therapist, of, at, for and on behalf of La Spa

Ligonier.”   See, e.g., Hornick’s Third Amended Compl., at ¶¶ 8-9.                  The

employees’ skills and training was important to determine that the claim is

not covered by the policy, since the policy does not provide coverage for

services performed by licensed cosmetologists for compensation. However,

there was no critical ambiguity in the policy exclusion to construe in the

Insureds’ favor. Cf. Egger, 864 A.2d at 1245. Accordingly, we discern no

error of law or abuse of the trial court’s discretion.

      Third, the Insureds contend that the “mixed allegations” in the third

amended complaint potentially fell within the scope of coverage and

triggered Insurer’s duty to defend.       Insureds’ Br. at 56.        According to the

Insureds, these allegations “concern matters of ordinary conduct not

                                      - 20 -
J-A12018-17

requiring any specialized skill or knowledge.” Id. at 58. The Insureds also

suggest that the allegations in Mr. Hornick’s complaint may have made out a

claim for negligent misrepresentation. See id. at 58-59.11 According to the

Insureds,    the    allegations    triggered   the   duty   to   defend   because   a

misrepresentation would not require any “special skill.” Id. at 58-59.

       “An insurer’s obligation to defend is fixed solely by the allegations in

the underlying complaint.” Atlantic Mut. Ins. Co. v. Gula, 926 A.2d 449,

450 (Pa. Super. 2007) (“Gula”) (citation omitted).

       The question of whether a claim against an insured is potentially
       covered is answered by comparing the four corners of the
       insurance contract to the four corners of the complaint. An
       insurer may not justifiably refuse to defend a claim against its
       insured unless it is clear from an examination of the allegations
       in the complaint and the language of the policy that the claim
       does not potentially come within the coverage of the policy.

Am. and For. Ins. Co. v. Jerry's Sport Ctr., 2 A.3d 526, 541 (Pa. 2010).

“The duty to defend persists until an insurer can limit the claims such that

coverage is impossible.”        Lexington Ins. Co. v. Charter Oak Fire Ins.

Co., 81 A.3d 903, 911 (Pa. Super. 2013).

       The law is clear that when an insured who has been sued
       requests coverage under a policy of insurance, the insurer is
       required to accept all of the allegations contained in the third
       party's complaint as true and provide a defense if there is a
       chance that the injury alleged could potentially fall within the
       scope of the policy.
____________________________________________

11
   The complaint does not assert negligent misrepresentation. Therefore, we
reject this contention.

                                          - 21 -
J-A12018-17

Sel. Way Ins. Co. v. Hosp. Group Services, Inc., 119 A.3d 1035, 1046

(Pa. Super. 2015) (citation omitted).

       Accepting the factual allegations as true, the third amended complaint

alleged that Debra was contacted by Mr. Hornick’s daughter (“Daughter”)

who inquired about spa and massage services for her parents.         See Third

Amended Compl., at ¶¶14-15.             Daughter informed Debra about the

complications of diabetic neuropathy and Debra assured Daughter that

precautions would be taken. See id. at ¶15. Further, Debra made “special

arrangements” with the staff “to provide services” to Mr. Hornick on a date

when the spa would have been closed.         See id. at ¶16.     Debra advised

Daughter that she, Jillian, and La Spa staff would “develop a special spa and

massage package of services for the [p]laintiffs, including a massage

package that would stimulate circulation in [Mr. Hornick’s] feet.” See id. at

¶16.

       On the date of the injury, La Spa personnel “used massage techniques,

implements,     tools,   and/or   devices,    including    mechanical   and/or

electromechanical devices in the course of providing the massage services to

[Mr. Hornick], including [his] feet.”    Id. at ¶ 18.     One of these services

involved the use of a “Footsie Bath” - the manufacturer of which was also

added as a defendant to the underlying complaint. See id. at ¶ 19. La Spa

personnel also “used body wraps, body scrubs, oils, creams, gels, [etc.] in

the course of providing the spa services[.]” See id. at ¶ 20. “Soon after

                                    - 22 -
J-A12018-17

[Mr. Hornick] underwent the prearranged massage and spa therapy services,

[he] developed serious burns and open wounds to both feet.” Id. at ¶ 21.

     The third amended complaint alleged that the defendants “acted in

their respective capacities as owner, director and/or licensed cosmetology

and/or licensed massage therapist.” Id. at ¶ 8. The Insured’s co-defendant

Knapic, the “individual who performs services at, for and on behalf of [La

Spa],” “acted in her capacity as a licensed cosmetologist and or licensed

massage therapist[.]” Id. at ¶ 9.

     Counts I, II, and III of the underlying complaint assert negligence,

respondeat superior, and loss of consortium.       Count I arises from the

allegation that La Spa professionals failed to provide services within the

applicable standard of care of a reasonably prudent spa professional. The

allegations specifically state that Daughter solicited professional services

from licensed cosmetologists at a licensed salon.    After soliciting services

from a licensed spa and undergoing a prearranged foot soak and massage

by licensed professionals, Mr. Hornick allegedly developed, inter alia, severe

burns from the use of a Footsie Bath.

     Count II, respondeat superior, arises out of the rendering or failure to

render professional services.   Debra acted in a supervisory capacity by

representing that La Spa would exercise appropriate skill and care in taking

precautions to develop a special spa and massage package of services for

Mr. Hornick.   Debra acted in a manner that implied “a level of training, a

                                    - 23 -
J-A12018-17

weighing of factors and use of judgment that is the hallmark of a

professional service.” Gula, 926 A.2d at 451. Debra did not act merely as

“an administrative functionary that stamps paperwork and processes

payment.” Id. Count III, loss of consortium, consists of allegations that are

the incidental, consequential and a direct result of the bodily injury caused

by the professional service rendered to Mr. Hornick.

      Even an injury caused by mechanical equipment used by licensed

professionals in the course of rendering a professional service is an injury

resulting from the rendering or failure to render a professional service. See

Knorr, 90 A.2d at 388. Here, the allegations in the complaint refer to the

type of bodily injury from rendering or failure to render professional

services, which is excluded by the insurance policy. Turning to the insurance

policy, it does not provide coverage for “bodily injury” “arising from the

rendering of failure to render professional services,” including but not limited

to, any “cosmetic treatment,” “supervisory, inspection or engineering

services,” or “any health service or treatment.” AOI Policy at 4-5.

      Comparing the four corners of the complaint and the insurance policy,

the Insurer could determine that the allegations focus on the fact that

services provided to Mr. Hornick were professional services as defined by the

policy. As the policy provides no potential coverage for injuries arising from

professional services, the Insurer had no duty to defend based on the face of

Mr. Hornick’s complaint. Jerry’s Sport Ctr, 2 A.3d at 541. Thus, the trial

                                     - 24 -
J-A12018-17

court did not err in concluding that Insurer has no duty to defend or

indemnify the Insureds in the underlying case. See Gula, 926 A.2d at 451

(affirming summary judgment in favor of insurer, finding no duty to defend

or indemnify where insured failed to satisfy prerequisites for coverage such

as applicability of the policy to the claim in question).

      Fourth, the Insureds argue that the trial court failed to construe the

policy as a whole. See Insureds’ Br. at 63. They argue that the court erred

in finding spa services within the scope of the professional services exclusion

because   the   exclusion   specifically   identifies   only   nine   categories   of

professional services and spa services are not identified.        They assert that

the trial court failed to resolve a perceived ambiguity in the policy in their

favor. See id. at 66-67. Appellants’ argument is without merit.

      Essentially, the Insureds’ fourth issue revisits arguments raised in

support of their first and second issues regarding the exclusion’s alleged

ambiguity. We need not examine their arguments further. Construing the

policy as a whole, Debra obtained a premises liability policy on behalf of her

daughter and La Spa, as opposed to a professional liability policy for the spa

operations.   Therefore, the trial court correctly meted out the professional

services exclusion to deny coverage for an injury arising from professional

activities of La Spa.

      In conclusion, the Insureds and La Spa have an expectation of

insurance coverage under the AOI policy. However, Insurer has no duty to

                                      - 25 -
J-A12018-17

defend or indemnify in the underlying case because the allegations arise

from a bodily injury sustained as a result of the rendering or failure to

render professional services.   Because Insurer has no duty to defend the

underlying action, we need not address the issue of indemnification.

Accordingly, we discern no error of law or abuse of the trial court’s

discretion.

      Order affirmed.

      Judge Solano joins the memorandum.

      Judge Olson concurs in the result.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 8/23/2017

                                   - 26 -