Court Opinion

ID: 4550085
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-07-22 14:11:01.478348+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:03:11.544974
License: Public Domain

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
                        In The Court of Appeals

            Progressive Direct Insurance Co., and USAA General
            Indemnity Company, Respondents,

            v.

            Shanna Groves, as the Personal Representative of the
            Estate of Lynn Harrison, Appellant.

            Appellate Case No. 2017-001946

                         Appeal From Dorchester County
                      Alison Renee Lee, Circuit Court Judge

                              Opinion No. 5750
                 Submitted April 15, 2020 – Filed July 22, 2020

                        REVERSED AND REMANDED

            John Phillips Linton, Jr., of Walker Gressette Freeman &
            Linton, LLC, of Charleston, and Ryan Harris Sigal, of
            Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward, LLC, of North
            Charleston, for Appellant.

            Wesley Brian Sawyer, of Murphy & Grantland, PA, of
            Columbia, for Respondents.

GEATHERS, J.: In this declaratory judgment action, Shanna Groves, as personal
representative of the Estate of Lynn Harrison ("the Estate"), appeals the circuit
court's order granting summary judgment to Progressive Direct Insurance Co. and
USAA General Indemnity Company (collectively "Respondents"). The underlying
action arises out of a vehicle-to-vehicle shooting perpetrated by Jimi Carl Redman,
Jr. against Lynn Harrison. Respondents brought suit against the Estate seeking a
declaratory judgment that the killing was not covered by Harrison's uninsured or
underinsured motorist policies obtained through Respondents. On appeal, the Estate
argues the circuit court erred in concluding that 1) Redman's vehicle was not causally
connected to the killing, and 2) Redman's firing of a gun was an intervening act of
independent significance that broke any causal connection between his use of the
vehicle and the killing. We reverse and remand.

                                       FACTS
       On April 2, 2015, Lynn Harrison was driving a 2010 GMC eastbound on East
Carolina Road, which became Old Trolley Road just before it intersected Bacon's
Bridge Road in Summerville. At the same time, Jimi Carl Redman, Jr. was driving
a red Ford Escape eastbound on Old Trolley Road in the lane directly to Harrison's
right. Harrison and Redman had not previously met and did not know each other.1
As both vehicles approached the intersection, a witness saw Redman blowing kisses
and making hand gestures toward Harrison. When Harrison and Redman reached
the intersection, the light turned red and both vehicles stopped. Moments later,
Redman pointed a rifle at Harrison and shot in her direction. The bullet went through
the passenger window of Harrison's vehicle, striking her in the neck and killing her.
Redman then drove through the red light and fled before being apprehended a few
blocks away. Harrison's car rolled slowly through the intersection before coming to
a stop on the median.

       Redman's Ford Escape was either uninsured or underinsured at the time of the
attack. Conversely, Harrison's husband had a South Carolina motorcycle insurance
policy through Progressive2 and a South Carolina auto insurance policy through
USAA. At the time of the shooting, Harrison lived with her husband, both policies
were in full force, and both policies contained uninsured and underinsured motorist
coverage. The Progressive policy provided in relevant part:

             If you pay the premium for this coverage, we will pay for
             damages that an insured person is legally entitled to
             recover from the owner or operator of:

1
  The record reveals that Redman traveled to Dorchester County from Texas, and it
appears that his killing of Harrison was a random act of violence.
2
  See Burgess v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 373 S.C. 37, 41, 644 S.E.2d 40, 42 (2007)
("[A]s a general proposition, UIM coverage follows the individual insured rather
than the vehicle insured, that is, UIM coverage, like UM, is 'personal and portable.'").
                1) an uninsured[3] motor vehicle because of bodily
                injury:
                   a) sustained by an insured person;
                   b) caused by an accident; and
                   c) arising out of the ownership, maintenance
                   or use of an uninsured motor vehicle[.]

Similarly, the USAA policy provided:

            We will pay for the following damages which a covered
            person is legally entitled to recover from the owner or
            operator of an uninsured[4] motor vehicle because of an
            auto accident:
                1) BI sustained by a covered person; and
                2) injury to or destruction of the property of a covered
                person.
            The owner's or operator's liability for these damages must
            arise out of the ownership, maintenance or use of the
            uninsured motor vehicle.

      On August 7, 2015, Progressive filed a complaint against the Estate seeking a
declaratory judgment finding that the policy it issued did not provide uninsured
motorist coverage5 for Harrison's death. On September 17, 2015, Progressive and
USAA filed an amended complaint, adding USAA as a plaintiff and seeking a
declaratory judgment that neither of their policies provided coverage for Harrison's
death. On November 3, 2015, the Estate filed its answer to the amended complaint.
On May 9, 2016, Respondents moved for summary judgment and, on January 27,
2017, the Estate filed a cross-motion for summary judgment.

3
  Except for the words uninsured and underinsured, the Progressive underinsured
motorist policy is virtually identical to the uninsured motorist policy.
4
  The USAA underinsured motorist policy is virtually identical to the uninsured
motorist policy except for the use of the word underinsured instead of uninsured and
the following limitation found in the underinsured policy: "However, this does not
include damage to property owned by the covered person while contained in your
covered auto."
5
  Respondents assert there is no meaningful difference between the uninsured
motorist coverage and the underinsured motorist coverage for the purposes of this
appeal.
       On February 17, 2017, the circuit court held a hearing and heard arguments
on both summary judgment motions. On August 7, 2017, the circuit court entered
an order granting summary judgment in favor of Respondents and denying the
Estate's summary judgment motion. In its order, the circuit court determined that
Harrison's death did not arise out of Redman's ownership, maintenance, or use of a
vehicle because there was no causal connection between Redman's use of the vehicle
and Harrison's death. Additionally, the circuit court concluded that even if there was
a causal connection between Redman's use of the vehicle and Harrison's death,
Redman's act of shooting a rifle out of the vehicle was an intervening act of
independent significance that broke any causal connection between the use of the
vehicle and the assault. This appeal followed.

                              ISSUES ON APPEAL

   1. Did the circuit court err in concluding that Redman's vehicle was not causally
      connected to the killing?

   2. Did the circuit court err in concluding that Redman's firing of a gun was an
      intervening act of independent significance that broke any causal connection
      between his use of the vehicle and the killing?

                            STANDARD OF REVIEW
       "In reviewing a motion for summary judgment, the appellate court applies the
same standard of review as the [circuit] court under Rule 56(c), SCRCP." Cowburn
v. Leventis, 366 S.C. 20, 30, 619 S.E.2d 437, 443 (Ct. App. 2005). "Pursuant to Rule
56(c), SCRCP, summary judgment may be affirmed if no genuine issue of material
fact exists and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Id. "On
appeal from summary judgment, the reviewing court must consider the facts and
inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party." Id. (quoting Cantrell
v. Green, 302 S.C. 557, 559, 397 S.E.2d 777, 778 (Ct. App. 1990)). In other words,
appellate courts must "liberally construe the record in favor of the nonmoving party
and give the nonmoving party the benefit of all favorable inferences that might
reasonably be drawn therefrom." Estes v. Roper Temp. Servs., Inc., 304 S.C. 120,
121, 403 S.E.2d 157, 158 (Ct. App. 1991).

                                 LAW/ANALYSIS
      The Estate argues the circuit court erred in concluding that Harrison's death
did not arise out of Redman's ownership, maintenance, or use of his vehicle.
Respondents argue the circuit court's conclusion is proper because 1) there was no
causal connection between Redman's vehicle and the assault; and 2) Redman's firing
of a gun was an intervening act of independent significance that broke any causal
connection between his use of the vehicle and the assault. We agree with the Estate.

        Pursuant to South Carolina law, no automobile insurance policy may be issued
in this state unless it includes uninsured motorist coverage. Nationwide Mut. Ins.
Co. v. Erwood, 373 S.C. 88, 91, 644 S.E.2d 62, 63 (2007); see also S.C. Code Ann.
§ 38-77-150(A) (2015) (requiring that any insurance policy issued in South Carolina
include uninsured motorist coverage). Accordingly, "[a]n insured is legally entitled
to recover damages arising out of the 'ownership, maintenance, or use' of an
uninsured vehicle." State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Aytes, 332 S.C. 30, 33, 503
S.E.2d 744, 745 (1998) (quoting S.C. Code Ann. § 38-77-140 (1989)). In Aytes, our
supreme court laid out a three-part test for determining whether an injury arises out
of the ownership, maintenance, or use of an uninsured vehicle. Id. To satisfy the
test, a party must establish the following elements:

             1) There exists a causal connection between the vehicle
             and the injury; and
             2) No act of independent significance breaks the causal
             link; and
             3) The vehicle is being used for transportation at the time
             of the assault.

State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Bookert, 337 S.C. 291, 293, 523 S.E.2d 181, 182
(1999) (citing Aytes, 332 S.C. at 33, 503 S.E.2d at 745).

       Here, it is undisputed that both Harrison and Redman's vehicles were being
used for transportation at the time of the shooting. Therefore, whether Harrison's
killing falls within the uninsured motorist coverage of Respondents' policies hinges
on the remaining two elements. We will address each element in turn.

 I.   Causal connection

        The Estate argues the circuit court erred in concluding that there was no causal
connection between Redman's vehicle and the killing because 1) the vehicle was an
active accessory to the shooting; 2) the vehicle was more than the mere situs of the
fatal injury; and 3) Harrison's death was foreseeably identifiable with the normal use
of a vehicle. Respondents argue the circuit court properly determined that no causal
connection existed because 1) Redman's vehicle was not an active accessory to the
shooting; 2) Redman's vehicle was merely the site from which he fired the gun; and
3) gunshot injuries are not foreseeably identifiable with the normal use of a vehicle.
We agree with the Estate.

        Our courts have indicated that a causal connection means:

              a) the vehicle was an "active accessory" to the assault; and
              b) something less than proximate cause but more than
              mere site of the injury; and
              c) that the "injury must be foreseeably identifiable with the
              normal use of the automobile."

Bookert, 337 S.C. at 293, 523 S.E.2d at 182.

     A) Active accessory to the assault

       The Estate argues the circuit court erred in concluding that Redman's vehicle
was not an active accessory to the assault because, but for the vehicle, Redman
would not have been in a position to shoot Harrison. The Estate further contends
that Redman would not have been able to follow Harrison to the stoplight without
the use of the vehicle. Respondents argue the circuit court's conclusion was proper
because Redman's position was not dependent on his use of the vehicle.
Respondents further contend that Redman's use of the vehicle did not contribute to
the shooting because Redman could have walked up to Harrison's vehicle off the
street or after exiting his own vehicle before shooting her.

       The Estate argues the facts in the record are similar to the facts of Wausau
Underwriters Ins. Co. v. Howser6 and Home Ins. Co. v. Towe,7 further asserting that
the circuit court erred in distinguishing those cases from the case at bar. In Howser,
our supreme court found that a vehicle was an active accessory to a vehicle-to-
vehicle shooting. 309 S.C. at 273, 422 S.E.2d at 108. On a summer night in 1987,
Howser and a friend were driving home after leaving a bowling alley. Id. at 270–
71, 422 S.E.2d at 107. The two stopped at an intersection and drove about one-tenth
of a mile when they were bumped by another vehicle. Id. at 271, 422 S.E.2d at 107.
The unknown vehicle bumped Howser's vehicle two more times, and Howser
accelerated her vehicle. Id. The unknown driver then pulled alongside Howser,
shouted at her to slow down and stop, and pointed a pistol at the passenger window.
Id. Howser made a quick left turn onto a side street but as she completed her turn,
the unknown driver shot at her vehicle. Id. The bullet entered the vehicle,

6
    309 S.C. 269, 422 S.E.2d 106 (1992).
7
    314 S.C. 105, 441 S.E.2d 825 (1994).
fragmented, and hit Howser's back in three places. Id. Notably, the supreme court
observed that, "[t]he injuries that Howser sustained were the result of the gunshot[,]"
further pointing out that "[n]either Howser nor Shealy w[ere] hurt when the other
vehicle bumped [Howser's vehicle]." Id. Following the shooting, the unknown
driver fled and was never captured. Id.

       The supreme court held that it was "apparent that the unknown vehicle was an
active accessory to th[e] assault." Id. at 273, 422 S.E.2d at 108. The court noted
that the case was not one in which the assailant merely used his vehicle to provide
transportation to the shooting, nor was it a case in which the assailant "happened,
incidentally, to be sitting in a stationary vehicle at the time of the attack." Id. Rather,
the court found that "[o]nly through [the] use of his vehicle was the assailant able
to closely pursue Howser, thereby enabling him to carry out the pistol assault." Id.
(emphasis added). Accordingly, the court determined that "[t]he gunshot was the
culmination of an ongoing assault, in which the vehicle played an essential and
integral part." Id. The court further noted that "only a motor vehicle could have
provided the assailant a quick and successful escape." Id.

       Similarly, in Towe, our supreme court concluded that a vehicle was an active
accessory to an assault. 314 S.C. at 107, 441 S.E.2d at 827. Towe was driving when
his passenger threw a bottle from the vehicle at a road sign. Id. at 106, 441 S.E.2d
at 826. Instead of hitting the sign, the bottle shattered on the steering wheel of a
tractor being driven by the victim in the opposite direction. Id. The supreme court
held the vehicle was an active accessory to the attack because "[t]he use of the
automobile placed [the passenger] in the position to throw the bottle at the sign and
the vehicle's speed contributed to the velocity of the bottle[,] increasing the
seriousness of [the victim]'s injuries." Id. at 107, 441 S.E.2d at 827 (emphasis
added).

       Here, in determining that Redman's vehicle was not an active accessory to the
shooting, the circuit court made the following distinctions between the facts at bar
and the facts of Howser and Towe: 1) Redman did not use his vehicle to keep up
with Harrison's vehicle; 2) Redman's vehicle did not make contact with Harrison's
vehicle; 3) there was no evidence that Harrison saw Redman driving beside her or
that she was aware of him making hand gestures toward her;8 4) Redman's use of the

8
 We find the circuit court improperly determined this lack of evidence distinguished
the facts at bar from Howser and Towe. Notably, there is no evidence in the record
indicating that Harrison was unaware of Redman. The sole witness to the attack
indicated she was driving in the left lane behind Harrison at the time Redman was
vehicle did not contribute to the severity of Harrison's injury; and 5) Harrison made
no attempt to evade Redman. We find that the circuit court erred in relying on these
distinctions.

       First, like the two vehicles in the present case, the vehicles in Towe never
made contact. Moreover, similar to the present case, there was no evidence that the
driver of the tractor was aware of the passenger before he threw the bottle, and the
tractor's driver made no attempt to evade the vehicle. Second, in Howser, the use of
the vehicle did not contribute to the severity of Howser's injuries because Howser's
injuries, like Harrison's, were the result of the shooting. Additionally, while the
assailant bumped Howser's vehicle, the supreme court noted that this act did not
cause Howser's injuries. Therefore, the circuit court's distinction of Howser from
the present case on the ground of vehicle-to-vehicle contact was not meaningful.
Finally, the facts of the case at bar are on all fours with the facts in Howser. We
note that the stoplight, where Redman was able to quickly catch up with Harrison
and shoot her, may have been the only thing that prevented Redman's pursuit of
Harrison from turning into an extended chase as in Howser. Accordingly, we do not
find that the brevity of Redman's pursuit, resulting from Harrison's compliance with
the stoplight, distinguishes Howser from the case at bar. In fact, Howser only
traveled one-tenth of a mile before being bumped a few times and then making an
evasive maneuver onto a side street before being fired upon.

        The circuit court erred in finding Redman's vehicle was not an active
accessory to the shooting by overlooking one significant factor consistent between
Howser, Towe, and the case at bar; but for the use of the vehicles, the assailants
would not have been in a position to injure the victims. See Howser, 309 S.C. at
273, 422 S.E.2d at 108 ("Only through [the] use of his vehicle was the assailant able
to closely pursue Howser, thereby enabling him to carry out the pistol assault."
(emphasis added)); Towe, 314 S.C. at 107, 441 S.E.2d at 827 ("The use of the
automobile placed [the passenger] in the position to throw the bottle at the
sign . . . ." (emphasis added)). Here, the record indicates that Redman drove beside
Harrison, making hand gestures at her until the two stopped at a red light. Therefore,
whether or not Harrison saw Redman, it is apparent that Redman saw Harrison at
some point before the two drove down the street and stopped at the light. After
spotting Harrison, Redman used his vehicle, like the assailant in Howser, to closely

blowing kisses and gesturing towards Harrison. Consequently, the fact that the
witness did not see Harrison react to Redman through Harrison's back window and
driver seat does not lead to the conclusion that Harrison was unaware of Redman or
his actions.
pursue her to the point where he shot her. Had Redman not been in his vehicle, he
would not have been able to keep pace with and follow Harrison. In other words,
but for Redman's use of his vehicle, he would not have been in a position to shoot
Harrison.

       Two additional factors support the conclusion that Redman's vehicle was an
active accessory to the shooting. First, like the assailant in Howser, Redman used
his vehicle to immediately flee the scene. While the assailant in Howser was able to
successfully flee and avoid apprehension, the mere fact that Redman was eventually
arrested does not diminish the fact that his vehicle was used to flee the scene.
Second, unlike the assailants in Howser and Towe, Redman's vehicle contributed to
the concealment of his weapon. The weapons used in Howser and Towe, a pistol
and a bottle, respectively, do not require the use of a vehicle to be transported
inconspicuously, and could easily be hidden in an assailant's waistband. Here,
Redman used a rifle to shoot Harrison. Had Redman not been in a vehicle, he likely
could not have transported his rifle down a public street to the stoplight where he
shot Harrison without drawing her attention, the attention of law enforcement, or the
attention of the public at large to the weapon. However, through the use of his
vehicle, Redman was able to transport his rifle down the street without notice until
he was in position to shoot Harrison. For the foregoing reasons, we find the circuit
court erred in concluding Redman's vehicle was not an active accessory to the
shooting.

       Respondents argue the circuit court properly determined Redman's vehicle
was not an active accessory to the shooting because the facts of the case at bar are
more similar to the facts of Holmes v. Allstate Ins. Co., 786 F. Supp. 2d 1022 (D.S.C.
2009). In Holmes, the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina found
that a vehicle was not an active accessory to an assault. 786 F. Supp. 2d at 1027.
Holmes and her ex-boyfriend broke up, and he began stalking Holmes, which
included following her around town in his vehicle. Id. at 1023–24. One day, Holmes
went to a friend's house and noticed her ex-boyfriend driving back and forth in front
of the house. Id. at 1024. Later, Holmes left to pick up her neighbor's child at a
local school bus stop. Id. Holmes's ex-boyfriend happened to be driving around and
saw Holmes drive past him before turning to follow her. Id. Holmes's ex-boyfriend
eventually found Holmes parked on the side of the road awaiting the arrival of the
school bus. Id. Holmes's ex-boyfriend then shot Holmes several times before
fleeing. Id.

       In determining that the ex-boyfriend's vehicle was not an active accessory to
the assault, the district court noted nothing in the record indicated that Holmes was
aware that her ex-boyfriend was approaching or that the ex-boyfriend's vehicle made
contact with Holmes's vehicle. Id. at 1026. The court further considered the fact
that the ex-boyfriend's use of his vehicle did not increase the severity of the harm
caused by the gunshots. Id. at 1027. Rather, the ex-boyfriend "merely used his car
to approach [Holmes], stopped his car next to her parked car, fired several gunshots
at [Holmes], and drove off." Id. Thus, the court explained that the case was one in
which the ex-boyfriend merely "used his vehicle . . . to locate [Holmes], to position
himself next to [Holmes]'s vehicle, and to leave the scene of the crime," not a case
in which Holmes was "traveling in her vehicle at the time [her ex] fired the gun, thus
making [her ex-boyfriend's] position in relation to [Holmes] depend[e]nt on the use
of his vehicle." Id. at 1026–27.

       At the outset, there is a key distinction between Holmes and the facts at bar.9
Here, Harrison's car was in drive and operational during the shooting, whereas in
Holmes, the victim's vehicle was parked and on the side of the road. Therefore, in
Holmes, the assailant did not need the use of his vehicle to put himself in a position
to shoot the victim. The assailant could have spotted the vehicle while on foot,
walked up to the window, and shot the victim. See Howser, 309 S.C. at 273, 422
S.E.2d at 108 ("This is not a case in which the assailant merely used the vehicle to
provide transportation to the situs of the shooting . . . . Nor is it a case where the
assailant happened, incidentally, to be sitting in a stationary vehicle at the time of
the attack." (emphases added)). Conversely, Redman could not have kept pace with
Harrison's car and positioned himself to shoot her but for his use of the automobile.

       Moreover, in explaining its conclusion, the district court focused on the
victim's lack of mobility in distinguishing Holmes from scenarios like the one at bar.
The court noted that the ex-boyfriend merely used his vehicle to position himself
next to Holmes's stationary vehicle before shooting her. See Holmes, 786 F. Supp. 2d

9
  Furthermore, we note that a federal district court's interpretation of South Carolina
insurance law is not binding on this court. See Unisun Ins. Co. v. Hertz Rental Corp.,
312 S.C. 549, 552, 436 S.E.2d 182, 184 (Ct. App. 1993) ("A contract of insurance is
governed by the law of the state in which [the] application for insurance was made,
the policy delivered, and the contract formed."); see also Santee River Cypress
Lumber Co. v. Query, 168 S.C. 112, 117, 167 S.E. 22, 24 (1932) ("We are not bound
by the construction placed upon [a state s]tatute by any [f]ederal [c]ourt, and the
[f]ederal [c]ourts should adopt and follow our construction."); Hooper v. Ebenezer
Senior Servs. & Rehab. Ctr., 377 S.C. 217, 237, 659 S.E.2d 213, 223 (Ct. App.
2008), rev'd on other grounds, 386 S.C. 108, 687 S.E.2d 29 (2009) (providing that
an appellate court is not bound to follow a federal court's interpretation of South
Carolina law).
at 1026–27. Thus, the vehicle was not an active accessory to the shooting because
once the ex-boyfriend was in position to shoot Holmes, regardless of how he reached
that position, he did not need the use of his vehicle to maintain his ability to shoot
Holmes. Conversely, the district court explained that had Holmes's car been in
motion, the ex-boyfriend's position in relation to Holmes would have been
dependent on the use of his vehicle. Id. at 1026–27. In other words, a would-be
assailant would be incapable of maintaining a close position from which to attack a
mobile driver but for the use of the assailant's vehicle.

       Respondents argue the facts at bar mirror those in Holmes because Harrison's
vehicle was stationary when Redman shot her. Thus, Respondents argue, Redman
could have walked up and shot Harrison without the use of his vehicle. However,
Respondents' argument rests on the notion that Redman could have waited at the
corner of the intersection with a rifle and approached Harrison on foot. This
argument ignores the fact that Redman used his vehicle to drive from the point where
he first spotted Harrison, while keeping pace with her vehicle, to the point where he
shot her at the stoplight. Accordingly, Harrison's momentary stop at the stoplight is
distinguishable from the operation of the car in Holmes, which was in park and
whose engine was turned off at the time of the assault. This difference is highlighted
by the fact that Harrison's vehicle, with engine running and in drive, rolled through
the intersection after she was shot.

       Respondents also argue that Redman could have put his car in park at the
stoplight, exited, shot Harrison, and fled the scene on foot. Thus, Respondents argue
that Redman's use of the vehicle did not contribute to the assault. However, while
the assailant in Holmes could have parked before attacking his victim, he did not
need his vehicle to put himself in a position to shoot the victim because the victim
was sitting in a vehicle that was turned off and stationary. Conversely, Redman
would not have been able to keep pace with Harrison from the moment he spotted
her until the moment he shot her but for the use of his vehicle. Therefore, the fact
that Harrison's vehicle was operational and in drive distinguishes the facts at bar
from Holmes.

   B) Mere situs of the injury

       The Estate argues the circuit court erred in finding Redman's vehicle was
"merely the site from which he fired the gun." Respondents argue the circuit court
finding was proper. Respondents further assert Harrison's vehicle is the mere situs
of her injury.
       Respondents assert the facts of this case are similar to the facts of Holmes
because Redman merely used his vehicle to approach Harrison's vehicle, stop, and
fire at Harrison. This argument mirrors Respondents' previous argument that
Redman's vehicle was not an active accessory to the assault because he could have
approached Harrison on foot. Thus, Respondents argue that because the car was not
necessary to the assault, it is the mere situs from which Redman fired the weapon.
See Holmes, 786 F. Supp. 2d at 1027 ("[The ex] merely used his car to approach
Plaintiff, stopped his car next to her parked car, fired several gunshots at Plaintiff,
and drove off." (emphasis added)). However, this argument ignores the fact that
Redman used his vehicle to drive from the point where he first spotted Harrison to
the point where he shot her at the stoplight while also keeping pace with her vehicle.
See Howser, 309 S.C. at 273, 422 S.E.2d at 108 ("This is not a case in which the
assailant merely used the vehicle to provide transportation to the situs of the
shooting . . . . Nor is it a case where the assailant happened, incidentally, to be
sitting in a stationary vehicle at the time of the attack." (emphases added)).

        Respondents also argue Harrison's vehicle is the mere situs of her injury,
arguing the facts of the case at bar are comparable to the facts in Wright v. North
Area Taxi, Inc., 337 S.C. 419, 523 S.E.2d 472 (Ct. App. 1999). In Wright, this court
determined a taxi cab was merely the situs of the driver's injury. Id. at 425, 523
S.E.2d at 475. One night while the driver was working, she picked up two men who,
in a planned and joint effort, attempted to rob the driver while they were occupying
her taxi. Id. at 422, 523 S.E.2d at 473. The driver was shot during the robbery and
crashed into a parked vehicle. Id. The driver eventually died from her injuries. Id.
This court found that the driver's taxi "served merely as the situs of the shooting."
Id. at 425, 523 S.E.2d at 475. The court further explained that, "[t]he required causal
connection does not exist when the only connection between an injury and the
insured vehicle's use is the fact that the injured person was an occupant of the vehicle
when the shooting occurred." Id.

        We find the case at bar easily distinguishable from Wright. First, in Wright,
the plaintiffs were not seeking coverage under an uninsured motorist provision of
their own policy. Rather, the plaintiffs sought coverage from the driver's taxi
company as a self-insurer. Id. 422, 523 S.E.2d at 473. Second, the assault was not
facilitated by the use of an uninsured vehicle. Rather, the assailants entered the
victim's self–insured taxi before the assault occurred. Third, the assailants and the
victim were all located in the same vehicle when the assault occurred. Thus, the taxi
was merely the scene of the assault. As such, this court found that the mere fact that
the injury occurred in the taxi cab rather than on the street was not enough to invoke
coverage. Here, Redman shot Harrison from his own vehicle rather than from within
her own vehicle. Accordingly, we do not agree that the findings in Wright apply to
the facts at bar.

   C) Foreseeably identifiable injuries

       The Estate argues the circuit court erred in finding Harrison's death was not
foreseeably identifiable with the use of Redman's vehicle. Respondents argue the
circuit court's finding is proper because a gunshot injury is not foreseeably
identifiable with the normal use of an automobile.

       Respondents cite Bookert for the proposition that gunshot injuries are not
"'foreseeably identifiable with the normal use of an automobile.'" 337 S.C. at 293,
523 S.E.2d at 182. Bookert's son Michael was with some friends and stopped at a
Hardee's restaurant, where two soldiers and fifteen other young men became
involved in an altercation. Id. at 292, 523 S.E.2d at 181. Michael and his friends
left and went to a McDonald's restaurant, as did the fifteen men from the Hardee's.
Id. The two soldiers were armed and picked up a third soldier before driving to the
McDonald's in search of the men from Hardee's. Id. As Michael was about to walk
into the McDonald's, he heard the soldiers yelling and turned in their direction. Id.
The soldiers' vehicle was stopped in the traffic lane with the motor running, and one
soldier stood in the back holding a shotgun while the front passenger brandished a
handgun. Id. The vehicle jerked forward, and the soldier wielding the shotgun fell
and fired his gun. Id. The shotgun pellets did not hit Michael, but while the vehicle
was still moving forward, the front passenger shot Michael, striking him with a bullet
in each leg. Id. at 292–93, 523 S.E.2d at 181–82. Our supreme court ultimately
found that Michael's injuries were not "'foreseeably identifiable with the normal use
of an automobile.'" Id. at 293, 523 S.E.2d at 182. Notably, however, our supreme
court did not overrule Howser, in which the court found a causal connection between
the use of the vehicle and the injuries suffered by the victim of a vehicle-to-vehicle
shooting.

      At the outset, the facts at bar are distinguishable from Bookert. Notably,
Michael was on foot when he was assaulted. Thus, the facts in Bookert are consistent
with Holmes and Wright, in which the assailant's ability to carry out the attack was
not dependent on the use of the vehicle. See Howser, 309 S.C. at 273, 422 S.E.2d at
108 ("This is not a case in which the assailant merely used the vehicle to provide
transportation to the situs of the shooting . . . . Nor is it a case where the assailant
happened, incidentally, to be sitting in a stationary vehicle at the time of the attack."
(emphases added)). As such, the assailant's use of the vehicle did not contribute to
the assault because the assailants could have carried out the same attack after
approaching on foot. Conversely, but for the use of his vehicle, Redman would not
have been able to keep pace with Harrison from the point he spotted her to the
stoplight where he shot her.

       Additionally, we disagree with the proposition that Bookert created a bright
line rule that gunshot injuries are not foreseeably identifiable with the normal use of
an automobile. As previously mentioned, the Bookert court did not overrule
Howser. Therefore, we must assume the fact that an assailant fired a gun from an
automobile does not automatically defeat coverage by the automobile's insurer.
Accordingly, we conclude that the holding in Bookert is limited to the facts of that
case. Turning to the case at bar, the facts are more consistent with the
vehicle-to-vehicle shooting in Howser than the vehicle-to-pedestrian shooting in
Bookert. Consequently, we conclude that Redman's assault was foreseeably
identifiable with the normal use of an automobile.

       Based on the foregoing, we find that Redman's vehicle was an active
accessory to the shooting and more than the mere situs of the attack or injury.
Additionally, pursuant to Howser, we conclude that Harrison's death was
foreseeably identifiable with the normal use of a vehicle. See Bookert, 337 S.C. at
293, 523 S.E.2d at 182 (indicating that a "causal connection means: a.) the vehicle
was an 'active accessory' to the assault; and b.) something less than proximate cause
but more than [the] mere site of the injury; and c.) that the 'injury must be foreseeably
identifiable with the normal use of the automobile'"). Accordingly, the circuit court
erred in finding that there was no causal connection between Redman's use of his
vehicle and Harrison's death.

II.   Intervening act of independent significance
       The Estate argues the circuit court erred in concluding that Redman's act of
shooting Harrison was an intervening act of independent significance that broke any
causal connection between the use of the vehicle and the assault. Respondents argue
the circuit court's conclusion was proper. We agree with the Estate.

       "Once causation is established, the court must determine if an act of
independent significance occurred breaking the causal link." Howser, 309 S.C. at
273, 422 S.E.2d at 108. "If the injury was directly caused by some independent or
intervening cause wholly disassociated from, independent of or remote from the use
of the automobile, the injury cannot be said to arise out of its 'use.'" Hite v. Hartford
Acc. & Indem. Co., 288 S.C. 616, 621, 344 S.E.2d 173, 176 (Ct. App. 1986).

             Even if there is some remote connection between the use
             of the automobile and the injury complained of, if the
             injury is directly caused by some independent act or
             intervening cause wholly disassociated from, independent
             of, and remote from the use of the automobile, the injury
             is not the result of the 'use' of an automobile.

Id. at 621, 344 S.E.2d at 176–77.

       In Howser, our supreme court found the unknown driver's gunshot was not an
intervening act of independent significance. 309 S.C. at 274, 422 S.E.2d at 109. The
court explained that "the unknown driver's use of his vehicle and the shooting were
inextricably linked as one continuing assault." Id. Similarly, in Towe, the supreme
court found the use of the vehicle and the passenger's throwing of the bottle were
"'inextricably linked' as one continuing act." Towe, 314 S.C. at 108, 441 S.E.2d at
827.

       Conversely, in Wright, this court found the gunmen's shooting was an
intervening act of independent significance that broke any causal connection
between the vehicle and the driver's injuries. 337 S.C. at 427, 523 S.E.2d at 476.
This court found that "[t]he fatal injuries that [the driver] sustained were unrelated
to any use of the vehicle." Id. The court further explained that "[t]he same injuries
could have occurred when the vehicle was parked, or otherwise not moving, or when
[the victim] or the gunmen were standing outside of the vehicle." Id.

      We find the facts at bar more closely resemble those of Howser and Towe
because, unlike the assault in Wright, Redman's attack on Harrison was not
"unrelated to any use of [his] vehicle." Id. Rather, as discussed in section I(A),
Redman's position from which he shot Harrison, his ability to inconspicuously
transport his rifle, and his ability to flee the scene were dependent on the use of his
vehicle. Thus, Redman's "use of his vehicle and the shooting were inextricably
linked as one continuing assault." Howser, 309 S.C. at 274, 422 S.E.2d at 109.
Accordingly, the circuit court erred in concluding that Redman's act of shooting
Harrison was an intervening act of independent significance that broke any causal
connection between the use of the vehicle and the assault.

       Based on the foregoing, we conclude: 1) there was a causal connection
between Redman's vehicle and the shooting; 2) there was no act of independent
significance breaking the causal link; and 3) the vehicle was being used for
transportation at the time of the assault. Aytes, 332 S.C. at 33, 503 S.E.2d at 745
(indicating that an injury arises out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of an
uninsured vehicle if 1) there exists a causal connection between the vehicle and the
injury; 2) no act of independent significance breaks the causal link; and 3) the vehicle
is being used for transportation at the time of the assault). Therefore, the circuit
court erred in concluding that Harrison's death did not arise out of Redman's
ownership, maintenance, or use of his vehicle. Thus, we hold the circuit court erred
in granting summary judgment in favor of Respondents.

                                 CONCLUSION

       Based on the foregoing, we hold the circuit court erred in concluding 1) that
there was no causal connection between Redman's vehicle and the assault, and 2)
that Redman's act of shooting Harrison was an intervening act of independent
significance that broke any causal connection between the use of the vehicle and the
assault. Accordingly, the circuit court's grant of summary judgment in favor of
Respondents is REVERSED and the case is REMANDED to the circuit court for
further proceedings.

LOCKEMY, CJ., and HEWITT, J., concur.10

10
  We decide this case without oral argument pursuant to the Supreme Court's order
regarding the operation of the appellate courts during the Coronavirus Emergency,
dated March 20, 2020, and Rule 215, SCACR. See RE: Operation of the Appellate
Courts During the Coronavirus Emergency (S.C. Sup. Ct. Order dated March 20,
2020, amended May 29, 2020).