Court Opinion

ID: 8566
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 05:38:11+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:57:02.202919
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                         FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                         _____________________

                              No. 95-60240
                         _____________________

ALLSTATE INSURANCE,
                                                 Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                versus

LEON BLACKMAN
                                                           Defendant,

RUDY LEWIS, Administrator of the
Estate of Alvine B. Johnson, deceased,

                                     Intervenor Defendant-Appellant.

*****************************************************************

RUDY LEWIS, Administrator of the Estate of
Alvine B. Johnson, deceased,
                                                 Plaintiff-Appellant,

                                versus

LEON BLACKMAN,
                                                           Defendant,

ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY,
                                              Garnishee-Appellee.
_________________________________________________________________

         Appeal from the United States District Court for the
                   Southern District of Mississippi

_________________________________________________________________
                         January 10, 1996
Before JOLLY, DAVIS, and EMILIO M. GARZA, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     *
      Pursuant to Local Rule 47.5, the court has determined that
this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except
under the limited circumstances set forth in Local Rule 47.5.4.
     After reviewing the briefs of the parties, studying the terms

of   the   insurance     policy     issued     by   Allstate    Insurance   Co.

("Allstate")    to    the   insured,   Leon    Blackman   ("Blackman"),     and

considering the arguments presented to this court, we are convinced

that the district court committed no reversible error in granting

summary judgment in favor of Allstate in the two civil actions

consolidated in this appeal.

     The insured, Blackman, knowingly and voluntarily entered a

plea of guilty to the crime of manslaughter for the shooting death

of Alvine B. Johnson ("Johnson").               The policy's criminal act

exclusion precludes coverage for any bodily injury or property

damage resulting from a criminal act or omission, or an act or

omission that is criminal in nature and committed by an insured

person.    We are satisfied that in this case Blackman's voluntary

plea of guilty does not leave open to question whether his conduct

leading    to   the    death   of    Johnson    was   criminal     in   nature,

particularly in the light of the fact that there is no evidence

upon which a reasonable jury could find otherwise.              The judgment of

the district court is therefore

                                                               A F F I R M E D.

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