Court Opinion

ID: 9473379
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 04:28:28.235763+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:43:29.934660
License: Public Domain

WELLFORD, Circuit Judge,
concurring.
I concur in the result reached and in much of the reasoning set out by Judge Contie, particularly with respect to the principles of standing. The question in this case is whether Wayne County is a proper party to appeal the adverse decision rendered against Joseph Russo in the district court on his right to be defended by Allstate. The only interest Wayne County has in this appeal, it seems to me, is its concern about pursuing Russo, Allstate’s insured, should Wayne County incur liability in a pending Michigan state court proceeding, now on appeal, based upon negligent entrustment, and should the state court hold that Russo, a Deputy Sheriff, was not at the time of the incident engaged in a “business pursuit” within the meaning of the Allstate policy.
In effect, the court holds that prudential limitations, “classified under the general rubric of ‘standing,’ ” preclude Wayne County from pursuing this appeal, at the present time, because “Wayne County can demonstrate no threatened injury resulting from Allstate’s failure to defend Russo.” At the same time, this court, in footnote 6, expresses “no opinion on the standing of the parties to litigate Allstate’s duty to indemnify.” (Emphasis added). I recognize some authority to the effect that a non-insured party may appeal a holding that the insurer need not defend another party, Dairlyland Insurance Co. v. Makover, 654 F.2d 1120, 1123 (5th Cir.1981), but *698I agree that the circumstances here indicate a contrary result. I write separately to indicate my understanding that the court’s decision does not preclude Wayne County from seeking possible indemnification or contribution from Allstate if the conditions are met whereby Wayne County is exposed to a substantial loss by reason of Russo’s conduct. The uncertainties presented by Brandon v. Holt, — U.S. -, 105 S.Ct. 873, 83 L.Ed.2d 878 (1985), may be involved in the underlying Graves-Russo altercation.