Court Opinion

ID: 3143793
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-22 18:00:37.351337+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:08:10.585478
License: Public Domain

No. 2--06--0614            Filed: 11-7-07

                                              IN THE

                               APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

                                       SECOND DISTRICT

SECURA INSURANCE COMPANY,                         )   Appeal from the Circuit Court of Du Page
                                                  )   County.
       Plaintiff-Appellant,                       )
                                                  )
v.                                                )   No. 05--MR--156
                                                  )
ILLINOIS FARMERS INSURANCE                        )
COMPANY,                                          )   Honorable
                                                  )   Bonnie M. Wheaton,
       Defendant-Appellee.                        )   Judge, Presiding.

       JUSTICE CALLUM delivered the opinion of the court:

       This appeal arises from a declaratory judgment action brought by plaintiff, Secura Insurance

Company, against defendant, Illinois Farmers Insurance Company, concerning their respective

obligations to defend and indemnify Bogoja Muzikoski, d/b/a B&A Automotive Repair, for liabilities

arising out of an accident involving his employee, Daniel Dill, who, in the course of his employment,

drove a vehicle insured by Farmers. The question presented is whether Farmers' policy's employer

exclusion violates Illinois public policy. We conclude that it does. Accordingly, we reverse the trial

court's order granting summary judgment to Farmers and denying summary judgment to Secura, and

we remand the cause for further proceedings.

                                        I. BACKGROUND

       On November 27, 2000, Vincent and Kim Henehan sued, among others, Dill and Muzikoski,

seeking compensation for personal injuries Vincent sustained in a motor vehicle accident in October
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2000. The Henehans alleged that, on October 21, 2000, in Westmont, Dill was operating a 1995

Chevrolet Blazer owned by Paul J. Stech that collided head-on with the vehicle being driven by

Vincent. The Henehans further alleged that Dill was in the course and scope of his employment with

Muzikoski at the time of the accident and that, as such, Dill was Muzikoski's agent. Further, Dill was

negligent in operating the vehicle, and this negligence proximately caused Vincent's injuries.

       The vehicle Dill was driving was insured under an automobile liability policy issued by

Farmers that was effective on October 21, 2000. On that date, Muzikoski was insured under a

commercial liability insurance policy issued by Secura that provided coverage to Muzikoski and his

employees while they operated "nonowned" vehicles in the course and scope of their employment.

The Farmers policy contained an employer exclusion, which excepted from the definition of an

insured person "[a]ny person or organization, other than you or a family member, who is the

employer of any insured person." (Emphasis omitted.)

       Muzikoski and Dill initially tendered suit to Secura, Muzikoski's carrier. Secura agreed to

defend them in the underlying litigation and retained counsel. However, on January 8, 2001,

Muzikoski's and Dill's counsel sent a letter to Farmers, enclosing a copy of the complaint and

tendering Muzikoski's and Dill's defense to Farmers. On January 31, 2001, Farmers declined the

tender from Dill. It made no reference to Muzikoski.

       On April 18, 2001, Muzikoski's and Dill's counsel sent a second letter, tendering their defense

to Farmers. Relying on State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Fisher, 315 Ill. App. 3d
1159 (2000), Farmers again denied the tender. On December 17, 2001, counsel sent a third letter to

Farmers, tendering Muzikoski's and Dill's defense and citing State Farm Mutual Automobile

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Insurance Co. v. Smith, 197 Ill. 2d 369 (2001), which affirmed Fisher. Farmers accepted the defense

of Dill, but not of Muzikoski.

       The Henehans subsequently voluntarily dismissed Dill from the underlying litigation, leaving

Muzikoski as the only defendant. On or about May 4, 2004, the Henehans and Muzikoski reached

a settlement, and the case was dismissed.

       On February 15, 2005, Secura sued Farmers, seeking a declaratory judgment that Muzikoski

was covered by Farmers' policy and that Farmers owed Secura reimbursement of attorney fees and

costs. Also, it sought a bad-faith finding against Farmers that would entitle Secura to reimbursement

of the entire settlement it had paid. On December 16, 2005, the parties filed cross-motions for

summary judgment.

       On March 17, 2006, the trial court denied Secura's summary judgment motion and granted

Farmers' motion, finding that: (1) Farmers' policy clearly and unambiguously excluded Muzikoski as

an insured where it excluded the employer of any insured; and (2) Farmers' policy did not violate

Illinois public policy as detailed in Smith, because it provided coverage to permitted users.

Accordingly, the court found that Farmers had no duty to defend or indemnify Muzikoski. The court

further found that its findings were dispositive of the coverage issue and that it did not need to reach

the issues of bad faith and limitations of liability. Secura moved to reconsider, and, on May 17, 2006,

the trial court denied the motion. Secura appeals.

                                            II. ANALYSIS

                                            A. Jurisdiction

       We ordered that two motions be taken with this case. The first motion addresses this court's

jurisdiction. On December 1, 2006, Farmers moved to dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction,

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arguing that Secura did not timely file its notice of appeal. Secura appeals the trial court's May 17,

2006, order denying its motion for reconsideration. Secura's notice of appeal from that order was

due within 30 days of the trial court's order, or by June 16, 2006. See Official Reports Advance

Sheet No. 8 (April 11, 2007), R. 303(a)(1), eff. May 1, 2007 (notice of appeal must be filed within

30 days after the entry of the order disposing of the last pending postjudgment motion). Secura's

notice of appeal is dated June 16, 2006, but it was not filed until June 20, 2006.

       In its motion to dismiss, Farmers further argues that there is no certificate or affidavit in the

record showing that Secura's notice of appeal was mailed to the circuit court clerk on June 16, 2006,

or that it otherwise complies with Supreme Court Rule 12(b)(3) (145 Ill. 2d R. 12(b)(3)). 155 Ill.
2d R. 373 (if a notice of appeal is received after the due date, the time of mailing shall be deemed the

filing date, and proof of mailing shall be as provided in Rule 12(b)(3)).

       On December 21, 2006, this court allowed Farmers' motion and dismissed the appeal. On

January 2, 2007, Secura moved to recall this court's mandate, to file a response instanter to Farmers'

motion to dismiss and to rehear Farmers' motion. On January 8, 2007, we allowed Secura's motion

to recall our mandate and vacated our order dismissing the appeal. We reinstated the appeal and

allowed Secura to file its response to Farmers' motion to dismiss. We further granted Secura's

request to supplement the record on appeal with a June 16, 2006, letter to the clerk of the circuit

court, and we ordered taken with the case Farmers' motion to dismiss, Secura's response thereto, and,

subsequently, Farmers' reply.

       Farmers argues that the timely filing of a notice of appeal is a jurisdictional prerequisite and

cannot be waived and that prejudice is irrelevant to the inquiry. Also, Farmers argues that the June

16, 2006, letter does not meet any of the requirements of Rule 12(b)(3).

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        Supreme Court Rule 12(b)(3) provides that service is proved:

                        "(3) in case of service by mail, by certificate of the attorney, or affidavit of a

                person other than the attorney, who deposited the paper in the mail, stating the time

                and place of mailing, the complete address which appeared on the envelope, and the

                fact that proper postage was prepaid." 145 Ill. 2d R. 12(b)(3).

        In its June 16, 2006, letter to the circuit court clerk, Secura requested that the clerk file

Secura's notice of appeal and its notice of filing. The letter further noted that a copy was sent to

Farmers' counsel.

        Secura concedes that there is one element required by Rule 12(b)(3) that is missing from its

letter--the time of mailing to the circuit court clerk. It argues, however, that this deficiency is not

substantial and, at most, constitutes harmless error. Secura also notes that Farmers has not alleged

that it did not receive Secura's notice of appeal or that it was in any way prejudiced by the failure of

Secura's counsel to add language to the certificate of service stating the time of mailing. Accordingly,

it requests that we deny Farmers' motion to dismiss and enter an order finding that any deficiencies

in the certificate are harmless error and that the notice of appeal was timely filed.

        Farmers is correct that strict compliance with the supreme court rules is generally required.

Village of Lake Villa v. Stokovich, 211 Ill. 2d 106, 116 (2004). The rules "are not aspirational. They

are not suggestions. They have the force of law, and the presumption must be that they will be

obeyed and enforced as written." Bright v. Dicke, 166 Ill. 2d 204, 210 (1995).

        However, in Curtis v. Pekin Insurance Co., 105 Ill. App. 3d 561, 566-67 (1982), the Fourth

District held that very slight defects in proof of service that result in nonconformity with Rule 12(b)'s

requirements do not constitute reversible error. The court reasoned that this is especially true where

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the complaining party is not prejudiced by the other party's failure to comply with the rule's exact

requirements. Curtis, 105 Ill. App. 3d at 566-67. In Curtis, the plaintiff complained that dismissal

of her action with prejudice was improper because the proof of service on the copy of the defendant's

motion to dismiss that was submitted to the circuit court was defective in that it was not certified by

a person shown to be an attorney qualified to certify under Rule 12(b)(3).

        Similarly, in Kimbrough v. Sullivan, 131 Ill. App. 2d 313, 317 (1971), proof of service was

deficient because it did not set forth the place of mailing or the fact that proper postage was prepaid.

The First District held that the defect in proof of service, standing alone, would not warrant reversal,

but would be viewed as one of the factors in the case. Kimbrough, 131 Ill. App. 2d at 317.

        Finally, this court recently noted that "a lack of strict compliance with procedural supreme

court rules governing the appellate court has also been condoned where the alleged violations do not

interfere with or preclude review." CE Design, Ltd. v. Mortgage Exchange, Inc., 375 Ill. App. 3d
379, 382-83 (2007), citing In re Detention of Powell, 217 Ill. 2d 123, 132 (2005); see also Ingrassia

v. Ingrassia, 156 Ill. App. 3d 483, 502 (1987) ("[a]lthough minor defects will be excused, proof of

proper service by mail must be made in substantial compliance with" Rule 12), citing Curtis, 105 Ill.

App. 3d at 566-67.

        In consideration of the foregoing cases and the fact that Farmers does not allege prejudice,

we conclude that the defect here amounts to harmless error. Accordingly, we deny Farmers' motion

to dismiss this appeal for want of jurisdiction.

                                          B. Scope of Appeal

        In the second motion we ordered taken with this case, Secura moves to strike Farmers'

arguments in its appellee's brief concerning the issues of bad faith and limitations of liability, arguing

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No. 2--06--0614

that they are not properly before this court. In ruling on the parties' cross-motions for summary

judgment, the trial court specifically found that its findings were dispositive of the coverage issue and

that it did not need to reach the bad-faith and limitations-of-liability issues. In its brief to this court,

Farmers contends that these issues are waived, but, nevertheless, addresses them. Secura argues that,

if this court rules in its favor on the merits, the cause will be remanded to the trial court for further

proceedings that will include determinations on bad faith and limitations of liability.

        We agree with Secura that the coverage issue is the sole issue properly before this court. See,

e.g., Butler v. Economy Fire & Casualty Co., 199 Ill. App. 3d 1015, 1020 (1990) (motion to strike

the defendant's estoppel argument granted where the trial court did not rule on the issue and the

plaintiff did not argue the issue on appeal). Accordingly, we grant its motion and hereby strike those

portions of Farmers' brief addressing bad faith and limitations of liability.

                                                C. Appeal

        Turning to the merits, Secura argues that the trial court erred in finding that Farmers' policy

does not violate Illinois public policy. Secura asserts that the Illinois Vehicle Code (Code) (625 ILCS

5/1--100 et seq. (West 2004)) requires that both a user and any other person responsible for the use

of a motor vehicle, with the express or implied permission of the insured, be covered by liability

insurance. It is not sufficient that the user alone is covered. According to Secura, a finding that an

employer could be excluded from coverage as long as one of its employees is covered does not

comport with the statute and public policy.

        Summary judgment is proper where, when viewed in the light most favorable to the

nonmoving party, the pleadings, depositions, admissions, and affidavits on file reveal that there is no

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

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Progressive Universal Insurance Co. of Illinois v. Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Co., 215 Ill. 2d 121,

127-28 (2005). Whether the entry of summary judgment was appropriate is a matter we review de

novo. De novo review is appropriate also because the issue in this appeal involves a question of

statutory interpretation. Progressive, 215 Ill. 2d at 128.

        The cardinal rule of statutory construction is to ascertain and give effect to the true intent and

meaning of the legislature. Lulay v. Lulay, 193 Ill. 2d 455, 466 (2000). When undertaking the

interpretation of a statute, we must presume that, when the legislature enacted the law, it did not

intend to produce absurd, inconvenient, or unjust results. Vine Street Clinic v. HealthLink, Inc., 222
Ill. 2d 276, 282 (2006).

        Section 7--601(a) of the Code requires that a motor vehicle be insured through a liability

insurance policy. 625 ILCS 5/7--601(a) (West 2004). Section 7--317(b)(2) of the Code states that

a motor vehicle liability policy "[s]hall insure the person named therein and any other person using

or responsible for the use of such motor vehicle or vehicles with the express or implied permission

of the insured." (Emphasis added.) 625 ILCS 5/7--317(b)(2) (West 2004). The foregoing two

sections have been construed to mandate that "a liability insurance policy issued to the owner of a

vehicle must cover the named insured and any other person using the vehicle with the named insured's

permission." State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Universal Underwriters Group, 182
Ill. 2d 240, 244 (1998); see also Smith, 197 Ill. 2d at 373.

        Secura argues that the trial court erred in finding that Farmers could exclude Muzikoski from

coverage as long as his employee, Dill, was covered. Secura focuses on the phrase "or responsible

for the use" in section 7--317(b)(2) to argue that the statute requires that a liability policy cover both

a user and any other person responsible for the use of a vehicle with the insured's permission.

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According to Secura, Muzikoski is "any other person" because, as Dill's employer, he was responsible

for the use of the vehicle and because he had the insured's (i.e., Stech's) permission. Secura stresses

that the legislature clearly intended to have a principal such as Muzikoski insured under an owner's

policy when the statute included the language "or responsible for the use."

       Farmers responds that it reads the statute to require it to insure only a single permissive user--

here, Dill. The disjunctive "or," according to Farmers, along with the singular form of the word

"person," mandate this reading. As to this point, Secura replies that the inclusion of the term "any"

rules out the reading Farmers suggests. The trial court addressed these arguments when it ruled on

Secura's motion to reconsider, finding that Secura's interpretation of the statute "requires a very

strained reading."

       We conclude that section 7--317(b)(2) requires an insurer to provide coverage to the named

insured and any permissive user of the insured vehicle or vehicles. The statutory language, in our

view, categorizes the relevant parties such that, in addition to the named insured, a policy must cover

"any other person": (1) "using" or (2) "responsible for the use of" the vehicle or vehicles with the

insured's express or implied permission. 625 ILCS 5/7--317(b)(2) (West 2004). This interpretation

is the only reasonable reading of the provision. As Secura notes, had the legislature intended to limit

coverage to a single permissive user, it would have (indeed should have) used different phrasing, e.g.,

"shall insure the person named therein and either the person using such motor vehicle or vehicles, or

the person responsible for the use of such motor vehicle or vehicles, with the express or implied

permission of the insured." We note further that, although the issue was not before it, the Smith court

held that the insurer in that case could not rely on the exclusion at issue to deny both the employee's

and his employer's tender. Smith, 197 Ill. 2d at 374.

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        Having determined that the statute does not foreclose coverage for multiple permissive users,

we next examine Farmers' exclusion in light of the case law interpreting section 7--317(b)(2). We

turn first to Smith.

        Smith arose out of a negligence action relating to a casino's valet parking service. In that

case, State Farm, the vehicle owner's automobile insurer, argued that it had no duty to defend or

indemnify the valet driver or the casino, based upon its policy's automobile business exclusion clause.

The supreme court affirmed the appellate court's holding that the automobile business exclusion

violated Illinois public policy and was therefore unenforceable. Smith, 197 Ill. 2d at 372. The

exclusion in that case stated that there was no coverage while an insured vehicle was "BEING

REPAIRED, SERVICED OR USED BY ANY PERSON EMPLOYED OR ENGAGED IN ANY

WAY IN A CAR BUSINESS." (Emphasis omitted.) Smith, 197 Ill. 2d at 373. The term "car

business" was defined as " 'a business or job where the purpose is to sell, lease, repair, service,

transport, store or park land motor vehicles or trailers.' " Smith, 197 Ill. 2d at 373. The court held

that the automobile business exclusion in State Farm's policy violated Illinois public policy as stated

in the Code, noting that section 7--317(b)(2) clearly mandates that a motor vehicle liability policy

cover the named insured and any other person using the vehicle with the named insured's permission.

625 ILCS 5/7--317(b)(2) (West 2004). According to the court:

        "When a vehicle owner gives his vehicle to a person engaged in an automobile business, the

        owner is also giving that person the express or implied permission to use the vehicle.

        Therefore, a provision written into an insurance policy that excludes coverage for persons

        engaged in an automobile business necessarily excludes coverage for persons who are using

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       an insured's vehicle with the insured's express or implied permission." Smith, 197 Ill. 2d at

       374.

Having concluded that the exclusion was void, the court held that State Farm could not rely on it to

deny the valet driver's and the casino's tender. Smith, 197 Ill. 2d at 374.

       In Progressive, a pizza deliverer, who was in the course of making a delivery while driving

his mother's vehicle, struck and injured a pedestrian. The issue presented was whether Progressive,

which issued the automobile liability insurance policy on the mother's vehicle, had a duty to defend

and indemnify the son in a personal injury action brought by the injured pedestrian and the

pedestrian's wife. The Progressive policy contained a provision that excluded coverage for bodily

injury or property damage arising out of the use of the vehicle to carry persons or property for

compensation or a fee, including food delivery. The supreme court upheld the trial court's

determination that the food delivery exclusion was not void as against public policy. Progressive, 215
Ill. 2d at 134. The court noted that the liability insurance mandated by section 7--601(a) of the Code

must meet certain requirements, including those in section 7--317(b)(2) of the Code. "Provisions

such as this, which extend liability coverage to persons who use the named insured's vehicle with his

or her permission are commonly referred to as 'omnibus clauses.' " Progressive, 215 Ill. 2d at 128.

Where an omnibus clause is required by statute to be included in a motor vehicle liability policy, such

a clause must be read into every such policy, and the statute's provisions cannot be avoided through

contractual provisions. Progressive, 215 Ill. 2d at 128-29.

       The court noted that the power to declare a private contract void as against public policy is

exercised sparingly because it is in the public's interest that persons not be unnecessarily restricted

in their freedom to make their own contracts. Progressive, 215 Ill. 2d at 129.

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         "An agreement will not be invalidated on public policy grounds unless it is clearly contrary

         to what the constitution, the statutes or the decisions of the courts have declared to be the

         public policy or unless it is manifestly injurious to the public welfare. Whether an agreement

         is contrary to public policy depends on the particular facts and circumstances of the case."

         Progressive, 215 Ill. 2d at 129-30.

         Distinguishing Smith from the facts in Progressive, the supreme court in Progressive noted

that the automobile business exclusion in Smith applied only to permissive users. In Smith, the named

insured, his spouse, and certain others were expressly exempted from the exclusion. Therefore,

conduct that "would be covered if undertaken by the insured would not be covered if undertaken by

someone who was using the vehicle with the insured's permission." Progressive, 215 Ill. 2d at 133.

The court noted that this disparity was "plainly inconsistent" with the requirement in section 7--

317(b)(2) that a policy cover not only the insured, but also any other person using or responsible for

using the vehicle with the express or implied permission of the insured. Progressive, 215 Ill. 2d at

133.

         Returning to the facts in Progressive, the supreme court concluded that no similar disparity

was present in Progressive's policy. "Under the clear and unambiguous terms of [Progressive's]

policy, no one is exempt from the food delivery exclusion." Progressive, 215 Ill. 2d at 134. It further

noted:

                "Because the exclusion in Progressive's policy does not differentiate between the

         insured and those using the vehicle with the insured's permission, there is no possibility, as

         there was in Smith, that liability insurance coverage afforded the insured would also not be

         extended to permissive users of the vehicle. Section 7--317(b)(2)'s requirement that liability

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       insurance policies cover not only the insured but also 'any other person using or responsible

       for the use of such motor vehicle or vehicles with the express or implied permission of the

       insured' (625 ILCS 5/7--317(b)(2) (West 2000)) is therefore not imperiled. As a result, the

       food delivery exclusion does not conflict with the statute and cannot be said to be void as

       against public policy." Progressive, 215 Ill. 2d at 134.

       The court continued:

              "That permissive users must be covered along with the named insured in no way

       compels the conclusion that exclusions are never permissible. Inclusion of permissive users

       goes to the issue of who must be covered. It says nothing of what risks must be covered. To

       hold that requiring coverage for permissive users means that insurers are forbidden from

       excluding certain types of risks from coverage requires a leap in reasoning that neither the

       language of the statute nor the rules of statutory construction will support. ***

              *** The statute simply eliminates from coverage determinations the happenstance

       that a vehicle was operated by a permissive user rather than the actual owner. If a loss is

       covered by the policy, the fact that the vehicle was operated by a permissive user will not

       excuse the insurer from its obligation to pay. The loss will continue to be covered.

       Conversely, if a loss is excluded from coverage by the policy, the fact that the vehicle was

       operated by a permissive user will not trigger an obligation to pay that would not have existed

       had the vehicle been operated by its actual owner. The loss will continue to be excluded."

       (Emphasis in original.) Progressive, 215 Ill. 2d at 137-38.

       Here, Farmers' employer exclusion states that an insured person does not include "[a]ny

person or organization, other than [the named insured] or a family member, who is the employer of

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any insured person." (Emphasis omitted.) Secura agrees that Farmers' exclusion does not cover the

employer of either a permissive user or the named insured. However, it argues that Farmers'

exclusion does not treat equally named insureds and permissive users. Rather, Secura contends that

it provides broader coverage to named insureds than it does to permissive users in employment

settings. Specifically, named insureds are provided coverage even when they are employers, whereas

permissive users who are employers are excluded from coverage. According to Secura, this is

impermissible under Smith and Progressive.

       Farmers responds that its employer exclusion applies equally to any insured, either named or

by definition. According to Farmers, no employer of any insured, unless that employer is the named

insured or a family member, can be an insured person. Thus, the employer of the insured, a family

member of the insured, or a permissive user is not an insured person under the policy, unless that

employer is the named insured or a family member. Farmers contends that, as in Progressive, if the

employer exclusion here were held to be void as to permissive users, the scope of coverage available

under the policy would be greater if the covered vehicle were in the hands of a permissive user than

if it were in the hands of the named insured. Such a result, Farmers contends, would conflict with

Progressive.

       Secura replies that if, under Farmers' reading, the employer must be the named insured or a

family member to obtain coverage, then an exclusion has been created. Where an exclusion exists

and it applies to only certain persons, then, by definition, there is no equal treatment. We agree.

       Farmers' exclusion excludes from the definition of an insured person anyone who is the

employer of an insured person, unless the employer is the named insured or a family member. Thus,

where an employer is a named insured or a family member of the named insured, that person is an

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insured person. The policy differentiates between named insured (or family member) employers, who

are covered, and nonnamed insured (or nonfamily member) employers, who are not covered. In other

words, it treats persons differently in terms of coverage based on whether or not they are named

insureds (or family members). Smith and Progressive instruct that actual owners (i.e., named

insureds) and permissive users must be treated equally in terms of policy coverage. Progressive, 215
Ill. 2d at 133-34. Applying those holdings here, Farmers' employer exclusion is void as against public

policy. The trial court's finding that Farmers' policy is not void, because it provides coverage to

permissive users, utilizes the wrong standard and ignores the fact that certain permissive users (i.e.,

nonnamed insured (or nonfamily member) employers) are not covered.

        We reject Farmers' suggestion that a determination that its policy exclusion is void as to

permissive users would result in a greater scope of coverage if the covered vehicle were in the hands

of a permissive user than it would if the vehicle were in the hands of the named insured. Farmers errs

in assuming that our holding applies only with respect to permissive users. We address here (as the

parties have) the entire exclusion. Because we have determined that it is void as against public policy,

the effect of our decision is to nullify the entire exclusion.

                                         III. CONCLUSION

        For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the circuit court of Du Page County is reversed,

and the cause is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

        Reversed and remanded.

        GROMETER, P.J., and HUTCHINSON, J., concur.

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