Court Opinion

ID: 9859776
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 22:37:35.270437+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:05:26.243029
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE INGLIS, dissenting: The majority’s analysis rests on the proposition that, because it is foreseeable that another proximate cause exists that is independent of the use of the “auto,” then a duty to defend is triggered regardless of whether there is bodily injury arising from the use of the “auto.” I believe that the majority’s analysis is flawed for several reasons. First, the focus of the majority’s analysis is based on tort law when the focus should be based on a contractual analysis. The majority accepts the same argument in this case that we rejected in Místate Insurance Co. v. Smiley, 276 Ill. App. 3d 971 (1995). In Smiley, Allstate issued a homeowner’s policy that excluded bodily injury arising out of the past or present business activities of an insured. The insured, Smiley, ran a day-care business out of her home. A child for whom Smiley cared fell into Smiley’s swimming pool and drowned. The underlying complaint alleged that Smiley negligently supervised the child, negligently failed to keep him away from the pool, negligently created a dangerous condition, and negligently failed to provide adequate locks. Smiley argued that Allstate owed coverage because the complaint alleged separate proximate causes of the child’s injuries that did not arise out of her business activities. In rejecting this argument, we concluded that, regardless of how the defendants attempted to characterize Smiley’s actions, the child’s death “originated or came about” from the day-care services Smiley was paid to provide. Smiley, 276 Ill. App. 3d at 979. In reaching this conclusion, we also found that importing tort principles of proximate cause into the analysis of an insurance policy is inappropriate because the issue before a court ruling on a complaint for declaratory judgment is the interpretation of the insurance policy in accordance with the plain meaning of the policy. Smiley, 276 Ill. App. 3d at 982. See also Oakley Transport, Inc. v. Zurich Insurance Co., 271 Ill. App. 3d 716, 725 (1995). Within the plain meaning of the policy at issue in the present case, I believe that it is clear that TJA’s negligent route planning “arises” out of the bus driver’s “use” of the bus. Similarly, by focusing on the separate issues of proximate causation and ignoring traditional contract principles, the majority appears to place the cart before the horse and fails to recognize that, at root, the complaint is based on the auto accident. TJA’s negligent route planning “arises” out of the bus driver’s “use” of the bus because the negligent route planning is derivative of, and dependent upon, the underlying “use” of the bus. If the bus driver had not been operating the bus, there would have been no accident and plaintiffs would have no basis upon which to assert any other theory of negligence against TJA. In other words, a theory of negligent routing could not be asserted unless there was an injury arising from a bus accident. The majority finds that United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., 152 Ill. App. 3d 46 (1987), illustrates its theory that the underlying allegations can be separated from the “use” of the bus. However, I fail to see how this case supports the majority’s position. There, the negligent supervision did not arise from the use of the auto since negligent supervision could result in a child’s being injured anywhere and not due to the use of the auto. In this case, the allegations of planning cannot be so neatly separated or divorced from the actual use of the bus because planning a bus route cannot occur in the absence of using the bus. Finally, by conducting a tort analysis instead of a contractual analysis, the majority loses sight of the fact that an insurance policy is not to be interpreted in a factual vacuum and without regard to the purpose for which the insurance contract was written. “The purpose of [the] exclusion is related to the purpose of business liability insurance in general. Standard commercial liability policies are issued to cover all hazards incident to the operation of a business with the exception of certain excluded risks, including those involved in the ownership^] maintenance, use or entrustment of an ‘auto.’ The premium charged by the [comprehensive general liability] insurer reflects the underwriting objective of placing automobile accidents beyond the scope of coverage. These latter risks involve unique hazards to which the general business of the insured is not subject. For that reason, they are generally covered as a special class by an automobile liability policy ***.” Oakley, 271 Ill. App. 3d at 726. The paramount objective in construing a policy is to give effect to the intent of the parties as expressed by the terms of the agreement. Oakley, 271 Ill. App. 3d at 726. By finding a duty to defend, the majority ignores that the parties did not intend for this policy to provide coverage for injuries arising from auto accidents. In conclusion, I believe that the majority ignores the principles of contract law, artificially and arbitrarily separates the planning of the bus route when this is simply derivative of the use of the bus, and frustrates rather than gives effect to the parties’ intent as expressed by the plain language and ordinary meaning of the insurance policy. Accordingly, I would affirm the judgment of the trial court and, therefore, I respectfully dissent.