Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Crafton

• Decision Date: 27 March 1990
• Docket Number: No. 82A01-8910-CV-421,82A01-8910-CV-421
• Citation: 551 N.E.2d 893
• Court: Indiana Appellate Court
• Parties: AETNA CASUALTY & SURETY COMPANY, Appellant, and Christopher Alan Bippus, Wilburn J. Schmidt, and Nettie Schmidt, v. Charles CRAFTON and Emma Crafton, Appellees.

Page 893

551 N.E.2d 893

AETNA CASUALTY & SURETY COMPANY, Appellant and Christopher Alan Bippus, Wilburn J. Schmidt, and Nettie Schmidt, v.Charles CRAFTON and Emma Crafton, Appellees.

No. 82A01-8910-CV-421.

Court of Appeals of Indiana First District.

March 27, 1990.

James D. Johnson, Ross E. Rudolph, Mattingly, Rudolph, Fine & Porter, Evansville, for appellant.

Robert John, Robert John & Associates, Evansville, for appellees.

BAKER, Judge.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

Intervenor-appellant, Aetna Casualty & Surety Company(Aetna), appeals a negative judgment entered on its complaint for declaratory judgment.

We reverse.

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS

Defendant, Christopher Alan Bippus(Chris), is the natural son of Michael A. Bippus(Michael) and Rita J. Bippus(Rita) whose marriage ended in divorce in 1982.Pursuant to the final decree of dissolution, Michael and Rita have joint custody, care, and control of Chris and his two brothers.Rita does not pay support and Michael is entitled to claim the applicable tax exemptions for the three children.Michael retained ownership of the marital residence while Rita maintains a one-bedroom apartment.Following Michael and Rita's 1982 divorce, Chris and his two brothers continuously resided at Michael's residence except for overnight visits to Rita's apartment approximately once every six weeks.These visits never exceeded more than one night and occurred only during weekends.Chris did not have a key or unlimited access to Rita's apartment and he did not keep any clothes at her residence.

On August 28, 1986, Chris left Michael's residence in his father's car to pick up his stepsister at school.On his way to the school, Chris was involved in an automobile accident with plaintiff-appellee, Charles Crafton, resulting in serious injury to Mr. Crafton.At the time of the accident, Rita had a "Personal Auto Policy" with Aetna.Rita was the named insured on the policy and her automobile was listed as the covered auto.Chris was not listed as an insured on Rita's policy and the automobile he was driving at the time of the August 28 accident was not listed on the policy as an insured vehicle.Chris listed his residence on the accident report as Michael's residence.

Charles and Emma Crafton(the Craftons) filed a complaint for damages against Chris.Aetna's subsequent motion to intervene was granted by the trial court and Aetna filed a complaint for declaratory judgment against Chris and the Craftons.Aetna sought a determination that Chris was not a person insured pursuant to the terms of Rita's automobile insurance policy with Aetna.After considering oral argument of counsel, the pleadings and authorities cited therein, the documentary exhibits attached to the pleadings, the depositions of Chris and Rita, and the facts stipulated to by the parties, the trial court entered a general judgment denying Aetna's claim for declaratory relief.Aetna appeals.

ISSUE

The parties agree that this appeal raises the following issue:

Whether Chris was a resident of Rita's household at the time of the accident thereby making him an insured person pursuant to the terms of Rita's automobile insurance policy with Aetna.

DISCUSSION AND DECISION

Aetna appeals a negative judgment.To be successful, it must establish that the judgment is contrary to law.Sherk v. Indiana Waste Systems, Inc. (1986), Ind.App., 495 N.E.2d 815, trans. denied.Because this case was decided on stipulated facts and depositions, this court must determine whether the facts presented to the trial court support its judgment.Indiana Bank & Trust Co. v. Lincoln Nat'l Bank & Trust Co.(1965), 137 Ind.App. 546, 206 N.E.2d 879."Where the evidence is entirely documentary or the decision is based upon admission or stipulation, the Appellate Tribunal is in as good a position as the trial court to determine its force and effect."Id.137 Ind.App. at 553, 206 N.E.2d at 884(citations omitted).

In determining whether the trial court's decision was contrary to law, this court must determine whether Aetna was denied the relief it was entitled to under the evidence.Id."If the undisputed evidence entitles the one who has the burden of proof to a verdict which has been denied him, such verdict is contrary to law."Id.(citing Hinds, Executor, etc. v. McNair, et al(1955), 235 Ind. 34, 41, 129 N.E.2d 553, 558).To determine whether a judgment is contrary to law, this court will consider only the evidence most favorable to the prevailing party, together with all reasonable inferences arising therefrom.Id.A negative judgment will be set aside as contrary to law only when the evidence is without conflict and all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom lead to but one result and the trial court has reached a different one.Salmon v. Perez (1989), Ind.App., 545 N.E.2d 21.This court will presume a general judgment of the trial court is based on findings supported by the evidence.General Plating & Eng'g, Inc. v. Syn Indus. (1985), Ind.App., 472 N.E.2d 1290."When we review a general finding of the trial courtwe must affirm if it is sustainable on any legal theory which is supported by the evidence."Id. at 1292.

The liability coverage portion of Rita's insurance policy provides: "We[Aetna] will pay damages for bodily injury or property damage for which any covered person becomes legally responsible because of an auto accident."Recordat 43(emphasis in original).A covered person is defined in the policy as: "You (Rita) or any family member for the ownership, maintenance or use of any auto or trailer."Id.(emphasis in original).Pursuant to the definitions set forth in the policy, a family member "means a person related to you [Rita] by blood, marriage or adoption who is a resident of your [Rita's] household.This includes a ward or foster child."Recordat 42.It is undisputed that Chris is related to Rita by blood.The question, therefore, is whether Chris was a resident of Rita's household at the time of the accident.

Aetna argues the trial court's decision is contrary to law because the evidence presented leads unerringly to the conclusion that Chris was not a member of Rita's household and the trial court reached the opposite conclusion.The Craftons respond that Chris was a member of Rita's household because she had legal custody of him pursuant to the joint custody provisions of the divorce decree.

As an initial matter, we note that in construing the term "resident" in insurance policies, it is given its broad meaning in "extension"cases, and is construed narrowly in "exclusion"cases.Allstate Ins. Co. v. Neumann (1982), Ind.App., 435 N.E.2d 591.The case before us is an extension case because it involves the question of whether coverage should be extended beyond the named insured.Thus, the term "resident" will be given its broad meaning "with the traditional caveat that in choosing a broad or narrow construction of a word or phrase the choices are limited to the reasonable interpretation of the term as used."Id. at 593(emphasis in original).

Indiana has had two occasions to interpret the meaning of the term "resident" in automobile liability insurance policies.Johnson v. Payne (1990), Ind.App., 549 N.E.2d 48;Allstatesupra.In determining the meaning of the term, consideration must be given to the context in which the term is used and the purpose of the instrument in which it is employed.Id.In order to be a resident of a household, more than physical presence is necessary.Id."The term also incorporates a subjective element of intent and reflects the contracting parties' desire to provide coverage to persons having unrestricted access to the insured's home and its contents."Johnson, 549 N.E.2d at 50.A motorist's residence is determined by considering all of the evidence indicative of his...