Cutone v. Massachusetts Bonding & Ins. Co., A--604

• Decision Date: 16 December 1958
• Docket Number: No. A--604,A--604
• Citation: 146 A.2d 782,53 N.J.Super. 165
• Parties: Charles CUTONE, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. MASSACHUSETTS BONDING & INSURANCE COMPANY, a corporation, Defendant-Respondent.
• Court: New Jersey Superior Court — Appellate Division

Page 165

53 N.J.Super. 165

146 A.2d 782

Charles CUTONE, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. MASSACHUSETTS BONDING & INSURANCE COMPANY, a corporation Defendant-Respondent.

No. A--604.

Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division.

Argued Dec. 8, 1958.

Decided Dec. 16, 1958.

Louis J. Greenberg, Jersey City, for plaintiff-appellant (Samuel M. Cole, Jersey City, attorney).

Peter W. Mitchell, Newark, for defendant-respondent (Paul J. O'Neill, Newark, attorney).

Before Judges PRICE, SCHETTINO and HALL.

The opinion of the court was delivered by

HALL, J.A.D.

Summary judgment was granted to defendant and denied to plaintiff in the Law Division. The latter's appeal comes before us on an agreed statement in lieu of the record (R.R.1:6--2) from which it appears that concededly there was no genuine issue as to any material fact and the question involved was solely one of law.

Plaintiff and Albie Nunez were both employees of Abco Vending Service, Inc., to which defendant had issued an automobile liability insurance policy wherein that corporation was the 'named insured.' While the policy was in effect, plaintiff was injured at his employer's place of business by a vehicle owned by the employer and operated by Nunez. Both men were engaged in their employment at the time. The accident arose out of and in the course of plaintiff's employment and out of the use of the automobile in the business of the employer. Plaintiff sued Nunez at law for his injuries and obtained a jury verdict for $5,000. The action was defended by defendant under a reservation of rights. Execution on the judgment was returned unsatisfied. Plaintiff also filed a petition for workmen's compensation against Abco and received an award for temporary and permanent disability which was considerably less than the judgment against Nunez. Defendant was also the compensation carrier.

Prior to the compensation award plaintiff instituted the instant action on the policy to recover the amount of his judgment at law, claiming that Nunez was an 'additional insured' covered by it under a paragraph thereof entitled 'Definition of Insured,' commonly referred to as the 'omnibus clause.' Defendant contended that other provisions of the same paragraph and other clauses of the contract precluded or excluded coverage in this factual situation. The summary judgment in favor of the insurer resulted from the trial court's agreement with its contention.

The policy provisions involved are as follows:

'III. Definition of Insured: With respect to the insurance for bodily injury liability and for property damage liability the unqualified word 'insured' includes the named insured and also includes any person while using the automobile and any person or organization legally responsible for the use thereof, provided the actual use of the automobile is by the named insured or with his permission. The insurance with respect to any person or organization other than the named insured does not apply:

'(b) to any employee with respect to injury to or sickness, disease or death of another employee of the same employer injured in the course of such employment in an accident arising out of the maintenance or use of the automobile in the business of such employer.

'Exclusions

'This policy does not apply:

'(d) under coverages A and C, to bodily injury to or sickness, disease or death of any employee of the insured while engaged in the employment, other than domestic, of the insured or in domestic employment if benefits therefor are either payable or required to be provided under any workmen's compensation law;

'(e) under coverage A, to any obligation for which the insured or any company as his insurer may be held liable under any workmen's compensation...