Royal Indem. Co. v. Kuhr

• Decision Date: 25 January 1966
• Docket Number: No. 2,No. 41737,41737,2
• Citation: 113 Ga.App. 39,147 S.E.2d 23
• Parties: ROYAL INDEMNITY COMPANY v. Raymond M. KUHR et al
• Court: Georgia Court of Appeals

Page 23

147 S.E.2d 23

113 Ga.App. 39

ROYAL INDEMNITY COMPANY v. Raymond M. KUHR et al.

No. 41737.

Court of Appeals of Georgia, Division No. 2.

Jan. 25, 1966.

Lewis & Javetz, Harris Lewis, Savannah, for appellant.

Findley, Shea, Gannam, Head & Buchsbaum, Aaron L. Buchsbaum, Savannah, for appellees.

Syllabus Opinion by the Court.

HALL, Judge.

The plaintiff in this case was the insured under the comprehensive liability policy issued by the defendant to 'Home Builders, R. M. Kuhr, D/B/A' as named insured and showing that 'Business of the named insured is Contractor.' One of the coverages of the policy was 'Property Damage Liability-Except Automobile,' which provided that the insurer 'Agrees with the insured * * * To pay on behalf of the insured all sums which the insured shall become legally obligated to pay as damages because of injury to or destruction of property, including the loss of use thereof, caused by accident.'

A petition was filed against the insured which alleged that while the defendant was engaged in making repairs on the petitioner's home he removed part of the roof to place weather stripping therein and negligently left the roof uncovered; a seasonal rain occurred and damaged the petitioner's property, due to the insured's negligence in failing to protect the roof against rainstorms at a time when a rainstorm could have been foreseen. The insured notified the insurer of the suit but the insurer declined to defend it. The insured retained counsel to defend the suit, and a verdict was rendered against the insured. The insured brings this action against the insurer for the amount of the judgment and expenses incurred in defense of the action, for breach of the insurer's contract obligation to pay the insured's legal liability for damages and to defend the suit. The insurer appeals from the trial court's judgment overruling its general demurrers to the petition of the insured. Held:

The term 'accident' in liability insurance contracts generally does not include an injury deliberately and wilfully done, but generally covers injuries caused by negligence of the insured. Aetna Cas. & Surety Co. v. Starrett, 102 Ga.App. 278, 280, 115 S.E.2d 641; Sontag v. Galer, 279 Mass. 309, 181 N.E. 182; Travelers Ins. Co. v. Reed Co., Tex.Civ.App., 135 S.W.2d 611, 616; Rex Roofing Co. v. Lumber Mut. Cas. Ins. Co. of N.Y., 280 App.Div. 665, 116 N.Y.S.2d 876, 878; Larsen v. General Cas. Co. of Wisconsin, 99 F.Supp. 300, 302 (D Minn.1951); Knight v....