State Farm Fire and Cas. Co. v. Barrett

• Citation: 530 S.E.2d 132,340 S.C. 1
• Decision Date: 10 April 2000
• Docket Number: No. 3151.,3151.
• Court: Court of Appeals of South Carolina
• Parties: STATE FARM FIRE AND CASUALTY CO., Respondent, v. Tuamafa BARRETT and James Kratzer, Appellants.

340 S.C. 1

530 S.E.2d 132

STATE FARM FIRE AND CASUALTY CO., Respondent, v. Tuamafa BARRETT and James Kratzer, Appellants.

No. 3151.

Court of Appeals of South Carolina.

Heard February 10, 2000.

Decided April 10, 2000.

Thomas J. Rubillo, of Georgetown; Lawrence E. Richter, Jr., and Michael W. Sautter, both of The Richter Law Firm, of Mt. Pleasant, for appellants.

Robert A. McKenzie and Robert M. Cook, II, both of McDonald, McKenzie, Rubin, Miller & Lybrand, of Columbia, for respondent.

PER CURIAM:

In this insurance case, State Farm Fire and Casualty Company (State Farm) brought a declaratory judgment action against Tuamafa Barrett (Barrett) and James Kratzer (Kratzer) to determine its rights, duties, and responsibilities under a homeowner's policy issued to Kratzer. The trial court concluded the policy did not provide coverage for Barrett's claims against Kratzer. Barrett and Kratzer appeal. We affirm.

FACTS

Barrett and Kratzer worked for Mack Trucks, Inc. (Mack) in the Winnsboro, South Carolina plant. Kratzer also held a position with the United Auto Workers Union Local 5841(UAW). State Farm insured Kratzer under a standard homeowner's policy.

Mack and UAW sponsored a sexual harassment seminar beginning Monday, February 6, 1995. All Mack employees who attended the seminar stayed at the Fairfield Inn in Morrow, Georgia, the location of the seminar. Mack and UAW paid for the employees's lodging and transportation.

On the Sunday before the seminar began, Barrett flew from Columbia, South Carolina to Atlanta, Georgia. She arrived in Morrow on Sunday afternoon and checked into the Fairfield Inn. She went to dinner with two co-workers and then retired to her room.

Kratzer also arrived in Morrow on Sunday. When he arrived, Kratzer went to a restaurant and consumed several drinks. Kratzer continued to drink all day Sunday and into the night. That evening he attended a meal hosted by Mack and UAW.

On Sunday night, at approximately 11:20 p.m., Barrett received a phone call from Kratzer asking if he could come up to her room. Barrett told Kratzer not to come and that she would see him in the morning. At approximately 11:30 p.m., Kratzer came to Barrett's hotel room against her wishes and began to make sexually explicit comments in an attempt to convince her to have sex with him. In addition, he tried to kiss Barrett and rubbed her legs. Barrett left her room to get away from Kratzer, but he followed her to the hotel lobby.

After Barrett returned to her room, Kratzer again called, claiming he had left his key there. Barrett took Kratzer's key to the lobby. Kratzer, after getting his key from Barrett, followed her back to her room and continued his offensive behavior towards her. Kratzer finally left Barrett's room at approximately 1:45 a.m.

The following day, Barrett, crying and upset, reported the incident to her supervisor. Two days later, while both Kratzer and Barrett were still attending the seminar, Mack and UAW investigated the incident. As a result of the investigation, Kratzer resigned his position with UAW.

After returning home, Barrett sought psychological help. She was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and experienced suicidal tendencies. Barrett subsequently resigned from Mack and filed a lawsuit against Mack, UAW, and Kratzer. State Farm defended Kratzer under a reservation of rights while pursuing this declaratory judgment action.

Upon hearing this matter, the trial court concluded the State Farm policy did not provide coverage for Barrett's claims against Kratzer. Specifically, the trial court found there had been no accidental occurrence or bodily injury to trigger coverage. Additionally, the trial court found the "intentional injury" and "business pursuits" exclusions barred coverage. The judge denied Barrett and Kratzer's post-trial motions. This appeal follows.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

A declaratory judgment action is neither legal nor equitable, but is determined by the nature of the underlying issue. Felts v. Richland County, 303 S.C. 354, 356, 400 S.E.2d 781, 782 (1991). An action to determine coverage under an insurance policy is an action at law. See Travelers Indem. Co. v. Auto World of Orangeburg, Inc., 334 S.C. 137, 140, 511 S.E.2d 692, 694 (Ct.App.1999)

(noting that an action to determine coverage under an automobile insurance policy is an action at law). In an action at law tried without a jury, the trial court's findings will not be disturbed on appeal unless the findings are found to be without evidence reasonably supporting them. Townes Assocs., Ltd. v. City of Greenville, 266 S.C. 81, 86, 221 S.E.2d 773, 775 (1976).

DISCUSSION

I. EXCLUSION OF DEPOSITION EXCERPTS

Barrett and Kratzer argue the trial court erred in excluding excerpts from Barrett's deposition when the excerpts were submitted in reply to those introduced by State Farm. We disagree.

The admission or exclusion of evidence is a matter within the sound discretion of the trial judge and will not be reversed on appeal absent an abuse of that discretion. Paschal v. Causey, 309 S.C. 206, 210, 420 S.E.2d 863, 866 (Ct.App. 1992). Rule 32(a)(5), SCRCP, sets forth the proper procedure for admitting deposition excerpts. It states:

At least 1 day prior to offering excerpts from a deposition in the case in chief counsel, unless otherwise ordered by the trial judge, shall furnish to the trial judge and, at the same time and by the same means, furnish to all opposing counsel the excerpts from depositions ... and a list of deposition exhibits which counsel expects to introduce in the case in chief at trial. When the deposition excerpt is offered at trial counsel for the adverse party shall furnish to the trial judge and, at the same time and by the same means, furnish to all opposing counsel any objections ... to opposing counsel's deposition excerpts and any additional excerpts from the depositions ... which counsel expects to be read pursuant to SCRCP(a)(4), as well as a list of deposition exhibits to be used. With reasonable notice to the trial judge and all counsel, other excerpts may be read. (emphasis added).

Under our reading of this rule, the adverse party must provide a list of objections and additional excerpts expected to be introduced after opposing counsel offers its excerpts but before those excerpts are read into the record.¹ Any other construction of Rule 32(a)(5), SCRCP, renders the Rule's requirements for furnishing a list of objections and additional excerpts meaningless because, once opposing counsel reads his or her excerpts into evidence, any objections to the admissibility of those excerpts essentially becomes moot.

Moreover, because Rule 32(a)(5), SCRCP, explicitly addresses the proper method for admitting deposition excerpts, its requirements supersede other less specific rules regarding threshold requirements for using excerpts of deposition testimony. Cf. Byrd v. Irmo High School, 321 S.C. 426, 435, 468 S.E.2d 861, 866 (1996)

(stating the general rule of statutory construction that a specific statute prevails over a more general one). Therefore, Barrett and Kratzer's argument that their tendered excerpts would be admitted under Rule 32(a)(4), SCRCP, or Rule 106, SCRE, is without merit in light of the specific requirements of Rule 32(a)(5), SCRCP.

In the present case, prior to trial and pursuant to Rule 32(a)(5), SCRCP, State Farm identified the excerpts from Barrett's deposition it intended to introduce during State Farm's case in chief. Neither Barrett nor Kratzer furnished State Farm with any objections. Similarly, Barrett and Kratzer failed to identify any additional excerpts they expected to introduce in reply until after State Farm read its designated excerpts into the record.

Therefore, Barrett and Kratzer failed to comply with the notice requirements of Rule 32(a)(5), SCRCP, and the trial court's decision to exclude their excerpts offered in reply is affirmed.

Moreover, our review of the deposition excerpts proffered by Barrett and Kratzer indicate that, even if the excerpts had been admitted, they would not have changed the disposition in this case. Finally, we refuse to create an exception to the technical result reached by the trial court when it was Barrett's failure to appear at trial that created her predicament.

II. DUTY OF STATE FARM TO PROVIDE COVERAGE

Barrett and Kratzer contend the trial court erred in determining State Farm had no duty to defend or indemnify Kratzer for the claims brought by Barrett.² We disagree.

A.

Barrett and Kratzer first argue the trial court erred in determining Barrett did not suffer from an accidental occurrence as defined under the policy. It is well settled in South Carolina that provisions of an insurance policy are to be liberally construed in favor of the insured. State Auto Prop. and Cas. Co. v. Brannon, 310 S.C. 388, 391, 426 S.E.2d 810, 811 (Ct.App.1992). Where the words of an insurance policy are capable of two reasonable interpretations, the interpretation most favorable to the insured will be adopted. Quinn v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 238 S.C. 301, 304, 120 S.E.2d 15, 16 (1961). We should not, however, torture the meaning of policy language in order to extend or defeat coverage that was never intended by the parties. Auto Owners Ins. Co. v. Langford, 330 S.C. 578, 584, 500 S.E.2d 496, 499 (Ct.App. 1998). If there is no ambiguity, the insurance policy's terms must be interpreted and enforced according to their plain, ordinary, and popular meaning. South Carolina Ins. Co. v. White, 301 S.C. 133, 137, 390 S.E.2d 471, 474 (Ct.App.1990).

The homeowner's policy issued to Kratzer provides liability coverage for "bodily injury" or "property damage" caused by an "occurrence." The policy defines "occurrence" as an "accident" which results in a covered bodily injury. The policy does not specifically define the term "accident."

When a policy does not specifically define a term, the term should be defined according to the...