D'Imperio, M. v. Nationwide Insurance Comp.

J-A05017-21
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
MICHAEL D'IMPERIO : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
NATIONWIDE GENERAL INSURANCE :
COMPANY A/K/A NATIONWIDE :
MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY : No. 1474 EDA 2020
A/K/A NATIONWIDE PROPERTY AND :
CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY :
:
Appellant :
Appeal from the Judgment Entered September 1, 2020
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Civil Division at
No(s): No. 181001132
BEFORE: OLSON, J., NICHOLS, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*
MEMORANDUM BY NICHOLS, J.: FILED JULY 13, 2021
Appellant Nationwide General Insurance Company appeals from the
judgment entered in favor of Appellee Michael D’Imperio, following a non-jury
trial. Appellant claims the trial court erred by concluding that Appellant had
a duty to defend Appellee in the personal injury lawsuit brought against
Appellee (DiBello action). Specifically, Appellant contends that the trial court
erred in concluding that (1) the DiBello action involved an occurrence within
the meaning of Appellant’s insurance policy, and (2) the policy’s intentional
act exclusion did not apply to the DiBello action. Appellant also argues that
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* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
J-A05017-21
the trial court erred by not considering evidence from outside the DiBello
complaint. We affirm.
The trial court set forth the following finding of facts:
1. [Appellee,] initiated this action by filing a declaratory judgment
complaint on or about October 2, 2018.
2. [Appellee] seeks a declaration from the [trial c]ourt that
Nationwide has a duty to defend him in the action docketed in
the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas as Anthony DiBello,
et al. v. Michael D’Imperio, et al., No. 170901836.
3. In the DiBello complaint, Mr. DiBello alleges that [Appellee]
intentionally fired a gun at Mr. DiBello. (Joint Stip., Ex. 2B at
¶¶ 8 and 22).[1]
4. Mr. DiBello alternatively alleges that [Appellee] “carelessly
fir[ed] a gun in the vicinity of a crowd of people,” “creat[ed] a
trap and/or nuisance and/or dangerous condition,” and
“fail[ed] to properly control a firearm.” (Id. at ¶ 26).
5. Nationwide insures [Appellee] pursuant to homeowner’s policy
5837HP494350 (“the Policy”).
6. The Nationwide homeowners policy 5837HP494350 provides
liability coverage to [Appellee]:
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1 Specifically, the DiBello complaint states:
8. Subsequently, [Appellee] produced a handgun and fired it at
Plaintiff, Anthony DiBello, thereby striking Plaintiff in the
abdomen, which caused him to suffer severe, serious and
permanent injuries and damages which are described at length
below.
* * *
22. This incident resulted, in part, from the intentional acts of
[Appellee] and was due in no manner whatsoever to any act or
failure to act on the part of the Plaintiff.
DiBello Compl. at ¶¶ 8, 22.
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SECTION II - LIABILITY COVERAGES
Page G1
Coverage agreements
Coverage E - Personal liability
We will pay damages an insured is legally obligated to pay
due to an occurrence resulting from negligent personal
acts or negligence arising out of the ownership,
maintenance or use of real or personal property. We will
provide a defense at our expense by counsel of our choice.
We may investigate and settle any claim or suit. Our duty
to defend a claim or suit ends when the amount we pay for
damages equals our limit of liability.
This coverage is excess over other valid and collectible
insurance. It does not apply to insurance written as excess
over the applicable limits of liability.
SECTION II - LIABILITY COVERAGES
Page G2
Additional liability coverages
We will pay the following in addition to the limits of liability.
These additional coverages are not subject to the Section II
Liability Exclusions.
Claims Expense. We will pay:
a) expenses we incur and costs levied against an
insured in a legal action we defend, including
prejudgment interest on that portion of the award
which does not exceed the limit of this coverage.
(Joint Stip., ¶ 9 and Exhibit 2A at pp. G1, G2) (Emphasis in
original).
7. The Nationwide homeowners policy 5837HP494350 is subject
to the following exclusions:
SECTION II - LIABILITY EXCLUSIONS
1. Coverage E Personal Liability and Coverage F – Medical
Payments to Others do not apply to bodily injury or
property damage:
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a) caused by an act intending to cause harm done
by or at the direction of any insured.
This exclusion does not apply to corporal
punishment of pupils.
b) caused by or resulting from an act or omission
which is criminal in nature and committed by an
insured.
This exclusion 1.b) applies regardless of
whether the [i]nsured is actually charged with,
or convicted of a crime.
c) arising out of business pursuits of an insured.
This exclusion 1.c) does not apply to:
(1) activities normally considered non-
business.
(2) occasional or part time self-
employed business pursuits of an
insured under age 19 years old
(age 23 if a full-time student).
(3) an office, school, studio, barber or
beauty Shop on the residence
premises if noted on the
Declarations.
(4) home care services provided by or
at the direction of an insured on or
from the residence premises if
noted on the Declarations.
(Joint Stip., ¶ 10 and Exhibit 2A at pp. H1) (Emphasis in original).
8. The Nationwide homeowners policy 5837HP494350 issued to
[Appellee] defines an “Occurrence” as relating to an accident
as follows:
SECTION II - LIABILITY COVERAGES
Page G1
“OCCURRENCE” means bodily injury or property damage
resulting from an accident, including continuous or repeated
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exposure to the same general condition. The occurrence
must be during the policy period.
9. Anthony DiBello and his wife sued [Appellee] in the Philadelphia
Court of Common Pleas in the matter styled Anthony DiBello
and Kelly DiBello v. Michael D’Imperio, et al., No.
170901836 (the “DiBello Action”).
10. Mr. DiBello initiated this action by filing a complaint.
11. In his complaint, Mr. DiBello alleges that [Appellee] accosted
him:
Subsequently, after leaving The Lobster Club, Defendant
L.O.B.Ster Association’s steward, Joseph DeLullo, arrived on
the Scene, and, at the same time, Plaintiff, Anthony DiBello,
was accosted by Defendant, [Appellee].
(Joint Stip., ¶ 14, Exhibit 2B at ¶ 7).
12. Mr. DiBello also alleges that [Appellee] shot him:
Subsequently, Defendant, [Appellee], produced a
[h]andgun and fired it at Plaintiff, Anthony DiBello, thereby
striking Plaintiff in the abdomen, which caused him to suffer
severe, serious and permanent injuries and damages which
are described at length below.
(Joint Stip., ¶ 15, Exhibit 2B at ¶ 8).
13. Further, Mr. DiBello alleges that [Appellee] was acting as an
agent of defendant L.O.B.Ster Association at the relevant time.
14. The DiBello Action includes an assault and battery claim against
[Appellee].
15. In support of his assault and battery claim, Mr. DiBello alleges
that:
The intentional conduct of [Appellee] consists of, but is not
limited to the following:
a. attempting, by violence, to hurt the Plaintiff;
b. firing a firearm at and striking Plaintiff in his body;
c. recklessly endangering Plaintiff’s life;
d. acting in a violent manner;
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e. intentionally inflicting harm upon Plaintiff; and
f. such other and further intentional acts that will be
developed by future discovery in this case.
(See Exhibit 2B at ¶ 23).
16. In support of his assault and battery claim, Mr. DiBello alleges
that:
The negligence and carelessness of [Appellee] consists of,
but is not limited to the following:
a. carelessly firing a gun in the vicinity of a crowd of
people;
b. creating a trap and/or nuisance and/or dangerous
condition; and;
c. failure to properly control a firearm.
(See Exhibit 2B at ¶ 26).
17. As a result of his conduct, the Philadelphia Police arrested
[Appellee]. He was charged by the Philadelphia District
Attorney’s Office, but the charges were eventually withdrawn.
Trial Ct. Op. & Verdict, 2/19/20, at 1-6 (footnote and some record citations
omitted) (formatting altered).2
The trial court entered a decision in favor of Appellee. Id. at 10. On
March 2, 2020, Appellant timely filed a post-trial motion, requesting judgment
notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV). On May 21, 2020, the trial court denied
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2 The trial court’s opinion and verdict is dated February 12, 2020, but the trial
court did not give notice of its verdict to the parties until February 19, 2020.
See Pa.R.A.P. 108(b); Pa.R.C.P. 236(b).
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Appellant’s post-trial motion. Appellant filed a notice of appeal on June 16,
2020.3 Appellant and trial court both complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.
Appellant raises the following issues for our review:
1. Did the trial court err as a matter of law in concluding that the
allegations of the . . . DiBello complaint against the Appellee
alleged an “occurrence” when the allegations within the DiBello
complaint merely pled conclusions of law regarding supposed
or alleged negligent or careless conduct?
2. Did the trial court err as a matter of law in concluding that the
allegations of the . . . DiBello complaint against Appellee
alleged an “occurrence” and further that the facts pled did not
implicate the intentional act exclusion contained within the
Appellant’s homeowners policy issued to Appellee?
3. Did the trial court err as a matter of law by not considering the
admissions of record in the joint stipulated facts that
Appellee[’s] admitted conduct in intentionally shooting
Anthony DiBello negated any duty to defend which may have
been triggered by the . . . DiBello complaint involving the
matter of Anthony DiBello, et al. vs. Michael D’Imperio, et
al., No. 170901836 and thus was not an “occurrence” and
further implicated the intentional act exclusion in the policy?
4. Did the trial court err as a matter of law in failing to grant
Appellant Nationwide’s motion for post-trial relief [which
requested the trial court give] consideration to evidence
outside the DiBello Complaint developed within this declaratory
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3 “An order in a declaratory judgment action that either affirmatively or
negatively declares rights, status, and other legal relations is a final order.
See 42 Pa.C.S.[] § 7532; see also Pa.R.A.P. 341(b)(1) (providing that a final
order is any order that disposes of all claims and of all parties.).” Good v.
Frankie & Eddie’s Hanover Inn, LLP, 171 A.3d 792, 794 n.1 (Pa. Super.
2017) (formatting altered). Therefore, at the time Appellant filed its notice of
appeal, it was timely filed. Nevertheless, on September 1, 2020, this Court
entered an order stating that final judgment had not been entered and
directing Appellant to praecipe the trial court’s prothonotary to enter judgment
and file a certified copy of the trial court docket reflecting entry of the
judgment with this Court. Order, 9/1/20. Appellant complied with this order
and a final judgment was entered on September 1, 2020.
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judgment action and submitted to the court within the joint
stipulated facts, and establishing that no “occurrence” took
place or further that the intentional act exclusion contained
within the Nationwide homeowners policy applied?
Appellant’s Brief at 5-6 (formatting altered).
Appellant discusses its first two issues collectively in its appellate brief,
and we summarize them together.4 Appellant argues that the trial court erred
in concluding that Appellant had a duty to defend Appellee in the DiBello action
based on the allegations in the DiBello complaint. Id. at 34-46. Appellant
observes that under Pennsylvania law, the duty to defend is governed by the
allegations of the complaint in the underlying action. Id. at 34. Appellant
contends that there is no duty to defend when the allegations in the underlying
action fall into “a clear and unambiguous exclusion of coverage.” Id. at 35.
Specifically, Appellant claims that the factual allegations of the DiBello
complaint indicate that Appellee acted intentionally by accosting DiBello and
firing his gun at DiBello, but artfully pled a claim of negligence to avoid the
intentional act exclusion in the Policy. Id. at 36-39, 45. Appellant contends
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4 Although Appellant presents four distinct questions on appeal, the argument
section of Appellant’s brief is not divided into separate sections for each
question. See Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a) (stating “[t]he argument shall be divided
into as many parts as there are questions to be argued; and shall have at the
head of each part . . . the particular point treated therein, followed by such
discussion and citation of authorities as are deemed pertinent”). We do not
condone Appellant’s failure to comply with the Rules of Appellate Procedure,
but because the noncompliance does not impede our review, we decline to
find waiver. See, e.g., Forrester v. Hanson, 901 A.2d 548, 551 n.2 (Pa.
Super. 2006) (disapproving of the appellant’s failure to divide argument into
subsections equal to the number of questions raised on appeal but addressing
the claims on the merits).
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that all of the references to negligence in the DiBello complaint are conclusions
of law and not factual allegations. Id. at 43-44. Appellant argues that to
claim that Appellee aiming his handgun at DiBello and firing a shot was an
accident “strains common sense.” Id. at 46. Appellant concludes that
because the DiBello complaint does not plead facts that would constitute an
accident, the shooting does not qualify as an “occurrence” as defined in the
Policy, and therefore the DiBello complaint does not trigger Appellant’s duty
to defend under the Policy. Id. at 45-46.
Appellee responds that because the DiBello complaint asserted facts that
could support a finding that Appellee acted negligently, Appellant had a duty
to defend Appellee. Appellee’s Brief at 4-7. Specifically, Appellee referred to
Count III of the DiBello complaint, which pled a cause of action of negligence
against Appellee. Id. at 5-6.
This Court has stated that “[w]hen a case is submitted on stipulated
facts, the rulings of the trial court are limited to questions of law. Accordingly,
our standard of review allows us to evaluate only whether the trial court
committed legal error. Our scope of review is plenary.” Triage, Inc. v.
Prime Ins. Syndicate, Inc., 887 A.2d 303, 306 (Pa. Super. 2005) (citations
omitted); see also QBE Ins. Corp. v. Walters, 148 A.3d 785, 787 (Pa.
Super. 2016) (Walters) (stating “[t]he proper construction of an insurance
policy is resolved as a matter of law in a declaratory judgment action. Thus,
as with all questions of law, our scope of review is de novo and our standard
of review is plenary” (citations omitted)).
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This Court has explained:
When an insured who has been sued requests coverage under an
insurance policy, the insurer is required to accept all of the
allegations contained in the third party’s complaint as true and
provide a defense if there is a possibility that the injury alleged
could fall within the scope of the policy. To determine whether an
insurer is obligated to defend and potentially indemnify a party,
we review the factual allegations contained in the underlying
complaint against the insured. Generally, exclusionary clauses
are strictly construed against the insurer and in favor of the
insured.
Furthermore, our courts recognize that the duty to defend is
broader than the duty to indemnify. The insurer may not
justifiably refuse to defend a claim against its insured unless it is
clear from an examination of the allegations in the complaint and
the language of the policy that the claim does not potentially come
within the coverage of the policy. This duty is not limited to
meritorious actions; it even extends to actions that are
groundless, false, or fraudulent so long as there exists the
possibility that the allegations implicate coverage. The duty
persists until an insurer can limit the claims such that coverage is
impossible.
Walters, 148 A.3d at 788 (citations omitted and formatting altered).
Further, we have stated:
In determining whether an insurer’s duties are triggered, the
factual allegations in the underlying complaint are taken as true
and liberally construed in favor of the insured.
The obligation of an insurer to defend an action against the
insured is fixed solely by the allegations in the underlying
complaint. As long as a complaint alleges an injury which may be
within the scope of the policy, the insurer must defend its insured
until the claim is confined to a recovery the policy does not cover.
The particular cause of action that a complainant pleads is not
determinative of whether coverage has been triggered. Instead it
is necessary to look at the factual allegations contained in the
complaint. If we were to allow the manner in which the
complainant frames the request for damages to control the
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coverage question, we would permit insureds to circumvent
exclusions that are clearly part of the policy of insurance. [Mutual
Benefit Ins. Co. v. Haver, 725 A.2d 743, 745 (Pa. 1999)]
([holding that] allowing the language of the complaint alone to
control coverage questions would “encourage litigation through
the use of artful pleadings designed to avoid exclusions”). The
insured would receive coverage neither party intended and for
which the insured was not charged. The fact that the plaintiffs
couched their claims in terms of negligence does not control the
question of coverage.
Am. Nat. Prop. & Cas. Companies v. Hearn, 93 A.3d 880, 884 (Pa. Super.
2014) (Hearn) (some citations omitted and formatting altered).
In Hearn, the insured sought a declaratory judgment that it did not
have a duty to defend the insured where the underlying complaint alleged,
among other things, that the insured “came from under [the underlying
plaintiff], hitting him in the groin with his forearm while [the underlying
plaintiff’s] back was turned” and that the insured “intended to cause a harmful
or offensive contact with [the underlying plaintiff’s] body by striking him . . .
.” Hearn, 93 A.3d at 882-83, 885 (record citations omitted). The trial court
granted the insurer’s motion for summary judgment because the Policy
excluded bodily injury resulting from intentional acts. Id. at 883. The Hearn
Court concluded that the insurer did not have a duty to defend and
emphasized that “[r]egardless of whether [the underlying plaintiffs] chose to
plead a negligence cause of action, it is clear from the undisputed facts that
[the insured’s] assault on [the underlying plaintiff] was intentional.” Id. at
886; see also Erie Ins. Exch. v. Fidler, 808 A.2d 587, 590 (Pa. Super. 2002)
(Fidler) (stating “[t]he fact that the [underlying plaintiffs] couched their
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claims in terms of negligence does not control the question of coverage” and
concluding that the underlying complaint’s factual allegations described
intentional conduct (citations omitted)).
In Erie Ins. Exchange v. Moore, 228 A.3d 258 (Pa. 2020) (Moore),
the underlying plaintiff’s complaint alleged that the insured had shot and killed
his ex-wife in her home. Moore, 228 A.3d at 260, 266. When the underlying
plaintiff arrived at the ex-wife’s home, the insured pulled the underlying
plaintiff into the home, and a struggle ensued. Id. During the struggle, the
insured “negligently, carelessly, and recklessly caused the weapon to be fired
which struck [the underlying plaintiff] in the face” and “other shots were
carelessly, negligently and recklessly fired[,]” striking “various parts of the
interior of the residence” and the underlying plaintiff. Id. (citations omitted).
The insured then turned the gun on himself. Id. The insurer argued that it
did not have a duty to defend the underlying action because the insured’s
shooting of the underlying plaintiff was intentional, and therefore was not an
“occurrence” within the meaning of the policy (i.e., an accident). Id. at 263-
64.
Our Supreme Court, in Moore, concluded the allegations of the
underlying complaint were not artful pleadings “designed to present
intentional acts as accidental for purposes of insurance coverage.” Id. at 266.
Instead, the Court reasoned that these allegations “taken as true, . . . present
a factual scenario that potentially comes within the definition of a covered
‘occurrence,’ and to which the [insurer’s] exclusion for bodily injury ‘expected
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or intended’ by the insured does not apply.” Id.; see also id. at 267 (noting
that the “complaint’s allegations do not preclude the possibility [the insured]
accidentally shot [the underlying plaintiff], despite the fact he intentionally
shot [his ex-wife], or intentionally pulled [the underlying plaintiff] into the
house before the shooting”); Erie Ins. Exchange v. Muff, 851 A.2d 919, 933
(Pa. Super. 2004) (Muff) (holding that while the insurer did not have to
defend the insured’s intentional acts, it did have “a duty to defend against the
specific allegations of negligence contained in the [underlying plaintiff’s]
complaint, regardless of whether these claims are ultimately determined to be
specious” (citation omitted)).
Here, the trial court explained:
Nationwide’s Policy covers “occurrence[s] resulting from
negligent personal acts. . . .” (Joint Stip., ¶ 9 and Exhibit 2A at
p. G1) (emphasis in original). The policy further defines
“occurrence” as “bodily injury . . . resulting from an accident. . .
.” Id. The term “accident” is undefined in the policy, and
therefore must be interpreted in its natural, plain and ordinary
sense. Kvaerner Metals Division of Kvaerner U.S., Inc. v.
Commercial Union Ins. Co., 908 A.2d 888, 897 (Pa. 2006)
[(Kvaerner)]. Courts may consult a dictionary to determine a
word’s ordinary usage. According to Webster’s, an “accident” is
“[a]n unexpected and undesirable event,” or “something that
occurs unexpectedly or unintentionally.” Id. (quoting Webster’s
II New College Dictionary 6 (2001)). The key term in the ordinary
definition of “accident” is “unexpected.”
In his complaint, Mr. DiBello alleges that he was “accosted by
[Appellee],” and that “[Appellee] produced a handgun and fired it
at [Mr. DiBello] thereby striking [him] in the abdomen.” (Joint
Stip., ¶¶ 14-15, Exhibit 2B at ¶¶ 7-8). Mr. DiBello brings a
negligence claim against [Appellee], claiming that [Appellee]
“carelessly [fired] a gun in the vicinity of a crowd of people,”
“[created] a trap and/or nuisance and/or dangerous condition;”
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and “[failed] to properly control a firearm.” (Joint Stip., Exhibit 2
“B” at ¶ 26). Therefore, on the face of the complaint, Mr. DiBello’s
injury may have been an “occurrence” resulting from [Appellee]
accidentally firing a gun, i.e., “failing to properly control a
firearm.” (Joint Stip., ¶¶ 9, 14-15; Exhibit 2 “B” at ¶ 26). If true,
these allegations constitute an “unexpected or undesirable event,”
and therefore fall within the scope of Nationwide’s Policy. (Id.)
Trial Ct. Op., 8/12/20, at 7-8 (some citations omitted).
The trial court additionally stated:
The Policy’s intentional act exclusion applies to “bodily injury or
property damage [. . .] caused by an act intending to cause harm
done by or at the direction of any insured.” (Joint Stip., ¶ 10 and
Exhibit 2A at p. H1). As discussed above, on the face of the
complaint, [Appellee’s] conduct may have been negligent.
Therefore, it is unclear whether the intentional act exclusion
applies. Since [Appellant’s] duty to defend attaches until it is
“clear that the claim has been narrowed to one beyond the terms
of the policy,” [Appellant] cannot disclaim the duty with the
“intentional act” exclusion.
Id. at 10-11 (some citations omitted).
We agree with the trial court’s analysis that the factual allegations of
the DiBello complaint plead an occurrence as defined in the Policy. The Policy
defines an “occurrence” as “bodily injury . . . resulting from an accident . . .
.” See Policy at G1 (emphasis omitted). In the underlying complaint, DiBello
alleged that Appellee drew and fired a handgun at DiBello. See DiBello Compl.
at ¶¶ 8, 21-27. The factual allegations of the DiBello complaint, could be read
to allege that Appellee intentionally shot DiBello, but in liberally construing the
underlying complaint in favor of Appellee as the insured, its factual allegations
could also depict an accidental shooting. Accordingly, the factual allegations
of the DiBello complaint do not necessarily preclude the possibility that the
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shooting was accidental, therefore the trial court did not err in concluding the
DiBello pled an “occurrence” as defined in the Policy.
Likewise, we agree with the trial court’s conclusion that the Policy’s
intentional act exclusion does not apply when considering only the DiBello
Complaint’s factual allegations. According to the Policy’s intentional act
exclusion, Appellant does not cover “bodily injury . . . caused by an act
intending to cause harm done by or at the direction of any insured.” See
Policy at H1 (emphasis omitted). As stated above, the allegations of the
underlying complaint are that Appellee drew a handgun and fired it at DiBello.
The factual allegations of the underlying complaint, when liberally construed
in favor of the insured, do not preclude the possibility that the shooting was
accidental. Compare Moore, 228 A.3d at 266-67 (the allegations of the
complaint were that the insured negligently fired his gun several times during
a struggle between the insured and the underlying plaintiff, and that the
insured “was screaming, swearing, incoherent, and acting ‘crazy,’” did not
preclude the possibility that the insured accidentally shot the underlying
plaintiff, and the insurer had a duty to defend), with Hearn, 93 A.3d at 885-
86 (concluding that the allegations of the complaint, which included that the
insured came from behind the underlying plaintiff and suddenly struck him in
the groin area, described intentional conduct and there was no duty to
defend).
As for Appellant’s contention that the underlying plaintiff has artfully
pleaded the factual allegations of his complaint to avoid coverage exclusions,
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we disagree. The courts of this Commonwealth have discussed artful pleading
in terms of the causes of action, not the factual allegations of the complaint.
See Hearn, 93 A.3d at 884 (holding that despite pleading a cause of action
for negligence, the underlying complaint alleged intentional acts); Fidler, 808
A.2d at 590 (same). Here, the underlying complaint alleges both intentional
and negligent conduct. See DiBello Compl. at ¶¶ 8, 21-27. Therefore, we do
not hold that the factual allegations of the underlying plaintiff complaint
constitute artful pleading designed to avoid coverage exclusions. Cf. Hearn,
93 A.3d at 886; Fidler, 808 A.2d at 590.
This Court has explained that “[a]s long as [the factual allegations of] a
complaint alleges an injury which may be within the scope of the policy, the
insurer must defend its insured until the claim is confined to a recovery the
policy does not cover.” See Hearn, 93 A.3d at 884 (quoting Fidler, 808 A.2d
at 590). For these reasons, we hold that trial court did not err in concluding
that Appellant has a duty to defend Appellant in the DiBello action until the
claims are confined to ones that the Policy does not cover. See id.; Walters,
148 A.3d at 787; Triage, 887 A.2d at 306. Appellant is not entitled to relief
on this claim.
In its third issue, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in not
considering evidence outside the complaint, specifically, Appellee’s deposition
and responses to requests for admissions in this matter. Appellant’s Brief at
47-61. Appellant contends that this evidence shows that Appellee acted
intentionally in shooting DiBello, and therefore, the intentional acts exclusion
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in the Policy applies and the claim has been confined to a recovery not covered
in the Policy. Id. at 47-48, 51-53, 60-61. Appellant cites this Court’s decision
in Carrasquillo v. Kelly, 2720 EDA 2018, 2019 WL 5887293 (Pa. Super. filed
Nov. 12, 2019) (unpublished mem.) as an example of when the court may
look to facts outside the complaint to conclude that a policy exclusion applied
and the insurer had no duty to defend. Id. at 54-55. Appellant has also cited
a number of federal cases where the federal courts considered extrinsic facts
before ruling the insurers had no duty to defend. Id. at 55-60 (citing, inter
alia, Gardner v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., 544 F.3d 553 (3d Cir.
2008), and State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Griffin, 903 F. Supp. 876 (E.D.
Pa. 1995)).
Appellant also essentially argues that it is against public policy to require
an insurer to defend a case based upon false and fraudulent claims to verdict
without the ability to pursue a declaratory judgment action to resolve the
question of coverage. Id. at 48-52. Appellant contends that to require the
insurer to defend the insured creates a conflict between the attorney hired to
defend the insured and the insurer who is responsible for paying the attorney
and the verdict. Id.
Appellee responds that the trial court properly excluded extrinsic
evidence from its consideration in determining whether Appellant had a duty
to defend. Appellee’s Brief at 7-8.
As noted above, our case law holds that the initial determination of
whether an insurer has a duty to defend requires the trial court to examine
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the underlying complaint. See Walters, 148 A.3d at 788; Hearn, 93 A.3d at
884. Recently, our Supreme Court has emphasized that our analysis is limited
to the four corners of the complaint and the four corners of the insurance
contract. See Moore, 228 A.3d at 261 n.2, 265. Further, the Court
disapproved of relying on additional facts, such as deposition testimony, in
determining whether the insurer has a duty to defend. See id. at 261 n.2;
see also Kvaerner, 908 A.2d at 896 (holding that this Court “erred in looking
beyond the allegations raised in [the underlying complaint] to determine
whether [the insurer] had a duty to defend”).5
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5 As one treatise explains:
[A]s a general rule, an insurer’s duty to defend the insured is
determined primarily by the pleadings in the underlying lawsuit
without regard to their veracity, what the parties know or believe
the alleged facts to be, the outcome of the underlying case, or the
merits of the claim. It is the factual allegations instead of the legal
theories alleged that determine the existence of a duty to defend.
Even if the allegations are groundless, false, or fraudulent, the
insurer is obligated to defend.
14 Couch on Ins. § 200:20. As the treatise explains, jurisdictions differ in how
they address the issue of conflicting facts:
In regard to the existence of coverage, it is possible that the
allegations of a complaint lead to one conclusion while the facts
known to the insurer lead to another. This creates an issue
of whether the allegations of the complaint or the known facts are
determinative as to the duty to defend.
In jurisdictions that consider only the allegations of the complaint
in determining a duty to defend, the allegations in the complaint,
alone, determine the insurer’s duty to defend without regard to
contradictory extrinsic facts. On the other hand, jurisdictions that
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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Here, the trial court explained:
[Appellant] contends that the [trial c]ourt erred by declining to
consider evidence outside of the DiBello complaint in determining
whether [Appellant] had a duty to defend [Appellee]. Under
Pennsylvania law, however, an insurer is obligated to defend if the
factual allegations of the complaint on its face comprehend an
injury which is actually or potentially within the scope of the
policy. Therefore, a court’s inquiry into an insurer’s duty to defend
is strictly limited to the allegations on the face of the complaint.
Aetna Cas. and Sur. Co. v. Roe, 650 A.2d 94, 99 (Pa. Super.
1994) (“The insurer’s obligation to defend is fixed solely by the
allegations in the underlying complaint.”)[.] Indeed, “[i]t does
not matter if in reality the facts are completely groundless, false,
or fraudulent.” Id. The [trial c]ourt therefore could not properly
consider evidence outside of the complaint and did not err by
confining its analysis to the four corners of the complaint.
Trial Ct. Op. at 7 (some citations omitted and formatting altered).
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consider extrinsic facts or evidence in the determination of a duty
to defend reflect a difference in opinion with regard to the relative
weight of allegations in the complaint and other facts. Under one
view, an insurer’s duty to defend is not unlimited and ultimately
depends upon facts relevant to the suit of which the insurer is
aware. These facts must conclusively demonstrate that there is
no potential for coverage. If the duty to defend is extinguished
pursuant to extrinsic facts, it is extinguished only prospectively
and not retroactively. Under a second view, facts outside the
pleadings cannot defeat the duty to defend, but they may create
it. Under either view, an insurer has a duty to defend its insured
in a pending lawsuit where the pleadings do not allege a covered
occurrence, but the insurer knows or could reasonably ascertain
facts establishing a reasonable possibility of coverage.
Id. § 200:23 (emphasis added). Pennsylvania is a jurisdiction that solely
considers the allegations of the complaint. “We do not consider extrinsic
evidence” from outside the complaint in construing the allegations raised in
the underlying complaint. Kiely in re Feinstein v. Phila. Contributionship
Ins. Co., 206 A.3d 1140, 1146 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citing Kvaerner, 908 A.2d
at 896); accord 14 Couch on Ins. § 200:22 (citing Pennsylvania as a
jurisdiction that does not consider extrinsic evidence).
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We note that Appellant has cited several federal court decisions applying
Pennsylvania law. The decisions of the lower federal courts are not binding
on this Court but may be persuasive authority. See Okeke-Henry v.
Southwest Airlines, Co., 163 A.3d 1014, 1017 n.4 (Pa. Super. 2017).
Several of the federal cases that Appellant cited are not declaratory judgment
actions seeking a ruling on whether the insurer has a duty to defend. See,
e.g., Gardner, 544 F.3d at 557 (plaintiff sued insurer for breach of contract,
breach of fiduciary duty, and related claims after insurer declined to defend
plaintiff in another action). While in some duty to defend declaratory
judgment cases, the federal courts relied on facts outside the complaint, these
federal cases are not applicable in light of our Supreme Court’s precedent.
Compare Griffin, 903 F. Supp. at 877-78 (concluding that there was no duty
to defend based on the insured’s statement that he intended to start a fight
with the underlying plaintiffs), with Moore, 228 A.3d at 261 n.2, and
Kvaerner, 908 A.2d at 896.
Appellant’s reliance on Carrasquillo is also unavailing, because non-
precedential decisions of this Court only have persuasive value. See Pa.R.A.P.
126(b)(1)-(2); see also 210 Pa. Code § 65.37(B). Further, Carrasquillo is
distinguishable on the facts. The Carrasquillo Court concluded that the
underlying plaintiff artfully crafted her complaint to avoid the insurance
policy’s intentional act and criminal act exclusions, by omitting any reference
to the insured’s conviction for third degree murder. Id., 2019 WL 5887293,
at *7-8. The Carrasquillo Court relied on the insured’s criminal conviction,
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which was evidence outside the underlying complaint, to conclude that the
insured committed a criminal act, therefore the insurer did not have a duty to
defend the underlying action. Id. at *8. The Carrasquillo Court did not
address the applicability of the policy’s intentional act exclusion. Id. at *8
n.8. Here, Appellant argues the Policy’s intentional act exclusion applies based
on facts outside the underlying Complaint, therefore Carrasquillo is not
applicable to the facts of this case.6
We agree with the trial court that it could not consider evidence outside
the complaint. Regardless, our Supreme Court recently reiterated our analysis
is limited to the four corners of the complaint and the four corners of the
insurance contract, and courts should not rely on additional facts, such as
deposition testimony, to determine whether the insurer has a duty to defend.
See Moore, 228 A.3d at 261 n.2. Moore is controlling authority for this
Court; therefore, we conclude that the trial court did not err in refusing to
consider Appellee’s admissions and deposition testimony deciding this
declaratory judgment action. See Walters, 148 A.3d at 787; Triage, 887
A.2d at 306.
To the extent Appellant is arguing that we should reverse the trial court’s
order on public policy grounds, that argument is waived because it has been
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6 Further, Appellee was not convicted of a crime. Instead, Appellant argues
the trial court should have considered Appellee’s deposition and responses to
requests for admissions as proof that Appellee intentionally shot DiBello. Even
assuming that a criminal conviction is an exception to the Moore’s directive
that our consideration is limited to the four corners of the complaint,
Carrasquillo is not applicable to the facts of this case.
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raised for the first time on appeal. See Pa.R.A.P. 302 (stating “[i]ssues not
raised in the lower court are waived and cannot be raised for the first time on
appeal”). Even if this argument was not waived, it is meritless because this
Court has established that the duty to defend extends to allegations that are
fraudulent or false as long as there is the possibility that such allegations
implicate policy coverage, and further has rejected public policy arguments to
deny a duty to defend where the insurer believes the claims may ultimately
be determined as specious. See Walters, 148 A.3d at 788; see also Muff,
851 A.2d at 933 (rejecting the insurer’s public policy argument and stating
the insurer had a duty to defend negligence allegations against the insured
“regardless of whether these claims are ultimately determined to be
specious”).
Appellant’s fourth issue relates to the denial of its post-trial motion.
Appellant’s Brief at 6. The issue, as set forth in Appellant’s statement of
questions presented, relies on the same grounds presented in Appellant’s first
three issues. See id. However, Appellant did not present a separate
argument regarding the denial of its post-trial motion. As we have already
discussed the grounds Appellant has relied on in support of its first three
issues, we do not find waiver. See Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a); Forrester, 901 A.2d
at 551 n.2.
In its post-trial motion, Appellant argued that the trial court erred by
not considering Appellee’s admission of record, submitted with the joint
stipulation of facts, that Appellee intentionally shot Mr. DiBello and there was
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no accidental discharge of his weapon. See Post-Trial Mot., 3/2/20, at 3.
Appellant contends that based on the joint stipulation of facts, the terms and
conditions of the Policy, the allegations of the DiBello Complaint, no
“occurrence” had been alleged within the meaning of the Policy, and the trial
court erred in concluding that Appellant had a duty to defend. See id. at 4.
For the reasons discussed above concluding that the trial court did not
err in holding that Appellant has a duty to defend the underlying action, we
conclude that the trial court did not err in denying Appellant’s post-trial
motion.
For these reasons, we determine that the trial court’s verdict in favor of
Appellee was not erroneous. See Walters, 148 A.3d at 787; Triage, 887
A.2d at 306. Accordingly, we affirm.7
Judgment affirmed.
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7 We note that under our case law, Appellant’s duty to defend persists until
facts are developed in the underlying action that would narrow DiBello’s claim
to one outside the scope of the Policy. See Moore, 228 A.3d at 265 (stating
“to the extent there are undetermined facts that might impact on coverage,
the insurer has a duty to defend until the claim is narrowed to one patently
outside the policy coverage, for example through discovery” (citations and
quotation marks omitted)); see also Hearn, 93 A.3d at 884 (the duty to
defend persists “until the claim is confined to a recovery the policy does not
cover” (citation omitted)).
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 7/13/2021
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