Farmers & Mechanics Mutual Insurance v. Marlon Allen, Sr.

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA
September 2015 Term
FILED
_______________
October 14, 2015
RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
No. 14-0967 SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
_______________ OF WEST VIRGINIA
FARMERS & MECHANICS MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY,
Petitioner
v.
MARLON ALLEN, SR.,
individually and as Administrator of the
Estate of Marcus Allen,
Respondent
____________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Mineral County
The Honorable Phillip B. Jordan, Jr., Judge
Civil Action No. 12-C-43
REVERSED
____________________________________________________________
Submitted: September 22, 2015
Filed: October 14, 2015
Susan R. Snowden, Esq. Trevor K. Taylor, Esq.
Martin & Seibert, L.C. Taylor Law Office
Martinsburg, West Virginia Morgantown, West Virginia
Counsel for the Petitioner Counsel for the Respondent
JUSTICE KETCHUM delivered the Opinion of the Court.
JUSTICE DAVIS concurs and reserves the right to file a concurring Opinion.
SYLLABUS BY THE COURT
1. “Where the provisions of an insurance policy contract are clear and
unambiguous they are not subject to judicial construction or interpretation, but full effect
will be given to the plain meaning intended.” Syllabus Point 1, Keffer v. Prudential Ins.
Co., 153 W.Va. 813, 172 S.E.2d 714 (1970).
2. A tenant who is neither a named nor definitional insured of a
landlord’s homeowner’s insurance policy is not an insured under the landlord’s policy by
the mere fact that the tenant may have an insurable interest in the leased property.
Justice Ketchum:
Petitioner Farmers & Mechanics Mutual Insurance Company (“F & M”)
appeals the September 2, 2014, order of the Circuit Court of Mineral County that granted
summary judgment in favor of respondent, Marlon Allen, Sr., individually and as
administrator of the estate of Marcus Allen (“the estate”).
The issue raised in this appeal is whether a landlord’s insurer has a right of
subrogation against a tenant when the tenant causes damage to the leased premises under
the following circumstances: (1) the tenant was not a named or definitional insured of the
landlord’s policy; (2) the tenant purchased his own renter’s insurance after being advised
to do so by the landlord; and (3) the lease agreement stated that the tenant was solely
responsible for any damage he caused to the subject property.
The circuit court concluded that the tenant was an “equitable insured” of
the landlord’s insurance policy. It ruled that F & M (the landlord’s insurer) could not
maintain a subrogation action against the tenant’s estate because of its finding that the
tenant was an “equitable insured.” On appeal, F & M argues that the circuit court erred
when it ruled that F & M could not maintain a subrogation action against the estate.
Upon review, we agree with F & M and reverse the circuit court’s ruling.
I.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Michael O’Connor and his adult daughter Shelly O’Connor own real
property located at 175 Keys Street in Keyser, West Virginia (“subject property”), as
1
tenants in common. In December 2009, Shelly O’Connor entered into a lease-to-own
agreement for the subject property with Marcus Allen. The agreement provided that
Marcus Allen would pay Shelly O’Connor $625.00 per month for fourteen years, and that
[t]he payment of $625.00 is broken down as follows, $555.00
will go for mortgage, insurance and taxes. $70.00 will go to
Shelly O’Connor as interest for each month. The payment
will go to [sic] in the bank each month until the house is paid
in full. When the mortgage payments are paid in full at First
United Bank, Shelly O’Connor will receive all further
payments until the house is paid in full, which is $105,300.
At that time, only the deed will be given to Marcus Troy
Allen as well as changing [sic] homeowner name.
The agreement also stated that “if I [Shelly O’Connor] do not receive the
payment in full . . . within 30 days after the due date, Mr. Allen will be evicted[.]”
Further, the agreement stated, “[i]f there are any damages made to said house, after Mr.
Allen moves in, he is solely responsible.” Finally, the lease-to-own agreement described
the consequences tenant Marcus Allen would face for causing damage to the property: “if
the house is being damaged Mr. Allen will be evicted and have thirty days to get all his
belongings out and return the keys to the landlord (Shelly O’Connor).”
Shelly O’Connor purchased a homeowner’s insurance policy from F & M
covering the subject property. The policy was effective from March 15, 2010, through
March 15, 2011. According to Shelly O’Connor’s deposition testimony, this policy was
2
originally purchased in 2006 and was renewed on a yearly basis thereafter.1 Shelly
O’Connor was the named insured on the F & M policy. Her father, Michael O’Connor,
was named as an additional insured. The policy also contained a “definitions” provision
that defined who was covered under the policy. This “definitional insured” provision of
the policy states:
DEFINITIONS
A. In this policy, “you” and “your” refer to the
“named insured” shown in the Declarations and the spouse of
a resident of the same household. “We”, “us” and “our” refer
to the Company providing this insurance.
....
5. “Insured” means:
a. You and residents of your household who are:
(1) Your relatives; or
(2) Other persons under the age of 21 and in the care of any
person named above;
b. A student enrolled in school full time, as defined by the
school, who was a resident of your household before moving
out to attend school[.]
1
Shelly O’Connor moved into the subject property in 2006 and resided there until
she entered into the lease-to-own agreement with Marcus Allen in December 2009.
3
The F & M homeowner’s policy insured the subject property against
various perils including risk of loss by fire. The policy did not name the tenant, Marcus
Allen, as an insured, a definitional insured, or in any other capacity. Further, F & M was
not made aware that the tenant, Marcus Allen, was living in the subject property, nor was
it made aware of the lease-to-own agreement that Shelly O’Connor entered into with
Marcus Allen.
Shelly O’Connor testified that she advised Marcus Allen to purchase
renter’s insurance. Marcus Allen thereafter purchased a renter’s insurance policy from
State Auto Insurance. Marcus Allen’s rental insurance policy was effective from March
10, 2010, through March 10, 2011, and provided the following coverage and limits of
liability: personal property ($20,000), personal liability ($100,000/each occurrence), loss
of use ($6,000), and medical pay to others ($1,000/each person).
On May 6, 2010, Marcus Allen was cooking food on the stove in the
subject property when a grease fire ensued. Marcus Allen died in the fire and the
property sustained extensive damage. Thereafter, Shelly O’Connor filed an insurance
claim under the F & M homeowner’s policy. After reviewing the claim, F & M paid its
insureds, Shelly O’Connor and Michael O’Connor, for the property damage caused by
the fire.2
2
Michael O’Connor testified that F & M paid $85,000.00 for the property damage
caused by the fire.
4
The decedent’s father, Marlon Allen, Sr., individually and in his capacity as
the administrator of Marcus Allen’s estate, filed a wrongful death claim against Michael
O’Connor. This complaint alleged that Michael O’Connor, as landlord, was negligent in
failing to have a smoke detector installed in the subject property which resulted in tenant
Marcus Allen’s death.3 The complaint asserts, “Defendant O’Connor by renting [the]
dwelling in question to the decedent assured him that the dwelling was safe, secure and
inhabitable.” Michael O’Connor filed an answer to this lawsuit. The answer included a
counterclaim filed by his insurance company, F & M, asserting a subrogation claim
against the tenant’s estate for the proceeds F & M paid to Shelly O’Connor following the
fire.4
The tenant’s estate replied to F & M’s counterclaim through counsel hired
by State Auto (the insurer who provided renter’s insurance to the decedent). It filed an
3
Shelly O’Connor testified that she removed the old smoke detectors from the
residence before Marcus Allen moved in and that she bought new smoke detectors that
she gave to Marcus Allen. She testified that “there was probably six different times I told
him that we needed – that he needs to let me put them (the smoke detectors) up.” Shelly
O’Connor stated that Marcus Allen refused because “he wanted to put them up where he
wanted them, and he didn’t want to keep moving them and have holes all over his walls.”
Shelly O’Connor testified that the new smoke detectors she purchased were found in a
kitchen drawer in the subject property following the fire.
4
F & M filed a motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 24 of the West Virginia Rules
of Civil Procedure for the purpose of resolving “certain questions and disputes which
have arisen regarding the status of decedent Marcus Allen as a potential insured on a
policy of insurance issued by F & M[.]”
5
answer to the counterclaim asserting that F & M could not maintain a subrogation claim
against the estate, arguing that tenant/decedent Marcus Allen obtained an interest in the F
& M policy because a portion of each monthly payment he made to Shelly O’Connor
under the lease-to-own agreement went to “mortgage, insurance and taxes.” Thus, the
estate argued, Marcus Allen was an additional insured under the F & M homeowner’s
policy, and under established insurance law, F & M could not seek subrogation against its
own insured.
On October 8, 2013, F & M filed a motion for summary judgment seeking a
ruling that tenant/decedent Marcus Allen was not an insured under the F & M policy. On
November 1, 2013, the estate filed a cross-motion for summary judgment arguing that
Marcus Allen should be deemed an insured under the F & M policy and, therefore, F &
M was prohibited from asserting a subrogation claim against the estate.
The circuit court granted the estate’s motion for summary judgment,
concluding that tenant/decedent Marcus Allen had an interest in the F & M insurance
policy because a portion of his rental payments were allocated to “insurance” pursuant to
the lease-to-own agreement. The circuit court did not rule that Marcus Allen was a
named, additional, or definitional insured under the F & M policy.5 Instead, the circuit
5
The estate’s brief to this Court argues that Marcus Allen was an “equitable
insured” under the F & M policy, stating, “it is important to note that [Respondent]
acknowledged that Marcus Allen was not a named insured under the policy of insurance
issued by Petitioner [F & M]. . . . As is evident from the Circuit Court’s Order, it looked
(continued . . .)
6
court concluded that Marcus Allen was an “equitable insured.” The circuit court’s
September 2, 2014, order explains:
As the Court views the facts presented in this case, F
& M is not permitted to the equitable remedy of subrogation
against Mr. Allen’s Estate. As developed during discovery,
Mr. Allen had agreed to purchase the insured premises
located at 175 Keys Street. The contract between Mr. Allen
and Ms. O’Connor required that Mr. Allen pay to Ms.
O’Connor $625 every month. From these monthly payments,
it was agreed that “$555.00 will go for mortgage, insurance
and taxes.” Ms. O’Connor testified that pursuant to the
contract, she did purchase insurance with Mr. Allen’s
monthly payments. The insurance that she purchased was the
policy provided by F & M. The Court finds that there is
nothing equitable about allowing F & M, based upon a policy
purchased with Mr. Allen’s money, to pursue a subrogation
claim against Mr. Allen’s Estate to repay it for the loss
covered under the F & M policy. . . .
F & M has paid a debt to Ms. O’Connor for the policy
covering the property in question. F & M’s right to
subrogation is to the extent that Ms. O’Connor, as its named
insured, has a right to assert a claim against Mr. Allen for the
loss. However, this produces a result that is not equitable.
The Court finds that F & M wants to step into the shoes of
Ms. O’Connor and seek repayment from Mr. Allen under a
policy of insurance that Mr. Allen paid for. Consequently,
based upon equitable principles, the Court finds that there is
no genuine issue of fact to argue that F & M has a right to
subrogation in this case against a person that funded the F &
M policy.
beyond the mere named insureds and/or definitional insureds identified by the policy to
consider whether any other interests existed in the subject property. . . . Under such
circumstances, equitable principles dictate that Petitioner [F & M] has no right to
subrogation in this case.”
7
Following entry of the circuit court’s order, F & M filed the present appeal.
II.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
F & M appeals the circuit court’s order granting summary judgment in
favor of the estate. We have held that “[a] motion for summary judgment should be
granted only when it is clear that there is no genuine issue of fact to be tried and inquiry
concerning the facts is not desirable to clarify the application of the law.” Syllabus Point
3, Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Fed. Ins. Co., 148 W.Va. 160, 133 S.E.2d 770 (1963). We
afford a plenary review to a lower court’s order awarding summary judgment: “A circuit
court’s entry of summary judgment is reviewed de novo.” Syllabus Point 1, Painter v.
Peavy, 192 W.Va. 189, 451 S.E.2d 755 (1994).
III.
ANALYSIS
The issue is whether F & M may maintain a subrogation action against the
tenant/decedent’s estate. We begin our analysis with a brief discussion of subrogation
which has been defined by a leading insurance law treatise as follows:
“Subrogation” is the substitution of another person in
place of the creditor to whose rights he or she succeeds in
relation to the debt, and gives to the substitute all the rights,
priorities, remedies, liens, and securities of the person for
whom he or she is substituted. . . . In other words, a
subrogated insurer stands in the shoes of an insured, and has
no greater rights than the insured, for one cannot acquire by
subrogation what another, whose rights he or she claims, did
not have.
8
...
Accordingly, on paying a loss, an insurer is subrogated
in a corresponding amount to the insured’s right of action
against any other person responsible for the loss, such that the
insurer is entitled to bring an action against this third party
whose negligent or other tortious or wrongful conduct caused
the loss, regardless of whether the insurer would have been
entitled to bring such an action in its own right.
Steven Plitt et al., 16 Couch on Insurance 3d § 222:5 (2015) (footnotes omitted).
Our Court has recognized that “[t]he doctrine of subrogation is that one
who has the right to pay, and does pay, a debt which ought to have been paid by another
is entitled to exercise all the remedies which the creditor possessed against that other.”
Syllabus Point 1, Bassett v. Streight, 78 W.Va. 262, 88 S.E. 848 (1916). Further,
“[s]ubrogation is applicable where a relationship of principal and surety or a relationship
of primary and secondary liability exists, and the surety or the person with secondary
liability has discharged the debt of the other pursuant to some legal liability.” Ray v.
Donohew, 177 W.Va. 441, 449, 352 S.E.2d 729, 737 (1986). We have recognized that
subrogation is a derivative right founded upon principles of justice and equity. See Fuller
v. Stonewall Cas. Co. of W.Va., 172 W.Va. 193, 304 S.E.2d 347 (1983). This Court has
also held that “[n]o right of subrogation can arise in favor of an insurer against its own
insured, since by definition subrogation arises only with respect to rights of the insured
against third persons to whom the insurer owes no duty.” Syllabus Point 2, Richards v.
Allstate Ins. Co., 193 W.Va. 244, 455 S.E.2d 803 (1995) (emphasis added).
9
The essential question in this case is whether tenant/decedent Marcus Allen
was an “insured” under the F & M homeowner’s policy. F & M contends that the circuit
court’s award of summary judgment to the estate was improper because tenant/decedent
Marcus Allen was not a named or definitional insured under the F & M policy, nor was
the lease-to-own agreement he entered into with Shelly O’Connor an insurance contract.
Further, F & M asserts that Marcus Allen had his own renter’s insurance through State
Auto which included liability coverage; that the lease-to-own agreement stated Marcus
Allen would be solely responsible for any damage he caused to the property; and that
Marcus Allen’s negligence caused the fire and damage to the property. Finally, F & M
asserts that “although couched in terms of F & M versus the estate, in reality the case is F
& M versus State Auto.” Under these facts, F & M argues, the circuit court erred by
ruling that Marcus Allen was an “equitable insured” under the F & M policy.
By contrast, the estate contends that the circuit court correctly determined
that Marcus Allen was an “equitable insured” under the F & M policy because Shelly
O’Connor purchased the F & M policy for Marcus Allen, with a portion of Marcus
Allen’s rent/monthly payments. The estate asserts that it is of no moment that Marcus
Allen purchased renter’s insurance from State Auto. Rather, the estate claims the only
insurance policy of importance is the F & M policy, under which Marcus Allen should be
considered an “equitable insured.”
10
After review, we agree with F & M and find that Marcus Allen was not an
“insured” under the F & M homeowner’s policy. Thus, we conclude that F & M may
maintain a subrogation action against Marcus Allen’s estate.
The circuit court’s ruling was based on its finding that Marcus Allen was an
“equitable insured” under the F & M policy. Importantly, the circuit court did not
conclude, nor is it asserted by the estate on appeal, that Marcus Allen was a named or
definitional insured under the F & M policy. This Court has previously recognized that
an insurance policy is a contract between the insurer and the insured named in the policy.
In Mazon v. Camden Fire Ins. Ass’n, 182 W.Va. 532, 389 S.E.2d 743 (1990), the Court
stated:
An insurance policy and all rights arising from the
policy are controlled by principles of contract, rather than
property law.
....
It is well-established that a contract of insurance is
a personal contract between the insurer and the insured
named in the policy. It is also axiomatic that an insurance
policy is a contract of indemnity which pertains to the parties
to the contract as opposed to the property being insured.
Accordingly an individual who is not a party to the
insurance contract cannot maintain a suit on the policy.
Id. at 533, 389 S.E.2d at 745 (internal citation omitted, emphasis added).
Further, this Court has held that “[w]here the provisions of an insurance
policy contract are clear and unambiguous they are not subject to judicial construction or
interpretation, but full effect will be given to the plain meaning intended.” Syllabus Point
11
1, Keffer v. Prudential Ins. Co., 153 W.Va. 813, 815-16, 172 S.E.2d 714, 715 (1970).
The Court explained the reasoning for its holding in Keffer as follows:
The question of construction of a contract of insurance, as of
the construction of contracts generally, can arise only when
the language of the contract is in need of construction. If the
language employed is unambiguous and clear, there is no
occasion for construction. Stated differently, resort to general
rules for the construction of an insurance policy is
unnecessary where the contract is unambiguous and its
meaning is clear. The court is bound to adhere to the
insurance contract as the authentic expression of the intention
of the parties, and it must be enforced as made where its
language is plain and certain. This means that the terms of
an unambiguous insurance policy cannot be enlarged or
diminished by judicial construction, since the court
cannot make a new contract for the parties where they
themselves have employed express and unambiguous
words.
Id. at 516, 172 S.E.2d at 715 (emphasis added).
Based on Mazon and Keffer, it is clear that an insurance policy and all
rights arising from the policy are controlled by principles of contract law. Further, an
insurance policy is a contract between the insurer and the named and definitional insureds
contained in the policy. If a contract unambiguously identifies the insureds, then a court
may not, by judicial construction, enlarge the coverage to include other individuals
foreign to the insurer.
In the present case, the F & M policy clearly and unambiguously states that
the insurance contract is between F & M and Shelly O’Connor and Michael O’Connor.
The circuit court failed to apply this clear, unambiguous language. Instead, the circuit
court subjected the F & M policy to its own judicial construction and interpretation in
12
ruling that the tenant/decedent, a person who was not a named or definitional insured
under the insurance contract, was an “equitable insured” of the F & M policy. This ruling
altered the clear, unambiguous provisions of the F & M policy by adding an additional
insured to the insurance contract. Under Syllabus Point 1 of Keffer, the circuit court
erred by enlarging the terms of the F & M policy instead of giving full effect to the
policy’s clear and unambiguous language.
Further, this Court has never held that a person who is not a named or
definitional insured of an insurance policy may be considered an “equitable insured.”
We decline to adopt the circuit court’s ruling that the tenant/decedent was an “equitable
insured” of the F & M policy for the following reasons. First, under the circuit court’s
ruling, F & M became responsible for insuring Marcus Allen, a tenant it had never agreed
to insure or was even aware had moved into the subject property. This ruling is patently
unfair to F & M because F & M has a right to choose whom it will or will not insure.
Under the circuit court’s ruling, F & M was not given the opportunity to assess the risk of
insuring the tenant/decedent before deciding whether to offer him an insurance contract.
As one legal insurance treatise addressing whether a tenant should be considered a co­
insured of a landlord’s insurance policy noted, “[t]he insurer has a right to choose whom
13
it will insure[.]” 6A J.A. Appleman & J. Appleman, Insurance Law and Practice § 4055,
pp. 138-39 (Cum. Supp. 2014).6
Additionally, adopting the “equitable insured” ruling could make every
homeowner’s insurance policy purchased by a landlord subject to side agreements
between the named insured (landlords) and third parties (tenants) who, though not named
in the policy or known to the insurer, could allege that they had an “equitable” right to be
6
Some courts outside of our jurisdiction have ruled that absent an express
agreement in the lease to the contrary, a landlord and tenant are considered to be co­
insureds under a landlord’s fire-insurance policy. See Sutton v. Jondahl, 532 P.2d 478
(Okla.Ct.App.1975). We conclude that Mazon and Keffer compel us not to follow the rule
announced in Sutton. In Mazon and Keffer, this Court established that (1) an insurance
policy is a contract between the insurer and the named insured, and (2) full effect will be
given to the provisions of an insurance policy that are clear and unambiguous. Under the
Sutton rule, a court is not required to give full effect to an insurance policy that is clear
and unambiguous. Rather, Sutton states that a court should enlarge the terms of an
insurance policy by presuming a tenant, who is not named in the landlord’s insurance
contract, is covered under the landlord’s policy unless there is an express agreement
between the landlord and tenant to the contrary.
While followed in some jurisdictions, the Sutton rule has been rejected by a
number of courts. For instance, in Fire Insurance Exchange v. Geekie, 179 Ill.App.3d
679, 534 N.E.2d 1061 (1989), the court found that traditional landlord-tenant law holds
the tenant responsible for his negligent acts. Although the tenant has a contractual right
to shift the burden, in the absence of such a contractual provision, the court would not
indulge in the legal fiction of creating such a provision. 179 Ill.App.3d at 682, 534
N.E.2d at 1062. The court allowed the landlord’s insurer to seek subrogation against the
tenant, stating that “it satisfies equitable concerns by placing the burden of the loss where
it ought to be - on the negligent party.” Id.; see also Zoppi v. Traurig, 251 N.J.Super 283,
598 A.2d 19 (1990) (if landlord has claim against tenant, the existence of insurance
should not exculpate tenant from his negligent conduct, absent an agreement).
14
covered under such a policy. This would create uncertainty as to who was covered under
a particular policy and could lead to extensive, costly litigation.
Next, we find that under the circuit court’s “equitable insured” ruling, the
tenant/decedent’s insurance company, State Auto, would receive a windfall. In essence,
the issue in this case is whether F & M can seek subrogation against the tenant/decedent’s
insurance company, State Auto. State Auto entered into an insurance contract with the
tenant/decedent, providing him with personal liability coverage in the amount of
$100,000.00 per occurrence. F & M did not enter into an insurance contract with the
tenant/decedent, nor was it given the opportunity to assess the risk associated with the
tenant/decedent and decide whether it would offer him any coverage. Yet, under the
circuit court’s ruling, the insurance company that agreed to insure the tenant/decedent’s
personal liability, State Auto, avoids responsibility for damage caused to the subject
property by the tenant/decedent’s alleged negligence. We find that such a ruling is
inequitable and would result in a windfall to State Auto at the expense of F & M, who
never agreed to insure the tenant/decedent.
Finally, we reject the circuit court’s “equitable insured” ruling based on our
recognition of the following principle of law: “the fact both parties [landlord and tenant]
had insurable interests does not make them co-insureds.” Appleman, Insurance Law and
Practice § 4055, at 138-39. An insurable interest, as it relates to property, has been
defined as “any actual, lawful, and substantial economic interest in the safety or
preservation of the subject of the insurance free from loss, destruction, or pecuniary
15
damage or impairment.” W.Va. Code § 33-6-3(b) [1957]. Our Court addressed this issue
in Mazon, stating,
A person who is not either a party to the insurance contract or
one for whose benefit it was written is not entitled to a share
of the insurance proceeds by the mere fact they have an
insurable interest in property. . . . [Those who are not the
named insured] must establish [that] the named insured
intended to cover an interest other than her own insurable
interest. . . . The mere fact a co-owner insures the entire
property does not preponderate to establish he is acting for
another co-owner.
182 W.Va. at 534, 389 S.E.2d at 745 (quoting Hartford Ins. Co. v. Stablier, 476 So. 2d
464 (La. App.1985)).7
7
This quote from Mazon comes from a Louisiana case in which the court
determined that one sister, who co-owned a piece of real estate along with her three
sisters, procured insurance on the property for her own benefit, rather than for the benefit
of her other sisters/co-owners. The court’s discussion of an insurance contract extending
to one “for whose benefit it [the insurance policy] was written” was in the context of
whether an insurance policy purchased by one co-owner of property extends to cover the
other co-owners of the property. In the present case, the tenant/decedent was not a co­
owner of the subject property. Rather, the tenant/decedent agreed to a lease-to-own
agreement under which he would have been evicted from the property if he failed to
make a monthly payment on-time or if he caused damage to the property.
Further evidence that the F & M policy was not obtained for the
tenant/decedent’s benefit can be seen in the language of the lease-to-own agreement. The
agreement states that the tenant/decedent was “solely responsible” for any damage he
caused to the subject property, and that he would be evicted for causing damage to the
property. The Supreme Court of Vermont, faced with a similar factual scenario, held:
“The lease here, in express and unqualified language, obligates tenants to pay for the
damage caused by their negligence. . . . [W]e find nothing in the language of the lease
that would reasonably lead tenants to imply a contrary intent.” Travelers Indemnity Co. of
America v. Deguise, 180 Vt. 214, 219, 914 A.2d 499, 502 (2006). Because the lease
obligated the tenants to pay for the damage caused by their own negligence, the Supreme
(continued . . .)
16
Courts outside of our jurisdiction examining this issue have agreed with
Appleman’s conclusion that “the fact that two parties have insurable interests does not
make them co-insureds.” For instance, in Rausch v. Allstate Ins. Co., 388 Md. 690, 714,
882 A.2d 801, 815 (2005), the court held:
The notion that, barring some express provision to the
contrary, landlords and tenants are, as a matter of law, to be
treated as co-insureds under the landlord’s policy has no valid
foundation. The supposed basis for that conclusion is that the
tenant has an insurable interest in continued possession of the
leased premises, and that may be so, but it does not make the
tenant a co-insured.
Similarly, in Neubauer v. Hostetter, 485 N.W.2d 87, 90 (Iowa 1992), the
Supreme Court of Iowa refused to accept that “fire insurance on an entire dwelling
includes the interest of both landlord and tenant as a matter of law.” That argument, it
said, “disregards the fact that these are separate estates capable of being separately valued
Court of Vermont concluded that the tenants were not co-insureds under the landlord’s
fire insurance policy. Id., 180 Vt. at 220, 914 A.2d at 503. The same logic applies to the
present case—there is simply nothing contained in the lease-to-own agreement which
suggests that the tenant/decedent would be covered under the landlord’s insurance policy
for damage he caused to the subject property. To the contrary, the plain language of the
agreement states that the tenant/decedent would be evicted from the premises and held
“solely responsible” for causing damage to the property.
Moreover, the F & M policy was a renewal policy that Shelly O’Connor
first obtained in 2006, years before she entered into the lease-to-own agreement with the
tenant/decedent. We also note that the tenant’s estate did not make a claim under the F &
M policy after the fire occurred, despite its present assertion that the F & M policy was
written for the tenant/decedent’s benefit. Based on these facts, we conclude that the F &
M policy was not written for the tenant/decedent’s benefit.
17
and separately insured.” Id. After reviewing our case law, the Appleman treatise on
insurance law, and cases from other jurisdictions, we hold that a tenant who is neither a
named nor definitional insured of a landlord’s homeowner’s insurance policy is not an
insured under the landlord’s policy by the mere fact that the tenant may have an insurable
interest in the leased property.
IV.
CONCLUSION
We find that F & M may maintain a subrogation action against the estate.
The circuit court’s September 2, 2014, order, ruling that Marcus Allen was an “equitable
insured” under the F & M policy, is reversed.
Reversed.
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