Skolnik v. Allied Property & Casualty Insurance Co. , 2015 IL App (1st) 142438 ( 2016 )

2015 IL App (1st) 142438
No. 1-14-2438
Opinion filed December 22, 2015
Modified Upon Denial of Rehearing filed January 26, 2016
Second Division
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
FIRST DISTRICT
JACOB SKOLNIK, ELIZABETH SKOLNIK, ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
JOSHUA SKOLNIK, and WILLIAM JOHNSON, ) of Cook County.
Individually and as the Special Administrator of )
the Estate of Haley Ellen Johnson, )
)
Defendants-Appellants , )
)
v. ) No. 12 CH 41359
)
ALLIED PROPERTY AND CASUALTY )
INSURANCE COMPANY, ) The Honorable
) Rita Mary Novak,
Plaintiff-Appellee. ) Judge, presiding.
JUSTICE HYMAN delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Justices Neville and Simon concurred in the judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 The day after an evening out with friends, 21-year-old Haley Johnson died of methadone
intoxication in the bedroom of defendant Joshua Skolnik, who lived at his parents’ home.
¶2 Plaintiff Allied Property and Casualty Insurance Company insured the home under
homeowners’ and an umbrella personal liability policy. Both policies exclude liability for bodily
injury “arising out of the use” of controlled substances; however, both policies also contain an
exception clause that carves out "the legitimate use of prescription drugs by a person following
the orders of a licensed physician.” Skolnik’s prescribed methadone was found in the bedroom
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where Johnson died. Allied brought suit for a declaratory judgment regarding whether it had a
duty to defend the Skolniks in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Johnson’s father.
¶3 The crux of this case involves whether the complaint alleges an independent injury. If the
complaint alleges an injury not “arising out of” the “use of” a controlled substance, Allied has a
duty to defend. We hold that the underlying complaint contains allegations within, or potentially
within, the coverage of both the homeowners’ and umbrella policies. Specifically, the complaint
alleges Skolnik ("Skolnik" refers to Joshua) failed to request emergency medical assistance for
Johnson within a reasonable period of time after knowing that she was physically incapacitated,
unresponsive, or unconscious; and knowing or discovering she ingested or unknowingly
consumed methadone or other illegal substances in the Skolnik home. Further, count I alleges
that Skolnik refused to allow Johnson’s two friends to check on, talk to, see, or render aid to
Johnson on their request. These allegations of negligence, if proven, potentially could be covered
under the insurance policies and, therefore, Allied has a duty to defend Skolnik in the underlying
lawsuit.
¶4 BACKGROUND
¶5 The complaint contains the following factual allegations. During the evening of May 18,
2012, Johnson along with some friends gathered at a pub in Palatine. Around 11:30 p.m.,
Johnson and her friends met Skolnik, who bought them all drinks. Johnson’s friends left the pub
around 1:30 a.m., and Johnson remained with Skolnik. After Johnson had another drink that
Skolnik provided, she told him that she thought “something” had been put into it, and needed
assistance to walk. Skolnik took Johnson to his parents’ home where they had sex in his
bedroom. Skolnik had abused drugs in the past and used methadone; Skolnik’s parents knew of
his drug history and of the methadone in the house. Skolnik’s parents heard voices in his
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bedroom at 4 a.m. Around 9 a.m., Skolnik’s mother checked on Skolnik and he told her that
Johnson passed out in the bedroom. Between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., two of Johnson’s friends
came to the Skolniks’ home to check on her but Skolnik did not let them see her, telling them
that Johnson was passed out naked in his bedroom. At 3:30 p.m., Skolnik told his parents
Johnson was unconscious. Three hours later, his parents left for dinner and another six-and-a-
half hours later, Skolnik pulled Johnson off his bed and called his parents who had not yet
returned. He told them Johnson felt cold to the touch. The Skolniks instructed their son to dress
Johnson and call 911. At 10:11 p.m., Skolnik called 911. When the police arrived at 10:14 p.m.,
Johnson was not breathing. She was pronounced dead at the Skolniks’ home at 11:31 p.m.
¶6 The autopsy results indicated methadone intoxication as the cause of death. Lab tests also
detected concentrations of GHB and Rohypno (both are referred to as “date-rape” drugs) in
Johnson’s blood. The manner of death was “undetermined.”
¶7 Insurance Policies
¶8 Allied’s homeowners’ policy provided:
“A. COVERAGE E - Personal Liability
If a claim is made or a suit is brought against an ‘insured’ for damages because of
‘bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ caused by an ‘occurrence’ to which this
coverage applies, we will:
1. [as amended by Endorsement HO 300IL (09-09]: Pay up to our limit of liability
for the damages for which an insured is legally liable; and
2. Provide a defense at our expense by counsel of our choice, even if the suit is
groundless, false or fraudulent.”
¶9 The relevant scope of coverage under the homeowners’ policy provides:
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“E. COVERAGE E - Personal Liability and COVERAGE F – Medical Payments to
Others
Coverages E and F do not apply to the following:
1. Expected or Intended Injury
‘Bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ which is expected or intended by an
‘insured’ even if the resulting ‘bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’:
a. Is of a different kind, quality or degree than initially expected or intended;
or
b. Is sustained by a different person, entity, real or personal property, than
initially expected or intended.
***
8. Controlled Substance
‘Bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ arising out of the use, sale, manufacture,
delivery, transfer or possession by any person of a Controlled Substance as
defined by the Federal Food and Drug Law at 21 U.S.C.A. Sections 811 and 812.
Controlled Substances include but are not limited to cocaine, LSD, marijuana and
all narcotic drugs. However, this exclusion does not apply to the legitimate use of
prescription drugs by a person following the orders of a licensed physician.”
The policy defines “Occurrence” as an “accident” which results, during the policy period, in
bodily injury. In addition, the policy contains a provision defining “insured” to include relatives
who live in the insured’s household.
¶ 10 Allied also issued a personal umbrella liability policy, which was in effect on the date of
Johnson’s death. This policy contains an exclusion for controlled substances:
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“A. The coverages provided by this policy do not apply to:
***
14. ‘Bodily injury,’ ‘property damage’ or ‘personal injury’ which arises out of:
***
c. The use, sale, manufacture, deliver, transfer or possession by any person
of a Controlled Substance(s) as defined by the Federal Food and Drug
Law at 21 U.S.C.A. Sections 811 and 812. Controlled Substances include
but are not limited to cocaine, LSD, marijuana and all narcotic drugs.
However, this exclusion does not apply to the legitimate use of
prescription drugs by a person following the orders of a licensed
physician.”
¶ 11 Underlying Complaint
¶ 12 Johnson’s father, William Johnson, sued the Skolniks, parents and son, alleging two
counts of wrongful death, two counts of liability under the Survival Statute (755 ILCS 5/27-6
(West 2010)), one count of false imprisonment, one count of civil conspiracy to restrain Johnson
against her will, and one count of battery against only Skolnik for putting a “date-rape” drug in
Johnson’s drink while at a restaurant-bar and later having sex with her without her consent.
¶ 13 Count I of the first amended complaint alleges wrongful-death negligence in that Skolnik
carelessly and improperly stored methadone, a controlled substance, in a manner he knew or
should have known to be unsafe and potentially fatal, “notwithstanding the fact that some of the
substances may have been legitimately prescribed by a licensed professional; negligently,
carelessly, and improperly failed to store methadone in a secured and locked condition as
required of authorized methadone users by the Clinic; negligently, carelessly, and improperly
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failed to remove the methadone when it was not properly stored, and failed to return it to the
Clinic."
¶ 14 Count I also alleges that Skolnik and his parents negligently, carelessly, and improperly
failed to request emergency medical assistance for Johnson within a reasonable period of time
after knowing she was physically incapacitated or unconscious or both; and knowing or
discovering she ingested or unknowingly consumed methadone or other illegal substances in the
Skolnik home. Further, count I alleges that Skolnik and his parents refused to allow Johnson’s
two friends to check on, talk to, see, or render aid to Johnson upon their request; and that they
“took affirmative actions to Johnson’s detriment and acted in concert” after discovering she was
“dead, unconscious, and/or unresponsive in their home.”
¶ 15 The second wrongful death count alleges willful and wanton conduct in that the parents
knew or recklessly disregarded the danger of having methadone in their home, and knew
Johnson’s condition in their son's bedroom but failed to call 911.
¶ 16 Count III alleges Skolnik gave Johnson a drink containing the date-rape drugs GHB and
Rohypnol without her consent and later had nonconsensual sex with her. Counts IV and V claim
damages under section 27-6 of the Survival Statute (id.), and alleging negligence and willful and
wanton, respectively. Counts VI and VII alleges false imprisonment and civil conspiracy,
respectively.
¶ 17 Allied’s Motion for Declaratory Judgment
¶ 18 Allied sought a declaratory judgment on the pleadings, asserting that the controlled
substances exclusion in the homeowners’ policy and the umbrella policy operated to relieve it of
any duty to defend Skolnik against the underlying complaint. Allied moved for summary
judgment in the declaratory judgment action; the Skolniks cross-moved for summary judgment.
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¶ 19 The trial court ruled that Allied had no duty to defend because the exclusion clause
operated to release Allied from the duty to defend, and the exception to the exclusion clause in
the insurance policies did not apply. After this appeal was filed, Elizabeth and Jacob Skolnik
were voluntarily dismissed without prejudice to reinstatement.
¶ 20 ANALYSIS
¶ 21 Standard of Review
¶ 22 “ ‘The construction of an insurance policy and a determination of the rights and
obligations thereunder are questions of law for the court [to decide and] are appropriate subjects
for disposition by way of summary judgment.’ ” Illinois Emcasco Insurance Co. v. Waukegan
Steel Sales Inc., 2013 IL App (1st) 120735, ¶ 11 (quoting Crum & Forster Managers Corp. v.
Resolution Trust Corp., 156 Ill. 2d 384, 391 (1993)). “Summary judgment is appropriate when
there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter
of law. [Citation.]” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Pekin Insurance Co. v. Equilon
Enterprises LLC, 2012 IL App (1st) 111529, ¶ 12. We review de novo the trial court’s decision
on a motion for summary judgment. Progressive Universal Insurance Co. of Illinois v. Liberty
Mutual Fire Insurance Co., 215 Ill. 2d 121, 128 (2005). This same standard applies in a case
involving a duty to defend a claim. Pekin Insurance Co., 2012 IL App (1st) 111529, ¶ 12.
¶ 23 Duty to Defend
¶ 24 For Allied to have a duty to defend Skolnik in the underlying action, the allegations in the
complaint must overcome the exclusionary effect of the clause in the homeowners’ and the
umbrella policy excepting accidents that “arise out of” the use of a controlled substance. Skolnik
claims: (1) the exception to the exclusion provides coverage for the “legitimate use” of
prescribed drugs should take effect because the methadone was prescribed for Skolnik but
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negligently stored; (2) Skolnik’s failure to summon help and his refusal to allow Johnson’s
friends to check her well-being were negligent acts independent of her methadone ingestion that
would potentially be covered, and, therefore, Allied has a duty under both policies to defend him
against these allegations. According to Allied, Johnson's ingestion of the methadone falls within
the controlled substances exclusion clause and operates to release Allied from a duty to defend.
As for the exception, Allied argues it has no effect because the methadone had been prescribed
only for Skolnik.
¶ 25 The duty of an insurer to defend is separate from and broader than the duty to indemnify.
Westfield National Insurance Co. v. Long, 348 Ill. App. 3d 987 (2004). “[E]ven if an insurer
ultimately may not be obligated to indemnify, if the allegations in a complaint state a cause of
action that gives rise to the possibility of recovery under the policy, the insurer’s duty to defend
is called into play.” (Emphasis added.) American Country Insurance Co. v. Cline, 309 Ill. App.
3d 501, 512 (1999). If the terms of an insurance policy are susceptible to more than one meaning,
they are considered ambiguous, and any doubts regarding coverage must be resolved in the
insured's favor. Maryland Casualty Co. v. Dough Management Co., 2015 IL App (1st) 141520, ¶
51. See Charles H. Eichelkraut & Sons, Inc. v. Bituminous Casualty Corp., 166 Ill. App. 3d 550,
557 (1988) (“in general the question of whether a claim against an insured is potentially covered
is so close in so many cases that the benefit of the doubt goes to the insured”). Where the
underlying complaint alleges facts within or potentially within the scope of coverage, the insurer
must defend its insured, even if the allegations are groundless, false, or fraudulent (Northbrook
Property & Casualty Co. v. Transportation Joint Agreement, 194 Ill. 2d 96, 98 (2000)), or the
probability of recovery is minimal. Hertz Corp. v. Garrott, 207 Ill. App. 3d 644, 648 (1990).
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¶ 26 The insurer bears the burden of establishing that it has no duty to defend. Pekin Insurance
Co. v. Roszak/ADC, LLC, 402 Ill. App. 3d 1055, 1059 (2010). This burden includes affirmatively
demonstrating the applicability of an exclusion. American Zurich Insurance Co. v. Wilcox &
Christopoulos, L.L.C., 2013 IL App (1st) 120402, ¶ 34. Courts also narrowly read any policy
provision that purports to exclude or limit coverage, and apply them only where the terms are
“ ‘clear, definite, and specific.’ ” State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. Perez, 387 Ill. App. 3d 549,
553 (2008) (quoting Gillen v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., 215 Ill. 2d 381, 393
(2005)).
¶ 27 The complaint need only state a claim that gives rise to a possibility of recovery under the
policy, rather than a probability of recovery to trigger Allied’s duty to defend. We first compare
the allegations of the underlying complaint with the relevant portions of the policy. Pekin
Insurance Co. v. Wilson, 237 Ill. 2d 446, 455 (2010); Pekin Insurance Co., 2012 IL App (1st)
111529, ¶ 14. This process forms the “eight corners rule.” See Farmers Automobile Insurance
Ass’n v. Country Mutual Insurance Co., 309 Ill. App. 3d 694, 698 (2000) (“the court should
compare the four corners of the underlying complaint with the four corners of the insurance
contract”). Indeed, in applying the “eight corners” rule, we conduct a de novo review of the
complaint.
¶ 28 Skolnik’s Insurance Policies
¶ 29 The allegations of the complaint determine the duty to defend. Maryland Casualty Co. v.
Peppers, 64 Ill. 2d 187, 193 (1976). A threshold issue arises when the underlying complaint
alleges several theories against the insured; the insurer has a duty to defend should any theory of
recovery allege potential coverage. Maxum Indemnity Co. v. Gillette, 405 Ill. App. 3d 881, 886
(2010). While the allegation of intentional delivery of the fatal drug would remain outside the
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coverage, the duty to defend is not extinguished when negligence is also alleged. We thus
consider whether the two counts alleging negligence trigger the duty to defend.
¶ 30 Skolnik asserts the complaint alleges facts within or potentially within coverage. The
policy provided a defense against any claim made or suit brought for damages due to bodily
injury caused by an “occurrence” to which the coverage applied. The policy defines occurrence
as an accident which results in bodily injury. Count I of the complaint alleged that Skolnik had a
prescription for methadone for his own use and improperly stored the methadone, failed to
remove it, and knew or recklessly disregarded the dangers of having it in the home. Count I also
states that he “nonetheless delivered his own methadone [in an amount fatal] to Johnson,” an
intentional act that would not be covered.
¶ 31 Additionally, count I alleges that Skolnik negligently, carelessly, and improperly failed to
request emergency medical assistance for Johnson within a reasonable period of time after
knowing that she was physically incapacitated and unconscious or both; and knowing or
discovering she ingested or unknowingly consumed methadone or other illegal substances from
within the home. Further, count I alleges that Skolnik refused to allow Johnson’s two friends to
check on, talk to, see, or render aid to Johnson despite their request; and that Skolnik “took
affirmative actions to Johnson’s detriment” after discovering she was “dead, unconscious, and/or
unresponsive in [the] home.” Assuming these allegations to be true, is Skolnik possibly
negligent, triggering Allied’s duty to defend under the homeowners’ policy?
¶ 32 Skolnik argues the negligence counts allege acts that have the potential of recovery under
the insurance policies. In support of his position, Skolnik relies heavily on the New Jersey
Supreme Court’s decision in Flomerfelt v. Cardiello, 997 A.2d 991 (N.J. 2010), where the court
held that “in circumstances in which the underlying coverage question cannot be decided from
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the face of the complaint, the insurer is obligated to provide a defense until all potentially
covered claims are resolved.” Id. at 999. It is the nature of the claim asserted in the pleadings,
rather than the specific details of the incident or the litigation’s possible outcome, that governs
the insurer’s obligation. Id. at 998. The New Jersey court found “circumstances arising from
potentially concurrent causes.” Id. at 1005. The court required the insurer to provide a defense
where it had not yet been determined whether an injury arose out of drug use, which was
excluded under the policy, or something else. Id. at 1006. The facts, like here, are heartbreaking.
¶ 33 The plaintiff, Wendy Flomerfelt, “sustained temporary and permanent injuries after she
overdosed on alcohol and drugs during a party hosted by defendant Matthew Cardiello at his
parents’ home while they were out of town.” Id. at 993. The complaint ascribed Flomerfelt’s
injuries to the ingestion of drugs, alcohol, or a combination of both, the serving of alcohol to her
when she was visibly intoxicated, or the negligent failure to promptly summon aid. The
defendant turned to his parents’ homeowners’ insurer, seeking defense and indemnification
under the policy. Id. The insurer denied coverage, pointing to “the language of its policy that
excluded claims ‘[a]rising out of the use, ... transfer or possession’ of controlled dangerous
substances.” Id. The record was inconclusive as to the cause of the plaintiff’s injuries; she may
have been injured by alcohol or drugs or both, either before, during or even after the party, as
there was a delay in summoning aid. Id. at 1005. On the face of the complaint, only some of the
theories would support defendant’s demand that his homeowners’ insurer defend and indemnify
him. Id. at 1003-04. The Flomerfelt court held the insurer owed its policyholder a duty to defend
because there were potentially covered causes and claims. Id. at 1005-06.
¶ 34 Allied counters that the complaint alleges that Johnson’s death resulted from controlled
substances. While there is a dearth of Illinois case law on point, Allied cites State Farm Fire &
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Casualty Co. v. Young, 2012 IL App (1st) 103736, which is inapposite. In holding that the
allegations in the complaint fell within the exclusion for expected or intended injury, the court
found that the well-pleaded facts alleged a combination of heroin overdose and beating caused
the victim’s death, both intentional actions of the defendant. Id. ¶ 19. The court then stated, “we
do not look to the asserted legal theory, seeking to impose liability upon the defendant for his
actions, to determine whether an accident occurred; rather, we look to the intended or expected
results arising from the defendant's actions or, in this case, omissions.” Id. ¶ 31. In other words,
in Young, while the allegations concerning the defendant's failure to call 911 were labeled
“ ‘negligence,’ ” there was no doubt that the defendant’s failure to act was intentional and the
result from his failure to act was expected. Id. ¶ 41. Thus, when the insured intends to cause the
consequences of his conduct or the consequences are reasonably expected to result from that
conduct, the insurer had no duty to defend. Id.
¶ 35 We find Flomerfelt more persuasive than Young. The facts in Flomerfelt are closer to this
case and the issue before the court was the same. Young, on the other hand, addressed the
intentional acts of the insured and the consequences of those acts.
¶ 36 Also looking outside our jurisdiction, as did Skolnik, Allied cites an Indiana and a
Massachusetts case. Neither applies as the events in those cases substantially differ from this
case.
¶ 37 In the Indiana case, Forman v. Penn, 945 N.E.2d 717 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011), a guest at the
insured’s home suffered permanent injuries after ingesting methadone prescribed to one of the
home’s occupants. The guest sued the insured under a homeowners’ policy containing a
controlled substances exclusion clause that was virtually identical to the case at bar, alleging
negligent supervision and control over the prescribed methadone and “negligence in caring for
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him after it was discovered that he could not be wakened.” Id. at 719. The insured denied
furnishing the methadone and asserted that the guest took the methadone without the insured’s
knowledge or participation. Id. The trial court granted summary judgment in the insurer’s favor,
and the court of appeals affirmed, finding that the guest’s injuries “arose out of [his] use of the
methadone, which was not a legitimate use of the drug pursuant to the orders of a licensed
physician.” (Emphasis omitted.) Id. at 721. (citing Massachusetts Property Insurance
Underwriting Ass’n v. Gallagher, 911 N.E.2d 808, 811 (Mass. App. Ct. 2009)). Despite the
allegation of negligence in the complaint, the facts as outlined by the Indiana court of appeals
only indicate the guest “could not be wakened” and ultimately was hospitalized. Id. at 719.
Significantly, in a later case of Forman, the court explained, “although [in Forman] an occupant
of the house had a prescription for the methadone, the injured party did not. [Citation.] Thus, his
injuries clearly arose out of the illegitimate use of the drug." Keckler v. Meridian Security
Insurance Co., 967 N.E.2d 18, 26 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012). Negligence in caring for the victim was
not addressed or even mentioned.
¶ 38 Allied also relies on an opinion from Massachusetts that addressed an insurance policy’s
exclusion for the use of controlled substances in the context of an apparent suicide. There, a
guest died after overdosing on a controlled substance prescribed for the defendant homeowner.
Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Ass’n v. Gallagher, 911 N.E.2d 808 (Mass.
App. Ct. 2009). The decedent’s estate alleged the homeowner negligently left a prescription
painkiller in a place accessible to the guest. Unlike here, the plaintiff did not allege negligence in
failing to act. The court held that the exception to the exclusion covering legitimate prescription
use did not apply because the guest’s own use of the painkiller caused his death, which “clearly
[did] not fall within the exception.” Id. at 811.
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¶ 39 Proximate Cause
¶ 40 In the trial court, Skolnik argued the possibility of multiple proximate causes of
Johnson’s death and that the determination of what caused her death presented an issue of fact in
the underlying case. The autopsy results indicated Johnson died of methadone intoxication. The
blood tests also showed concentrations of GHB and Rohypno, allegedly put in Johnson’s drink
by Skolnik. The manner of death was “undetermined.” Skolnik asserts that any determination of
the cause of death would be an ultimate fact the trial court should have avoided by abstaining
from granting summary judgment.
¶ 41 “ ‘A proximate cause is one that produces an injury through a natural and continuous
sequence of events unbroken by any effective intervening cause.’ ” Crumpton v. Walgreen Co.,
375 Ill. App. 3d 73, 79 (2007) (quoting Chalhoub v. Dixon, 338 Ill. App. 3d 535, 539 (2003)). It
is well established that proximate cause requires both “cause in fact” and “legal cause.” See, e.g.,
Lee v. Chicago Transit Authority, 152 Ill. 2d 432, 455 (1992). As the Supreme Court of Illinois
pointed out in Lee, these two requirements reflect “a policy decision that limits how far a
defendant’s legal responsibility should be extended for conduct that, in fact, caused the harm.”
Id. “Cause in fact can be established if a defendant’s conduct can be deemed to be a substantial
factor in bringing about the injury.” McKenna v. AlliedBarton Security Services, LLC, 2015 IL
App (1st) 133414, ¶ 37 (citing Lee, 152 Ill. 2d at 455). “Legal cause is essentially a question of
foreseeability, where one determines whether the injury is of a type that a reasonable person
would see as a likely result of his or her conduct.” Id. ¶ 38.
¶ 42 If a proximate cause of an injury comes within the included coverage of an insurance
policy, the coverage is not voided merely because the policy excludes an additional proximate
cause of the injury. See United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. State Farm Mutual Automobile
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Insurance Co., 152 Ill. App. 3d 46, 48 (1987) (coverage exists for negligent supervision even
though motor vehicle was underlying cause of injuries and policies contained exclusions; claim
of negligent supervision is separate and distinct from operation, use, or ownership of the motor
vehicle and, therefore, motor vehicle exclusion does not preclude coverage). Extrapolating from
this holding, we find the claim of negligence here to be a potential separate and independent
cause of Johnson’s death.
¶ 43 At oral argument, Allied argued that the “sole proximate cause” test is not the test to
determine whether an exclusion applies, asserting that the Second District in Allstate Insurance
Co. v. Smiley, 276 Ill. App. 3d 971 (1995), “essentially overturned” this court’s ruling in United
States Fidelity & Guaranty Co., 152 Ill. App. 3d 46. First, this statement is faulty. Our supreme
court has noted that the doctrine of stare decisis requires courts to follow the decisions of higher
courts, but does not bind courts to follow decisions of “equal or inferior courts.” (Internal
quotation marks omitted.) O'Casek v. Children's Home & Aid Society of Illinois, 229 Ill. 2d 421,
440 (2008). An appellate court that disagrees with a result, or distinguishes a case from another
district on the facts, lacks the power to overrule the case, but the opinion of one district is not
binding on other districts. Id.
¶ 44 Second, the facts in Smiley are not analogous to the facts here. All actions and inactions
by the Smileys related to their business, whereas Skolnik’s omissions, as alleged, were
independent of the methadone overdose. In Smiley, the husband and wife defendants ran a home
child care business and were insured under a premises liability policy designed to cover only
losses and injuries associated with the property itself, not those related to their business
operations. The policy contained an exclusion clause for injuries arising out of business
activities. After a child in the defendants’ care accidentally drowned in their swimming pool, the
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child’s estate sued alleging that he had been in the care, custody, and control of the wife at the
time of death and that her negligent acts or the husband’s negligent failure to properly maintain
the premises, or both, caused the child’s death. In deciding the insurer had no duty to defend, the
court found the alleged failure to supervise, failure to restrict access to the pool, and failure to
provide adequate locks on the gate in the fence around the pool were all related to the duty to
exercise due care to protect the child from dangerous household conditions. The court reasoned
that the injuries “unquestionably originated or came about from the day-care services.” Smiley,
276 Ill. App. 3d at 979. We will not extend the holding in Smiley to this case.
¶ 45 In its petition for rehearing, Allied points to language in Westfield National Insurance
Co., 348 Ill. App. 3d 987, regarding the definition of the phrase “arising out of” in a controlled
substance exclusion clause. Westfield, citing Smiley, interpreted the phrase “arising out of” in an
exclusionary clause to mean “ ‘[t]o spring up, originate *** ’ [citation], or ‘to come into being,’
‘to come about: come up: take place’ [citation]. Smiley, 276 Ill. App. 3d at 978.” Westfield, 348
Ill. App. 3d at 991-92. This argument, however, ignores the gravamen of our decision; i.e., that
Johnson’s cause of death has not been conclusively established. Westfield decided the issue in
the context of the defendant in the underlying lawsuit putting a methamphetamine drug in the
plaintiff’s daughter’s drink, “causing a toxic overdose that caused her death.” Id. at 988-89.
Unquestionably, this was an intentional act that “arose out of” the use, sale, delivery, transfer or
possession of a controlled substance.
¶ 46 Skolnik asserts that whether Johnson’s prior alcohol and drug use or his “failure to
summon aid” were contributing causes of her death are issues of fact to be determined by a
factfinder. The record reveals that the negligence counts allege an omission, something far
removed from actively giving or sharing heroin with the victim and then beating her as in Young,
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where the failure to summon help was connected inextricably to the intentional act of the insured
party. Here, despite the autopsy notation regarding cause of death, a genuine issue of material
fact exists as to whether Johnson’s death was caused solely by her methadone ingestion. The four
corners of the complaint contain details that, if true, describe a lengthy and protracted period of
time during which Skolnik could have sought assistance. The unknown is whether Johnson
would have died if he had allowed Johnson’s friends to see her, or called 911, or truthfully
informed his parents earlier about Johnson’s condition. Other potential causes include a genetic
predisposition and a prior history of drug abuse.
¶ 47 We hold that the “drastic method” of disposing of a case by summary judgment should
not be employed because an issue of material fact is present. Murphy v. Urso, 88 Ill. 2d 444,
463-64 (1981).
¶ 48 Premature claim
¶ 49 Skolnik’s next argument closely relates to the issue of causation. Skolnik asserts that
summary judgment was premature because there is substantial similarity of the issues in the
underlying case and the declaratory judgment suit. Again, when uncertain as to whether to
defend or refuse to defend, an insurer can file a declaratory judgment action to determine its
obligations and rights. United States Fidelity & Guarantee Co. v. Jiffy Cab Co., 265 Ill. App. 3d
533, 536 (1994). In a declaratory-judgment action, the court may not determine an insured’s
actual liability nor determine any facts that may form the basis of an insured’s liability. State
Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. Hatherley, 250 Ill. App. 3d 333, 336 (1993).
¶ 50 “[T]he issue before the declaratory court is the interpretation of a contract.” Oakley
Transport, Inc. v. Zurich Insurance Co., 271 Ill. App. 3d 716, 725 (1995). The tort liability on
the part of the insured establishes contractual liability on the part of the insurer only where the
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policy affords coverage. Id. That determination of coverage is “subject to the rules of contract
construction, and not tort principles.” Id. In construing an insurance policy, the court should
examine the policy as a whole and interpret the words according to their plain, ordinary, and
popular meanings; any doubts in meaning should be resolved in favor of the insured. Id. at 725-
26.
¶ 51 The question before us involves Allied’s duty to defend Skolnik against the claims, and
its resolution does not prematurely determine facts alleged in the underlying complaint. Finding
a duty to defend against the underlying claim of wrongful death due to negligence does not
control the outcome of the ultimate question of liability or an obligation to indemnify. It is,
rather, a determination of the insurance policy’s requirements regarding the defense of an insured
in a liability lawsuit. The complaint alleges a failure to summon assistance when it was apparent
that Johnson was in distress. The question of Skolnik’s negligence as alleged in the complaint
can only be resolved after a full hearing on the facts and circumstances. In this regard, we find
the reasoning of Flomerfelt persuasive. Was there an independent basis for liability in that
Skolnik could have saved Johnson but he did not summon help? Because an issue of material
fact exists, we cannot conclude without a doubt that Allied, as the moving party, is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law. Our resolution imposes only the duty to defend against the
allegations; the determination of liability is a question for the trial court in the underlying case.
¶ 52 “Legitimate Use” Exception
¶ 53 We need not address Skolnik’s final argument on Illinois public policy favoring
rehabilitation and treatment of controlled substance abusers. While drug use remains a vexing
and persistent societal challenge and health problem, we leave the public policy concerns for
another day.
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¶ 54 Conclusion
¶ 55 We reverse the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Allied, and remand to
the trial court for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion.
¶ 56 Reversed and remanded.
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