Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting Association of Rhode Island v. Charlesgate Nursing Center, L.P. , 115 A.3d 998 ( 2015 )

Supreme Court
No. 2013-359-Appeal.
(PC 12-5088)
Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting :
Association of Rhode Island
v. :
Charlesgate Nursing Center, L.P., et al. :
NOTICE: This opinion is subject to formal revision before
publication in the Rhode Island Reporter. Readers are requested to
notify the Opinion Analyst, Supreme Court of Rhode Island, 250
Benefit Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, at Telephone 222-
3258 of any typographical or other formal errors in order that
corrections may be made before the opinion is published.
Supreme Court
No. 2013-359-Appeal.
(PC 12-5088)
Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting :
Association of Rhode Island
v. :
Charlesgate Nursing Center, L.P., et al. :
Present: Suttell, C.J., Goldberg, Flaherty, Robinson, and Indeglia, JJ.
OPINION
Chief Justice Suttell, for the Court. This insurance-coverage dispute presents a novel
legal question regarding an insurer’s duty to defend that arises from a set of tragic circumstances
involving the alleged sexual assault of a nursing home resident. The plaintiff, Medical
Malpractice Joint Underwriting Association of Rhode Island (JUA), sought a declaratory
judgment from the Superior Court to establish that it owed no duty to defend its insured,
Charlesgate Nursing Center, L.P. (Charlesgate), two of Charlesgate’s general partners, and two
of its employees (collectively Charlesgate defendants), 1 against the allegations set forth in a
separate civil action 2 filed by the administrator of the estate of a former resident of Charlesgate
(complaint or estate’s complaint). The JUA now appeals from the judgment denying its motion
for summary judgment and granting the Charlesgate defendants’ cross-motion for summary
judgment on their counterclaim for declaratory judgment. For the reasons set forth in this
opinion, we affirm the judgment of the Superior Court.
1
The defendants named in the declaratory-judgment action include: Charlesgate Nursing Center,
L.P. (Charlesgate), Davenport Associates, LTD., Paul S. Davenport, Lynda Gaboriault, and
Sandra James (collectively Charlesgate defendants).
2
The underlying civil action, docketed as PC 2012-1071, is currently pending in the Superior
Court.
-1-
I
Facts and Procedural History
This appeal proceeds from an alleged sexual assault that purportedly occurred at the
Charlesgate Nursing Center in June 2009. From December 2008 to December 2009, the JUA
insured Charlesgate under a policy (JUA policy or policy), which provided coverage for both: (1)
hospital professional liability (HPL) and (2) commercial general liability (CGL). In June 2009, a
fifty-six-year-old woman, suffering from Huntington’s disease and residing at and in the care of
Charlesgate, claimed that she was the victim of a sexual assault perpetrated by Josiah Ajibade
Olowoporoku, 3 an employee and certified nursing assistant (CNA) at Charlesgate. The resident
passed away on October 17, 2011. On February 28, 2012, her son, in his capacity as
administrator of her estate, filed suit in the Superior Court against Charlesgate, along with its
partners, Davenport Associates, LTD., Paul S. Davenport, and its employees, Lynda Gaboriault,
Sandra James, and Olowoporoku.
To resolve this appeal, this Court must determine whether the allegations contained in the
estate’s complaint bring the injury complained of within the coverage of the insurance policy.
Accordingly, we confine our recitation of the facts to only those alleged in the estate’s
complaint, mindful that at this stage of the proceedings no facts have been adjudicated by a judge
or jury. The complaint details a terrible sequence of events occurring at Charlesgate, beginning
on June 16, 2009, when Olowoporoku sexually and physically assaulted the resident in her room.
At the time of the assault, defendant Sandra James, a CNA, was at the nurse’s station where she
heard the resident’s cries for help, but she did not respond. Instead, James reported the resident’s
screams to defendant Gaboriault, her colleague and a registered nurse at Charlesgate, but
3
Olowoporoku was subsequently found by a jury not guilty of all criminal charges relating to
these allegations.
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Gaboriault also failed to respond. At some point that day, the resident informed Sharon Scott, a
medical technician at Charlesgate, that she had been raped by Olowoporoku, and Scott reported
the incident to Gaboriault on June 16 and again on June 17. Also on June 17, the resident
reported the assault to James. According to the complaint, Charlesgate continued to employ
Olowoporoku even after the resident had informed several Charlesgate employees of his alleged
misconduct.
In an affidavit, the administrator of the resident’s estate stated that his grandmother
received a call from Charlesgate on June 18, 2009, notifying her of the alleged sexual assault of
his mother. Thereafter, he went to Charlesgate on June 18 at which time he “insisted” that
Charlesgate “immediately report the incident to the police department.” The same day a rape kit
was administered to the resident at Women and Infants Hospital. The estate alleges that, after
the assault but prior to the administration of the rape kit, the resident was given at least three bed
baths and one shower at Charlesgate. The estate asserts in its complaint that the “results of the
rape kit administered on June 18, 2009 revealed bruising, a laceration, excoriation, and trauma or
penetration to the vaginal area.”
In addition to these factual allegations, the estate’s complaint contained six counts,
including: negligence against Charlesgate (count 1), Davenport Associates (count 2), Davenport
(count 3), Gaboriault (count 5), and James (count 6); and assault and battery against
Olowoporoku (count 4). With regard to the negligence counts, the complaint set forth specific
allegations against the Charlesgate defendants, including the failure: to properly supervise, train,
or screen its employees; to provide proper security measures; to report that a resident had been
abused or mistreated within twenty-four hours in accordance with G.L. 1956 § 23-17.8-2; 4 and to
4
General Laws 1956 § 23-17.8-2 provides, in pertinent part, that:
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discipline its employees following the alleged sexual assault. As a direct and proximate result of
this alleged negligence, the estate claims that the resident suffered “severe personal injuries,
shock and injury to her nervous system, extreme pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of
capacity for the enjoyment of life, humiliation, embarrassment, severe emotional distress, and
was otherwise injured and damaged.”
After receiving notice of the estate’s complaint, the JUA issued a reservation of rights
letter and initiated an investigation to determine whether it had a duty to defend the Charlesgate
defendants under the policy. After conducting its review, the JUA concluded that: “no defense
coverage is afforded to Charlesgate or the other insureds referenced above as to the [estate’s
complaint] and, thus, at this juncture, no indemnity coverage under either HPL or the CGL
insurance coverage afforded by the JUA.” In reaching this conclusion, the JUA reasoned that (1)
the alleged sexual assault did not constitute a “medical incident” within the ambit of HPL
coverage, and (2) the alleged sexual assault “cannot be construed as an accident under any
definition” and therefore is not an “occurrence” within the meaning of the CGL insurance
coverage.
Subsequently, the JUA filed the instant declaratory-judgment action in Superior Court
seeking a declaration that it has no duty to defend the Charlesgate defendants against the
“(a) Any physician, medical intern, registered nurse,
licensed practical nurse, nurse’s aide, orderly, certified nursing
assistant * * * or any person, within the scope of their employment
at a facility or in their professional capacity, who has knowledge of
or reasonable cause to believe that a patient or resident in a facility
has been abused, mistreated, or neglected shall make, within
twenty-four (24) hours or by the end of the next business day, a
telephone report to the director of the department of health or his
or her designee for those incidents involving health care facilities
* * *.”
-4-
allegations set forth in the estate’s complaint. 5 The Charlesgate defendants responded by filing a
two-count counterclaim. In the first count, they requested a declaratory judgment establishing
that the JUA has a duty to defend each of the Charlesgate defendants in the action by the estate.
In the second count, they sought damages for the JUA’s alleged breach of contract based on its
refusal to defend the Charlesgate defendants in the suit.
In January 2013, the JUA filed a motion for summary judgment in its declaratory-
judgment action. In February 2013, the Charlesgate defendants filed an objection along with a
cross-motion for summary judgment with regard to the first count of their counterclaim
requesting the declaratory judgment. 6 A hearing on the parties’ cross-motions for summary
judgment occurred in the Superior Court on May 14, 2013. On May 17, 2013, an order was
entered denying the JUA’s motion for summary judgment and granting the Charlesgate
defendants’ cross-motion for summary judgment with respect to the declaratory-judgment count
of their counterclaim. The order specified that the JUA owed a duty to defend Charlesgate,
Davenport Associates, Davenport, Gaboriault, and James against the claims alleged in counts 2,
3, 5, and 6 of the estate’s complaint. The JUA filed a motion, which was joined by the
Charlesgate defendants, requesting an entry of final judgment in accordance with Rule 54(b) of
the Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure. This motion was granted and subsequently a Rule
54(b) judgment was entered. 7 On July 31, 2013, the JUA filed a timely notice of appeal.
5
The estate was also named as a defendant in the declaratory-judgment action.
6
Specifically, count 1 of the Charlesgate defendants’ counterclaim requested a declaration that
the JUA is contractually obligated to defend each of said defendants based on the allegations in
counts 2, 3, 5, and 6 of the estate’s complaint.
7
After the entry of the judgment pursuant to Rule 54(b) of the Superior Court Rules of Civil
Procedure, the sole count remaining in the declaratory-judgment action is the breach-of-contract
claim, which is the second count of the Charlesgate defendants’ counterclaim.
-5-
II
Standard of Review
This Court examines an appeal from cross-motions for summary judgment de novo.
Quest Diagnostics, LLC v. Pinnacle Consortium of Higher Education, 93 A.3d 949, 951 (R.I.
2014). “In reviewing the Superior Court’s judgment on the parties’ motions for summary
judgment, we * * * apply the same standards as those used by the trial court.” Id. (quoting
Peloquin v. Haven Health Center of Greenville, LLC, 61 A.3d 419, 424 (R.I. 2013)). “Thus,
[s]ummary judgment is appropriate when, viewing the facts and all reasonable inferences
therefrom in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, the [C]ourt determines that there
are no issues of material fact in dispute, and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter
of law.” Id. (quoting Peloquin, 61 A.3d at 424-25).
“An insurance policy is contractual in nature[.]” Derderian v. Essex Insurance Co., 44
A.3d 122, 127 (R.I. 2012) (quoting Papudesu v. Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting
Association of Rhode Island, 18 A.3d 495, 498 (R.I. 2011)). Accordingly, when interpreting the
disputed terms of an insurance policy, we must do so in accordance with the rules of construction
that govern contracts. Nunez v. Merrimack Mutual Fire Insurance Co., 88 A.3d 1146, 1149 (R.I.
2014). “It is well-settled that this Court shall not depart from the literal language of the policy
absent a finding that the policy is ambiguous.” Id. (quoting Koziol v. Peerless Insurance Co., 41
A.3d 647, 650 (R.I. 2012)).
In order to determine whether the terms of a policy are ambiguous, “we give words their
plain, ordinary, and usual meaning.” Derderian, 44 A.3d at 128 (quoting Bliss Mine Road
Condominium Association v. Nationwide Property and Casualty Insurance Co., 11 A.3d 1078,
1083 (R.I. 2010)). “The Court considers the policy in its entirety and does not establish
-6-
ambiguity by viewing a word in isolation or by taking a phrase out of context.” Id. (quoting Bliss
Mine Road Condominium Association, 11 A.3d at 1083). When a policy term is found to be
ambiguous, this Court has clearly established that “the policy will be strictly construed in favor
of the insured and against the insurer.” Id. at 127 (quoting Sjogren v. Metropolitan Property and
Casualty Insurance Co., 703 A.2d 608, 610 (R.I. 1997)). “Indeed, as this Court often has said, we
shall ‘refrain from engaging in mental gymnastics or from stretching the imagination to read
ambiguity into a policy where none is present.’” Koziol, 41 A.3d at 651 (quoting Bliss Mine
Road Condominium Association, 11 A.3d at 1083).
III
Discussion
The precise language of the JUA policy lies at the heart of this appeal. As such, all three
parties’ arguments center on core terms in the CGL and HPL coverage forms of the JUA policy.
On appeal, the JUA argues that the language set forth in the estate’s complaint does not trigger
HPL coverage under the policy because there was no “medical incident” alleged. 8 With regard
to CGL coverage, the JUA avers that the sexual assault alleged in the complaint does not
constitute an “occurrence,” which is defined in the policy as an “accident.”
The Charlesgate defendants counter that the alleged negligence claims against them are
indeed an “occurrence” under the terms of the CGL coverage in the policy. In addition, the
Charlesgate defendants argue that neither the sexual act nor the criminal act exclusion applies
8
We do not address the arguments with respect to potential HPL coverage under the JUA policy
because the Charlesgate defendants, as the insured parties under the JUA policy, do not contend
that they are entitled to HPL coverage under the terms of the policy. Nevertheless, we are
mindful that the estate, for its part, argues that the complaint triggers HPL coverage under the
“pleadings test” because it alleged a “medical incident” as defined by the JUA policy.
-7-
because none of these defendants are alleged to have committed sexual or criminal acts. 9 In
terms of CGL coverage, the estate largely mirrors the argument of the Charlesgate defendants in
that the language in the complaint does allege an “occurrence,” as defined in the JUA policy,
based on the proximate cause of the injuries alleged. Finally, the estate asserts that the HPL and
CGL coverage exclusions for criminal and sexual acts are not applicable in this case.
It is well settled in Rhode Island that the “pleadings test” is applied in order to ascertain
whether an insurer has a duty to defend an insured. Peerless Insurance Co. v. Viegas, 667 A.2d
785, 787 (R.I. 1995). “That test requires the trial court to look at the allegations contained in the
complaint, and ‘if the pleadings recite facts bringing the injury complained of within the
coverage of the insurance policy, the insurer must defend irrespective of the insured’s ultimate
liability to the plaintiff.’” Id. (quoting The Employers’ Fire Insurance Co. v. Beals, 103 R.I. 623,
632, 240 A.2d 397, 402 (1968), abrogated by Peerless Insurance Co., 667 A.2d at 789 on other
grounds). Moreover, in Peerless Insurance Co., we recognized that, although the blind
application of the “pleadings test” may lead an insurer to defend an insured against “‘groundless,
false or fraudulent’ suits,” the insurer is nevertheless bound to do so. See id. (quoting Beals, 103
R.I at 631, 240 A.2d at 402). “[I]n other words, when a complaint contains a statement of facts
which bring the case within or potentially within the risk coverage of the policy, the insurer has
an unequivocal duty to defend.” Beals, 103 R.I. at 632, 240 A.2d at 403.
In its arguments, the JUA urges this Court to treat all the facts alleged in the complaint as
averring only “a violent, intentional sexual assault.” We decline to take such a narrow view of
9
We note that we need not address the arguments made by the Charlesgate defendants with
regard to the sexual and criminal act exclusions in the JUA policy. Although the JUA raised this
argument in its prebriefing statement, it did not raise the argument in its full brief before this
Court. In fact, the JUA explicitly acknowledged in its reply brief that it was not raising any
argument that the “sexual or criminal act exclusions of the CGL policy apply.” This was
confirmed by counsel for the JUA at oral argument.
-8-
the facts alleged. The complaint also includes independent factual allegations offered in support
of the claims of negligence on the part of the Charlesgate defendants. Furthermore, the
Charlesgate defendants are the insureds seeking coverage under the JUA policy, not
Olowoporoku who allegedly raped the resident in her room. As such, there are no allegations of
intentional or sexual activity on the part of the Charlesgate defendants set forth in the complaint.
Accordingly, in reviewing the complaint alongside the JUA policy, we focus our attention on the
factual allegations of negligence with regard to each of the respective Charlesgate defendants.
Under well-settled Rhode Island law, “[w]e confine our analysis to the four corners of the policy,
viewing it ‘in its entirety, affording its terms their plain, ordinary and usual meaning.’” Allstate
Insurance Co. v. Ahlquist, 59 A.3d 95, 98 (R.I. 2013) (quoting Casco Indemnity Co. v.
Gonsalves, 839 A.2d 546, 548 (R.I. 2004)). We begin our analysis by examining the contractual
language of the policy.
The CGL coverage is afforded to the Charlesgate defendants under an endorsement to the
JUA policy. The cornerstone of the CGL policy is the term “occurrence.” 10 The policy offers
coverage to Charlesgate only for the risks of “bodily injury” or “property damage” that are
caused by an “occurrence.” The terms of this coverage are set forth in the policy as follows:
“SECTION I – COVERAGES
“COVERAGE A – BODILY INJURY AND PROPERTY
DAMAGE LIABILITY
“1. Insuring Agreement
10
Black’s Law Dictionary defines “occurrence-based liability insurance,” such as the CGL
coverage in the JUA policy, as “[i]nsurance that covers bodily injuries or property damage
suffered during the policy period. Each instance of injury or damage is an ‘occurrence’ that may
trigger an insured’s entitlement to benefits. The terms of occurrence-based liability insurance
policies are usu[ally] broad, limited only by specific exclusion.” Black’s Law Dictionary 924
(10th ed. 2014) (emphasis added).
-9-
“a. We will pay those sums that the insured becomes
legally obligated to pay as damages because of ‘bodily
injury’ or ‘property damage’ to which this insurance
applies.
“* * *
“b. This insurance applies to ‘bodily injury’ and ‘property
damage’ only if:
“(1) The ‘bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ is caused by
an ‘occurrence’ that takes place in the ‘coverage
territory’[.]”
The “Definitions” section of the policy defines “bodily injury” as “bodily injury, sickness or
disease sustained by a person, including death resulting from any of these at any time.” It also
defines “occurrence” to mean “an accident, including continuous or repeated exposure to
substantially the same general harmful conditions.”
The issue of whether the JUA owes the Charlesgate defendants a duty to defend them in
the estate’s underlying suit hinges on whether the facts alleged in the estate’s complaint
constitute an “occurrence” to which CGL coverage potentially applies. By defining an
“occurrence” as an “accident,” the policy’s definition offers little guidance on this inquiry
because the word “accident” is not defined in the policy. Black’s Law Dictionary defines
“occurrence” as “[s]omething that happens or takes place; specif[ically], an accident, event, or
continuing condition that results in personal injury or property damage that is neither expected
nor intended from the standpoint of the insured party. This specific sense is the standard
definition of the term under most liability policies.” Black’s Law Dictionary 1248 (10th ed.
2014) (emphasis added). The legal term “accident” is also defined in Black’s Law Dictionary, as
“[a]n unintended and unforeseen injurious occurrence; something that does not occur in the usual
course of events or that could not be reasonably anticipated; any unwanted or harmful event
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occurring suddenly, as a collision, spill, fall, or the like, irrespective of cause or blame * * *.”
Black’s Law Dictionary at 18.
The plain and ordinary meaning of the term “accident” as “an unintended and unforeseen
injurious occurrence” invites the threshold question of from whose perspective is the unforeseen
occurrence to be assessed. The Charlesgate defendants argue that an “accident” must be defined
from the viewpoint of the insured. The hearing justice was also persuaded that the term
“accident” should be interpreted from “the perspective of the insureds.” Rhode Island law
dictates that “[t]he test to be applied is not what the insurer intended * * *, but what the ordinary
reader and purchaser would have understood [the language] to mean.” Ahlquist, 59 A.3d at 98
(quoting Pressman v. Aetna Casualty and Surety Co., 574 A.2d 757, 760 (R.I. 1990)). Moreover,
the Black’s Law Dictionary definition of “occurrence” similarly provides that this term is often
defined or interpreted from the standpoint of the insured party in the context of insurance
policies. Here, Charlesgate purchased an insurance policy from the JUA to secure CGL
coverage against certain risks delineated under the terms of its policy. From the viewpoint of
Charlesgate, the sequence of events that allegedly took place in June 2009 appears to be both
unexpected and unforeseen. It was surely not the usual course of events when an employee,
whom Charlesgate hired, supervised, and trained, was later alleged to have sexually assaulted
one of its patients.
The JUA principally focuses on the intentional character of the alleged sexual assault to
substantiate its position that the factual allegations set forth in the estate’s complaint do not
constitute an “accident.” In support of this position, the JUA relies chiefly on three Rhode Island
cases in which there was alleged intentional sexual misconduct and, ultimately, no duty to defend
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on the part of the insurer. We observe that the factual allegations and policy language at issue in
the instant matter distinguish it from these cases.
Moreover, in our opinion, two of the three cases, Craven v. Metropolitan Property and
Casualty Insurance Co., 693 A.2d 1022 (R.I. 1997) (mem.) and Sanzi v. Shetty, 864 A.2d 614
(R.I. 2005), are inapposite. In Craven, 693 A.2d at 1022, the named insured in a homeowner’s
policy sought a declaratory judgment that his insurer was required to defend him against claims
of sexual assault and negligent infliction of emotional distress. This Court, however, determined
that the insurer had no duty to defend because allegations of intentional sexual misconduct did
not fall within the risks covered by the insured’s policy. Id. at 1023. Similarly, in Sanzi, 864
A.2d at 615-16, a pediatric neurologist and named insured sought a declaration that his insurer
had a duty to defend him against claims by a former patient of alleged intentional sexual assault.
This Court held that the insurer had no obligation to defend the doctor because the allegations of
intentional sexual abuse did not fall within the “professional services” coverage of the doctor’s
professional liability policy. Id. at 619-20. Both of these cases present factual scenarios with a
notable distinction from the present matter in that it was the individual insureds who personally
faced allegations of intentional sexual misconduct. Ultimately, it was the intentional character of
the insureds’ actions that fell outside the covered risks in those respective policies. On the
contrary, the Charlesgate defendants are not facing any allegations of intentional sexual
misconduct, but rather only alleged negligence with regard to supervising, hiring, and training an
employee, among other claims.
The JUA also relies on American Commerce Insurance Co. v. Porto, 811 A.2d 1185 (R.I.
2002), in support of its argument that the allegations of negligence—negligent hiring, training,
and supervision, among others—in the complaint against the Charlesgate defendants do not
- 12 -
constitute an “accident” and therefore not an “occurrence” under the policy. The facts in Porto
bear a striking resemblance to those in the present case in that the insured, Sebastian M. Porto, a
Boy Scouts of America (BSA) troop leader, held a supervisory position over another troop leader
who allegedly sexually assaulted a minor troop member. Porto, 811 A.2d at 1188-89. In that
case, the minor victim and his parents advanced allegations in their complaint against Porto and
the BSA for negligent hiring and supervision, separate and apart from their allegations of
intentional sexual assault against the troop leader. Id.
Notwithstanding these factual similarities, the policy language at issue in Porto is quite
different from the term at issue in the present case. The analysis in Porto centered on the
“arising out of” policy language that delineated those bodily injuries covered and those excluded
under the policy. Porto, 811 A.2d at 1197. This Court in Porto interpreted the “arising out of”
language of a policy exclusion broadly and concluded that all of the allegations in the family’s
complaint have “a causal connection with, and thus arise out of” the troop leader’s sexual
misconduct. Id. Accordingly, in Porto, we affirmed summary judgment in favor of the insurer,
concluding that it owed no duty to defend its insured. Id. at 1201-02.
At the summary-judgment hearing in the present case, the hearing justice declared the
Porto case as “significant in the analysis of this matter” but nevertheless proceeded to distinguish
the present matter from the result we reached in that case. In doing so, he reasoned that:
“in Porto the Supreme Court said that one of the distinguishing
factors [in that case] was that there were no discrete injuries
alleged in the family’s complaint that ar[o]se solely out of Porto’s
alleged negligence.
“That’s simply not the case here. The allegations in th[is]
case are not only creative, but there are factual allegations that are
made in the complaint by the plaintiffs that Charlesgate and its
employees acted in a particular way or failed to act in a particular
way that added to the injuries caused by the CNA who committed
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the sexual act. So it may be that Charlesgate is not responsible for
damages as great as the CNA, but there’s certainly a decision to be
made there.”
We agree with the hearing justice in this regard. 11 Furthermore, we emphasize that, in
Porto, this Court examined the language of a policy exclusion specifically related to sexual
molestation. Porto, 811 A.2d at 1197. In contrast, here we are confronted with the core policy
coverage terms “accident” and “occurrence.” Therefore, we need not evaluate the estate’s claims
of negligent hiring and supervision in the context of a policy exclusion for sexual molestation.
Moreover, the JUA has made it clear that, although the policy includes sexual and criminal act
exclusions, it is not arguing on appeal that either of these exclusions in the CGL policy applies.
On balance, we find that the JUA’s resolute reliance on our Porto analysis in the context of a
policy exclusion is misplaced. As such, this case presents us with a novel inquiry distinct from
this Rhode Island precedent.
The hearing justice declined to adopt the JUA’s narrow reading of “occurrence” within
the policy, which he dismissed as “somewhat restrictive.” Conversely, the hearing justice was
persuaded that the term “accident” should not only be interpreted from the perspective of the
insured party, but also that it should be interpreted more broadly than the JUA suggests. We
agree. This Court does not consider the subjective intent of the parties, but rather “the intent
expressed by the language of the contract.” Derderian, 44 A.3d at 128 (quoting Bliss Mine Road
Condominium Association, 11 A.3d at 1083-84). In accordance with this principle, we consider
11
In discussing complaints drafted with both intentional and negligent allegations, we are
mindful of the potential for “creative” pleadings without an appropriate factual predicate. We
pause to note our concern with opening the door to such a disfavored practice. This Court
echoes the point made by the hearing justice that the factual allegations set forth in the estate’s
complaint are more than merely “creative.” In the instant matter, the complaint includes not only
allegations of negligence with regard to the Charlesgate defendants, but also facts alleged in
support of those negligence claims.
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the term “accident” in the context of the policy as a whole. See id. In essence, the various
arguments asserted by the JUA contend that, because of the intentional nature of the alleged
sexual assault by a Charlesgate employee, there was no “accident” and therefore no “occurrence”
under the policy. We are of the opinion that those arguments ignore other provisions—the
sexual act and intended-injury exclusions 12—in the policy.
If we adopted the JUA’s narrow reading of “accident,” then that reading would obviate
the need for some exclusions included in the policy. The intended-injury and sexual act
exclusions would serve no purpose if all intended injuries and injuries arising out of sexual acts
were excluded in the first instance by the terms of the policy itself. See King v. Dallas Fire
Insurance Co., 85 S.W.3d 185, 186, 192-93 (Tex. 2002). The JUA is effectively advocating for
this result by claiming that the factual allegations of negligence in the estate’s complaint do not
constitute an “accident.” This interpretation of the policy language would render both exclusions
mere surplusage. We decline to endorse such a reading of the term “accident” within the context
of the JUA policy.
We are satisfied that the JUA has a duty to defend the Charlesgate defendants against the
allegations of negligence set forth in the complaint. This Court has articulated a clear mandate
12
The pertinent provisions in the JUA policy provide that:
“2. Exclusions
“This insurance does not apply to:
“a. Expected Or Intended Injury
“‘Bodily Injury’ or ‘property damage’ expected or intended from
the standpoint of the Insured. This exclusion does not apply to
‘bodily injury’ resulting from the use of reasonable force to protect
persons or property.
“* * *
“r. Sexual Acts
“‘Bodily Injury’ arising out of sexual activity, sexual misconduct,
sexual abuse or sexual harassment by the Insured or any person for
whom the Insured is legally responsible.”
- 15 -
that “any doubts as to the adequacy of the pleadings to encompass an occurrence within the
coverage of the policy are resolved against the insurer and in favor of its insured.” Beals, 103
R.I. at 632, 240 A.2d at 403. Furthermore, the “pleadings test” establishes an unequivocal duty
to defend on the part of the JUA when the complaint in the underlying action contains factual
allegations that bring the case “within or potentially within the risk coverage of the policy.” Id.
Accordingly, we affirm both the hearing justice’s grant of summary judgment in favor of the
Charlesgate defendants and the denial of the JUA’s motion for summary judgment with regard to
the declaratory-judgment count of the Charlesgate defendants’ counterclaim.
IV
Conclusion
For the reasons stated herein, we affirm the judgment of the Superior Court. The record
of this case shall be returned to the Superior Court.
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RHODE ISLAND SUPREME COURT CLERK’S OFFICE
Clerk’s Office Order/Opinion Cover Sheet
TITLE OF CASE: Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting Association of Rhode
Island v. Charlesgate Nursing Center, L.P., et al.
CASE NO: No. 2013-359-Appeal.
(PC 12-5088)
COURT: Supreme Court
DATE OPINION FILED: June 5, 2015
JUSTICES: Suttell, C.J., Goldberg, Flaherty, Robinson, and Indeglia, JJ.
WRITTEN BY: Chief Justice Paul A. Suttell
SOURCE OF APPEAL: Providence County Superior Court
JUDGE FROM LOWER COURT:
Associate Justice Luis M. Matos
ATTORNEYS ON APPEAL:
For Plaintiff: David P. Whitman, Esq.
For Defendants: Erica M. O’Connell, Esq.
Mitchell R. Edwards, Esq.