Legal Memorandum: Recovery under a Automobile Insurance Policy

Issue: Under Virginia law, must an insured provide recovery under an automobile insurance policy where the death or injury of the insured results from an intentional act?

I.       General Virginia Cases

Doe v. Brown, 203 Va. 508, 125 S.E.2d 159 (Va. 1962)

State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Powell, 227 Va. 492, 318 S.E.2d 393 (Va. 1984)

II.        Whether Intentional Conduct Comes Under Term "Accident"

A.        Cases favorable

Alabama Farm Bureau Mut. Cas. Ins. Co., Inc. v. Mitchell, 373 So.2d 1129 (Ala. Civ. App. 1979)

Leatherby Ins. Co. v. Willoughby, 315 So.2d 553, (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1975)

Country Companies v. Bourbon by Bourbon, 122 Ill.App.3d 1061, 462 N.E.2d 526 (Ill. App. Ct. 1984)

Davis v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 264 Or. 547, 507 P.2d 9 (Or. 1973)

Sciascia v. American Ins. Co., 189 N.J.Super. 236, 459 A.2d 1198 (N. J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1983)

Celina Mut. Ins. Co. v. Saylor, 35 Ohio Misc. 81, 301 N.E.2d 721, (Ohio Com. Pl. 1973)

B.        Cases unfavorable

Petersen v. Croft, 447 N.W.2d 903 (Minn. Ct. App. 1989)

McIntosh v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 474 N.W.2d 227 (Minn. Ct. App. 1991), rev. granted (Oct 16, 1991)

Roller v. Stonewall Ins. Co., 115 Wash.2d 679, 801 P.2d 207 (Wash. 1990)

III.       Whether Shooting Arises Out of "Operation" or "Use" of Motor Vehicle

A.        Cases favorable

Fortune Ins. Co. v. […]