CRUG Prevails on Lack of Coverage for Murder Alleged to be “Negligent”
In Estate of Azbell v. Estate of Guillereault, Ohio’s Ninth Appellate District affirmed summary judgment in favor of State Farm, finding no duty to provide coverage in a tragic domestic incident. The case involved a fatal shooting where the insured shot his girlfriend before attempting to assault her daughter and taking his own life. The court ruled the shooting was intentional, not accidental, thus falling outside policy coverage. Key evidence showed the shooter admitted to firing during “a disagreement that got out of control” which forensics indicated was at point-blank range.
Evan Palik and David Lester of CRUG handled the case for State Farm.
A copy of the decision can be found at https://www.supremecourt.
(L-R) Evan Palik and David Lester
