Coverage Denied Under Homeowner's Insurance Policy Because Acts That Resulted from Mental Illness Considered "Intentional" Acts; Ruling Not Disturbed

Hastings Mut. Ins. Co. v. Rundell, No. 238549, 2003 WL 21508515 (Mich. Ct. App. July 1, 2003), cert. denied, 126 S. Ct. 372 (2005)

For no apparent reason, a married couple's son shot a woman outside a health care facility.  They and their son, who lived with them, were sued by the shooting victim.  They attempted to rely on their homeowners' insurance policy to cover damages that might be awarded to the shooting victim.  The insurance company responded that the policy did not apply because it specifically excluded intentional acts from coverage.  The family argued the policy did apply because their son suffered from schizophrenia at the time and their son's actions were not intentional...

Found in DMHL Volume 25 Issue 1