JOHN DOE V CITIZENS INSURANCE CO OF AMERICA
Annotate this Case
Download PDF
STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
MOTHER OF JOHN DOE, as Next Friend of
JOHN DOE, Minor,
UNPUBLISHED
January 26, 2010
APPROVED FOR
PUBLICATION
March 23, 2010
9:10 a.m.
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v
No. 288776
Ingham Circuit Court
LC No. 08-000748-CK
CITIZENS INSURANCE COMPANY OF
AMERICA, MICHAEL HAND, a minor, and
RENEE BOYLE,
Defendants-Appellees.
Advance Sheets Version
Before: BANDSTRA, P.J., and SAWYER and OWENS, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Plaintiff, John Doe, a minor, through his mother and best friend, appeals an order of the
circuit court granting summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(8) and (10) in favor of
defendant Citizens Insurance Company of America on plaintiff’s complaint seeking a declaration
that Citizens has a duty to defend and indemnify defendants Michael Hand, a minor, by this
Guardian ad Litem, Thomas Woods, and Renee Boyle on an underlying complaint filed against
Hand and Boyle under a homeowners’ insurance policy issued to Boyle. We affirm.
Plaintiff alleges that in 2006 he, then five years old, was on a public beach in Traverse
City. Hand, then a thirteen-year-old boy residing with Boyle, was taken by Boyle to the same
beach. At some point while Hand and Doe were swimming or playing in the same area, Hand
asked Doe if he had to go to the bathroom. Both then went to the public restroom where, at
Hand’s request, Doe disrobed and submitted to Hand’s performing fellatio on Doe as well as
Doe’s performing fellatio on Hand. Upon leaving the restroom, Doe immediately informed
others of the event and the police were summoned.
Plaintiff instituted an action against Hand and Boyle, alleging negligence and false
imprisonment by Hand and negligent supervision by Boyle. Thereafter, plaintiff filed the instant
-1-
action seeking a determination of Citizens’ obligations regarding the underlying suit.1 The trial
court granted summary disposition on the basis of the “sexual molestation” exclusion in the
insurance policy.
Plaintiff first argues that the term “sexual molestation” is not defined in the policy and
cannot serve as a basis for excluding coverage. We disagree. The insurance policy in this case
does exclude coverage for bodily injury “arising out of sexual molestation,” with the term
“sexual molestation” being undefined in the policy. Where a term is not defined in an insurance
policy, it is to be interpreted in accordance with its “‘commonly used meaning.’” Allstate Ins Co
v McCarn, 466 Mich 277, 280; 645 NW2d 20 (2002). According to Random House Webster’s
College Dictionary (2d ed, 1997), the definition of “molest” includes “to make indecent sexual
advances to” and “to assault sexually.” The conduct that plaintiff alleges that defendant Hand
engaged in clearly and unambiguously falls within this definition. See, also, e.g., American
Commerce Ins Co v Porto, 811 A2d 1185, 1199 (RI, 2002) (the term “sexual molestation”
includes many activities, including oral sexual activity).
Plaintiff additionally argues that the term “sexual molestation” only refers to actions of
an adult committed on a child. But plaintiff only refers us to cases where the molester was, in
fact, an adult. None of these cases, however, held that a molester must be an adult.
Finally, plaintiff’s reliance on Fire Ins Exch v Diehl, 450 Mich 678; 545 NW2d 602
(1996), overruled in part in Wilkie v Auto-Owners Ins Co, 469 Mich 41, 59-63 (2003), is
similarly misplaced. Plaintiff argues that Diehl stands for the proposition that where an action is
based upon a minor’s performing sexual acts on another minor, intent cannot be inferred as a
matter of law. While Diehl, supra at 689-690, did reach such a holding, it did so in analyzing
policy exclusions for intentional injury and for injuries caused from intentional acts that are
reasonably foreseeable. While similar exclusions are found in the insurance policy at issue in
this case, those exclusions are not relevant to this appeal. At issue is a separate exclusion for any
injury “arising out of sexual molestation,” and the language of that exclusion does not require
that there be an intent to injure or that injury be reasonably foreseeable.
The rationale of Diehl is that a child actor, unlike an adult, does not necessarily
understand that sexual activity with a minor may be harmful to the minor. Id. at 691. But that
rationale is relevant only with regard to an exclusion that requires some intent to injure. The
exclusion at issue in the case at bar requires no such intent. That is, whether Hand intended to
injure Doe is irrelevant to the case at bar. The policy excludes coverage for any injury arising
out of sexual molestation, not just intended injuries. Because plaintiff’s complaint clearly
alleges that Doe’s injuries arose out of sexual molestation, the exclusion applies and it applies
without regard to whether Hand intended to injure Doe.
1
It is unclear from plaintiff’s pleadings whether the underlying suit was ever formally tendered
to Citizens to defend Boyle and Hand and whether Citizens formally declined to defend. In any
event, Citizens did file a motion for summary disposition in the instant action arguing that it has
no duty to defend or indemnify and this appeal is focused on that issue.
-2-
Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court properly granted summary disposition in
favor of defendant Citizens.
Affirmed. Defendant Citizens may tax costs.
/s/ Richard A. Bandstra
/s/ David H. Sawyer
/s/ Donald S. Owens
-3-
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.