No Penalty for Wrong Coverage Decisions
Summary: The Trust owned a building in Galena, Illinois which was leased to an architect and artist. When the Trust sold the real estate, it removed and destroyed artwork and other personal items without the artist’s permission. He filed suit in federal court under multiple theories for wrongfully evicting him without proper notice and the destruction of his personal items without compensating him. After Country Mutual denied duties to defend and indemnify, the Trust filed a declaratory judgment action. The trial court found coverage, but denied plaintiff’s motion for sanctions under Illinois’ vexatious refusal statute. The appellate court affirmed finding Country Mutual had a duty to defend the federal lawsuit under the policy’s personal and advertising injury coverage, but vexatious penalties were properly denied.