Coakley v. Horace Mann Insurance

Respondent Samuel Coakley, individually and as trustee of a special needs trust for his son Christian Coakley (Coakley), sought a declaratory judgment to determine the existence and amount of excess automobile liability coverage. The circuit court found excess automobile liability coverage existed and awarded Coakley $850,000 in excess insurance benefits from the named insured’s policies. The Court of Appeals affirmed. Coakley v. Horace Mann Ins. Co., 363 S.C. 147, 609 S.E.2d 537 (Ct.App.2005). We granted Horace Mann’s and the Mitchell’s petition for certiorari and now reverse.

FACTS

On August…