Stonica v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Company

Andrews, Judge.

Stonica sued Elrod for slander. State Farm, which insured Elrod under a homeowner’s policy, brought a declaratory judgment action against its insured and Stonica, seeking to establish that the policy provided no coverage for the slander claim. Stonica filed a timely answer to the declaratory judgment action, but Elrod did not. The trial court entered an order granting judgment by default to State Farm against Elrod, and declaring that the policy afforded no coverage on the slander claim. Stonica appeals claiming the default judgment against Elrod operated as an erroneous final…