Standard Mutual Insurance v. Marx

After a fire occurred in a storage unit rented by defendant John Marx, plaintiff Standard Mutual Insurance Company filed a declaratory judgment action to determine its obligations to Marx under a homeowner’s insurance policy. Also named as defendants were M&S Rentals, Inc. (M&S), the owner of the storage facility, and its insurer, Springfield Fire and Casualty Insurance Company (Springfield), which sought to recover from Marx for damage caused to the storage facility. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of plaintiff, finding that the motorcycle which caused the fire was excluded…