Lumbermen's Mutual Casualty Co. v. Keller

In this appeal, we consider whether an insurance company’s motor cargo liability coverage for the “death or destruction” of livestock also included coverage for their damage.

On September 1, 1990, Wayne G. Shifflett, a Virginia cattle dealer, sold an Iowa farmer 83 “mixed steers” that Shifflett had just bought at a livestock auction market in West Virginia. Shifflett sold the steers as “feeder cattle,” which are young cattle bought to be fattened for sale several months later.

Michael S. Keller, a livestock trucker, agreed to haul the cattle to Iowa. During the trip, Keller’s truck overturned…