Hankins v. Pekin Insurance

This is a declaratory judgment action brought by Louis Hankins, doing business as Louie’s Cartage Company (Hankins), against its insurer, Pekin Insurance Company (Pekin), to determine a question of coverage. The circuit court of Effingham County determined, in a judgment on the pleadings, that coverage was provided by the Pekin policy and that Pekin had a duty to defend Hankins against a suit brought against it by Rudolf Express Company (Rudolf).

Hankins operates a trucking terminal in Effingham County. Hankins had entered into an “Independent Cartage Operator Agreement” (Agreement) with…