Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance v. Pipher

OPINION OF THE COURT

ROSENN, Circuit Judge.

This appeal presents an important question pertaining to the meaning of the term “occurrence” as used in a liability insurance policy. Specifically, it raises the issue whether bodily injury or death, directly caused by the intentional act of a third party but also attributable to the negligence of the policyholder-insured, constitutes an “occurrence,” and thus obligates an insurer to defend, and potentially indemnify, its insured for the insured’s alleged negligence. The insurer in this ease, Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Columbus, Ohio…