AETNA CASUALTY AND SURETY COMPANY v. SMITH, 81 Or. App. 384 (1986)


725 P.2d 611

AETNA CASUALTY AND SURETY COMPANY, Appellant — Cross-Respondent, v. SMITH, dba S K Painting, Respondent — Cross-Appellant.

A8406-03606; CA A34398Oregon Court of Appeals.Argued and submitted November 20, 1985
Reversed and remanded on appeal, affirmed on cross-appeal September 10, 1986

Appeal from Circuit Court, Multnomah County.

Charles S. Crookham, Judge.

Mildred J. Carmack, Portland argued the cause for appellant — cross-respondent. With her on the briefs were Thomas V. Dulcich and Schwabe, Williamson, Wyatt, Moore Roberts, Portland.

Charles F. Adams, Portland, argued the cause for respondent — cross-appellant. With him on the brief were Stephen Simms and Stoel, Rives, Boley, Fraser Wyse, Portland.

Before Richardson, Presiding Judge, and Warden and Newman, Judges.

PER CURIAM

Reversed and remanded on appeal; affirmed on cross-appeal.

Page 385

PER CURIAM

Plaintiff insurer brought this action for a declaration that it had no duty to defend or pay an indemnity claim of Portland General Electric (PGE) against defendant Smith, plaintiff’s insured.[1] Defendant moved against plaintiff’s complaint on the ground that it failed to state ultimate facts constituting a claim, ORCP 21A(8), and, in the alternative, for an order to make more definite and certain. ORCP 21D. The court granted the motion to dismiss, dismissed the complaint “with prejudice and without leave to amend” and ordered entry of final judgment for defendant. ORCP 67B. Plaintiffs appeals.

The court should not have granted defendant’s motion, because it states a justiciable controversy. Reynolds v. State Board of Naturopathic Exam., 80 Or. App. 438, 722 P.2d 739 (1986). On the appeal, we reverse and remand.

Defendant cross-appeals from an order denying him attorney fees. Because of our disposition of the appeal, we affirm on the cross-appeal.

Reversed and remanded on the appeal; affirmed on the cross-appeal.

[1] The named insured was “S K Painting dba Steven R. Smith
Joseph R. Kelley.” Plaintiff’s complaint named “Steven R. Smith and Joseph R. Kelley, dba S K Painting, a partnership, and Portland General Electric, an Oregon corporation,” as defendants. Kelley, however, was never served and has not appeared in this action. We refer to both the partnership and Smith as “defendant.”

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