Coverage and Liability Issues in Sexual Misconduct Claims
Coverage and Liability Issues in Sexual Misconduct Claims
Coverage and Liability Issues in Sexual Misconduct Claims
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CONNECTICUT<strong>Coverage</strong> Trigger & Number ofOccurrencesIntentional Acts ExclusionsPerpetrator:Not addressed <strong>in</strong> sexual misconduct sett<strong>in</strong>g.Courts recognize an <strong>in</strong>ferred <strong>in</strong>tent to harm when adults sexuallyassault children. Colonial Penn Ins. Co. v. Dimitriadis, 2003 WL22904286 (Conn. Super. Nov. 14, 2003); Atlantic Mut. Ins. Co. v. Pope,2001 WL 861829 (Conn. Super. June 28, 2001).A 15-year-old abuser was old enough to realize <strong>and</strong> appreciate theconsequences of his actions <strong>and</strong> thus <strong>in</strong>tend to cause harm to hisvictim. Covenant Ins. Co. v. Sloat, 2003 WL 21299384 (Conn. Super.May 25, 2003).An <strong>in</strong>sured can rebut the presumption of <strong>in</strong>tentional misconduct byproduc<strong>in</strong>g evidence of a mental disease or illness. Mount Vernon FireIns. v. Morris, 2004 WL 1730133 (Conn. Super. July 1, 2004).Non-perpetrator:<strong>Sexual</strong> <strong>Misconduct</strong> ExclusionsStatute of LimitationsNot addressed <strong>in</strong> sexual misconduct sett<strong>in</strong>g.Abuse <strong>and</strong> molestation exclusion precluded coverage for pre-school<strong>in</strong> suit aris<strong>in</strong>g out of molestation of female student by three m<strong>in</strong>or malestudents. Cmty. Action for Greater Middlesex County, Inc. v. Am.Alliance Ins. Co., 757 A.2d 1074 (Conn. 2000). A sexual misconductexclusion was upheld <strong>in</strong> connection with negligence claims aga<strong>in</strong>sta day care for an employee’s sexual abuse of a m<strong>in</strong>or child. MountVernon Fire Ins. v. Morris, 2004 WL 1730133 (Conn. Super. July 1,2004). See also Covenant Ins. Co. v. Sloat, 2003 WL 21299384(Conn. Super. May 25, 2003); Electric Ins. v. Castrov<strong>in</strong>ci, 2003 WL23109149 (D. Conn. Dec. 10, 2003); Middlesex Mut. Assur. Co., 2003WL 22234621 (Conn. Super. Sept. 16, 2003).Tort actions shall be brought with<strong>in</strong> three years from the date of the actor omission compla<strong>in</strong>ed of. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577.Actions to recover damages for personal <strong>in</strong>jury to a m<strong>in</strong>or, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>gemotional distress, caused by sexual abuse, sexual exploitation orsexual assault, may be brought seventeen years from the date suchperson atta<strong>in</strong>s the age of majority. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577d (2001);Cf. Nutt v. Norwich Roman Catholic Diocese, 56 F. Supp. 2d 195 (D.Conn. 1999) (Three-year statute applies to claims based on conduct,<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g sexual abuse, occurr<strong>in</strong>g after claimant has atta<strong>in</strong>ed the ageof majority).§ 52-577d applies to all claims for personal <strong>in</strong>jury to a m<strong>in</strong>or caused bysexual abuse, not just claims aga<strong>in</strong>st perpetrators. Todd M. v. RichardL., 696 A.2d 1063 (Conn. Super. Ct. 1995); Doe v. Indian Mounta<strong>in</strong>School, 921 F. Supp. 82 (D. Conn. 1995); Nutt v. Norwich RomanCatholic Diocese, 921 F. Supp. 66 (D. Conn. 1995). The Connecticutfraudulent concealment toll<strong>in</strong>g statute applies to claims governed bythe sexual assault statute of limitations. Mart<strong>in</strong>elli v. Bridgeport RomanCatholic Diocesan Corp., 196 F.3d 409 (2nd Cir. 1999) (30-year delay<strong>in</strong> br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g suit).Report<strong>in</strong>g LawsConn. Gen. Stat. §17a-101 et. seq.– 10 –