Schedule a Consultation | Toll Free: 1-800-678-1307
Trial lawyers specializing in personal injury and civil litigation

Mini-mart owner has no insurance coverage for shooting man vandalizing his parking lot

Elias Chammas kicked a patron out of his convenience store after identifying him on security tape as having accompanied another man who stole a case of beer.  The would-be patron complained to his brother, who returned to confront Chammas and created a verbal altercation.  After he was kicked out, he began slinging around packing crates, and Chammas fired two shots with a handgun.  Both struck the brother, who then sued Chammas in a civil action.  Chammas sought coverage through his commercial liability carrier, Auto-Owners subsidiary Home-Owners Insurance Company.  The Court dismissed Chammas' claim because his intentional act of shooting--even if he didn't think he'd hit the vandal--was not an "occurrence" or an "accident" under the liability coverage.

Thompson O’Neil, P.C.
309 East Front Street
Traverse City, Michigan 49684
Toll Free: 1-800-678-1307
Fax: 231-929-7262