Justia Federal District Court Opinions

This appeal involves a dispute between two insurance carriers over which one is liable for damages arising from a hunting accident. The accident occurred when a shotgun being held by James Bergerud, Jr., an insured under a farm liability policy issued by Farm Bureau, discharged and injured another member of a deer hunting party. At the time of the accident, the hunting party was in the box of a pickup truck operated by Gary Jacobson, an insured under an automobile liability policy issued by Crum & Forster. The injured hunter filed suit against both Bergerud and Jacobson. A settlement was negotiated, with Farm Bureau paying its policy limits of $25,000, and Crum & Forster contributing $5,000.

Farm Bureau then filed suit for indemnity against Crum & Forster. The facts were stipulated. The District Court,* applying Minnesota law, concluded that the hunting accident had not arisen out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of the motor vehicle insured by Crum & Forster, and judgment was entered dismissing the complaint. This appeal followed.

The judgment is affirmed on the basis of Judge Devitt's well-reasoned opinion. See 8th Cir. Rule 14.

Affirmed.