Bowditch & Dewey: PI defendant not insured by grandmother’s homeowner’s policy
A woman’s homeowner’s policy did not cover a $300,000 personal injury judgment against her adult grandson who allegedly was financially dependent on her, the Appeals Court has ruled in an unpublished opinion.
The tortfeasor, Steven Martin, lived at a property in Ludlow owned by his grandmother, Elizabeth Martin, for which she paid associated costs. The home was insured by a dwelling policy that covered only injuries sustained on the property.
Plaintiff Allison Metcalfe, who was injured as a result of Steven’s negligence but not on the Ludlow property, sought to have defendant Arbella Mutual Insurance Co., which provided homeowner’s coverage for Elizabeth’s property in East Longmeadow, pay her judgment.
A Superior Court judge ordered that Arbella pay the judgment, ruling that because Steven depended financially on his grandmother, he was considered a resident of her household and thus an insured person entitled to coverage under the Arbella policy.
Read the full story via Mass Lawyers Weekly >> https://masslawyersweekly.com/2026/01/28/appeals-court-homeowners-policy-grandson-coverage-denied/