Read PENN-AM. INS. CO. v. COFFEY, 03-1137

Action seeking a declaratory judgment that plaintiff had no duty to defend or indemnify its insured was improperly dismissed. Exercising jurisdiction here would not require the district court to become entangled in the tort issues that must be decided in resolving the underlying, state law tort claims.

Appellate Information

• Decided 05/20/2004
• Published 05/20/2004

Judges

• Before NIEMEYER and MICHAEL, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:Geoffrey Martin Bohn, Cunningham & Associates, Arlington, Virginia, for Appellant.  Richard Cunningham, Appellate Litigation Clinic, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C., for Appellees.   ON BRIEF:Steven H. Goldblatt, Director, Cary Berkeley Kaye, Supervising Attorney, James M. Sullivan, Appellate Litigation Clinic, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C., for Appellees.