November 7, 2007
Essex Insurance Co. V. Mercedes Zota
Case Number(s):
SC06-2031

Transcript:

Summary:

Ms. Zota, an interior design artist, was painting a mural inside a home under construction when she fell and was hurt. She sued Lighthouse Intracoastal, Inc., the company that owned the home, and others. Essex, which insured Lighthouse, asked the federal trial court to rule that Ms. Zota's injuries weren't covered under the Lighthouse policy. The court ruled Essex could not deny coverage because it had not delivered the policy directly to Lighthouse. Essex appealed to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, which, in turn, asks this Court to settle five questions about the scope of the relevant Florida law.