A state of Maryland appeals court decided Tuesday that Chartis Property Casualty Co. insurance company will not be held responsible to pay out a policy on George Huguely V, should he lose a pending wrongful death suit.
The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Maryland, upheld a federal judge’s 2017 decision that Chartis Property Casualty Co., a holding company of AIG, does not have to pay the $6 million insurance policy.
Huguely, a University of Virginia lacrosse player, was found guilty back in 2012 of second-degree murder in the slaying of Yeardley Love, his former girlfriend. Love, also a University of Virginia lacrosse player, was found dead in her apartment in May 2010, weeks before she was to graduate.
The decision decreases damages available to Sharon Love, who is pursuing a $29.45 million wrongful death suit in the murder of her daughter.
According to the court’s unpublished opinion, George Huguely sought coverage from Chartis as part of two policies held by his mother. After he was convicted, Chartis Property asserted it could deny Huguely coverage because, in their opinion, he did not cooperate in the company’s investigation after the murder, and because its policies exclude coverage for liabilities arising from criminal actions.
A federal judge agreed with that decision, but did say in 2017 that State Farm Insurance, from a separate policy, was responsible for a $300,000 policy, because it had a different definition of intent.
Sharon Love appealed that judge’s decision. According to court documents, Love argued that because Huguely may have been too intoxicated from alcohol to intend a criminal act when he killed Yeardley Love, Chartis’ policy should still apply. However, the appeals court rejected that argument, saying Chartis’ policy denied coverage after both intentional and unintentional criminal acts.
Love’s lawyers in the appeal and the civil suit could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening. Stacey Moffett, who argued on behalf of Chartis, said she does not comment on cases and that the decision speaks for itself.
A three-week jury trial in the wrongful death suit is set to begin in July in Charlottesville Circuit Court.
