Pekin sought a declaration that it did not have a duty to defend a property owner who was named as an additional insured on a policy issued to a contractor. A contractor’s employee was injured and filed suit against the property owner alleging various acts of negligence. The owner tendered its defense to Pekin which denied coverage because the allegations of the complaint alleged independent negligence rather than vicarious liability. Pekin then filed a declaratory judgment action asserting no coverage because the policy provided the owner would be "covered only with respect to vicarious liability…" The trial court entered summary judgment for Pekin.

The Third District affirmed. The underlying complaint alleged solely direct negligence of the owner regarding the construction and operation of the area where the worker was injured. Therefore, the trial court properly found the language of the insurance policy did not include coverage for direct negligence. Pekin Ins. Co. v. Illinois Cement Co. LLC, 2016 IL App (3d) 140469.