Kent Bearden, Appellant v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Company, Appellee

Summary

The Alaska Supreme Court affirmed summary judgment denying homeowners-insurance coverage for injuries arising from Bearden's altercation with Rasmussen. It held that Bearden's no-contest plea to disorderly conduct collaterally estopped him from relitigating the offense's essential elements, including knowing participation and the absence of self-defense, and therefore his conduct was not an accidental occurrence under the policy. The court also rejected public-policy arguments against applying collateral estoppel to insurance coverage.