The owner of the property where Jack Reid was murdered faces a $5 million wrongful death lawsuit from Reid's family -- and now his insurance company is going to court to make sure it doesn't foot the bill.

Michael Connors owned the Deerfield horse farm where Reid, 57, of Derry was bludgeoned to death in June 2005 by millionaire businessman John "Jay" Brooks and three others.

Now, Connors, 55, wants Vermont Mutual Insurance Co. to provide his defense and insurance coverage for the Reid family lawsuit. But the insurance company has gone to court to fight that.

Connors was never charged in connection with Reid's murder, but he has been a state witness in two defendants' trials, including that of Brooks, his friend and one-time business partner.

Connors testified he didn't know about Brooks' plan to kidnap and kill Reid. He said he gave Brooks and his men access to his property so they could renovate his barn.

Connors was out of town when Reid was lured to his Deerfield property and bludgeoned to death.

Connors' lawyer is claiming the insurance company is liable for any personal injury that occurred there. While the policy has a caveat that says there is no coverage for criminal activity, Connors claims he had no knowledge of the murder.


But Vermont Mutual said Connors can't claim Reid's death was accidental, nor can he win an exception because he claimed to have no knowledge of the murder.

If the judge finds in favor of the insurance company, Connors' personal assets would be open to the family lawsuit.

By his own admission, Connors made between $1.2 million and $1.4 million from the sale of PolyVac, Brooks' medical supply company. Connors was the company's chief operations officer.

Lawyers involved in the wrongful death lawsuit are scheduled to meet with a judge in September. Brooks hoped to settle his portion of the lawsuit for $1 million, according to court documents.

A lawyer for the Reid family said enhanced damages against Brooks would likely surpass $5 million if the matter is taken to trial.

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