Liberty University's insurance carrier has no duty to defend the school against kidnapping allegations, a federal appeals court in Virginia has ruled, overturning a lower-court decision.

Liberty in 2013 sued Citizens Insurance Co. for failing to defend the university in a suit brought by a woman named Janet Jenkins. Jenkins' complaint, filed in Vermont federal district court, alleged Liberty helped her former partner, Lisa Miller, violate court orders and abscond with their daughter. Miller is the girl's biological mother. Jenkins, a legal parent, has visitation rights, according to court records.

“Miller subsequently converted to Christianity; moved to Virginia; and believing that homosexuality was sinful, sought to prevent Jenkins from having contact with her daughter,” the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit said, recounting Jenkins' allegations in the underlying civil case.