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Skidgell v. Universal Underwriters
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MAINE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT
Decision: 1997 ME 149
Docket: Pen-96-392
Submitted
On Briefs: January 16, 1997
Argued: June 11, 1997
Decided: July 15, 1997
Panel: WATHEN, C.J., and ROBERTS, GLASSMAN, CLIFFORD, DANA and LIPEZ, JJ.
SHERRY SKIDGELL
v.
UNIVERSAL UNDERWRITERS INS. CO.
CLIFFORD, J.
[¶1] Sherry Skidgell appeals from the summary judgment entered in
the Superior Court (Penobscot County, Marsano, J.), in favor of Universal
Underwriters Insurance Company on Skidgell's complaint for injuries
arising from an accident suffered while riding as a passenger on a
motorcycle. We agree with Skidgell's contention that the court erred by
concluding that Universal, pursuant to the "other insurance" provisions in
its policy, was entitled to set off from its underinsured motorist liability
coverage{1} for Skidgell the full amount of Skidgell's recovery from the
tortfeasor, and thus had no liability to Skidgell. Accordingly, we vacate the
summary judgment.
[¶2] On June 30, 1994, Skidgell was riding as a passenger on a
motorcycle owned and operated by Maurice Bedard and was injured as a
result of a collision between the motorcycle and a car being driven by Darren
McKenzie. At the time of the collision, McKenzie had a policy from New
Hampshire Indemnity Insurance Company (New Hampshire) with a bodily
injury limit for liability insurance coverage of $20,000. Bedard carried
personal automobile insurance issued by Universal, providing underinsured
motorist coverage up to $20,000. Skidgell carried personal automobile
insurance, through her parents with whom she resided, issued by Dairyland
Insurance Company, providing underinsured motorist coverage up to
$20,000. Skidgell settled her personal injury claim against McKenzie for
the full $20,000 policy limit and against Dairyland for $5,000. Because her
damages exceeded $20,000, Skidgell then sought to recover from Universal
an amount of underinsured motorist coverage she claimed was available to
her pursuant to Universal's policy.
[¶3] Universal filed a motion for a summary judgment arguing that
because Universal's underinsured motorist coverage for Skidgell was
primary, it was entitled to a setoff against its liability of the entire amount
recovered from McKenzie, the tortfeasor. Agreeing with Universal, the
court concluded that pursuant to the "other insurance" language in the
Universal and Dairyland policies, Dairyland's underinsured motorist
coverage was excess and Universal's was primary. The court entered a
summary judgment in favor of Universal because it, as the provider of
primary uninsured motorist coverage for Skidgell, was entitled to set off the
entire $20,000 that Skidgell recovered from the tortfeasor. Cobb v. Allstate
Ins. Co., 663 A.2d 38 (Me. 1995). From that judgment, Skidgell appeals.
[¶4] When, as here, there is no genuine issue as to any material fact,
we review the grant of a motion for summary judgment by examining the
record to determine whether the trial court committed an error of law.
McGillivray v. Royal Ins. Co., 675 A.2d 524, 525 (Me. 1996) (citation
omitted).
I.
[¶5] We first must address Universal's contention, not raised in the
trial court but advanced as an alternative reason for upholding the judgment,
that the Superior Court properly entered a summary judgment in its favor
because McKenzie's vehicle is not underinsured. Universal contends that
the underinsured motorist provision in Dairyland's policy excludes entirely
coverage for Skidgell as a passenger on a motorcycle. Because there is no
underinsured motorist coverage for Skidgell pursuant to Dairyland's policy,
Universal argues, and because the amount of coverage available to her as an
underinsured motorist pursuant to Universal's policy, $20,000, is not
greater than the liability coverage on the tortfeasor, McKenzie, McKenzie's
vehicle is not underinsured. 24-A M.R.S.A. § 2902 (1990). We disagree.
[¶6] Universal argues that Dairyland's policy only provides
underinsured motorist coverage for injuries suffered while occupying a "car"
which is defined in the policy as a "four wheel motor vehicle licensed for
use on public roads." Because Skidgell was occupying a motorcycle, and not
a car, Universal contends there is no underinsured motorist coverage at all.
While we agree with Universal's interpretation of the language of Dairyland's
policy and that Dairyland's policy purports to limit underinsured motorist
coverage to passengers in a car, as opposed to a motorcycle, that language is
contrary to the public policy embodied in 24-A M.R.S.A. § 2902, and is
ineffective in excluding such coverage.
[¶7] The validity of the stated policy provisions and of Universal's
contentions must be determined in the light of the requirements of
24-A M.R.S.A. § 2902 that provides in part:
No policy insuring against liability arising out of the
ownership, maintenance or use of any motor vehicle shall be
delivered or issued for delivery in this State with respect to any
such vehicle registered or principally garaged in this State,
unless coverage is provided therein or supplemental thereto for
the protection of persons insured thereunder who are legally
entitled to recover damages from owners or operators of
uninsured, underinsured or hit-and-run motor vehicles, for
bodily injury, sickness of disease, including death resulting from
the ownership, maintenance or use of such uninsured,
underinsured or hit-and-run motor vehicle. The coverage
herein required may be referred to as "uninsured vehicle
coverage." For the purposes of this section, "underinsured
motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle for which coverage is
provided, but in amounts less then the minimum limits for
bodily injury liability insurance provided for under the motorist's
financial responsibility laws of this State or less than the limits
of the injured party's uninsured vehicle coverage.
24-A M.R.S.A. § 2902(1) (1990).{2} It is well recognized that a contract,
including an automobile liability insurance policy, is presumed to incorporate
all relevant mandatory provisions of the statute pursuant to which it was
made. Existing statutes governing the subject matter of a contract must in
normal circumstances be read as a constituent part thereof. See Wescott v.
Allstate Ins., 397 A.2d 156 (Me. 1979); Security Ins. Group v. Emery, 272
A.2d 736 (Me. 1971); Camire v. Commercial Ins. Co, 160 Me. 112, 198 A.2d
168 (1964). Moreover, statutory mandates control, and override any
contrary provisions in Dairyland's policy. See Globe Indem. Co. v. Jordan,
634 A.2d 1279, 1283 (Me. 1993); Wescott v. Allstate Ins., 397 A.2d at 169.
[¶8] The purpose of section 2902 is to permit an insured injured
person the same recovery which would have been available to her had the
tortfeasor been insured to the same extent as the injured party. See
Tibbetts v. Maine Bonding & Casualty Co., 618 A.2d 731, 734 (Me. 1992)
(citation omitted). We have construed section 2902 liberally to effectuate its
purpose. Conditions and exceptions in insurance contracts purporting to
limit coverage, on the other hand, are interpreted strictly against the
insurer and liberally in favor of the insured. See Wescott v. Allstate Ins., 397
A.2d at 167.
[¶9] Dairyland's underinsured motorist insurance provision provides:
Our Promise To You
We promise to pay damages, excluding punitive or exemplary
damages, the owner or operator of an uninsured motor vehicle
is legally obligated to pay because of bodily injury you suffer in a
car accident while occupying a car, or, as a pedestrian, as a
result of having been struck by an uninsured motor vehicle.
The policy defines "car" as:
[A] four wheel motor vehicle licensed for use on public roads. It
includes any motor home that isn't used for business purposes
and any utility trailer.
Interpreting that language according to its plain and commonly accepted
meaning, the policy language excludes Skidgell as a person entitled to
recover underinsured motorist damages in these circumstances. See
Brackett v. Middlesex Ins. Co., 486 A.2d 1188, 1190 (Me. 1985).{3} Skidgell
was injured as a passenger on a motorcycle and the underinsured motorist
coverage only applies to injuries suffered "in a car accident while occupying
a car." To the extent that Dairyland's exclusion restricts Skidgell's right to
recover damages resulting from her injuries alleged to be caused by an
underinsured motorist, it is contrary to the purpose of the statute, and is
against public policy. Dairyland's policy could not exclude Skidgell's right to
recover from it. The result is Skidgell is provided underinsured motorist
coverage by Dairyland even though she was injured while a passenger on a
motorcycle. Globe Indem. Co. v. Jordan, 643 A.2d at 1283. Accordingly,
because Skidgell has underinsured motorist coverage from Dairyland, in the
amount of $20,000, and because she also has $20,000 of underinsured
motorist coverage pursuant to Universal's policy, the McKenzie vehicle is
underinsured. 24-A M.R.S.A. § 2902(1).
II.
[¶10] We now address and agree with Skidgell's contention that the
court erred by its determination that Dairyland's "other insurance" clause
provided excess underinsured motorist coverage resulting in Universal, as
the only primary coverage underinsured motorist insurer, being able to set
off the entire amount Skidgell recovered from the tortfeasor. See Cobb v.
Allstate Ins. Co., 663 A.2d 38, 40-41 (Me. 1995) (where one insurer's
underinsurance coverage is primary, and another's underinsurance coverage
is excess, the primary insurer is entitled to a setoff against its liability of the
entire amount recovered from a tortfeasor).
[¶11] Conflicts in policy language may have to be resolved when more
than one applicable insurance policy contains an "other insurance" clause.{4}
See York Mut. Ins. Co. v. Continental Ins. Co., 560 A.2d 571, 573 (Me. 1989).
The "other insurance" clause in Universal's policy provides that "[i]f there
is other applicable insurance we will pay only our share of the loss. Our
share is the proportion that our limit of liability bears to the total of all
applicable limits." Although Universal's coverage could be either primary or
excess, in the absence of language making it excess, insurance coverage is
considered primary. See Royal Globe Ins. Co. v. Hartford Accident & Indem.
Co., 485 A.2d 242, 244 (Me. 1984). Universal's coverage is, therefore,
primary. See York Mut. Ins. Co. v. Continental Ins. Co., 560 A.2d at 573.
(Citation omitted).
[¶12] Dairyland's policy also contains an "other insurance" clause
which reads:
If there is other similar insurance applicable on the same basis
for ... Uninsured Motorist ... we will pay only our share of the
loss. Our share is determined by adding up the limits of this
insurance and all other insurance that applies on the same basis
and finding the percentage of the total which our limits
represent.
This insurance is primary for any car described on the
declarations page, or any additional or replacement car we
insure. This insurance is excess for the use of any other car we
insure.
[¶13] Because Dairyland's policy defines "car" as "a four wheel
vehicle licensed for use on the road," neither the primary or excess clause
explicitly applies. As applied to coverage for Skidgell in this case,
Dairyland's "other insurance" clause is silent as to whether it is primary or
excess. Accordingly, it too must be considered primary. See York Mut. Ins.
Co. v. Continental Ins. Co., 560 A.2d at 573.{5}
[¶14] Because the underinsured motorist coverage of both the
Universal and Dairyland policies are primary, the loss is shared pro rata and
each policy contributes until the limit of the smaller policy is exhausted
with the remaining portion of the loss then being paid from the larger
policy up to the limits. See Cobb v. Allstate Ins. Co., 663 A.2d 38, 40 n.8
(Me. 1995). Universal does not benefit from being the only primary
insurance carrier and accordingly, is not entitled to set off the entire
amount of Skidgell's recovery from the tortfeasor. Rather, it is only entitled
to a prorated setoff.
The entry is:
Judgment vacated. Remanded for proceedings
consistent with the opinion herein.
Attorneys for plaintiff:
N. Laurence Willey, Jr., Esq.
Laurie Ann Miller, Esq. (orally)
Ferris, Dearborn & Willey
P O Box 609
Brewer, ME 04412-0609
Attorneys for defendant:
David C. King, Esq.
Barbara A. Cardone, Esq. (orally)
Rudman & Winchell
P O Box 1401
Bangor, ME O4402-1401
(for Universal Underwriters)
FOOTNOTES******************************** {1} The statute at issue in this
case, 24-A M.R.S.A. § 2902 (1990), the uninsured motor statute, encompasses
by its terms underinsured motor vehicles. For the purposes of the statute,
an "underinsured motor vehicle" is a motor vehicle for which coverage
is provided, but in amounts less than the minimum limits for bodily injury
liability insurance provided for pursuant to the motorist's financial responsibility
laws of this State or less than the limits of the injured party's uninsured
vehicle coverage. As we discuss infra, the vehicle owned by the tortfeasor,
Darren McKenzie, was underinsured pursuant to the statute. {2} We have previously
held that a motorcycle is a motor vehicle within the definition of section
2902. See Daigle v. Hartford Ins. Co., 573 A.2d 791 (Me. 1990). {3} In Brackett
we held that an uninsured motorist provision of an insurance policy that
excluded coverage for injuries sustained by an insured while riding on a
motorcycle not insured by the insurer's liability policy did not violate
24-A M.R.S.A. § 2902(1). We noted that "uninsurance motorist coverage
on one of a number of vehicles owned by an insured does not extend the benefits
of such coverage, for no premium, to all other vehicles owned by that insured."
Brackett v. Middlesex Ins. Co., 486 A.2d at 1191. (citation omitted). Brackett,
therefore, is distinguishable from the present case because Skidgell was
not injured on a uninsured vehicle that she owned, but rather as a passenger
on a vehicle owned by Bedard. {4} There are three basic types of other insurance
clauses that regulate how liability is to be divided when multiple coverage
exists. The first, a "pro-rata" clause, limits the liability of
any insurer to a proportion of the total loss. The second, an "escape"
clause, seeks to avoid all liability. The third, an "excess" clause,
provides that the insurance will only be liable for damages in excess of
coverage provided by primary insurers. York Mut. Ins. Co. v. Continental
Ins. Co., 560 A.2d 571, 573 n.1 (Me. 1989) (citation omitted). {5} Contrary
to Universal's contention, our finding that Dairyland's uninsured motorist
provision contravenes 24-A M.R.S.A. § 2902(1) does not require us to
reform Dairyland's entire insurance contract. See, e.g., 17A Am. Jur. 2d
Contracts § 247 (1991) ("If the illegal provision in a contract
is severable, courts will enforce the remainder of the contract [as written]
after excising the illegal portion.").
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