Alyas v. Illinois Employers Insurance
Alyas v. Illinois Employers Insurance
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff appeals from an order of the circuit court granting summary disposition for garnishee defendant Illinois Employers Insurance of Wausau (Wausau). We affirm.
Plaintiffs decedent was killed in an automobile accident. Plaintiff thereafter obtained a consent judgment against Eddie’s Bar,, which allegedly had served alcohol to the driver of the other vehicle involved in the accident. Garnishee defendant Wausau was the excess liability insurer for Eddie’s
The only issue on appeal is whether the trial court correctly granted summary disposition on the basis of plaintiff’s failure to contest Wausau’s disclosure. We agree with defendant that summary disposition was properly granted. MCR 3.101(M)(2) provides that facts stated in a garnishment disclosure must be accepted as true unless the plaintiff has served interrogatories or a notice of deposition within the time allowed by subrule J(l) or another party has filed a pleading or motion denying the accuracy of the disclosure. Under MCR 3.101(J)(1),
Plaintiff argues that Wausau should not be entitled to summary disposition because its disclosure was late and, therefore, its failure to file a timely disclosure should excuse plaintiff from the time limit imposed by MCR 3.101(M)(2). We disagree. While it does appear that Wausau’s disclosure was late, the remedy provided by court rule is that plaintiff may take a default against the garnishee defendant. MCR 3.101(R)(1).
Next, plaintiff asserts that defendant’s disclosure was defective because it did not state the date and manner in which defendant gave notice to the principal defendant as required by the former provisions of MCR 3.101(H)(3). First, it is not at all clear from the record that Wausau did, in fact, fail to comply with the court rule. It used á garnishee disclosure form approved by the State Court Administrative Office, which included an instruction to forward a copy to the principal defendant, and
Next, plaintiff argues that defendant’s disclosure was deficient because it failed to disclose that it was an excess carrier or how much coverage was provided and, instead, simply stated that there was no liability. This argument, however, is relevant to the accuracy of the garnishee disclosure, and the accuracy of the disclosure is precisely what plaintiff is now precluded from arguing in light of plaintiff’s failure to challenge the disclosure’s statement of nonliability within the period required under subrule M(2).
Plaintiff also argues that summary disposition was inappropriate because Wausau suffered no prejudice from plaintiff’s delay. However, there is no prejudice requirement under the court rule, but the court rule does make it mandatory to accept as true the statements in the disclosure unless challenged within the required period. MCR 3.101(M) (2).
Finally, plaintiff argues that Wausau has waived its right to summary disposition of this issue because it had voluntarily engaged in discovery before raising this issue in its renewed motion for
Affirmed. Defendants may tax costs.
The primary liability carrier was Union Indemnity Insurance Company of New York, with Michigan Property & Casualty Guaranty Association assuming responsibility for Union Indemnity’s duties under the policy when Union Indemnity went into receivership. Defendant Citizens Insurance Company of America was acting as mpcga’s servicing agent.
Defendant Citizens also filed a disclosure denying liability.
Now MCR 3.101(L)(1).
Now MCR 3.10KSXD.
In this context, plaintiff also argues that his delay in seeking discovery should be excused because of the complexities of the case. That argument, however, overlooks the fact that plaintiff could have sought an extension of the time for the filing of interrogatories or the taking of depositions under MCE 3.101(T). Therefore, plaintiff could have obtained an extension if it was truly necessary. However, plaintiff did not seek such an extension from the trial court.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting). Given the procedural background of this case, I must respectfully dissent.
There is no dispute that plaintiff failed to contest within fourteen days after service the garnishee disclosure filed by Illinois Employers Insurance of Wausau (Wausau). Under MCR 3.101(M)(2), the trial court would be required to accept as true the facts in Wausau’s garnishment disclosure wherein liability was denied and, consequently, a grant of summary disposition would be proper.
In this case, however, the trial court did not originally grant summary disposition for Wausau on this ground, although this ground was raised in Wausau’s original motion. The trial court’s April 18, 1988, order granting summary disposition was reversed by this Court on September 6, 1989.
Wausau waited sixteen months after the Supreme Court denied leave to appeal before refiling its motion for summary disposition based on plaintiff’s failure to contest timely Wausau’s garnishee disclosure. During this sixteen-month period, plaintiff challenged the disclosure and the parties engaged in extensive discovery. By the time Wausau refiled its motion for summary disposition, the
180 Mich App 154; 446 NW2d 610 (1989).
435 Mich 867 (1990).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Alyas v. Illinois Employers Insurance of Wausau
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- 4 cases
- Status
- Published