State v. Sharp
State v. Sharp
Dissenting Opinion
dissents.
¶11 I dissent. Although the briefs of the parties are unclear on several points, what is apparent is that Jemigan-the primary victim-has not been reimbursed for her out-of-pocket expenses. Section 46-18-251(3)(a), MCA, provides that in the payment of restitution, disbursements are to be made first to the victim until her unreimbursed pecuniary loss is satisfied. Next in order of priority for restitution is the crime victim’s compensation and assistance program, followed by any other government agency that has compensated the victim for her losses. An insurance company that has compensated the victim-such as Arnica Mutual here-is fourth in line. Section 46-18-251(3)(d), MCA. In light of this statutory directive, in my judgment, the District Court erred in concluding that Arnica Mutual was entitled to its subrogation recovery ahead of Jemigan. I would therefore reverse and remand for an order of restitution consistent with the hierarchy set forth in the statute. I dissent from our refusal to do so.
Opinion of the Court
delivered the Opinion of the Court.
¶1 Joshua David Sharp appeals from an order of the First Judicial District Court, Lewis and Clark County, requiring him to pay restitution in the amount of $6,576.28. We affirm.
¶2 The issue on appeal is whether the District Court abused its discretion in ordering Sharp to pay restitution to the victim’s insurance company.
BACKGROUND
¶3 Sharp pled guilty to the charges of driving under the influence of drugs (fourth DUI), a felony, driving while his license was suspended or revoked, and driving without insurance. These charges arose when Sharp drove his vehicle into two parked cars while under the influence of a combination of prescription drugs which impaired his ability to drive.
¶4 Sharp entered into a plea agreement, but contested the amount of restitution he should be required to pay. As a result of the wreck, one of the car owners, Jennifer Jemigan, paid $1,427.09 out of pocket for a rental car and for expenses applied towards her insurance deductible. Jernigan requested reimbursement only for these expenses and did not provide evidence of any other pecuniary loss. Jemigan’s insurer, Arnica Mutual Insurance Company (Arnica Mutual), paid Jemigan $6,576.68 for repairs to her vehicle. Pursuant to its right of subrogation set forth in its policy, Arnica Mutual requested that Sharp reimburse this amount. Sharp did not contest that he owes Jernigan $1,427.09. He did argue, however, that Arnica Mutual had no right of subrogation since Jernigan had not been made whole. The District Court ordered Sharp to pay restitution amounts to both Jemigan and Arnica Mutual. Sharp appeals.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶5 We review a district court’s imposition of a sentence for legality. The standard of review in determining whether a sentence is legal is whether the district court abused its discretion. State v. Beavers, 2000 MT 145, ¶ 6, 300 Mont. 49, ¶ 6, 3 P.3d 614, ¶ 6.
DISCUSSION
¶6 Did the District Court abuse its discretion in ordering
¶7 Sharp bases his argument that he was not required to pay restitution to the victim’s insurance company on the definition of victim found in § 46-18-243, MCA, and the made-whole doctrine adopted by this Court in Skauge v. Mountain States Tel. & Tel. Co., 172 Mont. 521, 565 P.2d 628 (1977). According to the criminal sentencing statutes, a victim includes “an insurer or surety with a right of subrogation to the extent it has reimbursed the victim of the offense for pecuniary loss.” Section 46-18-243, MCA. In Skauge, in the context of a civil suit, we adopted the made-whole doctrine, holding that
when the insured has sustained a loss in excess of the reimbursement by the insurer, the insured is entitled to be made whole for his entire loss and any costs of recovery, including attorney’s fees, before the insurer can assert its right of legal subrogation against the insured or the tortfeasor.
Skauge, 172 Mont. at 528, 564 P.2d at 632. Sharp asserts that Jernigan has not been made whole because she has not been reimbursed for her deductible, her out-of-pocket rental car expenses (although Sharp was ordered to pay these two items through restitution), her automobile insurance premiums for and during the life of her policy, the post-accident diminished value of her vehicle, or interest on her out-of-pocket expenses. Thus, Sharp’s conclusion is that since Jernigan has not been made whole, Arnica Mutual is not an insurer with a right of subrogation as required by § 46-18-243, MCA. Ironically, it would appear that, under Sharp’s theory, Jernigan would not be made whole unless Sharp was ordered to make further restitution to Jernigan for insurance premiums, diminished value of her vehicle, and interest on her out-of-pocket expenses.
¶8 The District Court based its decision to require Sharp to pay restitution to Arnica Mutual on the applicable restitution statutes, which provide that “a sentencing court shall, as part of the sentence, require an offender to make full restitution to any victim who has sustained pecuniary loss, including a person suffering an economic loss.” Section 46-18-241(1), MCA. A victim includes “an insurer or surety with a right of subrogation to the extent it has reimbursed the victim of the offense for pecuniary loss.” Section 46-18-243(2)(a)(iv), MCA. The District Court concluded that Arnica Mutual reimbursed Jernigan $6,576.28, and is therefore entitled to subrogation to that extent.
¶9 The dissent points out that, pursuant to § 46-18-251(3), MCA,
¶10 We affirm the judgment of the District Court.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. JOSHUA DAVID SHARP, Defendant and Appellant
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published