United Services Automobile Association v. Dokter
United Services Automobile Association v. Dokter
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting:
The issue to be decided in this case is whether there is any ambiguity in the “other insurance” clause involved in the insurance policies in this matter. The majority of the court indicates that there is no ambiguity in the “other insurance” clause when two different insurance companies are involved, but that an ambiguity arises when the same insurance company issues two policies to the same person. I do not agree with this contention. We are concerned here with insurance policies and their interpretation, not insurance companies. A careful reading of the language in the “other insurance” clause shows that it is free from ambiguity. The clause clearly states that the limit of liability is the highest amount of liability set forth in all policies
Thus, in the instant case the maximum limit of liability under either policy is $10,000.00 and the company is liable in the amount of $5,000.00 under each policy, or a total of $10,000.00 under both policies. I would reverse.
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
By the Court,
This is an action for declaratory judgment commenced by Dokter, the insured, against United Services Automobile Association, his insurer. The insured, a pedestrian, was struck and severely injured by an uninsured motorist. At the time of this misfortune he owned two cars. Each was insured by a separate policy issued by United Services Automobile Association. Each policy provided uninsured motorist protection to a limit of $10,000. An arbitrator found Dokter’s damages to exceed $20,000. The arbitrator, however, declined to rule on whether the insured was entitled to recover under both policies or just
1. To draw the issue of this case more precisely into focus it may be worthwhile to note related matters which are not before us. Several cases have considered the “other insurance” clause in relation to a state statute requiring insurers to provide uninsured motorist coverage.
2. The other insurance clause is not free of ambiguity when considered within the context of this case. Its purpose is
Affirmed.
Cases collected: Annot. 28 A.L.R.3d 551: “Uninsured Motorist Insurance: Validity and Construction of ‘Other Insurance’ Provisions.”
For example: Smith v. Pacific Automobile Insurance Co., 400 P.2d 512 (Ore. 1965).
Woolston, supra, is distinguishable from M.F.A. Mutual Ins. Co. v. Wallace, 431 S.W.2d 742 (Ark. 1968), in that the policy in the latter case contained a clause specifically and unambiguously covering this situation.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION, Appellant, v. DERALD D. DOKTER, Respondent
- Cited By
- 42 cases
- Status
- Published