Loxley v. Pearson, Unpublished Decision (7-9-2004)
Loxley v. Pearson, Unpublished Decision (7-9-2004)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} The following facts are undisputed:
{¶ 3} On September 13, 2001, a vehicle driven by Joseph A. Pearson, a minor, was involved in an automobile accident with vehicles driven by John Loxley and Althena Golson. Loxley suffered damages in the amount of $1,797.22 and Golson suffered $8,117.75 in damages. Loxley's insurer, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company ("State Farm") paid Loxley $1,297.22, representing the amount of his damages minus a $500 deductible. Golson's insurer, Geico Direct Insurance Company ("Geico") paid her $8,117.75 for her damages. The parties have stipulated to Geico's and State Farm's subrogation claims.
{¶ 4} The vehicle driven by Pearson was owned by his grandfather, Ronald K. Payne. Motorists issued a policy of automobile insurance to Payne for the term February 28, 2001, to August 28, 2001 ("the policy"). (We note that, according to Lou Cinda Hughes, an insurance agent with Simpkins-Dellis Insurance Agency, the policy was originally written on August 28, 2000). Pearson was listed as an insured driver under the policy. Payne died testate on March 24, 2001, and the premium for the policy was paid by Pearson's mother, Rhonda Darlington, on April 3, 2001. The policy was subsequently held by "Estate of Ronald K. Payne." (We recognize that Pearson asserts that the named insured was "Estate of Ronald K. Payne, c/o Richard Duncan.") The executor of Payne's estate was Key Bank.
{¶ 5} The policy contained the following provisions:
{¶ 6} "Termination
{¶ 7} "A. Cancellation. This policy may be cancelled during the policy period as follows:
{¶ 8} "1. The named insured shown in the Declarations may cancel by:
{¶ 9} "a. returning the policy to us; or
{¶ 10} "b. giving us advance written notice of the date cancellation is to take effect.
{¶ 11} "2. We may cancel, subject to paragraph 3 below, by mailing to the named insured shown in the Declarations at the address last known by us:
{¶ 12} "a. at least 10 days notice:
{¶ 13} "(1) if cancellation is for nonpayment of premium; * * *.
{¶ 14} "C. Other Termination Provisions.
{¶ 15} * * *
{¶ 16} "3. The effective date of cancellation stated in the notice shall become the end of the policy."1
{¶ 17} No further premiums were paid after the end of the policy period stated on the Declarations page, i.e., August 28, 2001. On September 5, 2001, eight days before the accident, Motorists sent Key Bank correspondence, care of Richard Duncan, indicating that the premiums on the policy were overdue and that the policy would be canceled on September 17, 2001. The following day, Hughes sent a Casualty Policy Change Request form to Pamela Goelz at Key Bank, requesting that she sign and return the form if the auto policy was to be canceled. On October 2, 2001, Goelz returned the form to Motorists, canceling the policy, effective August 28, 2001. On October 10, 2001, Motorists sent a letter to Key Bank, confirming the cancellation of the policy on August 28, 2001. On October 12, 2001, Rhonda Darlington contacted Hughes to advise her of Pearson's accident. Motorists became aware of the accident at that time.
{¶ 18} As a result of the accident, Loxley and State Farm initiated litigation against Pearson and Brian C. Darlington, who had signed for Pearson's probationary driver's license. In a separate litigation, Golson and Geico also filed suit against Pearson and Motorists. The cases were subsequently consolidated. Pearson and Darlington filed a third-party complaint against Motorists, claiming that Pearson was entitled to coverage as an insured on the policy issued to the estate of Ronald Payne and that Motorists was responsible for paying Loxley's and Golson's claims against Pearson.
{¶ 19} Motorists filed a motion for summary judgment, asserting that the policy had been canceled, effective August 28, 2001, by virtue of the Change Request form and that the policy was not in effect on the date of the accident. Pearson responded that the policy contained a cancellation provision, which required Motorists to provide ten days notice prior to terminating the policy for a failure to pay premiums. Pearson further argued Key Bank's letter of September 5, 2001, extended the policy term until September 17, 2001. In addition, he asserted that only Duncan had the authority to cancel the policy, and that the policy did not provide for cancellation retroactive to August 28, 2001.
{¶ 20} On June 19, 2003, the magistrate overruled Motorists' motion, reasoning:
{¶ 21} "The contract in question specifies that in order for the `insured' to effectively cancel the policy during the policy period, they [sic] may do so by giving advanced written notice of the date cancellation is to take effect. In this case, the insured as listed on the policy and as defined by the terms of the policy did not give such notice; nor, was the notice given in `advance'.
{¶ 22} "But even more importantly, the policy period had already been extended by Motorists in its `Notice of Cancellation' which reads, in pertinent part, as follows: `Premium payment was due on 08/28/01. Your policy will be cancelled for nonpayment of premium on the `Cancellation Date' shown . . . if premium is not received by us before the `Cancellation Date' . . . shown. . . .' This notice was mailed to `Estate of Ronald K. Payne c/o of Richard Duncan' on September 5, 2001. Inasmuch as the Change Request mailed by Ms. Goelz was received after the September 17th date and did not give advance notice of cancellation, but rather a retroactive one, the Court finds that such purported cancellation was a nullity. In short, the executor attempted to cancel a contract which, by Motorists' own actions, had already been cancelled as of September 17th. Motorists Cancellation Notice complied with the terms of the contract and effectively extended the coverage period to September 17th. Since that date followed the date of the accident, Defendant was still covered under the policy of insurance at the time fo the accident on September 13th." (Citations omitted). The trial court found, as a matter of law, "that the policy in question was cancelled effective September 17, 2001, i.e. a date following the accident, but that coverage existed on the date of the accident, to wit: September 13, 2001."
{¶ 23} Motorists filed objections to the magistrate's decision. On September 5, 2003, the trial court overruled the company's objections and adopted the decision of the magistrate in full. On June 29, 2004, the trial court issued a final judgment, disposing of remaining the claims.
{¶ 24} The Supreme Court of Ohio has stated that "a trial court's denial of a motion for summary judgment is reviewable on appeal by the movant from a subsequent adverse final judgment."Love v. Motorists Mut. Ins. Co. (1993),
{¶ 25} Motorists asserts three assignments of error on appeal, which we will address in an order that facilitates our analysis.
{¶ 26} "2. The trial court erred when it concluded that motorists extended the contract through September 17, 2001. By the estate's request, the contract terminated August 28, 2001."
{¶ 27} In its second assignment of error, Motorists asserts that the trial court erred when it concluded that the company had extended the contract through September 17, 2001. Motorists argues that its September 5, 2001, letter merely constituted an offer to extend the policy and did not, by itself, operate to extend it. The company asserts that it did not have the right to unilaterally extend the contract beyond August 28, 2001. We find no fault with the trial court's conclusion.
{¶ 28} R.C.
{¶ 29} In accordance with the statutory notice requirement, Payne's policy provided that Motorists was permitted to cancel the policy, with "at least 10 days notice . . . if cancellation is for nonpayment of premiums," by mailing a notice of cancellation to the named insured at the insured's last known address. It is undisputed that, on September 5, 2001, Motorists notified Payne's estate that the premium payment was due on August 28, 2001, and that the policy would be canceled for nonpayment of premium on the "cancellation date," i.e., September 17, 2001, if the premium was not received before 12:01 a.m. (standard time) on that date. As required by statute, the notice further included the policy number and a notice that the cancellation could be reviewed by the Superintendent of Insurance. By virtue of R.C. Chapter 3937, Motorists' notice of cancellation was not a conditional offer to renew coverage if the premium was paid prior to September 17, 2001. Rather, because the policy fell within the mandatory renewal period, R.C.
{¶ 30} Motorists cites to Casto v. State Farm MutualAutomobile Ins. Co. (1991),
{¶ 31} We find Casto unpersuasive in light of Wolfe v.Wolfe,
{¶ 32} "It is clear that the public policy of this state, as gleaned through the Acts of the General Assembly, is to ensure that all motorists maintain some form of liability coverage on motor vehicles operated within Ohio. R.C.
{¶ 33} Wolfe,
{¶ 34} The Supreme Court went on to hold:
{¶ 35} "[P]ursuant to R.C.
{¶ 36} Addressing its prior decision in Benson
specifically, it stated: "Given the language of R.C.
{¶ 37} Motorists' second assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 38} "3. The trial court erred when it indicated that the named insured did not request the cancellation. The named insured was the estate of Ronald K. Payne. Key Bank, the executor of the estate, requested cancellation."
{¶ 39} In its third assignment of error, Motorists asserts that the trial court erred in concluding that the named insured did not request the cancellation. The named insured is listed in the Declarations as:
{¶ 40} ESTATE OF RONALD K. PAYNE C/O RICHARD DUNCAN 7501 PARAGON RD. DAYTON, OH 45459.
{¶ 44} Motorists argues that Richard Duncan is neither the named insured nor the executor of Payne's estate. It further states that Key Bank was the executor for the estate of Ronald Payne, and that Pamela Goelz, on behalf of Key Bank, properly signed the estate's request to cancel the policy, effective August 28, 2001. Pearson responds that Motorists mailed statements, the notice of cancellation, and a letter confirming cancellation of the policy to Duncan. It asserts (and the trial court apparently agreed) that the named insured on the policy included Duncan, the contact person.
{¶ 45} In our judgment, the naming of Duncan as the contact person in the Declarations page did not render him either the insured or the insured's sole authorized agent under the policy. The record demonstrates that the policy was originally issued to Payne as the insured and that, subsequent to his death, the policy was altered to reflect his estate as the insured. The fact that Duncan was listed as the contact person merely indicated to whom correspondence should be addressed at the Paragon Road address.
{¶ 46} In its April 9, 2001, Entry Appointing Fiduciary, the Montgomery County Probate Court appointed Key Bank, National Association, as executor for the estate of Ronald K. Payne. It is undisputed that Pamela Goelz was an employee of Key Bank, and there is no evidence that she lacked the authority to act for Key Bank in its fiduciary capacity. To the contrary, according to Hughes, Goelz also canceled Payne's homeowner's insurance policy with Motorists, acting for Key Bank as executor. (We note there is no evidence that Duncan, an attorney, was associated with Key Bank or had any authority to act for the estate.) As executor for Payne's estate, Key Bank had the authority to send a notice of cancellation to Motorists in order to terminate the automobile policy issued to the estate. The trial court therefore erred in concluding that the insured listed on the policy did not send a cancellation request to the insurer when Goelz sent the Change Request form to Motorists in October 2001. However, this error was harmless given our disposition of the other assignments.
{¶ 47} Motorists' third assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 48} "1. The trial court erred in its finding that the estate's cancellation of the contract was a nullity. The requirement of advanced written notice solely benefits motorists. As such, motorists could, and did, waive that requirement. The contract was canceled by the estate effective August 28, 2001."
{¶ 49} In its first assignment of error, Motorists asserts that the trial court erred in finding that Key Bank's cancellation of the contract violated the terms of the policy, because it did not provide Motorists with advanced written notice. Motorists asserts that the advanced written notice requirement in the policy was to its benefit and was, therefore, a term which it could (and did) waive. The company thus claims that the Policy Change form validly canceled the contract. Pearson responds that the purported cancellation, by means of the Policy Change form, "would be ineffective because the policy was cancelled previously on September 17, 2001, pursuant to [Motorists'] own `Notice of Cancellation.'" Pearson further asserts that Motorists should be estopped from asserting that the policy was canceled retroactively.
{¶ 50} In general, "an insured may unilaterally cancel a policy with no further act by the insurer required to effectuate the cancellation." Grismer Tire Co., Inc., v. Meridian MutualIns. Co. (Jan. 18, 1995), Montgomery App. No. 14688; R.C.
{¶ 51} As noted by Motorists, several courts have held that termination provisions which require advance written notice to the insurer are waivable by the insurer. In Cash v. MotoristsMutual Ins. Co. (Dec. 12, 1992), Butler App. No. CA92-05-089, the court stated: "Courts have held that the provisions in an insurance policy that notice shall be given to the insurance company and that the notice shall state the time the cancellation shall be effective merely serve to forestall a retroactive notice of cancellation and thus are for the benefit of the insurer. As the provisions inure to the insurer's benefit, these courts agree that the provisions may be waived by the insurer." Id. (citations omitted); see, also, Turner v. Progressive Specialty Ins. Co.
(1991),
{¶ 52} Motorists has asserted that by waiving the advance notice requirement, it accepted a retroactive notice of cancellation from Payne's estate, the insured. We agree with Pearson and the trial court that, due to the September 17, 2001, cancellation date in Motorists' notice of cancellation, the estate could not have canceled the policy by means of the October 2001 Change Request form. Stated simply, because the policy terminated on September 17, 2001, based on the nonpayment of premiums, there was no contract to cancel in October 2001. Because the contract had previously terminated, Key Bank's Change Request form could not effect a cancellation.
{¶ 53} The question therefore becomes whether Motorists and the estate may and did subsequently agree to modify the cancellation date and make the cancellation retroactive to August 28, 2001. In general, parties to an insurance contract may agree to alter or cancel a policy. "[P]arties retain the right to cancel a contract by mutual agreement, and a cancellation by mutual assent is governed by ordinary contract principles."Wright v. MedAmerica Intern. Ins., Ltd., Montgomery App. No. 19809, 2003-Ohio-5723, at ¶ 17; McGuire v. Mills (Aug. 30, 1999), Ross App. No. 98CA2462.
{¶ 54} The right to cancel an insurance contract, however, is not unlimited. We have stated that a policy of insurance may be canceled at any time before loss by an agreement between the parties, express or implied from the circumstances, independent of the terms of the policy. (Emphasis added) Auto-OwnersInsurance Co. v. Bruns (Dec. 14, 1979), Montgomery App. No. 6313; see Commercial Union Insurance Company v. TravelersInsurance Company, Grange Mutual Casualty Company (Mar. 12, 1981), Franklin App. No. 80AP-354. Other courts have also refused to permit retroactive cancellations where the cancellation will affect the rights of third parties. McGuire, supra.
{¶ 55} As did the trial court, we find McGuire to be analogous. In McGuire, Bryan Mills was covered under a Minnesota CNA insurance policy, effective from October 21, 1992, to October 21, 1993, issued to his aunt and uncle. In March 1993, his uncle moved to Ohio. On May 27, 1993, the uncle signed an application for Ohio insurance with CNA, and on July 14, 1993, he returned it to the company. On July 25, 1993, Bryan Mills was involved in an accident. CNA issued the Ohio policy to the Mills family on July 30, 1993, with a stated effective date of June 18, 1993. The Minnesota policy had higher policy limits than the Ohio policy. During litigation, the parties disputed whether the Minnesota or the Ohio policy was effective at the time of the accident, based on the language and effect of the policy application. Among the issues addressed by the Fourth District Court of Appeals was whether the Ohio policy was made effective, retroactive to June 18, 1993, which rendered the Minnesota policy terminated as of that date, due to an automatic termination provision in the Minnesota policy. The court of appeals concluded that the effective date could not be made retroactive to June 18, 1993, reasoning:
{¶ 56} "In the absence of the July 25, 1993, accident, we would have no problem endorsing this interpretation of the actions taken by CNA and the Mills. However, in light of the July 25, 1993 accident, general insurance principles and Ohio statutory law dictate the opposite result.
{¶ 57} "Parties to an insurance contract may generally fix the effective date of insurance, which may be prior to actual issuance of the policy. See New York Life Ins. Co. v. Clutts
(1932),
{¶ 58} "No such contract of insurance shall be canceled or annulled by any agreement between the insurance company and the assured after said assured has become responsible for such loss, damage, or death, and any such cancellation or annullment [sic] is void. (Emphasis added.)
{¶ 59} "Although the parties intended to cancel the Minnesota policy as of June 18, 1993, R.C.
{¶ 60} In the present case, we find that the occurrence of an accident when the policy was in effect precluded Motorists and Payne's estate from validly canceling the policy retroactive to a date prior to the accident. Such a conclusion is consistent with the paternalistic public policy in this state which seeks to prevent insureds, particularly motorists, from suffering lapses in insurance coverage through inadvertence and to safeguard the rights of injured parties against insurers. See R.C.
{¶ 61} Motorists' first assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 62} The judgment of the trial court will be affirmed.
Fain, P.J. and Young, J., concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- John A. Loxley v. Joseph A. Pearson, a Minor, Defendants-Third party/plaintiffs-appellees v. Motorists Mutual Insurance Company, Third Party
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Unpublished