Bohannon v. Allstate Insurance

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Bohannon v. Allstate Insurance, 847 F.2d 740 (11th Cir. 1988)

Bohannon v. Allstate Insurance

Opinion of the Court

PER CURIAM:

Following oral argument in these cases, we certified the question raised to the Supreme Court of Georgia. Bohannon v. Allstate Ins. Co., 824 F.2d 950 (11th Cir. 1987). The Supreme Court of Georgia has now answered the question of Georgia law raised in this interlocutory appeal. Allstate Ins. Co. v. Bohannon, 258 Ga. 131, 365 S.E.2d 838 (1988).

The district court certified plaintiff classes in these cases based upon the determination that the insurance policies involved provided no-fault coverage. This court granted leave to appeal this important and controlling question pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b). We certified the ques*741tion to the Supreme Court of Georgia, which has found that the named plaintiffs’ policies provided no-fault coverage. The court further stated: “[a]s to all the other members of the class we cannot say, but must leave that to be resolved on a contract-by-contract basis.” Id. 365 S.E.2d at 841 (footnote omitted). The district court’s certification of the plaintiff classes relied upon the finding that the class members’ policies provided no-fault coverage. In light of the Supreme Court of Georgia’s contract-by-contract analysis, the nature of each potential class members’ coverage must be evaluated. We therefore vacate the district court’s orders certifying the plaintiff classes and remand for further consideration of the certification issue consistent with the guidance provided by the Supreme Court of Georgia.

VACATED and REMANDED.

Reference

Full Case Name
Brenda J. BOHANNON v. ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant-Appellant W.B. DAVIS, Jr., and all other persons similarly situated v. GEORGIA FARM BUREAU MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant-Appellant Mrs. Rosetta PRESCOTT, and all other persons similarly situated v. NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant-Appellant Claude and Theresa NIX v. STATE FARM FIRE AND CASUALTY COMPANY, Defendant-Appellant Lester C. MAY, Jr., and all other persons similarly situated v. TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY, Travelers Indemnity Company and Phoenix Insurance Company
Cited By
1 case
Status
Published