Kesler v. Tate
Kesler v. Tate
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting):
I did not agree with the holding in the case of Christensen v. Peterson.
The reasons for excluding the unwilling insurer in the Christensen case are entirely lacking here. The plaintiff would undoubtedly be benefitted and not harmed by having an insurance company named as a party defendant, and the defendant should appreciate the help which could be given by a concern with ample resources to finance the defense.
If it be assumed that the insurer will be bound by the judgment rendered in the case in which it has had no opportunity to be heard, then there would be a denial of due process of law, for the gist of due process of law is the right to have a course of legal proceedings according to those rules and principles which have been established in our system of jurisprudence for the enforcement and protection of private rights. Under our system of law there must be a competent court to pass upon the subject matter of the dispute; and where that involves the personal liability of a defendant, the defendant must be brought within the jurisdiction of the court and be afforded the right to be present in court; to be heard, by testimony or otherwise; to have the right to cross-examine each and every witness for the opposition; and to offer such evidence as it may care to present to the court.
If, however, the main opinion assumes that the judgment in the instant case will be binding on the insurer both as to liability and amount, then I also dissent. I think an insurer in an uninsured motorist action must be permitted to participate in every action wherein it may be called upon to pay out money. It should have the same right to be heard when its insured is suing as when a third party is suing its insured.
The law of Utah permits intervention by interested parties. In the case of Commercial Block Realty v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co.,
. . . It is often the case that.'án intervener has more interest in the subject-matter of the litigation than either the plaintiff or the defendant. To deny an intervener in such case the right to intervene or to say that he could not be heard to appeal from a judgment denying him such a right would be most unusual ....
Rule 24 of Utah Rules of Civil Procedure provides:
Upon timely application anyone shall be permitted to intervene in an action: (2) when the representation of the applicant’s interest by existing parties is or may be inadequate and the applicant is or may be bound by a judgment in the action;
It is obvious that the parties in the instant matter are not adequately representing the interest of the appellant. The defendant objected to the intervention and refused to permit intervenor to assist in the defense of an action wherein any judgment recovered may bind the intervenor.
Since it appears to me that the interests of all parties would best be served by hav--ing one action and that there would be a
. 25 Utah 2d 411, 483 P.2d 447 (1971).
. If the main opinion intends to say that plaintiff must bring a subsequent action against her insurer and there permit a trial de novo, then I can see no objection in this case, since it is her own fault that she will be put to the double expense. I doubt very much that the plaintiff de- . sires any such result.
. 83 Utah 414, 418, 28 P.2d 1081, 1082 (1934).
Opinion of the Court
Appeal from the denial of a motion by Transnational to intervene as a defendant allegedly to protect its rights in an action brought by Kesler, its insured, against defendants, alleged uninsured motorist tort-feasors, — where both plaintiff and defendants resisted the motion. Affirmed with costs to plaintiff and defendants.
The only substantial factual difference between this case and our recent case of Christensen v. Peterson,
. 25 Utah 2d 411, 483 P.2d 447 (1971).
. It is significant that practically all of the authorities cited by the appellant either are from one state, in which case it appears that they were not Supreme Court decisions of that state, or other authorities which similarly are intermedi
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting).
I concur with the dissent and add the following observations: Under our law as it has developed there is a paradox in that we allow the “real party in interest” to be joined in any action.
. In addition to Rule 24, U.R.O.P., see Rules 17 and 19, U.R.O.P. The latter states : “ . . . persons having a joint interest shall b<S made parties and be joined on tlie same side as plaintiffs or defendants.”
. Ellis v. Gilbert, 19 Utah 2d 189, 429 P.2d 39; Young v. Barney, 20 Utah 2d 108, 433 P.2d 846.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Flora KESLER, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Sherman Brimley TATE Et Al., Defendants and Respondents, and Transnational Insurance Company, Intervenor and Appellant
- Cited By
- 12 cases
- Status
- Published