ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY, a corporation v. UNITED STATES FIDELITY & GUARANTY COMPANY et al.
No. 16306.
Supreme Court of Utah.
Oct. 16, 1980.
619 P.2d 329
... [T]he extent of an easement acquired by prescription is measured and limited by the use made during the prescriptive period ... [W]hile the owner of the dominant estate may enjoy to the fullest extent the rights conferred by his easement, he may not alter its character so as to further burden or increase the restriction upon the servient estate.9
It would be inexplicably inconsistent to state that, where prescriptive rights are obtained in the form of a regular easement, the owner of the dominant estate is bound by the use which established the easement, while, where prescriptive rights are established by statutory implied dedication, the owner of the dominant estate is confined only to uses consistent with the progress of civilization.
For the foregoing reasons, I would rule that the placement of utility lines along the roadway in question constitutes an additional servitude, not comprehended within the estate held by the county on behalf of the public at the time of its attempted grant of a franchise to defеndant Cal-Pac. As such, the attempted franchise grant was void, and the presence of the utility lines on plaintiff‘s property entitles him to relief. As no finding was made below regarding the amount by which plaintiff is damaged due to defendants’ actions, I would remand for further proceedings in ascertainment thereof.
STEWART, J., concurs in the dissenting opinion of HALL, J.
L. E. Midgley, Salt Lake City, for plaintiff and respondent.
MAUGHAN, Justice:
Allstate Insurance Company initiated a declaratory action to determine the validity of a named driver exclusionary endorsement to an automobile liability insurance policy, issued by United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company to Brookfield Products, Inc. The district court found the exclusion void, and granted Allstate Insurance Company‘s motion for summary judgment. On appeal, United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company challenges this order, and the district court‘s dismissal of their motion for summary judgment. We affirm the lower court‘s ruling as limited by the holding in this opinion. All statutory references are to
On March 14, 1977, United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company, hereinafter USF&G, issued to Brookfield Products, Inc., hereinafter Brookfield, an automobile liability insurance policy for the period of March 14, 1977, to March 14, 1978. When initially issued, the policy contained no restrictions to the omnibus coverage found in the original contrаct documents.
However, upon issuing the policy USF&G requested a list of potential drivers of
Thereafter, USF&G drafted a named driver exclusion which was signed by Dale Hanks, manager of Brookfield Products, Inc., and endorsed as part of the liability policy in May, 1977. Following the addition of the exclusionary endorsement to the insurance policy, Brookfield personnel informed Pulliam he was no longer covered by insurance, and was not to drive Brookfield vehicles. Pulliam was then assigned to warehouse duties where he eventually assumed a position as warehouse supervisor.
On January 5, 1978, because there were no other employees available, Pulliam was allowed to drive a Brookfield truck to Heber City to make a delivery for the company.2 While enrоute, the vehicle developed a mechanical problem which caused Pulliam to veer onto the opposite side of the road and into the on-coming traffic. The ensuing collision resulted in the death of Ora Parcell.
On the day of the accident, Allstate Insurance Co., hereinafter Allstate, had in effect an automobile liability policy in favor of the deceased, which included both “Nо-Fault” or “Personal Injury Protection” and “Uninsured Motorist” coverage. Because of the named-driver exclusionary endorsement, USF&G refused to extend liability coverage to Pulliam, thereby rendering him an “uninsured motorist.” Allstate, therefore, compensated the estate of Ora Parcell under the “uninsured motorist” provisions of his liability policy.3
Allstate initiated a declaratory action in the district court to detеrmine the validity of the “named driver” exclusion and the financial responsibility of USF&G under the Brookfield policy.4 Allstate joined as defendants Brookfield Products, Inc., Jerry Pulliam and Vee L. Parcell, personal representative of the estate of Ora Parcell, in the lower court proceedings. Brookfield and Pulliam entered a cross-complaint against USF&G requesting the insurance policy issued by USF&G be declared in full force and effect and the exclusion void.
Following the presentation of evidence and arguments by the various parties the district court held the restrictive endorsement to be of no force or effect. The court granted Allstate‘s motion for summary judgment, and decreed USF&G liable under the policy in question.
USF&G appeals from this order and the district court‘s dismissal of its motion for summary judgment.
This appeal presents to this Court a question of first impression concerning the validity of an exclusionary endorsement, to an automobile liability policy, which is presented as security under the provisions of the Utah No-Fault Insurance Act.
Although we cannot accept the contention of Allstate, viz., the enactment of the Utah No-Fault Act establishes a “constructive compulsory liability insurance requirement,”5 we believe the language of
Specifically,
“(1) every resident owner of a motor vehicle shall maintain the security provided for in Section 31-41-5 in effect continuously throughout the registration period of the motor vehicle.”6
The requirement of security prior to registration of a motor vehicle in this state is clarified by
“(1) The security required by this act shall be provided in one of the following methods:
(a) Security by insurance may be рrovided with respect to each motor vehicle by an insurance policy that qualifies under Chapter 12 of title 41 (the Safety Responsibility Act), except as modified to provide the benefits and exemptions provided for in this act, and has been approved by the department; or ...”
Thus, the No-Fault Act, while ostensibly distinct from the Safety Responsibility Act, expressly incorporates provisions of the lattеr act, (those setting out the “qualifications” of an insurance policy under that act) into its security requirements. We interpret this as evidence of the intent of the legislature, to require the minimum coverages outlined in the Safety Responsibility Act in all insurance policies used as security for the registration and subsequent operation of motor vehicles in Utah.
The qualifying language of the Safety Responsibility Act is found primarily in
“(b) Such owner‘s policy of liability insurance:
“(1) shall designate by explicit description or by appropriate reference all motor vehicles with respect to which coverage is thereby to be granted; and
“(2) shall insure the persons named therein and any other person, as insured, using any such motor vehicle or motor vehicles with the express or implied permission of such named insured, against loss from the liability imposed by law for damages arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of such motor vehicle or motor vehicles within the United States of Ameriсa or the Dominion of Canada, subject to limits exclusive of interests and costs, with respect to each such motor vehicle, in the amount specified in Section 41-12-1(k) of this act.”9 [Emphasis added.]
“... the amount of $15,000 because of bodily injury to or death of one person, in any one accident, and, subject to said limit for one person, in the amount of $30,000 because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and in the amount of $5,000 because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident, or in lieu of the foregoing limits, a single limit of not less than $25,000.”10
The incorporation of the qualifying provisions of Chapter 12 of Title 41 requires: a) minimum omnibus coverage including persons operating the vehicle with the express or implied permission of the owner-insurer, and b) the minimum liability limits detailed in
In the present situation, because Pulliam was driving with the express permission of Brookfield, the named driver exclusion is void in relation to the minimum level of liability coverage mandated by
Our decision does not, however, read the named driver exclusionary endorsement out of the contract entirely. Rather, contracting parties are free to limit coverage in excess of the minimum required limits,11 and the exclusion found in the contract is valid in relation to any coverage exceeding the minimum amounts.12 Thus, a balance is struck between the necessity of securing minimum automobile liability coverage and the availability of lower premiums because of the exclusion of high insurance risks. This effectuates the express twofold purpose of the Utah No-Fault Insurance Act which is to require the payment of certain prescribed benefits in respect to motor vehicle accidents while stabilizing the rising costs of automobile accident insurance.13
Therefore, we affirm the lower court‘s decision that the named driver exclusionary endorsement is void, but only in relation to the mandatory minimum liability coverage. The exclusion is enforceable as to any insurance coverage provided to Brookfield above those minimum limits.14
After a thorough consideration of the other issues presented on appeal we conclude they are not meritorious.
WILKINS and STEWART, JJ., concur.
HALL, Justice (dissenting):
I am of the opinion that this case should be reversed both on procedural grounds as well as on the merits.
Allstate lacks standing to bring this lawsuit in its present form. Its complaint seeks the interpretation of an insurance contract between Brookfield Products and USF&G, specifically, the validity of an exclusion clause. Allstate is neither a party to the contract nor an assignee. An injured
As to Brookfield‘s cross-complaint against USF&G, I deem it injudicious for the Court to invalidate the exclusion—a provision of the insurance contract entered into by the parties at arm‘s length. Having agreed to the exclusion, Brookfield should be barred from challenging its validity. At the very least, equitable estoppel should apply. In Migliaccio v. Davis, 120 Utah 1, 232 P.2d 195 (1951), this Court ruled as follows:
* * * Equitable estoppel or estoppel in pais is the principal [sic] by which a party who knows or should know the truth is absolutely precluded, both at law and in equity, from denying or asserting the contrary of, any material fact, which, by his words or conduct, affirmative or negative, intentionally or through culpable negligence, he has induced another, who was excusably ignorant of the true facts and who had a right to rely upon such words and conduct, to believe and aсt upon them thereby, as a consequence reasonably to be anticipated, changing his position in such a way that he would suffer injury if such denial or contrary assertion were allowed.4
In the instant case, it is undisputed that USF&G had the absolute right to cancel the insurance policy upon proper notice at any time, for any reason. On Brookfield‘s affirmative representation that Pulliam had been transferred to the warehouse and would not thereafter drive the insured vehicles, USF&G continued to provide liability coverage. Notwithstanding Brookfield‘s representations, Pulliam was permitted to continue driving company vehicles. Because of the misrepresentation or concealment of the fact that Pulliam was still driving, Brookfield and Pulliam should be estopped from asserting that the exclusionary endorsement is invalid, void or unenforceable.
In light of the foregoing, I believe that the summary judgment should be reversed without ever reaching the merits of the decision. Nevertheless, my analysis of the case on its merits also dictates reversal.
The majority opinion improperly interferes with the constitutional freedom of contract, traditionally treated as being both a liberty and a property right protected by due process.6 The United States Supreme Court has stated that the freedom to contract is the essence of freedom from undue restraint on the right to contract.7 It is an inherent and inalienable right, which is guaranteed to every citizen.8 Every man has the right freely to deal, or refuse to deal, with his fellow man,10 and this Court should refrain from upsetting that right in the instant case.
The contract entered into explicitly excluded coverage for vehicles driven by Pul-
... under certain circumstances of a bad loss history or routine driver‘s license check showing that there is an adverse driving record on a driver, which renders the risk undesirable, the company gives the named insured notice that he has an option to renew the policy, excluding the driver, or to secure other insurance.
Brookfield voluntarily entered into the exclusion agreement. It knew that if Pulliam drove Brookfield vehicles, insurance coverage was excluded.11 Nevertheless, it proceeded to allow Pulliam to drive, thereby exposing itself to liability. To hold USF&G responsible for Pulliam‘s accident is, in my estimation, grossly unfair and without supрort in the law.
It is not important to recognize that what is involved here are not “no-fault” benefits,12 but, rather, uninsured motorist provisions of a liability policy, which is governed generally by the Safety Responsibility Act.13 As acknowledged by the majority, the omnibus requirements found in the Act apply only to policies required to be “certified.”14 This principle has been adopted by a vast majority of jurisdictions and has been explаined as follows:
The rationale of these cases is that the safety responsibility laws do not provide for compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance; that they are prospective in intendment, operate in futuro and are based upon the philosophy that every dog is allowed by the law one free bite; that such laws apply only to a second accident and not to a first accident; that there is no requirement that the owner or operator of a motor vehicle carry a policy of liability insurance or that it contain any particular provisions unless and until the safety responsibility law has been invoked by the occurrence of some event resulting in the order of a state official that security be deposited or that proof of financial responsibility be made; that the policy must be a “required” policy before the provisions of the safety responsibility law are to be incorporated therein.15
The security provisions contained in Utah‘s No-Fault Act relating to liability appear to be consistent with similar provisions contained in Utah‘s Safety Responsibility Act16 which has previously been interpreted by this Court.
I would reverse.
CROCKETT, C. J., concurs in the dissenting opinion of HALL, J.