Lead Opinion
delivered the opinion of the court:
Plaintiff, Patricia Greenawalt, appeals from a judgment entered on the pleadings in favor of defendant, State Farm Insurance Co., in an action seeking a declaratory judgment as to State Farm’s obligations pursuant to the uninsured motorist provision of an automobile policy issued to plaintiff and her husband (the Policy). The sole issue on appeal is whether the trial court properly granted State Farm’s motion for judgment on the pleadings based on its determination that State Farm’s obligation under its uninsured motorist provision was offset and fully satisfied by the joint tortfeasor’s settlement. For the following reasons, the judgment of the trial court is reversed and the cause is remanded for further proceedings.
The underlying facts are undisputed. On May 11, 1986, plaintiff was a passenger in an automobile driven by her husband, which was involved in a collision with an automobile driven by Timothy Anderson. As a result of the collision, plaintiff allegedly suffered severe injuries. Plaintiff filed insurance claims against both drivers. Anderson’s insurance company settled with plaintiff for $100,000, the maximum amount under his policy. Because section 1 of “An Act to revise the law in relation to husband and wife” (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 40, par. 1001), in effect at the time of the accident, prevented plaintiff from filing a tort action against her husband, she filed a claim with defendant, her insurer, seeking damages pursuant to the uninsured and underinsured motorist provisions of the three automobile policies she and her husband had with State Farm.
State Farm then moved for judgment on the pleadings on the grounds that pursuant to the uninsured motorist provision of the Policy, any amount received by an insured from or on behalf of a person legally liable for her personal injuries was to be set off against the liability limits of the uninsured motorist provision. Because the Policy’s liability limit for uninsured motorist coverage was $100,000 and plaintiff had already received $100,000 from Anderson’s insurer, State Farm claimed that there was no uninsured motorist coverage available. In response, plaintiff argued that her damages exceeded $100,000 and that she had valid claims against both tortfeasors, Anderson and her husband, and that, as joint tortfeasors, each is liable for damages based upon his percentage share of liability.
Following a hearing on the motion, the trial court granted State Farm’s motion. In entering its decision, the trial court stated:
“[T]he state of the law is, with regard to contribution, *** inadequately stated. But the contractual provisions here are not, in my opinion, vague. And to the extent that they impact on those rights of contribution among joint tortfeasors, is [sic] not violative of public policy as well. So she is limited to the contractual limitation of recovery with regard to the setoff of $100,000 that was made. And since their liability is a maximum of $100,000 minus the setoff, there is no liability contractually, and therefore judgment on the pleadings is granted in favor of State Farm.”
Plaintiff’s appeal followed.
On appeal, plaintiff claims that because her damages exceed the amount of the settlement with Anderson, State Farm remains obligated on behalf of her husband, as a joint tortfeasor, pursuant to the Policy’s uninsured motorist coverage. Plaintiff further argues that because she is not seeking double recovery, the settlement with Anderson should not be set off against State Farm’s uninsured motorist liability limits. Instead, the settlement should merely reduce the amount of recoverable damages by $100,000.
In response, State Farm argues that the plain language of the Policy provides that payment by any person who is legally liable for bodily injury to the insured reduces the amount payable under the Policy’s uninsured motorist provision. The Policy limits uninsured motorist coverage to $100,000. Therefore, Anderson’s $100,000 settlement acted to eliminate any obligation State Farm had under the Policy’s uninsured motorist provision.
Section III of the Policy, entitled “Limits of Liability — Coverage U,” provides, in relevant part:
“1. The amount of coverage is shown on the declarations page under ‘Limits of Liability-U-Each Person, Each Accident’. Under ‘Each Person’ is the amount of coverage for all damages due to bodily injury to one person [$100,000]. ***
2. Any amount payable under this coverage shall be reduced by any amount paid or payable to or for the insured:
a. by or for any person or organization who is or may be held legally liable for the bodily injury to the insured;
b. for bodily injury under the liability coverage; or
c. under any workers’ compensation, disability benefits or similar law.”
As a general rule, clear and unambiguous policy provisions are to be applied as written and policy language will be given its plain and ordinary meaning unless it contravenes public policy. (Scudella v. Illinois Farmers Insurance Co. (1988),
Plaintiff argues that application of the setoff provision violates public policy because it puts her in a less favorable position than she would be in if she could have proceeded against her husband as an insured joint tortfeasor. Generally, the amount paid by one tortfeasor acts to reduce the recoverable damages from the remaining tortfeasors. Without such a reduction, a plaintiff could receive damages in excess of her injuries, resulting in double recovery. (Schutt v. Allstate Insurance Co. (1985),
The effect of an insured joint tortfeasor’s settlement on uninsured motorist liability was addressed in Schutt v. Allstate Insurance Co. (1985),
Because Munos was uninsured, plaintiff filed a declaratory judgment action against his own insurer, Great Central Insurance Co., and against Long’s insurer, Allstate, seeking to recover under the uninsured motorist provisions. Plaintiff and Allstate agreed to submit the uninsured motorist claim to arbitration and stipulated to a voluntary dismissal of plaintiff’s declaratory judgment action against Allstate. The dispute between plaintiff and Grand Central was settled pursuant to a covenant not to sue.
Thereafter, plaintiff and Allstate submitted written issues to the arbitrators regarding what injuries plaintiff had incurred as the result of the accident and the size of the award. The arbitrators awarded plaintiff $2,500 in full settlement of his claim. As a result, Allstate claimed that, pursuant to its policy, the uninsured motorist award was to be reduced by all sums paid by any other person jointly or severally liable. Because Allstate had already paid $2,644.40 on behalf of Long and the claim was $2,500, Allstate claimed that it had no further obligation. The trial court found that Allstate was entitled to a setoff. On appeal, the reviewing court affirmed the trial court’s decision as to setoff on the ground that, “Since plaintiff has already received [the sum awarded by the arbitrators], the application of the setoff clause did not deprive him of any damages and fairly awarded him only that to which he is entitled.” (
In the present case, plaintiff has alleged damages in excess of the settlement amount of $100,000. If this allegation proves to be true, setoff of the settlement against the uninsured motorist liability limits would deprive plaintiff of damages she would otherwise have been able to recover had her husband been insured. This result is void as against public policy. (Wilhelm v. Universal Underwriters Insurance Co. (1978),
Thus, a determination of damages is a prerequisite to a decision as to whether a setoff provision in an uninsured motorist provision contravenes public policy or whether it properly prevents double recovery. At the hearing on State Farm’s motion, plaintiff’s counsel recognized the importance of a damage determination to a resolution of whether setoff under the uninsured motorist provision was void as against public policy.
“COUNSEL: Can I ask how there can be a setoff when the maximum involved [sic] of responsibility has yet to be determined?
THE COURT: A setoff is provided for in the contract because it says any amount that you recover shall be applied to the uninsured motorist coverage, which is $100,000.”
In reaching its conclusion, the trial court failed to consider the public policy concerns enunciatеd in Glidden and based its ruling strictly on the unambiguous language of the Policy. In our view, the trial court’s decision was premature as State Farm is not entitled to setoff unless it can show duplication of payments. Hoel v. Crum & Forster Insurance Co. (1977),
As previously indicated, at this juncture in the proceedings, no facts have been proved entitling plaintiff to damages in excess of $100,000. It is well settled that a cause of action should not be dismissed on the pleadings unless it clearly appears that no set of facts can be proved which would entitle plaintiff to recover. (Lanier v. Associates Finance, Inc. (1985),
In reaching our decision, we decline to follow Ackermann v. Prudential Property & Casualty Insurance Co. (1980),
Plaintiff filed his complaint for declaratory judgment alleging that his damages were in excess of $20,000 and requesting a declaration that he was entitled to recovery under the uninsured motorist provision and that Prudential was entitled to subrogation rights only as to the assets of the uninsured motorist. Prudential moved to strike and to dismiss the complaint. The trial court denied Prudential’s motion and ruled that Prudential’s subrogation rights were limited to the assets оf the alleged insured. On appeal, the Ackermann court reversed and remanded, stating:
“In Glidden the supreme court decided the issue of subrogation in connection with the uninsured-motorist clauses of insurance policies. Therefore, even though the plaintiff’s argument and the authorities he cites are persuasive, under the Glidden decision we find that Prudential is entitled to reimbursement from the plaintiff to the extent that it makes payment to him for uninsured motorist coverage, if he recovers from either tortfeasor.”
If this court follows Ackermann’s strict interpretatiоn of Glidden, plaintiff ends up in a worse position than if the uninsured tortfeasor (her husband) had been insured to at least the statutory minimum and State Farm enjoys a “windfall.” As previously stated, a setoff of uninsured motorist payments is appropriate only if duplication of payment can be shown. (Scudella v. Illinois Farmers Insurance Co. (1988),
Based on the aforementioned, the judgment of the trial court is reversed and the cause is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Reversed and remanded.
BUCKLEY, J., concurs.
Notes
At the time of the accident, plaintiff and her husband owned three automobiles, each of which was insured under a separate policy with State Farm. Initially, plaintiff’s complaint for declaratory judgment sought relief under all three policies. However, at the hearing on State Farm’s motion for judgment on the pleadings, the parties agreed that plaintiff was proceeding only on the theory that her husband was an uninsured motorist pursuant to the policy issued on the automobile involved in the collision.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting:
Defendant filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings, arguing that pursuant tо its insurance policy, any amount recovered by plaintiff “from or on behalf of a person legally liable for personal injuries” was to be set off against the liability limits of the uninsured motorist provision. Because the liability limit was $100,000, and plaintiff had already received that amount from Anderson’s insurer, defendant had no contractual liability whatsoever to plaintiff.
It is well settled that a motion for judgment on the pleadings raises the question of the sufficiency of the pleadings as a matter of law to entitle the plaintiff to the relief sought by the complaint, and the questiоn of whether defendant’s answer sets up a defense to the complaint which would entitle defendant to a hearing on the merits. (Milanko v. Jensen (1949),
Courts of review in Illinois have held that the entry of judgment on the pleadings is proper only where the trial court determined the relative rights of the parties (In re Estate of Rettig (1981),
Here, defendant urges that the plain language of the policy provides that payment by any person who is legally liable for bodily injury to the insured reduces the amount payable under the uninsured motorist provision. Because the construction of an insurance policy presents only a question of law (Donald B. MacNeal, Inc. v. Interstate Fire & Casualty Co. (1985),
The statute that governs uninsured motor vehicle coverage provides in pertinent part:
“[N]o policy insuring against loss resulting from liability imposed by law for bodily injury or death suffered by any person arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of a motor vehicle shall be renewed or delivered or issued for delivery in this State *** unless coverage is provided *** in limits for bodily injury or death set forth in Section 7 — 203 of The Hlinois Motor Vehicle Code, for the protection of persons insured thereunder who are legally entitled to recover damages from owners or operators of uninsured motor vehicles ***.” Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 73, par. 755a(1).
The uninsured motorist provision in the State Farm policy provides that the insurer “will pay damages for bodily injury an insured is legally entitled to collect from the driver or owner of an uninsured motor vehicle.” However, the policy further provides that payment by any person who is legally liable for bodily injury to the insured reduces the amount payable under the policy’s uninsured motorist provision. Specifically, section III of the policy, which is entitled “Limits of Liability — Coverage U,” provides, in pertinent part:
“1. The amount of coverage is shown on the declarations page under ‘Limits of Liability — U—Each Person, Each Accident.’ Under ‘Each Person’ is the amount of coverage for all damages due to bodily injury to one person.
2. Any amount payable under this coverage shall be reduced by any amount paid or payable to or for the insured:
a. by or for any person or organization who is or may be held legally liable for the bodily injury to the insured;
b. for bodily injury under the liability coverage; or
c. under any workers’ compensation, disability benefits, or similar law.”
It is well established that a clear and unambiguous policy provision is to be applied as written and policy language will be given its plain and ordinary meaning (United States Fire Insurance Co. v. Schnackenberg (1981),
Plaintiff contends and the majority agrees that the effect of the limitation of liability clause here precludes any recovery from one of the tortfeasors and such limitation contravenes public policy and the intent of the uninsured motorist statute. A similar analysis was rejected in Stryker v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. (1978),
Recently, the appellate court upheld a clause which allowed the insurer to set off from the uninsured motorist coverage any amounts payable by the uninsured motorist or any other tortfeasor. In Schutt v. Allstate Insurance Co. (1985),
“Under well-established principles, amounts paid by one or more of the joint tortfeasors are to be applied in reduction of the damages recoverable from those remaining in the suit. [Citation.] Payments made by one of the tortfeasors on account of the tort either before or after judgment diminish the claim of an injured person against all others responsible for the same harm. [Citations.] Without such a reduction, plaintiff may improperly receive damages in excess of injuries sustained. [Citation.] The purpose of compensatory tort damages is to compensate; it is not the purpose of such damages to punish defendants or bestow a windfall upon plaintiffs. [Citation.] Double recovery for the same injury is a result to be condemned. [Citation.]
We conclude from this summary of the law that the setoff clause only acts to prevent double recovery in accordance with principles of Illinois law on damages and does not prejudice a plaintiff who has sustained injuries as a result of the negligence of an insured motorist.” Schutt,135 Ill. App. 3d at 140 .
Using reasoning consistent with that in Ullman and Stryker and in reliance on Schutt, I would hold that absent a statutory provision to the contrary, the provision in defendant’s policy which permits it to deduct payments paid or payable to its insured from one lеgally liable to him or her from the limits of uninsured motorist coverage is not offensive to public policy.
Moreover, I believe that the cases cited to by plaintiff are inapposite to the factual matrix here presented. The holdings in Maid v. Illinois Farmers Insurance Co. (1981),
I realize that my рroposed disposition here would render a result where plaintiff is precluded from any recovery from her tortfeasor spouse. However, the clause in the policy is not made void by reason of this unfortunate result, or because the plaintiff’s total damages possibly exceed the amount recoverable. Under other circumstances plaintiff would be entitled to recover, i.e., where the amount paid by the uninsured motorist or joint tortfeasor was less than the $100,000 limit of defendant’s uninsured motorist coverage. When a court interprets an insurance policy, there are only two sources upon which it may base, its analysis: the plain language of the policy and the plain language of the Insurance Code of 1937 as it existed at the time the policy was written. Bailey v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. (1987),
Moreover, the uninsured motorist statute provides in section 143(aX4) that:
“In the event of payment to any person under the coverage required by this Section and subject to the terms and conditions of such coverage, the insurer making such payment shall, to the extent thereof, be entitled to the proceeds of аny settlement or judgment resulting from the exercise of any rights of recovery of such person against any person or organization legally responsible for the property damage, bodily injury or death for which such payment is made, including the proceeds recoverable from the assets of the insolvent insurer.” Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 73, par. 755a(4).
The trial court determined that plaintiff had received $100,000 from Anderson. Under the terms of the policy, that amount was to be set off from the maximum amount of uninsured coverage available to plaintiff, which was also $100,000. Thus, I agree with the trial court’s finding that there was no available uninsured motorist coverage for plaintiff’s claim. An insurer, who is governed by guidelines and restrictions enacted by the legislature, has the right to limit coverage on a policy it issues, and when it has done so, the clear and unambiguous language of the policy limitation clause must be given meaning, and the courts must construe and enforce the contract as made. Kaszeski v. Fidelity & Casualty Co. (1973),
In light of the statutory mandate and the policy’s unambiguous provision here which states its limit of liability, I would affirm the judgment of the trial court which granted judgment on the pleadings to defendant. Accordingly, I respectfully dissent from the majority opinion.