Steven R. RICHARD, Plaintiff, v. Norval K. FLIFLET and Daniel Bye, Defendants. and Norval K. FLIFLET, Defendant, Third-Party Plaintiff and Appellant, v. STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY, Third-Party Defendant and Appellee.
Civ. No. 10814.
Supreme Court of North Dakota.
June 27, 1985.
373 N.W.2d 399
GIERKE, VANDE WALLE and LEVINE, JJ., and PEDERSON, Surrogate Justice, concur.
PEDERSON, Surrogate Justice, sitting in place of MESCHKE, J., disqualified.
O‘Grady, Morley & Morley, Grand Forks, for defendant, third-party plaintiff and appellant Norval K. Fliflet; argued by Michael J. Morley, Grand Forks.
Vogel, Brantner, Kelly, Knutson, Weir & Bye, Fargo, for third-party defendant and appellee State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co.; argued by Harlan G. Fuglesten, Fargo.
ERICKSTAD, Chief Justice.
The defendant and third-party plaintiff, Norval K. Fliflet, appeals from a district court judgment dismissing his action against the third-party defendant, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Com
State Farm and Fliflet stipulated to the following facts:
“1. On January 7, 1983, Norval Fliflet, of Hannaford, North Dakota, was driving a 1974 Plymouth Fury III automobile owned by his brother-in-law, Daniel Bye, also of Hannaford, when it was involved in an accident in Fargo, North Dakota with a vehicle owned and driven by Steven Richard of Mapleton, North Dakota.
“2. At the time of the accident there existed an insurance policy issued by State Farm to Merlin Lende of Cooperstown, for the 1974 Plymouth Fury III. A true and correct copy of this policy and the application for this policy are attached hereto marked Exhibit 1 and 2 respectively. This policy was purchased by Mr. Lende for a coverage period from November 15, 1982 to May 15, 1983. A premium of $62.42 was paid for this insurance.
“3. At the time Merlin Lende made application for this insurance he represented that he owned the vehicle. However, the true owner of the vehicle at all times material to this lawsuit was Daniel Bye.
“4. When the accident in question occurred on January 7, 1983, State Farm was unaware that Merlin Lende had no ownership interest in the vehicle. When State Farm first learned of this fact following the accident, it immediately rescinded Mr. Lende‘s insurance policy, returned his entire premium, and denied liability coverage for the accident.
“5. In February, 1983, Steven Richard instituted a lawsuit for damages in the amount of Two Thousand and no/100 Dollars ($2,000.00) against Norval Fliflet and Daniel Bye.
“6. At the time of the accident in question, Norval Fliflet had in force and effect an automobile insurance policy with Dairylаnd Insurance Company covering and insuring a 1970 Plymouth two
door automobile owned by Norval Fliflet. That car insured by Dairyland Insurance Company was not involved in the accident of January 7, 1983. Dairyland Insurance Company is providing a defense to Norval Fliflet under that policy, because State Farm has refused to provide him a defense. A true and correct copy of this insurance policy is attached hereto and marked Exhibit 3. “7. On June 7, 1983, Norval Fliflet served a Third Party Summons and Complaint on State Farm claiming a right to indemnification by virtue of State Farm‘s obligations under thе insurance policy issued to Mr. Lende. State Farm filed an Answer denying liability on the basis that the contract of insurance on the 1974 Plymouth Fury III was rescinded on the basis of Mr. Lende‘s misrepresentation of ownership and/or concealment of a material fact.”
Richard‘s action against Fliflet and Bye was settled for $1,100, with an agreement that the insurance company obligated to provide coverage for the accident, either State Farm or Dairyland, would pay Richard. Fliflet‘s third-party action was submitted to the district court on the stipulated facts. The district court concluded that State Farm properly rescinded the insurance policy issued to Lende on the Plymouth Fury III because he misrepresented a fact material to the risk and because the policy was not issued pursuant to the requirements of
The basic issue presented by this appeal is whether or not State Farm could rescind the insurance policy issued to Lende on the 1974 Plymouth Fury III after the accident on the basis of his material misrepresentation of ownership of the automobile. We conclude that it could not so rescind.
Fliflet contends that
“6. Every motor vehicle liability policy shall be subject to the following provisions which need not be contained therein:
a. The liability of the insurance carrier with respect to the insurancе required by this chapter shall become absolute whenever injury or damage covered by said motor vehicle liability policy occurs; said policy may not be canceled or annulled as to such liability by any agreement between the insurance carrier and the insured after the occurrence of the injury or damage; no statement made by the insured or on his behalf and no violation of said policy shall defeat or void said policy.”
State Farm contends that
State Farm also asserts that the application of
The resolution of the arguments raised by the parties requires a brief discussion of North Dakota‘s Financial Responsibility Laws contained in Chapters 39-16 [Financial Responsibility of Owners and Operators] and 39-16.1 [Proof of Financial Responsibility for the Future], N.D.C.C.4 In Hughes v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, 236 N.W.2d 870, 880 (N.D. 1975), we discussed the distinction between Chapters 39-16 and 39-16.1, N.D.C.C.:
“Standing alone, Chapter 39-16 is intended to impose penalties against a motor vehicle owner or operator who is involved in an accident and does not subsequently establish that he is financially capable of responding in damages if he should thereafter be found liable for bodily injury or property damage sustained by any person in such accident. The principal sanctions imposed by
§ 39-16-05, N.D.C.C. , however, will not apply, by the very terms of the statute itself, to an owner or operator having in effect an acceptable policy of liability insurance at the time of the person‘s first accident. Chapter 39-16.1, N.D.C.C., is designed to require a motor vehicle owner or operator who has already had an accident, or who has been convicted of certain traffic offenses, to establish proof of financial ability to respond in damages for any bodily injury or property damage which may occur as the result of future accidents. Chapter 39-16.1 sets out specific procedural requirements which an owner or operator must follow in establishing proof of financial responsibility, and also defines, in§ 39-16.1-11, N.D.C.C. , the type of insurance coverage which must be carried by the owner or operator to comply with the requirements of Chapter 39-16.1.” [Emphasis in original.]
In Hughes, the insured‘s wife was injured while riding on a snowmobile with the insured. The dispositive issue in that case was whether a “household or family exclusion clause”5 in a policy of liability insurance purchased to avoid the sanctions of
Our decision in Hughes was based on several factors. We acknowledged that the Legislature‘s purpose in enacting our financial responsibility laws was to protect innocent victims of motor vehicle accidents from financial disaster. We specifically noted that the language of
We concluded that the “substantially the same coverage” language of
“1. Limits of liability of not less than ten thousand dollars because of bodily injury or death to one person in any one accident; twenty thousand dollars because of bodily injury or death to two or more persons in any one aсcident; and five thousand dollars because of injury to or destruction of property in any one accident; and
“2. Insuring the named insured and any other person driving said motor vehicle with the permission of the named insured; and
“3. Insuring such persons against loss from the liability imposed by law for damages arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of such insured motor vehicle within the United States of America or the Dominion of Canada.” [Emphasis in original.] Hughes, supra, 236 N.W.2d at 883.
We further stated:
“The only portions of Chapter 39-16.1 that have been effectively incorporated into § 39-16-05 are those portions of § 39-16.1-11 which define the coverage required in a liability insurance policy issued with respect to a motor vehiclе owner or operator involved in an accident. The procedural requirements have not been incorporated into Chapter 39-16, nor were they intended to be so incorporated.
*
“The only portions of Chapter 39-16.1 incorporated into § 39-16-05, and therefore applicable in this case, are those portions of subsections 1, 2 and 3 of § 39-16.1-11 which define the coverage required in a motor vehicle liability insurance policy. There is no certification requirement contained in Chapter 39-16, nor is there a provision which limits the insuranсe company‘s potential liability to a statutorily defined maximum. The only portion of § 39-16.1-11 applicable to this case is that portion of such section defining the coverage of a ‘motor vehicle insurance policy‘. Such coverage includes certain minimum limits of liability, plus the Omnibus Clause. By the policy‘s specific terms, the provisions contained in subsections 7 and 8 of § 39-16.1-11 are activated only when the policy is ‘certified as proof of future financial responsibility ... while such proof is required during the policy period [emphasis added].‘” Hughes, supra, 236 N.W.2d at 885-886.
Our decision in Hughes did not address whether subsection 6 of
Fliflet contends that subsection 6 should be incorporated in
State Farm contends that subsection 6 does not describe the amount of coverage purchased, and therefore should not be inсorporated into motor vehicle policies purchased voluntarily to avoid the sanctions of
In Shockley v. Sallows, 615 F.2d 233 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 838, 101 S.Ct. 113, 66 L.Ed.2d 44 (1980), the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals dealt with a factual situation similar to the instant case. In Shockley, a diversity case involving the application of North Dakota law, the court interpreted our financial responsibility laws and particularly
“[T]he public policy of North Dakota as there enunciated by its Supreme Court, and the broad construction placed upon its financial responsibility laws, convinces us that the courts of North Dakota would hold that the company‘s liability to Sallows under the policy becamе absolute upon the occurrence of the accident which resulted in the death of Mrs. Shockley, notwithstanding the company‘s subsequent discovery of Sallows’ misrepresentation of a material fact in applying for the policy. The policy in the instant case is governed by the financial responsibility laws of North Dakota and cannot be voided after the accident occurred.” Shockley, supra, 615 F.2d at 237.
We believe that the Shockley court‘s interpretation of our decision in Hughes and our financial responsibility laws is correct.
North Dakota law requires that no person shall drive a motor vehicle without a valid motor vehicle liability insurance policy in the amount required by
We also note
The overriding purpose of our financial responsibility laws is to protect innocent victims of motor vehicle accidents from financial disaster. This principle coincides with the concept of protecting innocent victims who are not in the position enjoyed by the contracting insurer to protect themselves against fraud or misrepresentation by the insured.
All motor vehicle liability рolicies used to satisfy the sanctions of
We also conclude that because
Accordingly, the district court judgment is reversed and the case is remanded for entry of judgment in favor of Fliflet.
GIERKE and MESCHKE, JJ., concur.
PEDERSON, Surrogate Justice, sitting in place of LEVINE, J., disqualified.
PEDERSON, Surrogate Justice, concurring specially.
The Chief Justice correctly interprets what the majority of this court held in Hughes v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 236 N.W.2d 870 (N.D.1975). I did not agree with that majority view in 1975 and I still believe it was wrong. Nevertheless, the law is expounded in majority opinions,
Why the liability insurance premiums have not been adjusted upward to cover the added exposure resulting from Hughes v. State Farm, I do not know. It would be difficult to argue that higher premiums are not justified.
VANDE WALLE, Justice, dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. It is conceded that the policy was purchased for the purpose of avoiding the sanctions of
This is a dispute between insurance companies and under the circumstances of the case I feel no compulsion to stretch the provisions of
RALPH J. ERICKSTAD
CHIEF JUSTICE
Notes
“1. A ‘motor vehicle liability policy’ as said term is used in this chapter means an owner‘s or an operator‘s policy of liability insurance, certified as provided in sections 39-16.1-09 and 39-16.1-10 as proof of financial responsibility, and issued, except as otherwise provided in section 39-16.1-10, by an insurance carrier duly authorized to transact business in this state, to or for the benefit of the person named therein as insured.”
“39-16-05. Suspension of license and when not applicable. The commissioner, within sixty days after the receipt of a report of a motor vehicle accident within this state which has resulted in bodily injury or death, or damage to the property of any one person in excess of four hundred dollars, shall suspend the license of each driver of each vehicle in any manner involved in such accident, and if such driver is a nonresident, the commissioner shall suspend the driver‘s privilege of operating a motor vehicle within this state unless such driver shall deposit security as provided in sections 39-16-09 and 39-16-10 in a sum which shall be sufficient in the judgment of the commissioner to satisfy any judgment or judgments for damages resulting from such accident as may be recovered against such driver, provided that notice of such suspension and opportunity for hearing shall be sent by the commissioner to such driver not less than ten days prior to the effective date of such suspension and shall state the amount required as security. However, if a driver, either resident or nonresident, involved in such accident purchases a policy of insurance with at least the amount of coverage required by this section, and files proof and satisfies financial responsibility requirements thereof with the commissioner, that driver shall be allowed to retain his license or privilege until such time as the driver has accepted responsibility for the accident or agreed to a settlement of claims arising from the accident or until a court of this state has determined that the driver was negligent or responsible for the accident in whole or in part. If the driver is found negligent or responsible for the accident, in whole or in part, his license or privilege shall be suspended and shall not be returned until the driver complies with the provisions of this chapter. This section shаll not apply under the conditions stated in section 39-16-06, or:
1. To a driver, if he is the owner of the motor vehicle involved in the accident and had in effect at the time of such accident an automobile liability policy with respect to the motor vehicle involved in such accident, affording substantially the same coverage as is required for proof of financial responsibility under chapter 39-16.1.
2. To a driver, if not the owner of such motor vehicle, if there was in effect at the time of such accident an automobile liability policy or bond with respect to his operation of motor vehicle, affording substantially the same coverage as is required for proof of financial responsibility under chapter 39-16.1.
3. To a driver, if the liability of such driver for damages resulting from such accident is, in the judgment of the commissioner, covered by any other form of liability insurance policy or bond or certificate of self-insurance under section 39-16-32.
“No such policy or bond shall be effective under this section unless by an insurance carrier or surety company authorized to do business in this state, except that if suсh motor vehicle was not registered in the state, or was a motor vehicle which was registered elsewhere than in this state at the effective date of the policy or bond, or the most recent renewal thereof, such policy or bond shall not be effective under this section unless the insurance carrier or surety company, if not authorized to do business in this state, shall execute a power of attorney authorizing the commissioner to accept service, on its behalf, of notice or process in any action upon such pоlicy or bond arising out of such accident; provided, every such policy or bond is subject, if the accident has resulted in bodily injury or death, to a limit, exclusive of interest and costs, of not less than twenty-five thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident and, subject to said limit for one person, to a limit of not less than fifty thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and, if the accident has resulted in injury to or destruction of property to a limit of not less than ten thousand dollars because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident. Upon receipt of notice of such accident, the insurance carrier or surety company which issued such policy or bond shall furnish for filing with the commissioner a written notice that such policy or bond was in effect at the time of such accident, or the department may rely upon the accuracy of the information and the required report of an accident as to the existence of insurance or a bond unless аnd until the department has reason to believe that the information is erroneous.”
“The provisions of this chapter requiring the deposit of proof of financial responsibility for the future, subject to certain exemptions, shall apply with respect to persons who have been convicted of or forfeited bail for certain offenses under motor vehicle laws or who have failed to pay judgments upon causes of action arising out of ownership, maintenance, or use of vehicles of a type subject to registration under the lаws of this state.”
“‘EXCLUSIONS-SECTION 1
“‘THIS INSURANCE DOES NOT APPLY UNDER:
“‘(h) COVERAGE A, TO BODILY INJURY TO ANY INSURED OR ANY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY OF AN INSURED RESIDING IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD AS THE INSURED; ...‘” Hughes, supra, 236 N.W.2d at 877.
“‘FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LAWS
“‘When certified as proof of future financial responsibility under any motor vehicle financial responsibility law and while such proof is required during the policy period, this policy shall comply with such law if applicable, to the extent of the coverage and limits required thereby; but not in excess of the limits of liability stated in this policy. The insured agrees to reimburse the company for any payment made by the company which it would not have been obligated to make under the terms of this policy except for the agreement contained in this paragraph.‘” Hughes, supra, 236 N.W.2d at 877.
“7. Any policy which grants the coverage required for a motor vehicle liability policy may also grant any lawful coverage in excess of or in addition to the coverage specified for a motor vehicle liability policy and such excess or additional coverage shall not be subject to the provisions of this chapter. With respect to a policy which grants such excess or additional coverage the term ‘motor vehicle policy’ shall apply only to that part of the coverage which is required by this section.
“8. Any motor vehicle liability policy may provide that the insured shall reimburse the insurance carrier for any payment the insurance carrier would not have been obligated to make under the terms of the policy except for the provisions of this chapter.”
“26-02-15. Rescission for concealment.-A concealment, whether intentional or unintentional, entitles the injured party to rescind a contract of insurance. An intentional and fraudulent omission on the part of one insured to communicate information of matters proving or tending to prove the falsity of a warranty entitles the insurer to rescind.”
Section 26-02-24, N.D.C.C., provides:“26-02-24. False representations-Materiality and effect.-A representation is false when the facts fail to correspond with its assertions or stipulations. If a representation is false in a material point, whether affirmative or promissory, the injured party is entitled to rescind the contract from the time when the representation becomes false, and the materiality of a representation is determined by the same rule which determines the materiality of a concealment.”
Section 26-02-25, N.D.C.C., provides:“26-02-25. Misrepresentations-Determination of materiality-Effect.-No oral or written misrepresentations made in the negotiation of a contract or policy of insurance by the insured or in his behalf shall be deemed material or shall defeat or avoid the policy or prevent its attaching unless such misrepresentation shall have been made with actual intent to deceive or unless the matter misrepresented increased the risk of loss.”
Section 26-02-29, N.D.C.C., provides:“26-02-29. Modification of contract of insurance-Exercise of right of rescission.-The provisions of this chapter apply to a modification of a contract of insurance as well as to its original formation. Whenever a right to rescind a contract of insurance is given to the insurer by any provision of this title, such right may be exercised at any time previous to the commencement of an action on the contract.”