OPINION
Plaintiff-Appellant Sarah Melson brought this action against Defendant-Ap-pellee Prime Insurance Syndicate, Inc. (“Prime”), alleging that Prime’s decision not to pay her insurance policy’s face value for a loss caused by fire damage to Mel-son’s commercial property violated both Michigan state law and the terms of the insurance policy. Melson appealed the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Prime, contending that the district court’s judgment was erroneous because: (1) Prime’s Coinsurance Provision — upon which it relied to deny Mel-son full coverage — is invalid, as against Michigan public policy; and (2) the Coinsurance Provision is ambiguous, and thus fraudulently misrepresents the true nature of the Policy. On appeal, we held that the Coinsurance Provision provided Melson with accurate notice as to the conditions of the Policy’s coverage. We were unable to determine with certainty, however, whether the Coinsurance Provision violated Michigan public policy, and thus sought guidance from the Michigan Supreme Court in the form of two certified questions.
1
That court declined to answer our questions.
In re Certified Questions from the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit,
I. BACKGROUND
On September 28, 1995, Melson purchased two adjoining properties for eom- *635 mereial use in Detroit, Michigan, located at 20338-54 and 20426-40 W. Seven Mile Road, respectively. The total purchase price for both properties was $250,000, which included the land and all other elements of the real estate.
On October 12, 1995, Melson insured both properties with Prime. The total insurance coverage for both buildings was $480,000 — including $185,000 for the property at issue. According to the insurance policy (“Policy”), Prime was required to pay the full amount of actual loss in the event of a fire, subject to certain limitations and conditions. One of these conditions was the imposition of a coinsurance penalty if it were determined that Melson had underinsured the property. Attached to the policy under a provision titled “Additional Conditions,” the Coinsurance Provision states: 2 “We will not pay the full amount of any loss if the replacement cost value of Covered Property at the time of the loss times the Coinsurance Percentage shown for it in the Declarations is greater than the limit for the property.” The Policy’s Commercial Property Coverage Declarations page (“Declarations page”) listed a coinsurance amount of 80%. This required Melson to insure the property at 80% of its replacement cost value to avoid triggering the coinsurance penalty.
On January 16, 2001, a fire damaged the building located at 20426-40 W. Seven Mile Road Each party agrees that the actual cash value of the loss exceeded the total coverage of $185,000. 3 Prime calculated the actual cash value of the loss at $255,778.28. Without a Coinsurance Provision, Prime would have been required to pay the policy’s full face value — $185,000. Here, however, Prime contends that because the Policy imposed a coinsurance requirement, it is not responsible for indemnifying Melson for the policy’s full face value. Prime argues that it is only required to cover a percentage of that loss, because Melson failed to meet the coinsurance requirement. Specifically, Prime contends that because Melson insured less than 80% of the building’s total replacement cost with them, it is only responsible for the proportion of the loss equal to the proportion that was “adequately insured.”
Prime determined that the full replacement cost of the building was $468,347. Applying the Coinsurance Provision, Prime determined that the replacement cost value ($468,347) multiplied by the Coinsurance Percentage (.80) required Mel-son to have insured the property for $374,677.60, rather than $185,000. Prime then determined that it would only pay a sum equal to the proportion of insurance that Melson had versus what she was required to have. That is, Prime agreed to pay the equivalent proportion of $185,000/ $374,678 of whatever loss was incurred.
Prime used the following formula to calculate its payment:
(1) multiply the replacement cost value of the covered property by the Coinsurance Percentage
($468,347 x .8) = $374,677.60;
(2) divide the limit of insurance of the property by the figure determined in step (1)
(185,000/374,677.60) =.4939;
*636 (3) multiply the total amount of loss, before the application of any deductible, by the figure determined in step (2) $255,677.28 x .49 = $126,292.53; and
(4) subtract the deductible from the figure determined in step (3)
$126,292.53 — -$1,000 = $125,292.53.
Pursuant to these calculations, Prime sent Melson two checks totaling $125,292.53 on April 4, 2001. Melson filed an action in federal district court, alleging that Prime’s refusal to pay the full $185,000 was a violation of both the terms of the contract and Michigan state law. The district court granted Prime’s motion for summary judgment. Melson appealed, alleging that Prime misrepresented the nature of the policy, that the policy was ambiguous, and that the Coinsurance Provision was contrary to Michigan public policy. Although we affirmed the district court’s order on Melson’s first two claims, we were unable to determine whether coinsurance clauses violated Michigan public policy. We certified two questions to the Michigan Supreme Court, which declined to provide guidance after determining that it did not have jurisdiction. Our opinion addresses only whether coinsurance clauses violate Michigan public policy..
II. DISCUSSION
A. Standard of Review
We review the district court’s grant of summary judgment
de novo. Stephenson v. Allstate Ins. Co.,
B. The Public Policy Claim
Melson argues that Prime’s Coinsurance Provision is contrary to Michigan public policy for two reasons: (1) the Michigan legislature revoked the statutory authorization permitting inclusion of coinsurance provisions in property policies; and (2) the Michigan legislature requires that property policies pay, at a minimum, actual cash value benefits upon a loss. “When and how state law applies to a particular case is a matter on which the state supreme court has the last word.”
Houston v. Dutton,
1. Michigan Public Policy
With few exceptions, courts have held that “[a]n insurer is free to define or limit the scope of coverage as long as the policy language fairly leads to only one reason
*637
able interpretation and is not in contravention of public policy.”
Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co. v. Nikkel,
Public policy is to be ascertained by reference to the laws and legal precedents and not from general considerations of supposed public interests. As the term ‘public policy’ is vague, there must be found definite indications in the law of the sovereign to justify the invalidation of a contract as contrary to that policy.
Terrien v. Zwit,
First, Melson contends that although coinsurance provisions were permitted in property policies in Michigan pursuant to M.C.L. § 500.2840, the authority of insurers to include such provisions was revoked by Public Act 1990, No. 305, § 2, effective December 14, 1990.
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In support of her contention that the deletion of § 500.2840 from Michigan’s Insurance Code eonsti-. tutes a prohibition on coinsurance provisions, Melson cites to several cases for the proposition that “[w]here a statute is repealed and another statute is enacted that covers the same subject area ... a change in wording reflects a legislative intent to change the statute’s meaning.”
Williams v. Auto Club Group Ins. Co.,
. Although the Michigan Supreme Court has not yet addressed whether, after the repeal of § 500.2840, coinsurance provisions remain consistent with Michigan public policy, it is clear that Michigan courts have historically accepted coinsurance provisions. “We dismiss plaintiffs claim that there is something vicious about co-insurance. Its legality is no longer a debatable question. It has been authorized by law for over 40 years.”
Masonic Temple Ass’n of Grand Rapids v. Michigan,
Furthermore, although the Michigan Supreme Court has not addressed this precise issue, a Michigan Court of Appeals has explicitly held that coinsurance provisions continue to be consistent with Michigan public policy despite the repeal of § 500.2840. A decision by the Michigan
*638
Court of Appeals is controlling until the Michigan Supreme Court or another panel of the Michigan Court of Appeals rules otherwise.
Wieczorek v. Volkswagenwerk, A.G.,
The Michigan court not only held that coinsurance provisions do not violate Michigan public policy as a general rule, it permitted a coinsurance clause that is in all relevant respects identical to the provision at issue. In so holding, that court observed that “nothing has been presented to clearly establish that the instant coinsurance clause transgresses our state and federal constitutions, our statutes, the common law, our administrative rules and regulations, or our public rules of professional conduct.”
Royal Property,
at 437. So too here, Melson has presented nothing that clearly establishes that the Coinsurance Provision violates Michigan public policy. Absent a clear indication that coinsurance violates Michigan public policy, this Court cannot rewrite the insurance contract.
Terrien,
Melson contends that this Court should not follow Royal Property, because the court in that case did not discuss the repeal of § 500.2840. Although Melson contends that the state court did not discuss § 500.2840 because it was unaware of the repeal of the statute, it is at least as plausible that the court considered but rejected the argument Melson forwards here. Even if that court did not consider it, this Court is not convinced that the repeal of § 500.2840 provides an indication that coinsurance violates Michigan public policy so definite that the Michigan Supreme Court would find it sufficient to justify the invalidation of a contract under Terrien.
Prime argues persuasively that § 500.2840 did not authorize insurers to include coinsurance provisions, but merely provided structure for a right long recognized by Michigan common law. As discussed
supra,
Michigan courts have recognized the legality of coinsurance provisions as well established.
Masonic Temple,
[The plaintiff is] bound either to procure from others, or to carry themselves, insurance to the extent, with defendant’s policy, of four-fifths of the value of the insured property. The undertaking is positive and unequivocal that they shall keep the property insured to that extent, and that they shall themselves be treated as insurers for all that others do not insure. 5
*639 Id. at 111. Although the Michigan legislature certainly could regulate the legality of coinsurance clauses via statute, Masonic Temple and Chesebrough suggest that § 500.2840 did not authorize their introduction. Given that § 500.2840 appears to have structured, rather than created, the long-established practice of including coinsurance provisions in property policies, its deletion neither prohibits such provisions, nor indicates that coinsurance provisions are in conflict with Michigan public policy.
2. Actual Cash Benefits
Melson also asserts that the coinsurance clause violates Michigan public policy insofar as coinsurance policies are inconsistent with Michigan statutory law regulating the contents of fire insurance policies. M.C.L. § 500.2833(1)(a) requires fire insurance policies to pay a minimum of actual cash value upon a loss. It provides: “Each fire insurance policy issued or delivered in this state shall contain the following provisions: That the policy shall provide, at a minimum, coverage for actual cash value of the property at the time of the loss, subject to all other provisions contained herein.” § 500.2833(1)(a). Melson contrasts § 500.2833 with M.C.L. § 500.2832, the former Michigan Standard Fire Policy, which was repealed by Public Act 1990, No. 305. Melson argues that M.C.L. § 500.2832, which set forth the form of a standard policy and provided coverage to the extent of actual cash value of the property at the time of loss, but not exceeding the amount it would cost to repair or replace the property, was an implicit endorsement of coinsurance clauses. Melson argues that in recodifying Michigan fire insurance law in the form of M.C.L. § 500.2833 so as to require coverage for actual cash value of the property, the Michigan legislature intended to prohibit coinsurance provisions. Coupled with the already-discussed repeal of what Melson takes to be the authorizing statute for coinsurance provisions, she argues that coinsurance provisions are against Michigan public policy.
First, as discussed supra, Melson’s argument is premised on an erroneous assumption that coinsurance policies were authorized by statute, such that the repeal of a statute could effectuate the prohibition of coinsurance clauses. Second, in reading § 500.2833(1)(a) as prohibiting coinsurance provisions, Melson focuses on only a subsection of that statute, and ignores other relevant provisions. Although § 500.2833(1)(a) requires that a fire policy provide coverage for the actual cash value at the time of the loss, § 500.2833(1)(f) requires a fire insurance policy to include “[tjhose conditions which result in the suspension or restriction of insurance.” M.C.L. § 500.2833(1)(f). Given that coinsurance policies do not, as a general rule, violate Michigan public policy, it is consistent with § 500.2833 to include coinsurance provisions in fire insurance policies, because failure to obtain sufficient insurance is a condition that will result in the restriction of insurance.
Like the repeal of § 500.2840, the repeal of § 500.2832 and the codification of *640 § 500.2833 fail to provide a definite indication that this Court should strike the insurance contract as invalid because it is contrary to public policy. There is no indication that the Michigan Supreme Court would rule differently than did the appellate court in the issue of coinsurance clauses; therefore, this Court will follow Royal Property.
III. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM the opinion of the district court.
Notes
. Did the enactment of Public Act 1990, No. 305 § 2, coupled with the rescission of M.C.L. § 500.2840 (repealed 1990), effect the prohibition of coinsurance clauses in insurance policies in the State of Michigan?
Does the rescission of M.C.L. § 500.2832 (repealed 1990) and its replacement by M.C.L. § 500.2833 (2003) constitute a prohibition of coinsurance clauses?
. A Coinsurance Percentage is the proportion of insurance — as measured against replacement cost or actual cost — that an insured is required to maintain to avoid having a coinsurance penalty imposed. Here, Melson was required to maintain the policy’s face value at 80% of the replacement cost of the property.
. Actual cash value is the replacement cost minus normal depreciation. Black’s Law Dictionary 1549 (7th ed.1999).
. M.C.L. § 500.2840(1) reads:
Any person may obtain from any insurer authorized to do business within the state of Michigan, a coinsurance clause to be attached to or included in any policy issued by such insurer insuring the interest of the insured in any real or tangible or intangible personal property against direct, indirect or consequential loss of damage, and the insurer shall have the right to issue such coinsurance clause, providing the form of the same has first been approved by the commissioner.
. The policy in Chesebrough provided:
It is a part of the consideration of this policy, and the basis upon which the rate of *639 premium is fixed, that the assured shall maintain insurance on the property, hereby insured by this policy, to the extent of four-fifths of the actual cash value thereof, and that, failing so to do, the assured shall be a co-insurer to the extent of such deficit, and in that event shall bear his, her, or their proportion of any loss. It is, however, mutually understood and agreed that in case the total insurance shall exceed four-fifths of the actual cash value of the property insured by this policy the assured shall not recover from this company more than its pro rata share of the whole actual cash value of such property.
Chesebrough, at 110.
