State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance v. Midland Risk Insurance, 697 So. 2d 293

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance v. Midland Risk Insurance

697 So. 2d 293 | La. Ct. App. | 1997

Lead Opinion

I2FOIL, Judge.

The only issue presented by this appeal is whether sales tax constitutes an element of market value when measuring damages for the value of a vehicle rendered a total loss in an automobile accident. We find that it does not, and reverse the judgment of the trial court holding otherwise.

FACTS

On June 12, 1995, Peter Clemente was involved in a ear accident with Iserdoil Abram. Clemente was insured by plaintiff, *294State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, and Abram was insured by defendant, Midland Risk Insurance Company. The parties stipulated that the accident was" caused by Abram. The Clemente vehicle was declared to be a total loss and State Farm paid property damage under its policy by determining the actual cash value of the vehicle and then adding an additional 8% sales tax to arrive at the total loss. State Farm also paid Clemente $400 under the rental reimbursement coverage.

State Farm then informed Midland Risk of its subrogation rights and requested payment. Midland Risk paid the subrogation claim except for the amount paid for sales tax ($952). State Farm then filed the instant suit to recover that amount.

The only issue before the trial court was whether Midland Risk is liable for the amount of sales tax which was paid by State Farm in settling the property damage claim with its insured. The matter was tried on facts stipulated by the parties. The trial court rendered judgment in favor of State Farm for $952, representing the sales tax in dispute.

Midland Risk filed this appeal, challenging the trial court’s award of 8% sales tax as an element of the market value of a vehicle rendered a total loss. Midland Risk asserts that the measure of damages for the value of a totaled vehicle is its pre-accident market value minus the salvage value. It argues that the sales tax which is paid upon acquisition of a vehicle does not constitute part of its market value. Moreover, Midland Risk points out that, until and Runless the vehicle is replaced, no sales tax is incurred and thus no loss has been suffered.

Surprisingly, our research has disclosed no case directly on point. The jurisprudence simply reflects that the measure of damages for the value of an automobile is the pre-accident market value, less salvage value. Rhodes v. State, Department of Transportation and Development, 94-1758 (La.App. 1 Cir. 12/20/96); 684 So.2d 1134, 1149, writ denied, 97-0242 (La. 2/7/97); 688 So.2d 487. We agree, however, with Midland Risk that market value does not encompass an amount for sales tax.

For these reasons, we reverse the judgment of the trial court. Judgment is hereby rendered in favor of Midland Risk. All costs of this appeal are assessed to State Farm.

REVERSED AND RENDERED.

FITZSIMMONS and FOGG, JJ., dissent and assign reasons.

Dissenting Opinion

| iFOGG, Judge,

dissenting.

I respectfully dissent. When assessing property damage awards, the goal is to make the plaintiff whole by placing him in the same position he was in prior to the accident. In the instant case, the inclusion of sales tax in the award is necessary to make the plaintiff whole.

Dissenting Opinion

| iFITZSIMMONS, Judge,

dissenting.

I respectfully dissent from the conclusion reached by the majority. Although sales tax has not been “customarily” included when estimates are given for the “market value” of a product, the philosophy behind arriving at a specific sum in the assessment of property damage awards certainly would include the sales tax. This court in Cenac v. Duplantis Moving & Storage Company, Inc., 407 So.2d 424, 427 (La.App. 1st Cir.1981) cogently stated, “... [T]he intent of the law is to place plaintiff in the same position he was in prior to the accident — not in a better [or worse] position.” The sales tax should logically be considered as necessary to place the plaintiff in that same position.