Gobler v. Auto-Owners Insurance

404 N.W.2d 199, 428 Mich. 51

• Court: Michigan Supreme Court
• Decided: April 20, 1987
• Docket: 76011, (Calendar No. 13)
• Status: Published

Opinions

Archer, J.

This case requires judicial discovery of the intent of the Legislature concerning a provision of the no-fault automobile insurance act. MCL 500.3101 et seq.; MSA 24.13101 et seq.

We granted leave to appeal to determine the meaning of the expression "contributions of tangible things of economic value . . . that dependents of the deceased . . . would have received for support during their dependency from the deceased if the deceased had not suffered the accidental bodily injury causing death” as used in § 3108 of the act. MCL 500.3108; MSA 24.13108. We read the quoted language of § 3108 in the light of the no-fault act as a whole and conclude that the Legislature did not intend that survivors be compensated for lost income only if they can prove that the deceased was employed on the date of the accidental bodily injury causing death. If the deceased was unemployed at the time of the accident, but received an offer of employment subsequent to the date of the accident which the surviving dependents can substantiate, the salary that the deceased would have earned from the employment to which the offer applied should be considered in the calculation of survivors’-loss benefits under § 3108.

i

The facts and procedural history in this case are set forth in detail in Gobler v Auto-Owners Ins Co, 139 Mich App 768; 362 NW2d 881 (1984). Steven Gobler, plaintiff’s decedent,¹ was killed in an automobile accident on March 16, 1976. Auto-Owners Insurance Company was Mr. Gobler’s no-fault automobile insurer. On the day Gobler died, he completed the last requirements for a degree in forestry at Michigan State University. He was enrolled as a full-time student and was unemployed at the time of his demise. Michigan State University awarded Gobler a bachelor of science degree in forestry posthumously.

Plaintiff testified that before Gobler died, he was planning to pursue a career in forestry on the west coast. Plaintiff filed an application for survivors’ benefits with Auto-Owners. Auto-Owners paid the ambulance, hospital, and funeral bills for plaintiff’s decedent. Plaintiff’s claim for survivors’ benefits, however, was denied because Gobler was unemployed at the time of the accidental bodily injury that caused his death.

Steven Gobler was last employed by the United States Forestry Service in Hoodsport, Washington. In 1975, he worked for the forestry service as a fire fighter from July to November and earned $4,064.86. During the trial, his job with the service was described as seasonal employment. In January, 1976, he resumed his studies as a full-time student at Michigan State University. From January until the date of his death, he was unemployed.

Sometime in 1975, Gobler filed an application with the United States Forestry Service which was entered on the Civil Service Registry. Before a person qualifies for inclusion on the registry of eligibles, certain educational requirements in the area of forestry must be completed. Gobler qualified for inclusion on the registry on the basis of his education and superior scholastic standing. Gobler’s name was selected from the registry of eligibles and placed on three separate certificates of eligibility. These lists were identical, with the exception of the location of the employment vacancy. Gobler’s name was the last name on each of the three lists.² The lists upon which Gobler’s name appeared resulted in the preparation of an inquiry of availability which was forwarded to Gobler and the other five persons included on the lists. The inquiry was not forwarded to Gobler until September 14, 1976, some six months after he had died.

Shelagh Reed,³ staffing specialist responsible for recruiting employees for the United States Forestry Service, testified that she forwarded the inquiry of availability to the six persons on the lists of eligibles in an effort to fill three open positions as soon as possible. All three positions were located in the State of California. The positions which were the subject of the inquiry were all GS-7 positions⁴ which carried a definite salary and benefit level, and commencement date.⁵

Ms. Reed explained the purpose of the inquiry of availability as follows. The inquiry was prepared for specific vacancies and was forwarded to all the persons who were listed on the lists of eligibles. This allowed the forestry service to find out who was available and to fill the vacancies as soon as possible. If there were three vacancies to be filled, for example, and the top three persons included on the lists were available, those three persons were generally offered the available positions. If, however, the top three persons were not available, the remaining three on the list would be offered the position if there was no adverse information on their applications. Ms. Reed stated that adverse information included an arrest record and termination from prior employment. Ms. Reed further testified that none of the persons included on the list of eligibles would be offered a position if there was any adverse information on their applications. The forestry service did not interview a person before offering a position. Persons included on the list of eligibles were prequalified for any job which the certificate of eligibility covered. The prequalifications included curriculum, grade point average, and prior employment with the forestry service. The fact that Gobler’s name was placed on the lists of eligibles demonstrates that he satisfied the three prequalification criteria._

Ms. Reed indicated that the response to the inquiry of availability which was forwarded to Gobler and the other five persons was as follows. The first and second person declined, the third person failed to reply, the fourth person declined, and the fifth person indicated his availability and was offered a position. Gobler, the sixth person on the list, failed to reply. On the basis of Ms. Reed’s testimony, it is clear that three of the persons did not wish to be considered for the three vacancies; one individual expressed his availability to fill one of the vacancies and was accepted and offered a position. Two persons, one of whom was Gobler, failed to reply. Hence, two vacancies remained.

The trial court found that Gobler would have sought and secured full-time employment. The court also concluded that plaintiff had shown by a preponderance of evidence that Gobler’s wages would have contributed to plaintiff’s support and initially determined that the award should be based on the annualization of $4,064.86, plus interest, that Gobler had earned from his last full-time employment. Plaintiff was also awarded penalty interest and attorney fees.

Relying on Lewis v DAIIE, 90 Mich App 251; 282 NW2d 794 (1979), the trial court reversed its earlier ruling and awarded plaintiff survivors’ benefits on the basis of the amount Steven Gobler would have earned working for the United States Forestry Service. Plaintiff was further awarded attorney fees of one-third of the total sum of the judgment, penalty, and interest which began to accrue upon the commencement of the trial. Auto-Owners was granted partial accelerated judgment on plaintiff’s claim for survivors’ benefits. Plaintiff’s claim was barred by the statute of limitations from March 16, 1976, the day the deceased died, through December 21, 1976, on the basis that plaintiff did not timely file her complaint. The trial court limited plaintiffs claim to twenty-seven months.

The Court of Appeals held that the trial court’s finding that Steven Gobler would have been employed by the United States Forestry Service was clearly erroneous, stating:

The evidence presented at trial showed that on the date of Steven Gobler’s death, he was not employed. It was only on September 6, six months after Gobler’s death, when an "Inquiry of Availability” was received by his wife, that the possibility of employment occurred. This was not an offer of employment, and because of Gobler’s death, he could not respond to indicate his interest in the potential positions which might be offered. Since the evidence presented at trial did not support an award of survivor’s benefits based on the inquiry of availability and Steven Gobler was otherwise unemployed, the trial judge improperly awarded survivor’s benefits. [139 Mich App 776.]

Judge Kelly, concurring in part and dissenting in part, would have affirmed the decision of the trial court.

I agree that the appropriate inquiry in determining whether survivor’s benefits should be awarded under MCL 500.3108; MSA 24.13108 is whether the dependent would have received the support from the decedent if the decedent had not suffered the fatal injury. I cannot, however, agree that the trial court in this case clearly erred in finding that Steven Gobler would have been employed by the U. S. Forestry Service if he had survived the accident. The majority’s opinion conveys the impression that the trial court’s finding was based solely on plaintiff’s receipt of the Inquiry of Availability, which admittedly was not an offer of employment. However, I believe that the trial court considered the Inquiry of Availability in conjunction with the testimony of Shelagh Reed. I am thus not left with a firm and definite belief that a mistake has been committed by the trial court in finding that Steven Gobler would have been employed by the U. S. Forestry Service at the salary and benefit level and as of the commencement date testified to by Reed. Precopio v Detroit, 415 Mich 457, 462; 330 NW2d 802 (1982); Tuttle v Dep’t of State Highways, 397 Mich 44, 46; 243 NW2d 244 (1976). [139 Mich App 777.]

II

Section 3108 of the no-fault act provides for survivors’-loss benefits. The pertinent provisions of this section are as follows:

Except as provided in subsection (2), personal protection insurance benefits are payable for a survivor’s loss which consists of a loss, after the date on which the deceased died, of contributions of tangible things of economic value, not including services, that dependents of the deceased at the time of the deceased’s death would have received for support during their dependency from the deceased if the deceased had not suffered the accidental bodily injury causing death and expenses, not exceeding $20.00 per day, reasonably incurred by these dependents during their dependency and after the date on which the deceased died in obtaining ordinary and necessary services in lieu of those that the deceased would have performed for their benefit if the deceased had not suffered the injury causing death. [MCL 500.3108(1); MSA 24.13108(1). Emphasis added.]

Section 3108 further provides that benefits are not payable beyond the first three years after the date of an accident. The trial court in this case initially awarded plaintiff benefits on the basis of decedent’s previous temporary employment with the United States Forestry Service. The trial court based this ruling upon a finding that Gobler was temporarily unemployed within the meaning of § 3107a of the no-fault act, MCL 500.3107a; MSA 24.13107(1). Relying on Lewis v DAIIEsupra, the trial court reversed its decision and considered the testimony of Shelagh Reed concerning the inquiry of availability which was forwarded to Gobler after his death. On the basis of Shelagh Reed’s testimony, the trial court awarded plaintiff survivors’ benefits on the basis of the amount Gobler would have earned working for the United States Forestry Service as a full-time GS-7 employee.

We must determine whether the trial court correctly applied the provisions of § 3108 in reaching this result. In making our determination, we read the language of § 3108 in the light of its legislative history and in the context of the no-fault act as a whole. Miller v State Farm Mutual Ins Co, 410 Mich 538; 302 NW2d 537 (1981), reh den 411 Mich 1154 (1981).

A

In Shavers v Attorney General, 402 Mich 554, 578-579; 267 NW2d 72 (1978), we said:

The goal of the no-fault insurance system was to provide victims of motor vehicle accidents assured, adequate, and prompt reparation for certain economic losses.

The no-fault insurance act is remedial in nature and must be liberally construed in favor of persons intended to benefit thereby. Bierbusse v Farmers Ins Group, 84 Mich App 34; 269 NW2d 297 (1978).

In Owendale-Gagetown School Dist v State Bd of Ed, 413 Mich 1, 8; 317 NW2d 529 (1982), we held:

Legislative intent controls statutory construction, and, in ascertaining such intent, the Legislature must be presumed to have intended the meaning expressed by the language it has chosen. When that language is clear and unambiguous, no further interpretation is necessary. Dussia v Monroe County Employees Retirement System, 386 Mich 244; 191 NW2d 307 (1971); City of Grand Rapids v Crocker, 219 Mich 178; 189 NW 221 (1922).

There is, however, an exception to this fundamental rule of statutory construction that arises when a literal reading of the statutory language "would produce an absurd and unjust result and would be clearly inconsistent with the purposes and the policies of the act in question.” Salas v Clements, 399 Mich 103, 109; 247 NW2d 889 (1976).

B

In Miller v State Farm Ins, supra, we were asked to determine the meaning of the expression "contributions of tangible things of economic value” as that phrase is used in § 3108. The dispute in the instant case concerns the words "would have received ... if the deceased had not suffered the accidental bodily injury causing death.” In Miller, we stated that in determining the meaning of the expression "contributions of tangible things of economic value” the surviving dependents of the deceased would have received for support had the deceased lived "our obligation is to discover and give effect to the Legislature’s intention in enacting § 3108 as best we can determine it from the language employed in § 3108 and the no-fault act as a whole, and in light of such legislative history as is available.” 410 Mich 555-556.

We must analyze the language of the statute itself. Our primary concern focuses on the meaning of the expression "would have received for support . . . from the deceased if the deceased had not suffered the accidental bodily injury causing death” as used in § 3108.

We must assign to these words their primary and generally understood meaning. Miller, supra, 556. We believe that the expression is primarily and generally understood to mean contributions of tangible things of economic value which would have been received in the future by the dependents of the deceased had the deceased not died. Section 3110(4) of the no-fault act provides that "[p]ersonal protection insurance benefits payable for accidental bodily injury accrue not when the injury occurs but as the allowable expense, work loss or survivors’ loss is incurred. MCL 500.3110(4); MSA 24.13110(4). (Emphasis added.) Hence, the benefits accrue at a time which is subsequent to the occurrence of the fatal injury.

The language of § 3108, read in light of the no-fault act as a whole, convinces us that the Court of Appeals correctly concluded that the Legislature did not intend that survivors be compensated for lost income only if they can prove that the deceased was employed on the date of his death. There is no such requirement contained in the act, and we decline to read such a requirement into the provisions of § 3108.

We turn to the legislative history of § 3108. In January, 1980, a bill was introduced in the House Insurance Committee.⁶ The bill as originally introduced would have amended the no-fault act so that work-loss benefits for the temporarily unemployed would have been based on earnings during the last month of usual employment preceding the accident instead of the last month of full-time employment. The same standard would have been applied to survivors’ benefits accruing to the dependents of a person who was temporarily unemployed at the time the fatal accidental bodily injury occurred. A review of the final status report for the 1979-80 regular legislative session indicates that the bill died in committee.

Section 3107a provides that work-loss benefits under personal protection insurance for an injured person temporarily unemployed at the time of the accident or during the period of disability shall be based on earned income for the last month the injured person was employed full-time preceding the accident. Section 3107a makes no reference to survivors’-loss benefits and § 3108 does not incorporate by reference the provisions of § 3107a. Hence, § 3107a does not control § 3108.

We believe that the past earnings of the decedent may be used as one method of computing survivors’-loss benefits. However, calculation of survivors’ benefits is not limited to the decedent’s past income.

Our review of the legislative history of § 3108, as well as our reading of the no-fault act as a whole, convinces us that the Legislature did not intend to automatically deny relief to dependents of a deceased on the sole basis that the deceased was unemployed at the time the accidental bodily injury causing death occurred. We must now determine whether the facts presented in this case come within the meaning of "contributions of tangible things of economic value” which dependents of the deceased "would have received for support” had the deceased "not suffered the accidental bodily injury causing death.”

Our reading of the testimony presented by Shelagh Reed convinces us that the United States Forestry Service made an offer of employment to Gobler six months after he died. It was more than a mere opportunity for employment. As Ms. Reed testified, the only reason Gobler would not have been hired by the service was if he turned the offer down or if "adverse information” about Gobler was contained in the application. Gobler had indicated his interest in being employed by the forestry service when he completed the application within twelve months prior to his death. He also expressed an interest in returning to the west coast to work for the forestry service prior to his death. As stated earlier, all three vacancies were located in California.⁷ The record before us contains no adverse information about Gobler.

We acknowledge the fact that in response to defense counsel’s statement that the inquiry of availability was not an offer of employment Ms. Reed responded, "That’s correct.” Further, we agree that, absent special circumstances, the mere forwarding of an inquiry of availability is not an offer of employment. However, the inquiry of availability was forwarded in an attempt to quickly fill three vacancies. The first three persons named on the list of eligibles either declined to fill the vacancy or failed to reply to the inquiry of availability. One person acknowledged his availability and was offered a position. He accepted the offer and filled one of the three vacancies. Hence, two vacancies remained, and Gobler was one of two people left on the list. Thus, on the basis of the complete testimony of Ms. Reed, the unique hiring procedure of the forestry service, and the nonavailability of three of the six persons on the list, the trial court concluded "that it was their [the forestry service’s] position that they offered the position” to Mr. Gobler.

The trial court in turn found as fact that Gobler would have been employed by the forestry service had he survived the accident. Before we can reverse the findings of fact of a trial court, we must be firmly convinced that a mistake has been made. We are not convinced that the trial court made a mistake in its factfinding. Tuttle v Highway Dep’t, supra; Precopio v Detroit, supra.

We reverse the judgment of the Court of Appeals on the question concerning plaintiff’s entitlement to survivors’-loss benefits.

Plaintiff was awarded penalty interest. The trial court concluded that the penalty interest began to accrue on January 1, 1979. Penalty interest did not begin to accrue until Auto-Owners actually learned that Gobler received what amounted to a job offer from the forestry service. The record establishes that Auto-Owners became aware of the job offer when Shelagh Reed testified.

The circuit court awarded plaintiff attorney fees on the basis that it was unreasonable for defendant to fail to pay survivors’ benefits. A court may award attorney fees for unreasonable refusal or unreasonable delay in making payments under the no-fault act. However, a refusal or delay in payments by an insurer will not be found "unreasonable” within the meaning of § 3148 where the delay is the product of a legitimate question of statutory construction, constitutional law, or even a bona fide factual uncertainty. Liddell v DAIIE, 102 Mich App 636, 650; 302 NW2d 260 (1981).

MCL 500.3148(1); MSA 24.13148(1) provides:

An attorney is entitled to a reasonable fee for advising and representing a claimant in an action for personal or property protection insurance benefits which are overdue. The attorney’s fee shall be a charge against the insurer in addition to the benefits recovered, if the court finds that the insurer unreasonably refused to pay the claim or unreasonably delayed in making proper payment.

The Court of Appeals found that the trial court improperly awarded survivors’ benefits to plaintiff. The Court further found that the trial court clearly erred in awarding plaintiff attorney fees.

Plaintiff asks this Court to reinstate attorney fees. Defendant contends that even if plaintiff is ultimately found to be entitled to recover survivors’ benefits, an award of attorney fees in the instant case is not authorized under § 3148 because this case presents both legitimate issues of statutory construction and bona fide factual questions. It is unclear whether or not the Court of Appeals considered the defendant’s good-faith arguments. We therefore remand this case to the Court of Appeals for a more thorough disposition of defendant’s substantive arguments regarding its good faith.

No costs, a public question being involved.

Levin, Brickley, and Cavanagh, JJ., concurred with Archer, J.

1 Plaintiff is the surviving widow of Steven Gobler. Plaintiff and Gobler were married in 1971.

2 There were a total of six names on each of the three lists. Gobler’s name was the sixth name on each list.

3 At the trial, the trial judge sustained Auto-Owners objection to the testimony of Ms. Reed. A separate record was taken of her testimony because the court ruled that such testimony was irrelevant and immaterial. The trial court subsequently reversed itself and adopted the testimony of Ms. Reed.

4 Almost everyone in the federal government is under the general schedule. Only blue collar workers are in another system. At the time Ms. Reed’s testimony was taken, the entry level for forestry positions was a GS-5. GS-7 was one grade above the entry level of a beginning professional.

5 The salary in 1976 for a GS-7 forestry position was $11,046. Benefits included retirement benefits, health care benefits, life insurance, and sick leave.

6 HB 5428.

7 The three vacancies existed in the following forests located in California: Tahoe, Stanislaus, and Mendocino.