Howard v. Quality Xpress, Inc.

1999 NMCA 121, 989 P.2d 896, 128 N.M. 79
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedAugust 5, 1999
Docket19,714
StatusPublished
Cited by32 cases

This text of 1999 NMCA 121 (Howard v. Quality Xpress, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Howard v. Quality Xpress, Inc., 1999 NMCA 121, 989 P.2d 896, 128 N.M. 79 (N.M. Ct. App. 1999).

Opinion

OPINION

WECHSLER, Judge.

{1} Appellant Christie Howard, individually and in her capacities as personal representative of the estate of Marion Howard and as next friend of Wesley Howard, appeals the district court’s order dismissing with prejudice her garnishment proceeding against Guaranty National Insurance Company (Guaranty). Appellant contends that Guaranty’s notice of cancellation to its insured, Quality Xpress, Inc. (Quality), was ineffective because Guaranty failed to comply with Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation regulations (DOT regulations). She additionally argues that a garnishment proceeding is an appropriate action to determine this issue. Because we affirm the district court’s dismissal, we do not address the second issue.

Background

. {2} Appellant obtained a default judgment against Quality, a trucking company, and two of its employees, for damages stemming from a July 19,' 1996 accident in which Marion Howard died. Appellant commenced a garnishment proceeding against Guaranty, which had insured Quality, to collect on the default judgment.

{3} Guaranty denied any liability to Appellant, claiming that the insurance policy it had issued to Quality had been canceled prior to the date of the accident. Appellant argued that because Guaranty failed to comply with DOT regulations in canceling the policy, the cancellation was not effective and the policy remained in force. Guaranty countered that it was not required to comply with DOT regulations because Quality had not indicated on its application that it engaged in interstate trucking. Guaranty asserted that state law applied and that it had effectively canceled the policy in accordance .with NMSA 1978, § 59A-18-29 (1984) (requiring ten days’ notice of cancellation). Guaranty further contended that even if it had to comply with DOT regulations, the accident occurred after the period of notice required by the regulations; thus, the policy was no longer in force at the time of the accident. The district court granted Guaranty’s motion to dismiss the garnishment proceeding on the ground that the claim against the garnishee was contingent and unliquidated because the policy had been effectively canceled prior to the accident. Appellant contends that the district court erred as a matter of law in concluding that DOT regulations did not apply and in improperly granting the motion to dismiss.

Standard of Review

{4} The district court considered matters outside of the pleadings; therefore we treat the motion to dismiss as a motion for summary judgment. See Williams v. Central Consol. Sch. Dist., 1998-NMCA-006, ¶ 7, 124 N.M. 488, 952 P.2d 978. Summary judgment is proper when there are no issues of material fact and the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. See id. In the present case, there are no genuine issues of material fact. The issue is one of law, whether DOT regulations apply to Guaranty’s policy issued to Quality, and if so, whether Guaranty properly complied with the regulations.

Discussion

{5} Quality applied with Guaranty for commercial auto insurance on November 16, 1995 for its business of hauling farm products and produce. Guaranty’s application included a question of whether an MSC-90 endorsement was required and a blank space to “List all States and Principal Cities through which your Vehicles will operate.” Quality checked “no” to the MSC-90 endorsement requirement and did not list any states or cities. An MSC-90 is an endorsement form required by the DOT as part of its requirement of financial responsibility of “for-hire motor carriers operating motor vehicles transporting property in interstate or foreign commerce.” 49 C.F.R. §§ 387.3(a), 387.7(d)(1) (1998); see generally Jackson v. O’Shields, 101 F.3d 1083,1085 (5th Cir.1996). Quality also left blank the question regarding “filings required” for filing of insurance documentation in states where Quality traveled.

{6} Guaranty issued a one-year policy which went into effect on November 16,1995. After Quality failed to pay the premium, Guaranty sent a notice of cancellation for nonpayment of premium on March 28, 1996 to be effective April 10, 1996 in accordance with Section 59A-18-29(A) requiring ten days’ notice.

{7} During depositions in the underlying wrongful death suit, Quality’s owner and a member of Quality’s board of directors both indicated that Quality occasionally traveled from New Mexico into Texas and Colorado to make deliveries. Participation in interstate transportation of property subjects carriers to compliance with DOT regulations. See 49 C.F.R. § 387.3(a). In order to cancel a policy and endorsements under these regulations, an insured must give thirty-five days’ notice. See 49 C.F.R. § 387.7(b)(1).

Policies of insurance, surety bonds, and endorsements required under this section shall remain in effect continuously until terminated. Cancellation may be effected by the insurer or the insured motor carrier giving 35 days’ notice in writing to the other. The 35 days’ notice shall commence to run from the date the notice is mailed. Proof of mailing shall be sufficient proof of notice.

Id. Additionally, cancellation of a policy with an MSC-90 endorsement requires the insurer to provide notice to the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) if the insured is subject to its jurisdiction. See 49 C.F.R. § 387.15, illus. I (1998).

{8} According to Appellant, because Quality engaged in interstate commerce, Guaranty’s policy automatically incorporates DOT regulations because of public policy and compulsory insurance requirements. As a consequence, Guaranty was required to provide thirty-five days’ notice in accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 387.7(b)(1). Appellant contends that Guaranty’s failure to so comply rendered its notice of cancellation void. Appellant concludes, therefore, that Guaranty’s policy continued to be in effect at the time of the accident.

{9} Appellant relies on case law indicating that compulsory insurance statutes become part of the applicable policy. See Keystone Mut. Cas. Co. v. Hinds, 180 Md. 676, 26 A.2d 761, 762-63 (1942). Even accepting this premise, it is inapplicable in this case because the Guaranty policy was issued (and later canceled) in accordance with New Mexico law, and Quality did not request coverage which would impose DOT regulations on the policy. Appellant further relies upon Hagans v. Glens Falls Ins. Co., 465 F.2d 1249, 1252-53 (10th Cir.1972), for the proposition that the Tenth Circuit will read an ICC endorsement into a policy, even where it is lacking.

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Bluebook (online)
1999 NMCA 121, 989 P.2d 896, 128 N.M. 79, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/howard-v-quality-xpress-inc-nmctapp-1999.