Kuhns v. Travelers Home & Marine Ins. Co.

283 F. Supp. 3d 268
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedSeptember 29, 2017
DocketCIVIL NO.: 4:15–CV–01197
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 283 F. Supp. 3d 268 (Kuhns v. Travelers Home & Marine Ins. Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kuhns v. Travelers Home & Marine Ins. Co., 283 F. Supp. 3d 268 (M.D. Pa. 2017).

Opinion

Susan E. Schwab, United States Chief Magistrate Judge

I. Introduction.

The plaintiffs, Wayne E. Kuhns and his wife, Shannon C. Kuhns, bring this diversity *270action for declaratory relief against the defendant, The Travelers Home and Marine Insurance Company ("Travelers"), claiming that Travelers wrongfully denied them stacked, underinsured motorist coverage. Even though Mr. Kuhns acknowledges that he expressly waived stacked, underinsured motorist coverage when he initially bought his motor vehicle insurance policy from Travelers, he claims that Travelers was required to provide him with another opportunity to waive such coverage when he subsequently added a new vehicle to his policy.1 Travelers contends, however, that it was not required to do so and that the waiver Mr. Kuhns initially executed had continuing effect, such that it was valid at the time of the subject motor vehicle accident. Having extensively reviewed the substantive law of Pennsylvania, regarding such stacking issues, we conclude that the Kuhns are not entitled to the relief that they seek in this action. Thus, for the reasons set forth below, we will grant Travelers's pending motion for summary judgment, and deny the Kuhns's pending cross-motion for summary judgment.

II. Background.

On June 18, 2015, the Kuhns filed a complaint (doc. 1 ) under the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201, to which Travelers filed an answer with affirmative defenses (doc. 6 ). The parties subsequently consented to proceed before a United States Magistrate Judge (see doc. 12 ), and the matter was reassigned to the undersigned Chief Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(1) (see doc. 13 ). Following reassignment, we held a telephonic case management conference with the parties (see doc. 14 ), and in accordance with that conference, we issued an order (doc. 16 ), setting forth the deadlines that would govern this action moving forward. Thereafter, the parties filed a document titled, "The Parties' Joint Stipulation of Facts" (hereinafter, "Joint Stipulation" or "Stipulation") (doc. 17 ), followed by cross-motions for summary judgment (docs. 20, 24 ). Before we turn to the merits of those motions, however, we set forth the undisputed, material facts.2

On or around May 7, 2008, Travelers issued a motor vehicle insurance policy, bearing policy number 982954574 101 1, effective May 9, 2008, to November 9, 2008 *271("Policy"), to Mr. Kuhns.3 Doc. 17 at ¶ 1. On that same day, Mr. Kuhns executed a "Pennsylvania Selection of Uninsured and/or Underinsured Motorists Coverage Limits" form. Id. at ¶ 2. By executing this form, Mr. Kuhns selected uninsured and underinsured motorist benefits in the amount of $100,000. Id. at ¶ 3. Also on that same day, Mr. Kuhns, rejected stacked, underinsured motorists benefits by signing a "Rejection of Stacked Underinsured Coverage Limits" form. Id. at ¶ 4. This rejection form was proper and in compliance with 75 Pa.C.S. § 1738, a Pennsylvania statute which we will discuss more fully below. Id. at ¶ 5.

At its inception, the Policy covered the following three vehicles: a 1996 Dodge Ram Pickup; a 1998 Dodge Durango; and a 1986 Chevrolet C30. Id. at ¶ 6. On or about July 1, 2008, however, a fourth vehicle, and specifically, a 1988 Ford F150 Pickup Truck, was added to the Policy. Id. at ¶ 7. The Kuhns contacted their insurance agent upon the purchase of this vehicle and requested that coverage also be provided for it under the existing Policy. Id. at ¶ 8. The parties do not identify when, however, the Kuhns purchased their fourth vehicle or when they contacted their insurance agent, requesting coverage for that vehicle.

The only paperwork that was generated by Travelers when the fourth vehicle was added to the Policy was an "Automobile Policy Declarations" sheet (doc. 24-2 at 57-60). Id. at ¶¶ 9, 10. This Declarations sheet is similar to the "Automobile Policy Declarations" sheet (doc. 24-2 at 17-20) that was issued at the inception of the Policy, as both sheets reflect non-stacked, uninsured and underinsured motorists benefits of "$100,000 each accident" (see id. at ¶¶ 11, 12).

Moreover, Travelers never requested (id. at ¶ 16) or required (doc. 20-1 at ¶ 12) Mr. Kuhns "to complete any forms in order to replace or add vehicles to the [Policy]," including the fourth vehicle. Travelers also never requested or required Mr. Kuhns to sign a new stacking waiver upon the addition of the fourth vehicle to the Policy. Doc. 17 at ¶ 17. Further, the Kuhns never paid insurance premiums for stacked, uninsured or underinsured motorists coverages (doc. 20-1

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283 F. Supp. 3d 268, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kuhns-v-travelers-home-marine-ins-co-pamd-2017.