Met Life Auto & Home Insurance Co. v. Lester

2006 SD 62, 719 N.W.2d 385, 2006 S.D. LEXIS 122, 2006 WL 1972025
CourtSouth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 12, 2006
Docket23854
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 2006 SD 62 (Met Life Auto & Home Insurance Co. v. Lester) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering South Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Met Life Auto & Home Insurance Co. v. Lester, 2006 SD 62, 719 N.W.2d 385, 2006 S.D. LEXIS 122, 2006 WL 1972025 (S.D. 2006).

Opinions

[386]*386MYREN, Circuit Judge.

[¶ 1.] Met Life Auto and Home Insurance Company (Met Life) appeals a judgment that denied subrogation. We reverse.

FACTS

[¶ 2.] On April 20, 2004, Luke Weter (Weter) backed his car into a brick wall owned by Gregory Lester (Lester). Wet-er was insured by USAA Casualty Insurance Company (USAA). Lester had a homeowner’s property insurance policy with Met Life.

[¶ 3.] Lester sought compensation from Weter’s insurer, USAA. While negotiating with USAA, Lester filed a claim with Met Life. Met Life sent an adjuster who estimated that the damage could be repaired for $3,685.18. Met Life subtracted Lester’s $1000 deductible and issued him a check for $2,685.18. On December 20, 2004, Met Life sent a “1st Notice of Claim” to USAA requesting $2,685.18.

[¶ 4.] Lester believed his damages were greater than those paid by Met Life. He filed an action in small claims court against Weter and his insurer, USAA. Weter removed the action to circuit court. After a settlement conference, Weter and USAA agreed to settle Lester’s claim for a total payment of $9,000. Because USAA had received notice of claim for subrogation from Met Life, the settlement was structured to address that subrogation claim. USAA agreed to deposit the amount of the subrogation claim ($2,685.18) with the clerk of courts to be held for distribution as ordered by the court. The remaining $6,314.82 was paid directly to Lester. The circuit court reviewed the settlement agreement and entered a judgment and order approving settlement and deposit with the clerk. This judgment and order specifically required Lester’s attorney to serve notice of the deposit upon Met Life. Lester’s attorney provided that notice and Met Life filed its objections. Met Life asserted that the circuit court did not have jurisdiction over it because it was not a named party, but then requested the court disburse the entire amount of the deposit to it. Lester responded by arguing that the funds had been deposited with the court under SDCL 15-6-67 and SDCL ch 21-43 and suggested that Met Life should move to intervene if it had concerns over not being a named party.

[¶ 5.] On July 11, 2005, Weter was dismissed from the proceeding. Notice of entry of that order was entered on July 13, 2005. No appeal of that order has been filed. Weter is not participating in this appeal.

[¶ 6.] On July 11, 2005, the circuit court conducted a motion hearing in which Lester and Met Life both participated through their attorneys. Met Life’s attorney made the first argument of the day. He squarely addressed the substantive issue of sub-rogation. He did not claim that the court had no jurisdiction over Met Life. In his responsive argument, Lester’s attorney noted that Met Life earlier claimed lack of jurisdiction. The circuit court suggested that the parties agree to the jurisdiction of the court so that the merits could be addressed and the matter resolved. Both parties agreed and no further argument regarding jurisdiction was made to the court.

[¶ 7.] After listening to the positions of both parties, the circuit court ruled from the bench explaining that this Court’s ruling in Westfield Ins. Co. v. Rowe, 2001 SD 87, 631 N.W.2d 175, requires a review of the specific contractual or policy language to determine the intent of the parties. The circuit court concluded that Met Life’s policy language fell short of excluding ap[387]*387plication of the made whole doctrine. The circuit court noted that Lester’s claim for damage significantly exceeded the amount paid by Met Life. That significant claim was accepted and paid by USAA, Weter’s insurer.

[¶ 8.] Lester submitted a proposed decision. Met Life filed objections. On August 24, 2005, the circuit court signed a decision essentially identical to the proposed decision. On that same day, the circuit court also entered a judgment effectuating the decision. Lester provided Met Life with notice of entry of the judgment on August 25, 2005. Met Life filed a notice of appeal on October 20, 2005.

ISSUE ONE

[¶ 9.] Did the circuit court have personal jurisdiction over Met Life?

[¶ 10.] At the healing on July 11, 2005, the circuit court suggested that the parties agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the court so that the matter could be resolved. Met Life agreed and made no further arguments about lack of jurisdiction until after the court ruled that the $2,685.18 belonged to Lester.

[¶ 11.] The circuit court clearly had subject matter jurisdiction under SDCL 15-6-67 and SDCL ch 21-43. A person may waive a lack of personal jurisdiction by submitting to the jurisdiction of the court and pleading on the merits. In re Estate of Green, 516 N.W.2d 326 (S.D.1994); Union Bond & Mort. Co. v. Brown, 64 S.D. 600, 269 N.W. 474 (1936). That is what occurred during the July 11, 2005, hearing. Met Life will not be heard now to reassert a lack of personal jurisdiction after having agreed to submit to the court’s jurisdiction.

ISSUE TWO

[¶ 12.] Did the circuit court correctly interpret the subrogation language of Met Life’s policy with Lester?

[¶ 13.] The right to subrogation is not new in South Dakota. A half century ago, this Court stated: “It is a well settled rule of law that an insurer is entitled to subrogation, either by contract or in equity for the amount of the indemnity paid.” Parker v. Hardy, 73 S.D. 247, 248, 41 N.W.2d 555, 556 (1950). Though frequently repeated, that sentence is seldom parsed. Subrogation can arise out of two sources. First, the parties can agree to create a contractual right of subrogation. This is commonly done in insurance policies. Second, equity can require the creation of subrogation based upon the circumstances, even without a contractual obligation.1

[¶ 14.] In Julson v. Federated Mut. Ins. Co., 1997 SD 43, ¶ 12, 562 N.W.2d 117, 121 this Court implicitly addressed this distinction between equitable subrogation and contractual subrogation with the following language:

Federated’s contract of insurance specifically provides for Federated’s right to subrogation after making full payment to Julsons as required by its contract. It is undisputed that there is no statement in the policy requiring Julsons to be made whole before subrogation may arise or at the time any settlement is made with any third-party tortfeasors. [388]*388Thus, there is no question of material fact surrounding the policy language, and the terms are construed according to their plain and ordinary meaning. American Family Mut. Ins. Co. v. Elliot, 523 N.W.2d 100, 102-03 (S.D.1994). The plain language of the policy permits Federated to subrogate, file an action, and settle it after making full payment to Julsons.

[¶ 15.] In short, the language of the Jul-son insurance policy created a contractual right to subrogation. The nature of the subrogation was governed by the terms of that policy. There was no need to apply the principles of equitable subrogation.

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Met Life Auto & Home Insurance Co. v. Lester
2006 SD 62 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 2006)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2006 SD 62, 719 N.W.2d 385, 2006 S.D. LEXIS 122, 2006 WL 1972025, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/met-life-auto-home-insurance-co-v-lester-sd-2006.