National Union Fire Insurance v. Binker

774 F. Supp. 15, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11160, 1991 WL 196638
CourtDistrict Court, District of Columbia
DecidedAugust 12, 1991
DocketCiv. A. No. 83-3104 SSH
StatusPublished

This text of 774 F. Supp. 15 (National Union Fire Insurance v. Binker) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, District of Columbia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
National Union Fire Insurance v. Binker, 774 F. Supp. 15, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11160, 1991 WL 196638 (D.D.C. 1991).

Opinion

OPINION

STANLEY S. HARRIS, District Judge.

On July 23, 1991, the Court held what had been scheduled to be a bench trial in this action. Because the parties had stipulated to all relevant facts, and the original plaintiff, Nationwide Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., and defendant, Bonnie L. Binker, had settled their portion of the case, counsel for third-party plaintiff, Binker, and third-party defendant, Travelers Indemnity Company, simply presented arguments on behalf of the parties as to their remaining portion of the case. For the reasons set forth below, the Court finds that Travelers is liable to Binker in the amount of $25,000.00, plus interest.

Findings of Fact

The parties stipulated to the following relevant facts, which are set forth virtually unedited:

1. At all times material hereto, plaintiff was a Pennsylvania corporation and was a licensed insurance company under the laws of the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland.

2. On or before January 1, 1979, plaintiff issued a comprehensive automobile liability insurance policy (Policy No. GLA 126 90 88) to The Evening Star Newspaper Company and Times News Holdings, Inc. (“The Washington Star”). A copy of the insurance policy is attached to the Stipulations as Exhibit l.1

3. At all times material hereto, third-party plaintiff was a resident of Virginia.

4. At all times material hereto, third-party defendant was a licensed insurance company under the laws of the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland.

5. On or before September 5, 1979, third-party defendant issued a comprehensive automobile liability insurance policy (Policy No. 007276130 101 1) to third-party plaintiff and her husband, Carl William Binker, Jr. A copy of this policy is attached to the Stipulations as Exhibit 5.

6. Under the specific terms and conditions of the latter policy, Mr. and Mrs. Binker were “persons insured,” entitled to the use, benefit, and protection of the automobile liability insurance coverage provided therein.

7. Under the specific terms and conditions of this policy, third-party defendant provided “uninsured motorists insurance” for all persons insured under the policy and agreed to “pay in accordance with Section 38.1-181 [38.1-381] of the Code of Virginia and all Acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto, all sums which the insured or his legal representative shall be legally entitled to recover as damages from the owner or operator of an uninsured motor vehicle because of bodily injuries sustained by the insured or property damage, caused by accident and arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of such uninsured motor vehicle.”

8. Under the specific terms and conditions of this policy, and in accordance with the Virginia Uninsured Motorists Act, as set forth in Section 38.1-381 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, this policy provided uninsured motorists insurance coverage to any person insured who incurred damages in an accident with an uninsured highway vehicle, even where there was no physical contact between the insured highway vehicle and the uninsured highway vehicle.

9. Under the specific terms and conditions of this policy, third-party defendant’s coverage limitation for liability arising under the uninsured motorist insurance was $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.

10. On September 5, 1979, the automobile liability insurance policy issued by third-party defendant was in full force and effect.

[17]*1711. On September 5, 1979, Carl William Binker, Jr., an employee of The Washington Star, then both the husband of third-party plaintiff and the natural father of Christiana Binker, Michele Binker, and Georgia Binker, was operating a 1968 Ford delivery truck (“Star Truck”) on the 14th Street Bridge while driving from Virginia into the District of Columbia.

12. On September 5, 1979, Mr. Binker was killed in an automobile accident on the 14th Street Bridge within the District of Columbia while thus driving the Star Truck.

13. This automobile accident and the resulting death of Mr. Binker was proximately caused by the sole actionable negligence of an unknown, unidentified, and “uninsured motorist” designated as “John Doe.”

14. Under the specific terms and conditions of the policy, third-party defendant was notified on a prompt and timely basis of the accident and the resulting death of Mr. Binker.

15. Under the specific terms and conditions of the automobile liability insurance policy issued by third-party defendant, the said John Doe was an “uninsured motorist” and the vehicle operated by him was an “uninsured highway vehicle.”

16. In accordance with the specific terms and conditions of the automobile liability insurance policy and the provisions of the Virginia Uninsured Motorists Act, on August 29, 1980, third-party plaintiff filed a complaint against the said uninsured motorist, John Doe, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (Bonnie L. Binker, Administratrix v. John Doe, et al.: Civil Action No. 12020-80), to establish the liability of the uninsured motorist for damages incurred by third-party plaintiff in her capacity as the legal representative of Mr. Binker and his family under the District of Columbia Survival Statute (Section 12-101, District of Columbia Code, 1973, as amended) and under the District of Columbia Wrongful Death Statute (Section 16-2701, District of Columbia Code, 1973, as amended). A copy of the complaint filed by third-party plaintiff is attached to the Stipulations as Exhibit 2.

17. In accordance with the specific terms and conditions of the policy and the provisions of the Virginia Uninsured Motorist Act, third-party plaintiff served a copy of the complaint upon third-party defendant as the lawful representative of the uninsured motorist, John Doe, under the policy.

18. After service of the complaint upon third-party defendant, third-party defendant entered a formal appearance on behalf of the uninsured motorist and presented pleadings, evidence, and legal argument to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in its own name and in the name of John Doe in defense of the allegations raised in the complaint.

19. On April 9, 1982, at the conclusion of a three-day trial by jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, the jury found against the uninsured motorist, John Doe, and awarded damages under the Survival Statute in the amount of $200,000 to third-party plaintiff as Administratrix of the Estate of Carl William Binker, Jr., and under the Wrongful Death Statute in the amount of $176,000 to third-party plaintiff, individually, and in the further amounts of $3,000 to Christiana Binker, $5,000 to Michele Binker, and $16,000 to Georgia Binker, together with statutory interest from April 9, 1982, and costs. A copy of the Judgment Order entered by the Superior Court in that case is attached to the Stipulations as Exhibit 3.

20. This jury verdict in favor of Mrs. Binker was affirmed by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals on February 28, 1985.

21. As of the date of last month’s proceeding before this Court, the total outstanding balance due on the Superior Court judgment is $724,586.59, including the principal amount of $400,000, interest in the amount of $324,544.59 from April 9, 1982, through July 23, 1991, and costs in the amount of $42.00.

22.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
774 F. Supp. 15, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11160, 1991 WL 196638, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/national-union-fire-insurance-v-binker-dcd-1991.