United Services Automobile Ass'n v. Glens Falls Insurance

429 F. Supp. 101, 1976 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13324
CourtDistrict Court, D. Connecticut
DecidedSeptember 8, 1976
DocketCiv. No. 14689
StatusPublished

This text of 429 F. Supp. 101 (United Services Automobile Ass'n v. Glens Falls Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Connecticut primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United Services Automobile Ass'n v. Glens Falls Insurance, 429 F. Supp. 101, 1976 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13324 (D. Conn. 1976).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

CLARIE, Chief Judge.

This suit had its origin in a state court automobile liability action1 in which two insurance companies disputed which of them was primarily liable for insurance coverage on the accident. The plaintiff-carrier, United Services Automobile Association, (United Services) in its amended complaint2 claims that not only was the defendant, Glens Falls Insurance Company, (Glens Falls) the primary carrier, but even if the Court found otherwise, the defendant’s counsel, by not filing a timely reservation of rights in behalf of his client at the time of his appearance in the state court action, had waived the defendant’s right to later refuse to accept liability. Furthermore, even though such a reservation of rights [103]*103notice was sent by the defendants seven and one-half months later, the defendant’s counsel continued his representation of the plaintiff', David G. Humphrey, for approximately five years, before actually withdrawing from the suit, and it is claimed that this conduct on the part of Glens Falls’ counsel constituted a waiver of any claim of right it might have had to deny coverage under the policy.

The plaintiff’s insured, Humphrey, joined with United Services as a co-plaintiff in this action claiming that the defendant insurer, Glens Falls, was guilty of ordinary negligence and wanton negligence, in its failure to properly defend the action and avail itself of favorable settlement opportunities accessible before trial. It is claimed that this deprived the plaintiff Humphrey of the quality of representation he was entitled to accept under the policy, and had he received proper representation, it might have permitted him to avoid additional trial expenses and the mental anguish which he experienced, from the ordeal of a trial. The plaintiff insurer seeks to recover special damages, including the amount of the state court judgment, $42,000, together with interest, costs and attorney’s fees totalling $66,560.67. The individual plaintiff Humphrey also asks for special damages for his lost wages and expenses as a witness at the state court trial, Jerz v. Humphrey, 160 Conn. 219, 276 A.2d 884, plus general damages for his mental anguish. The Court, after a full trial on the merits, finds all the material issues in favor of the defendant and enters judgment accordingly.

Facts

On February 13, 1962, the day of the accident, the plaintiff Humphrey was operating a Volkswagen automobile owned by his friend, Albert Keith Pierce. The factual circumstances under which he was driving the Pierce car that day are crucial to a consideration of the issue, as to who held the primary responsibility for the insurance liability coverage.

Prior to the day in question, Pierce owned a 1953 Volkswagen, which was insured for liability coverage by Glens Falls under Policy No. 35549, in the amount of $25,000. On or about January 24, 1962, he purchased a second Volkswagen and transferred through the State Department of Motor Vehicles the registration from the old 1953 vehicle to the newly acquired vehicle. Subsequently, on or about February 3, 1962, Pierce agreed to let Humphrey sell the 1953 Volkswagen and anything he received over $235.00 would belong to him. He drove the car down to Humphrey’s home in Guilford, where he removed the registration plates and told Humphrey that the vehicle was unregistered and uninsured and could only be operated on the private way adjoining the latter’s home property. It was made clear that the uninsured, unregistered vehicle could not. be operated on any public highway.

At that same time, Humphrey owned a 1955 Volkswagen Micro-bus, which was insured in his name under a $100,000 liability policy with the plaintiff insurance company, United Services, under Policy No. N-190004-04. On the day of the accident, Humphrey tried to start his own Micro-bus to go to his place of employment, but it would not start. Thereupon, he illegally removed the registration plates from the “bus” and attached them to the unregistered Pierce vehicle and drove the Pierce car to his place of employment. It was about 5:30 p.m. that day, while on the way home from his job, that the accident happened. United Services immediately provided Humphrey with legal counsel for the defense of the motor vehicle criminal charges preferred against him; however, when the civil action was brought, it refrained from instructing its counsel to appear for its insured Humphrey, claiming that Glens Falls had the primary coverage and should assume its obligation to defend and also pay any hospitalization claims.

The injured pedestrian, Edward Jerz, commenced an action in the Connecticut Superior Court on June 4, 1962, claiming $100,000 damages, wherein he named both Humphrey and Pierce as co-defendants. His complaint not only alleged that Hum[104]*104phrey was operating Pierce’s motor vehicle when it struck him, but that he was operating it at that time, as the servant and agent of Pierce and in furtherance of the latter’s business and with his consent, knowledge and permission. Counsel for the defendant Glens Palls advised his client that in light of the agency claims asserted in the complaint, it was obligated under Connecticut law, Missionaries of Co. of Mary, Inc. v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co., 155 Conn. 104, 230 A.2d 21 (1967), to provide Humphrey with a defense, even though its own investigation indicated that no such permission or agency existed authorizing Humphrey to operate Pierce’s car on a public highway. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 68).

Glens Falls’ counsel, Pouzzner and Had-den, filed an appearance for Pierce on July 17, 1962, and an appearance for Humphrey on August 10,1962. When the law firm did so, on August 8, 1962, they had already advised Glens Falls they expected the Company to send a “reservation of rights letter” to Humphrey. (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 65). However, such a letter was not in fact given to Humphrey until approximately seven and one-half months later. United Services did not authorize its counsel to appear for Humphrey notwithstanding the fact, that it knew the ad damnum clause in the pending complaint claimed $100,000 damages and Glens Falls, even if liable, held a maximum liability coverage of only $25,000 for bodily injury and $1,000 for medical payments.

As the state action progressed toward trial, a pre-trial hearing was held in chambers with the presiding judge. The state court file discloses (Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 45) that on January 16, 1968, the plaintiffs’ settlement demand was $37,500, but no settlement offer was made, because Glens Falls denied coverage and appeared under a reservation of rights.

The record further discloses that the pretrial judge’s recommendation of settlement of the case at that time was $30,000. United Services, the plaintiff insurer, did not instruct its counsel to file an appearance, nor did it take any active part in the law suit, other than to request Glens Falls’ counsel to keep them advised of developments in the case. It did instruct its counsel to review the court file from time to time and keep abreast of the ease’s progress through the court.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
429 F. Supp. 101, 1976 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13324, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-services-automobile-assn-v-glens-falls-insurance-ctd-1976.