Corn v. Farmers Ins. Co., Inc.

After Opal Corn was rear-ended by Martha Gafford, she settled with Gafford and Gafford's insurer. Opal and L.B. Corn subsequently filed an underinsured motorist (UIM) claim with their insurer, Farmers Insurance Company, for the remaining damages from the accident. The Corns then filed suit against Farmers and a driver and company also involved in the accident (collectively, Eden). The Corns settled their claims with Eden, but their settlement was for less than the limits of Eden's insurance policy. Farms refused to offer UIM benefits and moved for summary judgment, arguing that because the Corns had failed to exhaust Eden's liability policy, they had not triggered UIM coverage under their policy with Farmers. The circuit court entered summary judgment for Farmers, finding that, based on the exhaustion requirement of UIM coverage and the policy language, the Corns were not entitled to UIM benefits. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) insured persons are required to exhaust all liability insurance policies of all tortfeasors before they are entitled to receive UIM benefits; and (2) under the terms of the policy, UIM coverage was not triggered until all policy limits had been exhausted. View "Corn v. Farmers Ins. Co., Inc." on Justia Law