SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
APPELLATE DIVISION
A-1709-95T2
MARKET TRANSITION FACILITY
OF NEW JERSEY, by and through
its servicing carrier, AMGRO
INSURANCE COMPANY and STATE
FARM INSURANCE COMPANY,
Plaintiffs-Respondents,
v.
TERESA PARISI-LUSARDI,
Defendant-Appellant.
Argued August 13, 1996 - Decided September
4, 1996
Before Judges Kleiner and Braithwaite.
On appeal from the Superior Court of
New Jersey, Law Division, Camden County.
Craig R. Fishman argued the cause for
appellant (Kotlikoff, Littlefield & Fishman,
attorneys; Mr. Fishman, on the brief).
Lawrence D. Lally argued the cause for
respondent Market Transition Facility of New
Jersey (Montano, Summers, Mullen, Manuel,
Owens & Gregorio, attorneys; Mr. Lally, of
counsel and on the brief).
Chierici & Wright, P.C., attorneys for
respondent State Farm Insurance Company
(Carolyn J. Kornas, on the brief).See footnote 1
The opinion of the court was delivered by
KLEINER, J.A.D.
This appeal raises a question of first impression in New
Jersey: In light of the Supreme Court's decision in Aubrey v.
Harleysville Ins. Cos.,
140 N.J. 397 (1995), may an individual,
injured while driving the automobile of another, assert a claim
for underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage purchased by a co-habitant family member of the injured individual, where that
injured individual does not own an automobile and does not have
her own UIM coverage? The motion judge who was called upon to
decide this narrow issue concluded that the injured claimant's
demand for underinsured coverage benefits was barred by the
decision in Aubrey. On the claimant's appeal from that decision,
we conclude that the claimant does, in fact, have an assertible
claim for underinsurance benefits. We reverse the summary
judgment granted to the insurer on its cross-motion and remand to
the trial court for further proceedings.
The facts are not in dispute. On April 3, 1992, defendant
Theresa Parisi-Lusardi (Lusardi), a licensed driver, resided with
her paramour Vito Moles, in the home of her brother Frank J.
Parisi, III (Parisi). Lusardi did not own a motor vehicle either
registered in this state or principally garaged in this state and
she therefore was not required to obtain automobile insurance.
See N.J.S.A. 39:6B-3. On that date, Lusardi was operating
Moles' automobile with his permission. Moles' automobile was
insured under a comprehensive automobile liability insurance
policy issued by State Farm Insurance Company (State Farm).
Moles' policy contained an endorsement selected by Moles that
provided underinsurance coverage of $100,000 per person. On that
same date, Lusardi's brother, Parisi, was insured under a
comprehensive automobile liability insurance policy issued by
Market Transition Facility, by and through its servicing carrier,
Amgro Insurance Company (Amgro). Parisi's policy contained an
underinsurance coverage endorsement, selected by Parisi,
providing underinsurance benefits of $100,000 per person.
Lusardi collided with a motor vehicle owned and operated by David
J. Pacuta, also insured by Amgro. Pacuta's policy provided the
statutory minimum liability coverage of $15,000 per
person/$30,000 per accident. See N.J.S.A. 17:28-1.1a. As a
result of the injuries Lusardi sustained in that collision, she
asserted claims against State Farm and Amgro.See footnote 2
Amgro, on behalf of Pacuta, offered to settle Lusardi's
personal injury claim for $15,000. Lusardi communicated that
offer of settlement to State Farm, on behalf of Moles, and to
Amgro, on behalf of Parisi. Lusardi informed both insurers of
her intent to pursue a claim for underinsurance benefits.
Neither insurer objected to Lusardi accepting Pacuta's settlement
offer and ultimately that settlement offer was accepted.
Lusardi thereafter asserted a claim against State Farm and
Amgro for underinsurance benefits under the endorsements to the
policies issued to Moles and Parisi, respectively. She demanded
that her underinsurance claim be submitted to arbitration, as
required under the contractual terms of each insurance policy
endorsement. Both insurers refused to submit Lusardi's claim to
arbitration. Lusardi, utilizing the docket number assigned to
the Law Division complaint initially filed, proceeded to file a
motion seeking to compel both insurers to submit her
underinsurance coverage claim to arbitration. While that motion
was pending, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Aubrey.
Each insurer then filed a cross-motion for summary judgment
separately contending that defendant Lusardi was not entitled to
underinsurance benefits. After oral argument on each defendant's
cross-motion, the motion judge granted summary judgment to State
Farm but reserved decision on Amgro's cross-motion for summary
judgment. The motion judge thereafter issued a letter opinion
granting summary judgment to Amgro. In both decisions, the
motion judge exclusively relied upon Aubrey. Defendant
immediately appealed both decisions.See footnote 3
The UIM statute, N.J.S.A. 17:28-1.1e, provides,
A motor vehicle is underinsured when the sum
of the limits of liability under all bodily
injury and property damage liability bonds
and insurance policies available to a person
against whom recovery is sought for bodily
injury or property damage is, at the time of
the accident, less than the applicable limits
for underinsured motorist coverage afforded
under the motor vehicle insurance policy held
by the person seeking that recovery.
Lusardi, as an injured claimant, first sought compensation
for her injuries from Pacuta, the culpable tortfeasor, whose
liability insurance provided coverage of only $15,000 per
person/$30,000 per accident. Lusardi, as a "family member" of
Parisi, then looked to the terms of the Amgro insurance policy
issued to Parisi. The Amgro comprehensive automobile liability
insurance policy provided in pertinent part:
AGREEMENT
In return for payment of the premium and
subject to all terms of this policy, we agree
with you as follows:
. . . .
A. Throughout this policy, "you" and
"your" refer to:
1. The "named insured" shown in the
Declarations; and
2. The spouse if a resident of the same
household.
. . . .
. . . .
INSURING AGREEMENT
We will pay damages which an "insured" is legally entitled to recover from the owner
or operator of an "uninsured motor vehicle"
or "underinsured motor vehicle" where such
coverage is indicated as applicable in the
Schedule or Declarations because of:
1. "Bodily injury" sustained by an
"insured" and caused by an accident; and
2. "Property damage" caused by an
accident except under paragraph 2. of
the definition of "uninsured motor
vehicle."
The owner's or operator's liability for
these damages must arise out of the
ownership, maintenance or use of the
"uninsured motor vehicle" or "underinsured
motor vehicle." We will pay damages under
this coverage caused by an accident with an
"underinsured motor vehicle" only after the
limits of liability under any applicable
liability bonds or policies have been
exhausted by payment of judgments or
settlements.
Any judgment for damages arising out of
a suit brought without our written consent is
not binding on us.
"Insured" as used in this endorsement means:
1. You or any "family member."
2. Any other person "occupying" "your
covered auto."
3. Any person for damages that person
is entitled to recover because of "bodily
injury" to which this coverage applies
sustained by a person described in 1. or 2.
above.
In Aubrey v. Harleysville Ins. Cos.,
140 N.J. 397 (1995),
the Supreme Court interpreted N.J.S.A. 17:28-1.1e:
[W]e conclude that UIM coverage, which is
limited to the amount contained in the
insured's policy, is "personal" to the
insured. Coverage is linked to the injured
person, not the covered vehicle. Fernandez
v. Selected Risks Ins. Co.,
82 N.J. 236, 241,
412 A.2d 755 (1980). UIM coverage provides
"as much coverage as the insured is willing
to purchase, for his or her protection
subject only to the owner's policy liability
limits for personal injury and property
damages to others." Prudential Property &
Casualty Ins. Co. v. Travelers Ins. Co.,
264 N.J. Super. 251, 259-60,
624 A.2d 600 (App.
Div. 1993); see also Clegg v. New Jersey
Automobile Full Underwriting Ass'n,
254 N.J.
Super. 634, 638,
604 A.2d 179 (App. Div.
1992) (stating that UIM coverage is linked to
insured); Nikiper v. Motor Club of America
Cos.,
232 N.J. Super. 393, 399,
557 A.2d 332
(App. Div.) (stating that "[t]he purchase
determines the amount of the coverage; the
number of tortfeasors does not"), certif.
denied,
117 N.J. 139,
564 A.2d 863 (1989).
[Id. at 403.]
We consider that the factual distinctions between this matter and Aubrey temper the effect of the above language on this matter. In Aubrey, the injured claimant had purchased her own automobile insurance, including a UIM endorsement providing coverage of $15,000 per person/$30,000 per accident. Id. at 404. Aubrey was injured while operating a vehicle that she intended to purchase from Chris Koch Toyota after securing a financing arrangement. Id. at 399. Aubrey contended that she was entitled to recover UIM benefits under the UIM provisions of Koch's garage policy, which provided $1,000,000 in UIM coverage.See footnote 4 Aubrey had recovered an aggregate sum of $40,000 in benefits from the
liability insurance carriers of two culpable tortfeasors involved
in the automobile accident that proximately caused her injuries.
In denying Aubrey's claim, the Court concluded,
Here, Aubrey purchased UIM coverage in
the amount of $15,000. Thus, the amount of
UIM coverage "held" by her, as "the person
seeking recovery," was $15,000. Accordingly,
she could reasonable expect UIM coverage in
that amount. When she purchased her UIM
coverage, Aubrey could not reasonably have
anticipated the possibility of receiving
benefits under UIM endorsements issued in
favor of Koch. To allow her to recover under
Koch's UIM policy would distort the meaning
of an insured's "reasonable expectations."See footnote 5
[Id. at 404.]
The exact holding in Aubrey is underscored by the Court's specific disapproval of a prior ruling of our court in Landi v. Gray, 228 N.J. Super. 619 (App. Div. 1988). In Landi, the plaintiff Dawn Landi, "was named as the insured in a $15,000/$30,000 automobile liability policy insuring an automobile that she owned. The policy afforded her underinsured motorist coverage up to $15,000." 228 N.J. Super. at 623 (emphasis added) (footnote omitted). Landi borrowed her brother's motor vehicle and allowed her friend to drive while she remained a passenger. Id. at 620. Landi's friend lost control of the vehicle, causing Landi's injuries. Ibid. Landi's brother's insurer paid her the liability policy limits of $15,000. Id. at 620-21. As a member of her mother's household,
Landi then asserted a UIM claim against her mother's UIM coverage
of $100,000.See footnote 6 The trial court granted Landi's claim and we
affirmed. Id. at 621, 624.
In Aubrey, the Supreme Court expressly disapproved of our
holding in Landi. 140 N.J. at 405. It also disagreed with our
opinion on Aubrey:
Thus, we disagree with the Appellate
Division's conclusion that UIM insurance is
not personal to the insured. The Appellate
Division construed the statutory phrase "held
by the person seeking recovery" to "include
policies pursuant to which the person is an
insured, regardless of who may have purchased
the policy." 274 N.J. Super. at 243,
643 A.2d 1043.
[Id. 140 N.J. at 404.]
The Court concluded,
The right to recover UIM benefits
depends on the UIM limits chosen by the
insured. Recovery does not depend on the
limits of other UIM policies, such as the
mother's policy in Landi or Koch's policy in
the instant case. See Harden v. Monroe
Guaranty Ins. Co.,
626 N.E.2d 814, 818 (Ind.
Ct. App. 1993) (holding that prospective
buyer of used car could not recover under
dealer's UIM endorsement because UIM
insurance is not for protection of vehicles,
but of persons).
[Id. at 405.]
The Supreme Court also cited Clegg v. Auto Full Underwriting, 254 N.J. Super. 634 (App. Div. 1992). In Clegg,
Carol Clegg was operating her husband's vehicle while her friend
Mary Smeltzer was a passenger in the vehicle. Id. at 636. Both
women were seriously injured when the vehicle was struck by an
underinsured culpable tortfeasor, William Kovalski. Ibid.
Robert Clegg, the named insured who had purchased insurance
coverage on the Clegg vehicle, had a UIM endorsement providing
single limit UIM coverage of $500,000. Ibid. Smeltzer had her
own policy of liability insurance on her personal vehicle and was
also covered by a UIM endorsement providing single limit UIM
coverage of $500,000. Ibid.
In explaining the dispute, we noted,
Robert Clegg, individually and t/a
Smeltzer Realty Co., is the insured named on
the Declaration sheet of a policy issued by
defendant Camden Fire Insurance Association
("Camden"). As we note infra, Carol is
treated identically in the Camden policy with
the named insured shown in the Declarations,
because she is a spouse resident in the same
household. By contrast, Smeltzer is an
insured person under the Camden policy
because of her status as an occupant of a
covered auto. Smeltzer's own UIM coverage is
written under a policy issued by defendant
New Jersey Full Insurance Underwriting
Association ("JUA").
The present controversy arose when the
Cleggs and Smeltzer presented UIM claims to
their own carriers for the full amount of
their respective UIM coverages. The claims
of each would exhaust their own UIM coverage.
Because of proration provisions in the two
policies, however, a question arose whether
Smeltzer was entitled to share equally in the
UIM coverage provided under the Clegg policy.
[Id. at 636-37.]
After discussing the contractual implications of proration
as defined in the respective policies under consideration, we
concluded,
Given the discretionary nature of UIM
coverage, a purchaser would reasonably and
objectively expect that he is buying such
protection up to the declared limits
primarily for himself and his resident
spouse. An intention to prefer passengers to
the purchasers' own interests is, in our
view, unrealistic and not objectively
reasonable. For most purchasers of
insurance, passengers would be but incidental
beneficiaries of the UIM contract. This
interpretation is borne out by the automobile
insurance Buyer's Guide, mandated by N.J.S.A.
39:6A-23 and distributed to each prospective
purchaser. The description of UIM emphasizes
the personal nature of the security afforded
and the apparent certainty of available
benefits to the amount purchased:
When you buy uninsured motorist
coverage, you are also provided coverage
to protect you from those motorists who
are underinsured. If you are in an
accident caused by such a motorist,
underinsured motorist coverage will pay
damages up to the difference between
your underinsured motorist coverage
limit and the other driver's liability
coverage limit.
N.J.A.C. 11:3-15.6.
[Id. at 640 (footnote omitted).]
We added in a footnote, "As noted in n.2, supra, `you' means the
named insured and resident spouse, at least to the holder of a
Camden policy." Ibid. We find this footnote to be significant.
The language of this pre-Aubrey opinion implies that
Smeltzer would have been entitled to collect UIM benefits under
the Camden policy even though she had her own UIM coverage. We
recognized that Smeltzer was also a named insured under her own
automobile liability insurance policy with an endorsement
providing UIM coverage up to $500,000 and, moreover, that Mrs.
Clegg's injuries exceeded the UIM coverage on the Clegg policy.
We therefore concluded,
To construe the policies, as JUA urges,
to permit proration of benefits payable to
Smeltzer operates to deny the Cleggs full
benefit of the first-party coverage they were
reasonably entitled to believe they had
purchased. Given this construction, Smeltzer
would not have "collectible" UIM insurance
available from the Clegg policy, unless the
Cleggs' own damages were less than $500,000
[Ibid. (emphasis added).]See footnote 7
The apparent effect of Aubrey on Clegg is to render the
extent of Mrs. Clegg's injuries irrelevant. Under a strict
construction of Aubrey, Smeltzer would have been barred from
asserting a claim against the Clegg's UIM provision solely by
virtue of her own UIM coverage.
We also find it significant that Aubrey cited with approval
our decision in Prudential Property & Casualty Ins. Co. v.
Travelers Ins. Co.,
264 N.J. Super. 251 (App. Div. 1993). In
Prudential, the injured claimant, Chris Tucci, was employed as a
police officer by the Borough of Roselle Park (Borough). Id. at
253. Tucci was an insured under a personal insurance policy that
contained a UIM endorsement providing coverage in the amount of
$100,000. Id. at 254. The Borough police vehicle was insured
with a UIM endorsement providing coverage in the amount of
$1,000,000. Ibid. Tucci sustained injury when the Borough
police vehicle he was operating collided with a culpable driver,
Andrzej Ratkiewicz. Id. at 253. Ratkiewicz's automobile
indemnity policy was in the amount of $15,000 per person/$30,000
per accident. Ibid.
The dispute in Prudential, not specifically relevant in this
case, required us to compare uninsured motorist coverage (UM)
with UIM coverage. In our discussion, we noted,
[A]though the Legislature was aware that
"multiple policies" might provide UIM
coverage, [N.J.S.A. 17:28-1.1(c)], it
specifically provided that to determine
whether a motor vehicle was underinsured, the
limits of liability for that vehicle should
be compared against the UIM limits of the
motor vehicle insurance policy "held by the
person seeking that recovery," rather than
with respect to the limits of any other
policies that may apply to the benefit of the
claimant. See, N.J.S.A. 17:28-1.1(e).
[Id. at 259 (emphasis added).]
We also explained,
The expectation of an insured, such as Tucci,
who purchases a policy of insurance
containing UIM coverage is that he is buying
such protection up to the declared limits
"primarily for himself" and anyone else who
is insured on the same basis under the
policy. [Clegg, supra,] 254 N.J.Super. at
640,
604 A.2d 179. Any other policy of
insurance which affords him coverage
necessarily does so on the basis of his
status as a third party beneficiary of the
contract of insurance between the insurer and
the purchaser of the policy.
[Id. at 260.]
Aubrey also cited with approval Nikiper v. Motor Club of
America Cos.,
232 N.J. Super. 393 (App. Div.), certif. denied,
117 N.J. (1989). We need not review all of the essential facts
of Nikiper. Suffice it to say, Joan Marie Nikiper (Joan) was
seriously injured while a passenger in a vehicle owned, operated
and insured by Gregory Nikiper, a non-culpable driver who
collided with two other vehicles.See footnote 8 Gregory Nipiker's automobile
insurance included an endorsement providing UIM coverage up to
$100,000. The value of Joan's injuries exceeded $100,000. Id.
at 396. The two culpable drivers, through their insurers and
with a personal additional contribution from one of the culpable
drivers, settled Joan's personal injury claim for $155,000. Joan
contended that she was entitled to seek UIM coverage under
Gregory Nikiper's insurance endorsement, since the liability
limit of one of the culpable drivers was $50,000, which had been
contributed to the total $155,000 settlement. Id. at 395.
Although the trial judge granted the requested relief, we
reversed. Ibid.
The common theme in Aubrey, Landi, Clegg, and Prudential is
that each injured claimant had selected a UIM endorsement when
purchasing their own policy of insurance and each UIM endorsement
provided coverage less than the UIM coverage on a policy against
which a claim was asserted. That common theme is absent here:
plaintiff neither owned an automobile on the day she was injured
in an automobile accident nor maintained in her name a policy of
automobile liability insurance containing an endorsement
providing UIM coverage.
Had plaintiff owned her own automobile, she clearly would
have been required to purchase a comprehensive automobile
liability policy. See N.J.S.A. 39:6B-3. Her prospective insurer
would have been required to provide plaintiff with an option to
purchase optional UIM coverage. See N.J.S.A. 17:28-1.1b. In
turn, plaintiff would have either elected to purchase UIM
coverage or she would have rejected that opportunity. Her
election would have been hers, personal unto herself. In
overruling Landi, Aubrey would dictate that conclusion. Although
not expressly stated in Aubrey, we conclude that, had plaintiff
elected not to purchase optional UIM coverage, that election
would also bar her recovery of UIM benefits under Parisi's
policy.
Aubrey left uncertain, however, whether it was intended to
disqualify entitlement to UIM coverage to those individuals who,
like plaintiff, do not own an automobile either registered or
principally garaged in New Jersey. We think not. The issue was
not raised in Aubrey and, as we construe that opinion, the issue
does not seem to be answered therein.
In Aubrey, and in each case cited therein, the claimant
owned an automobile and, in selecting insurance coverage,
specifically elected optional UIM coverage with a specified
coverage limit. The individual selection clearly allows
optional UIM coverage to be deemed "personal" to the insured.
Aubrey, supra, 140 N.J. at 403. Because of that selection
process, the Supreme Court disapproved Landi, which permitted the
injured claimant with her own selected UIM coverage to seek the
higher UIM coverage afforded under her mother's insurance
endorsement.See footnote 9
Likewise in Clegg, Smeltzer, although included within the
contractual terms of the Clegg policy, was barred from recovering
pro-rata with the Cleggs under their UIM endorsement to their
insurance policy because she owned an automobile and had elected
to purchase optional UIM coverage. This was the exact result in
Prudential, where the claimant, Tucci, operating his employer's
vehicle as a permissive user and contractually covered within the
terms of the UIM endorsement issued to his employer, was barred
from recovering under the provisions of that endorsement because
he had opted to purchase UIM coverage as an endorsement to his
own automobile insurance policy covering his private automobile.
If we view the issue from the perspective of the reasonable
expectation of the insured, as instructed by Werner Indus. v.
First State Ins. Co.,
112 N.J. 30, 35 (1988), we reach the same
conclusion. We think it is clear that Parisi, in purchasing
insurance and in electing to purchase UIM coverage, would have
the reasonable expectation that, under the clear language of that
endorsement, he was providing UIM coverage to himself and to
members of his "family." As noted, Parisi's endorsement stated,
"Insured" as used in this endorsement
means:
1. You or any "family member."
2. Any other person "occupying" "your
covered auto."
3. Any person for damages that person
is entitled to recover because of "bodily
injury" to which this coverage applies
sustained by a person described in 1. or 2.
above.
[(Emphasis Added).]
Construing Aubrey in accord with plaintiff's contention
contravenes the very specific contractual terms of the
endorsement that it issued to Parisi and negates the reasonable
expectation of Parisi, i.e., that members of his family,
including his sister who resided in his household, would be
provided with the UIM benefits he purchased to protect himself
and his family members. Viewing Lusardi as an "Insured," as
defined by Amgro's contractual endorsement, we may also conclude
that her reasonable expectation would be that, as Parisi's family
member, she would be protected by the UIM insurance he purchased
to protect his "family".See footnote 10
Aubrey did not focus upon the claim of an injured party who
does not own an automobile registered or principally garaged in
New Jersey and who therefore has never had the opportunity to
elect to purchase UIM coverage. We cannot conclude that the
Supreme Court intended to exclude these individuals, such as
Lusardi, from the protections afforded by UIM coverage.
Reversed and remanded for further proceedings consistent
with this opinion. Amgro's motion for summary judgment should
have been denied; Lusardi's motion to compel Amgro to submit her
UIM coverage claim to arbitration should have been granted.See footnote 11
Footnote: 1 Attorneys for respondent State Farm Insurance Company
submitted a consent order to the court prior to oral argument.
They did not participate in oral argument.
Footnote: 2 Suit was originally commenced by plaintiffs State Farm
Insurance Company and Market Transition Facility, by and through
its servicing carrier, Amgro Insurance Company. Both insurers
sought to compel Lusardi, the named defendant, to execute medical
authorizations so as to permit plaintiffs to investigate
Lusardi's medical claims attributable to the April 3, 1992
collision. That aspect of the litigation was resolved and that
issue has no bearing upon this appeal.
Footnote: 3 At oral argument, we were advised by counsel that State
Farm has agreed to be bound by a three-person underinsured
motorist arbitration subject to the limits of the policy issued
to Vito Moles under policy number 2094545-513-30. The consent
order specifically provides, "The issues to be determined at the
aforementioned underinsured motorist arbitration are liability
and damages only, the issue of coverage for Teresa Parisi-Lusardi, under the aforementioned policy having been waived by
State Farm Insurance Company."
Footnote: 4 A secondary issue in Aubrey was the applicability of a
"step down" provision in the garage policy. Id. at 399, 405-407.
The "step-down" provision reduced the UIM coverage available to
Aubrey. We need not review that aspect of the opinion in our
resolution of this appeal.
Footnote: 5 The concept of "the objectively reasonable expectations of
the insured" is fully discussed in Werner Indus. v. First State
Ins. Co.,
112 N.J. 30, 35
548 A.2d 188 (1988). Aubrey, supra,
140 N.J. at 404.
Footnote: 6 The Supreme Court opinion in Aubrey indicates that Landi's
mother's UIM coverage was $1,000,000. Id. at 405. The decision
in Landi indicates the mother's UIM coverage was $100,000.
Landi, supra, 228 N.J. Super. at 621. The discrepancy is most
likely due to a typographical error and has no bearing upon the
result.
Footnote: 7 Obviously, had the Cleggs' injuries not been serious and
had they not been entitled to their UIM limits of $500,000, under
the decision in Clegg, Smeltzer, a passenger, would have been
permitted to recover the remaining unpaid limits under Clegg's
UIM endorsement. In citing Clegg with approval, the Supreme
Court in Aubrey did not reject the dicta in Clegg. 140 N.J. at
403-04.
Footnote: 8 Our decision in Nikiper does not explain the relationship
between Joan Nikiper, the passenger, and Gregory Nikiper, the
owner and named insured. The decision also fails to include the
policy language of the insurance policy purchased by Gregory and
to advise whether Joan was the owner, and as such, a named
insured on her own policy of insurance which may or may not have
contained an optional UIM endorsement.
Footnote: 9 Although the policy language of the mother's liability
insurance policy and the UIM endorsement to that policy are not
quoted within our decision in Landi, for the purposes of this
opinion we may infer that the endorsement in Landi is similar to
the endorsement provided by Amgro to Parisi. That endorsement
provides in pertinent part, "`Insured' as used in this
endorsement means: 1. You or any `family member.'"
Footnote: 10 In plaintiff's brief on appeal, in response to a
hypothetical argument raised by Lusardi that a seventeen-year
child who is a licensed driver, who borrows the automobile of his
insured parent, who has elected to purchase UIM coverage, would
be denied coverage under a strict reading of Aubrey, plaintiff
stated,
[I]t is fairly clear that the reasonable
expectation of a named insured when
purchasing a private passenger automobile
coverage, which would include UIM, would be
to cover his immediate family. A minor child
is without a doubt a member of the immediate
family and has been so construed in numerous
cases in this State no matter what the status
of the relationship to the named insured.
(citations omitted).
At oral argument, plaintiff's counsel, however, refused to
concede that a sister of a named insured is a member of the
"immediate family" of the named insured. We must reject that
contention.
Footnote: 11 As State Farm has by consent agreed to submit
plaintiff's claim to arbitration, Amgro shall participate in that
same arbitration proceeding on behalf of its insured, Parisi.
Additionally, this opinion has not considered any argument pertinent to proration of insurance based upon contractual provisions in either policy.