Summary
reversing decision to reform commercial automobile insurance policy to reflect minimum liability limit of $750,000, reasoning federal motor carrier regulations place duty to provide minimum level of financial responsibility on motor carrier, not insurer
Summary of this case from Shelter Ins. Co. v. GomezOpinion
No. 99A07.
October 12, 2007.
Insurance — not-for-hire commercial vehicle — minimum liability coverage
The decision of the Court of Appeals in this case is reversed for the reason stated in the dissenting opinion that the minimum liability insurance coverage required by N.C.G.S. § 20-309(al) for not-for-hire commercial vehicles is not written into each policy as a matter of law.
Appeal pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7A-30(2) from the decision of a divided panel of the Court of Appeals, 181 N.C. App. 407, 638 S.E.2d 922 (2007), affirming a judgment entered 13 July 2005 by Judge Howard E. Manning, Jr. in Superior Court, Wake County. Heard in the Supreme Court 11 September 2007.
Young Moore and Henderson PA., by R. Michael Strickland and Glenn C. Raynor, for plaintiff-appellant. Law Offices of Frank A. Cassiano, by Frank A. Cassiano, for defendant-appellees Terry Davis Armwood, Sr. and Ramona Armwood, individually and as parents and guardians of Terry Davis Armwood, Jr. Nexsen Pruet Adams Kleemeier, PLLC, by James W. Bryan and Daniel W. Koenig, for Trucking Industry Defense Association, amicus curiae. Pinto Coates Kyre Brown, PLLC, by David L. Brown, for North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys, amicus curiae. Rachel Scott Decker for North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, amicus curiae.
For the reasons stated in the dissenting opinion, the decision of the Court of Appeals is reversed and this matter is remanded to the Court of Appeals for further remand to the trial court for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
Justice HUDSON did not participate in the consideration or decision of this case.