Hodges v. Hartford Cas. Ins. Co., 70450

• Decision Date: 17 September 1985
• Docket Number: No. 70450,70450
• Parties: HODGES v. HARTFORD CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY.
• Court: Georgia Court of Appeals

Page 672

335 S.E.2d 672

176 Ga.App. 284

HODGES v. HARTFORD CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY.

No. 70450.

Court of Appeals of Georgia.

Sept. 17, 1985.

Rehearing Denied Oct. 2, 1985.

Certiorari Denied Nov. 6, 1985.

H. Joseph Chandler, Jr., Savannah, for appellant.

N. Forrest Montet, Malcolm P. Smith, Atlanta, for appellee.

CARLEY, Judge.

Appellant was insured under an automobile policy issued by appellee. The policy, which was issued in 1973, provided for basic personal injury protection (PIP) benefits of $5,000. In 1974, appellant received a document entitled "Georgia No-Fault 'Offer to Purchase Additional Coverage.' " At the top of that document was the following statement: "IMPORTANT: By law we are required to offer the optional coverages shown below. If you do not return this form to your agent indicating your rejection of these coverages they will be added to your policy and an additional premium charged." The document then clearly stated the additional optional no-fault PIP coverages and the additional optional no-fault vehicle damage coverages. A means was provided, through the checking of appropriate boxes, for the insured to make a written acceptance or rejection of each offer of additional coverage. A signature space at the bottom of the form was also provided. With respect to each offer of additional coverage, appellant placed an "X" in the box designated "No I reject." Appellant signed the signature space on the bottom of the form and returned the document to appellee's agent.

In 1980, while appellant's policy of insurance was in effect, appellant was seriously injured in an automobile collision. Appellee paid appellant $5,000 basic PIP benefits. In 1982, pursuant to the rationale of Jones v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 156 Ga.App. 230, 274 S.E.2d 623 (1980) and Flewellen v. Atlanta Cas. Co., 250 Ga. 709, 300 S.E.2d 673 (1983), appellant sought an additional $45,000 in optional PIP benefits from appellee. When appellee refused to pay the additional benefits, the instant lawsuit was instituted. Appellee moved for summary judgment in its favor, which motion was granted.

1. Appellant first contends that appellee's offer of optional PIP coverages failed to meet statutory requirements, and that appellant's written rejection of additional coverage was therefore insufficient as a matter of law.

The legal sufficiency of appellee's offer of optional coverages must be determined in light of OCGA § 33-34-5(c). Prior to its 1982 amendment, that statute required that named insureds who had not previously responded to an offer to accept or reject optional PIP coverages be given an opportunity to accept or reject such coverage in writing. "What is required to constitute 'an opportunity to accept or reject, in writing, the optional coverages' is not described in the statute.... We hold that a two part requirement necessarily exists. The opportunity must include a document containing (1) written information clearly stating the optional no-fault PIP coverage and the optional no-fault vehicle damage coverage, and (2) a means for the insured to make a written acceptance or rejection of each. Signatures, though acceptable, are not required. Mere blocks to be checked are sufficient." Wiard v. Phoenix Ins. Co., 251 Ga. 698, 700, 310 S.E.2d 221 (1983). "In the [document appellee] mailed [appellant] the optional coverages are set forth and provision made for selection by checking appropriate blocks. A blank space for the insured's signature is given at the bottom of the selection form. We hold the [document] mailed to [appellant met] the criteria of our decision in Wiard, supra." Stafford v. Allstate Ins. Co., 252 Ga. 38, 39, 311 S.E.2d 437 (1984). See also Ga. Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co. v. Drexler, 254 Ga. 98(1), 326 S.E.2d 741 (1985); United Svcs. Auto. Assn. v. Ansley, 254 Ga. 647, 333 S.E.2d 579 (1985).

Appellant contends that, unlike the offer form in Drexler, supra, the document he received failed to comply with a regulation of the Georgia Insurance Commission, because it did not specify the date upon which the higher coverage would become effective unless rejected. However, the regulation upon which appellant seeks to rely is not in the record before us, and we cannot take judicial notice of it. See McClure v. Hightower, 237 Ga. 157, 158, 227 S.E.2d 47 (1976). We find nothing in Wiard, supra, or its progeny to indicate that an insurer's failure to include the effective date renders its offering of optional coverages fatally defective.

2. Appellant further contends that a jury question exists as to whether the policy in effect at the time he received appellee's offer of optional coverages was the same policy as that which was in effect at the time of the collision. Appellant maintains that an inference arises that the latter was not a renewal of the former because the two policies had different numbers. The record contains an uncontroverted sworn statement of appelle...