State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Jeffers
Decision Date | 13 December 1996 |
Citation | 686 So.2d 248 |
Parties | STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY v. Dorothy R. JEFFERS and Keith Jeffers. 1951641. |
Court | Alabama Supreme Court |
Joel W. Ramsey of Ramsey, Baxley & McDougle, Dothan, for Plaintiff.
Benjamin E. Meredith, Dothan, for Defendants.
The United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama has certified to this Court the following question:
"Whether a vehicle covered under a liability insurance policy may be deemed an 'uninsured motor vehicle' under the Alabama uninsured motorist statute, specifically Alabama Code [1975], Section 32-7-23, when the claim of the insured covered under the policy providing the uninsured benefits is barred against the other insured party involved in the accident because the other party, even if at fault, is protected from liability by substantive immunity."
The facts, as stipulated by the parties and submitted by the district court, are as follows:
We must determine whether, under § 32-7-23(b), Ala.Code 1975, an insured motorist can be deemed to be an "uninsured motorist" when the injured party's claim against the insured motorist is barred by the doctrine of substantive immunity. This appears to be a case of first impression before this Court.
The Jefferses contend that, under the holding in State Farm Automobile Insurance Co. v. Baldwin, 470 So.2d 1230 (Ala.1985), they should be allowed to recover under their uninsured motorist coverage with State Farm. In Baldwin, this Court addressed the question "whether an insured, who is precluded because of governmental immunity from suing the owner or negligent operator of an uninsured motor vehicle, is nevertheless 'legally entitled to recover damages' under the Alabama Uninsured Motorist Act." 470 So.2d at 1231. The case involved a United States Army sergeant who was struck by an uninsured vehicle that was owned by the United States Government and that was being driven by a civilian Government employee. The sergeant's claim against the Government employee was barred by the doctrine of governmental immunity. This Court held that the sergeant was "legally entitled to recover damages" under his uninsured motorist coverage even though his claim against the negligent driver was barred by substantive immunity. The factor distinguishing this case from Baldwin is that in this case Deputy Anderson's vehicle was covered under an insurance policy.
State Farm contends that Deputy Anderson's automobile is not an "uninsured vehicle" within the meaning of the Act because the automobile was in fact covered under a liability policy. State Farm argues that the fact the Jefferses are barred from a recovery by the doctrine of substantive immunity should not affect the question whether Deputy Anderson's automobile is deemed to be an ...
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