Supreme Court of California

In the context of Insurance Code section 11580.2, which requires insurers to provide coverage for bodily injury or wrongful death caused by uninsured motorists, the determination of whether a claimant is insured under an uninsured motorist provision is not a question of the underinsured tortfeasor's liability or damages owed to the insured, and is therefore not subject to arbitration under section 11580.2(f). However, an arbitrator should decide if a default judgment obtained by the insured against the underinsured tortfeasor binds the insurer.

Appellate Information

• Decided 06/09/2008
• Published 06/09/2008

Judges

• MORENO, J.

Court

• Supreme Court of California

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Shipley & Kirch, Law Offices of Jacques J. Kirch, Jacques J. Kirch, San Diego;  Law Offices of Daniel S. Rosenberg and Daniel S. Rosenberg, for Plaintiff and Appellant Lloyd Bouton., Law Office of Duncan M. James, Duncan M. James, David M. Kindopp, Ukiah, Donald J. McMullen and Joseph John Turri, Ukiah, for Plaintiff and Appellant Charles Michael O'Hanesian.


• For Appellees:
  
• Daniels, Fine, Israel, Schonbuch & Lebovits, Paul R. Fine, Erin O'Neill Hallissy and Leila M. Reed, Los Angeles, for Defendant and Respondent USAA Casualty Insurance Company., Robie & Matthai, James R. Robie and Steven S. Fleischman, Los Angeles, for State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and Infinity Insurance Company as Amici Curiae on behalf of Defendant and Respondent USAA Casualty Insurance Company., Hager & Dowling, John V. Hager and Holly C. Blackwell, Santa Barbara, for Mercury Casualty Company as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Defendant and Respondent USAA Casualty Insurance Company., Horvitz & Levy, Peter Abrahams, Mitchell C. Tilner, Encino;  Crandall, Wade & Lowe, James L. Crandall, Edwin B. Brown and William F. Zulch, Irvine, for Defendants and Respondents State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company et al., Daniels, Fine, Israel, Schonbuch & Lebovits, Paul R. Fine and Erin O'Neill Hallissy, Los Angeles, for United Services Automobile Association as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Defendants and Respondents State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company et al.