Case ID: f-appx_202/html/0566-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "SMITH, Circuit Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Kenneth GILLAM; Jessica Gillam, Appellants v. STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY.
    No. 05-4749.
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a) Oct. 24, 2006.
    Filed: Oct. 26, 2006.
    Michael H. Rosenzweig, Edgar Snyder & Associates, Pittsburgh, PA, for Appellants.
    Dennis J. Mulvihill, Daniel L. Rivetti, Robb, Leonard & Mulvihill, Pittsburgh, PA, for Appellee.
    Before: SMITH, FISHER, and COWEN, Circuit Judges.
   OPINION

SMITH, Circuit Judge.

In July 1998, Kenneth Gillam obtained an automobile insurance policy from State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm), which provided liability coverage of $100,000 per person and $800,000 per accident. The limits for Gil-lam’s underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage did not match his liability limits. Instead, pursuant to his written request, the UIM coverage was reduced to $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident with stacking. When Gillam was injured in an automobile accident in 2002, State Farm paid its UIM limits of $30,000. Thereafter, Gillam and his wife, Jessica, sued State Farm alleging that it was liable for UIM coverage commensurate with the liability limits because his request for reduced UIM coverage was invalid.

State Farm moved for summary judgment. In a thorough and well-reasoned report submitted to the District Court, the Magistrate Judge recommended granting summary judgment for State Farm. The Magistrate Judge concluded that “Pennsylvania law does not require a request for reduced limits of UIM coverage to be knowing and voluntary, and as the Pennsylvania Supreme Court stated in Lewis [v. Erie Insurance Exchange, 568 Pa. 105, 793 A.2d 143, 153-54 (2002),] once the notice provided by Section 1791 is provided, knowledge of the benefits provided is presumed and ‘no other notice or rejection shall be required.’” A16. The Magistrate Judge also rejected the Gillams’ contention that § 1791’s presumption of knowledge should be set aside based on evidence of fraud, explaining that there was no evidence which would support a conclusion that Gillam was misled. Although the Gil-lams objected to the Magistrate Judge’s report and recommendation, the District Court adopted it as the opinion of the Court. This timely appeal followed.

Here, the Gillams again argue that the request for reduced UIM coverage was neither knowing nor intelligent and that their lack of knowledge should bar State Farm from applying the terms of the policy as issued. They further contend that there is a genuine issue of fact as to fraud which would overcome the presumption of knowledge created by § 1791 and entitle them to coverage commensurate with the higher liability limits.

We have carefully considered the arguments of the parties and conclude that summary judgment was appropriately granted for State Farm for substantially the reasons set forth in the Magistrate Judge’s report. See also Hartford Ins. Co. v. O’Mara, 907 A.2d 589, 602-03 (Pa.Super.2006) (concluding that arbitrators erred by concluding that 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 1734 required that a valid request to reduce UIM benefits had to be knowing and intelligent). We will affirm the judgment of the District Court. 
      
      . The District Court exercised diversity jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332. We have final order jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. "We exercise plenary review over the District Court's grant of summary judgment” and "apply the same standard that the District Court should have applied.” Shuman ex rel. Shertzer v. Penn Manor School District, 422 F.3d 141, 146 (3d Cir.2005) (internal citations omitted).