Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca8-16-02723/USCOURTS-ca8-16-02723-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
AMCO Insurance Company
Appellee
Judith Williams
Appellant
Robert Williams
Appellant

Document Text:

United States Court of Appeals

For the Eighth Circuit

___________________________

No. 16-2723

___________________________

AMCO Insurance Company

lllllllllllllllllllll Plaintiff - Appellee

v.

Judith Williams; Robert Williams

lllllllllllllllllllll Defendants - Appellants

____________

Appeal from United States District Court 

for the Western District of Missouri - Springfield

____________

 Submitted: February 7, 2017

 Filed: March 16, 2017

____________

Before SMITH , BENTON, and SHEPHERD, Circuit Judges. 1

____________

BENTON, Circuit Judge.

Kelly D. Williams died when her car was hit by Dylan A. Meyer’s vehicle. 

After settling with Meyer’s insurance company, Appellants Judith and Robert

Williams—Kelly’s parents and sole survivors—submitted a claim for underinsured

The Honorable Lavenski R. Smith became Chief Judge of the United States 1

Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on March 11, 2017. 

Appellate Case: 16-2723 Page: 1 Date Filed: 03/16/2017 Entry ID: 4512678 
motorist (UIM) coverage. AMCO Insurance Company sued, seeking a declaration

of no coverage under Kelly’s auto policy. Both parties moved for summary

judgment. The district court granted AMCO’s motion. Having jurisdiction under

2

28 U.S.C. § 1291, this court affirms.

I.

Meyer’s insurance had a limit of $250,000, all paid to the Williamses. Because

the damages exceed this amount, the Williamses sought $100,000 in UIM coverage

under Williams’ auto policy with AMCO. 

The policy’s Declarations page lists a UIM limit of $100,000 per person and

$300,000 per accident. The Underinsured Motorists Coverage–Missouri

Endorsement says:

UNDERINSURED MOTORISTS COVERAGE

INSURING AGREEMENT

A. We will pay compensatory damages which an “insured” is legally

entitled to recover from the owner or operator of an

“underinsured motor vehicle” because of “bodily injury”:

1. Sustained by an “insured”; and

2. Caused by an accident.

The owner’s or operator’s liability for these damages must arise

out of the ownership, maintenance or use of the “underinsured

motor vehicle”.

* * * *

C. “Underinsured motor vehicle” means a land motor vehicle or

trailer of any type to which a bodily injury liability bond or policy

The Honorable Brian C. Wimes, United States District Judge for the Western 2

District of Missouri.

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Appellate Case: 16-2723 Page: 2 Date Filed: 03/16/2017 Entry ID: 4512678 
applies at the time of the accident but its limit for bodily injury

liability is less than the limit of liability for this coverage. . . .

(emphasis added).

The “Limit of Liability” section in the same Endorsement says:

LIMIT OF LIABILITY

A. The limit of liability shown in the Declarations for each person

for Underinsured Motorists Coverage is our maximum limit of

liability for all damages, including damages for care, loss of

services or death, arising out of “bodily injury” sustained by any

one person in any one accident. Subject to this limit for each

person, the limit of liability shown in the Declarations for each

accident for Underinsured Motorists Coverage is our maximum

limit of liability for all damagesfor “bodily injury” resulting from

any one accident.

This is the most we will pay regardless of the number of:

1. “Insureds”;

2. Claims made;

3. Vehicles shown in the Declarations; or

4. Vehicles involved in the accident. A vehicle and attached

“trailer” are considered one vehicle. Therefore the Limit of

Liability will not be increased for an accident involving a

vehicle which has an attached “trailer”.

* * * *

D. We will not make a duplicate payment under this coverage for

any element of loss for which payment has been made by or on

behalf of persons or organizations who may be legally

responsible.

E. Any amount otherwise payable for damages under this coverage

shall be reduced by all sums paid because of bodily injury by or

on behalf of persons or organizations who may be legally

responsible. This includes all sums paid under Part A of the

policy.

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TheWilliamses moved for summary judgment, arguing the policy is ambiguous

and provides UIM coverage. AMCO cross-moved, asserting no coverage because

Meyer’s vehicle was not an “underinsured motor vehicle.” Relying on the Missouri

Supreme Court’s decision in Rodriguez v. General AccidentInsurance Company, 808

S.W.2d 379 (Mo. banc 1991), the district court granted summary judgment for

AMCO.

“This court reviews de novo a grant of summary judgment, viewing the record

most favorably to the nonmoving party and drawing all reasonable inferencesfor that

party.” Munroe v. Cont’l W. Ins. Co., 735 F.3d 783, 786 (8th Cir. 2013), citing

Chambers v. Pennycook, 641 F.3d 898, 904 (8th Cir. 2011). “Interpretation of an

insurance policy is a matter of state law.” Progressive N. Ins. Co. v. McDonough,

608 F.3d 388, 390 (8th Cir. 2010), quoting Stan Koch & Sons Trucking, Inc. v.

Great W. Cas. Co., 517 F.3d 1032, 1039 (8th Cir. 2008). The parties agree Missouri

law applies. This court is “bound by the decisions of the Missouri Supreme Court

regarding issues ofsubstantive state law.” Owners Ins. Co. v. Hughes, 712 F.3d 392,

393 (8th Cir. 2013), quoting Bockelman v. MCI Worldcom, Inc., 403 F.3d 528, 531

(8th Cir. 2005).

II.

The Williamses argue the policy is ambiguous and must be construed in their

favor. “Under Missouri law, courts apply the general rules of contract construction

when interpreting an insurance policy.” Munroe, 735 F.3d at 786, citing Todd v.

Missouri United Sch. Ins. Council, 223 S.W.3d 156, 160 (Mo. banc 2007). “The key

is whether the [policy] language is ambiguous or unambiguous.” Peters v. Emp’rs

Mut. Cas. Co., 853 S.W.2d 300, 302 (Mo. banc 1993). “If the policy is unambiguous,

it will be enforced as written, absent statutory or policy considerations.” Munroe,

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735 F.3d at 786, citing Rodriguez, 808 S.W.2d at 382. “If ambiguity exists, the court

interprets the policy in favor of the insured.” Id., citing Todd, 223 S.W.3d at 160. 

“An ambiguity exists when there is duplicity, indistinctness, or uncertainty in

the meaning of the language in the policy. Language is ambiguous if it is reasonably

open to different constructions.” Burns v. Smith, 303 S.W.3d 505, 509 (Mo. banc

2010), quoting Seeck v. Geico Gen. Ins. Co., 212 S.W.3d 129, 132 (Mo. banc 2007). 

“[C]onstruing the terms of an insurance policy,” courts should apply “the meaning

which would be attached by an ordinary person of average understanding if

purchasing insurance.” Id., quoting Seeck, 212 S.W.3d at 132. “Courts should not

interpret policy provisions in isolation but rather evaluate policies as a whole.” 

Ritchie v. Allied Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 307 S.W.3d 132, 135 (Mo. banc 2009). 

Courts “must endeavor to give each provision a reasonable meaning and to avoid an

interpretation that renderssome provisions useless or redundant.” Dibben v. Shelter

Ins. Co., 261 S.W.3d 553, 556 (Mo. App. 2008).

This case is controlled by Rodriquez v. General Accident Insurance Company

of America, 808 S.W.2d 379 (Mo. banc 1991). There, the tortfeasor’s vehicle had a

$50,000 liability policy. Id. at 380. After collecting the $50,000, the insured sought

the balance of damages under her policy’s UIM coverage which had a $50,000 limit

per vehicle. Id. The company declined, emphasizing the policy’s definition of

“underinsured motor vehicle.” Id. at 381. The insured sued, claiming the policy was

ambiguous and must be construed in favor of coverage. Id. 

The court rejected the insured’s arguments, finding the “contract between [the

company] and the [insured] clearly states that an underinsured motor vehicle is a

vehicle whose limits for bodily injury liability are ‘less than the limit of liability for

this coverage.’” Id. at 382. The court held, “Since [the tortfeasor’s] coverage is

equal to the limit of liability under the [insured’s] policy, [the tortfeasor] was not an

underinsured motorist as defined by the [] policy.” Id. 

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Appellate Case: 16-2723 Page: 5 Date Filed: 03/16/2017 Entry ID: 4512678 
The definition of “underinsured motor vehicle” in Rodriguezisidentical to the

definition here. The same analysis applies. Williams’ policy providesthat “[AMCO]

will pay compensatory damages which the ‘insured’ islegally entitled to recover from

the owner or operator of an ‘underinsured motor vehicle’ because of ‘bodily injury.’” 

The issue is whether Meyer’s vehicle was an “underinsured motor vehicle.” The

policy defines “underinsured motor vehicle” as:

[A] land motor vehicle or trailer of any type to which a bodily injury

liability bond or policy applies at the time of the accident but its limit for

bodily injury liability is less than the limit of liability for this coverage.

(emphasis added). The policy “clearly states that an underinsured motor vehicle is

a vehicle whose limits for bodily injury liability are ‘less than the limit of liability for

this coverage.’” Id. at 382. It is undisputed that Meyer’s bodily-injury liability limit

is $250,000, and the policy’s UIM liability limit is $100,000. Because the bodilyinjury liability limit for Meyer’s vehicle is greater than the policy’s UIM liability

limit, Meyer’s vehicle is not an “underinsured motor vehicle.” Id. See Hughes, 712

F.3d at 396 (relying on Rodriguez and finding no UIM coverage because the

tortfeasor’s vehicle was not an “underinsured automobile”). 

III.

The Williamses argue Rodriquez is inapplicable because the policy is

ambiguous. They contend the definition of “underinsured motor vehicle” conflicts

with the Declarations page, Insuring Agreement section, Limit of Liability section,

and Other Insurance clause. 

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A.

The Williamses think that the definition of “underinsured motor vehicle”

conflicts with the Declarations page, which lists a UIM limit of liability of $100,000

but has no other limitations or exclusions. This reads the Declarations page in

isolation, contrary to Missouri law requiring courtsto interpret policies “as a whole,”

Ritchie, 307 S.W.3d at 135 and “avoid an interpretation that renderssome provisions

useless or redundant.” Dibben, 261 S.W.3d at 556. “The essential terms [of a policy]

are usually stated in abbreviated form on a declarations page.” Todd, 223 S.W.3d at

160. The district court properly found no ambiguity between the Declarations page,

which states “in abbreviated form” the UIM limit, and the UIM Endorsement which

limits coverage to cases where the tortfeasor’s bodily-injury liability limit islessthan

the UIM liability limit. See Hughes, 712 F.3d at 396 (relying on Rodriguez to

enforce a definition of “underinsured automobile” despite the policy’s Declarations

page that provided $100,000 in UIM coverage).

B.

The Williamses claim the definition of “underinsured motor vehicle” conflicts

with the Insuring Agreement section by ignoring the promise to “pay compensatory

damages which an ‘insured’ is legally entitled to recover from the owner or operator

of an ‘underinsured motor vehicle’ because of ‘bodily injury.’” Like the Declarations

argument, this claim fails to read the policy as a whole, ignoring other policy

language that limits UIM coverage. See Ritchie, 307 S.W.3d at 135; Dibben, 261

S.W.3d at 556. 

C.

The Williamses assert that the policy’s Limit of Liability section creates an

ambiguity because its “set-off” provisions make the UIM coverage illusory. 

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However, the two Missouri Supreme Court cases they invoke are inapposite. See

Jones v. Mid-Century Ins. Co., 287 S.W.3d 687 (Mo. banc 2009); Ritchie, 307

S.W.3d 132. In Jones, it was undisputed that the tortfeasor’s vehicle was an

underinsured motor vehicle. Ritchie did not involve the definition of “underinsured

motor vehicle,” thus, neither case considered the issue here.

This court has considered and rejected this argument:

Burger argues that [the limit-of-liability] provision rendersthe extent of

UIM coverage ambiguous because the policy first statesthat Allied will

contribute $50,000 and then later indicates that it will pay only the

difference between that $50,000 figure and the amount of money

contributed by an underinsured tortfeasor. See Jones v. Mid–Century

Ins. Co., 287 S.W.3d 687, 690 (Mo. 2009) (“[I]f a contract promises

something at one point and takes it away at another, there is an

ambiguity.” (quoting Seeck, 212 S.W.3d at 133)). This argument misses

the mark. Even if the policy did contain inconsistent statements about

the amount of coverage due once coverage has been triggered, such

inconsistencywould be immaterial to the question at issue here: whether

the policy provides for coverage at all. As we explained in Hughes,

disputes about the amount Allied must contribute simply do not “inject

ambiguity into the meaning of what is a covered ‘underinsured motor

vehicle’” so as to render the UIM definition unclear. 712 F.3d at 396

(emphasis added). Nothing in Allied’s UIM limit-of-liability section

undermines the requirement that a tortfeasor’s vehicle first must qualify

as underinsured in order to trigger UIM coverage.

Burger v. Allied Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 822 F.3d 445, 450 (8th Cir. 2016) (emphasis

added).

Although Rodriguez did not address this precise issue, the court examined

ambiguity arguments about the set-off provision—“the limit of liability shall be

reduced by all sums paid because of the ‘bodily injury’ by or on behalf of persons or

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Appellate Case: 16-2723 Page: 8 Date Filed: 03/16/2017 Entry ID: 4512678 
organizations who may be legally responsible.” Rodriguez, 808 S.W.2d at 381. The

provision, the court stated, reinforced, rather than made ambiguous, the definition of

“underinsured motor vehicle:”

The effect of this provision is to set-off the $50,000 paid by [the

tortfeasor’s] insurer against the $50,000 coverage provided by the 

[insureds’ company]. The underinsured motorist coverage, therefore, is

not excess coverage as the [insureds] argue. Instead, that coverage

provides a total amount of protection to be paid to the [insureds] if other

persons legally responsible for [the] injuries have lesser liability limits

than those provided under the [insureds’] underinsured motorist

coverage.

Id. at 382.

Here, the set-off provision—“[a]ny amount otherwise payable for damages

under this coverage shall be reduced by all sums paid because of bodily injury by or

on behalf of persons or organizations who may be legally responsible”—also

reinforcesthat UIM coverage is not “excess coverage” but rather provides protection

if other persons legally responsible have lesser liability limits. 

The set-off provision does not render the policy ambiguous. 

D.

The Williamses claim the definition of “underinsured motor vehicle” creates

an ambiguity by contradicting the Other Insurance clause. The Williamses did not

raise this argument in the district court. This court will not consider it on appeal. See

Satcher v. Univ. of Ark. at Pine Bluff Bd. of Trs., 558 F.3d 731, 735 (8th Cir. 2009)

(“[F]ailure to oppose a basis for summary judgment constitutes waiver of that

argument.”); Smith v. City of Des Moines, Iowa, 99 F.3d 1466, 1473 (8th Cir. 1996)

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(“We will not reverse a grant of summary judgment on the basis of an argument not

presented below.”).

IV.

The Williamses attempt to discredit Rodriguez,stating, “Numerous casessince

Rodriguez have considered policies defining an ‘underinsured motor vehicle’ as one

with liability limits less than the insured’s UIM limits, yet because of ambiguities in

the policies the insureds were entitled to collect the UIM coverage even though they

had collected the same amount as or limits greater than the UIM coverage from the

tortfeasor.” Yet the casesthey cite are all appellate decisions. Although “[d]ecisions

by the Missouri Court of Appeals may be used as an indication of how the Missouri

Supreme Court may rule,” this court is “not bound to follow these decisions.” 

Burger, 822 F.3d at 447, quoting Aerotronics, Inc. v. Pneumo Abex Corp., 62 F.3d

1053, 1068 (8th Cir. 1995). Rather, this court is “bound by the decisions of the

Missouri Supreme Court regarding issues of substantive state law.” Hughes, 710 F.

3d at 393.

TheWilliamses recognize Rodriguez “isthe onlyMissouri Supreme Court case

that directly addresses the definition of ‘underinsured motor vehicle’” at issue here,

and that “Rodriguez has not been overruled by the Supreme Court” despite “numerous

opportunities to revisit” it. This court has relied on Rodriguez to find similar UIM

provisions unambiguous. See Burger, 822 F.3d 445; Hughes, 712 F.3d 392. 

“Considering the clarity with which the underinsured motorist coverage is defined in

the policy,” the district court did not err in finding the policy “is neither ambiguous

nor misleading.” Rodriguez, 808 S.W.2d at 383. 

* * * * * * *

The judgment is affirmed.

______________________________

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