Case Name: PROGRESSIVE AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY, Appellant, v. Sylvester McKINNIE, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1984-11-07
Citations: 460 So. 2d 389
Docket Number: Nos. 82-2235, 83-60
Parties: PROGRESSIVE AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY, Appellant, v. Sylvester McKINNIE, Appellee.
Judges: HURLEY, J., and WESSEL, JOHN D„ Associate Judge, concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 460
Pages: 389–390

Head Matter:
PROGRESSIVE AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY, Appellant, v. Sylvester McKINNIE, Appellee.
Nos. 82-2235, 83-60.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
Nov. 7, 1984.
Rehearing Denied Jan. 4, 1985.
Joe N. Unger of Law Offices of Joe N. Unger, P.A., Miami, and Kopplow & Flynn, P.A., Fort Lauderdale, for appellant.
Marcia E. Levine of Fazio, Dawson & DiSalvo, Fort Lauderdale, for appellee.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Section 627.727(1), Florida Statutes (1981), provides in pertinent part that uninsured motorist coverage "shall be over and above, but shall not duplicate the benefits available to an insured . from the owner or operator of the uninsured motor vehicle or any other person or organization jointly or severally liable together with such owner or operator for the accident." (Emphasis supplied.)
Today we join our sister courts and hold that the foregoing language requires that:
Where two tortfeasors are jointly and severally liable for damages caused to a third person in an automobile accident, although one tortfeasor is uninsured, if the other tortfeasor has liability insurance with policy limits equal to, or greater than, those contained in uninsured motorist coverage possessed by the injured third person, the injured third person cannot recover under his own uninsured motorist policy.
Scharfschwerdt v. Allstate Insurance Co., 430 So.2d 578, 579 (Fla. 5th DCA 1983). See also Craft v. Government Employees Insurance Company, 432 So.2d 1343 (Fla. 2d DCA 1983); Fenner v. McLowhorn, 424 So.2d 50 (Fla. 2d DCA 1982); United States Fidelity and Guaranty Co. v. Timon, 379 So.2d 113 (Fla. 1st DCA 1979); Travelers Insurance Co. v. Wilson, 371 So.2d 145 (Fla. 3d DCA 1979). Notwithstanding our holding we certify the following as a question of great public importance to the Florida Supreme Court:
Where two tortfeasors are jointly and severally liable for damages caused to a third person in an automobile accident, although one tortfeasor is uninsured, if the other tortfeasor has liability insurance with policy limits equal to, or greater than, those contained in uninsured motorist coverage possessed by the injured third person, can the injured third person recover under his own uninsured motorist policy?
Accordingly, the judgment on appeal is reversed. On remand, the trial court should proceed with a determination as to the responsibility and rights of the respective parties. See Travelers Insurance Co. v. Wilson, supra.
REVERSED and REMANDED with instructions.
HURLEY, J., and WESSEL, JOHN D" Associate Judge, concur.
ANSTEAD, C.J., dissents with opinion.