Opinion ID: 865152
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: ¶2. In June 2000, Stephanie Ward Marshall proceeded down her driveway in Hermanville, Mississippi, and attempted to enter Valley Moon Road. At the same instant Ollie Windmon was traveling toward Marshall on Valley Moon Road in her Ford Explorer. Prior to reaching the Marshall driveway, Windmon’s Explorer veered off the road and struck a tree. After witnessing the crash, Marshall immediately rushed to Windmon’s aid. At the scene Marshall assisted Windmon in exiting her vehicle. Also, because of the seriousness of the injuries Windmon sustained Marshall telephoned the hospital and requested an ambulance. ¶3. The facts are in dispute as to what actually caused the accident. Windmon claimed Marshall was attempting to pull out on the road, and to avoid a collision she swerved off of the road. Conversely, Marshall contended she stopped at the end of her driveway when Windmon ran off of the road in front of her for no apparent reason. ¶4. Within days after the accident, Windmon filed a loss notice claim with her insurer, Farm Bureau. Danita Lewis, Farm Bureau’s adjuster, promptly paid medical and collision benefits, which she determined to be the only payable benefits allowable under policy. 2 However, Windmon claimed she was also entitled to recover uninsured motorist benefits. Initially, Farm Bureau refused uninsured motorist benefits because the accident appeared to involve only one vehicle. Farm Bureau investigated the matter and was unable to discover Marshall’s identity and the role she may have played in the accident. Even Ollie Windmon herself failed to inform Farm Bureau of Marshall’s involvement. ¶5. Several months after the accident, the Windmons’ counsel informed Farm Bureau of Marshall’s identity and alleged Marshall’s negligence was a cause in fact of the accident. Notwithstanding Windmon’s allegations, Farm Bureau adopted Marshall’s version of events, which supported that Marshall was not the proximate cause of Windmon’s injuries. To avoid a trial on the issue of uninsured motorist benefits, Farm Bureau presented an offer of settlement to the Windmons. ¶6. Subsequently, Ollie and Robert Windmon filed suit against both Marshall and Farm Bureau in the Circuit Court of Claiborne County on December 10, 2001. The Windmons alleged that Marshall, as an under or uninsured driver, through her negligent acts was the proximate cause of the automobile accident. Additionally, the complaint alleged that Farm Bureau failed to use good faith in handling the Windmons claim. ¶7. In August 2002, the Windmons filed an application for entry of default judgment and supporting affidavit. In December 2002, the Windmons filed an additional application for entry of default and supporting affidavit. Entry of default was subsequently entered and docketed by the circuit court clerk. 3 ¶8. In April 2003, Marshall filed a motion to set aside the clerk’s entry of default and for leave of court to file responsive pleadings. On May 6, 2003, a hearing was held before the trial court wherein the Windmons attempted to have a default judgment entered against Marshall. However, the trial court set aside the entry of default and, at the Windmons’ request, continued a trial on the merits until September 2003. Additionally, the trial court determined it was proper to bifurcate the trial on issues of negligence and bad faith. ¶9. On September 3, 2003, opening statements were given regarding Marshall’s negligence, thus commencing the first phase of the bifurcated trial. In the first phase of the trial the jury returned a unanimous verdict finding each Ollie Windmon and Stephanie Marshall fifty percent at fault for the accident. ¶10. The second phase of the trial dealt with the Windmons allegations of Farm Bureau’s bad faith in its investigation of the uninsured motorist claim. During this phase Windmon called several witnesses to prove bad faith on behalf of Farm Bureau. After Windmon presented her case and without presenting any witnesses of its own, Farm Bureau motioned the trial court for a directed verdict. The trial court granted Farm Bureau a directed verdict and dismissed the second phase of the trial.