Opinion ID: 2221893
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: General Principles Governing Statutory Interpretation.

Text: As we have already mentioned, there is no disagreement that the owned-but-not-insured exclusion contained in Westfield's insurance policy precludes Miller from recovering under the policy, if the exclusion is enforceable under chapter 516A, Iowa's uninsured and underinsured motorist statute. The enforceability of the exclusion under chapter 516A becomes an issue because we have repeatedly held that the terms of this statute form a basic part of the policy. Hollingsworth v. Schminkey, 553 N.W.2d 591, 595 (Iowa 1996); accord Hornick v. Owners Ins. Co., 511 N.W.2d 370, 372 (Iowa 1993). Consequently, the resolution of this case depends on the legislative intent encompassed in chapter 516A. In determining legislative intent, we apply well-settled rules of statutory construction: In construing statutes, our goal is to determine and give effect to the legislature's intention. We seek a reasonable interpretation which will best effectuate the purpose of the statute and redress the wrongs the legislature sought to remedy. We will consider all parts of an enactment together and will not place undue importance on any single or isolated portion. Mewes v. State Farm Auto. Ins. Co., 530 N.W.2d 718, 722 (Iowa 1995) (citations omitted). With these principles in mind, we now examine chapter 516A to ascertain the legislature's intent.