Opinion ID: 1864717
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: Michael J. Bergstresser was involved in three automobile accidents which, he alleges, cumulatively caused him serious personal injury. This declaratory judgment action arises out of the second accident in which Bergstresser, presumably in the course of his employment, was driving a vehicle belonging to his employer, U.S. West Communications (U.S. West), when he was allegedly struck by a vehicle operated by Brenda J. Carroll, an uninsured driver. The drivers of the automobiles involved in all three accidents, John M. Ligtenberg, Brenda J. Carroll, and Sookie S. Bang, are defendants in this action, along with U.S. West and Bergstresser's personal uninsured motorist carrier, National Farmers Union Property & Casualty Company (National Farmers). U.S. West is self-insured for both worker's compensation and automobile liability insurance. Bergstresser's automobile policy with National Farmers provided uninsured motorist coverage (UIM) up to a limit of $100,000 per person. National Farmers instituted this action to ascertain the extent of its coverage under Bergstresser's policy and to determine whether U.S. West was required to provide UIM. The trial court held that U.S. West was obligated to provide UIM, that U.S. West's UIM obligation was limited to $100,000, that U.S. West was the primary insurer and National Farmers the secondary or excess carrier, and that both U.S. West and National Farmers were entitled to setoffs for the amount of worker's compensation benefits paid. Sookie S. Bang and her automobile liability insurance carrier, American Concept Insurance Company, appeal the trial court's determination that the amount of U.S. West's UIM coverage is limited to $100,000 and that U.S. West and National Farmers are entitled to setoffs in the amount of worker's compensation benefits paid to Bergstresser. U.S. West filed notice of review as to the trial court's finding that it was required to provide UIM and that it was the primary UIM insurer. [1]