Opinion ID: 594460
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: facts

Text: 3 On March 16, 1990, the appellant, Cheryl A. Bourgault, was involved in a collision with a vehicle driven by Pamela O'Neal. Bourgault sustained injuries and incurred medical expenses of over $300,000. O'Neal had liability coverage in the amount of $15,000 per person/$30,000 per accident, and Bourgault recovered the $15,000 limit from O'Neal's insurance company. Bourgault then turned to her own insurance company to recover payment through the uninsured/underinsured provisions of her own insurance policies. 4 At the time of the collision, Bourgault and her husband, Leo, had purchased two insurance policies from the appellee, Amica Mutual Insurance Company (Amica). The first policy, numbered 910210-2039 (the Georgia policy), covered two vehicles principally garaged and operated in Georgia, including the vehicle Bourgault was driving when she collided with O'Neal. This policy provided uninsured/underinsured coverage of $100,000 per accident. Under this policy, Amica has paid the Bourgaults $85,000, representing the $100,000 coverage less the $15,000 payment from O'Neal. The Bourgaults raise no issues with respect to the coverage of the Georgia policy. 5 The second policy, numbered 910231-2093 (the New York policy), covered three vehicles registered and principally garaged and operated in New York and was in effect from February 1, 1990 to February 1, 1991. This policy was written by a New York branch office of Amica, using New York forms, and based on New York rates. However, the Bourgaults purchased the policy as residents of Georgia, and the policy was delivered to them in Georgia. The New York policy provided uninsured/underinsured coverage of $50,000 per accident. This policy also contained an exclusion limiting uninsured/underinsured coverage which read as follows: INSURING AGREEMENT 6 A. We will pay damages which an insured is legally entitled to recover from the owner or operator of an uninsured motor vehicle because of bodily injury: 1. Sustained by an insured; and 7 2. Caused by an accident.... B. 'Insured': as used in this Part means: 8 1. You or any family member.2. Any other person occupying your covered auto. 9 3. Any person for damages that person is entitled to recover because of bodily injury to which this coverage applies sustained by a person described in 1. or 2. above. EXCLUSIONS 10 A. We do not provide Uninsured Motorists Coverage for bodily injury sustained by any person: 11 1. While occupying, or when struck by, any motor vehicle owned by you or any family member which is not insured for this coverage under this policy. 12 R1-7-Attachment 2-5-6. See also, R1-7-Attachment 2-Underinsured Motorist Coverage-1 (containing same language for underinsured coverage). 13 Following the collision, the Bourgaults sought to recover $50,000 under the New York policy. Amica contested the claim and brought a declaratory judgment action against the Bourgaults denying liability based upon the uninsured/underinsured exclusion provisions of the New York policy. Amica argued that the exclusion contained in the New York policy prevented Bourgault from recovering because Bourgault was occupying a vehicle which was not insured under the New York policy when she was hit. The Bourgaults defended by arguing that O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11(a)(1) prevented the application of the exclusion provision. 1 Therefore, the Bourgaults argued, they should be able to stack the New York policy on top of the Georgia policy and recover the additional $50,000 under the New York policy. 14 The district court held that O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11(a)(1) did not apply to the facts of this case and granted summary judgment for Amica.