Opinion ID: 1880698
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Boardman v. U.S.A.A.

Text: ¶ 15. In 1985, this Court responded to a Supreme Court Rule 46 [2] certification from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit concerning the choice of laws to be applied in a case involving a UM claim. In Boardman v. United Services Auto. Ass'n, 470 So.2d 1024 (Miss.1985), USAA issued an automobile liability insurance policy to Henry Boardman, a resident of Nebraska. Id. at 1028. The policy covered three automobiles all principally garaged in Nebraska. Id. Henry's son, Joseph, who was an insured under the USAA policy, traveled from Nebraska to Mississippi to attend Mississippi State University, and to work for his uncle in Gulfport. Id. While in Gulfport, and not in one of the vehicles insured under Henry's policy, Joseph was involved in an automobile accident with an uninsured motorist. Id. at 1029. Henry's USAA policy contained an exclusion for bodily injury to an insured while occupying an automobile (other than an insured automobile) owned by the named insured or a relative. . . . Id. Thus, because Joseph was in an owned vehicle not insured by USAA when he was injured by an uninsured motorist, USAA asserted that its exclusion applied and no benefits were payable. Id. Joseph, on the other hand, asserted that Mississippi law should be applied and that such exclusions are prohibited. Id. See Lowery v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 285 So.2d 767, 777-78 (Miss.1973). ¶ 16. This Court analyzed the facts under Sections 6, 188, and 193, Restatement (Second) of Conflicts of Laws (1971), and held that Nebraska law should be applied. The Section 6 analysis, also called the modified Craig-Mitchell [3] center of gravity test, was superficially easy. 470 So.2d at 1032. The Court pointed out that The contract in question was made and entered into in the state of Nebraska. Henry Boardman at the time was a resident of Nebraska and at all times relevant hereto all insureds under the contract have been residents of Nebraska. The policy covered three automobiles each of which . . . was principally garaged in Nebraska. The principal location of the risks insured against was in Nebraska. Mississippi's contacts with this contract and the parties are fortuitous, arising from the fact that Joseph Boardman took a summer job in Gulfpot. All of this suggests that Nebraska law should apply. Id. ¶ 17. In discussing Section 188, which the Court found narrows the focus of § 6 in general contract actions, the Court looked at such factors as the place of contracting, negotiating, and performing the contract, the location of the subject matter, and the domicile of the parties. The Section 188 analysis was consistent with the Section 6 analysis. Finally, in discussing Section 193, which was specifically held to be applicable in this state, the Court focused on the principal location of the risk. All of these factors led the Boardman Court to hold that Nebraska law would apply. Id. at 1033. ¶ 18. Mrs. Owens distinguishes Boardman from the facts of her case by pointing out that she was a Mississippi resident, whereas Joseph Boardman was a resident of Nebraska. She claims that her residency, together with Mississippi's strong public policy in favor of full uninsured motorist coverage are the most important factors for us to consider in deciding which state's laws to apply in this case.