Opinion ID: 1858250
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Heading: Whether Self-Insurers Who Become Insolvent After the Accident Are Considered in the Same Manner as Conventional Liability Insurers Under Iowa Code Section 516A.3.

Text: Although the application of State Farm's time limit on bringing suit in cases involving conventional liability insurers is not before us, it is nevertheless necessary to consider that matter in deciding Umthun's situation. Had Umthun been insured by a conventional liability insurer at the time of the accident and that insurer had become insolvent at a time subsequent to the accident, Iowa Code section 516A.3 would provide that those claiming against Umthun for motor-vehicle negligence would be confronting an uninsured motorist, thus triggering any UM coverage that they might have. [2] In the present case, we must decide whether the postaccident insolvency of a legally sanctioned self-insurer triggers the same result. We are convinced that it does. The financial liability coverage recognized under Iowa Code section 321.20B(1) (as defined in Iowa Code section 321.1(24B)) includes both insurance policies issued by carriers licensed to do business in Iowa and a valid certificate of sanctioned self-insurance. To be a sanctioned self-insurer, a motor carrier must satisfy the Iowa Department of Transportation that it has and will continue to have the ability to pay judgments arising out of the ownership or operation of a motor vehicle in this state. Iowa Code § 321A.34. For interstate carriers such as Umthun, Iowa authorities accept the determination of federal regulators as to the carrier's self-insured status pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 13906(d) and 49 C.F.R. § 387.3. Iowa Admin. Code r. 761-524.7(2). As a result of this statutory scheme, we conclude that Umthun was the equivalent of an insured motorist at the time of the collision of its vehicle with Faeth's vehicle. Conversely, when it became insolvent on February 28, 2002, it then became an uninsured motor vehicle, as that term is contemplated in section 516A.1. Consequently, irrespective of any interpretation that might be placed on the language contained in State Farm's policy, a failure to provide uninsured-motorist coverage to Faeth as a result of Umthun's insolvency would amount to a noncompliance with the statutory mandate to provide insurance against an uninsured motor vehicle. State Farm argues that a determination that Umthun was an uninsured motorist would violate the rule of statutory interpretation that equates an express mention of one thing with the implied exclusion of other things. Based on this premise, State Farm urges that, because section 516A.3 only mentions insolvency proceedings instituted against a liability insurer, the legislature had no intention of also designating self-insured entities who become insolvent subsequent to the accident as uninsured motorists for purposes of section 516A.1. In interpreting statutes, we often do apply the rule that an express mention of one thing implies the exclusion of other things. See, e.g., Locate.Plus.Com, Inc. v. Iowa Dep't of Transp., 650 N.W.2d 609, 618 (Iowa 2002); State v. Beach, 630 N.W.2d 598, 600 (Iowa 2001). However, we have recognized that this rule of interpretation is subordinate to the primary search for the intention of the legislature. State v. Carpenter, 616 N.W.2d 540, 543 (Iowa 2000). In our search for legislative intent, we consider the objects sought to be accomplished and the evils and mischief sought to be remedied and seek a result that will advance rather than defeat the statute's purpose. Harris v. Olson, 558 N.W.2d 408, 410 (Iowa 1997); Doe v. Ray, 251 N.W.2d 496, 500 (Iowa 1977). The result should not depend on dogmatic terms of expression. State ex rel. Winterfield v. Hardin County Rural Elec. Coop., 226 Iowa 896, 899, 285 N.W. 219, 229 (1939). In invoking this approach to statutory interpretation, we reaffirm the statement that this court made in Rodman v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., 208 N.W.2d 903 (Iowa 1973), with respect to the purpose of uninsured-motorist insurance protection: It is plain the legislature intended to assure protection to an insured against motorists whose liability to the insured is not covered. Under the uninsured motorist statute we believe an automobile or motor vehicle liability policy must protect the insured in any case to the same extent as if the tortfeasor had carried liability insurance covering his liability to the insured in the amounts required to establish financial responsibility. Rodman, 208 N.W.2d at 909. In keeping with this purpose, we conclude that Umthun is an uninsured motorist within the meaning of section 516A.1, thus triggering State Farm's uninsured-motorist protection for Faeth's benefit.