Court Opinion

ID: 9628605
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 09:26:02.389773+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:09:45.251377
License: Public Domain

On rehearing:
The defendants and amici curiae have raised constitutional questions in their briefs on rehearing. Defendants contend that the interpretation of Rule 26 (b) in the original opinion in this case constitutes a violation of Sec. 25, Article II of the Constitution of Colorado and of Sec. 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, both of which prohibit deprivation of life, liberty or property without due process of law. The contention of defendants on this point is summarized in their brief as follows:
“To require disclosure, would deprive a defendant to a large extent of the value of that property and to deprive him of a right of ‘liberty’ of which the sovereign may not deprive the citizen without due process of law. In respect to the deprivation of property, a policy of insurance that must be disclosed is not as valuable as is a policy, the existence of which need not be disclosed. This has been brought out wherein it was shown that leverage may be exerted upon the insured Defendants and his insurance company to effect a higher settlement.”
Amici curiae, eminent attorneys, who according to their statement, represent insurance companies which issue in excess of 50% of all liability policies written in Colorado, have also raised a number of constitutional questions. They argue that there has been a violation of due process, state and federal; equal protection of the *524laws as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment to the Federal Constitution; privileges and immunities in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment and of Article V, Sec. 25 of the Colorado Constitution; searches and seizures in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Federal Constitution and Sec. 7, Article II of the Colorado Constitution. They finally argue that the ruling constitutes invasion by the judiciary of the province of the Legislature.
We have carefully examined the arguments and authorities set forth in the briefs and have considered the oral arguments of counsel which were offered at the hearing which was extended to all of counsel, including amici curiae, and we are of the opinion that all of these contentions are without merit. It seems to us doubtful in the extreme that the Supreme Court of the United States would conclude that this Court’s construction of its own rule constitutes a violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the United States. Furthermore, these arguments do not, in our opinion, disclose any violations of the constitutional rights of either the insured or the insuror in the case at bar or any rights of other insurors not parties to this action.
We wish to point out, however, that although the ruling on these constitutional questions is on rehearing, the respondents raised the questions at the earliest possible time and there should not be a refusal to consider them based upon the fact that the determinations first appear on rehearing. The reason for this is that our original opinion was issued following a notice to respondents' to show cause. Their response consisted, through no fault of theirs, of a motion to dismiss the complaint or petition. The respondents had anticipated filing an answer following disposition of their motion to dismiss (if it were denied). We announced our first opinion in the belief that the defendants had elected to stand on the motion to dismiss. As a result of this confusion, a hearing on the merits has been extended to the *525respondents. This has consisted of a filing of briefs and the submission of oral arguments. All of this followed the granting of respondents’ motion for rehearing.
The original opinion mistakenly stated that the defendants herein had refused to answer questions relative to “existence of liability insurance.” The record indicates that the defendants refused to divulge the limits of their liability insurance policy. This was the only issue here presented. Defendants admitted the existence of liability insurance.
Some additional comments are indicated for the purpose of procedural clarification. In the opinion we treated the complaint herein as a petition seeking a writ of certiorari. The rule to show cause was made absolute. However, the records of this Court show that the following order was issued:
“On consideration of the pleadings and briefs herein, it is hereby ordered, adjudged and decreed that the rule to show cause heretofore and on, to-wit: - the sixth day of November, A.D. 1958 issued herein be, and it hereby is, made absolute.
“It is further ordered and adjudged that the defendants, the District Court of the County of Pueblo in the Tenth Judicial District and the Honorable John H. Marsalis one of the Judges thereof be, and they hereby are, commanded to rescind and revoke that certain order made and entered September 29, 1958, in civil action No. 39,428, entitled Mary V. Lucas and William E. Lucas, Sr., Plaintiffs, vs. George K. Moore and Grace Elaine Moore, defendants, lately pending in said court, denying plaintiffs’ right to discover the insurance limits under the liability insurance policies owned by the said Moores at the time of the occurence of the automobile accident complained of. The defendants are further ordered and commanded to require said Moores to supply plaintiffs herein and in said action with the information requested in conformity with the opinion filed herein.”
In their petition, petitioners requested that the *526district court be directed to “expunge from the record” its previous order. Even though the rule was made absolute, this requested relief was not ordered. The order simply directed the trial court to “rescind and revoke its former order.” It further directed that the court enter an order commanding the defendants to supply the requested information. The above order is an appropriate one in this type of proceeding. In other words, this Court has the authority to direct the district court to comply with its ruling and that in substance is the requirement of the above quoted order.
We have carefully considered the able and extensive arguments of counsel for defendants and of amici curiae and we are of the opinion that the original opinion as here modified should be adhered to and it is so ordered.
Mr. Justice Frantz specially concurring. Mr. Chief Justice Knauss, Mr. Justice Sutton and Mr. Justice Hall dissenting.