Court Opinion

ID: 9548511
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 18:04:42.574236+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:19:04.333000
License: Public Domain

LIVERMORE, Judge,
specially concurring.
Because having the insurer pay the punitive liability of an uninsured driver would serve no purpose related to the imposition of punitive damages, I would prefer not to join the court’s holding. However, because insurance for “liability for personal injuries” covers punitive damages on the liability portion of the insured’s policy, I do not see why the same phrase does not cover punitive damages in the uninsured portion of that policy. The insurer can avoid this result simply by amending the policy terms to exclude punitive damages. Having failed to do so with knowledge of the interpretation given the policy language by Arizona courts, the insurer’s argument based on public policy appears to be an effort to have the court pick up the marbles it spilled.
BIRDSALL, J., concurs.