Court Opinion

ID: 9735544
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 18:22:40.089548+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:59.802732
License: Public Domain

Dissenting Opinion by
Montgomeby, J.:
Prom the inception of this action the defendant-appellant denied that the policy it issued to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Lacy contained an “uninsured motorist coverage endorsement”. Since the jurisdiction of the arbitrators was dependent on the provisions of that endorsement, I am of the opinion that the question as to whether it formed part of the contract of insurance should have been resolved by a court of law and not by the arbitrators. Goldstein v. International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, 328 Pa. 385, 196 A. 43 *240(1938). Such an, endorsement was subject to rejection and did not become a part of the contract by reason of any regulation of the Pennsylvania Insurance Commission. Ellison v. Safeguard Mutual Insurance Company, 209 Pa. Superior Ct. 492, 229 A. 2d 482 (1967).
Furthermore, there was no waiver of the question of jurisdiction by reason of the appearance of defendant at the arbitrators’ hearing where it raised the question of jurisdiction. Goldstein v. International Ladies’ Carment Workers’ Union, supra. The procedure followed therein should have been followed here. On the petition for confirmation of the award and the answer thereto the lower court should have conducted a hearing in order to determine whether the award of the arbitrators should have been confirmed or vacated.
I would reverse the judgment and remand the case to the lower court for that purpose.
Therefore, I respectfully dissent.