Court Opinion

ID: 9732261
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 16:13:37.362179+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:25.680167
License: Public Domain

DICKSON, Justice,
dissenting.
I disagree first with the majority's determination that the Meridian Mutual underin-sured motorist coverage is illusory. It was not. The policy provided meaningful coverage to the Richies for operating their insured vehicles in any of at least fourteen sister jurisdictions that had minimum liability limits less than those applicable in Indiana on the date of the accident.1 In the event of an accident in one of these jurisdictions, the Meridian Mutual underin-sured motorist coverage would have applied to protect the Richies by supplement ing such lower minimum limits.
Furthermore, I disagree with the majority's reliance upon 1987 revisions to the Indiana uninsured motorist statute as retroactively relevant to the interpretation of an insurance policy issued seven years earlier on September 14, 1980, and as applied to an accident that occurred March 7, 1981. The 1987 legislation is not logically probative, and should not be viewed to create a presumption regarding the Richies' reasonable expectations in 1980.
*32Because I find no illusory coverage and decline to apply 1987 legislation to construe the 1980 insurance contract, I respectfully dissent from the majority opinion.
DeBRULER, J., concurs.

. Alabama ($5,000/$10,000), Ala.Code § 32-7-2(10) (1983); Delaware ($10,000/$20,-000), Del.Code Ann. tit. 21-2118(a)(2)(b) (1979); District of Columbia ($10,000/$20,000), D.C. Code Encycl. § 40-435 (West 1987); Florida ($10,000,/$20,000), Fla.Stat.Ann. § 324.021 (West 1987); Hawaii ($10,000/$20,000), Hawaii Rev.Stat. §§ 287-1 and 287-25 (1976) Kentucky ($10,000/$20,000), Ky.Rev.Stat.Ann. 304.-39-110 (Baldwin 1986); $10,000), La.Rev.Stat.Ann. tit. 32 § 861 (West 1987); Massachusetts ($10,000/$20,000), Mass. - Gen.Laws Ann. Ch. 90, § 34A (West 1987); Mis-Louisiana ($5,000/ > sissippi ($5,000/$10,000), Miss.Code Ann. § 63-15-43(2)(b) (1986) New York ($10, ~ 000/$20,000), (limits are $50,000/$100,000 for death of person/s), N.Y. Vehicle and Traffic § 311 (McKinney 1986) Ohio ($12,500/$25, 000), Ohio Rev.Code Ann. § 4509.01 (Baldwin 1986); Oklahoma ($10,000/$20,000), Okla.Stat. Ann. tit. 47, § 7-204 (West 1987); Pennsylvania (No minimum limits until 1984), Pa.Stat.Ann. tit. 75, § 1701 (Purdon 1987); Texas ($10, 000/$20,000), Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat.Ann. Art. 6701h § 1 (Vernon 1986); Wyoming ($10,000/$20,-000), Wyo.Stat. § 31-9-102 (1987).