Court Opinion

ID: 9629576
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 09:45:14.972151+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:07:21.363038
License: Public Domain

ORIE MELVIN, J.,
dissenting:
¶ 1 I disagree with the Majority’s conclusion that appellees met their burden under § 1752(a)(6) because I believe they did not prove that Ms. Wooden was uninsured. Therefore, I must dissent.
¶ 2 In Mangum v. Pennsylvania Fin. Responsibility Assigned Claims, 449 Pa.Super. 1, 672 A.2d 1324 (1996), this Court discussed the quantum of proof necessary to demonstrate whether a vehicle was covered by a policy of insurance for purposes of recovering first party benefits. In Mangum, in response to the question of whether the vehicle he was driving was insured, the claimant testified, “[n]ot that I know of.” The claimant also sought to introduce evidence that the vehicle was not insured by State Farm Insurance Company. However, the evidence was not admitted. As the Majority notes the Mangum Court found the claimant’s testimony alone that his friend’s car was uninsured was insufficient to entitle him to benefits. The Mangum Court also noted evidence indicating the car was not insured with State Farm at the time of the accident, even if admitted, would have been insufficient because it leaves open the possibility that the vehicle could have been covered by a policy issued by a different carrier. The Court stated the claimant’s burden could have easily been met had he either deposed the owner of the vehicle or called her as a witness at trial.
¶ 3 It was appellees’ burden to show by a preponderance of the evidence that Ms. Wooden had no insurance on her vehicle the day of the accident. The only evidence appellees offered in this regard was the stipulation that the Pennsylvania Financial Responsibility card produced by Ms. Wooden immediately after the accident was invalid. Such evidence falls far short of the necessary quantum of proof required to sustain their burden. An invalid insurance card from one insurance company does not establish that Ms. Wooden’s vehicle was not insured by another carrier or whether Reliance unreasonably denied coverage. The possibility still existed that Ms. Wooden’s vehicle was covered by another insurance carrier. The majority states that while we cannot deduce whether Ms. Wooden produced a fake insurance card or whether Reliance unjustifiably denied coverage, appellants fail to provide us with any evidence indicating that Ms. Wooden has a policy with any insurer other than Reliance. It is not appellants’ burden to do so. The burden lies with appellees. Testimony from Ms. Wooden would have easily established whether the vehicle was uninsured. Based on the record, I believe appellees have failed to meet their burden, and therefore cannot recover under the Assigned Claims Plan.
¶ 4 Accordingly, I must dissent.