Court Opinion

ID: 9691086
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 20:08:12.85708+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:19:10.116009
License: Public Domain

Marilyn Kelly, P.J.
(dissenting). I respectfully dissent.
I agree with the majority that, should it be determined that plaintiff is not an innocent third party, defendant is entitled to rescind its contract. Katinsky v Auto Club Ins Ass’n, 201 Mich App 167, 170; 505 NW2d 895 (1993). However, I believe that factual questions remain as to whether plaintiff was involved in the misrepresentation.
*490When reviewing a motion granted pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(10), this Court considers the pleadings, affidavits, depositions, admissions, and any other evidence favoring the party opposing the motion. Only if there is no genuine issue of material fact is the moving party entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Bourne v Farmers Ins Exchange, 449 Mich 193, 197; 534 NW2d 491 (1995).
Both the trial court and the majority conclude that plaintiff was actively involved in defrauding defendant. Therefore, he was not an innocent third party. However, in reaching this conclusion, they have both resolved questions of fact which should have been left for the jury.
Plaintiff testified at his deposition that, even though the car was titled in his name, his brother Mohamad helped him pay for it. In plaintiffs eyes, the car belonged to both of them. Mohamad decided to buy the insurance, because it was believed that it would be cheaper for him to be the principal driver of the car, as he was over twenty-five years of age. However, at no time during his deposition did plaintiff state that he conspired with Mohamad to omit plaintiffs name from the insurance policy. It is quite possible that plaintiff fully expected that Mohamad would include his name as an insured. Because we are reviewing a motion brought pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(10), we must look at the evidence in a light most favorable to plaintiff. Therefore, I would leave it to the jury to determine whether plaintiffs version is credible.