Court Opinion

ID: 4429288
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-20 19:21:23.494785+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:45:45.719713
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                               APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
        This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the
     internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                                         SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                                         APPELLATE DIVISION
                                                         DOCKET NO. A-3271-17T3

LEO JOSEPH,

           Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.

REGINALD T. WILLIAMS and
21st CENTURY INSURANCE
COMPANY,

           Defendants,

and

ONYX INSURANCE COMPANY,

     Defendant-Respondent.
______________________________

                    Argued telephonically February 7, 2019 – Decided February 21, 2019

                    Before Judges Nugent and Reisner.

                    On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
                    Division, Essex County, Docket No. L-1301-16.

                    James C. Mescall argued the cause for appellant
                    (Mescall & Acosta, PC, attorneys; James C. Mescall,
                    on the brief).
            John M. Bashwiner argued the cause for respondent
            (Bashwiner and Deer, LLC, attorneys; John M.
            Bashwiner, of counsel and on the brief).

PER CURIAM

      Plaintiff, Leo Joseph, appeals the summary judgment dismissal of the

counts of his complaint that sought uninsured motorist (UM) coverage from

defendant, Onyx Insurance Company, for injuries plaintiff sustained in a

vehicular accident. The accident occurred when a Ford Explorer driven by

defendant, Reginald T. Williams, struck the Crown Victoria taxicab plaintiff

was driving.1 Williams' Ford Explorer was insured under an Allstate New Jersey

Insurance Company "basic policy" that did not provide liability coverage. 2 The

taxicab plaintiff was driving was insured under an Onyx Business Auto Policy,

which included UM limits of $15,000 per person.

      The trial court determined the Onyx policy's UM insurance did not provide

coverage for plaintiff. The court based its decision on the plain language of

N.J.S.A. 17:28-1.1(e)(2), which states in pertinent part: "'Uninsured motor

1
  Defendant Williams did not file an answer. The trial court entered a default
judgment against him.
2
  Basic automobile insurance policies are authorized by N.J.S.A. 39:6A-3.1.
Liability insurance coverage is optional. N.J.S.A. 39:6A-3.1(b).
                                                                       A-3271-17T3
                                      2
vehicle' shall not include an automobile covered by a basic automobile insurance

policy."

      We affirm, substantially for the reasons expressed by Judge Annette Scoca

in her concise written opinion. The statute is dispositive. Plaintiff's arguments

require no further discussion. R. 2:11-3(e)(1)(E).

      Affirmed.

                                                                         A-3271-17T3
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