Court Opinion

ID: 9473160
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 04:21:20.163161+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:43:21.667925
License: Public Domain

HEANEY, Circuit Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. While I do not disagree with the majority’s conclusion that decisions of a magistrate should be given weight, I cannot agree that he correctly resolved the legal issue in the case. In my view, the Iowa state courts would be more likely to follow the views of those states that would permit recovery than those that would not. Of course, in any action, the insured would have to prove his damages and the insurer would have a right to assert any defense that it might have had if the insurance had been purchased as requested. This simple safeguard would prevent any collusive settlement.
There are no policy reasons to deny relief to the plaintiffs. To the contrary, the negligent insurer should bear the responsibility rather than the innocent plaintiff.