Court Opinion

ID: 9934222
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-09 18:53:36.651018+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:26:33.120340
License: Public Domain

As I understand the facts, USAA's liability to pay depended upon proof of two things: (1) the liability of the underinsured motorist for the death of USAA's insured, and (2) the amount of damages for which the underinsured motorist is liable.
Clearly, since USAA's contractual liability was contingent, it had a right to demand of its insured's representative that it be informed of any settlement, and a right to require itsconsent to that settlement. There could be cases where a tortfeasor's liability carrier would settle although its liability was questionable. If that were so, the carrier of the underinsured motorist coverage would have a right to refuse to pay until it determined that the underinsured motorist was, in fact, the cause of its insured's death or injury. *Page 509