Court Opinion

ID: 9741343
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 20:53:57.882703+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:23.605980
License: Public Domain

Krivosha, C.J.,
concurring in result.
I concur in the result reached by the majority in this case. I believe, however, that much of the difficulty and confusion which cases of this type create could easily be resolved if we would simply recognize the reality of the matter and permit the insured under an “uninsured motorist” policy provision to directly sue its insurance carrier on the basis that the action really is one arising out of contract, though the right to actually *725recover and the amount of recovery is based upon another’s negligence. To suggest that we must not utter the words “insurance company” else unsuspecting jurors will reject their statutory duty and cease to be fair and impartial is unsupported in fact and serves no useful purpose.
The inconsistency of the matter is made even clearer when we recognize that we permit the carrier to intervene at its discretion, though we must not explain to the jury who the intervenor is or who it is that its counsel represents. The justification for permitting the carrier to intervene is founded upon the provisions of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-328 (Reissue 1979) which permit any person who has or claims an interest in the matter in litigation to join either the plaintiff or the defendant. I am, however, unable to find any language in that statute which says that once a party has made that election it may remain anonymous throughout the trial. I acknowledge that that has been our practice; I simply question the authority for doing it.
Those jurisdictions which have simply faced up to the issue appear not to have suffered any significant dire consequences.
The majority suggests that there may be instances where such action as proposed here might be appropriate, such as in the case of “hit-and-run” drivers. I do not perceive the basis for having two rules; one when the negligent driver is known and another when unknown.