Court Opinion

ID: 9753462
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 19:14:51.072929+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:27:35.429274
License: Public Domain

*634Dissenting opinion by
Judge SIMPSON.
I respectfully dissent from the thoughtful majority and concurring opinions. I dissent because I believe that mandatory arbitration of uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured (UIM) motorist disputes violates the constitutional right to a jury trial.
Our Supreme Court has long recognized that compulsory arbitration is unconstitutional when it infringes upon the right to a jury trial. Application of Smith, 381 Pa. 223, 112 A.2d 625 (1955), app. dismissed sub nom., Smith v. Wissler, 350 U.S. 858, 76 S.Ct. 105, 100 L.Ed. 762 (1955).
Article 1, § 6 of the Pennsylvania Constitution provides: “Trial by jury shall be as heretofore and the right thereof remain inviolate.” Our Supreme Court has adopted a three-prong analysis to determine whether a jury trial is required. We must determine (1) whether there is a statutory requirement for a jury trial; (2) whether a right to jury trial existed for the particular cause of action in 1790, when the Pennsylvania Constitution was adopted; and (3) if so, whether there was a common law basis for the proceeding. See Commonwealth v. One (1) 1984. Z-28 Camaro Coupe, 530 Pa. 523, 610 A.2d 36 (1992). Proceedings currently subject to statute, such as drug forfeiture proceedings, retain the right to jury trial if the proceeding has a common law basis where litigants were entitled to a jury trial. Id.
It is beyond reasonable contention to the contrary that in 1790 insurance contracts existed and that parties to suits arising from them had the right to a jury trial in common law courts. Richette v. Stewart, 1 U.S. 317, 1 Dall. 317, 1 L.Ed. 154 (Pa.1788); Hood and M’Murtrie v. Nesbitt and Hayfield, 2 U.S. 137, 2 Dall. 137, 1 L.Ed. 321, 1 Yeates 114 (Pa.1792); Vasse v. Ball, 2 U.S. 270, 2 Dall. 270, 1 L.Ed. 377, 2 Yeates 178 (Pa.1797); Camberling v. M’Call, 2 U.S. 280, 2 Dall. 280, 1 L.Ed. 381, 2 Yeates 281 (Pa.1797). No party here asserts otherwise. ‘ I therefore conclude that parties to litigation arising from insurance contracts have a continuing constitutional right to a jury trial, regardless of current statutory regulation. The Superior Court has adopted a similar position. Bragg v. State Automobile Ins. Ass’n, 350 Pa.Super. 257, 504 A.2d 344 (1986) (en banc) (UM coverage); Johnson *635v. The Travelers, 348 Pa.Super. 278, 502 A.2d 206 (1985) (en bane) (UM coverage).
Where I part company with the majority and concurring views is in the interpretation of the “particular cause of action” which enjoyed a right to trial by jury in 1790. See Wertz v. Chapman Township, 559 Pa. 630, 637, 741 A.2d 1272, 1275-76 (1999). I adopt a broad interpretation of the phrase “particular cause of action,” so that all insurance contract causes of action retain the right to a jury trial that existed in 1790. The majority and concurring views espouse a more narrow interpretation, so that only those causes of action dealing with insurance coverages in existence in 1790 retain the right to jury trial.
I decline the invitation to distinguish causes of actions based on whether the subject matter existed in 1790. Rather, I evaluate the general type of claim to determine whether it existed in 1790. The more narrow approach adopted by the majority could, by analogy, strip the right to jury trial from many contract causes of action. See, e.g., Aircraft Repair Services v. Stambaugh’s Air Service, Inc., 175 F.3d 314 (3d Cir.1999) (jury trial in action by owner of aircraft for lost rental proceeds); Merit Motors, Inc. v. Bartholomew, 179 Pa.Super. 576, 118 A.2d 277 (1955) (jury trial in action by automobile seller for balance due on purchase price); Land O’Lakes, Inc. v. Zelenkofske, Axlerod & Co. Ltd., 43 Pa. D. & C. 4th 192 (Com.Pl. Bucks 1999) (jury trial for breach of contract for computer system upgrade and software); Moyer v. White, 48 Pa. D. & C.3d 487 (Com.Pl. Dauphin 1988) (jury trial on action for electrical wiring services).
Moreover, accepting a narrow approach to interpreting whether a particular cause of action enjoyed a right to jury trial in 1790 could impair the rights of parties in other areas. Defendants charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, 18 Pa. C.S. § 3928, with using a stolen credit card, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4106, with copying recorded materials without permission, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4116, or with intercepting wire or electronic communications, 18 Pa.C.S. § 5703, may not enjoy a right to jury trial under a narrow interpretation. Also, tort claims which did not exist in 1790, such as product liability and industry liability, could be distinguished from traditional personal injury claims, and the right to a trial by jury in the more contemporary causes could be called into question. Because a narrow interpretation could have far-reaching effects on jury trials in other areas, I am reluctant to embrace the approach.
For these reasons, I would reverse the declaratory order of the Insurance Commissioner and remand to the Insurance Department with direction to revise its policy so as to allow pai'ties to choose whether binding arbitration would be offered in UM and UIM insurance coverage. We should not so strictly construe the phrase “particular cause of action” so as to infringe upon rights which the constitutional framers held to be inviolate.
Judge COHN joins in this dissent.