Court Opinion

ID: 9665549
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 00:51:18.405878+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:16.663674
License: Public Domain

Hallows, J.
(dissenting). The Preferred Risk Mutual Insurance Company was lax in its investigation of this accident. Its policy requires prompt notice of an accident on the part of the insured. Consequently, it had an equal opportunity with the plaintiff to take a photograph of the intersection after the accident. Since it had notice of the accident and is in the business of adjusting claims under its policy on which it may be sued directly, the time when the insurance company hired trial counsel is immaterial on the question of the availability of the evidence. I cannot see how this failure to secure evidence in the preparation of its case is a good cause sufficient to warrant an exception to the attorney’s work-product rule. If a party can wait until information is unavailable and then obtain it for free and without effort from his opponent, there is not much left to the protection afforded by the attorney’s work-product doctrine, an early adequate preparation for trial is discouraged and hazardous, and the ends of justice are defeated.