Court Opinion

ID: 9765504
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 04:04:14.924769+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:30:10.669826
License: Public Domain

*74ZAPPALA, Justice,
dissenting.
I dissent.
There is no question in my mind that the purchaser of insurance bargains for coverage not assurances. An insurance contract arises from the mutual promises of the parties. The insured bargains for coverage and in return pays a premium, while the insurance company bargains for a premium and in return provides coverage. The legal documentation becomes evidence of the acceptance of the mutual promises, not the consideration for the insurance contract. Therefore, a failure to furnish assurances cannot be deemed a substantial or material breach mandating avoidance of a contractual obligation.
Since the lower court instructed the jury that failure to issue the insurance documents within a reasonable time absolved the Appellant of any liability, I agree with the Superior Court’s Order reversing the trial court and granting the Appellee a new trial.
McDERMOTT, J., joins in this dissenting opinion.