Court Opinion

ID: 9844888
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 03:11:24.446347+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:15:46.748458
License: Public Domain

BROTHERTON, Justice,
concurring in part and dissenting in part:
I agree with the majority’s conclusion that the defendant insurance companies are not bound by the special commissioner’s damage findings. I cannot, however, agree that W.Va. Code § 33-6-31(b) requires automatic inclusion of underinsured motorist coverage on the facts of this case. The language of the statute requires only that the insurer “provide an option” to purchase underinsured motorist coverage. This requirement is in stark contrast with the preceding passage, which requires inclusion of uninsured motorist coverage “unless the insured waives such coverage in writing.” There is an express requirement that uninsured motorist coverage be waived in writing; there is no such express requirement for underinsured motorist coverage. The majority is correct in concluding. from the statute that no written waiver is required to exclude underinsured motorist coverage. The majority’s requirement that the insurer prove a knowing and intelligent waiver of the coverage, however, in effect reaches the opposite result. It is difficult to imagine how an insurer can prove such a waiver, absent a writing. The better holding would be to require the insurer to prove only that it made an effective offer of underinsured motorist coverage, as required by statute.
In addition to amending the statutory directive, the Court has effectively entered summary judgment for Ms. Bias even though the facts upon which the holding is based are in substantial dispute, and Nationwide has had no opportunity to present evidence of whether or not it made an effective offer and whether or not Ms. Bias waived coverage. Nationwide did not receive notice of, or participate in, the hearings before the special commissioner. Further, Nationwide cites affidavits of its employees which state that Ms. Bias had no underinsurance coverage with Nationwide, and that she was sent two mailings concerning the availability of underinsured motorist coverage. Although these offers were disputed by Ms. Bias, the majority’s conclusion that “the insurer has presented no proof on the record before us that it made an effective offer of underinsured motorist coverage to plaintiff Bias” is not *129warranted. In fact, Nationwide had no opportunity in the proceeding to present the facts supporting the offer. I believe that the insurance company should at least be afforded a chance to present the facts supporting its defense, and to have full consideration of all issues relating to its potential liability prior to entry of summary judgment.
For these reasons, I respectfully dissent.