AI Generated Opinion Summaries

This summary was computer-generated without any editorial revision. It is not official, has not been checked for accuracy, and is NOT citable.

Facts

• The Luceros were severely injured in an accident involving a tractor-trailer operated by an employee of H & J Hamilton Trucking Company, which was insured by Northland Insurance Company. Northland defended Hamilton in the lawsuit that followed and eventually agreed to settle for the policy limits. The dispute arose over the interpretation of the insurance policy's limits, specifically whether the $1,000,000 coverage applied per accident or per vehicle involved in the accident (para 2).

Procedural History

• District Court: Held that the insurance policy limits liability to $1,000,000 per accident (para 3).
• Court of Appeals: Reversed the District Court's decision, interpreting the policy as providing $1,000,000 for each covered auto involved in the accident, totaling $2,000,000 for the Luceros (para 3).

Parties' Submissions

• Defendant-Petitioner (Northland Insurance Company): Argued that the insurance policy limits liability to $1,000,000 for each accident, regardless of the number of vehicles involved (para 3).
• Plaintiffs-Respondents (The Luceros): Contended that the policy provides $1,000,000 in liability coverage for each covered auto involved in an accident, seeking a total of $2,000,000 since both the tractor and the trailer were involved (para 3).

Legal Issues

• Whether the insurance policy limits liability to $1,000,000 per accident or $1,000,000 per covered auto involved in the accident.

Disposition

• The Supreme Court of the State of New Mexico reversed the Court of Appeals and affirmed the District Court's decision, holding that the insurance policy limits liability to $1,000,000 per accident regardless of the number of covered autos involved (para 31).

Reasons

• The Supreme Court, per Justice Bosson, based its decision on the interpretation of the insurance policy in accordance with principles governing contract interpretation. The policy's Declarations page, Section II(A) "Liability Coverage," and Section II(C) "Limit of Insurance" collectively indicated a limit of $1,000,000 per accident. The Court found that the policy language was clear and unambiguous in setting this limit and did not support the Luceros' interpretation of providing $1,000,000 in coverage for each covered auto involved in an accident. The Court also noted that its conclusion was consistent with the majority of jurisdictions that have interpreted similar insurance clauses. The decision was unanimous, with all justices concurring (paras 4-31).