{ "id": 8470996, "name": "NORTH CAROLINA FARM BUREAU INSURANCE COMPANY, Plaintiff v. NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant", "name_abbreviation": "North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance v. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.", "decision_date": "2005-02-15", "docket_number": "No. COA04-348", "first_page": "585", "last_page": "588", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "168 N.C. App. 585" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "377 N.E.2d 1218", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1978, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "584 P.2d 1264", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.2d", "case_ids": [ 414384 ], "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1267" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/kan-app-2d/2/0580-01" ] }, { "cite": "772 S.W.2d 218", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 9997539 ], "year": 1989, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw2d/772/0218-01" ] }, { "cite": "938 S.W.2d 600", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 10023535 ], "year": 1997, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw2d/938/0600-01" ] }, { "cite": "655 P.2d 599", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.2d", "case_ids": [ 2335509 ], "year": 1982, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/or-app/60/0666-01" ] }, { "cite": "384 N.W.2d 877", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 10658243 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nw2d/384/0877-01" ] }, { "cite": "432 N.W.2d 404", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.W.2d", "year": 1988, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "956 S.W.2d 268", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 11889160 ], "year": 1997, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw2d/956/0268-01" ] }, { "cite": "439 S.E.2d 202", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "205" }, { "page": "205" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "113 N.C. App. 517", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8523325 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "521" }, { "page": "521" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/113/0517-01" ] }, { "cite": "332 S.E.2d 177", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1985, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "313 N.C. 596", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4719396, 4721386, 4721131, 4718827, 4724383 ], "year": 1985, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/313/0596-02", "/nc/313/0596-05", "/nc/313/0596-04", "/nc/313/0596-03", "/nc/313/0596-01" ] }, { "cite": "326 S.E.2d 109", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "113" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "73 N.C. App. 413", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8524303 ], "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "419" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/73/0413-01" ] }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 20-279.21", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "(b)(2)" }, { "page": "(b)(2)", "parenthetical": "emphasis supplied" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "504 S.E.2d 574", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "577", "parenthetical": "internal citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "130 N.C. App. 729", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11470258 ], "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "733", "parenthetical": "internal citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/130/0729-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 492, "char_count": 8296, "ocr_confidence": 0.768, "pagerank": { "raw": 7.356649739686109e-08, "percentile": 0.44147535242402164 }, "sha256": "e2125a69dcab8983d87479ddff94d2db65f0b86b3cbf3bfd6978f2815edd3035", "simhash": "1:4ea6716f51723e7a", "word_count": 1391 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:36:09.557360+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges WYNN and ELMORE concur." ], "parties": [ "NORTH CAROLINA FARM BUREAU INSURANCE COMPANY, Plaintiff v. NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "HUDSON, Judge.\nOn 12 September 2002, North Carolina Farm Bureau (\u201cFarm Bureau\u201d) brought a declaratory judgment complaint against Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (\u201cNationwide\u201d) to determine the obligations of each company under terms of a settlement in a wrongful death case. Both parties moved for summary judgment, and following a hearing, on 10 December 2003, the court granted Nationwide\u2019s motion and denied Farm Bureau\u2019s. Farm Bureau appeals. For the reasons discussed below, we affirm.\nThis case arises from a fatal car crash. On 27 October 1994, Charly Simms (\u201cCharly\u201d) was driving a car owned by her mother, Betty Simms (\u201cBetty\u201d), on 1-40 near Asheville, with Betty\u2019s permission. Charly\u2019s friend Reagan Mason (\u201cReagan\u201d) was a passenger in the car. After Charly shared a story about once having driven through a weigh station, Reagan suddenly grabbed the wheel and attempted to steer the car into a weigh station the car was passing. Charly\u2019s hands remained on the wheel and she attempted to regain control of the car by steering back to the left. When Charly swerved the car back to the left, it struck a car driven by Thomas Graves, who died as a result of the collision. Graves\u2019 estate brought a wrongful death action against Reagan, Charly and Betty. Farm Bureau insured Reagan, and Nationwide insured Charly and Betty. The insurance companies settled the claims against their insureds for $37,500, then brought this declaratory action to determine their respective obligations. In its complaint, Farm Bureau argued that Nationwide was primarily liable for damages arising from the wreck. At the hearing on their summary judgment motions, the parties stipulated that Reagan was not a permissive user of Betty\u2019s car and that the sole issue before the court was whether Reagan was in lawful possession of the car. The court found that Reagan was not in lawful possession of the car and granted Nationwide\u2019s cross-motion for summary judgment.\nFarm Bureau argues that the court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of Nationwide and in denying summary judgment for Farm Bureau. We disagree.\nThe standard of review on appeal from a denial of summary judgment\nis whether there is any genuine issue of material fact and whether the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Further, the evidence presented by the parties must be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-movant. The court should grant summary judgment when \u2018the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that any party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.\u2019\nBruce-Terminix Co. v. Zurich Ins. Co., 130 N.C. App. 729, 733, 504 S.E.2d 574, 577 (1998) (internal citations omitted) (citing N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 1A-1, Rule 56(c) (1990)).\nUnder N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 20-279.21(b)(2), a vehicle owner\u2019s liability policy\n[sjhall insure the person named therein and any other person, as insured, using any such motor vehicle or motor vehicles with the express or implied permission of such named insured, or any other persons in lawful possession, against loss from the liability imposed by law for damages arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of such motor vehicle. . .\nN.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 20-279.21(b)(2) (2004) (emphasis supplied). Here, the parties stipulated that Reagan was not a permissive user of Betty\u2019s car, limiting the issue before the court to whether Reagan was in lawful possession of the car when she grabbed the steering wheel as the car traveled down Interstate 40. \u201c[A] person is in lawful possession of a vehicle ... if he is given possession of the automobile by the automobile\u2019s owner or owner\u2019s permittee under a good faith belief that giving possession of the vehicle to the third party would not be in violation of any law or contractual obligation.\u201d Belasco v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 73 N.C. App. 413, 419, 326 S.E.2d 109, 113, disc. review denied, 313 N.C. 596, 332 S.E.2d 177 (1985). \u201cThis implies not only that the owner or the owner\u2019s permittee must give possession to a third party in good faith, but also that the third party must take in good faith and without any notice of restrictions on his use.\u201d Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co. v. Baer, 113 N.C. App. 517, 521, 439 S.E.2d 202, 205 (1994).\nFarm Bureau argues that Reagan was in lawful possession of Betty\u2019s car when she grabbed the steering wheel. At the time she grabbed the wheel, Reagan was sitting in the front passenger seat, as Charly drove the car down Interstate 40. We find no case in this State in which anyone other than the operator, sitting in the driver\u2019s seat, has been found to be in possession of a car. Rather, whether a passenger who grabs a steering wheel can be considered in possession of the vehicle appears to be a matter of first impression in North Carolina. However, a number of other states have addressed a related issue, concerning whether a passenger who grabs the steering wheel is operating a vehicle as referred to in an insurance policy exclusion. We are persuaded by the reasoning of those states which hold that a passenger who grabs the steering wheel is actually interfering with the vehicle\u2019s operation. See Harrison v. Tomes, 956 S.W.2d 268 (Mo. 1997); Farm Bureau Gen. Ins. Co. v. Riddering, 432 N.W.2d 404 (Mich. Ct. App. 1988); West Bend Mut. Ins. Co. v. Milwaukee Mut. Ins. Co., 384 N.W.2d 877, affirmed en banc, 384 N.W.2d 877, (Minn. 1986); State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. White, 655 P.2d 599 (Ore. Ct. App. 1982); but see Gibbs v. Nat\u2019l Gen. Ins. Co., 938 S.W.2d 600 (Mo. Ct. App. 1997); U.S. Fire Ins. Co. v. United Serv. Auto. Ass\u2019n, 772 S.W.2d 218 (Tex. Ct. App. 1989); U.S. Fid. & Guar. Co. v. Hokanson, 584 P.2d 1264, 1267 (Kan. Ct. App. 1978); State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Larsen, 377 N.E.2d 1218, (Ill. Ct. App. 1978). As such, we cannot agree that grabbing the steering wheel of a moving car from the passenger seat in the circumstances presented here constitutes \u201cpossession\u201d of the car. Thus, we conclude that Reagan was not in possession of the car when she grabbed the steering wheel.\nFurther, even if Reagan were in possession of the car, the possession would not have been lawful. This Court has held that N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 20-279.21 requires \u201cnot only that the owner or the owner\u2019s per-mittee must give possession to a third party in good faith, but also that the third party must take in good faith and without any notice of restrictions on his use.\u201d Baer, 113 N.C. App. at 521, 439 S.E.2d at 205. If a driver suffered a medical emergency and lost control of a car, perhaps a passenger could have a good faith belief that she could take possession of the car by grabbing the steering wheel; however, that circumstance is not before us. Here, the evidence indicates that Reagan grabbed the wheel while joking around. Common sense dictates that a reasonable passenger cannot in good faith believe that she may lawfully possess a car by suddenly grabbing the steering wheel of a moving car in this manner.\nAffirmed.\nJudges WYNN and ELMORE concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "HUDSON, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Pinto, Coates, Kyre & Brown, P.L.L.C., by Paul D. Coates and Brady A. Yntema, for plaintiff-appellant.", "Teague, Rotenstreich & Stanaland, L.L.P, by Paul A. Daniels, for defendant-appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "NORTH CAROLINA FARM BUREAU INSURANCE COMPANY, Plaintiff v. NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant\nNo. COA04-348\n(Filed 15 February 2005)\nInsurance\u2014 anto accident \u2014 determination of applicable policy \u2014 passenger grabbing steering wheel \u2014 not in possession of vehicle\nSummary judgment for defendant was affirmed in a declaratory judgment action between two insurance companies to determine their obligations in an automobile accident case in which the passenger grabbed the steering wheel and caused the accident. Although plaintiff argued that the passenger was in lawful possession of the car when she grabbed the wheel, so that the driver\u2019s policy (issued by defendant) would provide coverage, grabbing the wheel of the car while joking around does not constitute lawful possession of the car.\nAppeal by plaintiff from order entered 10 December 2003 by Judge Charles Lamm in the Superior Court in Guilford County. Heard in the Court of Appeals 16 November 2004.\nPinto, Coates, Kyre & Brown, P.L.L.C., by Paul D. Coates and Brady A. Yntema, for plaintiff-appellant.\nTeague, Rotenstreich & Stanaland, L.L.P, by Paul A. Daniels, for defendant-appellee." }, "file_name": "0585-01", "first_page_order": 615, "last_page_order": 618 }