Ferrari v. Toto

383 Mass. 36 (1981)

417 N.E.2d 427

MARIA FERRARI, administratrix, & another[1] vs. ALBERT TOTO.

Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, Suffolk.

November 3, 1980.

February 26, 1981.

Present: HENNESSEY, C.J., BRAUCHER, KAPLAN, WILKINS, & LIACOS, JJ.

Norman J. Fine for the plaintiffs.

Joseph C. Tanski for the defendant.

WILKINS, J.

As a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident while at his job, Pasquale Ferrari was entitled (a) to benefits under the workmen's compensation law *37 and (b) to assert a claim for the negligent operation of a motor vehicle operated by the defendant. Ferrari received more than $35,000 in workmen's compensation benefits from his employer's insurer. The defendant's motor vehicle was insured by the Rockland Mutual Insurance Company (Rockland) to a limit of $20,000 for each person injured in a covered accident (with a limit of $50,000 for each accident). Rockland was declared insolvent shortly after the accident, and the Massachusetts Insurers Insolvency Fund (Fund) became obligated to pay "covered claims" of Rockland's motor vehicle insureds. G.L.c. 175D, § 5 (1) (a). See Commissioner of Ins. v. Massachusetts Insurers Insolvency Fund, 373 Mass. 798, 802 (1977). A "covered claim," as defined in G.L.c. 175D, § 1 (2), as appearing in St. 1975, c. 341, § 1, does not include "any amount due any reinsurer, insurer, insurance pool, or underwriting association."

In Ferrari v. Toto, 9 Mass. App. Ct. 483, 485-486 (1980), the Appeals Court concluded that, because Ferrari's workmen's compensation insurer was entitled to any recovery by Ferrari against the defendant, up to the amount of its compensation payments (adjusted to reflect attorneys' fees) (see G.L.c. 152, § 15) and it had paid Ferrari more than the $20,000 limit of the defendant's policy, the Fund was excused from paying Ferrari's claim. It reasoned that the claim was not a "covered claim" because it was for an amount due an insurer within the meaning of G.L.c. 175D, § 1 (2). Ferrari v. Toto, supra at 486. We granted the plaintiffs' application for further appellate review. We agree with the Appeals Court's reasoning and conclusion.

Ferrari raises several objections to the Appeals Court opinion. They are not well founded. It is not true that the defendant is left without insurance protection against Ferrari's claim. Ferrari may not recover against the defendant to the limit of the defendant's policy (and Ferrari has waived any claim in excess of $20,000). Consistently with the purpose of G.L.c. 175D, the Fund would be obliged to provide a defense of any claim brought against the defendant to the same extent that the defendant would have been *38 entitled to such a defense if his insurer had not become insolvent. The defendant gains no windfall; he gets the insurance protection for which he bargained. Ferrari is not denied a property right with nothing given in exchange. He is left in the same position as if Rockland had not become insolvent. The compensation insurer paid him over $35,000, and any damages recovered by him up to that amount (adjusted for attorneys' fees) belong to that insurer. G.L.c. 152, § 15. General Laws c. 175D simply says that, as between Ferrari's workmen's compensation insurer and the Fund, the loss must be absorbed by the workmen's compensation insurer. There is no reason why Ferrari should have any greater rights because Rockland became insolvent or because G.L.c. 175D was enacted.[2]

Ferrari argues that it is contrary to the policy of the Commonwealth to place the loss on him, the innocent party, rather than on the negligent defendant. In fact, under G.L.c. 175D, the loss is placed on the workmen's compensation carrier which provided coverage to Ferrari's employer rather than on the Fund as the substituted "insurer" of the negligent defendant. There is no consistent policy in the Commonwealth to place losses on the wrongdoer's insurer. For example, personal injury protection benefits under the so called "no-fault" motor vehicle insurance law are not available to an injured person who is entitled to benefits under the workmen's compensation law. G.L.c. 90, § 34A, defining "personal injury protection." See Mailhot v. Travelers Ins. Co., 375 Mass. 342, 343 (1978). In such a situation, the Legislature placed the loss on the workmen's compensation insurer, without regard to fault, rather than on a motor vehicle liability insurer. The conclusion to place *39 the loss on the workmen's compensation insurer providing benefits to Ferrari rather than on the Fund is consistent with the legislative intent and is not inconsistent with any demonstrated public policy.

There is one matter not raised adequately in the statement of agreed facts. Ferrari's wife (now his widow) is also a plaintiff. She asserts a claim for loss of consortium. The parties' briefs do not address the question whether her rights against the defendant or the Fund are barred in the circumstances, and there is no agreement as to the amount of the loss, if any, sustained by her. Essential facts and argument have not been presented to us concerning the wife's claim.

The case came to the Appeals Court on an agreement that the question on appeal "is whether or not the workmen's compensation benefits received by plaintiff, Pasquale Ferrari, negate, set off or limit the obligation of the Fund to pay plaintiffs' claims and if so in what amount." The judge reported that question and not the entire case. The parties believed that an answer to the reported question would be entirely dispositive. The Appeals Court directed the entry of a judgment dismissing the action. It is appropriate, of course, to answer the reported question as far as it can be answered. No answer can be given, however, concerning the claim of Ferrari's wife for loss of consortium. The parties have not agreed to all the material facts necessary for the determination of her claim. It may not even have been intended that those rights be considered on appeal. In their brief to the Appeals Court, the plaintiffs state the issue on appeal as related solely to Ferrari's rights, although they mention in passing his wife's claim for loss of consortium.

We conclude that we should decline to consider the claim of Ferrari's wife for loss of consortium and should leave the question open by remanding this aspect of the case to the Superior Court for further proceedings. See Huard v. Forest St. Hous., Inc., 366 Mass. 203, 209 (1974). Thus, we answer the question only as to Ferrari himself, that his claim against the Fund is barred.

So ordered.

[1] Anna Ferrari, wife of Pasquale Ferrari. We shall discuss the claim related to Pasquale Ferrari by reference to him rather than to his administratrix.

[2] Without objection by the defendant, Ferrari has moved to include in the record the fact that, after the opinion of the Appeals Court was released, his employer's compensation insurer agreed to accept $5,000 in full satisfaction of its rights under G.L.c. 152, § 15. We see no basis for concluding that Ferrari's rights against the defendant or the Fund are increased by that agreement. Such an agreement should not be permitted to alter the legislative judgment that the loss should not be placed on the Fund.