South Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance v. Courtney

ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF APPEALS.

Justice MOORE:

We granted a writ of certiorari in this case to review the Court of Appeals’s decision1 construing an automatic termination clause in an automobile insurance policy. We affirm in result.

FACTS

In 1997, respondent Courtney (Husband) owned two cars, a Chevrolet Camaro and Saturn, both insured with petitioner (Insurer). Both policies had underinsured motorist coverage (UIM).2

In September 1997, Husband’s wife, Susan Courtney (Wife), was in an accident in the Camaro and the vehicle was a total loss. Insurer paid for the vehicle under…