Farmers Insurance Exchange v. District Court for the Fourth Judicial District

In this original proceeding, petitioner Farmers Insurance Exchange asks us to prohibit the district court from hearing a declaratory judgment action brought by Patricia Neely against the petitioner, American States Insurance Company, and Earl Bryant for lack of standing. We issued a rule to show cause and now make the rule absolute.

The underlying suit involves Patricia Neely’s claim against Earl Bryant for injuries she suffered in an automobile accident allegedly caused by Bryant’s negligence. The issue before this court is whether Neely has standing to bring a declaratory judgment action…