Allstate Insurance v. Harris

This appeal concerns the arbitrability of the question of identification of the owner or operator of a hit and run vehicle. The issue arose in a dispute between the insurer, the plaintiff, Allstate Insurance Company, and its insureds, the defendants, Deborah Harris and Joanne Albano, concerning the uninsured motorist clause (Coverage U) of the standard Massachusetts automobile insurance policy. A Superior Court judge decided that the issue was not arbitrable and vacated an award of damages made by an arbitrator. We conclude that the issue was arbitrable and reinstate the award.

The background…