Rich v. Colonial Ins. Co. of California

Stephen Lamar Rich sued his insurance carrier, Colonial Insurance Company of California (the "insurer"), seeking uninsured motorist benefits. The facts of the case are largely undisputed and arise from an attempted car-jacking. Rich had stopped in his automobile at a traffic signal in Atlanta, Georgia, when he was approached by two men. One of the men shot Rich when Rich refused to hand over his keys and his money. Rich escaped his assailants; however, the bullet severed his colon, and he was hospitalized for 11 days.

The trial court determined that Rich was not entitled to uninsured motorist…