Swayze v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.

_JjThe victim of an automobile accident originally filed suit against the tortfeasor and the liability insurer in Monroe City Court. Subsequently, the victim added her underinsured motorist (UM) carrier. Before trial, the victim settled with the tortfeasor and her liability insurer for the policy limits of $25,000, reserving rights against the UM carrier. By summary judgment, the UM sought to have the claims against it dismissed on the grounds that the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction based upon the jurisdictional amount in controversy. The trial court rejected these arguments…