State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Lestenkof

OPINION

MATTHEWS, Justice.

1. INTRODUCTION

This case presents the question of whether an automobile insurer must pay unlimited Alaska Civil Rule 82 attorney’s fees to settle an underinsured motorist insurance claim if it has already paid unlimited fees on the same underlying projected jury verdict to settle a liability insurance claim. We conclude that because the policyholder was not underinsured with respect to court-awarded attorney’s fees, the insurer need not pay any additional attorney’s fees.

II. FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS

On September 25, 1998, an automobile driven by Keith Odden collided with…