Wright v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance

*4GILLETTE, J.

This is an action against an insurer on a claim for damages incurred in connection with a fatal automobile accident. Plaintiffs are Robert and Shari Wright (the insureds), whose son died in the accident, and James R. Strickland, the personal representative of the son’s estate. Notwithstanding higher limits stated both in the insureds’ motor vehicle liability policy and their umbrella policy, the insurer, State Farm,1 refused to make any payment beyond the $25,000 minimum liability coverage required by the Oregon financial responsibility law. State Farm based its position on the…