Smith v. Liberty Mutual Insurance

Garfield Smith (Smith) as administrator of the estate of Dennis Smith (the deceased) sued Liberty Mutual Insurance Company (Liberty) to recover medical and funeral expenses. The decedent was struck by a car while riding his bicycle on August 22,1990, in Jasper County, South Carolina. He died as a result of the accident. The car was registered to a Georgia resident, Carolyn Middlebrooks. Middlebrooks was the named insured and was not related to the deceased. The court awarded Smith $4,000 under the personal injury protection (PIP) provision of Middlebrooks’ policy and $1,333 in attorney fees,…