State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance v. Superior Court

Opinion

MALLANO, J.

This is an action against a mutual automobile insurance company incorporated and headquartered in Illinois, where the board of directors holds its meetings. A group of policyholders contends that the insurance company’s board of directors did not pay the dividends it promised. The trial court certified the case as a nationwide class action and ruled that California law, not Illinois law, governs the policyholders’ causes of action.

The insurance company has filed a petition for a writ of mandate, challenging the trial court’s ruling that California law applies. We conclude…