Bertini v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance

This appeal involves an action for declaratory judgment instituted by plaintiff, Joseph R. Bertini, individually and as administrator of the estate of Michael J. Bertini, deceased, against State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. (State Farm) and Central National Insurance Company of Omaha (Central).

The issues in this case are two: whether an automobile insurer can limit uninsured motorist coverage to the named insured although it affords liability coverage to omnibus insureds, albeit through an escape clause, and whether an insurer issuing three policies to the same insured can escape…