Matsyuk v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Company

Docket No. 84686-3 (from Court of Appeals Division I Case No. 64151-4)  Facts:  Petitioner Olga Matsyuk was injured while riding in an automobile driven by Omelyan Stemditsky.  Matsyuk subsequently recovered $1,874 in personal injury benefits from Stemditsky’s insurance policy with respondent State Farm Fire & Casualty Company.  Matsyuk also recovered $5,874 from State Farm in its capacity as Stemditsky’s liability insurer after reaching a settlement with State Farm.  After State Farm indicated that it would seek reimbursement of its personal injury payment through an offset to the liability payment, Matsyuk demanded that this offset be reduced by a prorated share of the attorney fees she incurred in obtaining the settlement. Continue reading

Moeller v. Farmers Insurance Company of Washington

Docket No. 84500-0 (from Court of Appeals Division II Case No. 30880-1)  Facts:  After respondent David Moeller’s automobile was damaged in a collision, it was repaired by his insurer, petitioner Farmers Insurance Company of Washington.  Moeller subsequently filed a class action against Farmers Insurance Company on behalf of himself and others similarly situated in the Superior Court for Pierce County, asserting that Farmers Insurance Company breached his insurance contract by failing to pay him the difference between his automobile’s pre-collision value and its post-repair value.  The trial court certified the class but ultimately granted summary judgment for Farmers Insurance Company, ruling that the language of Moeller’s insurance policy precludes his diminished value claim. Continue reading