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Campbell v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.

Utah Supreme Court
2004 UT 34, 498 Utah Adv. Rep. 23, 98 P.3d 409 (2004)
ELI5:

Sections

Rule of Law:

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The Legal Principle

This section distills the key legal rule established or applied by the court—the one-liner you'll want to remember for exams.

Facts:

  • Curtis B. Campbell caused an automobile accident that resulted in the death of Todd Ospital and the disability of Robert Slusher.
  • State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, Campbell's insurer, covered him for liability up to $25,000 per claim.
  • State Farm refused offers to settle the claims against Campbell within his policy limits, despite investigators determining Campbell was 100 percent at fault and that a trial would likely result in a much larger verdict.
  • State Farm assured the Campbells that their assets were safe and that they did not need to hire their own counsel.
  • After a trial resulted in a judgment of $135,000 against Campbell, State Farm initially refused to pay the amount exceeding the policy limit.
  • A State Farm representative advised the Campbells to sell their house to satisfy the judgment.
  • During the litigation, a State Farm manager instructed an adjuster to create a false story that one of the victims was speeding to see a pregnant girlfriend, in order to create prejudice in the record.
  • The Campbells suffered severe emotional distress for approximately 18 months as they feared losing their home and assets before State Farm ultimately paid the entire judgment.

Procedural Posture:

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How It Got Here

Understand the case's journey through the courts—who sued whom, what happened at trial, and why it ended up on appeal.

Issue:

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Legal Question at Stake

This section breaks down the central legal question the court had to answer, written in plain language so you can quickly grasp what's being decided.

Opinions:

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Majority, Concurrences & Dissents

Read clear summaries of each judge's reasoning—the majority holding, any concurrences, and dissenting views—so you understand all perspectives.

Analysis:

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Why This Case Matters

Get the bigger picture—how this case fits into the legal landscape, its lasting impact, and the key takeaways for your class discussion.

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