Leslie Seaton Missouri Cases

Leslie Seaton sought underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage from Shelter Mutual Insurance Company after her daughter's fatal accident. The circuit court granted summary judgment for Seaton, finding her daughter was entitled to UIM coverage under two policies. The Supreme Court of Missouri reversed, holding that the plain language of the insurance policies unambiguously excluded the daughter from UIM coverage as she did not meet the definition of an "insured" or "relative" and the policies were not internally inconsistent.

Leslie Seaton's daughter was killed in an accident, and Seaton sought underinsured motorist coverage from Shelter Mutual Insurance Company under three endorsements to her auto policies. Shelter denied coverage under two policies, leading Seaton to file a declaratory judgment action. The trial court granted summary judgment for Seaton, finding she was entitled to coverage. The appellate court affirmed, holding that an ambiguity existed between the policy's definition of "relative" and the underinsured motorist endorsement, which must be construed in favor of the insured.