UIM Claims Found Barred by General Release Signed by Plaintiff

In the case of Crisp v. Ace Am. Ins. Co., No. 150902953, 3167 EDA 2016 (C.P. First Judicial District March 7, 2017 Cohen, J.), the court issued an Rule 1925 Opinion asserting that its decision to dismiss a motor vehicle accident Plaintiff’s underinsured motorist claim against her employer’s insurer should be affirmed by the appellate court because the Plaintiff, after consulting with a lawyer, signed a General Release releasing “any and all other persons or entities whatsoever.”  

The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the carrier’s insurer in which that company asserted the Plaintiff’s claims were precluded by the General Release.  

In support of its decision, the trial court stated that it was settled Pennsylvania law that General Releases should be enforced against all parties listed in the Release, even when the party at issue is not listed by name and did not provide any consideration in support of the Release.  

The court also noted that the Plaintiff made no allegations that she had signed the Release because of fraud, accident, or mutual mistake.  Rather, the Plaintiff acknowledged that she had reviewed the Release with an attorney and agreed to be bound by its provisions.  

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