GEICO Prevails on Appeal in Case Involving $50K Typo

Bernadette Ryan was involved in a car accident in 2013 and sued her insurer, GEICO, based on the uninsured/underinsured motorist portion of her insurance policy. A rejected, pre-trial Proposal for Settlement for the $50,000 policy maximum stated that Ryan wanted:

“One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($50,000) inclusive of all costs and fees and in full and final settlement of all pending claims. The total amount of this settlement shall not exceed $50,000.”

The case proceeded to trial and the jury awarded Ryan $195,739.81. Because her damages award was more than 25% greater than the offer in the rejected Proposal for Settlement, Ryan filed a motion to tax costs and a motion to tax attorney’s fees pursuant to Florida Statute 768.79.

Noting the inconsistent dollar amounts in Ryan’s settlement document, GEICO argued at the hearing that the document was patently ambiguous. Ryan, on the other hand, insisted that GEICO knew “exactly what the proposal was for.”

Circuit Judge Dale Ross, while agreeing that confusion existed, nonetheless sided with Ryan and ruled that the “shall not exceed” clause cleared up the confusion. The judge then entered an order granting Ryan’s motions for attorney’s fees and to tax costs. GEICO appealed that order.

The Fourth District Court of Appeal agreed with GEICO that the Proposal for Settlement was ambiguous and unenforceable and the trial court erred in enforcing it. The court therefore reversed the trial judge’s decision, saying, “The trial judge had no basis in law or fact to conclude otherwise.”

Click on the link to read the ruling of the Fourth District Court of Appeal.