Talat Parveen v. ACG South Insurance Agency, LLC

Syllabus

This appeal arises from an action commenced by two insured parties against their insurance agent and the insurance agency where he was employed after the insureds' insurance carrier refused to provide excess uninsured motorist coverage because it was not included in the insureds' policy. The insureds alleged that their insurance agent failed to procure the requested insurance on their behalf and that they consequently had suffered monetary losses. The Trial Court applied a statutory rebuttable presumption that the insureds had accepted the provided coverage by paying their insurance premiums, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated § 56-7-135(b). Upon its finding that the insureds had not rebutted that presumption, the Trial Court dismissed the insureds' action. The insureds have appealed. Upon our determination that Tennessee Code Annotated § 56-7- 135(b) does not apply to actions against an insurance agent for failure to procure insurance coverage as directed, we reverse the Trial Court's grant of summary judgment and remand for the action to proceed.