Jepson v. General Casualty Co. of Wisconsin
Minnesota Supreme Court
513 N.W.2d 467 (1994)
Jepson (plaintiff), domiciled in Minnesota but running a North Dakota business, was injured in an Arizona car accident and settled a North Dakota lawsuit against the other driver and insurer. He then sued General Casualty (defendant) in Minnesota, seeking to "stack" insurance benefits under a policy issued through a Minnesota agent covering seven vehicles (six registered in North Dakota, one in Indiana), with premiums based on North Dakota rates paid by a North Dakota company. Minnesota law permitted stacking multiple vehicles' coverage, while North Dakota law did not. The trial court applied Minnesota law and was affirmed on appeal; General Casualty appealed further.
Whether a Minnesota court should resolve a conflict of laws by considering predictability, preservation of interstate order, judicial ease, the forum's governmental interest, and which jurisdiction's law is superior.