Olander v. State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance Company
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
317 F.3d 807 (2003)
- Written by David Bloom, JD
Facts
Brian Olander (plaintiff) was an insurance agent with State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance Company (State Farm) (defendant). Olander’s agency agreement with State Farm did not have a fixed duration but provided that the agency agreement would terminate upon Olander’s death. The agency agreement stated that Olander and State Farm had the right to terminate the agency agreement upon delivering written notice to the other party. Another section of the agency agreement provided that in the event that State Farm terminated the agency agreement, Olander had the right to request a review of the termination. The preamble to the agency agreement vaguely stated that by entering into the agency agreement, Olander and State Farm agreed to maintain a mutually satisfactory agency relationship. Olander was charged with murder, and State Farm subsequently terminated the agency agreement. Olander was convicted of manslaughter, but the conviction was reversed, and Olander was acquitted after a second trial. Olander filed suit against State Farm for wrongful termination of the agency agreement, alleging that the agency agreement was ambiguous and could be terminated only for cause. State Farm motioned for summary judgment. The district court granted the motion. Olander appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Loken, J.)
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