McCarthy v. Commercial Union Insurance

**What Happened** This case involved an employee named McCarthy who was in a car accident and sought insurance benefits from Commercial Union Insurance. The insurance company refused to pay McCarthy's no-fault benefits and supplementary uninsured motorist benefits. Commercial Union claimed they didn't have to pay because McCarthy was intoxicated during the accident, there was no contact with another vehicle, and McCarthy's injuries weren't serious enough to qualify for benefits. The insurance company asked the court to dismiss the case entirely without a trial. **What the Court Decided** The court refused to dismiss McCarthy's case and said it must go to trial. The judge found there were disputed facts that needed to be resolved by a jury, including whether McCarthy's intoxication actually caused the accident, whether there was contact with another vehicle, and whether McCarthy's injuries met the legal threshold for serious injury. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling shows that insurance companies can't simply deny claims without proper investigation. Even when there are questions about circumstances like intoxication, workers have the right to have their cases heard in court and present evidence supporting their insurance claims.