A "reaching for groceries" case raises questions about Uninsured Motorist coverage

The Michigan Court of Appeals found that a 15 year-old boy, who was reaching for groceries in the trunk of a car before getting hit by another vehicle, was not "in" the car for purposes of establishing coverage under an Uninsured Motorist provision. Banks v Laster, No. 327416 (Mich Ct App September 15, 2016). While the boy was leaning into the car and rummaging through grocery bags within the car's trunk, the Court found that the boy's conduct did not constitute being "in" the car because, for example, the boy did not testify that "any part of his body had any physical contact with any part of the interior floor or sides of the trunk."