Case Name: Westfield Insurance Company v. Galatis et al., Appellants; Aetna Casualty & Surety Company, Appellee
Court: Supreme Court of Ohio
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 2003-11-05
Citations: 100 Ohio St. 3d 216
Docket Number: No. 2002-0932
Parties: Westfield Insurance Company v. Galatis et al., Appellants; Aetna Casualty & Surety Company, Appellee.
Judges: Moyer, C.J., DeGenaro and Lundberg Stratton, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Ohio State Reports, Third Service
Volume: 100
Pages: 216–240

Head Matter:
Westfield Insurance Company v. Galatis et al., Appellants; Aetna Casualty & Surety Company, Appellee.
[Cite as Westfield Ins. Co. v. Galatis, 100 Ohio St.3d 216, 2003-Ohio-5849.]
(No. 2002-0932
Submitted March 26, 2003
Decided November 5, 2003.)

Opinion:
O'Connor, J.
{¶ 1} Stare decisis is the bedrock of the American judicial system. Well-reasoned opinions become controlling precedent, thus creating stability and predictability in our legal system. It is only with great solemnity and with the assurance that the newly chosen course for the law is a significant improvement over the current course that we should depart from precedent.
{¶ 2} Mindful of these principles, we now examine Ohio's law regarding whether uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance issued to a corporation may compensate an individual for a loss that was unrelated to the insured corporation. This examination results in the limitation of Scott-Pontzer v. Liberty Mut. Fire Ins. Co. (1999), 85 Ohio St.3d 660, 710 N.E.2d 1116, by restricting the application of uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage issued to a corporation to employees only while they are acting within the course and scope of their employment, unless otherwise specifically agreed. It also requires overruling Ezawa v. Yasuda Fire & Marine Ins. Co. of Am. (1999), 86 Ohio St.3d 557, 715 N.E.2d 1142.
I
{¶ 3} Jason Galatis died on September 24, 1994, as a passenger in a vehicle negligently operated by Shawn Butler. Galatis's estate settled its claim against Butler for $75,000 and released him from liability on September 1, 1995. The estate next settled an underinsured motorist claim against Grange Insurance Company, Galatis's parents' insurer, on December 5,1995.
{¶ 4} The matter was resurrected on May 8, 2000, when the estate presented claims under the business auto policy and the general liability portion of a commercial insurance policy that Westfield Insurance Company ("Westfield") had issued to Oliver Printing Company, the employer of Galatis's father and uncle.
{¶ 5} Aetna Casualty and Surety Company ("Aetna") was notified of claims arising from Galatis's death on August 15, 2000. The claims against Aetna were made under a master insurance policy issued to Quagliata's Restaurants, Inc., the employer of Galatis's mother. This policy was in effect at the time of the accident that caused Galatis's death. The estate asserted claims for coverage under the business auto and commercial general liability parts of the combined policy.
{¶ 6} The trial court ruled that both Westfield insurance policies and both parts of the Aetna policy provided underinsured motorist coverage to certain members of the Galatis family. However, the court also ruled that the estate had destroyed the insurers' subrogation rights and had failed to give prompt notice of the claims, resulting in loss of coverage under the policies.
{¶ 7} All parties appealed. Before the court of appeals issued its opinion, the estate settled with Westfield, removing it from the case. The court of appeals affirmed the judgment in favor of Aetna on the grounds that an endorsement that listed seven specific individuals as insureds precluded the kind of ambiguity found in Scott-Pontzer as to who is insured under the uninsured motorist endorsement to the policy.
{¶ 8} The case is before us as a certified conflict.
II
{¶ 9} An insurance policy is a contract. The freedom to contract and the attendant benefits and responsibilities of the parties to a contract are integral to the liberty of the citizenry, so much so that the United States Constitution specifically protects against state encroachment upon contracts. Clause 1, Section 10, Article I, United States Constitution. In order to protect the integrity of contracts, the United States Constitution gives the United States Supreme Court the authority to overrule a state supreme court's interpretation of a state statute that infringes upon the right to contract. Piqua Branch of State Bank of Ohio v. Knoop (1853), 57 U.S. (16 How.) 369, 14 L.Ed. 977. In Piqua, the United States Supreme Court found our interpretation of a bank charter unconstitutional. It wrote, "We have power only to deal with contracts under the tenth section of the first article of the Constitution, whether made by a State or an individual; if such contract be impaired by an act of the State such act is void, as the power is prohibited to the State." Id. at 391, 14 L.Ed. 977.
{¶ 10} The Ohio Constitution also protects the freedom of contract. "The general assembly shall have no power to pass laws impairing the obligation of contracts; but may, by general laws, authorize courts to carry into effect, upon such terms as shall be just and equitable, the manifest intentions of parties by curing omissions, defects, and errors, in instruments , arising out of their want of conformity with the laws of this state." Section 28, Article II, Ohio Constitution. The Ohio constitutional protection of contracts is coextensive with that of the federal Constitution. See State ex rel. Horvath v. State Teachers Retirement Bd. (1998), 83 Ohio St.3d 67, 76, 697 N.E.2d 644.
{¶ 11} When confronted with an issue of contractual interpretation, the role of a court is to give effect to the intent of the parties to the agreement. Hamilton Ins. Serv., Inc. v. Nationwide Ins. Cos. (1999), 86 Ohio St.3d 270, 273, 714 N.E.2d 898, citing Employers' Liab. Assur. Corp. v. Roehm (1919), 99 Ohio St. 343, 124 N.E. 223, syllabus. See, also, Section 28, Article II, Ohio Constitution. We examine the insurance contract as a whole and presume that the intent of the parties is reflected in the language used in the policy. Kelly v. Med. Life Ins. Co. (1987), 31 Ohio St.3d 130, 31 OBR 289, 509 N.E.2d 411, paragraph one of the syllabus. We look to the plain and ordinary meaning of the language used in the policy unless another meaning is clearly apparent from the contents of the policy. Alexander v. Buckeye Pipe Line Co. (1978), 53 Ohio St.2d 241, 7 O.O.3d 403, 374 N.E.2d 146, paragraph two of the syllabus. When the language of a written contract is clear, a court may look no further than the writing itself to find the intent of the parties. Id. As a matter of law, a contract is unambiguous if it can be given a definite legal meaning. Gulf Ins. Co. v. Burns Motors, Inc. (Tex. 2000), 22 S.W.3d 417, 423.
{¶ 12} On the other hand, where a contract is ambiguous, a court may consider extrinsic evidence to ascertain the parties' intent. Shifrin v. Forest City Enterprises, Inc. (1992), 64 Ohio St.3d 635, 597 N.E.2d 499. A court, however, is not permitted to alter a lawful contract by imputing an intent contrary to that expressed by the parties. Id.; Blosser v. Enderlin (1925), 113 Ohio St. 121, 148 N.E. 393, paragraph one of the syllabus ("there can be no intendment or implication inconsistent with the express terms [of a written contract]").
{¶ 13} It is generally the role of the finder of fact to resolve ambiguity. See, e.g., Davis v. Loopco Industries, Inc. (1993), 66 Ohio St.3d 64, 609 N.E.2d 144. However, where the written contract is standardized and between parties of unequal bargaining power, an ambiguity in the writing will be interpreted strictly against the drafter and in favor of the nondrafting party. Cent. Realty Co. v. Clutter (1980), 62 Ohio St.2d 411, 413, 16 O.O.3d 441, 406 N.E.2d 515. In the insurance context, the insurer customarily drafts the contract. Thus, an ambiguity in an insurance contract is ordinarily interpreted against the insurer and in favor of the insured. King v. Nationwide Ins. Co. (1988), 35 Ohio St.3d 208, 519 N.E.2d 1380, syllabus.
{¶ 14} There are limitations to the preceding rule. "Although, as a rule, a policy of insurance that is reasonably open to different interpretations will be construed most favorably for the insured, that rule will not be applied so as to provide an unreasonable interpretation of the words of the policy." Morfoot v. Stake (1963), 174 Ohio St. 506, 23 O.O.2d 144, 190 N.E.2d 573, paragraph one of the syllabus. Likewise, where "the plaintiff is not a party to [the] contract of insurance , [the plaintiff] is not in a position to urge, as one of the parties, that the contract be construed strictly against the other party." Cook v. Kozell (1964), 176 Ohio St. 332, 336, 27 O.O.2d 275, 199 N.E.2d 566. This rings especially true where expanding coverage beyond a policyholder's needs will increase the policyholder's premiums. Id.
A. Uninsured Motorist Coverage
1. The Scott-Pontzer Decision
{¶ 15} The insurance industry customarily uses standardized forms promulgated by the Insurance Services Office, Inc. ("ISO"). The ISO forms are generically written to provide for the insurance needs of a wide range of policyholders. Combinations of the various standardized forms are used to create a customized policy for each policyholder. This is accomplished by using base forms such as Commercial Auto, Personal Auto, Personal Umbrella, or Commercial General Liability, which are supplemented by state-specific endorsements that expand or limit the extent of insurance coverage in accordance with the desire of the parties and with each state's laws.
{¶ 16} The ISO identifies the "Ohio Uninsured Motorist Coverage" endorsement as form CA 2133. Form CA 2133 is routinely included in policies issued to individuals, partnerships, corporations, and government entities. This form is part of the Aetna policy sub judice and was at issue in Scott-Pontzer v. Liberty Mut. Fire Ins. Co. (1999), 85 Ohio St.3d 660, 710 N.E.2d 1116.
{¶ 17} Since Scott-Pontzer, this court has been asked to decide a number of ' cases that center on the term "you" in form CA 2133. Form CA 2133 delineates four classes of "who is an insured" for uninsured motorist coverage. The first class is "you"; however, "you," is not defined in Form CA 2133. Form CA 2133 is merely a modification of the main policy form, in this case "Business Auto Coverage Form" (Form CA 0001), which defines "you" as "the Named Insured shown in the Declarations." The Aetna policy identifies the named insured, i.e., policyholder, as Quagliata's Restaurants, Inc.
{¶ 18} In Scott-Pontzer, this court relied upon King to find "you" to be ambiguous because it referred to a corporation, which "cannot occupy an automobile, suffer bodily injury or death, or operate a motor vehicle." 85 Ohio St.3d at 664, 710 N.E.2d 1116. This court opined that "naming the corporation as the insured is meaningless unless the coverage extends to some person or persons— including to the corporation's employees." Id. This court stated, "[Ljanguage in a contract of insurance reasonably susceptible of more than one meaning will be construed liberally in favor of the insured and strictly against the insurer. Accordingly, we conclude that Pontzer, at the time of his death, was an insured under the policy for purposes of underinsured motorist coverage." Id. at 665, 710 N.E.2d 1116 (internal citation and quotation omitted).
2. Other Jurisdictions and Scott-Pontzer
{¶ 19} Our reasoning in Scott-Pontzer has been questioned. See, e.g., Seaco Ins. Co. v. Davis-Irish (C.A.1, 2002), 300 F.3d 84, 87 (labeling Scott — Pontzer as anomalous for consciously departing from the tenet that the intent of the parties controls the interpretation of a contract); Gibson v. New Hampshire Ins. Co. (S.D.Ohio 2001), 178 F.Supp.2d 921, 922, fn. 2, 3 (referring to Scott—PontzePs reasoning as a "mystery" and its conclusion as "preposterous"); Szabo v. CGU Internatl. Ins., PLC (S.D.Ohio 2002), 227 F.Supp.2d 820, 830, 833-834, fn. 15 (citing "distracting internal inconsistencies" in Scott-Pontzer and classifying portions of it as "beguiling"); Lawler v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Co. (N.D.Ohio 2001), 163 F.Supp.2d 841, 842, 843 (strongly disagreeing with Scott-Pontzer and referring to the resulting "mess" and to the Ohio Supreme Court's "distortion" of the law). Further, the Scott-Pontzer rationale stands in stark contrast with decisions of the vast majority of states that have considered similar issues. See, e.g., Concrete Services, Inc. v. United States Fid. & Guar. Co. (1998), 331 S.C. 506, 498 S.E.2d 865; Grain Dealers Mut. Ins. Co. v. McKee (Tex.1997), 943 S.W.2d 455; Buckner v. Motor Vehicle Acc. Indemn. Corp. (1985), 66 N.Y.2d 211, 495 N.Y.S.2d 952, 486 N.E.2d 810; Foote v. Royal Ins. Co. of Am. (1998), 88 Hawaii 122, 962 P.2d 1004; Am. States Ins. Co. v. C & G Contracting, Inc. (1996), 186 Ariz. 421, 924 P.2d 111; Michigan Twp. Participating Plan v. Pavolich (1998), 232 Mich.App. 378, 591 N.W.2d 325; Younger v. Reliance Ins. Co. (Tenn.App.1993), 884 S.W.2d 453. Although not controlling, this broad-based disagreement with and criticism of ScotP-Pontzer support our decision to revisit the subject.
3. The Intention of the Parties to the Contract
{¶ 20} The general intent of a motor vehicle insurance policy issued to a corporation is to insure the corporation as a legal entity against liability arising from the use of motor vehicles. King v. Nationwide Ins. Co., 35 Ohio St.3d at 211, 519 N.E.2d 1380. It is settled law in Ohio that a motor vehicle operated by an employee of a corporation in the course and scope of employment is operated by and for the corporation and that an employee, under such circumstances, might reasonably be entitled to uninsured motorist coverage under a motor vehicle insurance policy issued to his employer. Id. at 213, 519 N.E.2d 1380. See, also, Selander v. Erie Ins. Group (1999), 85 Ohio St.3d 541, 709 N.E.2d 1161. However, an employee's activities outside the scope of employment are not of any direct consequence to the employer as a legal entity. An employer does not risk legal or financial liability from an employee's operation of a non-business-owned motor vehicle outside the scope of employment. Consequently, uninsured motorist coverage for an employee outside the scope of employment is extraneous to the general intent of a commercial auto policy.
{¶ 21} Nevertheless, in Scott-Pontzer, this court held that an uninsured motorist endorsement that identifies "you" as the named insured where "you" refers to a corporation must extend coverage to an employee outside the course and scope of employment. Soon thereafter, this court expanded upon ScotP-Pontzer by holding that the same policy form also provides uninsured motorist coverage to a resident relative of an employee of a corporate policyholder. Ezawa v. Yasuda Fire & Marine Ins. Co. of Am. (1999), 86 Ohio St.3d 557, 715 N.E.2d 1142.
{¶22} Throughout this process, this court did not reconcile construing the contractual language to provide insurance to off-duty employees, and to the family members of those employees, with the absence of any benefit to the policyholder, i.e., the corporation. In due course, we will turn to these questions. First, we examine the purported ambiguity.
4. Ambiguity and the Corporate Entity
{¶ 23} The UM/UIM endorsement language before us is:
{¶ 24} "B. WHO IS AN INSURED"
{¶ 25} "1. You.
{¶ 26} "2. If you are an individual, any 'family member.'
{¶ 27} "3. Anyone else 'occupying' a covered 'auto' or a temporary substitute for a covered 'auto.' The covered 'auto' must be out of service because of its breakdown, repair, servicing, loss or destruction.
{¶ 28} "4. Anyone for damages he or she is entitled to recover because of 'bodily injury' sustained by another 'insured.' "
{¶ 29} The first class of who is insured — "you"—readily applies where the policyholder is an individual. Its application is ambiguous where the policyholder is a corporation. King v. Nationwide, 35 Ohio St.3d 208, 519 N.E.2d 1380. In King, we analyzed an earlier version of the Ohio Uninsured Motorist Endorsement that contained a different formulation of who is an insured. King held that a motor vehicle operated by an employee in the scope of his employment was operated by and for the corporation, thereby equating the employee to the corporation for the purpose of work-related activities and injuries. Id. at 213, 519 N.E.2d 1380. We then held that because the employee occupied the vehicle operated by the corporation, the employee was within the class of " 'anyone else' occupying any other motor vehicle while it is being operated by you." Id.
{¶ 30} Our reasoning in King took an unnecessary step. We found coverage for the employee as an occupant of the vehicle that was operated by the corporation. However, the vehicle was operated by the corporation through the very employee we found to be "anyone else." Although this logic is valid, it is tenuous to classify an individual as both "you" and "anyone else" at the same instant.
{¶ 31} The employee in King acted on behalf of the corporation while operating the vehicle. This is why we found the employee to be "you." Further analysis was unnecessary. Because the employee qualifies as "you" while operating a motor vehicle on behalf of the corporation, he is entitled to uninsured motorist coverage. Accordingly, we follow Scott-Pontzer to the extent that it held that an employee in the scope of employment qualifies as "you" as used in CA 2133, and thus, is entitled to uninsured motorist coverage.
{¶ 32} We cannot, however, extend this coverage to an employee outside the scope of employment. As previously discussed, King found that an employee was insured for uninsured motorist coverage as an occupant of a vehicle operated by the corporation where the employee was within the scope of employment. The Scottr-Pontzer court properly focused on the term "you," but in so doing confused the employee's status as an individual with the employee's status as an agent of the corporation. The court held that where "you" is defined as a corporation for the purposes of insuring against bodily injury sustained by "you," the term must be read to extend insurance coverage to each employee regardless of whether he was acting within the course and scope of employment. In this manner, ScottA Pontzer dramatically departed from King's sound rationale that an employee qualifies as "you" under a policy issued to a corporation only when within the scope of employment.
{¶ 33} In ScotP-Pontzer, this court reasoned that "naming the corporation as the insured is meaningless unless the coverage extends to some person or persons — including to the corporation's employees." 85 Ohio St.3d at 664, 710 N.E.2d 1116. However, this statement does not support the untenable extension of insured status to employees outside the scope of employment.
5. Construing Ambiguity in Favor of the Policyholder
{¶ 34} As discussed above, contract law requires that, where parties to a contract have unequal bargaining power, ambiguities be construed in favor of the nondrafting party. In the insurance context, we have assumed that the insurer, as the drafter of the policy, is always in a stronger bargaining position than is the insured. Thus, ambiguities are construed in favor of the insured. A claimant, however, is not necessarily an insured.
{¶ 35} An insured can be the policyholder or another who is entitled to insurance coverage under the terms of the policy. When a court decides whether a claimant is insured under a policy, ambiguities are construed in favor of the policyholder, not the claimant. Cook v. Kozell, supra; West v. McNamara (1953), 159 Ohio St. 187, 197, 50 O.O. 229, 111 N.E.2d 909 ("The universal rule that insurance policies are to be construed strictly in favor of the insured operates in favor of such insured persons as are covered by the policy, and is not applicable to extend the coverage of the policy to absurd lengths so as to provide a right of action "). In Scott-Pontzer, we failed to analyze how ruling that an employee is insured outside the course and scope of employment favors the policyholder. Rather, we asked which construction favored the claimant. While an ambiguity is construed in favor of one who has been determined to be insured, an ambiguity in the preliminary question of whether a claimant is insured is construed in favor of the policyholder. Id. Accord Inland Rivers Serv. Corp. v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co. (1981), 66 Ohio St.2d 32, 34, 20 O.O.3d 20, 418 N.E.2d 1381 ("It is undisputed that one seeking to recover on an insurance policy generally has the burden of demonstrating coverage under the policy"). If the policyholder's interest is not considered at this initial phase, we risk construing the policy against the policyholder. Grant Thornton v. Windsor House, Inc. (1991), 57 Ohio St.3d 158, 161, 566 N.E.2d 1220 ("Only a party to a contract or an intended third-party beneficiary of a contract may bring an action on a contract in Ohio"). Scott-Pontzer concluded otherwise.
{¶ 36} In resolving this alleged ambiguity, the proper question is whether interpreting the policy to cover all employees of the policyholder, regardless of whether the employee is acting within the course and scope of employment — and all family members of the employees — favors the policyholder.
{¶ 37} The purpose of a commercial auto policy is to protect the policyholder. King v. Nationwide Ins. Co., supra. Providing uninsured motorist coverage to employees who are not at work or, for that matter, to every employee's family members is detrimental to the policyholder's interests. See Cook v. Kozell, 176 Ohio St. at 336, 27 O.O.2d 275,199 N.E.2d 566.
{¶ 38} King held that the use of a vehicle "by and for" the corporate policyholder precipitated coverage. This holding is reasonable because it arguably benefits the policyholder to insure against losses sustained by those operating vehicles on its behalf. This point was lost in Scott-Pontzer, which did not focus upon the critical inquiry of whether the loss occurred within the scope of employment — a necessary factor for the establishment of insurance coverage in King.
{¶ 39} Scott-Pontzer ignored the intent of the parties to the contract. Absent contractual language to the contrary, it is doubtful that either an insurer or a corporate policyholder ever conceived of contracting for coverage for off-duty employees occupying noncovered autos, let alone the family members of the employees. The Scott-Pontzer court construed the contract in favor of neither party to the contract, preferring instead to favor an unintended third party. The Scott-Pontzer court even acknowledged that the expansion of coverage for an employee outside the course and scope of employment "may be viewed by some as a result that was not intended by the parties to the insurance contracts at issue." 85 Ohio St.3d at 666, 710 N.E.2d 1116. The United States Supreme Court has not shied away from overturning state court decisions that unreasonably contort a contract. Piqua, 57 U.S. (16 How.) at 391-392,14 L.Ed. 977 ("The decision of the Supreme Court of the State [of Ohio] is before us for revision, and if their construction of the contract in question impairs its obligation, we are required to reverse their judgment. To follow the construction of a State court in such a case, would be to surrender one of the most important provisions in the federal Constitution"). See, also, Allied Structural Steel Co. v. Spannaus (1978), 438 U.S. 234, 244, 98 S.Ct. 2716, 57 L.Ed.2d 727 (the sovereignty of a state "has limits when its exercise effects substantial modifications of private contracts" [internal quotations and citations omitted]).
B. Insurance Coverage for Family Members
{¶ 40} In Ezawa, we relied upon the Scott-Pontzer definition of "you" to find that the second class of insureds on Form CA 2133 — "if you are an individual, any family member" — extends uninsured motorist coverage to a family member of an employee. In addition to relying upon the logic of Scott-Pontzer, Ezawa also erred by not interpreting the second class of insureds as a nullity. Insurance policies are no longer written in manuscript for each policyholder, but rather are standard forms designed to insure a variety of entities, including individuals. "There is nothing sinister about an insurer's use of a 'one size fits all' policy form." Seaco Ins. Co. v. Davis-Irish, 300 F.3d at 87.
{¶ 41} The second class of insureds applies when the policyholder is an individual. It is simply inapposite when the policyholder is a corporation, just as it is inapposite where an individual policyholder resides alone, and as the fourth class is inapposite where no one is entitled to recover .for another's bodily injury. One who argues a contorted use of an inapposite section of a standard form "confuses superfluity with inapplicability." Id. It is unnecessary for each of the four classifications to apply to every insurance policy as long as the parties to the insurance policy agree upon whether a particular claimant is intended to be insured.
{¶ 42} In hindsight we see the problems inherent in our earlier opinions. This court, however, follows the doctrine of stare decisis and will abandon a previous holding only when it is incumbent upon us to do so.
Ill
{¶ 43} The doctrine of stare decisis is designed to provide continuity and predictability in our legal system. We adhere to stare decisis as a means of thwarting the arbitrary administration of justice as well as providing a clear rule of law by which the citizenry can organize their affairs. Rocky River v. State Emp. Relations Bd. (1989), 43 Ohio St.3d 1, 4-5, 539 N.E.2d 103. Those affected by the law come to rely upon its consistency. Helvering v. Hallock (1940), 309 U.S. 106, 119, 60 S.Ct. 444, 84 L.Ed. 604. Accordingly, stare decisis is long revered. See, e.g., 1 Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (1765) 70 ("precedents and rules must be followed, unless flatly absurd or unjust "). However, a supreme court not only has the right, but is entrusted with the duty to examine its former decisions and, when reconciliation is impossible, to discard its former errors. State v. Jenkins (2000), 93 Hawaii 87, 112, 997 P.2d 13; see, also, Mitchell v. W.T. Grant Co. (1974), 416 U.S. 600, 627-628, 94 S.Ct. 1895, 40 L.Ed.2d 406.
{¶ 44} "[T]he doctrine of stare decisis is of fundamental importance to the rule of law. Like the United States Supreme Court, we recognize that our precedents are not sacrosanct, for we have overruled prior decisions where the necessity and propriety of doing so has been established. But any departure from the doctrine of stare decisis demands special justification." Wampler v. Higgins (2001), 93 Ohio St.3d 111, 120, 752 N.E.2d 962 (Internal citations and quotations omitted). This principle is universally accepted and unquestioned. Reasonable disagreement may arise only over which circumstances constitute "special justification."
{¶ 45} Although this court is no stranger to overruling precedent, we have not adopted a standard by which to judge whether a past decision should be abandoned. Justice Frankfurter opined that stare decisis should be abandoned only "when such adherence involves collision with a prior doctrine more embracing in its scope, intrinsically sounder, and verified by experience." Helvering v. Hallock, 309 U.S. at 119, 60 S.Ct. 444, 84 L.Ed. 604. Justice Scalia takes a pragmatic approach, believing that a precedent should be abandoned where the rule is "wrong in principle," "unstable in application," and undermined by various exceptions and contradictions. United States v. Dixon (1993), 509 U.S. 688, 709-711, 113 S.Ct. 2849, 125 L.Ed.2d 556.
{¶ 46} Other state supreme courts have opined as to when stare decisis should be abandoned. Under any of these standards, Seott-Pontzer would be justly overturned.
{¶ 47} The Supreme Court of Michigan has formulated a standard that incorporates factors used by other states: (1) whether the decision was wrongly decided, (2) whether the decision defies practical workability, (3) whether reliance interests would cause an undue hardship, and (4) whether changes in the law or facts no longer justify the questioned decision. Pohutski v. Allen Park (2002), 465 Mich. 675, 694, 641 N.W.2d 219. The Michigan court created a well- structured method of ensuring a disciplined approach to deciding whether to abandon a precedent. Accordingly, we adopt a modified version of it here.
{¶ 48} The first and fourth Michigan factors operate as alternatives — a decision either must have been wrong at the time it was decided, or was initially correct, but the passage of time has rendered it obsolete. Thus, in Ohio, a prior decision of the Supreme Court may be overruled where (1) the decision was wrongly decided at that time, or changes in circumstances no longer justify continued adherence to the decision, (2) the decision defies practical workability, and (3) abandoning the precedent would not create an undue hardship for those who have relied upon it. 6 We now apply this test to Scott-Pontzer.
A. Scott-Pontzer was Erroneously Decided
{¶ 49} As previously discussed, Scott-Pontzer was wrongly decided. See Section II, above. Whether someone is insured under an insurance policy should not be interpreted in favor of one who was not a party to the contract. This was the law in Ohio long before Scott-Pontzer Cook v. Kozell, 176 Ohio St. at 336, 27 O.O.2d 275, 199 N.E.2d 566 (the plaintiff who is not a party to the insurance contract is not in a position to urge a construction of the contract that would be detrimental to both parties to the contract); West v. McNamara, supra. We should have followed this well-settled and intrinsically sound precedent, which is verified by experience. Instead, we ventured to a point where the definition of "you" became immaterial to its meaning and the intention of the parties was ignored.
B. The Unworkable Nature of Scott-Pontzer
1. Scott-Pontzer Has Caused Chaos in the Courts
{¶ 50} Scottr-Pontzer and its progeny defy practical workability. The multitude of post-Scott-Pontzer issues before this court, the widespread criticism of the decision from other jurisdictions, and the numerous conflicts emanating from the lower courts indicate that the decision muddied the waters of insurance coverage litigation, converted simple liability suits into complex multiparty litigation, and created massive and widespread confusion — the antithesis of what a decision of this court should do. Attorneys are forced to file briefs and appendixes that are several inches thick in an attempt to form a coherent picture out of the post-Scott-Pontzer morass.
{¶ 51} This chaos resulted from this court's failure to explain why the intent of the parties was not controlling. The Scott-Pontzer court also failed to acknowledge or explain its departure from precedent. To uphold Scott-Pontzer is to summarily reject the well-reasoned precedents of Cook and West. This we must not do.
2. Exceptions and Contradictions to Scott-Pontzer.
{¶ 52} As previously discussed, the courts of Ohio are deluged by cases arising from Scott-Pontzer and its progeny. If we allow the objectionable aspects of Scott-Pontzer to stand, a patchwork of exceptions to, and limitations of, ScottPontzer would be the likely result.
{¶ 53} The case before us asks whether the addition of an endorsement entitled "Drive Other Car Coverage — Broadened Coverage for Named Individuals" to the commercial motor vehicle policy prevents the Scott-Pontzer ambiguity from being read into the policy. A broadened-coverage endorsement extends a commercial motor vehicle insurance policy's coverage to a list of specific individuals when those individuals or their spouses use vehicles not otherwise covered under the policy.
{¶ 54} The broadened-coverage endorsement can be seen as altering the ScottPontzer analysis in two ways. First, Aetna argues that the inclusion of these individuals prevents any ambiguity from forming because "you" must be read to mean the specific individuals listed in the broadened-coverage endorsement. Thus, because there is uninsured motorist coverage provided for individuals, the term "you" is not rendered ambiguous. Second, Aetna invokes expressio unius to argue that by expressly covering the individuals listed in the broadened-coverage endorsement, the contract shows that the parties did not intend to extend uninsured motorist coverage to every employee and employee's family member.
{¶ 55} Aetna's second argument carries great weight, for the intent of the parties is paramount. Here, Quagliata's Restaurants paid $881 to have seven individuals covered under the broadened-coverage endorsement. Of that amount, $565 was for uninsured motorist premiums. It is clear that the parties thought this to be an expansion of uninsured motorist coverage. However, ruling that including individuals on a broadened-coverage endorsement prevents "you" from being ambiguous would not be without its problems. That ruling would require that paying an additional premium actually reduces the coverage available under the policy. This is neither a just result nor a logical consistency.
{¶ 56} Besides the broadened-coverage issue presented in this case, additional exceptions to ScotP-Pontzer are sought in cases currently pending before this court. Creating exceptions to Scott-Pontzer would add to the confusion and arbitrariness, not lessen them.
{¶ 57} The rationale of Scottr-Pontzer does not withstand scrutiny. If we were to slowly create a patchwork of exceptions and limitations, we would abandon certainty in the law and contribute to the continuing morass of litigation. Maintaining Scott-Pontzer as precedent, while eviscerating it with exceptions, would not respect the principle of stare decisis but mock it, and would continue the chaos in our insurance jurisprudence. See United States v. Dixon at 711, 113 S.Ct. 2849, 125 L.Ed.2d 556.
C. Reliance Interests
{¶ 58} The final part of our test is whether undue hardship would be visited upon those who have relied on Scott-Pontzer. "[T]he Court must ask whether the previous decision has become so embedded, so accepted, so fundamental, to everyone's expectations that to change it would produce not just readjustments, but practical real-world dislocations." Robinson v. Detroit (2000), 462 Mich. 439, 466, 613 N.W.2d 307. If overruling a precedent would cause chaos, it should be upheld even if wrongly decided.
{¶ 59} No reliance interest will be jeopardized by limiting Scott-Pontzer. First, Scott-Pontzer cannot be relied upon when policyholders purchase uninsured motorist coverage. The General Assembly has enacted changes to R.C. 3937.18 expressly to supersede Scott-Pontzer. Section 3, 2001 Am.Sub.S.B. No. 97 (eff. Oct. 31, 2001). Second, the overwhelming majority of Scott-Pontzer cases are resurrected claims from the years prior to the Scott-Pontzer decision. Because no one was aware of this form of uninsured motorist coverage before it was created by that decision, no one could have relied upon it. Finally, the potential that anyone would have reduced his personal uninsured motorist coverage based upon the belief that his employer's insurer, or his family member's employer's insurer, would provide this coverage is practically nonexistent. Thus, there is no individual or societal reliance upon Scott-Pontzer outside of the courtroom.
{¶ 60} Limiting Scott-Pontzer will restore order to our legal system by returning to the fundamental principles of insurance contract interpretation. "It does no violence to the legal doctrine of stare decisis to right that which is clearly wrong. It serves no valid public purpose to allow incorrect opinions to remain in the body of our law." State ex rel. Lake Cty. Bd. of Commrs. v. Zupancic (1991), 62 Ohio St.3d 297, 300, 581 N.E.2d 1086.
IV
{¶ 61} For the foregoing reasons, we hereby limit Scott-Pontzer v. Liberty Mut. Fire Ins. Co. to apply only where an employee is within the course and scope of employment. We overrule Ezawa v. Yasuda Fire & Marine Ins. Co. of Am. "Since neither experience nor reason and justice support the rule[s], but in fact militate against [them], this court would be doing less than its duty, even giving due and careful consideration to the rule of stare decisis, to perpetuate [them] or add yet another ramification or exception." Carter-Jones Lumber Co. v. Eblen (1958), 167 Ohio St. 189, 207, 4 O.O.2d 256, 147 N.E.2d 486.
{¶ 62} Absent specific language to the contrary, a policy of insurance that names a corporation as an insured for uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage covers a loss sustained by an employee of the corporation only if the loss occurs within the course and scope of employment. Additionally, where a policy of insurance designates a corporation as a named insured, the designation of "family members" of the named insured as "other insureds" does not extend insurance coverage to a family member of an employee of the corporation, unless that employee is also a named insured.
{¶ 63} In this case, Jason Galatis's death was unrelated to his mother's employment with Quagliata's Restaurants. Therefore, the Aetna insurance policy issued to Quagliata's Restaurants does not provide coverage here. Accordingly, the judgment of the court of appeals is affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
Moyer, C.J., DeGenaro and Lundberg Stratton, JJ., concur.
Moyer, C.J., and Lundberg Stratton, J., concur separately.
Resnick, J., dissents.
Resnick and F.E. Sweeney, JJ., dissent.
Pfeifer, J., dissents.
Mary DeGenaro, J., of the Seventh Appellate District, sitting for Cook, J.
. "No State shall pass any Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts
. It may be argued that this statement supports the overruling of King. However, King stands strong under the stare decisis test articulated below.
. In the field of insurance law, see, e.g., Ferrando v. Auto-Owners Mut. Ins. Co., 98 Ohio St.3d 186, 2002-Ohio-7217, 781 N.E.2d 927, overruling portions of Bogan v. Progressive Cas. Ins. Co. (1988), 36 Ohio St.3d 22, 521 N.E.2d 447; Zoppo v. Homestead Ins. Co. (1994), 71 Ohio St.3d 552, 644 N.E.2d 397, overruling Motorists Mut. Ins. Co. v. Said (1992), 63 Ohio St.3d 690, 590 N.E.2d 1228; and Savoie v. Grange Mut. Ins. Co. (1993), 67 Ohio St.3d 500, 620 N.E.2d 809, overruling Burris v. Grange Mut. Cos. (1989), 46 Ohio St.3d 84, 545 N.E.2d 83.
. The Idaho Supreme Court will reverse itself when a decision has proven over time to be unjust or unwise. State v. Humpherys (2000), 134 Idaho 657, 660, 8 P.3d 652. Maine abandons precedent that "lacks vitality and the capacity to serve the interests of justice." State v. Rees (Me.2000), 748 A.2d 976, 977. Arkansas will break from precedent where adherence to the rule would cause great injury or injustice. Aka v. Jefferson Hosp. Assn., Inc. (2001), 344 Ark. 627, 641, 42 S.W.3d 508. Many states will part from cases that were wrong when decided. Ex Parte State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. (Ala.2000), 764 So.2d 543, 545-546; State Commercial Fisheries Entry Comm. v. Carlson (Alaska 2003), 65 P.3d 851, 859; Southwestern Bell Yellow Pages, Inc. v. Dir. of Revenue (Mo.2002), 94 S.W.3d 388, 390-391; Shoup v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (2003), 335 Ore. 164, 174, 61 P.3d 928; State v. Mauchley (Utah 2003), 67 P.3d 477, 481. Others will not follow past decisions that are unworkable or poorly reasoned. J & M Land Co. v. First Union Natl. Bank (2001), 166 N.J. 493, 521, 766 A.2d 1110; Riney v. State (Tex.Crim.App.2000), 28 S.W.3d 561, 565; see, also, Payne v. Tenn. (1991), 501 U.S. 808, 827, 111 S.Ct. 2597, 115 L.Ed.2d 720.
. Subsequent to the initial drafting of this opinion, the United States Supreme Court utilized a similar trifold stare decisis test in Lawrence v. Texas (2003), 539 U.S.-, 123 S.Ct. 2472, 2482-2483, 156 L.Ed.2d 508. The test was synthesized by a dissenting justice: "Today's approach to stare decisis invites us to overrule an erroneously decided precedent if: (1) its foundations have been 'eroded' by subsequent decisions, ante [539 U.S. -, 123 S.Ct.] at 2482 [156 L.Ed.2d 508]; (2) it has been subject to 'substantial and continuing' criticism, ibid.; and (3) it has not induced 'individual or societal reliance' that counsels against overturning, ante [539 U.S.-, 123 S.Ct.] at 2483 [156 L.Ed.2d 508]." Id. [539 U.S. -, 123 S.Ct.] at 2489 [156 L.Ed.2d 508] (emphasis sic) (Scalia, J., dissenting).
. See, e.g., Bagnoli v. Northbrook Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. (1999), 86 Ohio St.3d 314, 715 N.E.2d 125; Linko v. Indemn. Ins. Co. of N. Am. (2000), 90 Ohio St.3d 445, 739 N.E.2d 338; Kemper v. Michigan Millers Mut. Ins. Co., 98 Ohio St.3d 162, 2002-Ohio-7101, 781 N.E.2d 196; and Ferrando v. Auto-Owners Mut. Ins. Co., 98 Ohio St.3d 186, 2002-Ohio-7217, 781 N.E.2d 927.
. Ante, ¶ 19.
. For example, there are currently 23 cases before this court that await this opinion. All told, there are over 90 Scott-Pontzer-related cases pending before this court.
. Some of the pending issues are whether Scott-Pontzer applies to policies issued to partnerships, schools, or collectively to a business and an individual; to fronting policies; or where the terms and conditions of coverage have been violated.
. This is due to Ohio's 15-year statute of limitations on contract claims, R.C. 2305.06, and partially because insurers acted quickly to modify their policies after the Scott-Pontzer decision.