Case Name: Andrew RUSTHOVEN, Jr., Appellant (C5-84-1329), Respondent (CO-84-1433) v. COMMERCIAL STANDARD INSURANCE COMPANY, Respondent, Western National Mutual Insurance Company, Respondent (C5-84-1329), Appellant (C0-84-1433)
Court: Minnesota Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Minnesota
Decision Date: 1985-02-26
Citations: 363 N.W.2d 496
Docket Number: Nos. C5-84-1329, C0-84-1433
Parties: Andrew RUSTHOVEN, Jr., Appellant (C5-84-1329), Respondent (CO-84-1433) v. COMMERCIAL STANDARD INSURANCE COMPANY, Respondent, Western National Mutual Insurance Company, Respondent (C5-84-1329), Appellant (C0-84-1433).
Judges: Heard, considered and decided by PARKER, P.J., and SEDGWICK and LESLIE, JJ.
Reporter: North Western Reporter 2d
Volume: 363
Pages: 496–499

Head Matter:
Andrew RUSTHOVEN, Jr., Appellant (C5-84-1329), Respondent (CO-84-1433) v. COMMERCIAL STANDARD INSURANCE COMPANY, Respondent, Western National Mutual Insurance Company, Respondent (C5-84-1329), Appellant (C0-84-1433).
Nos. C5-84-1329, C0-84-1433.
Court of Appeals of Minnesota.
Feb. 26, 1985.
Review Granted May 1, 1985.
John Kallestad, Willmar, for Andrew Rusthoven, Jr.
Theodore J. Smetak, Minneapolis, for Commercial Standard Ins. Co.
Bruce D. Elliott, Cousineau, McGuire, Shaughnessy & Anderson, Minneapolis, for Western Nat. Mut. Ins. Co.
Heard, considered and decided by PARKER, P.J., and SEDGWICK and LESLIE, JJ.

Opinion:
OPINION
LESLIE, Judge.
Rusthoven and Western National Mutual Insurance Company (Western) appeal from a judgment declaring that $25,000 is the maximum amount of uninsured motorist coverage available to Rusthoven under respondent Commercial Standard's trucker's policy. The appeals were consolidated by order of this court. We affirm.
FACTS
On March 8, 1981, appellant Andrew Rusthoven was injured while driving a truck under a long term lease to RETENO Carriers, Incorporated. Respondent Commercial Standard Insurance Company insured RETENO Carriers' 67 vehicles under a trucker's policy. The policy provided for a single premium of $15,000.00 based upon gross receipts of RETENO Carriers, Inc. as defined in the policy.
At the time of the accident, Rusthoven was the named insured in a policy issued by Western which provided $25,000 of uninsured motorist coverage on each of three vehicles he owned. On the morning of trial, Western stipulated that judgment in the amount of $75,000.00 (the limits of its policy) could be taken against it. Judgment was ordered accordingly. Western claims a subrogation interest in this amount.
Rusthoven's action is against both Commercial Standard and Western for uninsured motorist coverage. Commercial Standard paid Rusthoven $25,000.00, the limit of uninsured motorist coverage on the vehicle involved in the accident and contends the uninsured motorist coverage on the 66 uninvolved vehicles could not be stacked. Appellants contend the Commercial Standard policy contained conflicting endorsements permitting stacking on the additional 66 vehicles leased to RETENO Carriers, Inc.
ISSUE
Did the trial court err in ruling that uninsured motorist coverage could not be stacked under the insurance policy issued by Commercial Standard to Rusthoven's employer?
ANALYSIS
The declaration sheet of the Commercial Standard policy has four columns, including a column indicating the coverages provided in the policy. One line in the coverage column specifies uninsured motorists coverage as a coverage provided in the policy. Also on that line but across in a different column designated "LIMIT: THE MOST WE WILL PAY FOR ANY ONE ACCIDENT OR LOSS" is the notation "See Endorsement CA 2107." Endorsement CA2107 is attached to the policy and limits uninsured motorist coverage for bodily injury to $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. It provides in part:
Bodily Injury $25,000 Each Person
$50,000 Each Accident
Property Damage $ Each Accident
Paragraph 1 of our limit of liability is changed to read:
1. Regardless of the number of covered autos, insureds, claims made or vehicles involved in the accident, our limit of liability is as follows:
a. The most we will pay for all damages resulting from bodily injury to any one person caused by any one accident is the limit shown in this endorsement for 'each person.'
b. Subject of the limit for 'each person,' the most we will pay for all damages resulting from bodily injury caused by any one accident is the limit shown in this endorsement for 'each accident.'
Despite this clear prohibition of stacking, Western and Rusthoven contend the policy is ambiguous. They refer to Endorsement CA2124, also noted on the declaration sheet, but instead listed with 16 other endorsements. That list is generally designated as "Terms and Endorsements contained in this policy at its inception." CA2124 provides in part:
Changes in Uninsured Motorist Insurance:
B. Paragraph 1 of our limit of liability is changed to read:
1. Regardless of the number of insureds, claims made or vehicles involved in the accident, the most we will pay for all damages resulting from any one accident is the limit of uninsured motorist insurance shown in the declarations. If there is more than one covered auto our limit for liability for any one accident is the sum of the limits applicable to each covered auto.
Western contends that endorsement CA2124, if not unequivocally providing for stacking, creates an ambiguity. Western relies upon cases holding that an ambiguity must be construed in favor of increasing coverage by allowing stacking, including Boroos v. Roseau Agency, Inc., 345 N.W.2d 788, 790 (Minn.Ct.App.1984). We disagree with Western and agree with the trial court that the only reasonable interpretation of this policy prohibits stacking.
An ambiguity is created only when there are two or more reasonable interpretations. Farmers Home Mutual Insurance Co. v. Lill, 332 N.W.2d 635, 637 (Minn.1983). The face of the declaration sheet directs its reader to endorsement CA2107 for the limits of uninsured motorist coverage Endorsement CA2107 clearly prohibits stacking, leaving no room for doubt on its meaning. Even ,though endorsement CA2124 can be read to allow stacking, the manifest intent of the parties is to limit coverage to $25,000 for bodily injury per person and $50,000 per accident. Western's contention that the endorsement allows stacking of all 67 vehicles to create $1,675,000 in bodily injury coverage is untenable.
The Boroos case relied upon by Western differs from this case. In Boroos this court found the following two consecutive sentences in an endorsement created an ambiguity:
Regardless of the number of covered autos, insureds, claims made or vehicles involved in the accident, the most we will pay for all damages resulting from any one accident is the limit of UNDERIN-SURED MOTORIST INSURANCE shown in this endorsement. If there is more than one covered auto, our limit of liability for any one accident is the sum of the limits applicable to each covered auto.
Boroos, 345 N.W.2d at 789 (emphasis omitted). Relying in part upon the policy's separate premium calculation for underin-sured motorist coverage for each of 37 vehicles, this court in Boroos found the intent of the parties to allow stacking as shown by the policy terms was unclear. Under the rule favoring extending rather than limiting coverage, we allowed stacking.
The Commercial Standard policy, however, bases uninsured motorist coverage on RETENO Carriers' gross receipts. Premiums are not separately calculated as they were in Boroos. The Commercial Standard policy is similar to the policy in Yeager v. Auto-Owners Insurance Co., 335 N.W.2d 733 (Minn.1983) where the supreme court denied stacking in part because the policy's coverage did not reflect separate coverages for the risk involved. Thus, as in Yeager, the insurer will not receive a windfall if stacking is not allowed.
DECISION
We affirm the trial court's holding that the only reasonable interpretation of the policy prohibits stacking. We do not reach the issue of which insurance policy is closer to the risk.
SEDGWICK, J., dissents.