Opinion ID: 164336
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Oklahoma Contract Law

Text: 13 The parties do not contest that Oklahoma law governs this case. On issues of contractual ambiguity and the use of parol evidence, the law is well settled. 14 In Oklahoma, unambiguous insurance contracts are construed, as are other contracts, according to their terms. The interpretation of an insurance contract and whether it is ambiguous is determined by the court as a matter of law. Insurance contracts are ambiguous only if they are susceptible to two constructions. In interpreting an insurance contract, this Court will not make a better contract by altering a term for a party's benefit. Max True Plastering Co. v. U.S. Fidelity & Guar. Co., 912 P.2d 861, 869 (Okla.1996) (footnotes omitted). 15 In interpreting contracts, courts must view the document as a whole so as to give effect to every part of the contract and enable each clause to help interpret the others. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 15, § 157. If a contract is ambiguous, the trial court may admit parol evidence to aid in interpretation. Fowler v. Lincoln County Conservation Dist., 15 P.3d 502, 507 (Okla. 2000). Generally, the issue to which parol evidence has been admitted becomes a mixed question of law and fact to be determined by the trier thereof, whether court or jury. Harjo v. Harjo, 207 Okla. 73, 247 P.2d 522, 526 (1952). Nonetheless, a trial court may consider parol evidence in making its summary judgment ruling if the movant properly submits the evidence along with his motion. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am. v. Glass, 959 P.2d 586, 595 (Okla.1998). 16