Opinion ID: 1548590
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Contractual Relationship

Text: An insurance policy is a contract. See, e.g., Bates v. Phenix Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 156 N.H. 719, 722, 943 A.2d 750 (2008) (The fundamental goal of interpreting an insurance policy, as in all contracts, is to carry out the intent of the contracting parties. (quotation omitted)). The undisputed facts of this case establish that some of the petitioners have current contractual relationships with the JUA, as documented by their insurance policies. It is these petitioners (hereafter policyholders) whose Contract Clause claims we examine, because the petitioners whose contracts have expired may not assert such claims. See University of Hawaii Prof. Assembly v. Cayetano, 125 F.Supp.2d 1237, 1240 (D.Haw.2000) (The contracts clause is only implicated when an existing contract is substantially impaired.).