Opinion ID: 2690414
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Interpreting Insurance Contracts

Text: {¶ 8} “The meaning of a contract is to be gathered from a consideration of all its parts, and no provision is to be wholly disregarded as inconsistent with other provisions unless no other reasonable construction is possible.” German Fire Ins. 2 January Term, 2013 Co. v. Roost, 55 Ohio St. 581, 45 N.E. 1097 (1897), paragraph one of the syllabus. The intent of the parties is presumed to be reflected in the language used in the policy. Kelly v. Med. Life Ins. Co., 31 Ohio St.3d 130, 509 N.E.2d 411 (1987), paragraph one of the syllabus. Because the cause before us involves the interpretation of an insurance contract, any ambiguities will be construed strictly against the insurer and liberally in favor of the insured. Dominish v. Nationwide Ins. Co., 129 Ohio St.3d 466, 2011-Ohio-4102, 953 N.E.2d 820, at ¶ 7. See Buckeye Union Ins. Co. v. Price, 39 Ohio St.2d 95, 99, 313 N.E.2d 844 (1974). {¶ 9} Fortunately, the long and tortured history of this court’s jurisprudence regarding uninsured/underinsured-motorist (“UM”) insurance coverage need not be retold for us to resolve the case before us. This case is novel, based on the language contained in Erie Insurance’s contract, and recourse to precedent other than Snyder is unnecessary.