Opinion ID: 1303870
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Issue Relating to the Construction of the Insurance Contract

Text: Since the trial court found that Parsons was not an employee of the Speedway on the night of his injury, we are bound by such finding to conclude that Exclusions (i) and (j) do not prevent Parsons from being a person covered by the policy. With respect to Exclusion (p), the parties in their briefs on appeal argue for the correct intepretation of the word authorize. Was Parsons authorized by Keil to enter the pit, or was he merely permitted to do so? If he was authorized to do so, then he is excluded from recovery by the terms of Exclusion (p). If he was merely permitted to enter the pit, and not authorized to do so, then Exclusion (p) does not apply to him and he is entitled to recover against the policy. We agree with Parsons and with the trial court that Keil was required to submit the waiver form to Parsons before admitting him to the pit area, and that Keil's failure to do so constituted a failure to authorize Parsons' entry into the pit area. In our judgment, the word authorize connotes directed as opposed to permitted, in that it has a mandatory effect as opposed to a permissive effect. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed. WALTERS and RANSOM, JJ., concur.