Opinion ID: 2292704
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Amusement Device Exclusion

Text: Great American argues in its cross-appeal that the equitable garnishment court erred in granting partial summary judgment in favor of the parents because the amusement device exclusion encompassed the rock climbing wall. It disputes the court's finding that the rock climbing wall was not a ride, as the term was used in the definition of amusement device. Virginia Surety's policy excludes coverage for incidents [a]rising out of the ownership, operation, maintenance or use of any amusement device. The policy defines amusement device as any device or equipment a person rides for enjoyment, including, but not limited to, any mechanical or non-mechanical ride, water slide (including any ski or tow when used in connection with a water slide), bungee operation or equipment. In granting partial summary judgment in favor of the parents, the equitable garnishment court concluded that, despite the parties' disagreement over the interpretation of the language, the amusement device exclusion was unambiguous. The court found that the definition of amusement device was clear in that it is applied to any ride. Based on the definition, the court determined that a rock climbing wall was not a ride, so the exclusion did not apply. The amusement device exclusion is unambiguous. Although Virginia Surety's policy excludes incidents arising out of the ownership, operation, maintenance or use of any amusement device, the policy's definition of amusement device has a key component: a person must ride the device for enjoyment. Ride is not defined in the policy, so it is necessary to use the ordinary meaning of the word, as set forth in the dictionary. Martin v. U.S. Fid. & Guar. Co., 996 S.W.2d 506, 508 (Mo. banc 1999). As used in the definition of amusement device, ride is a verb. The verb is defined as to travel or become conveyed by a vehicle (as a carriage, an automobile, or a railroad train): become carried. WEBSTER'S THIRD NEW INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY UNABRIDGED 1952 (1993). Ride indicates that the participant does not primarily supply the physical exertion to move. Instead, another force, whether mechanical or non-mechanical, primarily creates the movement. A person does not ride a portable rock climbing wall. A participant climbs it, supplying the physical exertion for the movement. Because a rock climbing wall does not require the participant to ride it, it is not an amusement device under the policy. The court properly found the exclusion does not apply.