Opinion ID: 1060237
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: consideration of individual contracts

Text: When resolving a dispute between the parties to a contract with a latent ambiguity, the court may first consider, among other things, whether negotiations and prior dealings of the parties manifested their intent with respect to the ambiguous term. If the parties both manifested the same intent with respect to the ambiguity, that intent will be enforced. If, on the other hand, the parties do not manifest the same intent regarding the ambiguity, there has been no meeting of the minds on that term of the contract, and the intent of one party will not control. It is apparent from the record of this case that Galloway intended, in each case, that the contract would provide it with an absolute pay when paid defense. Thus, only if the subcontractor to each contract manifested the same intent will an absolute pay when paid defense be available to Galloway.