Opinion ID: 1934882
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Reformation of American policy

Text: As owner of the vehicle and a trustee of the church, Marlowe contacted Kenneth Havemeier, an exclusive agent of American, to arrange for the insurance coverage which the church had agreed to purchase. As written, the American policy in effect at the time of the accident did not insure the risk of Marlowe's negligent repair. The policy listed Marlowe as the owner of the insured vehicle but not as a named insured, and the definition of an insured excluded Marlowe from coverage. [1] The trial court found that Marlowe had requested full coverage of himself as owner and that Havemeier, who was aware of the terms of the agreement between Marlowe and the church, assured him that the church's policy would provide such coverage. The trial court also found that the intent of the parties to provide full coverage of Marlowe as owner contemplated at a minimum the coverage mandated by Minn.St.1971, § 170.40, subd. 2, of the Safety Responsibility Act: Such owner's policy of liability insurance:       (2) Shall insure the person named therein and any other person, as insured, using any such motor vehicle or motor vehicles with the express or implied permission of such named insured, against loss from liability imposed by law for damages arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of such motor vehicle or motor vehicles within the United States of America or the Dominion of Canada, subject to limits exclusive of interest and costs   . (Italics supplied.) Because the policy as written failed to conform to the parties' agreement, the court ordered American to reform the policy to list Marlowe as a named insured. We hold that the trial court's findings of fact relative to the agreement between Havemeier and Marlowe are not clearly erroneous and that its use of the statute in construing that agreement was proper.