Court Opinion

ID: 9588916
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:39:40.382857+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:41:51.223089
License: Public Domain

Evans, Judge,
dissenting.
Showers had a policy of insurance with Allstate known as a "Business Package Policy.” A customer of Showers left her car with Showers for service, and upon her return she claimed a watch which she had left in the car to be missing.
The customer sued Showers, and Showers sought to have Allstate adjust the claim or defend the suit. Allstate refused, contending there was no coverage. Was there any coverage? The policy provided it insured only as to those items in the brackets opposite where an "X” was placed. "X” was placed opposite "fire, lightning and extended coverage.” "X” was also placed opposite "vandalism and malicious mischief.” "XX” was opposite — at bottom of page — "Personal property of others in the care, custody or control of the Insured . . . for the legal liability of the Insured.” A copy of this form follows.

*795

*796What was the meaning of the coverage sought at the bottom of the page where "XX” appears opposite "for the legal liability of the insured”? Doesn’t this bracket squarely afford coverage?
Counsel for the insurance company contends there was no coverage for theft whatsoever, and we find in the policy under exclusions at page PGP 9 (R. 24): "theft (including attempt thereat), when insurance is afforded under item 2 of the Schedule from any private passenger type automobile, station wagon, motorcycle, or motorscooter, occurring while such vehicle is unattended, unless the property is contained in a fully enclosed and securely locked body or compartment and theft results from forcible entry, evidenced by visible marks, but this exclusion shall not apply to property in the custody of carriers for hire or if coverage is specifically endorsed hereon”; Thus under this language in the policy, it is claimed by the insurer that there was no coverage for "theft.”
Now let us refer to subparagraph 9 of Extensions of Coverage on page PGP 11 (R. 26). This coverage is as follows: "Personal Property of Others in the Care, Custody or Control of the Insured. When this form covers personal property of the Insured, the Insured may apply, as an additional amount of insurance, up to 2% of the limit of liability for the described property at the described location, not to exceed $2,000, to cover for the account of the owner, personal property of others, similar to the described property, while on the described premises and, if coverage is provided under Item 2a. of the Schedule, in such transit situation.” This language seems to say that a limit of $2,000 may be applied for, yet the application form which became a part of the policy places a limit of $5,000 with a $50 deductible amount. Thus it appears from examining the entire policy that the policy seems to say that there is coverage for the personal property of others left in the care of the insured to the extent of "legal liability of the insured” up to the limit of $5,000 with $50 deductible coverage. We see again, an additional ambiguity in the language of the policy. But in any event, since the amount of coverage on the application shows $5,000 this would be controlling.
*797We find from reading the entire policy the insurance company seeks to absolve itself by excluding theft in one instance, yet including theft with reference to whatever legal liability the insured had, this is, as to personal property of others left in his care. However, this paragraph does state the language in referring to personal property of others while on the described premises, property that is "similar to the described property.” Does this mean similar to the described property of the insured? Or just what does this language refer to? The contract must be construed most favorably to the insured. Massachusetts Ben. Life Assn. v. Robinson, 104 Ga. 256 (2), 227 (30 SE 918).
It is my opinion that from reading the type insurance requested by the insured as shown in exhibit B, that he was fully covered for his legal liability as to personal property of others left in his care, custody and control up to $5,000.
As the policy is ambiguous in that some parts imply coverage and other parts imply lack of coverage, the ambiguity must be construed most favorably toward the insured since the insurance company wrote the policy. See Johnson v. Mut. Life Ins. Co., 154 Ga. 653 (115 SE 14); Benevolent Burial Assn. v. Harrison, 181 Ga. 230, 239 (181 SE 829); Christensen v. New England Mut. Life Ins. Co., 197 Ga. 807, 813 (30 SE2d 471). Also see Davis v. United American Life Ins. Co., 215 Ga. 521 (2) (111 SE2d 488), which holds that contradictory clauses must be construed against the insurance company. The last case cited is a full bench decision of the Supreme Court of Georgia holding that the lower court was in error, just as it is here. I therefore dissent from the majority ruling and respectfully assert that the trial court erred in dismissing the case on the pleadings.
I am authorized to state that Chief Judge Bell, Presiding Judge Pannell and Judge Webb concur in this dissent.