Court Opinion

ID: 7810492
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-07 17:12:18.162851+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:30:27.448315
License: Public Domain

Hart, J. (on rehearing). Counsel for the plaintiff in his brief on rehearing earnestly insists that the words, “those employed in mines not otherwise prohibited,” as used in the policy, do not stand alone, but are connected with the context which plainly shows that the parties had in mind those employed in underground mining and not open workings. Upon reconsideration of the question a majority of the court is of the opinion that counsel is correct in his contention. Insurance policies are written on printed forms specially prepared by experts for the insurance company and the insured has no voice whatever in their preparation; and for these reasons it is well settled that insurance contracts must be construed strictly against the insurer. Section 42 of the constitution and by-laws of the order specifically designates certain classes of business or employment as prohibited and provides that persons engaged in such occupations shall not be admitted to membership in the order. Section 43 deals with hazardous occupations. It uses the words, “those employed in mines not otherwise prohibited.” The words, “not otherwise prohibited,” evidently refer to the prohibited occupations named in section 42. This brings us to a consideration of the meaning of the words, “those employed in mines.” As just stated, the company was dealing with hazardous occupations and the context showed what classes of occupations were deemed hazardous by the company. Now there are two meanings' to the word “mine.” In its primary and restricted sense a mine denotes an underground excavation made for the purpose of getting out minerals. The enlarged meaning of mine is the place where minerals are found and under certain circumstances, it includes minerals obtained by open workings. Mndley on Mines (3 ed.), vol. 1, §■§ 88-89. Bauxite is a mineral, but it is mined by open workings. The surface of the earth is cleared off and the bauxite is blasted and is then removed by open workings. Bauxite is mined in precisely the same way that stone or marble is quarried. There is no distinction whatever between the operation of a bauxite mine and the quarrying of stone or marble where the latter is found just beneath the surface of the earth as in the case of bauxite. In such a case the marble or stone is removed by open quarrying or blasting and bauxite is removed in prcisely the same way. If the insurance company had considered bauxite mining to be a hazardous occupation, doubtless it would have also mentioned quarrying. The fact it did not do so, and the further fact that the words, “those employed in mines,” are used in connection with structural iron workers, circus riders, trapeze performers, and those engaged in the actual operation of railway trains, employees in electric current generating plants, and enlisted men in the army and navy, show that the words were used in connection with hazardous occupations. This indicates that the company used them in their primary or popular signification to refer to underground mining and not to open workings. It follows that the motion for a rehearing should be granted and that the judgment of the trial court should be affirmed. It is so ordered. Smith, J., dissents.