Court Opinion

ID: 9528089
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:36:57.130627+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:26:28.690437
License: Public Domain

Hallows, J.
(dissenting). The majority opinion ignores the word “complete” in modifying “overbalance” in the definitive clause of the policy. In my view of the facts, the 10-ton tractor in its normal use nosed into a sinkhole and settled to its right in the soft mud. At no time did it tip over or overturn but came to rest at an angle with part of its left side on firm ground. At the most, it was mired in the mud of the slough at an angle and could not be removed by its own power. Miring is a common occurrence with heavy construction equipment.
The policy involved is an inland marine policy with a contractor’s equipment coverage form attached. The coverage granted in this type of policy is special and very narrow and is not to be confused with the comprehensive coverage common in automobile policies. The policy insured only against limited and stated hazards such as (a) fire and lightning, (b) explosion, (c) cyclone, tornado, and flood, (d) collision, upset, or overturn, (e) collapse of bridges, collision, derailment, and overturn of any carrying conveyance, and (f) certain marine perils. Each of these specific hazards was qualified by limiting language. After the words “collision, upset, or overturn” the following language appears in the policy “(meaning a complete overbalancing of gasoline, oil, steam, or electrically operated machines).”
*91In construing the language of an insurance policy its purpose should be considered and the terms be given their ordinary and common understanding unless modified or defined in the policy. In this policy the hazard is defined as complete overbalancing. The test laid down in the majority opinion of what constitutes the hazard insured against is unrealistic and unreasonable and does violence to the defined terms and purpose of the policy. Whether the tractor would tend to return to its normal position or tend to completely overturn except for the mud or ground around it is not the test. The tractor tended to do neither; it was contented to remain mired in the mud. This was the type of situation sought to be eliminated in this policy by the limiting words “complete overbalancing.”
I am authorized to state that Mr. Justice Currie concurs in this dissent.