Court Opinion

ID: 9766250
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 04:37:58.973855+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:30:20.683157
License: Public Domain

John A. Fogleman, Justice, dissenting. I respectfully dissent. I do not agree that clause (d) is ambiguous. The majority has construed the clause as if it read: “the Company will, in addition to any other benefits payable, pay an amount per day * * * of the regular weekly benefit stated in the policy schedule for the period of such hospital confinement.” This gives the omitted words “at the rate” no significance or meaning whatever. We are not privileged to do this, however strictly the contract should be construed against the insurer. The courts are not warranted in importing an ambiguity into a policy which does not exist or in forcing an unnatural or perverted meaning from plain words under the guise of construction. Looney v. Allstate Insurance Company, 392 F. 2d 401 (8th Cir. 1968); Jefferson Insurance Co. v. Hirchert, 281 F. 2d 396 (8th Cir. 1960); Bergholm v. Peoria Life Insurance Co., 284 U. S. 489, 52 S. Ct. 230, 76 L. Ed. 416 (1932). I respectfully suggest that one or the other of the forbidden steps must be taken to affirm this judgment. “At the rate of” does not and cannot mean “in the amount of.” Rate implies a ratio, proportion, a fixed relation between two things. It means a payment according to a ratio, scale or standard. See Webster’s Third New International Dictionary. It means the proportion or standard by which quantity or value is adjusted. See Black’s Law Dictionary, Fourth Edition. I do not agree with appellant that by accepting payments under clause (c) the parties have construed clause (d). There are two different standards in these clauses. In (c) the company is to pay periodically at the rate of the regular weekly benefit for one day or more. In clause (d) the company, in addition to other benefits will pay an amount per day at the rate of the weekly benefit. If the weekly benefit is $50, then the amount to be paid by the company per day at the rate of the regular weekly benefit can only be $7.14. I would reverse the judgment.