Court Opinion

ID: 9582409
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:26:22.182729+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:37:45.914958
License: Public Domain

Justice PLEICONES.
I respectfully dissent. In my opinion, the policy as written is unambiguous, and requires collapse of a building to trigger coverage.
“Collapse” means “1. to fall down or fall to pieces, as when supports or sides fail to hold; cave in; shrink together suddenly[.] 2. To break down suddenly; fail; give way-” Webster’s New World College Dictionary 286 (Michael Agnes ed., 4th ed., McMillan USA 1999). While there can be little doubt when a building or a part thereof has collapsed, in my opinion there could be considerable debate as to when “collapse is likely without delay.” The majority’s construction of the policy replaces the unambiguous coverage-triggering event, collapse, with the ambiguous phrase “collapse is likely without delay.” I would opt for a dictionary definition of collapse, and require, as does the plain language of the policy, actual collapse to trigger coverage. Should an insured desire coverage for damage which substantially impairs the structural integrity of a building, but does not result in collapse, she can contract for such coverage.