Court Opinion

ID: 9639127
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 16:05:36.696024+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:10:12.841588
License: Public Domain

BECK, Judge,
concurring:
I join in the thoughtful opinion of the majority and write separately only to clarify one point.
The majority, adopting the language of the well-reasoned trial court opinion, states: “The interpretation of an insurance policy is a question of law for the court. ...” At225. This statement is entirely proper in the context of the present case. However, for all purposes, it is too broad a proposition of law.
*227The general rule is that the interpretation of a writing is for the court. Where, however, extrinsic evidence is introduced in aid of its interpretation, the question of its meaning should be left to the jury except where, after taking the extrinsic evidence into account, the meaning is so clear that reasonable men could reach only one conclusion, in which event the court should decide the issue as it does when the resolution of any fact is equally clear. Where extrinsic evidence is not introduced, the question is one of law.
J.D. Calamari & J.M. Perillo, The Law of Contracts 124 (1977); see also Standard Venetian Blind Co. v. American Empire Insurance Co., 503 Pa. 300, 469 A.2d 563, 566 (1983).
I find the majority’s opinion does not state a correct proposition of law inasmuch as it implies that the interpretation of the terms of an insurance policy is a question of law for the court in all circumstances. In all other respects however, I join the fine opinion of the majority.