Court Opinion

ID: 9579120
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:51:44.461162+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:34:24.328323
License: Public Domain

Evans, Judge,
concurring specially. I find the policy very difficult to understand. I do not believe any lay person, without professional training as to insurance policies, could possibly understand whether coverage is afforded as to the loss herein sued upon or not. The policy is replete with such terms as "Change Endorsement,” "Coverage C of Section 1,” "Policy Amendments,” "Exclusion A Under Section 2 Amended,” "Supplementary Coverages,” "Deductible,” "Additional Exclusions,” "Additional Conditions,” "Section 2 Coverages,” "Exclusions,” "Supplementary Coverages,” "Additional Definitions,” "General Conditions,” "Modification of Terms,” "Conditions Applicable Only to Section 1”, "Conditions Applicable Only to Section 2.” The foregoing are subheads, and we have not yet reached the twelve pages of fine print, which the policyholder is expected to read and understand. The fine print gives rise to grounds for argument pro and con as to what is involved in certain exclusionary clauses and what is involved in certain inclusionary clauses.
When this case reached me, two very able judges of this court had already reached opposite opinions as to what the intention of the policy was as to inclusions and exclusions, as applied to the subject matter of this lawsuit. But, because of the confusing and ambiguous manner in which the policy is written, I am unable to reach a definite opinion as to what the intention of the policy was.
*119I believe contracts of insurance should be written in plain, everyday, understandable language, so the average person who purchases such policies may understand them, instead of being enshrouded in a maze of mysterious provisions, capable of interpretation only by insurance experts, lawyers, and judges; and then with sharp differences arising in many instances.
In Sovereign Camp Woodmen of the World v. Heflin, 188 Ga. 234, 235 (3 SE2d 559), the Supreme Court of Georgia held: "Policies of insurance, being prepared and written by the insurer, are to be construed strictly in favor of the insured and against the insurer.” In Wolverine Ins. Co. v. Jack Jordan, 213 Ga. 299, 302 (99 SE2d 95), the Supreme Court of Georgia held: "It is well settled that the courts of Georgia, if there is any ambiguity in an insurance policy, will construe the contract most favorably to the insured.”
Is the contract of insurance in the case sub judice ambiguous? I need go no further on this question than to point to the two conflicting opinions of Chief Judge Bell and Judge Eberhardt in this case, as to what the intention of the policy was as to coverage.
I concur in the majority opinion which holds that insurance coverage is afforded in this case.