Court Opinion

ID: 9625273
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 07:34:05.774451+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:21:54.946751
License: Public Domain

On Motion for Rehearing.
Appellees Davis and Greer on motion for rehearing have placed emphasis on certain language in the contract of insurance between Davis and his insurer, Standard Guaranty. It is their contention that as to automobiles other than the insured automobile, the policy of insurance provides general liability coverage for such second automobile provided that it is a private passenger automobile operated by the insured and notwithstanding that it was used in a business or the occupation of the insured.
We are satisfied, however, that the intended purpose of the exception was not to limit the exclusion as to coverage of a "company car” used in the personal business of the insured Davis. The exception to this general exclusion provides that if the insured was operating a nonbusiness, private passenger vehicle in furtherance of his (the insured’s) business or to the enhancement of his occupation, then the coverage would extend liability to an accident arising out of the use of that car. In this case, the *154appellee Davis was operating a private passenger vehicle but while in the employment of Greer performing service station duties in Greer’s business.
Such construction renders this provision of the contract consistent with the exclusion immediately preceding it in the contract. That language excludes coverage for any accident arising out of the operation of a service station. Thus as we view the contract of insurance, a private passenger vehicle causing injury or damage during the operation of a service station business is not covered unless it is the insured’s car and the injury occurs away from the premises of the service station. If however, the insured owns his own business and is operating another’s private passenger vehicle in furtherance of the insured’s business, the general liability coverage of the policy extends to an injury inflicted under such circumstances. Inasmuch as Davis was not operating the insured vehicle (his Chevrolet), was not operating Greer’s vehicle, and was acting only as an employee carrying out his employer’s duties, we hold that the private vehicle exception in Davis’ policy the general business exclusion as advocated by Davis and Greer does not apply. We adhere to our judgment of reversal.

Motion for rehearing denied.