American States Insurance Co. v. Braden

625 N.E.2d 1252, 1993 WL 517232
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 14, 1994
Docket25A03-9303-CV-80
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 625 N.E.2d 1252 (American States Insurance Co. v. Braden) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
American States Insurance Co. v. Braden, 625 N.E.2d 1252, 1993 WL 517232 (Ind. Ct. App. 1994).

Opinions

HOFFMAN, Judge.

Appellant-defendant American States Insurance Company (American States) appeals the trial court's entry of summary judgment in favor of appellees-plaintiffs Eugene T. Braden and Janice L. Braden in a complaint asking the court to declare American States responsible for underin-sured motorist coverage for losses sustained in an automobile accident.

The facts pertinent to this appeal disclose that on May 4, 1990, Eugene Braden was injured in an automobile accident when the van he was driving was struck from behind by a car driven by Jason McGuire. The van had been manufactured by Chrysler Corporation which pursuant to a consignment agreement sent the vehicle to Elk Enterprises, Inc. ("Elk"), located in Elk-hart, Indiana, so that a conversion package could be added to the van. At the time of the accident, the van was being delivered to Anderson-Dodge, Inc. of Rockford, Illinois.

Braden began driving for Elk in April of 1988. Braden was not an employee of Elk but was hired on a per job basis specifically for the purpose of delivering vans. When a driver was given a van to deliver, the driver was provided with a dealer license plate. Drivers who delivered vans for Elk on a regular basis, like Braden, had a permanent dealer plate assigned to them which they used on any vehicle they were assigned to deliver. The registration for [1255]*1255the dealer plate was taped to the back of the plate and showed American States as the insurance company for Elk. Braden was also required to carry with him a signed form stating that he was an independent driver for the delivery of Elk van conversion products, that the vehicle and - the license plate were to be used only for the purpose of delivering vehicles to Elk's dealers, and that during the course of the delivery he was covered by Elk's insurance policy.

On the date of the accident, Elk was insured through American States under a commercial insurance policy providing Elk with automobile liability coverage and an uninsured motorist endorsement providing one million (1,000,000) dollars in coverage. In part, the premium charged for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage was rated on a per dealer plate basis.

On June 12, 1991, the Bradens brought this action against McGuire to recover for personal injuries suffered as a result of the accident. The Bradens subsequently amended their complaint to include American States, Elk's insurer, and General Accident Insurance Company, which insured the Bradens' personal vehicle, contending that McGuire was underinsured. American States denied that it was liable for any underinsured motorist benefits to the Bra-dens and filed a counterclaim and a cross-claim against General Accident and Elk. Thereafter, American States filed its motion for summary judgment seeking a declaratory judgment that the policy of insurance provided no underinsured motorist coverage for the Bradens. The Bradens then filed a response and a cross motion for summary judgment declaring American States provide underinsured motorist coverage to them. The trial court denied American States' motion and granted the Bradens' motion for summary judgment determining that American States was responsible for underinsured motorist coverage through its policy holder Elk for losses sustained by the Bradens. American States now appeals.

The sole issue presented for review is whether the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of the Bradens, holding that underinsured motorist coverage was available to the Bra-dens under the policy of insurance issued by American States to Elk. The purpose of summary judgment is to terminate litigation for which there can be no factual dispute and which can be determined as a matter of law. Chambers v. American Trans Air, Inc. (1991), Ind.App., 577 N.E.2d 612, 614, trams. denied. Summary judgment is appropriate if the designated evidentiary matter shows that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. This Court's standard of review is the same as that used by the trial court: whether there is a genuine issue of fact and whether the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. State Bd. of Tax Com'rs v. New Energy Co. (1992), Ind.App., 585 N.E.2d 38, 39, trams. denied. Summary judgment will be affirmed on appeal if it is sustainable on any theory or basis found in the evidentiary matter designated to the trial court. Ind. Trial Rule 56(C).

The provisions of an insurance policy are subject to the same rules of interpretation and construction as are other contract terms. Summary judgment based upon construction of a contract is a determination, as a matter of law, that the contract is not so ambiguous that resort must be made to conflicting extrinsic evidence to ascertain the contract's meaning. Peterson v. Universal Fire and Cas. Ins. (1991), Ind.App., 572 N.E.2d 1309, 1311. An ambiguity will be found only if reasonable persons upon reading the contract would differ as to the meaning of the terms; an ambiguity is not established simply because one party asserts an interpretation contrary to that asserted by the opposing party. Meridian Mut. Ins. Co. v. Cox (1989), Ind.App., 541 N.E.2d 959, 961, trans. denied. If there is an ambiguity, the policy should be interpreted most favorably to the insured; whereas, clear and unambiguous language in a policy should be given its plain and ordinary meaning. [1256]*1256Tate v. Secura Ins. (1992), Ind., 587 N.E.2d 665, 668.

American States argues that the trial court erred in granting the Bradens' motion for summary judgment. More specifically, it contends that the Bradens are not entitled to underinsured motorist benefits under the policy of insurance issued by American States to Elk because as an independent contract driver Eugene Braden was neither an "insured" as defined in the policy nor was he driving a "covered" vehicle.

On May 4, 1990, the date of the accident, American States had issued to Elk a commercial automobile insurance policy which included a garage liability form providing one million (1,000,000) dollars of liability coverage and an endorsement providing one million (1,000,000) uninsured/underin-sured motorist coverage. Section II of the Garage Coverage Form, which provides for liability coverage, states in part:

"A. COVERAGE
We will pay all sums an 'insured' legally must pay as damages because of 'bodily injury' or 'property damage' to which this insurance applies caused by an 'accident' and resulting from 'garage operations....'
1. WHO IS AN INSURED
a. The following are 'insureds' for covered 'autos:'
(1) You for any covered 'auto.'
(2) Anyone else while using with Y your permission a covered 'auto' you own, hire or borrow...."

Section VI of the Garage Coverage Form defines -"garage operations" to include "...

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Bluebook (online)
625 N.E.2d 1252, 1993 WL 517232, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/american-states-insurance-co-v-braden-indctapp-1994.