Ferguson v. Order of United Commercial Travelers of America

814 S.W.2d 267, 35 Ark. App. 100, 1991 Ark. App. LEXIS 418
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arkansas
DecidedJuly 3, 1991
DocketCA 90-218
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 814 S.W.2d 267 (Ferguson v. Order of United Commercial Travelers of America) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ferguson v. Order of United Commercial Travelers of America, 814 S.W.2d 267, 35 Ark. App. 100, 1991 Ark. App. LEXIS 418 (Ark. Ct. App. 1991).

Opinions

Melvin Mayfield, Judge.

In an unpublished opinion issued by this court on April 3, 1991, a division of three judges reversed the trial court’s order granting the appellee’s motion for summary judgment. The appellee filed a motion for rehearing which three of the six judges of the court have voted to deny. Thus, the petition for rehearing, having not been granted by a majority of the court, is denied. See Ark. Code Ann. § 16-12-114 (1987). Because the judges are equally divided on the petition for rehearing and because the original opinion was not published, we issue this supplemental opinion.

The appellee is a fraternal benefit society incorporated under the laws of Ohio and licensed to do business in Arkansas. The appellant is a resident of Arkansas and the widow and executrix of the estate of Carter Ware Ferguson who died in Pulaski County, Arkansas, on February 4,1984. On August 27,1973, the appellee issued a certificate of insurance to Mr. Ferguson providing for the payment of $20,000.00 in the event of his accidental death. In November of 1983, Ferguson was struck by an automobile and sustained injuries which were the alleged cause of his death on February 4, 1984. The appellant furnished the appellee a written proof of loss on February 27,1984, but the appellee denied liability on the grounds that Mr. Ferguson’s death was not accidental. Appellant filed suit on February 2, 1989, alleging that Ferguson’s death was accidental and that the $20,000.00 was due and payable.

The appellee filed an answer and a motion to dismiss which alleged that appellant’s suit was barred by limitations. After the motion to dismiss was denied, the appellee filed the motion for summary judgment which was granted. No affidavits were filed in support of the motion which stated that it relied upon the matters filed of record. Except for responses to requests for admissions which agreed that the exhibited certificate of insurance and proof of loss were true and accurate copies, nothing was filed of record other than the pleadings and motions. A response to the motion for summary judgment was filed by the appellant and each side submitted briefs. The trial court’s order simply granted the motion and dismissed the appellant’s complaint.

The appellee’s argument in the trial court and on appeal is based upon paragraph 11 of a section of the provisions of the certificate of insurance. The pertinent part of the paragraph states:

No action at law or equity shall be brought to recover on this certificate . . .after the expiration of three years after the time written proof of loss is required to be furnished.

Since the record shows that this suit was filed more than three years after the proof of loss was furnished, the appellee claims the trial court was correct in granting the motion for summary judgment. The appellant, however, stated in her response to the motion for summary judgment, and it is her argument on appeal, that paragraph 4 of the section of the certificate entitled “Additional Provisions” prevails over the above paragraph 11. Paragraph 4 provides:

Any provision of this certificate which, on its effective date, is in conflict with the statutes of the state in which the member resides on such date, is hereby amended to conform to the minimum requirements of such statutes.

Appellant argues that it was error for the court to grant summary judgment on the basis that the three-year period of limitation provided in the certificate barred the action. She contends paragraph 11 of the certificate, which purports to limit the bringing of legal action on the certificate to a period of three years, was expressly waived by paragraph 4 which provides for conformity of the policy to the minimum statatutory provisions of the certificate holder’s state of residence. It is the appellant’s position that in Arkansas the minimum period of limitations for bringing suit on a written contract is five years as fixed by Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-111 (1987). She says that if paragraph 4 of the certificate of insurance does not constitute an express waiver of the period of limitations set out in paragraph 11, the conflicting clauses in the certificate create an ambiguity which presents a question of fact to be decided.

Summary judgment is an extreme remedy which should only be granted when it is clear that there is no issue of fact to be litigated. Johnson v. Stuckey & Speer, Inc., 11 Ark. App. 33, 665 S.W.2d 904 (1984). Motions for summary judgment are governed by some well-established principles of law. In Walker v. Stephens, 3 Ark. App. 205, 626 S.W.2d 200 (1981), we summarized:

On such motions the moving party has the burden of demonstrating that there is no genuine issue of fact for trial and any evidence submitted in support of the motion must be viewed most favorably to the party against whom the relief is sought. Summary judgment is not proper where evidence, although in no material dispute as to actuality, reveals aspects from which inconsistent hypotheses might reasonably be drawn and reasonable men might differ. Henricks v. Burton, 1 Ark. App. 159, 613 S.W.2d 609 (1981); Dodrill v. Arkansas Democrat Co., 265 Ark. 628, 590 S.W.2d 840 (1979); Braswell v. Gehl, 263 Ark. 706, 567 S.W.2d 113 (1978).The object of summary judgment proceedings is not to try the issues, but to determine if there are any issues to be tried, and if there is any doubt whatsoever the motion should be denied. Trace X Chemical, Inc. v. Highland Resources, Inc., 265 Ark. 468, 579 S.W.2d 89 (1979); Ashley v. Eisele, 247 Ark. 281, 445 S.W.2d 76 (1969). A motion for summary judgment cannot be used to submit a disputed question of fact to a trial judge. Griffin v. Monsanto Co., 240 Ark. 420, 400 S.W.2d 492 (1966).

3 Ark. App. at 210. On motion for summary judgment, the court is authorized to ascertain the plain and ordinary meaning of a written instrument “after any doubts are resolved in favor of the party moved against,” and if there is any doubt about the meaning, there is an issue of fact to be litigated. Brooks v. Renner & Co. Inc., 243 Ark. 226, 228, 419 S.W.2d 305 (1967). When the intent of the parties as to the meaning of a contract is in issue, summary judgment is particularly inappropriate. Camp v. Elmore, 271 Ark. 407, 609 S.W.2d 86 (Ark. App. 1980).

Certain principles regarding contracts of insurance are also well settled. In Home Indemnity Co. v. City of Marianna, 297 Ark. 268, 761 S.W.2d 171 (1988), the Arkansas Supreme Court stated:

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Related

Chlanda v. Estate of Fuller
932 S.W.2d 760 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 1996)
Moore v. Columbia Mutual Casualty Insurance
821 S.W.2d 59 (Court of Appeals of Arkansas, 1991)
Ferguson v. Order of United Commercial Travelers of America
821 S.W.2d 30 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 1991)

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814 S.W.2d 267, 35 Ark. App. 100, 1991 Ark. App. LEXIS 418, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ferguson-v-order-of-united-commercial-travelers-of-america-arkctapp-1991.