Gulf Insurance v. Grisham

613 P.2d 283, 126 Ariz. 123, 1980 Ariz. LEXIS 231
CourtArizona Supreme Court
DecidedJune 17, 1980
Docket14679
StatusPublished
Cited by72 cases

This text of 613 P.2d 283 (Gulf Insurance v. Grisham) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Arizona Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gulf Insurance v. Grisham, 613 P.2d 283, 126 Ariz. 123, 1980 Ariz. LEXIS 231 (Ark. 1980).

Opinion

CAMERON, Justice.

This is an appeal from the granting of defendant’s motion for summary judgment. We have jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 19(e), Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure, 17A A.R.S.

We must answer two questions on appeal:

1. Was there an oral contract of insurance?
2. Did the trial court err in denying the plaintiff’s objections as to the form of judgment and the motion to amend answer?

This being an appeal from the granting of a motion for summary judgment, we will review both the facts and the record in a light most favorable to the party against whom the summary judgment was taken. Hegel v. O’Malley Insurance Co., 122 Ariz. 52, 593 P.2d 275 (1979); Faris v. Doctors Hospital, Inc., 18 Ariz.App. 264, 501 P.2d 440 (1972); Biondo v. General Motors Corporation, 5 Ariz.App. 286, 425 P.2d 856 (1967). If there is any material issue of fact upon which reasonable people might reach a different conclusion, then the judgment must be reversed. Dutch Inns of America, Inc. v. Horizon Corp., 18 Ariz.App. 116, 500 P.2d 901 (1972).

In May of 1974, Kenneth Martinez and Hazel A. Martinez purchased a Cessna 150 from Sawyer Aviation Company for their 17 year old son, Gary Martinez. Title to the aircraft was taken in Hazel Martinez’ name. At the time of sale, Paul Sapp, Sales Manager for Sawyer Aviation, was asked by Kenneth Martinez if insurance on the aircraft could be obtained. Mr. Sapp contacted the Simis Insurance Agency and, on 21 May 1974, Richard Simis sent a letter to Kenneth Martinez informing him of the coverage for the aircraft. The letter stated as follows:

“We have this date bound coverage on your 1970 Cessna 150, N58668G.
*125 “Enclosed are Pilot Record Forms to be completed by each pilot. Please complete the form and return to us. Your policy will be issued upon receipt of the applications.
“The coverages bound are $100,-000.00/300,000.00 bodily injury, $100,-000.00 property damage (excluding passengers ), and $6,350.00 hull coverage. “Our envelope is enclosed for the return of the pilot forms.
“Thank you for this opportunity to be of service to you.” (emphasis added)

Mr. and Mrs. Martinez received this letter on or about 23 May 1974. Enclosed with the letter were pilot record forms which Gary Martinez completed and returned to Simis Insurance Agency.

Kenneth Martinez called Paul Sapp and told him that he expected the passengers to be covered, and in response Paul Sapp told Kenneth Martinez that the matter would be corrected. Neither Mr. or Mrs. Martinez contacted the Simis Insurance Agency, or Gulf, International Aviation Underwriters, Inc., but instead, according to Kenneth’s testimony, relied upon Paul Sapp to request coverage in addition to that described in the letter of 21 May.

Richard Simis testified that, on 10 July, the policy and invoice were mailed to Mr. Martinez. The policy specifically excluded passengers while riding in the airplane piloted by a student pilot. Although Kenneth denied receiving the policy, the amount stated on the invoice as the premium was paid by the Martinezes on 7 August 1974.

On 14 August 1974, Gary Martinez, 17, a licensed student pilot, took Richard Gris-ham, 18, for a flight in the Cessna 150 aircraft. The airplane crashed and both men died. The parents of Richard Grisham brought suit against the Martinezes. The plaintiff insurance company represented the Martinezes under reservation rights and brought this separate action for declaratory judgment seeking to relieve the insurance company of any responsibility to provide a defense. Depositions of the Martinezes were taken and affidavits filed by Mr. Sapp and Mr. Simis. The court granted the plaintiff insurance company s motion for summary judgment, and the defendants appeal.

WAS THERE AN ORAL CONTRACT OF INSURANCE?

It is apparent that the written contract of insurance did not cover Richard Grisham as he was a passenger specifically excluded. If there is coverage, it must be pursuant to an oral contract of insurance.

The general rule is that an oral contract of insurance is valid and enforceable. 12 Appleman Insurance Law and Practice, § 7191, p. 254. However, there must be

“ * * * a showing that the parties have agreed on all the essential terms of the contract, including the subject matter, the risk insured against, the time of commencement and duration of the risk, the amount of insurance and the amount of the premium. See 43 Am.Jur.2d, Insurance, § 202 at 258.” Ranger Insurance Company v. Phillips, 25 Ariz.App. 426, 429, 544 P.2d 250, 253 (1976).

For there to have been an oral contract between Martinez and plaintiff Gulf Insurance Company, there must have been an agreement between Gulf’s agent Simis Insurance Agency and Martinez. Ranger, supra. Defendants admit that there was no contract between the Martinezes and Simis.

Defendants in their brief stated:

“It is undisputed that the MARTINEZ’ never had any personal contact, either written or oral, with the SIMIS INSURANCE AGENCY or GULF INSURANCE COMPANY prior to the plane crash; all discussions or negotiations went through PAUL SAPP.
“It is also undisputed that SAPP was not on the payroll of either SIMIS AGENCY or GULF INSURANCE, but he had worked similar transactions on other occasions in the past.”

And Kenneth Martinez testified:

“Q Had you, in fact, at any time before the accident been in touch with the Simis Insurance Agency?
“A I never even knew there was a Simis Insurance Agency until well after the accident.
*126 “Q Well, you did get a letter from them in May?
“A Right.
“Q But you just didn’t notice what the name was?
“A No.”

It is agreed that there was no oral contract between the Simis Insurance Agency and Martinez. The Martinezes, however, claim they relied upon their dealings with Sapp, who they believed to be Simis’ authorized agent. Other than the receipt of the letter and invoice from Simis to Martinez as a result of the conversation between Martinez and Sapp, the only testimony bearing on this subject was given by Kenneth Martinez:

“Q Did you ever talk with anyone who you believed to be working for the Gulf Insurance Company before the accident?

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
613 P.2d 283, 126 Ariz. 123, 1980 Ariz. LEXIS 231, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gulf-insurance-v-grisham-ariz-1980.