Holcomb v. United States Fire Insurance Co.

279 S.E.2d 50, 52 N.C. App. 474, 1981 N.C. App. LEXIS 2471

• Court: Court of Appeals of North Carolina
• Decided: June 16, 1981
• Docket: 8017SC878
• Status: Published

Opinion

CLARK, Judge.

Summary judgment is a drastic measure, and it should be used with caution. Williams v. Power & Light Co., 296 N.C. 400, 250 S.E. 2d 255 (1979). On such motion the court is required to view the record in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion. Hinson v. Jefferson, 20 N.C. App. 204, 200 S.E. 2d 812 (1973); Brice v. Moore, 30 N.C. App. 365, 226 S.E. 2d 882 (1976). We must accept, therefore, as the trial court was required to do for purposes of this motion, plaintiffs’ forecast of evidence that the collapse of the east basement-wall was caused by the failure of the downspout which dumped approximately three tons of water on a small area of already saturated soil and that it was the weight of this water that caused the east basement wall to collapse and not the shifting of clay or any earth movement.

Based on these facts, which plaintiffs’ affidavits forecast, and which a jury could believe if presented as evidence at trial, we see two issues of law which if either were resolved against plaintiffs, would warrant entry of summary judgment in defendant’s favor. The first is whether as a matter of law, a gutter downspout is part of the plumbing system of a home so as to bring damage resulting from “discharge, leakage or overflow” therefrom within Peril 15 of the insurance policy. The second is whether the damage to plaintiffs’ home is expressly and unambiguously ex- eluded from coverage under the policy by language of Additional Exclusions 1 or 2.

With regard to the first issue, we must construe the word plumbing in light of the generally accepted rule in this jurisdiction that where the meaning of a word is capable of more than one reasonable interpretation, doubts will be resolved against the insurance company and in favor of the insured. Woods v. Insurance Co., 295 N.C. 500, 246 S.E. 2d 773 (1978). “If such a word has more than one meaning in its ordinary usage and if the context does not indicate clearly the one intended, it is to be given the meaning most favorable to the policyholder, . . . since the insurance company selected the word for use.” Trust Co. v. Insurance Co., 276 N.C. 348, 354, 172 S.E. 2d 518, 522 (1970). Construction of the term “plumbing system” to include gutter downspouts would clearly favor the insured in this case. The surrounding language does not establish whether the parties intended the term to include downspouts and the record does not indicate that the term was defined in the policy. We must turn, therefore, to the ordinary meaning of the term to determine whether any usage of the term “plumbing system” could encompass the gutters and downspouts on the outside of a building.

We believe there can be no doubt that the ordinary meaning of the term “plumbing system” includes the gutters and downspouts designed for the disposal of rainwater. Accord Schumacher v. Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Co., 154 So. 2d 637 (La. App. 1963). We note that the Schumacher court found evidence of the ordinary meaning of the term “plumbing” in the articles of two well-known encyclopedias in general use today. From the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Schumacher court quotes:

“Scope of plumbing—plumbing systems include roof drains, area drains, swimming pools, sprinkling systems, standpipes and hose connections for fire protection, sprinkling systems and hose connections for watering gardens and lawns . . . .”

Id. at 640. The court also quotes the Collier’s Encyclopedia’s similar definition of the scope of plumbing:

“The scope of plumbing goes beyond the design and installation of water pipes and drains. The work of the plumber also involves: gas piping for house heating, hot water production, and kitchen stove; hot water or steam heating systems; vacuum and compressed air piping systems; sprinkler and standpipe connections for fire fighting; rainwater roof drain piping; apparatus for individual water supplies (filters and softeners); swimming pools; and the special plumbing equipment used in industrial buildings.”

Id. While we believe this alone establishes plaintiffs’ construction of the term as one reasonable reading of the policy language, we find even more persuasive authority upon which to base our holding.

The North Carolina Building Code Council and the North Carolina Department of Insurance, who jointly publish the State Building Code, define plumbing as follows:

“Plumbing. Plumbing is the practice, materials, and fixtures used in the installation, maintenance, extension, and alteration of all piping, fixtures, appliances, and appurtenances in connection with any of the following: Sanitary drainage or storm drainage facilities, the venting system and the public or private water-supply systems, within or adjacent to any building, structure, or conveyance; also the practice and materials used in the installation, maintenance, extension, or alteration of stormwater, liquid-waste, or sewerage, and water-supply systems of any premises to their connection with any point of public disposal or other acceptable terminal ”

North Carolina State Building Code, Vol. II, Plumbing § 301 at 3-6 (1980) (emphasis added). We note, too, that the Code contains an entire chapter (Ch. XV) devoted to the regulation of storm drains. Chapter XV prescribes the conductors and connections that a plumber may use (§ 1504), specifies the manner of constructing roof drains (§ 1505), and includes tables specifying the size of vertical leaders (defined in § 301, at 3-5 of the Code as downspouts) and gutters for various roof sizes up to 29,000 square feet (§§ 1506.1, 1506.3). We believe such extensive treatment of storm drainage systems, in the major source of regulation of buildings in this State (see G.S. 143-135.1 to -143), and in a separate volume of that regulatory Code devoted exclusively to plumbing, renders defendant’s contention “that ‘plumbing system’ should not be construed to include gutters or roof drains” without merit. We hold that, as a matter of law, Peril 15 of the insurance policy covered any loss to plaintiff attributable to water discharged from his gutters and downspouts.

We turn then to the second issue: whether plaintiffs loss is expressly and unambiguously excluded from coverage. The insuring provisions of the policy extend coverage only, “except as otherwise excluded or limited.” Appellee contends that, even if the gutters and downspouts are a part of the plumbing system of plaintiffs’ house, coverage under the policy for plaintiffs’ loss is expressly excluded by the language of the policy. The applicable exclusions provide:

“This policy does not insure against loss:

1. caused by, resulting from, contributed to or aggravated by any of the following:

a. flood, surface water, waves, tidal water or tidal waves, overflow of streams or other bodies of water, or spray from any of the foregoing, all whether driven by wind or not;

b. water which backs up through sewers or drains; or

c. water below the surface of the ground including that which exerts pressure on or flows, seeps or leaks through sidewalks, driveways, foundations, walls, basement or other floors or through doors, windows or any other openings in such sidewalks, driveways, foundations, walls or floors.

2. caused by, resulting from, contributed to or aggravated by any earth movement, including but not limited to earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudflow, earth sinking, rising or shifting; . . .”

Exclusion 2 can be dismissed out of hand. It is not a legitimate ground for summary judgment. The affidavit of Larry R. Absher, Sr., a licensed professional engineer, was to the effect that he “inspected the soil around the manholes, fence post, and fire hydrants in the general area of Mr. Holcomb’s home and found absolutely no evidence of any earth movement around these objects.” Absher further stated that in his professional opinion “the failure of the east basement wall was not a result of a gradual shift of clay or earth movement.” These statements were sufficient to create an issue of fact as to whether any earth movement caused or contributed to the collapse of the east basement wall. Summary Judgment is not to be entered on a controverted issue of material fact. Wall v. Flack, 15 N.C. App. 747, 190 S.E. 2d 671 (1972).

Exclusion 1 requires more extended analysis. On its face Exclusion 1 would appear to exclude plaintiffs’ loss from coverage under the policy. Although the affidavits fail to conclusively establish whether the water from the downspout sank into the ground or accumulated on the surface, the language of the Exclusion extends to both “surface water” and “water below the surface of the ground.” The water would have to fit one of these categories, and it is this fact that disturbes us. Any water discharged from the guttering system would by definition become either surface water or ground water. Would it thereby lose its character as water discharged from a plumbing system? We think not.

Appellee cites cases decided upon similar fact situations holding that when water discharged from a plumbing system settles upon the surface of or into the ground, that water is brought within the language of Exclusion 1. Krug v. Millers’ Mutual Insurance Ass’n., 209 Kan. 111, 495 P. 2d 949 (1972); Park v. Hanover Insurance Company, 443- S.W. 2d 940 (Tex. Civ. App. 1969). Both cases concerned coverage provisions similar to Peril 15 and exclusions similar to Exclusion 1. We find more appealing, however, the logic of the cases which have held to the contrary, that damage caused by water discharged from a plumbing system covered under provisions similar to Peril 15 does not fall within Exclusion 1. World Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Carolina Mills Dist. Co., 169 F. 2d 826 (8th Cir. 1948); Hartford Accident and Indemnity Co. v. Phelps, 294 So. 2d 362 (Fla. App. 1974); King v. Travelers Insurance Company, 84 N.M. 550, 505 P. 2d 1226 (1973).

As those cases point out, if we construe the language of Exclusion 1 as appellee would have us to do, then we are faced with one provision that says plaintiffs’ loss is covered; one that says it is not. As has been noted:

“ ‘If the excepting clause be construed as applying to the state of facts in this case, as appellant contends, an irreconcilable conflict must exist between its meaning and the insuring clause, with the result that the contract must be found to be ambiguous. In that event the contract will be construed favorable to the insured who did not prepare it. The application of the latter rule of construction would lead to striking down the excepting clause ....’”

King v. Travelers Insurance Co., 84 N.M. 550, 555, 505 P. 2d 1226, 1231 (1973), quoting, World Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Carolina Mills Dist. Co., 169 F. 2d 826 (8th Cir. 1948). While we agree that appellee’s proposed construction of Exclusion 1 creates an apparent contradiction, we do not believe it necessary to strike the exclusion. It is the rule in our State that each clause in a policy of insurance is to be given effect if this can be done by reasonable construction. Woods v. Insurance Co., 295 N.C. 500, 246 S.E. 2d 773 (1978). “The object of interpretation should not be to find discord in differing clauses, but to harmonize all clauses if possible.” Peirson v. Insurance Co., 249 N.C. 580, 583, 107 S.E. 2d 137, 139 (1959). One reading of the two clauses that would give meaning to both would be to construe Exclusion 1 as excepting from coverage all water damage not expressly and unambiguously insured against in the coverage provisions of the policy. This is the reading that we adopt.

In so holding we note that following the language of coverage in Peril 15 and within the same clause the insurer specifically excluded “loss to the appliance from which the water or steam escapes” and went on to note that “This policy does not include loss caused by or resulting from freezing.” Defendant has shown by this language that it was capable of clearly and unambiguously stating circumstances to which the coverage under Peril 15 would not extend. We believe it should have specifically stated any additional exception limiting plaintiffs’ recovery for loss caused by water discharged from within a plumbing system within Peril 15 if it wished to apply the exclusion to losses occurring thereunder. While we believe that broad, general provisions for coverage under a policy may properly be limited by specific exclusions, we have extreme difficulty endorsing broad, general exclusions which seek to render illusory narrow and specific provisions of coverage. This view is supported by the accepted rule of construe tion that exceptions from liability are not favored, and will be strictly construed against the insurer. Trust Co. v. Insurance Co., 276 N.C. 348, 172 S.E. 2d 518 (1970); Insurance Co. v. Insurance Co., 269 N.C. 341, 152 S.E. 2d 436 (1967); Thompson v. Accident Association, 209 N.C. 678, 184 S.E. 695 (1936); and Womack v. Insurance Co., 206 N.C. 445, 174 S.E. 313 (1934).

Our holding then is indentical with the holding of the Florida Court of Appeals in Hartford Accident and Indemnity Co. v. Phelps, 294 So. 2d 362, 363 (Fla. App. 1974):

“When we consider the terminology used in the exclusion clause in pari materia with the affirmative statement of coverage from leaks in the plumbing system, we conclude that the exclusion was intended to relate only to damage from water not emanating from the plumbing system.”

It was thus a question for the jury whether the three tons of water dumped on the small area of soil adjacent to the east basement wall was in fact the efficient and proximate cause of the wall’s subsequent collapse. See Wood v. Insurance Co., 245 N.C. 383, 96 S.E. 2d 28 (1957); Harrison v. Insurance Co., 11 N.C. App. 367, 181 S.E. 2d 253 (1971).

Reversed and remanded.

Judges VAUGHN and WELLS concur.