Waller v. Rocky Mountain Fire and Casualty Co.

535 P.2d 530, 272 Or. 69, 91 A.L.R. 3d 1264, 1975 Ore. LEXIS 404
CourtOregon Supreme Court
DecidedMay 15, 1975
StatusPublished
Cited by24 cases

This text of 535 P.2d 530 (Waller v. Rocky Mountain Fire and Casualty Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Oregon Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Waller v. Rocky Mountain Fire and Casualty Co., 535 P.2d 530, 272 Or. 69, 91 A.L.R. 3d 1264, 1975 Ore. LEXIS 404 (Or. 1975).

Opinions

DENECKE, J.

While riding on a motorcycle Jerry Waller was killed by an uninsured motorist. The defendant insurer had issued an automobile liability insurance policy to the plaintiff, H. E. Waller, who is the personal representative and the father of Jerry Waller. Plaintiff contends his son was covered under the uninsured motorist provision of defendant’s policy and that he is entitled to recover benefits on behalf of his son. The trial court, sitting without a jury, held for the defendant, and plaintiff appeals.

In order for plaintiff to recover he must prove that his son was an insured under defendant’s policy. The policy provides uninsured motorist coverage for its “insured,” defined as follows: “The unqualified word ‘insured’ means (1) the named insured [H. E. Waller, the father and plaintiff] and, while residents of the same household, his spouse and relatives. # # #>> riial court made a finding of fact that “Jerry Waller was not a resident relative of the same household as the named insured, H. E. Waller, at the time of the accident * *

We treated the question of whether one was a resident of the household of a named insured as a fact issue in Schehen v. North-West Insurance, 258 Or 559, 484 P2d 836 (1971). In the Schehen case, however, we held there was insufficient evidence to submit the question of fact to the jury. The two decisions from other jurisdictions which are relied upon by the plaintiff also treat the question as one of fact. American States Ins. Co., Western Pac. Div. v. Walker, 26 Utah2d 161, 486 P2d 1042 (1971), and Travelers Insurance Company v. Mixon, 118 Ga App 31, 162 [72]*72SE2d 830 (1968). We continue to regard the question as one of fact and the plaintiff does not contend to the contrary.

The next question is, what is the scope of our review of this question of fact? Is this proceeding in law or in equity? This is a frequent issue in litigation involving insurance coverage. If we are in equity, we review the facts de novo. If we are in law, we merely inquire into the sufficiency of the evidence to support the trial court’s findings of fact.

Plaintiff filed a complaint praying for damages. Plaintiff filed a second amended complaint praying for specific performance of defendant’s agreement as provided in its policy, to arbitrate its liability. Defendant filed a counterclaim stated to be a proceeding for declaratory relief seeking a declaration that Jerry Waller was not a resident of plaintiff’s household at the time of Jerry Waller’s death.

The case was tried without any indication whether it was believed to be in law or in equity. In its judgment order the trial court held: “Count Three of defendant’s counterclaim for declaratory relief is resolved in favor of the plaintiff. Finding, as a matter of fact, that at the time of the accident, Jerry Waller was not a resident relative of the named insured’s household * # The trial court further stated in its judgment: “IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AND DECLARED that defendant provided no coverage to Jerry Waller at the time of the injuries * * * and that as a consequence thereof, defendant is not required to arbitrate the claim.”

Of the several recent decisions we have made on this issue, Frontier Ins. v. Hartford Fire Ins., 262 Or 470, 499 P2d 1302 (1972), is probably the most relevant. The plaintiff filed a “ ‘Complaint in Equity for Declaratory Decree and Judgment,’ ” naming the [73]*73insurer as a defendant. Plaintiff prayed for a declaration of the rights of the parties “and for a decree reforming the insurance policy * * 262 Or at 475. We observed that reformation is a form of equitable relief; however, we were of the opinion that what the plaintiff sought in effect was to enforce the written policy as orally amended which was not the remedy of reformation. We, therefore, held that the proceeding should be regarded as an action at law.

Plaintiff’s position in this case is similar to that of the plaintiff in Frontier Ins. v. Hartford Fire Ins., supra (262 Or 470). Plaintiff is seeking declaration that Jerry Waller was covered under the policy and to enforce the policy as so interpreted. Plaintiff’s intent is further revealed by his prayer for attorney fees and his contention on appeal that he is entitled to attorney fees pursuant to ORS 743.114. Attorney fees are only awardable under this statute if the insured seeks recovery on the policy. Hardware Mut. Cas. v. Farmers Ins., 256 Or 599, 609-612, 474 P2d 316 (1970); Foles v. U. S. Fidelity & Guaranty, 259 Or 337, 345-347, 486 P2d 537 (1971).

Unless the proceedings are clearly and properly in equity we have adopted the general rule that proceedings to determine insurance coverage are to be regarded as in law. Falk v. Sul America Terrestres, 255 Or 246, 248, 465 P2d 714 (1970); May v. Chicago Insurance Co., 260 Or 285, 292, 490 P2d 150 (1971); Truck Ins. Exch. v. Bill Olinger Mercury, 262 Or 8, 10-11, 495 P2d 1201 (1972).

For these reasons we hold that this proceeding is to be treated as an action at law. Our review, therefore, is limited to deciding whether there is evidence supporting the finding of the trial court that Jerry Waller was not a resident of his father’s household.

The facts are largely uncontroverted and many [74]*74were stipulated. The inferences to he drawn from the evidence are in dispute.

Jerry Waller was 24 years old and unmarried. He was discharged from the Navy in September 1967. Thereafter, he worked at several jobs and lived with his parents in Salem, Oregon. In May 1968 he visited his friend Eon Austin, in McCleary, Washington, which is about 200 miles from Salem. On May 15th he started living at the home of Eon Austin’s parents, in McCleary, and lived there until his death on July 20th. He returned to Salem every weekend or every other weekend. His parents had an extra bedroom where he always slept. He took his toilet articles and some of his clothes to McCleary. He left other clothes and his Navy uniform in Salem. After living in McCleary for a few weeks he brought his television set from Salem.

He did not change his mailing address from Salem. He also did not change his Oregon driver’s license or car registration. On May 29th he went to work as a full-time employee of Simpson Timber Co., in McCleary. On his employment application he stated his address as Salem. On the subsequent forms he filled out for his employer he gave as his address the Austins’, in McCleary.

Jerry Waller wanted at some time to return to Salem to live. He expressed a desire to work with deaf people. His mother was deaf and the Oregon Deaf School is at Salem. He talked about going to school to get training for teaching the deaf. He indicated a desire to go to a college about 25-30 miles from Salem and live at home. He picked up an application form from the Deaf School, in Salem.

Just before the fatal collision he told Eon Austin he wanted to move back to Salem in a few months. He wanted Eon to go back with him and live [75]*75at Ms folks’ house until they could find an apartment. Ron “didn’t want to do that [live with Jerry’s parents].”

The death certificate stated the decedent was a resident of Washington. There was testimony this information was furnished by the plaintiff.

In Schehen v. North-West Insurance,

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Bluebook (online)
535 P.2d 530, 272 Or. 69, 91 A.L.R. 3d 1264, 1975 Ore. LEXIS 404, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/waller-v-rocky-mountain-fire-and-casualty-co-or-1975.