FOR PUBLICATION
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES:
JERRY E. HUELAT Attorney for Ralph and Joanne Knapp :
KELLY A. BAER EARL D. WALTON
Huelat & Gardner, LLC Blaney Casey & Walton
Michigan City, Indiana DeMotte, Indiana
Attorneys for Scott Spangle :
NED J. TONNER
Law Office of Ned J. Tonner
Rensselaer, Indiana
JOSEPH E. MORRISON
Law Office of Joseph E. Morrison
Roselawn, Indiana
GREGORY J. TONNER
Spangler, Jennings & Dougherty, P.C.
Merrillville, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
WESTFIELD COMPANIES, )
)
Appellant-Plaintiff, )
)
vs. ) No. 56A03-0304-CV-141
)
RALPH KNAPP, JOANNE KNAPP, CECIL )
PONDER, THELMA PONDER and )
SCOTT SPANGLE, )
)
Appellees-Defendants. )
APPEAL FROM THE NEWTON CIRCUIT COURT
The Honorable Daniel J. Molter, Special Judge
Cause No. 56C01-0007-CP-77
March 23, 2004
OPINION - FOR PUBLICATION
MAY, Judge
The Westfield Companies appeal summary judgment in favor of Ralph and Joanne Knapp
and Scott Spangle (collectively, the insureds).
Westfield raises three issues on appeal, which we consolidate and restate as:
Whether a pickup truck used for loading melons on a farm is mobile
equipment and therefore excluded from coverage by an insurance policys motor vehicle exclusion;
and
Whether the trial court properly determined Spangle was on the Knapp property with
permission and therefore was entitled to recover under the medical payment provision of
the policy.
We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.
FACTS
The Knapps and Cecil and Thelma Ponder
See footnote have farms in Newton County.
Thelmas son, Scott Spangle, lived with the Ponders at the time of the
accident that gives rise to this insurance coverage dispute. The Knapps and
the Ponders both operated farm stands where they sold produce they raised.
In 1999, the Knapps and the Ponders decided to combine their farm stand
operations. Both farmers would grow produce on their own farms and sell
it at the joint farm stand. The Ponders would also plant and
harvest crops on land the Knapps owned and prepared for planting. Ralph
Knapp decided to add liability insurance coverage for the farm stand operation and
he added that coverage to his farm package policy.
The Knapps and Ponders decided to grow watermelons and cantaloupes on the Knapp
property. Various members of the Ponder family, including Spangle, helped with the
planting, weeding, and harvesting of the melons. On August 14, 1999, the
Ponders and Spangle drove the Ponders pickup truck to the Knapp property to
pick melons for sale that day. Thelma drove the truck onto a
farm lane that went through the melon patch, and Cecil and Spangle picked
melons and loaded them into the back of the truck. As Thelma
reached the end of the farm lane she attempted to turn the truck
around and the truck slid off the edge of the lane and dropped
into a shallow furrow. Thelma revved the engine to avoid becoming stuck
in the mud. Spangle was in front of the truck and was
hit when it unexpectedly lurched forward.
Westfield sought a declaratory judgment that its policy did not provide liability or
medical payment coverage for Spangles injuries. Spangle brought a counterclaim for declaratory
judgment and damages. After discovery, both Spangle and Westfield moved for summary
judgment. At a hearing on January 22, 2003, the court issued an
oral ruling that Westfield had a duty to defendSee footnote under the policy it
issued to the Knapps. On January 24, it entered a final appealable
order stating in part that Spangle is entitled to declaratory judgment insofar as
[Westfield] has a duty to defend under coverage of the policy issued by
[Westfield] to [Knapp]. (Appellants App. at 143.) It authorized Spangle to
submit a proposed order.
Spangle submitted a proposed Order on Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment on February 5.
(
Id. at 10.) The trial court approved the order, signed it,
and entered it nunc pro tunc as of January 24 to conform with
its earlier final appealable order. The order stated the Ponder truck was
mobile equipment and thus not within the policys motor vehicle exclusion. The
court further determined Spangle was on the Knapp property with permission and was
therefore covered under the Medical payments provision of the policy. It therefore
granted Spangles summary judgment motion on the coverage issues but denied summary judgment
on the question of bad faith.
On January 30, 2003, Westfield wrote the trial judge asking to be heard
on the issue of bad faith. On February 3, Westfield filed a
second motion for summary judgment in which it asserted for the first time
that Spangle was not covered by the Westfield policy because he was acting
in furtherance of an undisclosed partnership. The judge set a hearing on
those issues for March 5. After hearing argument, the trial court entered
an order that reaffirmed its prior rulings but re-dated the prior order from
January 24 to February 5. The court noted it had entertained argument
on Westfields second motion for summary judgment and denied the motion.
See footnote
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
Standard of Review
On review of a summary judgment, we apply the same standard as the
trial court. Summary judgment is appropriate where the evidence designated to the
trial court shows both that no genuine issue of material fact exists and
that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
Wright v. Am. States Ins. Co., 765 N.E.2d 690, 692 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2002). We will affirm a summary judgment if it is sustainable
under any theory or basis found in the evidence designated to the trial
court. Id. When material facts are not in dispute, our review
is limited to the determination whether the trial court correctly applied the law
to the undisputed facts. Id.
When the material facts are undisputed and the question presented is a pure
question of law, we review the matter
de novo. Id. The
interpretation of a contract is a matter of law, so cases involving the
interpretation of insurance contracts are particularly appropriate for summary judgment. Id.
Provisions of insurance contracts are subject to the same rules of construction as
other contracts; we interpret an insurance policy with the goal of ascertaining and
enforcing the parties intent as revealed by the insurance contract. Id.
In accomplishing that goal we must construe the insurance policy as a whole,
rather than considering individual words, phrases, or paragraphs. Id. at 692-93.
If the contract language is clear and unambiguous, it should be given its
plain and ordinary meaning. Id. An unambiguous exclusionary clause is ordinarily
entitled to enforcement. Id. at 694.
We must accept an interpretation of the contract language that harmonizes the provisions
rather than one that supports a conflicting version of the provisions.
Id.
at 693. Policy terms are interpreted from the perspective of an ordinary
policyholder of average intelligence. Id. If reasonably intelligent persons may honestly
differ as to the meaning of the policy language, the policy is ambiguous.
See footnote
Id. One way of determining whether reasonable persons might differ is
to see if the policy language is susceptible to more than one interpretation.
Meridian Mut. Ins. Co. v. Auto-Owners Ins. Co., 698 N.E.2d 770, 773
(Ind. 1998).
Terms in a contract are given their usual and common meaning unless, from
the contract, it can be determined some other meaning was intended.
Am.
Family Ins. Group v. Houin, 777 N.E.2d 757, 761 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002),
trans. dismissed. Unless the contract provides otherwise, all applicable law in force
at the time the agreement is made impliedly forms a part of the
agreement without any statement to that effect. Miller v. Geels, 643 N.E.2d
922, 928 (Ind. Ct. App. 1994), trans. denied.
The Motor Vehicle Exclusion
The grant of summary judgment for the insureds under the Bodily Injury and
Property Damage Liability provision of the policy was improper because Spangles activities were
excluded from coverage by the motor vehicle exclusion. The Westfield policy explicitly
excludes coverage for bodily injury arising out of maintenance, use, operation or loading
or unloading of any motor vehicle . . . by any insured or
any other person[.] (Appellants App. at 320.) The policy defines a
motor vehicle as A motorized land vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer: (a) Designed
for travel on public roads; or (b) Used on public roads; unless it
qualifies as mobile equipment[.] (Id. at 326.) The policy states immediately thereafter
that motor vehicle does not mean Mobile equipment[.] (Id.) The policy
therefore excludes from coverage an injury arising out of certain activities involving a
motor vehicle but not a vehicle that is within the definition of mobile
equipment at the time of the accident.
See footnote
Spangle does not explicitly argue the truck is not a motor vehicle but
rather asserts the policy explicitly contemplates that a vehicle can, depending on the
circumstances of its use, be either a motor vehicle or mobile equipment.
We find the truck was not being used as mobile equipment at the
time of the accident.
Section (b.) of the policy definition of mobile equipment includes vehicles while used
on premises you own or rent, (
id.), and section (f.) includes vehicles not
covered elsewhere in the definition that are maintained primarily for purposes other than
the transportation of persons or cargo. (Id.) Spangle notes the policy
never expressly defines vehicle. Therefore, he urges, it should be given its
plain and ordinary meaning. The only way to harmonize the various provisions
of the policy, he asserts, is to find that when a pickup truck
is being driven on public roads, it is a motor vehicle and excluded
from coverage; when it is used on the insureds farm, it is mobile
equipment and coverage is not excluded. Spangle notes the way a vehicle
is used at a particular time may determine whether and what kind of
coverage applies. See, e.g., Meridian Mut. Ins. Co., 698 N.E.2d at 772
(addressing a shared-expense car-pool exception to an automobile policy that covers carpools but
not driving for hire).
Westfield asserts the Ponder truck cannot be a vehicle as contemplated in section
(b.), relying on the principle of
ejusdem generis.
See footnote
Many of the subparts
of the policy definition of mobile equipment refer to a class of equipment
and vehicles designed or used primarily off public roadways, and not primarily designed
and used for transportation of persons on public roads (Appellants Br. at 18),
i.e., bulldozers, forklifts, tractors, farm equipment, vehicles that travel on crawler treads, and
vehicles on which are mounted cranes, shovels, or road construction equipment. Section
(e.) of the definition of mobile equipment encompasses vehicles not described in any
other part of the definition that
are not self-propelled and are maintained primarily to provide mobility to permanently attached
equipment of the following types:
Air compressor, pumps and generators, including spraying, welding, building cleaning, geophysical exploration, lighting
and well servicing equipment; or
Cherry pickers and similar devices used to raise or lower workers[.]
(App. at 326.) Section (f.) goes on to explicitly exclude as mobile
equipment and include as motor vehicles self-propelled vehicles with certain types of permanently
attached equipment such as cherry pickers, air compressors, pumps, generators, and equipment used
primarily for road maintenance and street cleaning. (
Id.)
The designated evidence indicated the Ponder truck was registered, insured, designed for and
licensed for use on public roads and was so used by the Ponders.
It is apparent from a reading of the definition of all provisions
of the mobile equipment definition that an unmodified passenger vehicle, even if used
on occasion on the insureds premises, is a motor vehicle and not mobile
equipment. The trial courts summary judgment for the insureds on that issue
was therefore error.
3.
The Medical Payment Coverage
The trial court properly found Spangle met all the prerequisites for coverage under
the Medical Payments provision
See footnote
of the policy (Id. at 15). The Medical
Payments provision states in pertinent part that the medical payment coverage for bodily
injury resulting from an accident applies only . . . [t]o a person
(other than an insured) who is on the insured location with the permission
of an insured[.] (Id. at 323.)
See footnote
The trial court found Spangle was on the Knapp property with the permission
of Ralph Knapp, to plant, weed and harvest melons[.] (
Id. at 11.)
See footnote
Westfield notes evidence that no one asked Knapps permission that day, and
Knapp was not even aware Spangle was on the property that day.
(Appellants Br. at 23) (emphasis supplied). The trial court, Westfield asserts, therefore
misstated the record; Spangle was not on the property with permission, or at
the very least there is a genuine issue of material fact as to
that question.
See footnote
Knapp knew Spangle and other people sometimes helped the Ponders harvest produce on
the Knapp property and Ponder had implied permission to enter the Knapp property
at any time. (
Appellants App. at 423.) Westfield offers no authority
in support of its apparent premise that for purposes of insurance coverage a
landowner must grant permission for each visit a third party pays to its
property, and we decline to so hold.
Permission for purposes of insurance coverage may be ongoing or implied. In
Am. Family Mut. Ins. Co. v. Hall, 764 N.E.2d 780, 785-86 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2002), rehg denied, trans. denied 783 N.E.2d 697 (Ind. 2002), we cited
with approval decisions from other jurisdictions holding prolonged, frequent, and habitual use with
knowledge and acquiescence of the owner amount to authorization and permission within the
policy; there may be an implied permission where a presumption is raised from
a course of conduct or relationship between the parties in which mutual acquiescence
or lack of objection signifies consent.
In
Hall, the driver had ready access to the car keys and there
was no express statement or definite act by [the owner] that restricted [the
drivers] use or withdrawal of permission for him to operate the vehicle.
Id. at 786. The driver frequently drove the vehicle, often with the
owners specific knowledge. We found it apparent that the owner put it
in the drivers power to drive the vehicle essentially at will. Id.
We concluded the evidence of prolonged, frequent and habitual use of the
vehicle without any objection by the owner indicated the owner impliedly gave the
driver permission to use the vehicle. Id. Thus, the trial court
properly determined there was no genuine issue of material fact as to this
issue. Id. The same reasoning leads us to conclude Spangle had
permission to be on the Knapp property when he was injured.
CONCLUSION
The trial court correctly determined Spangle had permission to be on the Knapp
property when he was injured and we therefore affirm the entry of summary
judgment for Spangle on the issue of coverage under the medical payments provision
of the Westfield policy. However, entry of summary judgment for the insureds
under the bodily injury liability provisions of the policy was error because the
accident arose out of use of a motor vehicle. We therefore reverse
on that issue and direct the trial court to enter summary judgment for
Westfield.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.
DARDEN, J., and BARNES, J., concur.
Footnote:
The Ponders are listed on both briefs as parties to this appeal,
but a default judgment was apparently entered against them.
Footnote:
The court stated in part:
Im going to grant declaratory judgment in favor of the defendants, and find
there is coverage due and owing both from the Med Pay and the
on the issue of liability. Or, should I say a duty
to defend . . . Im denying summary judgment on the issue of
of bad faith.
(Appellants App. at 20-21.)
Footnote:
Westfield presents as an issue on appeal that the trial court erroneously
denied Westfields second motion for summary judgment asserting coverage was excluded because Spangle
was injured while acting in furtherance of an undisclosed partnership or joint venture.
Westfield argues in its reply brief that the undisclosed partnership issue was
put at issue before the court within plaintiffs first motion for summary judgment.
(Appellants Reply Br. at 11.) In support, Westfield directs us to
this statement in the Facts and Procedural History section of its memorandum in
support of its first motion for summary judgment: the Knapp/Ponder business venture
was not listed as an insured nor did it fit into the definition
of an insured under the policy provisions. (Appellants App. at 52.)
There appears to be no other mention, in the argument section or elsewhere
in the memorandum, of the partnership, nor is there any explanation of its
significance.
We need not address the undisclosed partnership question as we find
coverage was excluded by the policys motor vehicle exclusion.
Footnote:
Spangle asserts that ambiguous provisions in insurance policies are construed in favor
of the insured, especially when those provisions limit or exclude coverage. Meridian
Mut. Ins. Co. v. Auto-Owners Ins. Co., 698 N.E.2d 770, 773 (Ind. 1998).
This is true when a dispute involves an insurer and its insured,
but when a case involves a dispute between a third party and an
insurer, we determine the general intent of the contract from a neutral stance.
Burkett v. Am. Family Ins. Group, 737 N.E.2d 447, 452 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2000).
Footnote:
Westfield asserts the express terms of the policy state that a motor
vehicle cannot be mobile equipment the terms are mutually exclusive. (Appellants
Br. at 17.) However, the policy terms elsewhere explicitly indicate a motor
vehicle may qualify as mobile equipment. (See Appellants App. at 326) (defining
a motor vehicle as a motorized land vehicle designed for travel on public
roads or used on public roads unless it qualifies as mobile equipment.)
The policy therefore apparently contemplates that motor vehicles might sometimes be used as
mobile equipment.
Footnote:
The ejusdem generis rule is, that where general words follow an enumeration
of persons or things, by words of a particular and specific meaning, such
general words are not to be construed in their widest extent, but are
to be held as applying only to persons or things of the same
general kind or class as those specifically mentioned. Blacks Law Dictionary 517
(6th ed. 1990).
Westfield offers a number of decisions where a truck was found
not to be mobile equipment. However, those decisions involve policy definitions significantly
different from those in the case before us.
E.g., Indiana Lumbermens Mut.
Ins. Co. v. Timberland Pallet & Lumber Co., 195 F.3d 368, 378 (8th
Cir. 1999) (mobile equipment defined as vehicles maintained for use solely on or
next to premises you own or rent) (emphasis supplied), rehg denied; Fidelity &
Cas. Co. v. Reserve Ins. Co., 596 F.2d 914, 920 (9th Cir. 1979)
(mobile equipment defined as not subject to motor vehicle regulation).
Footnote:
Westfield flatly asserts, without explanation or citation to the record, there was
no third party medical coverage under the policy. As there was no
coverage under the Medical Payments provisions of the policy, defendant Spangle does not
have standing to make a direct claim against Westfield. (Appellants Br. at
22.) This appears to be incorrect. The Medical Payments provision in
the policy explicitly applies only to persons other than an insured[.] (Appellants
App. at 323.)
Footnote:
An endorsement to the policy also provides medical payments to farm employees
injured as a result of accidents that occur in the course of the
farm employment. (Appellants App. at 331.) Westfield argues at some length
that Spangle was a volunteer and not a farm employee. Spangle relies
only on the coverage for persons on the insured premises with the permission
of the insured; he characterizes his status as an employee or volunteer as
irrelevant. (Appellees Br. at 26.) Accordingly, we do not address Spangles
status as an employee.
Footnote:
The trial court found Westfield concedes the issue of permission of [Knapp]
for Spangle to be on the Knapp property at the time in question.
(Appellants App. at 15.) Westfield asserts it did not concede that
issue, but does not direct us to evidence in the record to that
effect except to note again evidence the Knapps did not know Spangle was
on the property that day. (Appellants Reply Br. at 7.)
Footnote:
The insureds further note Westfield does not argue in its motion for
summary judgment or its brief in support that Spangle was on the property
without permission. Therefore, they assert, Westfield waived that issue for appeal.
See Poulard v. Lauth, 793 N.E.2d 1120, 1123 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003) (issues
not raised before the trial court on a summary judgment motion cannot be
argued for the first time on appeal and are waived, and matters not
designated as genuine issues of material fact cannot be relied upon on appeal).
Westfield asserts in its reply brief [t]he facts and designations presented to
the Trial Court clearly demonstrate that permission was at issue. (Appellants Reply
Br. at 6-7.) In support, it directs us to statements in the
Facts and Procedural History section of its memorandum in support of summary judgment
that at the time of the accident Spangle was on the Knapp property
unbeknownst to Knapp (Appellants App. at 50) and that the Knapps and Ponders
had not discussed hiring Spangle to pick melons. We decline to find Westfields
statement in the Facts and Procedural History section of its memorandum in support
of its motion for summary judgment had the effect of bringing that matter
to the trial courts attention so that the trial court could resolve it.
Westfield accordingly has waived that allegation of error. Notwithstanding the waiver,
we find, as explained below, that Spangle had permission to be on the
property.