Allstate Ins. Co. v. Goldwater, Docket No. 92258
Decision Date | 24 November 1987 |
Docket Number | Docket No. 92258 |
Citation | 415 N.W.2d 2,163 Mich.App. 646 |
Parties | ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY, a foreign corporation, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Ronald GOLDWATER, Gary L. Goldwater, Florence M. Goldwater, Mary Buchte, and Robbie Buchte, Defendants-Appellees. |
Court | Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US |
Garan, Lucow, Miller, Seward, Cooper & Becker, P.C. by James C. Rabaut and Rosalind Rochkind, Detroit, for plaintiff-appellant.
Felix S. Kubik, Plymouth, for defendants-appellees Goldwater.
Before WALSH, P.J., and SHEPHERD and DOCTOROFF, JJ.
Plaintiff appeals as of right from an order granting defendants' motion for summary disposition. We reverse and order summary disposition in favor of plaintiff.
On June 16, 1984, minors Ronald Goldwater and Robbie Buchte collided on their dirt bikes while riding in a farmer's field near the subdivision where they lived. The Buchtes sued Goldwater for negligent operation of the motor bike and sued his father on a negligent entrustment theory. Plaintiff, the Goldwaters' insurer, undertook their defense while reserving its rights under the policy.
Plaintiff filed this action seeking a declaratory judgment on its duty to defend and indemnify the Goldwaters. Both plaintiff and defendants filed motions for summary disposition. Plaintiff's motion, brought pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(10), was initially granted by the judge, who ruled that the subject accident was not covered by the policy.
On rehearing, the judge reversed his decision, ruling that the exclusionary clause in the Goldwaters' insurance policy was confusing and should be construed against plaintiff.
Summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(10) should not be granted if a genuine issue exists as to any material fact. A trial court, when ruling on the motion, must determine whether the kind of record which might be developed, giving the benefit of reasonable doubt to the opposing party, would leave open an issue upon which reasonable minds might differ. Rizzo v. Kretschmer, 389 Mich. 363, 371-373, 207 N.W.2d 316 (1973). To grant summary disposition, the court must be satisfied that it would be impossible for the claim to be supported at trial because of some deficiency which cannot be overcome. Tidwell v. Dasher, 152 Mich.App. 379, 383, 393 N.W.2d 644 (1986).
The Goldwaters' homeowner's insurance policy includes family liability protection, yet the portion relevant to this action, Paragraph 5, provides in pertinent part:
If a contract, though inartfully worded or clumsily arranged, fairly admits of but one interpretation, it may not be said to be ambiguous or fatally unclear. Raska v. Farm Bureau Mutual Ins. Co. of Michigan, 412 Mich. 355, 362, 314 N.W.2d 440 (1982). If the terms of the policy are plain and unambiguous, their plain...
To continue reading
Request your trial-
Allstate Ins. Co. v. Freeman
...the clear language of the exclusionary clause disavows coverage." (Citations omitted.) [ 26 See also Allstate Ins. Co. v. Goldwater, 163 Mich.App. 646, 649, 415 N.W.2d 2 (1987); State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. Huyghe, 144 Mich.App. 341, 375 N.W.2d 442 We also find Allstate Ins. Co. v. Gol......
-
Gregory v. CitiMortgage, Inc.
...207 N.W. 814, 814 (1926)). A contract is unambiguous if it “fairly admits of but one interpretation.” Allstate Ins. Co. v. Goldwater, 163 Mich.App. 646, 648, 415 N.W.2d 2, 4 (1987). Disagreement among the parties as to the meaning of a contract term does not necessarily create ambiguity as ......
-
Heniser v. Frankenmuth Mut. Ins. Co.
...We find that this policy admits of but one interpretation and is not ambiguous or fatally unclear. See Allstate Ins. Co. v. Goldwater, 163 Mich.App. 646, 648, 415 N.W.2d 2 (1987). Heniser did not "reside" at the premises at the time of the fire. Thus, the property was no longer a "residence......
-
Bank v. Mpc Investors LLC
...207 N.W. 814, 816 (1926)). A contract is unambiguous if it “fairly admits of but one interpretation.” Allstate Ins. Co. v. Goldwater, 163 Mich.App. 646, 648-49, 415 N.W.2d 2, 4 (1987). Courts should not read an ambiguity into an agreement where none clearly exists. UAW-GM Human Res. Center ......