Ryiz v. Federal Ins. Co.

• Decision Date: 10 September 1985
• Docket Number: No. 3251,3251
• Citation: 5 Conn.App. 179,497 A.2d 1001
• Court: Connecticut Court of Appeals
• Parties: Peter P. RYIZ v. FEDERAL INSURANCE COMPANY.

Page 1001

497 A.2d 1001

5 Conn.App. 179

Peter P. RYIZ v. FEDERAL INSURANCE COMPANY.

No. 3251.

Appellate Court of Connecticut.

Argued June 13, 1985.

Decided Sept. 10, 1985.

David A. Piskorski, New Britain, for appellant (plaintiff).

Theodore J. Tucci, Hartford, with whom, on brief, were John E. Tener and Marc Rigrodsky, Hartford, for appellee (defendant).

Before DUPONT, C.P.J., and BORDEN and DALY, JJ.

DALY, Judge.

The plaintiff instituted this action against the defendant, claiming that an extended coverage provision of his fire insurance policy issued by the defendant covered certain losses sustained by him. From a judgment rendered in favor of the defendant, the plaintiff has appealed. ¹

The parties stipulated to certain facts. On August 25, 1976, the defendant issued to the plaintiff a policy insuring his dental office located on the second floor of 24 North Main Street in Southington. As of February 20, 1980, the policy coverage was increased from $100,000 to $150,000 for professional and personal property. The policy provided for extended coverage. On August 22, 1980, the plaintiff's office was destroyed by fire.

On August 1, 1979, the plaintiff acquired office space leasing the entire second floor of the building known as 20-26 North Main Street in Southington. During the fall of 1979 and through February of 1980, the plaintiff expanded his office in the area leased. Thereafter, on or about July 1, 1980, the plaintiff began a second expansion of his office. The plaintiff purchased office equipment and furniture at a cost of $34,352.29 between July 1, 1980, and August 21, 1980, and continued the building improvements during that period.

The plaintiff did not pay any additional premiums for the building improvements, office equipment or furniture when it was acquired or purchased, or pay any premium to cover such property at any time thereafter. The defendant did not bill or send an additional premium statement concerning the improvements at any time to the plaintiff. The defendant's agent took no action which would have led the plaintiff to reasonably believe that his newly acquired equipment and furniture was covered under the terms of the existing policy. The defendant's agent was not informed by the plaintiff of the specific extent of the expansion of the plaintiff's office which commenced on or about July 1, 1980, until the time of the loss. The plaintiff's secretary, Sally Diaz, wrote a letter to the adjuster, pursuant to his request, informing him that she was unable to adjust the coverage to protect the additional equipment and improvements prior to August 22, 1980. The plaintiff did not notify the defendant that he desired increased coverage under the policy for newly acquired property and equipment with respect to the equipment and improvements commencing July 1, 1980, until the date of the loss.

The pertinent terms of the policy are:

"I. PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL PROPERTY.Y. Coverage under this dentist's insurance schedule is extended to include: Newly acquired property for a period of 90 days following date of acquisition or until more specific insurance has been placed (whichever occurs first), subject to the following limits of liability and all other forms and conditions. $25,000 on personal and professional property at newly acquired locations owned, leased or controlled by the insured. If newly acquired property is to be covered under this insurance, additional premium shall be payable from the date of acquisition."

The question before the trial court was whether the plaintiff could recover under the extended coverage provisions of the policy for the office equipment and furniture purchases and building improvements made between July 1, 1980, and August 21, 1980, which was the day before the fire. The trial court found that the existence of the property at a "newly acquired location" was a condition precedent to recovery by the plaintiff, that the ninety day limitation on coverage of "newly acquired property" also applied to define the period of a "newly acquired location," and that the plaintiff's failure to comply with the condition precedent barred him from recovery.

On appeal, the plaintiff has challenged the trial court's conclusion that a "newly acquired location" as defined by the trial court is a condition precedent to recovery.

An insurance policy is a contract and the risks covered by the policy are determined by the intention of the parties as manifested in the contract. A person bargains for a certain protection when taking out insurance, and the insurer, for a consideration, agrees to furnish that protection. Fogarty v. Fidelity & Casualty Co., 120 Conn. 296, 302-303, 180 A. 458 (1935). The insurer is bound by the express terms of its contract, but liability beyond these terms is not to be extended by implication. Miller Brothers Construction Co. v. Maryland Casualty Co., 113 Conn. 504, 513, 155 A. 709 (1931). The general rules of contract construction govern when the terms of an insurance policy are to be construed. When the terms are clear and unambiguous, then the language must be accorded its natural and ordinary meaning. Griswold v. Union Labor Life Ins. Co., 186 Conn. 507, 512-13, 442 A.2d 920 (1982); Weingarten v. Allstate Ins. Co., 169 Conn. 502, 509-510, 363 A.2d 1055 (1975).

"A court will not torture words to...