Sullivan v. Dairyland Ins. Co.
| Decision Date | 27 August 1982 |
| Docket Number | No. 13552,13552 |
| Citation | 649 P.2d 1357,98 Nev. 364 |
| Parties | Mike SULLIVAN, Appellant, v. DAIRYLAND INSURANCE COMPANY, Respondent. |
| Court | Nevada Supreme Court |
Leavitt, Graves & Leavitt, Las Vegas, for appellant.
Cromer, Barker, Michaelson, Gillock & Rawlings, and Michael K. Mansfield, Las Vegas, for respondent.
Appellant Mikel Sullivan was seriously injured in an automobile accident, while riding as a passenger. The driver, who negligently caused the accident, was insured by respondent Dairyland Insurance Company. The driver's policy with Dairyland contained the legal minimum liability coverage, $15,000.00 per person per accident. It also provided for payment of up to $5,000.00 in medical expenses, regardless of fault, to the insured and the insured's passengers. The policy contained a setoff clause which read:
When we pay your medical expenses, you or your legal representative must agree in writing to repay us out of any damages you recover under the liability or uninsured motorist insurance of this policy.
Sullivan's damages greatly exceeded $20,000.00. He recovered $15,000.00 under the liability coverage, and brought this action to recover an additional $5,000.00 for his medical expenses. Dairyland moved for summary judgment, raising the setoff clause as a defense. The district court granted Dairyland's motion. We hold that the setoff clause only operates to prevent double recovery for the same elements of damage, and reverse.
An insurance policy is a contract, and is to be enforced according to its terms so as to effectuate the parties' intent. State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co. v. Hinkel, 87 Nev. 478, 488 P.2d 1151 (1971); Continental Casualty Co. v. Summerfield, 87 Nev. 127, 482 P.2d 308 (1971). An ambiguity in the terms of an insurance contract shall be resolved in favor of the insured, and against the insurer. E.g., Harvey's Wagon Wheel, Inc. v. MacSween, 96 Nev. 215, 606 P.2d 1095 (1980); United Services Automobile Ass'n v. Crandall, 95 Nev. 334, 594 P.2d 704 (1979); Home Indemnity Co. v. Desert Palace, Inc., 86 Nev. 234, 468 P.2d 19 (1970). An insurer desiring to restrict coverage must do so explicitly. Harvey's Wagon Wheel, supra.
In Melson v. Illinois National Ins. Co., 1 Ill.App.3d 1025, 274 N.E.2d 664 (1971), the court in interpreting a similar clause held that where the total damages incurred by the insured are greater than the combined coverage, the crediting provision of the medical coverage does not apply. See Taylor v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co., 237 So.2d 690 (La.App.1970); Hutchison v. Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co., 34 A.D.2d 1010, 312 N.Y.S.2d 789 (1970); Wittig v. United...
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