Town of Surfside v. Morrison Assur. Co., Inc.
| Decision Date | 24 February 1981 |
| Docket Number | No. 80-1064,80-1064 |
| Parties | TOWN OF SURFSIDE, Florida, Appellant, v. MORRISON ASSURANCE COMPANY, INC., Appellee. |
| Court | Florida District Court of Appeals |
Cypen & Nevins and Stephen H. Cypen, Miami Beach, for appellant.
Stephens, Schwartz, Lynn & Chernay, P. A. and Robert M. Klein, Miami, for appellee.
Before HUBBART, C. J., and SCHWARTZ and BASKIN, JJ.
In this appeal, the Town of Surfside challenges an adverse summary judgment which resulted in a denial of insurance coverage for bodily injuries sustained by a child who had been playing ball at a Surfside park. We hold that the insurance policy furnished the Town of Surfside by Morrison Assurance Company did not exclude the injury sustained. We therefore reverse the summary judgment.
The complaint for declaratory relief filed by Morrison Assurance Company alleged that Alfred DeBlasio had been participating in a softball game at Surfside Park under the supervision of Surfside counselors when the ball was hit into the water beyond the confines of the park. Alfred and another boy went to retrieve the ball, which was floating near the seawall. Alfred saw a big stick on the other side of a bridge and went to get it. Unfortunately, he raised his head while he was still underneath the bridge and injured himself. Alfred's deposition disclosed that the game was over and the other players were waiting for him to return with the ball, the last one available. He did not think they intended to continue the game. The trial court ruled that Alfred's injuries resulted from his participation in an athletic activity and were excluded from coverage under the policy.
The contested exclusionary clause states:
ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION EXCLUSION: It is agreed this insurance does not apply to bodily injury to any and all persons practicing, instructing, or participating in any physical training, sport, athletic activity or contest.
The issue to be decided is whether Alfred's acts constituted participation in an athletic activity. In reaching our decision, we are aware that exclusionary clauses must be construed liberally against the insurance company and in favor of the insured. Tropical Park, Inc. v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co., 357 So.2d 253 (Fla.3d DCA 1978).
The Supreme Court of Arkansas considered a similar exclusion in Glenn Falls Group Insurance Co. v. Simpson, 246 Ark. 654, 439 S.W.2d 292 (1969). In that case, lightning struck golfers who had sought...
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