{
  "id": 1473177,
  "name": "Witherspoon v. The Lumbermen's Mutual Insurance Company",
  "name_abbreviation": "Witherspoon v. Lumbermen's Mutual Insurance",
  "decision_date": "1947-06-09",
  "docket_number": "4-8212",
  "first_page": "844",
  "last_page": "848",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "211 Ark. 844"
    },
    {
      "type": "parallel",
      "cite": "203 S.W.2d 185"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "Ark.",
    "id": 8808,
    "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 34,
    "name_long": "Arkansas",
    "name": "Ark."
  },
  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "269 S. W. 62",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.W.",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "168 Ark. 80",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "case_ids": [
        8719168
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ark/168/0080-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "20 S. W. 2d 611",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.W.2d",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "180 Ark. 140",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "case_ids": [
        1393525
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ark/180/0140-01"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "analysis": {
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    "ocr_confidence": 0.494,
    "pagerank": {
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      "percentile": 0.7087096583623215
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    "simhash": "1:6ccb38ee5ee69632",
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T15:35:40.925427+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "Witherspoon v. The Lumbermen's Mutual Insurance Company."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Holt, J.\nApril 25, 1946, appellant, Lawrence Witherspoon, brought this suit, and in his complaint alleged: \u201cThe defendant is a mutual insurance company authorized to do business in Arkansas. On the 21st day of July, 1944, it issued to the plaintiff its policy No. LA38849. A copy of said policy is attached, made a part hereof, and marked Exhibit \u2018A.\u2019 The half ton truck described in the policy was being operated by an agent of the plaintiff on or about December 25, 1945, when such agent was blinded by the headlights of another car, went off the road, and turned over in a ditch. The accident occurred on Hays Street north of Boosevelt Boulevard. The truck was placed back on the highway and the agent, of the plaintiff continued to operate it. Due to the fact that the oil had been drained out when the truck overturned, the motor was burned out, and by reason thereof the plaintiff sustained damages in the amount of $250.31.\n\u2018 \u2018 On the face of the policy there is a column entitled \u2018Coverage.\u2019 Beneath that in parentheses appear the words \u2018as hereinafter defined.\u2019 Immediately following such words is the following definition of \u2018Coverage\u2019: \u2018Comprehensive: Loss of or damage to the automobile, except by collision, but including fire, theft and windstorm. Limits of liability, $500.\u2019 In another portion of the policy there is fine print which undertakes to restrict the coverage as hereinabove described, but said fine print is in conflict with the provisions hereinabove quoted.\u201d\nThe pertinent provisions of the insurance policy were: \u2018 \u2018 Item 3. In consideration of the payment of the premium and in reliance upon the statements in the declarations and subject to the limits of liability, exclusions, conditions and other terms of this policy, the company agrees to pay for direct and accidental loss of or damage to the automobile, hereinafter called loss, sustained during the policy period, with respect- to such and so many of the following coverages as are indicated by specific premium charge or charges:\nLimits of Liability\n(Insert Amt. or\nCoverages \u2018Actual Cash Net\n(as hereinafter defined) Value\u2019) Rate Premium\nA Comprehensive \u2014 Loss of or Damage to the Automobile, Except by Collision but including Eire, Theft and Windstorm $500.00 $4.80 $24.00\nB-l Collision or Upset >{5 \u2756 \u2756 <t\nB-2 Convertible Collision or Upset, Additional Payment $____________ Actual Cash Value $_______\nC Fire, Lightning and Transportation $------------------------------ $-------- $--------\nD-l Theft (Broad Form) $------------------------------ $-------- $--------\nD-2 Theft (Deductible Form) $----------------------------- $-------- $-------\nE Windstorm, Earthquake, Explosion, Hail or Water $------------------------------ $-------- $--------\nF Combined Additional Coverage $------------------------------ $-------- $-------\nG Towing and Labor Costs $10 for each disablement $________ $________\nTotal Premium $24.00 * * *\n\u201cInsuring Agreements (Subject to the limits of liability, exclusions, conditions and other terms of this policy.) Insurance Coverages Defined. Coverage A \u2014 Comprehensive \u2014 Loss of or Damage to the Automobile, Except by Collision. Any loss of or damage to the automobile except loss caused by collision * * * or by upset of the automobile, etc.\u201d\nAppellant prayed for damages in the amount of $250.31, penalty and attorney\u2019s fee.\nAppellee, insurance company, filed demurrer, in which it alleged: \u201cDefendant demurs to the complaint of the plaintiff for the reason that said complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action in that the damage sustained by the plaintiff is not covered by the policy of insurance upon which the suit is based.\u201d\nThe court sustained the demurrer, and upon appellant\u2019s refusal to plead further, dismissed his complaint. This appeal followed.\nAppellant contended below, and argues here, that the insurance contract covered all damages to his truck resulting from an \u201cupset.\u201d The trial court found against this contention, and we think correctly so. \u201cIt is also a well-settled rule in construing a contract that the intention of the parties is to be gathered, not from particular words and phrases, but from the whole context of the agreement. In fact, it may be said to be a settled rule in the construction of contracts that the interpretation must be upon the entire instrument, and not merely on disjointed or particular parts of it. The whole context is to be considered in ascertaining the intention of the parties, even though the immediate object of inquiry is the meaning of an isolated clause,\u201d Fowler v. Unionaid Life Insurance Company, 180 Ark. 140, 20 S. W. 2d 611; and in National Life Insurance Company v. Gregg, 168 Ark. 80, 269 S. W. 62, this court held (headnote 1): \u201cAs it is the duty of the court to give effect to all of the clauses of a policy of insurance, a clause defining the insured\u2019s liability and containing no stipulation against liability will be construed not to conflict with another clause containing a clear and unambiguous stipulation against liability for injury from specified causes.\u201d\nWhile it is true that an insurance contract must be strictly construed against the insurer who prepared it, where no ambiguity or uncertainty appears, no place is found for the operation of the rule. We are unable to find any ambiguity or uncertainty in the language used in the policy before us. It seems to be in standard form.\nIt appears certain that the insured here did not intend to pay for, nor did the company intend to accept the risk for damages which arose from an \u201cupset\u201d of the truck. Item 3, s%ipra, of the insurance contract definitely limited the insurance to the \u201cCoverages as hereinafter defined,\u201d for which appellant, the insured, paid a \u201cspecific premium charge\u201d in the amount of $24.\nHis total animal premium, as shown in Item 3, was $24 for \u201c'Coverage \u2018A\u2019 \u2014 Comprehensive\u2014Loss of or Damage to the Automobile, Except by Collision but including Fire, Theft and Windstorm,\u201d and Coverage \u201cA\u201d as \u201cDefined\u201d: \u201cAny loss of or damage to the automobile except loss caused by collision * * * or upset of the automobile, etc.\u201d\nAppellant paid no premium for Coverage \u201cB-l, Collision or Upset,\u201d or for \u201cB-2, Convertible Collision or Upset.\u201d Since he paid no premium for \u201cupset\u201d coverage, and since such coverage is expressly excepted from the policy coverage for which he did pay, we think it clear that the parties intended, and without ambiguity, expressed their intention that damages to the truck resulting from an \u201cupset\u201d were excluded and not covered. \u2018\nAccordingly, the judgment must be, and is, affirmed.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Holt, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "A. F. House, for appellant.",
      "Glenn F. Walther, for appellee."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "Witherspoon v. The Lumbermen's Mutual Insurance Company.\n4-8212\n203 S. W. 2d 185\nOpinion delivered June 9, 1947.\nA. F. House, for appellant.\nGlenn F. Walther, for appellee."
  },
  "file_name": "0844-01",
  "first_page_order": 860,
  "last_page_order": 864
}