{
  "id": 8612852,
  "name": "WILLIAM JAMES SUTTLES v. BLUE RIDGE INSURANCE COMPANY",
  "name_abbreviation": "Suttles v. Blue Ridge Insurance",
  "decision_date": "1953-11-04",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "539",
  "last_page": "542",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "238 N.C. 539"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.C.",
    "id": 9292,
    "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 5,
    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
  },
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      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
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    {
      "cite": "82 Ga. App. 571",
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    {
      "cite": "4 N.Y.S. 2d 41",
      "category": "reporters:state",
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      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "167 Misc. 417",
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      "reporter": "Misc.",
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    {
      "cite": "176 S.E. 241",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
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    },
    {
      "cite": "207 N.C. 195",
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      "reporter": "N.C.",
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    {
      "cite": "35 A.L.R. 1018",
      "category": "reporters:specialty",
      "reporter": "A.L.R.",
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    {
      "cite": "211 Ala. 593",
      "category": "reporters:state",
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  "analysis": {
    "cardinality": 460,
    "char_count": 7670,
    "ocr_confidence": 0.479,
    "pagerank": {
      "raw": 1.579918422585439e-07,
      "percentile": 0.680212050972856
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:58:50.226870+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "WILLIAM JAMES SUTTLES v. BLUE RIDGE INSURANCE COMPANY."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "DeNNY, J.\nThe defendant\u2019s only exception is to the failure of the trial judge to sustain its motion for judgment of nonsuit. This simply challenges the right of plaintiff to recover for his loss under the terms of the insurance contract.\nThe only limitations on the plaintiff\u2019s use of his automobile were set out in the policy as \u201cUse: Business and Pleasure\u201d and \u201cExclusions . . . (a),\u201d which states, \u201cThis policy does not apply under any of the coverages, while the automobile is used as a public or livery conveyance . . .\u201d\nThe defendant argues in its brief that the destruction of the plaintiff\u2019s car did not result from an accident within the meaning of the policy. This contention is without merit. Moreover, if the damage to plaintiff\u2019s ear was not the result of an accident within the meaning of the policy, why did the defendant pay to the M & J Finance Corporation the sum of $1,168.45 for the benefit of the plaintiff?\nThe real question is not whether the damage to plaintiff\u2019s car was the result of an accident within the meaning of the insurance contract, but whether its use at the time of the accident was within the use permitted under the terms of the policy.\nTbe general rule in this respect is stated in 45 C.J.S., Insurance, section 798 (a), page 841, as follows: \u201cUnless there are special limitations in a policy insuring against loss of, or damage to, an automobile caused by accidental collision, the coverage extends to all losses caused by accidental collision however occasioned.\u201d\nLikewise, in Appleman\u2019s Insurance Law and Practice, Yolume 13, section 7465, page 190, we find the following statement: \u201cA collision clause is strongly construed against the insurer upon the basis that, if it desired to insert exceptions precluding liability under the circumstances presented, it should have done so by inserting such exceptions as would limit the effect of the general terms employed,\u201d citing St. Paul F. & M. Ins. Co. v. American Compoundinq Co., 211 Ala. 593, 100 So. 904, 35 A.L.R. 1018.\nIn the ease of Hallock v. Casualty Co., 207 N.C. 195, 176 S.E. 241, this Court construed a limitation in a policy similar to the one now before us. The plaintiff\u2019s chauffeur took a car covered by the policy without permission and damaged it. The question was whether at the time of the accident the car was being operated for the owner\u2019s \u201cbusiness or pleasure.\u201d The Court held that since the insurer had not limited recovery to damages resulting from an accident while the car was being used for business or pleasure by the owner, or some person authorized by him, the plaintiff was entitled to recover. Pauli v. St. Paul Mercury Indemnity Co., 167 Misc. 417, 4 N.Y.S. 2d 41.\nIn Life & Casualty Ins. Co. of Tenn. v. Benion, 82 Ga. App. 571, 61 S.E. 2d 579, the Court was interpreting a policy covering injuries received by \u201cexternal, violent and accidental means.\u201d The insured voluntarily drove in a stock ear race and was killed while engaged therein. The Court said: \u201cThe policy did not contain any reference to or restrictions on the use of the automobile. If the insurer meant to restrict the use of such automobile, it could easily have done so by the insertion of a use-restriction clause in the policy.\u201d It was also contended there as here that stock ear racing is so hazardous that an accident while engaged therein cannot be held to be unusual, unforeseen and unexpected. However, the Court held that engaging in a stock ear race was not \u201cso dangerous as to take the misfortune of the insured out of the realm of accident or accidental means,\u201d quoting with approval the following language from 29 Am. Jur., Insurance, section 944, page 716: \u201cVoluntary exposure to danger by the holder of an accident insurance policy will not defeat recovery for an injury caused by accidental means, where such exposure is not an exception in the policy and the insured has no intention of producing the injury received.\u201d\nWe think the use of the automobile permitted under the policy is broad enough to cover the ear while it ivas being operated for any legitimate purpose not expressly excluded by tbe terms of the policy. Therefore, the ruling of the court below on the motion for judgment as of nonsuit will be upheld.\nNo error.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "DeNNY, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Horace Kennedy for appellant.",
      "Horn & West for appellee."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "WILLIAM JAMES SUTTLES v. BLUE RIDGE INSURANCE COMPANY.\n(Filed 4 November, 1953.)\n1. Insurance \u00a7 4354 \u2014\nA policy covering damage to an automobile caused by accidental collision will be construed to cover all Such losses unless the policy itself excludes from its coverage losses occasioned while the vehicle is being used for specified hazardous purposes.\n2. Same\u2014\nThe policy in suit covered damage to the insured vehicle caused by accidental collision while the vehicle was being used for business or pleasure, with the sole exception that coverage should not apply while the vehicle was being used as a public conveyance. Hel\u00e9: The policy covers damages to the vehicle sustained when it overturned while being driven in a stock ear race with insured\u2019s permission, since such loss is \u201caccidental\u201d and the use was not excluded by the policy, and the use was for \u201cbusiness or pleasure\u201d within the meaning of its terms.\nAppeal by defendant from il\u00edoore, J., March-April Term, 1953, of CLEVELAND.\nThis is an action instituted by the plaintiff to recover on an automobile insurance policy issued to the plaintiff by the defendant.\nThe defendant issued its standard comprehensive public liability insurance policy, including loss by collision, less $50.00 deductible, to the plaintiff on his 1949 Plymouth automobile for the period from 31 May, 1950, to 29 February, 1952, in consideration of a premium of $148.25 which was duly paid.\nThe original policy when issued was assigned to the M & J Finance Corporation with a loss payable clause in its favor to the extent of its interest therein.\nOn 30 July, 1950, George Mantooth was driving the automobile covered by the above policy, with the plaintiff\u2019s permission, in a stock car race in Concord, North Carolina, when the automobile turned over and was completely demolished, resulting in a loss to the plaintiff of $2,000.\nProof of loss and demand for settlement under the terms of the policy were duly made. Defendant promptly paid the M & J Finance Corporation tbe balance due under its contract with the plaintiff in the sum of $1,168.45, which amount was pleaded as a set-off against any recovery the plaintiff might obtain in this action. The defendant, however, denied any liability to the plaintiff on the ground that at the time the car was damaged it was not being used for either business or pleasure.\nAccording to the plaintiff\u2019s evidence, the stock car race was on a circular track about a mile in length and approximately 200 feet wide. It was a dirt track, and \u201cthey wet the track before the race.\u201d The cars could not travel at an average speed of more than fifty to sixty miles per hour on account of the condition of the track. No other car hit his ear and no other car wrecked it, but all of a sudden it turned over. If his car had won the race he would have got the prize of a little over $5,000.\nThe defendant offered no evidence.\nThe court submitted the following issues to the jury and directed the answers as they appear thereto :\n\u201c1. Did the plaintiff breach the contract by entering this car in the stock car race? Answer: No.\n\u201c2. Was the plaintiff damaged by accidental means? Answer: Yes.\u201d\nIt was agreed that if the plaintiff was entitled to recover anything he was entitled to recover $781.55, and judgment was entered in favor of the plaintiff for that amount. The defendant appeals, assigning error.\nHorace Kennedy for appellant.\nHorn & West for appellee."
  },
  "file_name": "0539-01",
  "first_page_order": 589,
  "last_page_order": 592
}