{ "id": 8619545, "name": "HORACE RANSOM, Administrator of the Estate of NELSON RANSOM, Deceased v. THE FIDELITY AND CASUALTY COMPANY OF NEW YORK", "name_abbreviation": "Ransom v. Fidelity & Casualty Co.", "decision_date": "1959-04-08", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "60", "last_page": "65", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "250 N.C. 60" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C.", "id": 9292, "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "123 F 2d 692", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 1093164 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/123/0692-01" ] }, { "cite": "80 F 2d 802", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 941466 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/80/0802-01" ] }, { "cite": "204 F 2d 821", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 1268095 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/204/0821-01" ] }, { "cite": "173 A.L.R. 902", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "91 So. 2d 123", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "So. 2d", "case_ids": [ 9892400 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/so2d/91/0123-01" ] }, { "cite": "128 A 2d 327", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "144 Conn. 165", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Conn.", "case_ids": [ 1561843 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/conn/144/0165-01" ] }, { "cite": "92 F Supp. 620", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp.", "case_ids": [ 290954 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp/92/0620-01" ] }, { "cite": "259 F 2d 389", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 447943 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/259/0389-01" ] }, { "cite": "320 P 2d 90", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "156 Cal. App. 755", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Cal. App.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "132 Colo. 202", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Colo.", "case_ids": [ 89169 ], "weight": 3, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/colo/132/0202-01" ] }, { "cite": "241 S.W. 2d 568", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "192 Tenn. 558", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Tenn.", "case_ids": [ 8530503 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/tenn/192/0558-01" ] }, { "cite": "33 N.W. 2d 803", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.W.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "322 Mich. 303", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mich.", "case_ids": [ 1917301 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mich/322/0303-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 695, "char_count": 14257, "ocr_confidence": 0.389, "pagerank": { "raw": 3.4823214603925097e-07, "percentile": 0.8818255427246917 }, "sha256": "c3c7db919d3e52860f9b4952c1b6ff29049c86361288895e1d589bab09f1ac25", "simhash": "1:ed66225e3046a917", "word_count": 2420 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T15:44:40.326881+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "HORACE RANSOM, Administrator of the Estate of NELSON RANSOM, Deceased v. THE FIDELITY AND CASUALTY COMPANY OF NEW YORK." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "DenNY, J.\nThe sole question for determination on this appeal is whether or not the trial court committed error in sustaining the defendant\u2019s motion for judgment as of nonsuit.\nThe plaintiff contends -he has the right to recover from the defendant, Francis Lee\u2019s insurer, by reason of the provision in the above-numbered policy of insurance relating to temporary substitute automobile coverage, which reads in pertinent part as follows: \u201cIV (a) excq3^ where stated to the contrary, the word \u2018automobile\u2019 moans: (3) Temporary Substitute Automobile \u2014 under coverages A, B and C, an automobile not owned by the named insured while temporarily used as the substitute for the described automobile while withdrawn from normal use because of its breakdown, repair, servicing, loss, or destruction. \u201d\nOn the other hand, the defendant contends that under the facts in lilis case the insured\u2019s car had not been withdrawn from normal use \u201cbecause of its breakdown, repair, sea-vicing, loss, or destruction\u201d at the time involved, within the meaning of the policy.\nLikewise, the plaintiff contend\u00a9 he is entitled to recover undea- Section V of the policy which relate\u00a9 'to the use of other automobiles and which reads as follows: \u201cUse of Other Automobiles. If the named insured is an individual who owns the 'automobile classified as \u2018pleasure and business\u2019 or husband and wife either or both of whom own. said automobile, su'ch insurance as is afforded by this policy for bodily injury liability, for property damage liabilitjr and for medical payments with respect to said automobile applies with respect to any other 'automobile, subject to the following provisions: * * * (b) This insuring agreement does not apply (1) to any automobile owned by, laired as part of a frequent use of laired automobiles by, or furnished for regular use to the \u00edaamed insured! or a member of his household other than a private chauffeur or domestic servant of the named insured. or spouse.\u201d\nThe defendant further contends that Rupert Lee and Francis Lee belong to the same household and that the use of Rupert Lee\u2019s car by Francis Lee is expressly excluded from coverage by the above exclusion clause iia the insured\u2019\u00a9 policy of insurance.\nNo North Carolina decision has been cited or found construing either section of the polios'' that has been brought into question on this appeal.\nIn 5A Am. Jur., Automobile Insuraiaee, section 87, page 85, it is said: \u201cThe typical \u2018substitution\u2019 provision provides coverage while the substituted! vehicle is being temporarily used, where the described automobile is withdrawn from normal use because of its breakdown, repair, servicing, loss, or desti-uction. The usual general rules of con\u00abtraction apply to such a provision, and it las been stated that the purpose of the provision is not to narrowly limit or defeat coverage, but to make the coverage reasonably definite as to the vehicles the insured intends normally to use, while -at the same time permitting operations to go on should the particular vehicles named be temporarily out of commission, thus enabling the insurer to issue a policy upon a rate fair to both insured and insurer, rather -than one at a prohibitive premium for blanket coverage -of any and all vehicles which the insured might own or operate.\n\u201cSpecifically, construing the phrase 'withdrawn from normal use\u2019 as requiring the insured vehicle to be withdrawn from all normal use, it has been held! that where.the insured was involved in an accident while driving a borrowed automobile on .an extended trip, recovery was precluded by the failure of the injured person to establish that the track described in the policy, although in poor mechanical condition had been withdrawn from all normal use on the day of the accident. Also, the fact that a borrowed trailer was more suitable for a contemplated trip than a trailer owned by the insured and specifically covered under the policy could not be considered a 'breakdown, repair\u2019, servicing, loss, or destruction,\u2019 within the meaning of a \u2018substitution\u2019 .provision.\u201d Erickson v. Genisot, 322 Mich. 303, 33 N.W. 2d 803; State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Bass, 192 Tenn. 558, 241 S.W. 2d 568.\nIn the ease of Iowa Mutual Insurance Co. v. Addy, 132 Colo. 202, 286 P 2d 622, the reason for the substitution was strikingly similar to the case at bar. The insured owned an Oldsmobile which was covered with a policy of liability insurance issued by the defendant company and which bad a substitution provision identical with the one in the case before us. The insured also had a Chevrolet automobile, the property of his employer, which he kept at his home for use in his work \u00a1a\u00ae an insurance adjuster. The insured and his family were preparing to attend a Thanksgiving dinner\u2019 at the home of friends, when the insured discovered that his Oldsmobile automobile was \u201clow on gasoline and had heavy snow chains on the tires.\u201d Because of this, he decided to drive the Chevrolet \u2014 the company car. While enroute to their dinner appointment a collision occurred in which the plaintiff, the insured\u2019s wife, was injured. In the trial court the case was allowed to go to the jury .and the plaintiff recovered, on the theory that insured\u2019s automobile was \u201cwithdrawn from normal use because of * * * servicing * * On appeal this was reversed. The Court said: \u201cThe trial court determined that the oar in which plaintiff was injured, and being used by her husband at the time of the accident was a temporary substitute vehicle within the provisions of paragraph IV of the policy. This provision of the policy makes it clear that a temporary substitute automobile is one used by the insured temporarily when the automobile which is insured under the policy is withdrawn from its customary use because of its breakdown, repair, servicing, loss or destruction. No such situation could be made to apply here, because the only reason the Oldsmobile sedan covered by the policy was not used was because it was \u2018low on gasoline\u2019 and had heavy snow chains on the tires. This was not a breakdown, it was not destroyed, it was not being serviced at the time, neither\u2019 was it being repaired, and the trial court\u2019s apparent conception of the situation, that because it was low on gasoline and had snow chains on the tires, that it fell within the servicing exception is too strained for acceptance * * *. A reasonable and logical interpretation of the word \u2018servicing\u2019 would seem to present a condition where the automobile covered by the policy was -in some manner actually disabled.\u201d\nIt would seem there could be circumstances under which one might be justified in substituting another car, if the one insured was so defective mechanically that the owner was afraid to drive it on an extended trip. Allstate Insurance Co. v. Roberts, 156 Cal. App. 755, 320 P 2d 90. However, all the authorities hold that it must be proven that the defective car was withdrawn from normal use at the time and during the period the substitute car was used. Pennsylvania T. & F. Mut. Cas. Ins. Co. v. Robertson (U.S.C.A. 4th Cir.), 259 F 2d 389; State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Bass, supra; Iowa Mut. Ins. Co. v. Addy, supra; Erickson v. Genisot, supra. The Buick automobile covered by the defendant\u2019s policy of insurance had not had a breakdown, was not in need of repair, nor was it being serviced at the time Francis Lee was driving the 1947 Chrysler car.\nIn our opinion, the provisions upon which the appellant relies did not authorize the substitution of another car in lieu of the insured oar merely because the insured car was \u201clow on gas.\u201d The servicing, in our opinion, contemplates at least some mechanical adjustment before the car can be used in normal service. Moreover, in light of the testimony of Francis Lee, it would seem that there is considerable doubt about there being a substitution of the Chrysler car owned by Rupert Lee. Francis Lee testified he was driving Rupert\u2019s car and was going with Rupert to the \u201csetting-up.\u201d Unquestionably, we think if he had not been driving the car he would have been one of Rupert\u2019s guest passengers rather than in possession of the car as a substitute for the Buick.\nOn the other hand, the exclusion clause hereinabove set out has been construed many times. It Ibas been well-nigh universally construed to exclude an automobile furnished by another member of the household, furnished for regular use, as well as any hired or- leased automobile. Aler v. Travelers Indemnity Co., 92 F Supp. 620; Rathbun v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co., 144 Conn. 165; 128 A 2d 327; Leteff v. Maryland Casualty Co. (La. App.), 91 So. 2d 123; 5A Am. Jur., Automobile Insurance, section 88, page 86; Anno: 173 A.L.R. 902, et seq.\nThe case of Travelers Indemnity Co. v. Pray (U.S.C.A. 6th Cir.), 204 F 2d 821, construes the identical exclusion 'clause now before us as not excluding a ear furnished -by a member of the household) unless it was furnished for regular use and not for occasional use. This decision was by /a divided Court and has been criticized -in the case of Leteff v. Maryland Casualty Co., supra.\nThe Leteff case gives an -exhaustive review of eases in which the involved clause has been construed. In that case the Court \u00a9aid: \u201cBearing in mind the established mies of interpretation andi the reason for such exclusion clauses as shown in the cited jurisprudence,, we believe that the interpretation placed upon the exclusion clause by the majority in the Pray case not only stands alone 'but is in error. The great weight of authority is contra.\u201d\nThere can be no doubt about Rupert Lee and Francis Lee being members -of the same household under the definitions given by the various authorities. State Farm Mut. Auto Ins. Co. v. James (C.C.A. 4th Cir.), 80 F 2d 802; Farm Bureau Mut. Automobile Ins. Co. v. Violano (C.C.A. 2d Cir.), 123 F 2d 692. For many definitions of the word \u201chousehold/\u201d see Words and Phrases, Volume 19, page 700, et seq.\nIn our opinion, the ruling of the trial court on the defendant\u2019s motion for judgment as of nonsuit was correct, and we so -hold.\nAffirmed.", "type": "majority", "author": "DenNY, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "John R. Jenkins, Jr., /or plaintiff, appellant.", "James & Speight, William C. Brewer, Jr., for defendant, appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "HORACE RANSOM, Administrator of the Estate of NELSON RANSOM, Deceased v. THE FIDELITY AND CASUALTY COMPANY OF NEW YORK.\n(Filed 8 April, 1959.)\n1. Insurance \u00a7 54\u2014\nA provision in a policy that it should cover, in addition to tlie vehicle described, an automobile temporarily used by insured as a substitute while the described vehicle was withdrawn from normal use because of breakdown, repair, servicing-, loss or destruction, is held not to cover a vehicle of insured\u2019s brother, used by insured on the trip because insured\u2019s vehicle was \u201clow on gas.\u201d The word \u201cservicing\u201d imports at least the necessity for some mechanical adjustment before the car can be used in normal service. Further, in this case, insured was making the \u00a1trip in company with his brother.\n2. Same\u2014\nWhere insured and his brother lived in the house of their mother as members of one family, 'the use of the brother\u2019s ear by the insured on a particular trip comes within the clause of a policy of liability insurance excluding from its coverage a oar other than the one described in the policy and driven by insured, if such other car is furnished by a member of insured\u2019s household. In such instance, insured\u2019s brother is a member of the \u201chousehold\u201d within the definition of that word as used in the policy.\nAppeal by plaintiff from Frizzelle, J., August Term, 1958 of Beetie.\nTbifi( is a civil action instituted on 19 May 1958 by the plaintiff appellant, as surviving administrator, in which he seeks to force collection against the liability insurance carrier of Francis Lee, one of the parties against whom the administrators of Nelson Ransom, deceased, had previously recovered a judgment in the sum of $10,000 as damages for his wrongful death.\nPlaintiff\u2019s intestate died 3 April 1955 as a result of injuries sustained on the night of 2 April 1955 when he and his bicycle were struck by -the 1947 Chrysler automobile owned) by Rupert Lee and then being driven by his brother, Francis Lee.\nThe judgment against Rupert Lee 'and Francis Lee for the wrongful death of plaintiff\u2019s intestate was procured at the August Term 1957 of the Superior Count of Bertie County. Execution was duly issued on said judgment and returned unsatisfied.\nAt 'the time of the fatal injuries to plaintiff\u2019s intestate on 2 April 1955, there was in force an Automobile Policy of Liability Insurance, Policy No. VF 3560828, which the defendant 'appellee had theretofore issued to Francis Lee covering'his 1939 Buick 'automobile; and the limits of that contract for personal injuries and death were up to $10,000 for any one person and up to $20,000 in any one accident.\nFrancis Lee and Rupert Lee -both owned automobiles. There was no liability insurance on Rupert Lee\u2019s 1947 Chrysler.\nThe evidence is to the effect that on -the night of 2 April 1955, Francis Lee drove his car over to Elbert Williams\u2019 place. Rupert Lee \u201cshowed up later on his ear.\u201d The Lees and \u201csome other folks\u201d started to a \u201csetting-up,\u201d in another section of the county. Rupert Lee did not have a driver\u2019s license; one James Hawkins, ta next door neighbor of his, usually drove for him. On the night in question, it appears from the testimony that the 1939 Buick, owned by Francis Lee, the insured, was \u201clow on gas.\u201d Francis Lee testified, \u201cI was driving Rupert\u2019s car that night because I was low in gas in my car -and was going with Rupert to the setting-up.\u201d\nThe evidence further tends to show that Rupert Lee, age 37, and Francis Lee, age 25, at the time of the trial, had lived with their mother\u2019 for many years in a house which she built about 1951 or 1952 after her husband\u2019s death; that their grandmother and the daughter of Rupert Lee also lived in the home. All of the living expenses of these persons were paid by Rupert and) Francis Lee, the grandmother being an invalid -and the mother also being too feeble to work. Francis Lee testified, \u201cWe all lived there together as one family.\u201d\nAt the close of plaintiff\u2019s evidence, the defendant moved for judgment as of nonsuit. Motion allowed, and the plaintiff appeals, assigning error.\nJohn R. Jenkins, Jr., /or plaintiff, appellant.\nJames & Speight, William C. Brewer, Jr., for defendant, appellee." }, "file_name": "0060-01", "first_page_order": 100, "last_page_order": 105 }