Full text
Wendy Setters individually and as the parent of minors Melanie Ann Setters and Nicole Krystal Setters v. Permanent General Assurance Corporation
I N THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
W ENDY SETTERS, i ndi vi dua l l y a nd ) C/ A NO. 03A01- 9605- CV- 00161 a s t h e pa r e nt o f t he mi nor s , ) M M NN COUNTY CI RCUI T COURT c I M l a ni e Ann Se t t e r s a nd e ) Ni c o l e Kr ys t a l Se t t e r s , )
Pl a i nt i f f - Appe l l a nt , ) ) ) FILED ) October 1, 1996 ) v. ) Cecil Crowson, Jr. ) Appellate C ourt Clerk ) ) PERMANENT GENERAL ASSURANCE ) CORPORATI ON, ) ) De f e nda nt - Appe l l e e , ) ) a nd ) ) ) W LLI AM B. SETTERS, I ) ) HONORABLE J OHN B. HAGLER, J R. , De f e nda nt . ) J UDGE
Fo r Ap p e l l a nt For Appe l l e e
E. L. PARKER, I I I J ERRY M M . ARTI N Et o wa h , Te nne s s e e Knoxvi l l e , Te nne s s e e
OPINION
AFFI RMED AND REMANDED Sus a no, J .
Thi s i s a de c l a r a t or y j udgme nt a c t i on. I n t he
c omp l a i nt , W ndy Se t t e r s ( M s . Se t t e r s ) s e e ks a de c l a r a t i on t h a t e r
a n e x c l us i on i n he r a ut omo bi l e i ns ur a nc e pol i c y i s i nva l i d a s a g a i ns t publ i c p ol i c y; a nd, a l t e r na t i ve l y, t h a t t he e xc l us i on, d u e t o a n a mbi gui t y i n t he i ns ur a nc e pol i c y, i s une nf or c e a bl e a g a i n s t he r . The s ubj e c t pr ovi s i on e xc l ude s t he e xt e ns i on of l i a b i l i t y c ove r a ge t o a n i ns ur e d whe n t ha t pe r s on’ s ne gl i ge nc e c a u s e s i nj ur y t o a f a mi l y me mbe r . Re l yi ng on t hi s e xc l us i on, t h e d e f e nd a nt , Pe r ma ne nt Ge ne r a l As s ur a nc e Cor por a t i on ( Pe r ma ne nt
Ge ne r a l ) , d e ni e d c ove r a ge wi t h r e s pe c t t o c l a i ms a s s e r t e d by M s . r
Se t t e r s i ndi vi dua l l y a nd on be ha l f of he r c hi l dr e n a r i s i ng s ol e l y o u t o f i nj ur i e s s us t a i ne d by t he c hi l dr e n i n a n a ut omobi l e a c c i d e nt . The a c c i de nt wa s c a us e d, i n pa r t , by t he ne gl i ge nt d r i v i n g of he r hus ba nd. The t r i a l c our t gr a nt e d Pe r ma ne nt Ge n e r a l ’ s mot i on f or j udgme nt on t he pl e a di ngs , f i ndi ng t he e x c l u s i on t o be “ va l i d, e nf or c e a bl e a nd not vi ol a t i ve of t he p u b l i c pol i c y” of Te nne s s e e . Pl a i nt i f f a ppe a l s , r a i s i ng t wo i s s u e s t ha t pr e s e nt t he f ol l owi ng que s t i ons :
1. I s a pr ovi s i on i n a n a ut omobi l e i ns ur a nc e pol i c y e xc l udi ng c ove r a ge f or l i a bi l i t y t o a “ f a mi l y me mbe r ” vi ol a t i ve of t he publ i c pol i c y of Te nne s s e e ?
2. I s t he l i a bi l i t y c ove r a ge i n t he s ubj e c t pol i c y a mbi guous s o a s t o wa r r a nt a s t r i c t c ons t r uc t i on a ga i ns t Pe r ma ne nt Ge ne r a l ?
I
Our r e vi e w i n t hi s c a s e i s gove r ne d by we l l - e s t a bl i s h e d r ul e s :
[ W e a r e bound t o t r e a t a s f a l s e a l l ] a l l e ga t i ons of . . . t he movi ng pa r t y, whi c h a r e de ni e d, a nd a s t r ue a l l we l l - pl e a de d a l l e ga t i ons c ont a i ne d i n t he pl e a di ngs of . . . t he oppone n t of t he mot i on. Se e Tr i gg v . M ddl e Te nn. El e c . M mbe r s hi p Cor p. , 533 i e S. W 2d 730, 732- 33 ( Te nn. App. 1975) . . In ot he r wor ds , on a n a ppe a l f r om a n or de r a l l owi ng a j udgme nt on t he pl e a di ngs . . . a l l we l l - pl e a de d f a c t s a nd a l l r e a s ona bl e i nf e r e nc e s d r a wn t he r e f r om mus t be a c c e pt e d a s t r ue . Tr i gg a t 733 ( c i t i ng Dar wi n v . Town of Cooke v i l l e , 170 Te nn. 508, 97 S. W 2d 838 . ( 1936) ; Rodge r s v . Rodge r s , 53 Te nn. 489 ( 1871) ) . Conc l us i ons of l a w a r e not a dmi t t e d nor s houl d j udgme nt on t he pl e a di ngs be gr a nt e d unl e s s t he movi ng pa r t y i s c l e a r l y e nt i t l e d t o j udgme nt . Tr i gg a t 733.
M Cl e na han v . Cool e y , 806 S. W 2d 767, 769 ( Te nn. 1991) . c . Thus , i n
t h e i n s t a nt c a s e we a c c e pt a s t r ue a l l we l l - pl e a de d f a c t s i n t h e
c o mp l a i nt . W mus t t he n de t e r mi ne whe t he r , on t he f a c e of t ha t e
p l e a d i ng, t h e p l a i nt i f f i s e nt i t l e d t o move f or wa r d. Aga i ns t t h i s b a c kgr ound, we be gi n our a na l ys i s .
II
Pe r ma ne nt Ge ne r a l i s s ue d t o M s . Se t t e r s a nd he r r
h u s b a n d , W l l i a m Se t t e r s , a n a ut omobi l e i ns ur a nc e pol i c y. i The
p o l i c y i nc l ude s l i a bi l i t y i ns ur a nc e c ove r a ge f or “ ‘ bodi l y i nj ur y ’ *4 o r ‘ p r o pe r t y da ma ge ’ f or whi c h a ny ‘ i ns ur e d’ be c ome s l e ga l l y r e s p o n s i bl e . ” The pol i c y de f i ne s “ i ns ur e d” i n pa r t a s “ you or a n y ‘ f a mi l y me mbe r . ’ ” I t f ur t he r pr ovi de s t ha t Pe r ma ne nt Ge ne r a l h a s “ n o dut y t o de f e nd a ny s ui t or s e t t l e a ny c l a i m f or ‘ bodi l y i n j u r y ’ or ‘ pr ope r t y da ma ge ’ not c ove r e d unde r t hi s pol i c y. ” Th e p o l i c y c ont a i ns a numbe r of e xc l us i ons . One of t he s e e xc l us i on s i s s t a t e d a s f ol l ows :
A. W do not pr ovi de Li a bi l i t y Cove r a ge e f or a ny pe r s on:
- • * *
10. For bodi l y i nj ur y t o you or a ny “ f a mi l y me mbe r . ”
Th e t e r m “ f a mi l y me mbe r ” i s de f i ne d i n t he pol i c y a s
a pe r s on r e l a t e d t o you by bl ood, ma r r i a ge or a dopt i on who i s a r e s i de nt of your hous e hol d. Thi s i nc l ude s a wa r d or f os t e r c hi l d.
Soon a f t e r t he pol i c y we nt i nt o e f f e c t , M . Se t t e r s wa s r
d r i v i n g a n a ut omobi l e whe n he wa s i nvol ve d i n a c ol l i s i on wi t h a no t h e r ve hi c l e . The a c c i de nt wa s c a us e d, a t l e a s t i n pa r t , b y
h i s n e g l i ge nc e . The Se t t e r s ’ mi nor c hi l dr e n, M l a ni e Ann Se t t e r s e
a nd Ni c ol e Kr ys t a l Se t t e r s , we r e pa s s e nge r s i n M . Se t t e r s ’ c a r r
a n d we r e i nj ur e d i n t he a c c i de nt . M s . Se t t e r s s ubs e que nt l y ma d e r
d e ma n d upon Pe r ma ne nt Ge ne r a l f or pa yme nt of da ma ge s s us t a i ne d a s a r e s u l t of t he c hi l dr e n’ s i nj ur i e s . Ba s e d upon t he “ f a mi l y *5 me mb e r ” e xc l us i on i n t he pol i c y, Pe r ma ne nt Ge ne r a l r e f us e d t o h o n o r h e r c l a i ms a nd t hi s l i t i ga t i on r e s ul t e d.
III
The f i r s t i s s ue r a i s e d by M s . Se t t e r s i s whe t he r r
e n f o r c e me nt of t he pol i c y’ s e xc l us i on of l i a bi l i t y c ove r a ge f o r i n j u r i e s t o a f a mi l y me mbe r vi ol a t e s t he publ i c pol i c y of Te n n e s s e e . She a r gue s t ha t by e xc l udi ng “ i nnoc e nt vi c t i ms f r o m c o v e r a g e ” a nd “ unf a i r l y e xpos i ng t he i ns ur e d t o l i a bi l i t y wi t h o u t c o v e r a g e , ” t hi s e xc l us i on c ont r a ve ne s t he publ i c pol i c y of Te n n e s s e e , a s e xpr e s s e d i n t he Fi na nc i a l Re s pons i bi l i t y La w of 1 9 7 7 , a s a me nde d ( t he Ac t ) , T. C. A. § 55- 12- 101 e t s e q. I n he r
b r i e f , s he pr i ma r i l y r e l i e s upon a c a s e f r om W s hi ngt on, M ual a ut
o f Enumc l aw I ns . Co. v . W s c omb, 634 P. 2d 441 ( W s h. 1982) . i a In
t h a t c a s e , t he Supr e me Cour t of W s hi ngt on de c l a r e d t ha t t he s e a
t y p e s o f f a mi l y me mbe r e xc l us i ons we r e voi d a s a ga i ns t t he publ i c
p o l i c y of t ha t s t a t e . W t h a l l due de f e r e nc e t o t ha t c our t a nd i
i t s r e a s oni ng, we f i nd t ha t t he l a w of t hi s j ur i s di c t i on i s o t h e r wi s e .
Te nne s s e e c our t s ha ve c ons i s t e nt l y he l d t ha t f a mi l y me mb e r e xc l us i ons i n l i a bi l i t y i ns ur a nc e pol i c i e s a r e va l i d. Se e
e . g . , Ho l t v . St at e Far m M . Aut o. I ns . Co. , 486 S. W 2d 734, 7 3 5 ut .
( Te n n . 1972) ; Omaha Pr ope r t y & Cas ual t y I ns . Co. V. Johns on, 86 6
S. W 2 d 539, 541 ( Te nn. App. 1993) ; Be e f N’ Bi r d of Ame r i c a, I nc . .
v . Co nt i ne nt al Cas ual t y Co. , 803 S. W 2d 234, 237 ( Te nn. App. .
1 9 9 0 ) ; a nd Dr e s s l e r v . St at e Far m M . Aut o. I ns . Co. , 376 S. W 2 d ut .
7 0 0 , 7 0 2 ( Te nn. App. 1963) . I n Hol t , t he Supr e me Cour t r e a f f i r me d t he hol di ng of Dr e s s l e r t ha t
[ c ] l a us e s i n i ns ur a nc e c ont r a c t s e xc l udi ng f r om c ove r a ge me mbe r s of t he i ns ur e d’ s f a mi l y or hous e hol d a r e va l i d a nd bi ndi ng.
Hol t , 4 86 S. W 2d a t 735 ( quot i ng Dr e s s l e r , 376 S. W 2d a t 702) . . .
I n mo r e ge ne r a l t e r ms , t he c our t s of t hi s s t a t e ha ve he l d t ha t “ c l e a r l y wor de d e xc l us i on[ s ] ” t ha t l i mi t , but do not c ompl e t e l y n e g a t e , ot he r ge ne r a l pr ovi s i ons wi t hi n a pol i c y, a r e not
c o n t r a r y t o publ i c pol i c y. Be e f N’ Bi r d of Ame r i c a, 803 S. W 2 d .
a t 237.
Thi s c our t a ddr e s s e d a c a s e s i mi l a r t o t he i ns t a nt c a s e i n t h e unr e por t e d c a s e of J. C. Pe nne y Cas ual t y I ns . Co. v .
Do ug l a s , C/ A No. 01A01- 9010- CH- 00338, 1991 W 3311 ( Te nn. App. , L
M S. , f i l e d J a nua r y 1 8, 1 991, Ca nt r e l l , J . ) . . Tha t c a s e i nvol ve d
t wo q u e s t i ons : whe t he r t he i ns ur e d’ s s t e ps on f e l l wi t hi n a f a mi l y me mb e r e xc l us i on s i mi l a r t o t he one a t i s s ue he r e , a nd whe t he r s u c h a c l a us e wa s vi ol a t i ve of publ i c pol i c y. As i s t he c a s e h e r e , t he f a mi l y me mbe r e xc l us i on wa s a l l e ge d t o be i n c onf l i c t wi t h t h e pol i c y unde r l yi ng t he Ac t . The c our t i n J. C. Pe nne y h e l d t h a t t he s t e ps on f e l l wi t hi n t he e xc l us i on; a nd t ha t t he p o l i c y wa s c ons i s t e nt wi t h t he Ac t ’ s ma nda t e s wi t h r e s pe c t t o
p r o o f o f f i na nc i a l r e s pons i bi l i t y. I d. 1991 W 3311 a t *4. L Th e
c o u r t a l s o not e d t ha t a c our t ’ s a ut hor i t y t o de c l a r e publ i c
p o l i c y i s c l e a r l y c i r c ums c r i be d. I d. 1991 W 3311 a t *3. L As
s t a t e d by t he Supr e me Cour t i n Smi t h v . Gor e , 728 S. W 2d 738 .
( Te n n . 1987) ,
[ t ] he Cour t i s not f r e e t o e s t a bl i s h wha t i t s me mbe r s be l i e ve t o be t he be s t pol i c y f or t he St a t e ; r a t he r , we mus t de t e r mi ne whe r e publ i c pol i c y i s t o be f ound, wha t t he s pe c i f i c publ i c pol i c y i s , a nd how i t i s a ppl i c a bl e t o t he c a s e a t ha nd. Or di na r i l y, t he Cour t i s not t he i ns t i t ut i on t ha t i s c a l l e d upon t o di vi ne t he na t ur e of publ i c pol i c y i n i t s mos t ge ne r a l t e r ms ; t hi s Cour t us ua l l y de c i de s whe t he r or not a ny c ont r ol l i ng publ i c pol i c y ha s be e n e s t a bl i s he d or de c l a r e d a nd t he n de t e r mi ne s how i t a ppl i e s t o a pa r t i c ul a r c a s e .
I d. a t 746. The s e pr i nc i p l e s we r e f ol l owe d by t he c our t i n J. C. Pe nne y , a nd we be l i e ve t he y c ont r ol he r e .
The l e gi s l a t i ve br a nc h i s ve s t e d wi t h t he pr i ma r y a u t h o r i t y t o e s t a bl i s h pub l i c pol i c y. Cr awf or d v . Buc kne r , 83 9
S. W 2 d 754, 759 ( Te nn. 199 2) ( c i t i ng Hy de v . Hy de , 562 S. W 2d 1 9 4 , . .
1 9 6 ( Te nn. 1978) ) . W be l i e ve t ha t a ny de t e r mi na t i on t ha t f a mi l y e
me mb e r e xc l us i ons a r e vi ol a t i ve of publ i c pol i c y mus t be l e f t t o
t h e Ge n e r a l As s e mbl y. W not e t ha t body ha s ha d a mpl e e
o p p o r t u ni t y t o a ddr e s s t hi s i s s ue i n t he Ac t a nd e l s e whe r e , ye t h a s f a i l e d t o do s o.
The r e c e nt c a s e of Br oadwe l l by Br oadwe l l v . Hol me s ,
8 7 1 S. W 2d 471 ( Te nn. 1994) , doe s not c ompe l a c ont r a r y .
c o n c l u s i on. The r e t he Supr e me Cour t l i mi t e d pa r e nt a l i mmuni t y , h o l d i n g t ha t
[ p] a r e nt a l i mmuni t y i n Te nne s s e e i s l i mi t e d t o c onduc t t ha t c ons t i t ut e s t he e xe r c i s e of pa r e nt a l a ut hor i t y, t he pe r f or ma nc e of pa r e nt a l s upe r vi s i on, a nd t he pr ovi s i on of pa r e nt a l c a r e a nd c us t ody.
I d. a t 476- 77. The Br oadwe l l c a s e f ol l owe d on t he “ he e l s ” of t h e a b o l i t i on of t he doc t r i ne of s pous a l i mmuni t y i n t he Supr e me
Co u r t c a s e of Dav i s v . Dav i s , 657 S. W 2d 753 ( Te nn. 1983) . . M s. r
Se t t e r s a r gue s t ha t t he s e de c i s i ons s houl d be “ l ogi c a l l y” e x t e n d e d t o i nva l i da t e a ny c l a us e i n a n i ns ur a nc e pol i c y t ha t e x c l u d e s l i a bi l i t y c ove r a ge f or i nj ur i e s t o a s pous e or ot he r
f a mi l y me mbe r . W di s a gr e e . e
The c a s e o f El am v . Pr ot e c t i v e I ns . Co. a nd Pe r mane nt
Ge ne r al As s ur anc e Cor p. , 1987 W 13829 ( Te nn. App. , W S. , f i l e d L .
J u l y 1 6 , 1987, Ne a r n, J . ) , r e v ’ d on ot he r gr ounds , 1990 W 458 L
( Te n n . , f i l e d J a nua r y 8, 1990, not de s i gna t e d f or publ i c a t i on, O’ Br i e n, J . ) , a ddr e s s e d t h e e f f e c t of Dav i s ’ a bol i t i on of s pous a l i mmu n i t y on a f a mi l y me mbe r e xc l us i on i n a n i ns ur a nc e pol i c y t h a t o p e r a t e d t o de ny l i a bi l i t y c ove r a ge t o a wi f e whos e hus ba nd wa s i n j u r e d a s a r e s ul t of t he f or me r ’ s ne gl i ge nc e . The c our t f oun d t ha t t he Dav i s de c i s i on, whi c h a ddr e s s e d whe t he r one s pous e c ou l d b r i n g a n a c t i on a ga i ns t t he ot he r i n t or t , ha d no be a r i ng on t h a t c a s e , whi c h, a s he r e , i nvol ve d t he i nt e r pr e t a t i on of a c ont r a c t
o f i n s u r a nc e . El am, 1987 W 13829 a t *2. L The c our t we nt on t o
s t a t e t ha t “ s pous a l e xc l us i on pr ovi s i ons i n a l i a bi l i t y pol i c y a r e n o t vi ol a t i ve of publ i c pol i c y. ” I d. ( c i t i ng Dr e s s l e r v .
St at e Fa r m M . Aut o. I ns . Co. , 376 S. W 2d 700 ( Te nn. App. ut .
1963) ) .
El am i s a na l ogous t o t he c a s e a t ha nd. I n our
j u d g me n t , t he de c i s i ons i n Br oadwe l l a nd Dav i s , whi c h M s . r
Se t t e r s a s ks t ha t we e xt e nd t o i nva l i da t e t he f a mi l y me mbe r e x c l u s i on he r e , do not ha ve t he “ e l a s t i c i t y” s ugge s t e d by he r .
W d o n ot r e a d Br oadwe l l t o r e qui r e i nva l i da t i on of t hi s e
e x c l u s i ona r y pr ovi s i on on publ i c pol i c y gr ounds . Fur t he r mor e , c a s e s d e c i de d s ubs e que nt t o Br oadwe l l ha ve uphe l d s i mi l a r f a mi l y me mb e r e xc l us i ons , wi t hout e xpr e s s i ng a ny r e s e r va t i ons ba s e d o n
p u b l i c pol i c y gr ounds . Se e , e . g. , St at e Far m M . Aut o. I ns . Co . ut
v . Do t s on, C/ A No. 02A01- 9407- CV- 00166, 1995 W 548784 ( Te nn. L
Ap p . , W S. , f i l e d Se pt e mbe r 18, 1995, Hi ghe r s , J . ) a nd Al l s t at e .
I ns . Co . V. Summe r s , C/ A No. 01A01- 9407- CV- 00361, 1994 W 71983 9 L
( Te n n . App. , M S. , f i l e d De c e mbe r 30, 1 994, Le wi s , J . ) . . The
c o u r t i n Dot s on a f f i r ma t i ve l y s t a t e d t ha t “ e xc l us i ona r y p r o v i s i ons i n a ut omobi l e i ns ur a nc e pol i c i e s a r e not i nc ons i s t e n t
wi t h t he p ubl i c p ol i c y o f t hi s s t a t e . ” Dot s on, 1995 W 548784 a t L
*3.
An i ns ur a nc e pol i c y mus t be c ons t r ue d i n a r e a s ona bl e , l o g i c a l ma nne r , s o a s t o e f f e c t ua t e t he i nt e nt i on of t he pa r t i e s .
J . C. Pe nne y , 1991 W 3311 a t *2. L Pa r t i e s t o a n i ns ur a nc e
c on t r a c t a r e f r e e t o c ont r a c t a s t he y s e e f i t s o l ong a s t he y *10 r e ma i n wi t hi n t he bounds of l a w, i nc l udi ng publ i c pol i c y. El a m,
1 9 8 7 W 13829 a t *2. L Gi ve n t he s e c ons i de r a t i ons , a nd t he
a u t h o r i t y i n t hi s s t a t e hol di ng t ha t f a mi l y me mbe r e xc l us i ons i n l i a b i l i t y p ol i c i e s a r e c ons i s t e nt wi t h t he publ i c pol i c y of Te n n e s s e e , we hol d t ha t t he e xc l us i on a t i s s ue i n t hi s c a s e i s n o t c o n t r a r y t o publ i c pol i c y.
IV
M s . Se t t e r s ’ s e c ond i s s ue r a i s e s t he que s t i on of r
wh e t h e r t he t e r ms of t he pol i c y c r e a t e s uc h a n a mbi gui t y a s t o
r e q u i r e a s t r i c t c ons t r uc t i on i n he r f a vor . W do not f i nd a n y e
a mb i g u i t y i n t he r e l e va nt pr ovi s i ons of t he pol i c y.
I t i s t r ue t ha t a mbi guous pr ovi s i ons i n a n i ns ur a nc e p o l i c y a r e t o be c ons t r ue d a ga i ns t t he i ns ur e r ; howe ve r , i n t he a b s e n c e of a ny a mbi gui t y,
i t i s t he d ut y of t he Cour t . . . t o t a ke t he or di na r y me a ni ng of t he wor ds us e d, f a vor i ng ne i t he r p a r t y i n t he i r c ons t r uc t i on. . . The c our t s c a nnot c r e a t e a n a mbi gui t y whe r e none e xi s t s .
Oma ha Pr ope r t y & Cas ual t y I ns . Co. , 866 S. W 2d a t 541 ( quot i ng .
W ne c o f f v . Nat i onwi de M . I ns . Co. , 444 S. W 2d 84, 87 ( Te nn. i ut .
1 9 6 9 ) a nd I n r e Cl e me nt ’ s Es t at e , 414 S. W 2d 644, 646 ( Te nn. .
1967) ) . I n a ddi t i on, a s s t a t e d by t hi s c our t ,
[ s ] o l ong a s a n e xc l us i ona r y c l a us e me r e l y l i mi t s c ove r a ge a nd doe s not t ot a l l y e ma s c ul a t e a pr e vi ous l y s t a t e d c ove r a ge , t hi s Cour t doe s not c onc e i ve a c l e a r l y wor de d e xc l us i on t o be r e pugna nt t o a pr e vi ous ge ne r a l s t a t e me nt of c ove r a ge .
Be e f N’ Bi r d, 803 S. W 2d a t 237. . Tha t i s t he s i t ua t i on now
b e f o r e us . The pol i c y c on t a i ns a s t a t e me nt of c ove r a ge , f ol l owe d b y a p r ovi s i on r e l i e vi ng Pe r ma ne nt Ge ne r a l of t he obl i ga t i on t o d e f e nd or s e t t l e c l a i ms t ha t a r e not c ove r e d. I t l at er e nu me r a t e s c e r t a i n e xc l us i ons , or s pe c i f i c c i r c ums t a nc e s unde r
wh i c h t he pol i c y’ s l i a bi l i t y c ove r a ge doe s not a ppl y. W do n o t e
f i n d t h e s e va r i ous pr ovi s i ons , whe n r e a d t oge t he r , t o be a mb i g u o us . The r e i s c ove r a ge e xc e pt whe n t ha t c ove r a ge i s e x p r e s s l y e xc l ude d.
W a r e wi t hout a ut hor i t y t o “ r e wr i t e pol i c i e s of e
i n s u r a n c e t o pr ovi de c ove r a ge whe r e no c ove r a ge wa s i nt e nde d. ”
Sp e a r s v . Comme r c i al I ns . Co. Of Ne war k, N. J. , 866 S. W 2d 544, .
5 4 8 ( Te nn. App. 1993) . Si nc e we f i nd no a mbi gui t y i n t he
r e l e v a n t l a ngua ge of t he p ol i c y he r e , we hol d t ha t M s . Se t t e r s ’ r
s e c o n d i s s ue i s a l s o wi t hout me r i t .
The j udgme nt of t he t r i a l c our t i s a f f i r me d. Cos t s o n a pp e a l a r e a s s e s s e d t o t he a ppe l l a nt a nd he r s ur e t y. Thi s c a s e i s r e ma nde d t o t he t r i a l c our t f or c ol l e c t i on of c os t s a s s e s s e d t h e r e , pur s ua nt t o a ppl i c a bl e l a w.
_________________________ Cha r l e s D. Sus a no, J r . , J .
CONCUR:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ __________________ Ho u s t o n M Godda r d, P. J . .
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ __________________ He r s c he l P. Fr a nks , J .