OPINION
Appellant/Plaintiff Bruce Adkins appeals the trial court's order granting summary judgment in favor of Appellee/Defendant Vigilant Insurance Company ("Vigilant"). On appeal, Adkins asserts that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of Vigilant. Concluding that the trial court did not err in granting summary judgment in favor of Vigilant, we affirm.
I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY 1
On February 15, 2005, Bruce Adkins was operating a 1991 Kubota tractor along West 96th Street in Boone County as part of his employment as a groundskeeper for Lisa Sutphin. Adkins was injured when the tractor that he was driving was struck from behind by a 1997 Chevrolet van operated by Kenneth Neese. As a result of the incident, Adkins sustained permanent bodily injury and incurred medical expenses alleged to be in excess of $100,000.
At the time of the incident, Neese was insured by State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company pursuant to a policy which provided liability coverage with bodily injury limits of $100,000. Also at the time of the incident, Sutphin was insured by three separate insurance policies. The first policy was an automobile insurance policy issued by State Farm which provided underinsured motorist coverage with limits of $500,000 per person for bodily injury. The second policy was a homeowner's policy issued by CHUBB National Insurance Company which provided liability coverage with limits of $1,000,000, but no underinsured motorist coverage. The third policy, the policy at issue in the instant appeal, was an excess liability umbrella policy (the "Excess Umbrella Policy") issued by Vigilant which provided liability coverage with limits of $5,000,000 and underinsured motorist coverage with limits of $5,000,000. The Excess Umbrella Policy required the policyholder to maintain in full effect primary underlying liability insurance for the types of excess liability coverage it provided. Specifically, pursuant to the Excess Umbrella Policy, Sutphin was required to maintain "[pler-sonal liability (homeowners) for bodily injury and property damage in the minimum amount of $50,000 each occurrence," auto insurance "in the minimum amount of $250,000/$500,000 bodily injury and $25,000 property damage or $300,000 single limit each occurrence," and "[ulnin-sured/underingsured motorist protection in the minimum amount of $250,000/$500,000
Adkins filed suit against Neese on August 31, 2006, seeking to recover compensation for the injuries which he sustained as a result of the incident. Neese was later dismissed from the instant litigation after the partiеs entered into a settlement whereby Neese's auto insurance provider agreed to pay Adkins the $100,000 maximum policy limits On September 21, 2006, Adkins filed an amended complaint alleging that Neese was an underinsured motorist. Adkins's amended complaint asserted claims for underinsured motorist coverage against the providers of Sutphin's automobile, homeowner's, and excess umbrella insurance policies.
On December 12, 2006, Vigilant denied that its policy provided coverage for Ad-king's claim for underinsured motorist benefits. On January 30, 2007, Sutphin's automobile insurance provider was dismissed from the case by stipulation of the parties after the trial court determined that the automobile policy did not provide coverage because the tractor was not an insured vehicle under the policy. The trial court subsequently determined that Adkins's claim for underinsured motorist benefits was not covered by Sutphin's homeowner's insurance policy because the policy did not contain uninsured motorist coverage. Neither party disputed this determination.
During the course of litigation, the parties filed multiple motions for summary judgment and motions to reconsider the trial cоurt's previous rulings. 2 On September 28, 2008, the trial court held a hearing on the parties' motions to reconsider. On October 27, 2009, the trial court determined that the term "Required Primary Underlying Insurance" found in the Excess Umbrella Policy refers to the various types of primary insurance coverages which the named insured was required to keep in force pursuant to the Excess Umbrella Policy and that "the type and amount of the coverage depends upon the type of insurance coverage under which the plaintiff seeks to recover." Appellant's App. p. 321. The trial court noted that Adkins sought to recover under the uninsured/underinsured motorist provision of the Exeess Umbrella Policy and determined that as a result, the uninsured/un-derinsured motorist coverage under Sutphin's automobilе insurance policy was the Required Primary Insurance referred to in the Excess Umbrella Policy. The trial court entered judgment in favor of Vigilant, concluding that the Excess Umbrella Policy did not provide underinsured motorist coverage because the tractor was not a covered vehicle under the applicable Required Primary Insurance policy. Adkins now appeals.
II. DISCUSSION AND DECISION
A. Standard of Review
Thе purpose of summary judgment is to end litigation about which there can be no factual dispute and which may be determined as a matter of law. Shelter Ins. Co. v. Woolems,
On appeal, we review a summary judgment order de novo and must determine whether the designated evidence before the trial court presents a genuine issue of material fact and whether the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Bules v. Marshall County,
B. Applicable Law
1. Interpretation of Insurance Policies
It is well-established that the interpretation of an insurance policy is primarily a question of law for the court. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. v. Michigan Mut. Ins. Co.,
We review an insurance policy using the same rules of interpretation applied to other contracts, namely if the language is clear and unambiguous we will apply the plain and ordinary meaning. Liberty Mut. Ins.,
The meaning of an insurance contract can only be gleaned from a consideration of all its provisions, not from an analysis of individual words or phrases. Farmers Ins. Exchange v. Smith,
"A number of courts and commentators have described the differences between primary policies and umbrella policies." Monroe Guaranty Ins. Co. v. Langreck,
First, an umbrella policy, in contrast to a primary policy that contains another insurance clause, has been recognized as providing unique and special coverage. Umbrella or catastrophe coverage has been defined as a needed form of coverage which picks up, above the limits of all other contracts, such as automobile and homeowners coverages, to give the security and peace of mind so necessary today whеre jury verdicts, or court awards, may be very substantial, to discharge the unexpected, but potentially bankrupting, judgment. The premiums charged for umbrella coverage as opposed to primary coverage generally also reflects the different function served by umbrella policies. The language of a particular policy and its de-seription of coveragе are also relevant in distinguishing between primary and umbrella policies.
Id. (quotations omitted). Generally, the excess insurer has assessed its risk based on an assumption that the insureds have or will procure and maintain the agreed upon primary policy. See U.S. Fire Ins. Co. v. Charter Fin. Group, Inc.,
C. The Terms of the Vigilant Excess Umbrella Policy
The Coverage Summary of Sutphin's Excess Umbrella Policy names Lisa S. Sutphin as the insured party and lists Vigilant as the insuring party. Appellant's App. p. 94. With respect to the coverage provided by Sutphin's Exeess Umbrella Policy, the Coverage Summary provides as follows:
This Coverage Summary is part of your policy. PLEASE READ YOUR POLICY CAREFULLY, INCLUDING THIS COVERAGE SUMMARY, FOR A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF FOUR COVERAGES.
Liability
Amount of liability coverage: $5,000,000.
This is the total amount of your liability coverage. It applies to all property for which you have liability coverage, as shown in the following chart.
Your liability coverage covers damages for which you are legally responsible. For each occurrence, we will pay up to the amount of your liability coverage, as explained in your policy.
However, when you have excess liability only, we will pay for a covered loss only after the loss exceeds the required primary underlying insurance shown in your policy. This applies whether yоu have other liability coverage provided under a separate policy with us or by another insurance company.
Home HOUSE AT 6360 w 96" ST ZIONSVILLE, IN EXCESS LIABILITY ONLY
HOUSE AT 417 SOUTH BEACH ROAD EXCESS LIABILITY ONLY
HOBE SOUND, FL
Vehicle 1999 SUBARU LEGACY EXCESS LIABILITY ONLY
1995 MERCEDES C280 EXCESS LIABILITY ONLY
Whenever vehicles are shown we have included the type of Uninsured or Underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage you have selected. For vehicles where no UM/UIM appears there is no coverage. The amount of UM/UIM is determined by where the vehicle is garaged, which appears in the Mandated Coverages Section.
Appellant's App. pp. 94-95 (bold emphases in original, italics emphases added). The Excess Umbrella Policy defines the term "You" as "the person named in the Coverage Summary, and a spouse who lives with that person," here, Sutphin. Appellant's App. p. 90. The Excess Umbrella Policy defines the terms "we" and "us" as "the insurance company named in the Coverage Summary," here, Vigilant. Appellant's App. p. 90.
Further, the portion of Sutphin's Excess Umbrella Policy setting forth the terms relating to any payment for a loss by Vigilant provides as follows:
The amount of coverage for liability is shown in the Coverage Summary. We will pay on your behalf up to that amount for covered damages from any one оccurrence, regardless of how many claims, homes, vehicles, watercraft, or people are involved in the occurrence.
Appellant's App. p. 100 (emphases added). The Exeess Umbrella Policy further provides that Vigilant "will pay only for covered damages in excess of all underlying insurance covering those damages, even if the underlying coverage is fоr more than the minimum amount." Appellant's App. p. 100 (emphasis added). "'Damages' means the sum that is paid or is payable to satisfy a claim settled by [Vigilant] or resolved by judicial procedure or by a compromise [Vigilant] agree[s] to in writing." Appellant's App. p. 98. The term "underlying insurance" "includes all Hability coverage other than this part of [the insured's] policy that applies to the covered damages, except for other insurance purchased in excess of this policy." Appellant's App. p. 100 (emphases added).
The "Excess Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists Protection" section of the Excess Umbrella Policy provides as follows:
This coverage is in effect only if excess uninsured/underinsured motorist protection is shown in the Coverage Summary.
We covеr damages for bodily injury and property damage a covered person is legally entitled to receive from the owner or operator of an uninsured or under-insured motorized land vehicle We cover these damages in excess of the underlying insurance or the Required Primary Underlying Insurance, whichever is greater, if they are caused by an occurrence during the policy period, unless otherwise stated.
Appellant's App. 99, 102.
D. Analysis
On appeal, Adkins challenges the trial court's determination that Vigilant was entitled to summary judgment on the basis that Adking's alleged damages were not "covered damages" under the underin-sured motorists section of the Excess Umbrella Policy. Adkins argues that pursuant to the terms of the underinsured motorists section of the Excess Umbrella Policy, Neese's automobile liability insurance should be considered to be "underlying insurance" giving rise to coverage un
The Exeess Umbrella Policy, when read as a whole, clearly states that it provides excess coverage only after the loss exceeds the insured's relevant underlying insurance policy. This interpretation is supported by the explicit terms оf the Excess Umbrella Policy's Coverage Summary which provides as follows:
However, when you have excess liability only, we will pay for a covered loss only after the loss exceeds the required primary underlying insurance shown in your policy. This applies whether you have other lability coverage provided under a separate policy with us or by another insurance cоmpany.
Appellant's App. p. 94 (bold emphases in original, italics emphases added). The Policy specifically defines the terms "you" and "your" as referring to Sutphin. Appellant's App. p. 90. Notably, in describing the coverage afforded by the Policy, the Coverage Summary uses the terms you' or "your" approximately twelve times in describing the limits of Sutphin's coverage. s
In addition, the Covеrage Summary explicitly states that Sutphin's liability coverage is limited to the property listed in the following chart:
Home HOUSE AT EXCESS LIABILITY ONLY 6360 W 96TH ST ZIONSVILLE, IN
HOUSE AT EXCESS LIABILITY ONLY 417 SOUTH BEACH ROAD HOBE SOUND, FL
Vehicle 1999 SUBARU LEGACY EXCESS LIABILITY ONLY
1995 MERCEDES C280 EXCESS LIABILITY ONLY
Appellant's App. p. 94. The Coverage Summary further states that the Excess Umbrella Policy does not provide uninsured motorists protection to any vehicle where no uninsured/underin-sured coverage appears. Appellant's App. p. 95.
Upon review, we сonclude that nothing in the remainder of the Excess Umbrella Policy contradicts the terms set forth in the Coverage Summary. The terms are consistent throughout and it is clear upon a reading of the contract as a whole that the term "underlying insurance" refers to underlying insurance policies held by Sut-phin. The Excess Umbrella Policy clearly states that it merely provided Sutphin with excess liability coverage for damages for
Moreover, in light of our rеading of the Excess Umbrella Policy as a whole, we are unpersuaded by Adkins's contention that Vigilant's use of the disjunctive in the passage stating that Vigilant covers damages "in excess of the underlying insurance or the Required Primary Underlying Insurance" allows Neese's automobile insurance policy to qualify as underlying insurance. The sentence in question, when read in conjunction with Vigilant's repeated use of the terms "you" and "your" referring to Sutphin, convinces us that the term "underlying insurance" refers to underlying liability insurance policies potentially held by Sutphin in addition to those required by the policy. This interpretation is supported by the explicit language of the Coverage Summary which reads as follows: "This applies whether you have other liability coverage provided under a separate policy with us or by another insurance company." Appellant's App. p. 94. This passage allows for the possibility that Sut-phin may hold other insurance policies that could potentially affect Vigilant's potential exposure, but does not suggest that Vigilant's exposure could be affected by any policy held by a third party. Adkins presents no contractuаl language or relevant authority that would seem to contradict our interpretation, and we find none. Thus, we conclude that the trial court did not err in granting summary judgment in favor of Vigilant.
The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Notes
. We held oral argument in this matter on April 19, 2010, and wish to commend counsel on the quality of their oral advocacy.
. The record indicates that there are two trial judges of record because at some point, one of the trial judges was apparently called to active duty in the United States Military.