202 Wis. 470 | Wis. | 1930
The action is to recover on a life insurance policy containing a clause for additional payment, of $2,000 in case of death by accident which clause contained the following exception:
“Provided, however, that no accidental death benefit shall be payable if such death resulted from suicide — whether sane or insane; from having been engaged in aviation or submarine operations or in military or naval service in time of war; or from a state of war, riot, or insurrection; or, directly or indirectly from bodily or mental infirmity or disease in any form.”
The only question involved is that of liability under the accident clause.
The insured met death in the fall of an airplane. He was not in the business of aviation or of operating airplanes. He had owned an airplane for a time the summer previous to the accident and had apparently learned, or thought he had, to operate a plane. The only witness was a Mr. Rollins, who had landed in presence of the insured from a solo flight in a plane owned by himself and his brother.
The application upon which the policy was issued contained among others the following questions, to both of which the applicant answered “No “Do you expect to take aerial flights or submarine voyages within the next year, either for pleasure or business?” And “Are you now or have you any intention of becoming connected with the military or naval service, either regular or reserve?”
The appellant claims that the language of the exception, “having been engaged in aviation,” exempts it from liability for a death resulting from either operating a plane or riding in a plane as a passenger. The respondent claims that the policy covers deaths resulting from any aviation accidents, whether to passengers in or operators of airplanes, except those occurring “in time of war.” These claims are broader than the particular facts involved require us to determine, as the deceased was not a passenger, but they are stated because courts have ruled differently upon them, and their differing rulings indicate that the provision under construction is ambiguous.
The main contention of appellant may be briefly stated as follows: the primary rule of construction is that all words and phrases shall be construed according to the common and approved usage of the language, unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the parties. This is the rule for statutory construction given by sec. 370.01' (1), Stats., but it applies with equal force to the construction of contracts, if the word “parties” be substituted for the word “legislature” in the statute. The common rather than the technical interpretation should
One of the main contentions of respondent is that the adverbial phrase “in time of war” refers back to the predicate phrase “having been engaged,” and thus excludes all peace-time aviation and aviation operations from the exception. But appellant contends that by common usage adverbial phrases are placed in juxtaposition, as nearly as can be, to that which they qualify. Consequently, by common usage, the phrase “in time of war” refers to that nearest it which it may reasonably be inferred to qualify, which in this instance is the phrase “in military or naval service.” This is the doctrine of the last antecedent approved and applied in Jorgenson v. Superior, 111 Wis. 561, 566, 87 N. W. 565. “Relative and qualifying words, phrases, and clauses are to be applied to the words or phrase immediately preceding, and are not to be construed as extending to or including others more remote, unless such extension is clearly required by a consideration of the entire act.” 36 Cyc. 1123. This was said with reference to construction of a statute, but like sec. 370.01 (1) it applies with equal-force to construction of contracts. The respondent also urges in this connection that the punctuation requires reference of the phrase “in time of war” to the predicate phrase, but appellant answers that it is very seldom that construction hinges on punctuation and that it is never a very forceful consideration. Respondent seeks to fortify its contention in this, rqppect by urging that separating the excepting clauses by semicolons indicates an intent to except four distinct classes of accidents: those resulting from (1) suicide, (2) activities in waging war, (3) war, riot, or insurrection,
Respondent also contends that the phrase “engaged in” implies occupation or continuous activity as distinguished from a single act. It has often been so held in construing ordinances and acts requiring licenses of one “engaged in business.” Nashville, C. & St. L. R. Co. v. Attalla, 118 Ala. 362, 24 South. 450; State v. Roberson, 136 N. C. 587, 48 S. E. 595. Appellant responds that the phrase “engaged in” has been held to apply to a single act in construing an ordinance imposing a penalty against a person who is “engaged in shooting,” and that it will be so held whenever the context indicates that single acts should be included. Smith v. State, 50 Ala. 159.
This summary of counsel’s arguments, which is not intended as complete, indicates quite clearly that the meaning of the exception clause involved is not free from doubt and
This brings, us to the point of saying that some members of this court would say that construing the language of the provision itself the deceased is within the exception and some would say that he is not. But all are agreed that the situation is one for application of the familiar rule that where a provision of an insurance policy is ambiguous, where it is doubtful whether it should be construed in favor of the company or the insured, that construction will be given which is favorable to the insured. If an insurance company in writ
By the Court. — The judgment is affirmed.
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