69 N.Y.S. 181 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1901
This action is founded upon a standard fire insurance policy issued by the defendant to the plaintiff March 20, 1899, and which contains this clause: “ $1,500.00 on stock of furniture of every description, including mirrors, brackets, desks, lounges, mattresses, springs, ana such other stock as usually kept for sale in a retail furniture store, while contained in tho brick building and additions attached situate No. 967 on the south side of Broadway, Buffalo,, N„ Y.”
The plaintiff was engaged in the retail furniture business, occupying a brick store fronting on Broadway in the city of Buffalo, and
In Cargill v. Millers' & Manufacturers' Mut. Ins. Co. (33 Minn. 90) the policy covered a “ steam-power elevator building and additions with porches and platforms attached, including engine and boiler house.” This was held sufficiently comprehensive to include a warehouse two and one-lialf feet from the main building but connected together by strips of board nailed upon each building, although the only means of entrance to the warehouse was by a window gained by a cleat ladder on the sides of the building. Of like effect is Home
It is a fact not to be overlooked that the only building to which the term “ additions attached ” can relate is this frame building. The language is, therefore, surplusage unless it embraces that building, and we must give effect to every part of the policy if we can do so without obvious violence to the intention of the parties to it.
The structure impinged against the rear of the brick building. It extended onto lot 967 sufficiently to do this; hence it was not wholly on the lot adjoining. The fact that it was upon both lots is not of sufficient moment to relieve the insurer from liability. Nor was it detached. It was connected as closely to the brick building as the nature of the structure would permit.
It is a familiar rule in the interpretation of insurance policies that where any uncertainty exists in the language it will be resolved in favor of the insured. (Rickerson v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 149 N. Y. 307, 313, supra; Matthews v. American Centred Ins. Co., 154 id. 449.) In the latter case we find the following (at p. 456) : “ The policy, although of the standard form, was prepared by insurers, who are presumed to have had their own interests primarily in view, and hence, when the meaning is doubtful, it should be construed most favorably to the insured, who had nothing to do with the preparation thereof.”
These two buildings were occupied by the plaintiff in his furni
The judgment should be affirmed, with costs to the respondent.
All concurred.
Judgment affirmed, with costs.