TODD MCLAUGHLIN, а Washington resident, Petitioner, v. TRAVELERS COMMERCIAL INSURANCE COMPANY, a foreign corporation, Respondent.
No. 97652-0
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
December 10, 2020
MADSEN, J.
En Banc. Filed: December 10, 2020. FILE IN CLERK‘S OFFICE SUPREME COURT, STATE OF WASHINGTON DECEMBER 10, 2020. THIS OPINION WAS FILED FOR RECORD AT 8 A.M. ON DECEMBER 10, 2020.
MADSEN,
McLaughlin‘s insurance policy covered those expenses if McLaughlin was a “pedestrian” at the time of the accident. Clerk‘s Papers (CP) at 39. McLaughlin argues that a bicyclist is a pedestrian, relying on the definition of “pedestrian” found in the Washington laws governing casualty insurance.
McLaughlin used to live in California and bought his automobile insurance policy there. That policy included medical payments, or MedPay coverage, which is similar to the personal injury protection (PIP) coverage that is required under Washington law.1 The salient question in this case, however, is the meaning of the undefined term “pedestrian” in McLaughlin‘s insurance policy. As explained below, under the terms of McLaughlin‘s insurance policy he was covered for medical payments, in the amount designated in the policy, for his bicycle-car accident if he qualified as a “pedestrian.” Accordingly, the question for this court is whether the undefined term “pedestrian” in
On this question the trial court ruled that the answer is no, reasoning that the plain, ordinary meaning of “pedestrian” excludes bicyclists. The Court of Appeals affirmed but relied largely on its view that the Washington statute defining pedestrian for purposes of casualty insurance,
For the reasons discussed below, we disagree, reverse the Court of Appeals, and remand for further proceedings.
FACTS
McLaughlin was riding his bicycle near downtown Seattle when a motorist opened the door of his рarked vehicle and hit McLaughlin. As a result, McLaughlin alleges that he “incurred tens of thousands of dollars in medical expenses.” CP at 198.
At the time of the incident, McLaughlin was insured by Travelers Commercial Insurance Company. Travelers had issued McLaughlin an automobile policy in California, where McLaughlin had lived just before his move to Washington. The policy included MedPay coverage under which Travelers agreed to pay up to $5,000 worth of medical expenses incurred by an “insured.” CP at 17-18, 39. The policy defined “insured” in part as “You . . . as a pedestrian when struck by[] a motor vehicle.” CP at 39 (emphasis added). The policy did not define “pedestrian.”
Shortly after the accident, McLaughlin filed a claim with Travelers. Travelers denied coverage because McLaughlin was not a “pedestrian” under the policy. CP at 64-65. Travelers quoted definitions of “pedestrian” purportedly from the Washington and California vehicle codes, both of which explicitly exclude bicyclists. Id. (purportedly quoting
McLaughlin asked Travelers to reconsider, but Travelers stuck with its original decision. McLaughlin then notified the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner that he planned to sue Travelers and again attempted to resolve the dispute without a lawsuit. Travelers adhered to its original position.
McLaughlin sued Travelers for, among other claims, breach of contract. The parties stipulated to certain facts and filed cross motions for partial summary judgment on
a single legal issue: “[W]hether [Travelers] breached its insurance contract when it denied coverage to [McLaughlin] for Medical Payments on grounds that [McLaughlin] was not injured as a ‘pedestrian.‘” CP at 11.
The trial court ruled that Travelers did not breach the contract because “an ordinary and common meaning of pedestrian does not include bicyclist.” Summ. J. Hr‘g at 22. Thus, the court grаnted Travelers’ motion for partial summary judgment and denied McLaughlin‘s. To make the trial court‘s order final and thus immediately appealable, McLaughlin successfully moved to voluntarily dismiss without prejudice all his claims except breach of contract. That voluntary dismissal, along with the parties’ stipulation to facts, provides the only issue for appeal: Under the insurance policy, does the word “pedestrian” include bicyclists?
Relying on the dictionary definition, the Court of Appeals began by holding that the term “pedestrian” does not include bicyclists. McLaughlin, 9 Wn. App. 2d at 680. The Court of Appeals additionally held that
McLaughlin sought review, which we granted. 194 Wn.2d 1016 (2020).2
ANALYSIS
I
As a threshold matter, Washington law applies here concerning application of
Further, Travelers has conceded that the California policy‘s MedPay coverage is equivalent to Washington PIP coverage for present purposes. In its briefing to the Court of Appeals, Travelers describes McLaughlin‘s insurance policy as containing various coverages, including “MedPay coverage (often referred to a[s] PIP coverаge),” and continued to maintain that “Washington and California law are consistent with respect to the coverage issues presented.” Br. of Resp‘t Travelers Commercial Ins. Co. at 4, 10 (Wash. Ct. App. No. 78534-6-I (2018)). That concession is valid. The nominal differences (e.g., required coverage amounts) are not material in the present context. The salient point is that McLaughlin‘s insurance policy provides for payments for injuries sustained by an insured.
Also, we are reviewing a summary judgment determination and thus focus our inquiry on the propriety of the trial court‘s ruling, limiting our inquiry to the record presented to the trial court and tо the issues as presented to the trial court. See Dowler v. Clover Park Sch. Dist. No. 400, 172 Wn.2d 471, 484, 258 P.3d 676 (2011) (“We review summary judgment rulings de novo, engaging in the same inquiry into the evidence and issues called to the attention of the trial court.“); RAP 9.12 (“On review of an order granting or denying a motion for summary judgment the appellate court will consider only evidence and issues called to the attention of the trial court.“).
In its motion for partial summary judgment, Travelers argued to the trial court that the issue presented was “Whether Plaintiff [McLaughlin] is entitled to MedPay Benefits under his Travelers’ Policy.” CP at 69 (Def.‘s Mot. for Partial Summ. J. Regarding Contractual Claims at 4). In its motion, Travelers conceded, “As set forth below, there is no conflict between the laws of Washington and California with respect to the contractual issues.” Id. at 67 (Def.‘s Mot. for Partial Summ. J. Regarding Contractual Claims at 2 n.2). “In this case, Travelers believes there is no conflict with respect to [McLaughlin‘s] contractual claims [for coverage].” Id. at 71 (Def.‘s Mot. for Partial Summ. J. Regarding Contractual Claims at 6). Accordingly, as noted, the salient question in this case is whether under Washington law McLaughlin‘s injuries are covered under the terms of his policy of insurance with Travelers.
II
Applying Washington law yields coverage for McLaughlin‘s injuries. Under McLaughlin‘s insurancе policy, his insurer agreed to pay up to $5,000 worth of medical
expenses incurred by an “insured.” Id. at 17-18, 39. The policy defined “insured” as follows:
B. “Insured” as used in this Coverage Section means:
- You or any “resident relative“:
a motor vehicle designed for use mainly on public roads or a trailer of any type.
- While “occupying“; or
- As a pedestrian when struck by;
Id. at 39 (emphasis added). The policy does not define “pedestrian,” but our legislature has defined “pedestrian” for purposes of casualty insurance in Washington as follows: “‘Pedestrian’ means a natural person not occupying a motor vehicle as defined in
Further, the express language of the noted definitional statute directs that “the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter” (the chapter gеnerally concerns “Casualty Insurance“) and applies “[u]nless the context clearly requires otherwise.”
The Court of Appeals felt it necessary to “harmonize” the definition of “pedestrian” found in
We note that
Applying
47 P.2d 1045 (1935) (“It is . . . universally settled that statutory provisions are a part of [an insurance] policy.“); Mission Ins. Co. v. Guar. Ins. Co., 37 Wn. App. 695, 699, 683 P.2d 215 (1984) (“unlike other types of contracts, insurance policies must be interpreted in light of important public policy and statutory considerations“); Ainsworth v. Progressive Cas. Ins. Co., 180 Wn. App. 52, 63 n.7, 322 P.3d 6 (2014) (same); Clements v. Travelers Indem. Co., 121 Wn.2d 243, 254, 850 P.2d 1298 (1993) (regulatory statutes become part of insurance policies); Johnson v. Farmers Ins. Co. of Wash., 117 Wn.2d 558, 565, 817 P.2d 841 (1991) (same); Blackburn v. Safeco Ins. Co., 115 Wn.2d 82, 85, 794 P.2d 1259 (1990) (same); Britton v. Safeco Ins. Co. of Am., 104 Wn.2d 518, 526, 707 P.2d 125 (1985) (same).
Moreover, application of
insurance policies . . . are simply unlike traditional contracts, i.e., they are not purely private affairs but abound with public policy considerations, one of which is that the risk-spreading theory of such policies should operate to afford to affected members of the public . . . the maximum protection possible consonant with fairness to the insurer.
Or. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Salzberg, 85 Wn.2d 372, 376-77, 535 P.2d 816 (1975). Applying
(in exchange for the insured‘s premium payment) when the insured suffers a covered injury.
III
Our case law also establishes that when determining the meaning of undefined terms in an insurance policy, we look to the expectations of the average insurance purchaser. “Insurance contracts are construed in accordance with the meaning understood by the typical purchaser of the insurance.” Sprague v. Safeco Ins. Co. of Am., 174 Wn.2d 524, 528, 276 P.3d 1270 (2012). “When we construe the language of an insurance policy, we give it the same construction that an ‘average person purchasing insurance’ would give the contract.” Woo v. Fireman‘s Fund Ins. Co., 161 Wn.2d 43, 52, 164 P.3d 454 (2007) (quoting Roller v. Stonewall Ins. Co., 115 Wn.2d 679, 682, 801 P.2d 207 (1990), overruled on other grounds by Butzberger v. Foster, 151 Wn.2d 396, 89 P.3d 689 (2004)). As noted above, the term “pedestrian” has several different meanings. Thus, even if
pedestrian in the motor vehicles context), and
“principle applying to contracts of insurance to the effect that, if they are so drawn as to require interpretation and fairly susceptible of two different conclusions, the one will be adopted most favorable to the insured; and will be liberally construed in favor of the object to be accomplished, and conditions and provisions therein will bе strictly construed against the insurer.”
Jack v. Standard Marine Ins. Co., 33 Wn.2d 265, 271, 205 P.2d 351 (1949) (quoting Guar. Tr. Co. v. Cont‘l Life Ins. Co., 159 Wash. 683, 688, 294 P. 585 (1930)).
Here, under McLaughlin‘s insurance policy provision discussed above, an insured would expect to be covered when injured in a collision with an automobile whether the insured was walking, skateboarding, using a wheelchair, standing on a sidewalk, sitting on a park bench, riding a bike, or doing something else. The average purchaser of insurance would expect to be covered by this policy when injured by an automobile. Accordingly, we hold that McLaughlin‘s injuries are covered by his insurance policy.
IV
McLaughlin requests an award of attorney fees and expenses pursuant to Olympic S.S. Co. v. Centennial Ins. Co., 117 Wn.2d 37, 811 P.2d 673 (1991), and RAP 18.1. See Suppl. Br. of Pet‘r at 20. In Olympic, we held, “[A]n award of fees is required in any legal action where the insurer compels the insured to assume the burden of legal action, to obtain the full benefit of his insurance contract.” 117 Wn.2d at 53. We also noted that “RAP 18.1(a) authorizes an award of fees if ‘applicable law grants to a party the right to recover reasonable attorney fees.‘” Id. (quoting RAP 18.1(a)). Here, as the prevailing insured in this insurance coverage case, McLaughlin is entitled to fees. As we are remanding to the trial court for further proceedings, we also direct the trial court to determine the appropriate amount of fees and expenses to be awarded. See RAP 18.1(i) (“The appellate court may direct that the amount of fees and expenses be determined by the trial court after remand.“); Martini v. Boeing Co., 137 Wn.2d 357, 378, 971 P.2d 45 (1999).
CONCLUSION
The legislature defined “pedestrian” for purposes of casualty insurance in Washington broadly in
also award attorney fees to McLaughlin and direct the trial court to determine the amount of attorney fees to be awarded on remand.
Madsen, J.
WE CONCUR:
Stephens, C.J.
Johnson, J.
Owens, J.
Whitener, J.
McLaughlin v. Travelers Commercial Ins. Co., No. 97652-0, (González, J., concurring)
No. 97652-0
GONZÁLEZ, J. (concurring)—I concur with Parts I, III, and IV of the majority opinion. The term “pedestrian” is ambiguous in this insurance policy and, as the majority concludes, must be construed in favor of the insured.
I cannot join Part II because I do not think we should apply the Washington casualty insurance act to a casualty insurance policy drafted and executed in another state. See majority at 8. However, like the majority, I disagree with the Court of Appeals’ attempt to “harmonize” separate statutes that define “pedestrian.” Id. Our statutes define “pedestrian” differently because those definitions serve different purposes depending
With these observations, I concur.
González, J.
McLaughlin v. Travelers Commercial Ins. Co., No. 97652-0
NO. 97652-0
GORDON MCCLOUD, J. (dissenting)—I agree with the majority that a bicyclist is a pedestrian for purposes of Washington statutory insurance law. And if we were interpreting a Washington personal injury protection (PIP) insurance policy, I would import our statutory definitions into that policy.
But we are not presented with a Washington insurance policy. Todd McLaughlin and Travelers Commercial Insurance Company entered into their insurance contract in California for medical payment insurance under an entirely different statutory scheme. I would interpret that California insurance contract by looking to the intent of the parties when they executed it instead of relying on Washington statutory law that the contracting parties never considered. That California insurance contract covered medical payments for McLaughlin‘s bicycle-car accident only if McLaughlin was a “pedestrian” at the time of the accident.
To be sure, that limitation would be unlawful for purposes of Washington PIP coverage.
McLaughlin v. Travelers Commercial Ins. Co., No. 97652-0 (Gordon McCloud, J., dissenting)
to comply with the minimum requirements for Washington PIP coverage: it did not provide PIP coverage at all, and it certainly did not transform into a Washington PIP policy when McLaughlin crossed state lines. Thus, the narrow question for this court is whether the undefined term “pedestrian” in that California, non-Washington, non-PIP, automobile insurance policy includes bicyclists.
The trial court ruled that the answer is no; it reasoned that the plain, ordinary meaning of “pedestrian” excludes bicyclists. The Court of Appeals affirmed but relied largely on a different reason: it analyzed the legal, technical meaning of “pedestrian” in the Washington PIP laws and held that Washington PIP law‘s use of “pedestrian” also excludes bicyclists. McLaughlin v. Travelers Commercial Ins. Co., 9 Wn. App. 2d 675, 680-81, 446 P.3d 654 (2019), review granted, 194 Wn.2d 1016 (2020).
I agree with the majority that the Court of Appeals erred—Washington statutory law certainly defines “pedestrian” to include bicyclists for purposes of Washington PIP coverage. But this case is not about Washington PIP coverage. I would therefore apply our normal rules of contract interpretation and consider what the parties intended “pedestrian” to mean when they executed this insurance contract in California. Because the plain, ordinary meaning of “pedestrian” does not include bicyclists, I dissent.
McLaughlin v. Travelers Commercial Ins. Co., No. 97652-0 (Gordon McCloud, J., dissenting)
ANALYSIS
I. THE MAJORITY ERRS IN REJECTING THE ORDINARY MEANING THAT THE PARTIES INTENDED AND USING A TECHNICAL, WASHINGTON, PIP-BASED MEANING INSTEAD
A. We Should Apply Washington Contract Interpretation Law To Interpret This California Contract
Although Travelers and McLaughlin contracted in California, I agree with the majority and the parties that we apply Washington law on contract interpretation here. “For cases filed in Washington State, Washington law presumptively applies.” Woodward v. Taylor, 184 Wn.2d 911, 915, 366 P.3d 432 (2016) (citing Burnside v. Simpson Paper Co., 123 Wn.2d 93, 100-01, 864 P.2d 937 (1994)). To overcome this presumption, a party must show “[a]n actual conflict between the law of Washington and the law of another state.” Burnside, 123 Wn.2d at 103-04 (citing Int‘l Tracers of Am. v. Estate of Hard, 89 Wn.2d 140, 144, 570 P.2d 131 (1977)). As the majority says, “[T]he salient question in this case is whether under Washington law McLaughlin‘s injuries are covered under the terms of his policy of insurance with Travelers.” Majority at 6.
Under Washington contract interpretation law, “a court‘s primary goal is to ascertain the parties’ intent at the time they executed the contract.” Int‘l Marine
McLaughlin v. Travelers Commercial Ins. Co., No. 97652-0 (Gordon McCloud, J., dissenting)
Underwriters v. ABCD Marine, LLC, 179 Wn.2d 274, 282, 313 P.3d 395 (2013) (citing Berg v. Hudesman, 115 Wn.2d 657, 663, 801 P.2d 222 (1990)). Critically, the court “must distinguish the parties’ intent at the time of formation from the interpretations the parties are advocating at the time of the litigation.” Id. (emphasis added) (citing Berg, 115 Wn.2d at 669). Instead of analyzing the parties’ intent at the time they formed the contract, the majority imрorts Washington statutory definitions into a contract formed in California. Those definitions have nothing to do with the intent of the parties at the time of contract formation.
Travelers issued the insurance policy to McLaughlin in California. Nothing about the insurance contract mentions Washington or suggests that any party intended to incorporate Washington insurance law. But instead of interpreting the undefined term “pedestrian” by what the parties intended in California, the majority holds that that term should mean what it means under the Washington laws regarding PIP coverage.1
McLaughlin v. Travelers Commercial Ins. Co., No. 97652-0 (Gordon McClоud, J., dissenting)
To be sure, our “regulatory statutes become a part of the policy of insurance,” and thus, we read our Washington insurance statutes into Washington insurance policies. Touchette v. Nw. Mut. Ins. Co., 80 Wn.2d 327, 332, 494 P.2d 479 (1972). But insurance contracts “should not be given a strained or forced construction which would lead to an extension or restriction of the policy beyond what is fairly within its terms, or which would lead to an absurd conclusion, or render the policy nonsensical or ineffective.” Morgan v. Prudential Ins. Co. of America, 86 Wn.2d 432, 434-35, 545 P.2d 1193 (1976) (citing Phila. Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. City of Grandview, 42 Wn.2d 357, 255 P.2d 540 (1953)).
Instead of reading our statutory insurance law into a Washington policy, the majority reads it into an out-of-state policy with no nexus to Washington at its incеption. The majority‘s interpretation produces the absurd result that insurance policy terms mean different things depending on where an accident happens or a lawsuit is filed. McLaughlin‘s insurance policy could have a different meaning in each state based on how that state‘s legislature has chosen to regulate insurance policies issued in that state. While diversity of state contract interpretation principles may well compel this result, in Washington at least, our focus should remain on the intent of the parties when they formed the contract. And that intent in no way reflects Washington‘s PIP statutes.
McLaughlin v. Travelers Commercial Ins. Co., No. 97652-0 (Gordon McCloud, J., dissenting)
II. WE SHOULD APPLY THE PLAIN, ORDINARY, AND POPULAR MEANING OF “PEDESTRIAN“—WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE BICYCLISTS
Without looking to Washington‘s PIP statutes for a definition of “pedestrian,” it is an undefined contract term. When we find such an undefined term, we must give that term its “plain, ordinary, and popular” meaning. Boeing Co. v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 113 Wn.2d 869, 877, 784 P.2d 507 (1990) (quoting Farmers Ins. Co. v. Miller, 87 Wn.2d 70, 73, 549 P.2d 9 (1976); Prudential Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Lawrence, 45 Wn. App. 111, 724 P.2d 418 (1986)). We adhere to “the meaning understood by the typical purchaser of the insurance.” Sprague v. Safeco Ins. Co. of America, 174 Wn.2d 524, 528, 276 P.3d 1270 (2012) (citing Woo v. Fireman‘s Fund Ins. Co., 161 Wn.2d 43, 52, 164 P.3d 454 (2007)). For guidance, we “look to standard English language dictionaries.” Boeing, 113 Wn.2d at 877 (citing numerous examples); see also Jack v. Standard Marine Ins. Co., 33 Wn.2d 265, 270-71, 205 P.2d 351 (1949) (explaining that dictionary definitions are “not controlling” but are “generally accepted as the common meaning of the word“).
Of course, Washington law reflects a “strong public policy in favor of the full сompensation of medical benefits for victims of road accidents.” Durant v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 191 Wn.2d 1, 14, 419 P.3d 400 (2018). We have said that insurance contracts “should operate to afford to affected members of the
McLaughlin v. Travelers Commercial Ins. Co., No. 97652-0 (Gordon McCloud, J., dissenting)
public—frequently innocent third persons—the maximum protection possible consonant with fairness to the insurer.” Or. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Salzberg, 85 Wn.2d 372, 376-77, 535 P.2d 816 (1975). Thus, we construe ambiguous language in an insurance policy against the drafter. Holden v. Farmers Ins. Co. of Wash., 169 Wn.2d 750, 756, 239 P.3d 344 (2010) (citing Quadrant Corp. v. Am. States Ins. Co., 154 Wn.2d 165, 173, 110 P.3d 733 (2005)). But “[i]f policy language is clear and unambiguous, a court may not modify the insurance contract or create an ambiguity.” Kitsap County v. Allstate Ins. Co., 136 Wn.2d 567, 576, 964 P.2d 1173 (1998) (citing Am. Star Ins. Co. v. Grice, 121 Wn.2d 869, 874, 854 P.2d 622 (1993)).
The plain, ordinary, and popular meaning of “pedestrian” does not include bicyclists. According to the dictionary, “pedestrian” means “a person who travels on foot : WALKER” or “one walking as distinguished from one travelling by car or cycle.” WEBSTER‘S THIRD NEW INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY 1664 (2002). That definition clearly and unambiguously excludes those travelling by car or cycle. This should resolve the only issue currently before the court. Given the plain,
McLaughlin v. Travelers Commercial Ins. Co., No. 97652-0 (Gordon McCloud, J., dissenting)
ordinary meaning of “pedestrian,” as reflected by the dictionary definition, a typical purchaser of insurance would understand that term to exclude bicyclists.2
III. THE LEGAL, TECHNICAL, PIP DEFINITION OF “PEDESTRIAN” DOES NOT CREATE AMBIGUITY
Here, the policy language is clear and unambiguous. As discussed above, the plain, ordinary meaning of “pedestrian” excludes bicyclists.
The majority and concurring opinions seek to inject ambiguity into that meaning of “pedestrian” by citing to the legal, technical definition of that term in our PIP laws. But our state legislature‘s decision to extend coverage for “pedestrians” to bicyclists3 does not render the term “pedestrians” generally ambiguous.
McLaughlin v. Travelers Commercial Ins. Co., No. 97652-0 (Gordon McCloud, J., dissenting)
The reason is that the technical PIP definition does not control—the plain, ordinary meaning does. “If words have both a legal, technical meaning and a plain, ordinary meaning, the ordinary meaning will prevail unlеss it is clear that both parties intended the legal, technical meaning to apply.” Allstate Ins. Co., 136 Wn.2d at 576 (citing Boeing, 113 Wn.2d at 882). As discussed above, the plain, ordinary meaning of “pedestrian” excludes bicyclists. And there is no evidence that the parties, who contracted in California when McLaughlin lived in California, intended
The legal, technical definition of “pedestrian” in our PIP laws and reflected in various Washington PIP policies does not make the plain, ordinary meaning of that term ambiguous.4
The majority relies in part on the very litigation itself to find ambiguity, noting that the “vigorous debate in this case over the meaning of ‘pedestrian’ demonstrates that the term is susceptible to more than one reasonable interpretation.” Majority at 11. This interpretive principle that litigation implies ambiguity would result in the end of unambiguous contract terms. The clear, unambiguous dictionary definition of “pedestrian” is sufficient to resolve this case.
McLaughlin v. Travelers Commercial Ins. Co., No. 97652-0 (Gordon McCloud, J., dissenting)
CONCLUSION
The plain, ordinary meaning of “pedestrian” excludes bicyсlists. There is no evidence that the parties intended the legal, technical definition of “pedestrian” in our PIP laws to apply to their contract instead. I would apply that plain, ordinary meaning and end the analysis there.
I therefore respectfully dissent.
Gordon McCloud, J.
Yu, J.
Montoya-Lewis, J.