Opinion
No. 30562
Decided July 24, 1946.
Liability insurance — Insured operating as private carrier under permit issued by Public Utilities Commission — Section 614-115, General Code — Policy liberally construed to protect general public from loss, when — Insured indemnified against loss occasioned by vehicle returning from repair shop.
1. A liability insurance policy executed, filed and approved pursuant to the provisions of Section 614-115, General Code, will be liberally construed so as to attain the legislative intent to protect the general public from loss by injury or death caused by the negligence of the insured, his agent, his servant or his independent contractor.
2. Such a policy which, by its terms, indemnifies the insured against loss sustained by reason of the death of or injury to any member of the public caused by the negligence of the insured, his agent, his servant or his independent contractor, while acting as a private carrier under a permit issued by the Public Utilities Commission, covers the insured, his agent, his servant or his independent contractor in the movement of a vehicle coming from a repair shop; such movement is in the transportation service within the meaning of the policy, although such vehicle was not then being operated for the transportation of freight. ( Mitchell, Admx., v. Great Eastern Stages, Inc., 140 Ohio St. 137, approved and followed.)
APPEAL from the Court of Appeals for Stark county.
On August 3, 1942, Clyde H. Wood (plaintiff) filed his petition in the Court of Common Pleas of Stark county, Ohio, against Peter Vona (defendant), in which it was alleged that, on July 5, 1942, by reason of the negligent operation of a tractor on state route No. 244, a collision occurred wherein plaintiff sustained both personal injury and property damage. Issues were joined and the trial resulted in a verdict for $10,000 and judgment for that amount, in favor of plaintiff and against defendant. Thereafter plaintiff, under the provisions of Section 9510-4. General Code, filed a supplemental petition against The Ocean Accident Guarantee Corporation, Ltd. (hereinafter called Ocean).
Prior to July 5, 1942, Ocean had issued an indemnity insurance policy to the Glenn Cartage Company (hereinafter called Glenn Cartage), a private motor carrier of freight under a permit issued by the Public Utilities Commission (hereinafter called P. U. C.). By the terms of the policy, Ocean insured Glenn Cartage or other private motor carriers named in the policy, its agents and employees, and also any independent contractor of Glenn Cartage, while engaged in transporting property or providing or furnishing such transportation service.
In the supplemental petition it was alleged that Vona, on July 5, 1942, was within the coverage of the policy; that more than thirty days had elapsed since the rendition of the judgment in favor of Wood against Vona; that demand had been made upon Ocean for payment of the judgment; and that Ocean had failed and neglected to pay.
The prayer of the petition was for judgment in the sum of $10,000 and costs.
In its answer Ocean admitted, inter alia, that the collision occurred and injuries resulted; that Wood commenced an action against Vona resulting in a verdict and judgment in favor of Wood; that the judgment had not been satisfied within 30 days after its rendition; and that demand had been made upon Ocean for payment and it had refused to pay the same. It was alleged in the answer that the limit of liability for bodily injury to one person for one accident was $6,000, and that at the time of the collision the operation of the tractor by Vona was not within the coverage of the policy.
The factual situation presented is substantially as follows:
Vona was the owner of a tractor and trailer and from about a year and a half before the accident and up to the time thereof he had been engaged in hauling exclusively for Glenn Cartage. The name "The Glenn Cartage Company" and the company's P. U. C. permit number were painted upon the tractor. On June 22, 1942, Vona, under his agreement with Glenn Cartage, hauled a load of steel to Cleveland, Ohio. In the city of Cleveland some distance from his unloading destination, his tractor became disabled. However he did finish the trip, unloaded the steel and drove the tractor and trailer to his home in Canton, Ohio. He contacted a concern in Akron, Ohio, to make repairs. He left the trailer at home and drove the tractor to Akron. The repairs and overhauling of the tractor consumed a period of about two weeks. Vona assisted in making those repairs. The repairs were completed on July 5, 1942, and during the trip from Akron to Canton on that day the accident occurred, at which time Vona was not transporting either persons or property. Vona testified that on Saturday July 4, 1942, he called Glenn Cartage at Girard, Ohio, by long distance telephone and talked with Johnny Hyntz, a dispatcher for Glenn Cartage.
The testimony of Vona upon that subject was as follows:
"Q. Now, did you communicate with anyone on this Saturday afternoon, that is to say, anyone connected with the Glenn Cartage Company? You can just answer that yes or no. A. Yes.
"Q. Now, who was that? * * * A. Johnny Hyntz answer the phone.
"Q. Now, how did you communicate with Johnny Hyntz? * * * A. By telephone, long distance.
"Q. Where? A. From Akron to Girard.
"Q. Now, state whether or not this Johnny Hyntz that you communicated with on this Saturday afternoon was the same Johnny Hyntz that you have heretofore referred to in your deposition? A. Yes.
"Q. Now, what was it that you said to Johnny Hyntz, or in substance? * * * A. I informed him that it would be impossible for me to finish up that particular day, which was Saturday, because we had run into some trouble putting the rear end in, and we couldn't possibly finish it before Sunday afternoon.
"Q. Now, what, if anything, did Johnny Hyntz say to you? * * * A. Why —
"Q. Now, just a minute. All right, go ahead and answer. A. I was told — when I said that we couldn't finish up until Sunday afternoon, I asked him whether I could load that Sunday afternoon and he hesitated a moment. I guess he checked his loading sheets, and told me that I had better report Monday morning for work — go on home and pick my trailer up and be ready Monday morning, around 8 or 9 o'clock, as I would load out first. * * *
"Q. Now then, you indicated something about Mr. Hyntz saying, 'and report for work.' What, if anything, did he say about where you were to report for work? * * * A. I was to report at Girard, Ohio, at the Girard terminal."
Hyntz was not called as a witness. Vona's testimony as to the telephone conversation with Hyntz was disputed by the testimony of John W. Smythe, president of Glenn Cartage, who testified that on July 4 and 5, 1942, the offices of Glenn Cartage were closed and that Hyntz was not in Girard, Ohio, on those days.
The jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff in the sum of $6,000 with interest. The court thereafter overruled a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and a motion for a new trial and entered judgment on the verdict.
An appeal on questions of law was perfected to the Court of Appeals, which court affirmed the judgment.
Following the allowance of a motion to certify the record the cause is in this court for review.
Mr. Oscar M. Abt and Mr. Warren G. Smith, for appellee Wood.
Messrs. Wise, Roetzel Maxon, Mr. William A. Kelly and Mr. Price Janson, for appellant.
The question presented by this record is whether the Court of Appeals erred in affirming the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas which refused to declare as a matter of law that Vona was not covered by the required policy of insurance at the time of the collision on July 5, 1942.
There is no dispute that Glenn Cartage was at the time of the collision a private motor carrier operating under a permit issued by the Public Utilities Commission.
The permit authorized Glenn Cartage to engage in certain transportation business for hire over the public highways. Having accepted and operated under such permit, it was bound to comply with the provisions of law with respect to such operation.
Section 614-115, General Code, reads in part as follows:
"No permit shall be issued by the commission to any private motor carrier until there shall have been filed with the commission a liability insurance certificate, policy or bond satisfactory to the commission in such sum and with such other terms and provisions as the commission may deem necessary adequately to protect the public, having due regard for the number of persons and amount of property affected, which certificate, policy, policies or bonds, shall insure the private motor carrier and each employer authorized in its permit against loss sustained by reason of the death of or injury to persons and the loss of or damage to property resulting from the negligence of such private motor carrier, its agents and employees. * * *" (Emphasis supplied.)
The policy upon which this supplemental action is predicated was executed in conformity with the above-quoted statute which became a part of the contract as fully as if rewritten therein. See Ins. Co. v. Leslie, 47 Ohio St. 409, 24 N.E. 1072, 9 L.R.A., 45; Robbins v. Hennessey, 86 Ohio St. 181, 99 N.E. 319; Mitchell, Admx., v. Great Eastern Stages, Inc., 140 Ohio St. 137, 42 N.E.2d 771, 141 A. L. R., 624.
Section 614-115, General Code, makes it clearly apparent that the General Assembly intended to protect the public from loss or damage due to the operation of motor vehicles when operating under a permit granted by the Public Utilities Commission.
If that purpose is to be attained, the policy must be given a broad and liberal interpretation in favor of the insured and those claiming under or through such insured.
In Duncan v. Evans, 134 Ohio St. 486, 17 N.E.2d 913, the court, in commenting on the purpose of the statute, said:
"Apparently the Legislature intended to protect the public against loss from negligence on the part of anyone using the highway in the business of transportation by motor truck." See, also, Mitchell, Admx., v. Great Eastern Stages, Inc., supra.
Section 614-104, General Code, provides as follows:
"No private motor carrier as defined in the preceding section shall operate any motor vehicle for the transportation of persons or property, or both, for hire, on any public highway in this state except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. And no such private motor carrier shall continue or commence its operation as such in this state without first obtaining a permit from the Public Utilities Commission as provided in this chapter."
Under the authority of the statutes the Public Utilities Commission required that a special endorsement be attached to the policy. That endorsement attached to the policy in the instant case reads as follows:
"The policy to which this endorsement is attached is written in pursuance of Sections 614-2, 614-2 a and Sections 614-84 to 614-120, inclusive, General Code of Ohio, and the rules of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. The purpose of this endorsement is to make certain, during the term of said policy and any renewal thereof, the liability of the insurance company to any person injured in person, or property, within the state of Ohio, by the negligence of the insured as hereinafter set forth. Any violation or infraction of any law or any rules or regulation of said commission, or of any term of any certificate, permit or registration shall not relieve the insurance company of liability.
"In consideration of the premium stated in the policy to which this endorsement is attached, the insurance company agrees to pay to the judgment creditor any final judgment rendered against the insured upon a liability hereunder within the limits set forth in the policy, and further agrees that upon failure of the insured to pay any such final judgment such judgment creditor may maintain an action against the insurance company in the proper court to compel such payment.
"For valuable consideration received by it, the said insurance company, by the policy of insurance to which this endorsement is attached, hereby insures and agrees to indemnify the insured during the term of said policy and any renewal thereof, against loss sustained by reason of the death of, or any injury to, any person or persons, except employees of the insured engaged in the course of their employment, and for loss of or damage to property, including baggage and personal effects of passengers (in excess of $50), except property of the insured and cargo, within the state of Ohio, resulting from the negligence of the insured, while operating any vehicle or vehicles of any kind, character or description in motor transportation company service or private motor carrier service; whether or not such vehicle or vehicles be listed in said policy of insurance or with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. The foregoing is in addition to all liability from risks provided for in said policy. For the purpose of determining any additional premium due the insurance company, the insured shall furnish the insurance company every thirty (30) days with a complete description of all vehicles used by the insured and not specifically described in the policy.
"Whenever the word 'insured' appears in this endorsement, it shall be held to mean the motor transportation company, or private motor carrier named in the policy, its agents and employees, and also held to mean any independent contractor of said motor transportation company or private motor carrier, engaged in transporting persons or property, or providing or furnishing such transportation service, and also herd to mean each employer of a private motor carrier authorized in its permit or registration against loss sustained by reason of the death of or injury to persons and the loss of or damage to property resulting from the negligence of such private motor carrier, its agents and employees.
"No condition, provision, stipulation, or limitation contained in the policy or any endorsement thereon, nor the violation of any of the same by the insured shall affect in any way the right of any person injured in person or property, within the state of Ohio, by the negligence of the insured, while operating as aforesaid, or relieve the insurance company from the liability provided for in this endorsement or from the payment to such person of any judgment within the limits set forth in the policy, but the conditions, provisions, stipulations, or limitations contained in the policy or in any other endorsement thereon shall remain in full force and be binding as between the insured and the insurance company." (Emphasis added.)
We assume that had Vona been hauling a load for Glenn Cartage at the time of the collision, there could be no legitimate question that the policy covered the operation. However, Ocean contends with great vigor that because Vona was operating his tractor, without the trailer, between the repair shop in Akron and his home in Canton, that operation was not covered by the policy.
There is evidence in the record, which, if believed, would justify the conclusion that Vona was acting under the direct instructions of Glenn Cartage at the time of the collision. That narrows our question to what is meant by the following phrase, found in the Public Utilities Commission endorsement attached to and made part of the policy: "* * * while operating any vehicle or vehicles of any kind, character or description in motor transportation company service or private motor carrier service." (Emphasis supplied.)
Ocean insists that the policy covers the vehicles only while actually engaged in hauling. That contention was considered and repudiated by this court in a unanimous decision in the Mitchell case, supra.
The syllabus of that case reads as follows:
"1. A liability insurance policy filed and approved pursuant to Section 614-99, General Code, must be interpreted in the light of that section so as to give effect to the legislative intent.
"2. Such a policy, which by its terms indemnifies the insured against loss by injury or death from the negligence of the insured while operating as a common carrier by bus under a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the Public Utilities Commission, covers the movement of such bus over whatever route is reasonably necessary in going to a garage or shop for repair, although not then being operated for the carriage of passengers." (Emphasis supplied.)
Judge Williams, writing for the court, says at pages 141 and 142:
"Busses operating in the common carriage of passengers must be serviced and repaired and, when not in use, must be housed; so for these purposes they must be taken to service stations, repair shops or garages. Moreover in accomplishing these ends it is often necessary to leave routes specified in the certificate of public convenience and necessity granted by the commission. Such movements of a bus, not engaged in carriage at that time, would not be limited to specified routes for those might not lead to the proper destination; nor can it be said that a certificated common carrier has ceased to operate as such in doing things incidental to the repairing, servicing and housing of its busses. It would be a very narrow construction to hold that such operation ceased when it became necessary to unload passengers and drive around the square to a garage for repairs. In doing reasonably necessary traveling upon highways to accomplish these incidental things the common carrier is as much engaged in the business of common carriage as when actually transporting passengers upon specified routes. See Rusch v. Mielke, 234 Wis. 380, 291 N.W. 300; Liberty Mutt. Ins. Co. v. McDonald, 97 F.2d 497." (Emphasis supplied.)
True, that case involved a common carrier of passengers by motor busses. However we can discern no good reason, and none has been advanced, for any distinction in the legal principles to be applied to a common carrier of passengers by motor bus and to a private carrier of freight by tractor-trailer, if we keep clearly in mind that the purpose of the statutes relating to the furnishing of a certificate, policy or bond is for the protection of the general public.
Applying the legal principle announced in the Mitchell case to the situation here presented, to wit, that the collision and damage occurred while the tractor, after being repaired, was being driven to a place to get the trailer and thence to the plant of Glenn Cartage to resume hauling for it, the conclusion is inescapable that during any or all parts of that operation the equipment was within the coverage of the policy. That is unmistakably true unless we were willing to recede from the position established by the Mitchell case. In the instant case the movement was in the transportation service within the meaning of the policy, although such vehicle was not then being operated for the transportation of freight.
The court is unwilling to restrict the construction and interpretation of the policy to the extent of saying that, as a matter of law, the operation of the tractor at the time of the collision was not within the coverage of the policy. It therefore follows that the judgment of the Court of Appeals should be and hereby is affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
WEYGANDT, C.J., ZIMMERMAN, WILLIAMS and TURNER, JJ., concur.
MATTHIAS and HART, JJ., dissent.
In my view the decision of this court in the case of Mitchell, Admx., v. Great Eastern Stages, Inc., 140 Ohio St. 137, 42 N.E.2d 771, 141 A.L.R., 624, is not controlling in the instant case. The policy here in question indemnified the Glenn Cartage Company against loss resulting from its negligence "while operating any vehicle * * * in private motor carrier service," and, by special endorsement, extended such coverage to "all automobiles and trailers * * * hired by the named insured * * * only when such * * * hired equipment is being operated exclusively in the interest of the named insured * * *," which was the Glenn Cartage Company.
Here, the truck was hired by the Glenn Cartage Company, but it was owned by Peter Vona whose obligation under the contract of hiring was to maintain the truck and keep it in repair at his own expense.
When the accident happened, the truck was not "being operated exclusively in the interest of the named insured," but was being operated by Vona, the owner, for the purpose of such maintenance and repair, in accordance with the express provisions of his contract.
Vona was not acting as an employee of the cartage company in having its truck repaired under its direction as in the Mitchell case; neither was he engaged as an independent contractor in transporting property for the insured at the time of the accident, but he had personal control of his own property while it was entirely disconnected from the service of the cartage company. He selected the place of its repair, not in his home city, but in Akron and thereby made necessary the trip which resulted in the accident.
In my opinion, to extend coverage, under the circumstances, to this accident, is to rewrite the policy of insurance.
MATTHIAS, J., concurs in the foregoing dissenting opinion.