Sperry v. Maki , 48 Wash. App. 599 ( 1987 )

Munson, J.

Rocky Mountain Fire and Casualty Company appeals a summary judgment in favor of its insureds, Jean and Donald Sperry. The Superior Court held coverage existed under the underinsured motorist provision of the Sperrys' policy for damages sustained by them when they collided with a Cessna 150 aircraft which was in the process of making an emergency landing on a public highway. We reverse.

The Sperrys brought this negligence action for damages against the pilot, Doug Maki, airplane owners Reynolds and Tri-City Auto Center, and Rocky Mountain. The complaint alleged the aircraft was a motor vehicle for purposes of underinsured motorist coverage. Both the Sperrys and Rocky Mountain moved for summary judgment on the issue of coverage. The Superior Court granted the Sperry's motion, reasoning in its oral opinion: " [Ojnce an airplane is used on our public highways whether in landing, taking off, taxiing or crossing a roadway ... it becomes a motor vehicle for the purposes of our Uninsured Motorist Act ..." From that determination, Rocky Mountain appeals.

RCW 48.22.030 provides:

(1) "Underinsured motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle with respect to . . . which either no bodily injury or property damage liability bond or insurance policy applies at the time of an accident, or with respect to which the sum of the limits of liability ... is less than the applicable damages which the covered person is legally entitled to recover.

(Italics ours.) At oral argument, counsel for Rocky Mountain stipulated the definition of ''underinsured motor vehicle" contained in the Sperrys' policy was the same as the statutory definition contained in RCW 48.22.030(1). Consequently, our analysis focuses on the legal question of whether an aircraft falls within the definition of " underinsured motor vehicle" as that term is used in RCW 48.22-.030(1).

Neither RCW Title 48, "Insurance", nor chapter 48.22 in particular contains a further definition of the term "motor vehicle." RCW Title 46 relates to "motor vehicles." RCW 46.04.320 defines "motor vehicle" as

every vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails.

RCW 46.04.670 further defines "vehicle" as including

every device capable of being moved upon a public highway and in, upon, or by which any persons or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway, excepting devices moved by human or animal power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks, except that mopeds shall be considered vehicles or motor vehicles for the purposes of chapter 46.12 RCW, but not for the purposes of chapter 46.70 RCW.

See also RCW 47.04.010(18), (40).

In construing a term in a statute, our duty is to give expression to the Legislature's intent. See Millers Cas. Ins. Co. v. Briggs, 100 Wn.2d 1, 5, 665 P.2d 891 (1983). In determining that intent, the meaning of a particular word or term is derived by how it is commonly, popularly, or ordinarily used. Certain British Underwriters at Lloyd's v. Jet Charter Serv., Inc., 789 F.2d 1534, 1536 (11th Cir. 1986); Federated Am. Ins. Co. v. Strong, 102 Wn.2d 665, 670, 689 P.2d 68 (1984). The interpretation of a term of broad and general meaning depends upon the circumstances and context in which that term is used. National Union Fire Ins. Co. v. Zuver, 47 Wn. App. 540, 544, 736 P.2d 675 (1987). Although this court is required to construe an ambiguous term in an insurance policy in favor of the insured, we are not permitted to modify the unambiguous meaning of language contained in a policy or statute under the guise of construing it. See Britton v. Safeco Ins. Co. of Am., 104 Wn.2d 518, 528, 707 P.2d 125 (1985); Thompson v. Lewis Cy., 92 Wn.2d 204, 207, 595 P.2d 541 (1979); Viking Ins. Co. v. Zinkgraf, 47 Wn. App. 645, 647, 737 P.2d 268 (1987). Applying these principles to the terms "motor vehicle" or "vehicle," we conclude an aircraft does not fall within either term as they are commonly and ordinarily used.

First, Webster's Third New Int'l Dictionary 1476 (1969) defines "motor vehicle" as "an automotive vehicle not operated on rails; esp: one with rubber tires for use on highways". This definition confirms the everyday, commonsense understanding that "motor vehicle" applies to a class of vehicles that includes cars, trucks, buses, and the like. This understanding is confirmed by the annotation entitled Airplane as Within Terms "Vehicles," "Motor Vehicle," Etc., 165 A.L.R. 916 (1946) which provides: "Although the result is always contingent on the particular wording involved, it has been almost invariably held, in the construction of statutes and regulations, that airplanes are not within the terms 'vehicles,' 'motor vehicles,' etc."

The Sperrys fare no better with respect to whether an aircraft falls within the more general term "vehicle." Although etymologically the term is broad enough to cover airplanes, "vehicle" is ordinarily understood to mean a machine designed to move solely on the land. As noted over 50 years ago by Justice Holmes in McBoyle v. United States, 283 U.S. 25, 26, 75 L. Ed. 816, 51 S. Ct. 340 (1931), "in everyday speech, 'vehicle' calls up the picture of a thing moving on land." Accord, Certain British Underwriters, at 1537 (citing authorities); but cf. McReynolds v. Municipal Court, 207 N.W.2d 792, 796 (Iowa 1973). When the Legislature enacted its definition of underinsured motor vehicle, it did not intend an airplane to be within the ambit of the term "underinsured motor vehicle." Likewise, an ordinary person who purchases underinsured motorist insurance believes that insurance covers risks arising from a collision with another car, truck, or the like, not with an airplane.

Second, we are not persuaded that an airplane becomes a motor vehicle when used in some fashion upon the highway. If we were to adopt this reasoning, then the Sperrys would not be able to collect under their policy if the airplane had been attempting to land in a nearby field when it hit their car.

Third, our interpretation is supported by the public policy underlying the underinsured motorist statute. It was enacted to protect drivers so insured from other financially irresponsible motorists, i.e., motorists who carry either no or insufficient automobile liability insurance. Cf. Finney v. Farmers Ins. Co., 92 Wn.2d 748, 751, 600 P.2d 1272 (1979); First Nat'l Ins. Co. of Am. v. Perala, 32 Wn. App. 527, 531-32, 648 P.2d 472, review denied, 98 Wn.2d 1002 (1982). A pilot does not fall within either class of persons as he or she is not required to purchase motor vehicle insurance.

Fourth, a contrary holding on our part inevitably leads to troubling implications. Logically, such a holding would require pilots of airplanes to purchase not only motor vehicle liability insurance, but also underinsured motorist coverage. Moreover, pilots and owners of airplanes would necessarily be subject to all of the provisions set out in RCW Title 46 covering motor vehicles, including that title's licensing and financial responsibility provisions.¹

Finally, we conclude by noting we are sympathetic to the Sperrys' loss. However, we are guided by the realization that "hard cases make bad law." Although the public policy of this state is clearly to compensate injured persons and to construe insurance terms liberally, we also heed the warning of Burrough, J., who, in writing Richardson v. Mellish, 2 Bing. 229, 252, 130 Eng. Rep. 294 (1824), stated that public policy "is a very unruly horse, and when once you get astride it you never know where it will carry you. It may lead you from the sound law."² This court is not permitted, in the name of public policy, to define motor vehicle as including an airplane any more than we are permitted to define an apple as including an orange.

The judgment is reversed.

Green, J., concurs.

1 The specific provisions dealing with airplanes and their regulation are found in RCW 47.68 entitled "Aeronautics." Significantly, RCW 47.68.020(2) defines "aircraft" as "any contrivance now known, or hereafter invented, used or designed for navigation of or flight in the air.”

2 Quoted in M. McNamara, 2,000 Famous Legal Quotations 486 (1967).