Greenway v. North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance

CLARK, Judge.

The first issue raised by this appeal is whether “Unprotected Dwelling Endorsement A,” providing for reduction of coverage by 25% if there were not a telephone upon the premises, was unenforceable. Plaintiffs first attack endorsement “A” on the ground that it is restrictive of the coverage provided in the standard fire insurance policy (G.S. 58-176), and therefore violates G.S. 58-177(3), which provides in pertinent part:

“A company may write or print upon the margin or across the face of a policy, in unused spaces or upon separate slips or riders to be attached thereto, provisions adding to or modifying those contained in the standard form, and all such slips, riders, and provisions must be signed by an officer or agent of the company so using them. Provided, however, such provisions shall not have the effect of making the provisions of the standard policy form more restrictive ...” [Emphasis added.]

There is no statutory definition of “restrictive.” The word, construed in light of the statutory object and not in a narrow or technical sense, was intended to cover any clause or provision included in or appended to the standard fire policy whereby an essential provision of the standard fire policy, materially influencing the rights of the insured, is limited or modified. Glover v. Insurance Co., 228 N.C. 195, 45 S.E. 2d 45 (1947), held a provision in a fire insurance policy restrictive of the standard policy provisions. The standard policy insured for all direct loss by fire. The provision excluded coverage for loss by a fire originating on a neighbor’s property whenever the insured’s property was within a specified distance of the neighbor’s combustible property. The provision thus restricted coverage to compensation for certain kinds of fire while the standard policy provided coverage for loss by all fires. The premium assessment was most certainly based on the general coverage of the standard policy provisions. The Glover court made the distinction between the limiting provision, which was truly restrictive in character, and one that is “descriptive of the sole risk classification” underwritten by the insurer. 228 N.C. at 198, 45 S.E. 2d at 47. It is clear that an insurer may insure only such properties as are situated outside the limits set out in a limiting provision, which provision is descriptive, not restrictive, of the standard coverage. What an insurer may not do is promise general coverage, receive appropriate premium payment and then restrict coverage by a restrictively limiting provision.

It is clear, from an examination of the face of the standard policy and of the “Unprotected Dwelling Endorsement A” at issue in the case sub judice, that the endorsement is descriptive of the coverage agreed to and paid for under the standard policy provisions rather than restrictive. Both the application and the standard policy classify the dwelling to be insured as “10A,” unprotected and rural, and both indicate the charge of a discounted premium. The standard policy clearly indicates the “Unprotected Dwelling Endorsement” Code Number, “257-4(11-70),” on its face. The classification 10A determined the house to be “unprotected,” an insured-risk rural dwelling far from a fire department. The acceptance of the endorsement’s conditions for 100% coverage gave plaintiffs the discounted premium. The plaintiffs are clearly wrong in their collateral contention that the endorsement was invalid because there was no increased risk involved. The insurer’s risks in insuring a dwelling in a rural area far removed from a fire station are obviously greater than of insuring a dwelling close to a station; the risks of insuring a remote dwelling without telephone communication are obviously greater than of insuring such a dwelling with adequate, immediate communication. Therefore, we hold that the endorsement provision was reasonable because tied to increased risk, and in nowise restrictive of anything in the standard policy, which nowhere promises 100% compensation. The provision is descriptive of the coverage contemplated in and charged for by the standard policy.

Plaintiffs’ argument that the endorsement provision was waived because defendant-insurer, via defendant-agent, knew the dwelling was under construction and without a telephone but still insured it and accepted premium payments is without merit. It is not necessary to decide whether the endorsement provision would have applied to limit coverage had the dwelling burned down before construction was completed and a telephone could be installed. In the case sub judice the dwelling was completed well before the fire and the provision, which clearly contemplated the completed dwelling, was not waived. The fact that the endorsement was not signed does not invalidate it. The statute cited earlier does require signature, but this requirement seems to come into play only after the standard policy has been accepted. The common law rule of “incorporation by reference” is sufficient. 43 Am. Jur. 2d, Insurance, § 284, p. 346. Statutes such as we have in North Carolina are not designed to abrogate common law rules in general but to soften such rules as affect misrepresentation or warranty, to modify the doctrine of caveat emptor to suit modern concepts of commercial fairness. 43 Am. Jur. 2d, Insurance, § 757, p. 740. They also protect against a company sneaking limitations in after acceptance. But they do not completely shift the burdens of responsibility off the buyer and onto the seller of insurance. No statute has abrogated the common-law burden placed on the buyer of insurance to read his policy. 43 Am. Jur. 2d, § 754, p. 738. In the case sub judice the limiting endorsement was an integral part of the original policy and was clearly referred to on its face. The fact that plaintiff did not read his policy did not excuse him from its provisions.

There is conflicting testimony as to whether plaintiffs knew of the telephone requirement. This conflict, however, does not raise a material issue of fact. It is clearly not the duty of an insurer or its agent to inquire and inform an insured as to all parts of his policy:

“We cannot approve the position that in the absence of a request it was the agent’s legal duty to explain the meaning and effect of all the provisions in the policy, or that his failure to inquire . . . was a waiver of the requirement . . . .” Hardin v. Ins. Co., 189 N.C. 423, 427, 127 S.E. 353, 355 (1925).

Plaintiffs in this case made no requests for explanation; they agreed to the 10A classification, paid the premiums and admitted they knew the endorsement slip was physically part of the policy they accepted. No duty arose such that the defendant-agent, and, by imputation, the defendant-insurer, might be negligent for violating it. Plaintiffs’ admitted failure to read the policy, is, as noted, no defense to the enforcement of the endorsement’s limitations. Hardin, supra. Because the endorsement made no misrepresentation and because neither defendant-agent nor defendant-insurer violated any duty owed plaintiffs, neither defendant could possibly be guilty of any unfair trade practice pursuant to G.S. 75-1.1, if, arguendo, such statute contemplates regulating the insurance industry at all.

Plaintiffs’ final contention, that the trial court improperly granted summary judgment for defendant-insurer even though no motion was made by defendant-insurer until the day of the hearing, is also without merit. G.S. 1A-1, Rule 56(c) does not require that a party move for summary judgment in order to be entitled to it.

“. . . The judgment sought shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that any party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. . . .” [Emphasis added.]

Thus, when appropriate, summary judgment may be rendered against the moving party. The fact that defendant-insurer’s motion was not made within the time limit is therefore immaterial; it need not have been made at all. Plaintiffs’ motion, made well before the deadline, triggered the evaluation that led to the grant. Shuford, N.C. Civil Prac. & Proc., § 56.6.

The trial court’s judgment is

Affirmed.

Chief Judge BROCK and Judge MARTIN concur.