Progressive County Mutual Ins. Co. v. Kelley, No. 08-0073 (Tex. Mar. 27, 2009)(per curiam) (contract
construction, ambiguity raises fact question, insurance law, contracts consisting of multiple documents)
[W]e are determining whether two documents amount to a single or separate policies.
After reviewing the face of the documents and extrinsic evidence, we hold that the
documents are ambiguous, and therefore, a fact finder should resolve the meaning.
See J. M. Davidson, 128 S.W.3d at 230–31; Coker, 650 S.W.2d at 394 (“When a
contract contains an ambiguity, the granting of a motion for summary judgment is
improper because the interpretation of the instrument becomes a fact issue.”).[3]
Therefore, without hearing argument, we reverse the court of appeals judgment and
remand to the trial court
PROGRESSIVE COUNTY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY v. REGAN KELLEY; from Brazos
County; 10th district (10-06-00263-CV, ___ SW3d ___, 12-12-07)
Pursuant to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 59.1, after granting the petition for review and without
hearing oral argument, the Court reverses the court of appeals' judgment and remands the case to the
trial court.
Per Curiam Opinion
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Progressive County Mutual Ins. Co. v. Kelley (Tex. 2009)
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
PER CURIAM
In this case, we consider whether two documents issued by an insurance company constitute two separate
insurance policies or a single policy. We hold that this is a fact question and remand to the trial court.
Regan Kelley was struck by a car while riding her horse. Medical expenses for her injuries are alleged to
have exceeded $1 million. After receiving $100,000 in benefits from the motorist’s insurer, Kelley made a
claim with Progressive County Mutual Insurance Company (“Progressive”) for underinsured benefits under a
policy issued to her parents, which also covered Kelley. At the time of the accident, Kelley was an adult living
with her parents. Progressive paid the policy limit of $500,025. To cover the remaining damages, Kelley then
made a claim under an alleged second policy with a limit of $500,025, also issued by Progressive. At the time
of the accident, Progressive insured five of the Kelleys’ vehicles. Four vehicles were listed on a two-page
document, and the fifth was listed on a separate two-page document. However, the documents had separate
policy numbers. Nevertheless, Progressive denied there was a second policy and refused to make any
additional payments.
Kelley sued Progressive for breach of contract and Insurance Code violations, while Progressive sought a
declaratory judgment requiring it to pay the maximum policy limit amount under only one policy.
The suits were consolidated, and both parties filed motions for summary judgment, presenting two issues: (1)
whether Progressive issued one or two policies, and (2) if two policies, whether Progressive’s “Two or More
Auto Policies” anti-stacking provision,[1] found within each policy, limited recovery to one policy’s maximum
limits. The trial court granted Progressive’s motion and denied Kelley’s motion, without specifying on which
ground. The court of appeals reversed and rendered judgment in favor of Kelley, holding that (1) Kelley
established as a matter of law that Progressive issued two separate policies, and (2) Progressive’s “Two or
More Auto Policies” provision violated public policy, as it had the same effect as an “other insurance”
provision previously struck down by this Court. ___ S.W.3d at ___; see, e.g., Amer. Liberty Ins. Co. v.
Ranzau, 481 S.W.2d 793, 797 (Tex. 1972). Thus, the court of appeals held that Kelley was entitled to collect
under the second policy to the extent of her actual damages. ___ S.W.3d at ___. Progressive appeals to this
Court, arguing that the trial court’s judgment should be reinstated.
“When both parties move for summary judgment and the trial court grants one motion and denies the other,
the reviewing court should review the summary judgment evidence presented by both sides and determine
all questions presented and render the judgment the trial court should have rendered.” Tex. Workers’ Comp.
Comm’n v. Patient Advocates of Tex., 136 S.W.3d 643, 648 (Tex. 2004) (citations omitted). “When a trial
court’s order granting summary judgment does not specify the grounds relied upon, the reviewing court must
affirm summary judgment if any of the summary judgment grounds are meritorious.” FM Props. Operating
Co. v. City of Austin, 22 S.W.3d 868, 872 (Tex. 2000) (citations omitted).
Progressive argues it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law because it met its obligations under the single
policy by paying its maximum limits, or alternatively, that the “Two or More Auto Policies” provision limits
Kelley’s recovery to a single policy. It argues that the documents clearly and unambiguously demonstrate
Progressive only issued one policy to the Kelleys with a maximum coverage of $500,025. In support,
Progressive directs the Court’s attention to the multi-car discount reflected in the second document, and the
affidavit of Debra Henry, Progressive’s Litigation Underwriting Specialist, who explained that Progressive has
specific procedures for “5+ Car” policies. According to Henry, “5+ Car” policies are split into two pages
because Progressive’s computer software only allows four vehicles per page, and that the two separate
policy numbers generated are a product of Progressive’s computer program, not an indication of two
separate policies. Henry stated that had there been two policies, Progressive could have charged Kelley two
policy fees, rather than the one that it did charge. Also, Henry stated that the multi-car discount reflected on
the second document was applicable only because the car listed was the fifth overall under the single policy,
and that this discount would not have been available if the car was covered under its own distinct policy.
Conversely, Kelley argues there is no fact question as to whether two policies were issued, and that refusing
to stack the two policies in these circumstances is prohibited under Texas law. In support, Kelley points to the
separate policy numbers and premiums on each document, as well as Progressive’s own “Product &
Underwriting Guide.”
Although this question deals with the interaction of two documents, the rules of construction for
insurance contracts apply.[2] The starting point of this analysis is the instrument itself. See Coker v. Coker,
650 S.W.2d 391, 393 (Tex. 1983) (“If the written instrument is so worded that it can be given a certain or
definite legal meaning or interpretation, then it is not ambiguous and the court will construe the contract as a
matter of law.”).
Here, the written instrument consists of two pages, and standing alone, contains the information necessary
to be an insurance policy. It makes no reference to another related document or policy. In the top right
corner, the document states “Page 1 of 2” and “Page 2 of 2,” respectively, indicating that those are the only
two pages related to that policy. These characteristics suggest the document is a single policy. However,
Progressive urges the Court to consider its Product & Underwriting Guide and Henry’s affidavit to explain the
two documents. Extrinsic evidence is not admissible for the purpose of creating an ambiguity. Nat’l Union Fire
Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, PA v. CBI Indus., Inc., 907 S.W.2d 517, 520 (Tex. 1995) (per curiam) (citations
omitted). But here, the document does reflect some ambiguity. The reference to the “multi-car discount” on
the second document, which covers only one car, creates some ambiguity. See Coker, 650 S.W.2d at 394
(“A contract . . . is ambiguous when its meaning is uncertain and doubtful or it is reasonably susceptible to
more than one meaning.”). Also at issue here is latent ambiguity, which arises “when a contract which is
unambiguous on its face is applied to the subject matter with which it deals and an ambiguity appears by
reason of some collateral matter.” Nat’l Union Fire Ins., 907 S.W.2d at 520. Here, the surrounding
circumstances—the existence of the two documents—creates a latent ambiguity as to the intent of the
parties. Thus, we will consider extrinsic evidence, including the content of the first document. A review of the
two documents together shows that each has a different policy number, policy period, premium, and listed
drivers. Also, the first document reflects that it was modified more recently than the second. However, the
coverage amounts and deductibles are the same in each document.
Henry addressed these discrepancies, explaining that Progressive’s computer program allows only four
vehicles per page, so the fifth car must be listed on a separate page. While this explanation may indicate
Progressive issued a single policy, the fact that a new policy number was generated for the second
document does not. Also, Henry’s affidavit and Progressive’s own “Product & Underwriting Guide” conflict at
times. Henry states that Kelley would have been required to pay an additional policy fee if there was a
second policy, whereas the Guide states:
ProRater can only accept four vehicles per policy. You will therefore need to split policies for five or more
vehicles. When you generate a quote, ProRater will prompt you to indicate whether it is for the second policy
of a “5 + car” policy. Answering “Yes” to this question will generate a multi-car discount, and will prevent a
policy fee and installment fee from being charged on the second policy. Only answer “Yes” when quoting the
second policy. The primary policy should be answered “No.” (emphasis added).
As Progressive urges, this “second policy” could reasonably be read to refer to the second page or provision
of the original policy, but it could also reasonably be read to refer to an additional independent policy. The
Guide also refers repeatedly to a primary, secondary, and second policy, implying there is more than one
policy involved here. Henry’s affidavit, taken together with the Guide, does little to resolve the ambiguity as to
whether the second document is a separate policy. That a discount was given for a fifth car could also
reasonably be construed either way—Progressive may want to reward a continuing customer by offering
discounts on new, additional policies in the same way it would want to offer discounts on additional coverage
under the same policy. Further, while it may seem reasonable for a computer program to carry over policy
information onto an additional page, the fact that each document contains a separate policy number
suggests they are separate, independent policies. This evidence is sufficient to raise a fact issue as to
whether Progressive issued two policies, but it falls short of establishing as a matter of law only one policy
was issued. For these reasons, we hold that the documents are ambiguous as to whether one or two policies
were issued.
Kelley argues that neither party claimed the contract was ambiguous. But whether a contract is ambiguous is
a question of law to be decided by the Court. J. M. Davidson, Inc. v. Webster, 128 S.W.3d 223, 229 (Tex.
2003); see also Sage St. Assocs. v. Northdale Constr. Co., 863 S.W.2d 438, 445 (Tex. 1993) (holding that a
court can decide a contract is ambiguous on its own motion). We have said that in an insurance contract,
where a provision is subject to two reasonable interpretations, we will adopt the interpretation that favors the
insured. Nat’l Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, Pa. v. Hudson Energy Co., Inc., 811 S.W.2d 552, 555 (Tex.
1991) (citations omitted).
Here, we are not interpreting a particular exclusion or provision within an insurance policy, see, e.g., Fiess v.
State Farm Lloyds, 202 S.W.3d 744, 746 (Tex. 2006); rather, we are determining whether two documents
amount to a single or separate policies. After reviewing the face of the documents and extrinsic evidence, we
hold that the documents are ambiguous, and therefore, a fact finder should resolve the meaning. See J. M.
Davidson, 128 S.W.3d at 230–31; Coker, 650 S.W.2d at 394 (“When a contract contains an ambiguity, the
granting of a motion for summary judgment is improper because the interpretation of the instrument
becomes a fact issue.”).[3] Therefore, without hearing argument, we reverse the court of appeals judgment
and remand to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. Tex. R. App. P. 59.1.[4]
OPINION DELIVERED: March 27, 2009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] This provision provides:
TWO OR MORE AUTO POLICIES
If this policy and any other auto insurance policy issued to you by us apply to the same accident, the
maximum limit of our liability under all the policies shall not exceed the highest applicable limit of liability
under one policy.
[2] The meaning of the first document/policy, which lists four cars, is not at issue because Progressive has
already paid the limits on that policy. The question before the Court is whether the second document/policy
is independent of the first.
[3] The record reflects that Progressive requested a jury trial and that Kelly argued, during summary
judgment, that the issue of whether there is two policies may be a fact issue.
[4] Because the validity of the anti-stacking provision is contingent on a finding that Progressive issued two
policies, we do not address it at this time.