Ambiguity Should Have Been Resolved Against the Insurer

Reversing Supreme Court, the Second Department determined the ambiguity in the supplemental underinsured motorist (SUM) endorsement about whether a snowmobile was a covered “motor vehicle” should have been resolved against the insurer. “We find that the policy, when read as a whole, is ambiguous as to whether the term “motor vehicle” in the SUM endorsement refers to the snowmobile, the only vehicle covered by the policy. Contrary to State Farm’s contention and the Supreme Court’s determination, this ambiguity must be resolved ‘against the insurer and in favor of coverage’ … , without reference to the definition of ‘motor vehicle’ set forth in the Vehicle and Traffic Law.”  Matter of State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v Jones, 2015 NY Slip Op 04493, 2nd Dept 5-27-15