Language in an insurance policy can be confusing and open to different interpretations, leading to coverage disputes between insureds and insurers. Sometimes, the confusion and disputes can revolve around little words that are common to everyday usage. As an example, consider the word "that."

Questions about the word "that" usually arise from its use in policy exclusions. For example, in the personal auto policy, there is an exclusion for liability coverage for property damage to property owned or being transported by "that insured," while another exclusion applies to property damage to property used by or in the care of "that insured."

So, if a wife runs into a car owned by her husband, would those exclusions apply to a liability claim made against her? And in the CGL form, the damage to property exclusions pertain to "that particular part" of property. So if the insured is repairing an electrical panel board in one room and somehow causes the board and electrical boards throughout the whole building to blow up, would the exclusions apply only to that particular panel board, or do they apply to the whole electrical system?

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free PropertyCasualty360 Digital Reader

  • All PropertyCasualty360.com news coverage, best practices, and in-depth analysis.
  • Educational webcasts, resources from industry leaders, and informative newsletters.
  • Other award-winning websites including BenefitsPRO.com and ThinkAdvisor.com.
NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.