Max True Plastering Co. v. United States Fidelity and Guaranty Co.
Oklahoma Supreme Court
912 P.2d 861 (1996)
Max True Plastering Company (plaintiff) bought an employee-dishonesty insurance policy from United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company (USF&G) (defendant). After suffering losses from employee dishonesty, Max True made a claim, which USF&G denied. Max True sued, arguing coverage existed either under the policy's express terms or under its reasonable expectations of coverage. The trial court certified to the state supreme court the question whether Oklahoma recognizes the reasonable-expectations doctrine for interpreting insurance contracts, and if so, under what circumstances.
Whether, under the reasonable-expectations doctrine, an insurance policy that is ambiguous or contains exclusions masked by technical or obscure language should be interpreted according to the insured's reasonable expectations.