1.7 Interpretation Based on Style and Size of the Policy Language and the Policy Format

• Jurisdiction: Arizona

The type and size of the insurance policy language, as well as the policy format, will be looked at by the court to determine if the policy is clear. The court has not adopted any specific guidelines to assist in this determination. It appears that the court will evaluate each policy on a case-by-case basis.

In Outdoor World v. Continental Casualty Co.,^[98] the court found that the policy was not ambiguous merely because the definitions appeared in different locations of the policy.

In Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co. v. Chiate,^[99] the court analyzed an "other insurance" clause that appeared on the second page of the policy under a heading of less impressive type than the insuring clause on the first page of the policy. The court found that the policy format was not deceptive or misleading.

In Lawrence v. Beneficial Fire & Casualty Insurance Co.,^[100] the court evaluated a policy where the insuring clause was on the front page of the policy, in bold print, while a coverage limiting provision appeared on a different page of the policy, in smaller print. The court held that the differences in print and location were not likely to confuse an ordinary layperson as to the coverage the policy...