Cited by

We therefore determine whether coverage is provided by interpreting the insurance policy “from the standpoint of the average layman ‘in light of what a more than casual reading of the policy would reveal to an ordinarily intelligent insured.’” Brown v. City of Laconia, 118 N.H. 376, 378, 386 A.2d 1276, 1277 (1978) (quoting Aetna Ins.

This result is similar to our conclusion in Brown v. City of Laconia, 118 N.H. 376, 379, 386 A.2d 1276, 1278 (1978), that if a snowplow was not to be covered under a “snow removal hazard” the insurer “should have used plainer language in its description of the hazard.” Affirmed.

This result obtained in a recent decision of this court in which we noted, “[i]f the company intended the snow removal hazard to have the narrow meaning it now urges, it should have used plainer language in its description of the hazard.” Brown v. City of Laconia, 118 N.H. 376, 379, 386 A.2d 1276, 1278 (1978).

“The well-established rule in this State is that insurance policies are interpreted from the standpoint of the average layman ‘in light of what a more than casual reading of the policy would reveal to an ordinarily intelligent insured.’” Brown v. City of Laconia, 118 N.H. 376, 378, 386 A.2d 1276, 1277 (1978), quoting *290 Aetna Ins.

Lariviere v. N.H. Insurance Group, 120 N.H. 168, 413 A.2d 309 (1980); Brown v. Laconia, 118 N.H. 376, 386 A.2d 1276 (1978).

Brown v. City of Laconia, 118 N.H. 376, 386 A.2d 1276 (1978).

Moreover, it would be unreasonable to “think that the major, if not the only, hazard for which the specific premium was paid would be removed by the exclusion.” Brown v. City of Laconia, 118 N.H. 376, 378 A.2d 1276, 1277 (1978).

Brown v. City of Laconia, 118 N.H. 376, 386 A.2d 1276 (1978).

In the case of an express exclusion, the question is “whether the ordinary layman in the position of the insured could reasonably be expected to understand that certain exclusions qualified the policy’s grants of coverage.” Commercial Union Assurance Cos. v. Gollan, 118 N.H. 744, 745, 394 A.2d 839, 841 (1978); Brown v. City of Laconia, 118 N.H. 376, 386 A.2d 1276 (1978); see Olszak v. Peerless Insurance Co., 119 N.H. 686, 406 A.2d 711 (1979).

Commercial Union Assurance Cos. v. Derry, 118 N.H. 469, 387 A.2d 1171 (1978); Brown v. Laconia, 118 N.H. 376, 386 A.2d 1276 (1978); Aetna Ins.

We agree with the trial court that “such a strained and tortured interpretation is clearly without merit.” “The well-established rule in this State is that insurance policies are interpreted from the standpoint of the layman ‘in light of what a more than casual reading of the policy would reveal to an ordinarily intelligent insured.’ ” Brown v. City of Laconia, 118 N.H. 376, 378, 386 A.2d 1276, 1277 (1978); accord, Commercial Union Assurance Companies v. Town of Derry, 118 N.H. 469, 387 A.2d 117

Brown v. Laconia, 118 N.H. 376, 378, 386 A.2d 1276, 1277 (1978); Aetna Ins.

Our cases hold that insurance policies “are interpreted from the standpoint of the average layman ‘in light of what more than casual reading of the policy would reveal to an ordinarily intelligent insured.’ ” Brown v. Laconia, 118 N.H. 376, 386 A.2d 1276 (1978); citing Aetna Ins.