North Bay Schools Insurance Authority v. Industrial Indemnity Co.

I dissent.

As the majority acknowledges, the sole dispute between North Bay Schools Insurance Authority (North Bay) and Industrial Indemnity Company *1749and California Insurance Company (Insurers) is the meaning of the word “riot,” which is undefined in the insurance policy. The rules of interpretation of insurance contracts are settled. “Words used in an insurance policy are to be interpreted according to the plain meaning which a layman would ordinarily attach to them. Courts will not adopt a strained or absurd interpretation in order to create an ambiguity where none exists.

“On the other hand,…