Andrew C. Simpson

The respondent was seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident in the United States Virgin Islands.

She applied to her insurer for statutory accident benefits and underinsurance coverage.

The insurer brought an application to deny coverage, arguing the accident occurred outside the territorial limits of the Insurance Act and the policy, which cover the 'United States of America'.

The court found the term ambiguous and applied the doctrine of contra proferentem, concluding that the term includes the United States Virgin Islands for the purposes of coverage.

The insurer's application was dismissed.