Anthony v. German American Insurance

48 Mo. App. 65 | Mo. Ct. App. | 1892

Gill, J.

This action is based on a fire insurance policy for $1,000, issued by defendant December 10,1888, covering a building' in M .ryville, Missouri, then owned by one Cooper. The policy was made to Cooper with stipulation that loss, if any occurring, should be payable to one Ford, who then held a mortgage of $1,200 on the property. A few days thereafter Cooper sold and conveyed the building and lot to the plaintiff Anthony, who with consent of the defendant took a transfer of the policy. In the month of April following, Ford, the mortgagee, assigned the mortgage to plaintiff Shelton, and the defendant thereupon indorsed upon the policy loss, if any, - payable to said Shelton. So then when the building was destroyed by fire, August 27, 1888, the policy stood in the name of Anthony, with loss payable to Shelton, mortgagee.

The matters of defense, as set out in the answer, consist of : First, that there is a misjoinder of parties in the action; second, that a portion of the building was used as a broom factory and for the storage of broom-corn contrary to that provision of the policy quoted: “If the risk be increased by any means with- 1

out the consent of this company written in, this policy shall be void;” third, that the notice and proofs of loss were' not famished as required by the policy, and, fourth, that the assured failed to furnish when required, the plans and specifications of the building as provided for in said policy.

The reply admits the existence of the provision in the policy as to increased risks, as alleged in the answer, but denies that the manufacture of brooms in the building constituted such increased risks, and pleads further knowledge by the defendant of such use, and that, therefore, it is now estopped to claim any sucli defense. The issues were tried by j ury, verdict and judgment for plaintiffs, and defendant appealed.

I. We consider the different defenses in the order set out in the answer: First, as to claim of misjoinder of plaintiffs in the action. There is no merit in defendant’s contention. Anthony, at the date of loss, was, in effect, a party to the contract of insurance, but it stood for the benefit of Shelton, the mortgagee. Anthony then was, so long as the mortgage debt remained unsatisfied, trustee of an express trust, while Shelton occupied -the place of one for whose benefit a contract was made. Under the provisions then of our code either or both could prosecute the action. Megher v. Stewart, 6 Mo. App. 500; Harney v. Dutcher, 15 Mo. 93; Rogers v. Gosnell, 51 Mo. 466. A recovery by either or both would bar any further action on the policy. Rogers v. Gosnell, supra.

II. Next, was the policy avoided by the use of a portion, of the building in the manufacture of brooms ? The occupancy of the building, when the policy was taken out, was said to be as “dwelling and grocery store.” Now the stipulation relied on by the defendant company is this: “ This policy shall be void if the risk be increased by any means without the consent of this company written hereon.” It is claimed that the broom-making business, thus carried on, was an increase of rislt, and as the insurer did not consent thereto in writing the policy became void. Plaintiffs, on the other hand, deny that the business thus conducted by the occupant of the building increased the risk ; and further, even if it was an increase of risk, that defendant waived this condition of the policy.

On the defense the court instructed the jury as fellows, this at the instance of defendant: “The court instructs the jury it is provided in and by said policy, that, if the risk be increased by any means without the consent of the company written on said policy, said policy should be void. You are instructed that such condition is a valid condition ; and if you find from the evidence that after said policy was delivered assured used a portion of said premises as a broom factory, and stored in a portion of said premises broom-corn, without defendant’s consent, and the premises were so used at the time of the fire, and that thereby said risk was increased, you will find for the defendant.” And on the part of the plaintiffs the court, in effect, told the jury that even though they should find that Anthony ’ s broom business may have added to the risk, yet if defendant’s agent had notice thereof, at the time, and further if before plaintiff Shelton purchased the mortgage, and took an assignment of the beneficial interest in the policy, he went to the company’s agent and notified said agent of the business there carried on and asked if there was any objection thereto, or if it was such a business as was prohibited by the policy, and if said agent assured him ( Shelton) that it was not and would not avoid the policy; and if acting thereon plaintiff bought the note and mortgage and took a transfer of the beneficial interest in the policy, then the existence of said broom-making was no defense to the action.

The jury as to this issue, then, may have found for the plaintiffs on either of two hypotheses, to-wit: That the business thus conducted by Anthony did not increase the risk, or, even if it did, yet defendant was estopped by its conduct or consent from complaining thereof. As to the question whether there was an increase of risk it was the province of the jury to determine. If they found no increase of risk they were supported therein by the evidence. It appears that the broom-making business was conducted in the basement of the building; that Anthony operated a small hand machine, making brooms to a very limited extent, and the business was so insignifiant that the jury might well conclude that the increase of risk was quite imperceptible. But in addition to this there was ample testimony tending to prove the facts upon which an estoppel could be based.' When plaintiff Shelton sought the purchase of the mortgage on the property he was in advance lulled to security by defendant’s agent. He was told by the agent that the broom business did not impair the insurance ; that it was a “ one-horse affair,” and amounted to nothing, etc. The defendant then after having full knowledge of the character of the business there conducted, continuing to recognize the existence of the policy and by its conduct inducing others to invest their money on the faith thereof, cannot now be heard to set up such matter to defeat the policy. “ If a party by his silence directly leads another to act to his injury, he will not be permitted after the injury has happened, to them allege anything to the contrary, for he who will not speak when he should will not be allowed to speak when he would.” Cromwell v. Ins Co., 47 Mo. App. 109, and cases there cited.

There is no doubt as to the power of the agent in this instance. He testifies that he had authority even to take up and cancel policy for violations of the conditions. Paraphrasing then the text of Shekwood, J\, in Hamilton v. Ins. Co., 94 Mo. 368, we may say here that if he (Hotchkin) as such agent had notice of the occupancy of this building and the business there conducted, and took no steps to cancel the policy in suit, then the fact of such business would constitute no defense to plaintiffs’ action on the policy, and this upon the familiar principle that notice to the agent is notice to the principal, and what the agent waives the principal cannot afterwards insist upon. It matters not that the policy may stipulate that such consent or waiver can only be by writing indorsed on the policy. In such circumstances, failure of literal compliance with the stipulation in the policy will not be allowed to work a forfeiture, and the company is held estopped from making such a claim. Hamilton Case, 94 Mo. 368-9. Neither is there any impediment to waiving a stipulation as to a waiver. Barnard v. Ins. Co., 38 Mo. App. 113; Ins. Co. v. Norton, 96 N. S. 240.

III. Defendant has no just cause to complain of want of notice. It seems that when the fire occurred August 27, 1889, the assured Anthony was absent. He returned, however, three days thereafter and forthwith went to the local agent and advised with him as to the notice. Anthony was then and there told by the agent that he (the agent) had already reported the loss to the company and “that was all there was to do.” The company received the notice from its local agent two days after the fire and forthwith acknowledged receipt thereof, stating too that the adjuster had been wired to give prompt attention to the matter. And, on September 8 (just a week after the fire), the adjuster appeared, was introduced to Anthony, and, after examining the premises and interrogating the assured, made an effort to agree with Anthony as to the amount. The notice was all sufficient under the ruling of the supreme court in Loeb v. Ins. Co., 99 Mo. 50.

IY. As to the matter of proofs of loss the court (and properly too) advised the jury that the plaintiff Anthony had failed to furnish those in terms required by the policy ; and the direction of the court was to find for the defendant on that account, unless within the time the proof should have been furnished the defendant denied liability on other grounds than failure to furnish said proofs. Since then the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, the conclusion is that they found the fact to be’ that defendant did, within the time the proofs were required, deny its liability on other grounds. This was a correct exposition of the law, and the testimony sustains the jury’s finding. The evidence tends to prove that from the day when the adjuster first appeared at the ruins to investigate the circumstances of the loss defendant assumed the attitude of non-liability, for the reason and that alone, that Anthony had conducted the broom-making on the premises. And in such case the courts hold the insurance company will be deemed to have waived proofs of loss.

We have considered every point urged against the judgment of the circuit court, but deem it unnecessary to further extend this opinion in discussing other minor matters. There is no substantial reason for disturbing the j udgment, and it is,- therefore, affirmed.

All concur.