This аction was brought to recover on a policy of fire insurance, issued by the defendant, by which it insured one. Dickinson, plaintiff’s assignor, in the sum of $750 on the household furniture of himself and family. The policy originally covered the property while situated at No. 534 Warren street, Newark, N. J. Subsequently plaintiff’s assignor sent a portion of the goods to a storage warehouse and аn indorsement was made upon the policy, as follows: “$750 in A. H. Van Horn’s storage warehouse for six months, situate No. 73 Market street, Newark, N. J. Rate increased to one per cent рer annum. Additional premium $4.13.” While the policy was in force the storehouse where the goods were situated was destroyed by fire and the property damaged to more than the аmount of the sum for which it was insured. Upon notification to the company of such loss it denied its liability in any amount. The material facts shown upon the trial are undisputed.
The respondent urges but two grounds upon which it claims the judgment of dismissal can be sustained. They
Considering these points inversely, the policy contained a clause giving the defendant sixty days after due notice, etс., in which to pay the loss. As the defendant denied any liability under the policy, those provisions of the policy were clearly waived. Joyce Ins., § 3211; Clement Fire Ins., 352, and cases cited.
Thе goods of the plaintiffs assignor were stored in Van Horn’s storage warehouse. A part of the warehouse consisted of three buildings located on,Bank street, each connecting with the other by means of an archway, and a building at 73 Market street connected with the Bank street buildings by means of a bridge, running over Campbell street, from the second story rear of 73 Market street to the second story of one of the three Bank street buildings. The office of Van Horn and entrance to the storage warehouse were at 73 Market street, and Van Horn had no other storage warehouse in the city of Newark. It does not appear in the record that there was any access to the storage warehouse othеr than by way of 73 Market street.
The defendant claims that the words in the consent transferring the insured goods to the storage warehouse “ situate at No. 73 Market street, Newark, N. J.,” is such a misdesсription of the actual location of the property as to render the policy void. In support of this the defendant relies principally upon the case of Bryce v. Lorillard Fire Insurance Company,
The goods had previously been insured in a dwelling-house at 534 Warren street, Newark, N. J. The defendant knew that they were to be рlaced in storage, and that such storage was to be in Van Horn’s warehouse, as it issued its transfer of the risk to that place, and it charged and received am increased rate of premium therefor. No particular part of said warehouse was named and the clear intent of the parties was that the goods should be stored, and stored in the identicаl warehouse to which they were taken and in which they were destroyed. It is not claimed that No. 73 Market street is, or ever was, used for any other purpose, or designated by any othеr name than Van Horn’s storage warehouse, except that Van Horn also kept furniture, etc., for sale therein, and as appears by the testimony it was the entrance of аnd formed part of the building in which the goods were actually located.
The decision in the Bryce case was based upon the fact that the building “ was so constructed as to be оf many divisions, practically separate from each other for safety from fire and treated as distinct in making contracts of insurance. Oertainty of description needed some expression of what division it was in. This was the office of letter 0. If that phrase be rejected and no truthful phrase be inserted, the description fails to show just where in Patterson storеs the property was placed. That phrase, though false, might
In the case at bar the storage warehouse consisted of 'connecting rooms or lofts, nothing but archways between the storage rooms, and the еntrance being upon Market street. The complaint herein was dismissed at the close of the plaintiff’s case and the most favorable inferences must he found in favor of the plaintiff. Plaintiff’s assignor testified : “ When I went there after the fire to see my goods I entered at 73 Market street. I went to the elevator, went up two floors, then crossed the bridge I spoke оf and went up another flight into the place where the goods were. The bridge was a wooden structure, closed roof, sides and all, and seemed while we were going through as if we were all in one building.” I think that it may well he said that Ho. 73 Market street was a portion of the Van Horn storage warehouse and that it not only appears that the description of the location of the warehouse was correctly given, hut that if we eliminate the words “ situate Ho. 73 Market street ” from the description entirely, sufficient remains to clearly point out the location of the insured property, and that, therefore, the judgment must be reversed.
Scott and Blahchabd, JJ., concur.
Judgment reversed and new trial ordered, with costs to appellant to abide event.
