Hagan v. Merchants & Bankers' Insurance

81 Iowa 321 | Iowa | 1890

Given, J.

i. Eire insur-tt&nofwritten plead™!?181 evidence. I. On the trial, plaintiff offered in evidence the policy, and copy of application attached, to which defendant objected, on the ground that it was apparent on the face of the instruments that they had been changed; wherefore the burden was on plaintiff to account for the change before he could introduce the instruments in evidence, and also upon the ground that plaintiff confessed the change in his reply, and had not offered, evidence tending to avoid it. Tliis objection was overruled. The defendant asked an instruction to the effect that, if the jury found that there was ground for suspicion on the face of the instruments that the policy had been altered as alleged, then the burden was upon the party offering it in evidence to show “ when such alleged alteration was performed, by whom, and the intent with which done.” This instruction was refused, and one given that ‘ ‘ the burden of establishing that the words were added to one or both of the places alleged after delivery of the policy rests upon the defendant.” The overruling of said objection, the refusal to instruct as asked, and the instruction given, are assigned as error.

The books are full of diverse decisions as to whether, on the production of a written instrument, which obviously has been altered, it is incumbent upon the party offering it in evidence to explain its appearance. Some hold that an alteration apparent on the face of the writing raises no presumption either way ; some that it raises a presumption against the writing, and, therefore, requires some explanation to make it admissible; others hold that it raises such presumption only when the apparent alteration is suspicious ; and yet others, that it is presumed, in the absence of explanation, that the alteration had been made before delivery. The authorities are so numerous that we refrain from citing any, but refer to the American and English Enclyclopedia of Law, under “Alteration of instruments,” where many of the authorities sustaining these different views are cited. This question was incidentally noticed, but not passed upon, in Jones v. Ireland, 4 Iowa, 69; Ault v. Fleming, 7 Iowa, 143; Wilson v. Harris, 35 Iowa, 507; and Wing v. Stewart, 68 Iowa, 13. These cases were disposed of upon other grounds, and the question before us has never been directly passed upon by this court. The issues involved in this defense are, whether the policy was altered as alleged, and, if so, whether after delivery to plaintiff, and without authority of the defendant. In Jones v. Ireland, supra, it was held to be a question of fact for the jury whether there had been an alteration as alleged. The instrument was certainly competent evidence as bearing upon this question, and was, therefore, proper to goto the jury ; but the contention is whether the plaintiff was entitled to offer it without explanatory proofs.

If the appearance of the instrument or other testimony tended to support the charge of alteration, it was the duty of the court to submit the issue to the jury ; but if the instrument or other proofs did not so tend, then the issue should be withheld, as in any other case where there is no testimony tending to support the allegation. No complaint is made of the/ action of the court in submitting the issue, and we may assume, therefore, that the appearance of the instrument' does tend to support the charge of alteration. The questions as to whether there were alterations, and, if so, whether fraudulent, were fairly before the jury,, and the instruments were competent evidence upon those issues. Question is made whether it was necessary for the plaintiff to offer the policy in support of his action. We think upon the pleadings it was not. The execution of the paper was not denied only in the sense that it was not the policy issued by the defendant, “for that the same has been changed and altered, without their knowledge or consent, since its delivery.” This is not such a denial of the execution of the instrument as is contemplated in section 2730 of the Code. It is contended that the plaintiff, in his reply, confessed the alteration and pleaded in avoidance that it was altered before delivery. The reply will not admit of such a construction. It expressly denies alteration, and, in the sentence wherein it is claimed an avoidance is pleaded, it is said that plaintiff does not admit that any change was made. If this question rested upon the pleadings alone, we would say, under the general rule, that the burden was upon the defendant to establish his allegations that the instruments were altered after delivery, and without its authority. We think there was no prejudicial error in admitting the instruments over defendant’s objections ; for, if they had not been introduced by the plaintiff, they certainly would have been introduced by the defendant in support of its defense of alteration.

Evidence: burden of proof. II. The instrument being properly before the jury, the more important question is upon which party the burden rested of explaining the apparent alteration. Determined by the pleadings and the general rule, we have seen that the burden was upon the defendant; but, if we are to presume from the fact of alteration that it was fraudulently made, then the burden is upon the plaintiff to rebut this presumption; but if no presumption arises or if the alteration is presumed to have been made before delivery, then the burden is upon the defendant. The rule that an alteration apparent on the face of the writing raises no presumption either way is, in our opinion, well supported by reason and authority, and in harmony with the rule that the law does not presume guilt. If the instrument shows upon its face, as it is possible it may, that the alteration was fraudulent, then it proves more than the mere fact of alteration ; but when the fact of alteration alone appears from it, and it is silent as to the time or authority by which it was made, there is no evidence upon which to base the presumption that it was fraudulently done. To presume against the writing, or that the alteration was before delivery, is to indulge in presumptions without evidence to support them. The alteration is not against the writing unless done after delivery, without authority. Apparent alterations are often made before delivery, and sometimes alterations are made after, with or without authority. Hence the mere fact of alteration furnishes no evidence as to when it was made, nor whether made by authority or not. If the alteration was not apparent upon inspection of the instrument, the burden of proof that it was altered would be upon the party who alleged it. If either of two opposite presumptions are equally inferable from an established fact, it cannot be said that that fact tends to prove either. If, from the fact of alteration, it may not be presumed that it was made after delivery, and without authority, then surely the burden of so proving is upon him who alleges it. Having determined that an alteration apparent on the face of the writing raises no presumption that it was made after delivery, and without authority, it follows, from what we have said as to the pleadings, that the burden was not upon the plaintiff to explain the alteration, but upon the defendant to prove its allegations, that the alterations were made after delivery, and without authority.

z. ._¡principal wl1vaer?nt: III. At the time of making this application, the plaintiff had no other insurance. The application was made to one Tam, agent of defendant, who prepared it for signature, and at the same time solicited applications in other companies in sums which, in the aggregate, exceeded twenty five hundred dollars’ concurrent insurance, for which permission is given in the policy. All the applications but one were given to Tam at the same time ; that one not being given then because Tam had no blank form. It was given a few days later.- One of these applications was rejected by the company, and afterwards placed by Tam in another company, through its agent. There is no question but at the time of taking this application defendant’s agent knew that plaintiff was desiring and applying for concurrent insurance in excess of twenty-five hundred dollars. Defendant’s contention is that the plaintiff also knew that fact, and that knowledge on the part of the agent will not excuse the plaintiff’s intentional fraud, even though the agent participated therein. That the defendant is bound by the knowledge obtained by its agents, is fully sustained in Boetcher v. Hawkeye Ins. Co., 47 Iowa, 253; Jordan v. State Ins. Co., 64 Iowa, 216; Bennett v. Council Bluffs Ins. Co., 70 Iowa, 600. In each of these cases the assured possessed the same knowledge as the agent. The company, being charged with the knowledge of its agent, must be considered as having knowledge of the amount of insurance applied for; and, having issued this policy with such knowledge, will be deemed to have waived the condition against concurrent insurance beyond the sum named. The cases last cited fully answer this contention.

4_proof of ' denoeevi' IY. Under the uncontradicted testimony, there is no doubt but that notice and proofs of loss, verified by were senfc to defendant by registered letter, and duly received. The plaintiff, having testified that the original was not in his possession or control, offered in evidence what was proven to be a copy, except that it does not set out the jurat at length. Objection was sustained, on the grounds that it was secondary, and no foundation laid for its admission. Thereupon plaintiff served notice on defendant’s attorneys to produce the original, to which they replied by filing the affidavit of the defendant’s secretary that, if they had the original, it was in the office at Des Moines ; that they had no such paper at Mt. Pleasant (the place of the trial), and were, therefore, unable to produce it. The offer was. again made, and objection sustained. Afterwards, and during the argument, the court changed its ruling, and permitted the copy to be read in evidence. The giving of notice and proof of loss is made a condition precedent by the contract. Under section 2715 of the Code, it is sufficient, in pleading performance of conditions precedent in a contract, to state generally “ that he duly performed all the conditions on his part.” Section 2717 requires that, in controverting such allegations, “it shall not be sufficient to do so in terms contradictory of the allegation, but the facts relied on shall be specifically stated.” The allegation in the petition is : “ Plaintiff duly gave said defendant company due notice in writing, and proof of said loss, and accompanied said notice by an affidavit stating the facts as to how the loss occurred, so far as the same was within this plaintiff’s knowledge, and the extent of the loss.” The answer is a denial “that he has made proof of loss, as claimed in his petition, and as required by the contract of insurance, as contained in the policy.” The only issue joined is whether notice- and proof of loss were given to defendant. There is no statement of facts joining issue as to the form or sufficiency of the proof. It was competent for plaintiff to* show by parol evidence that proof of loss was prepared,, and sent to defendant. Bish v. Hawkeye Ins. Co., 69 Iowa, 186. This the plaintiff did by proofs that are-unquestioned. There being no issue as to the form or sufficiency of the notice and proof, there was no necessity for introducing evidence of the contents of either ; and hence the admission of the copy could not have prejudiced any rights of the defendant, and is, therefore, not ground for reversal.

6 tees m Y. Plaintiff was permitted to prove, over defendant’s objections, that one of his attorneys wrote a letter-(3-eien(^ail*; concerning this policy, when it would be paid, and with reference-to proof of loss which had been sent. The objection was that this was giving the contents of the letter without the proper foundation having been laid for secondary evidence. The witness was not asked to, nor did- he,, state the contents of the letter, but only the subjects, about which he wrote. Had his answer shown that it was about subjects foreign to this case, that would have-been the end of inquiry ; but, being upon subjects pertaining to the case, the inquiry might be pursued' further. There is a difference between stating the subject upon which a letter was written and in stating its-contents. The witness identified a, letter from defendant, ' through one of its attorneys, as having been, received in reply, which letter was offered and objected to. The statement that it was in answer to the former-letter was not contradicted, and was corroborated by the subject-matter of the former, and the contents of the latter. This letter makes no objection to the form or sufficiency of proof of loss, but states the grounds-upon which payment is refused to be the taking out of additional insurance, and other irregularities, in violation of the policy. This letter was introduced before the court had decided to admit the copy of the proof of loss, and for the purpose of showing that the defendant made no objection to the form or sufficiency of the proof. Here again the plaintiff was offering evidence not required to sustain his cause of action ; but we fail to discern wherein the admitting of that evidence could have been prejudicial to the defendant.

_-verdict ' of jury: YI. Question is made as to whether the verdict is supported by the evidence, on the grounds that plaintiff ’ s testimony does not show the value of the property destroyed. While it is true that the testimony is not as definite as might be desired, yet it is as much so as the circumstances will admit. Under section 1734 of McClain’s Code, the amount stated in the policy is prima-facie evidence of the insurable value of the property at the date of the policy. The testimony is such that we would not be justified in disturbing the verdict on this ground. It was a question for the, jury, and we cannot say that there was not evidence to support their finding,

_.mutuai ' companies: note: assess-VII. In support of the claim of set-off, defendant offered in evidence the premium note set out, to which plaintiff objected, which objection was sustained. The note is an agreement to pay “one hundred and thirty-seven and forty-hundredths dollars in such portions, and at such times, as the directors of said company, agreeably to their act of incorporation and by-laws, reqirire.” It was admitted that no assessment had been made. The ■directors had not declared any portion of said sum as ■due and payable. Without now determining what the rights of the parties might be after the directors had •declared a portion to be paid at the time named, we think it very clear that the defendant was not entitled to recover upon the note until such action had been taken by the directors.

Our conclusion is, upon an examination of the whole case, that the judgment of the district court should be affirmed.