2 Johns. Cas. 333 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1801
I consider this as a wager policy. It has the indicia of a wager policy, as they are pointed out by the cases on the subject. (Doug. 468. Park, 259.) Here was to be no other proof of interest required than the policy itself, and if the goods did not arrive the insurer was to pay. It was in fact betting on the return of the ship, and if she had not returned, in consequence of any peril enumerated in the policy, the plaintiff would, on its production, have been entitled to the sum insured. *As the
plaintiffs claim a return of premium, it has been made a question whether this be a valid policy. If it be unlawful and consequently void, on the ground of its being a wager policy, the assured is not entitled at any rate to a return of premium, for in pari delicto potior est conditio possidentis.(
As the defendant has, therefore, run the risk intended by the policy, I see no pretence for a return of premium, and judgment of nonsuit ought to be entered.(
Radcliff, J. and Lewis, J. were of the same opinion. Lansing, Ch. J. dissented.
Judgment of nonsuit.
(a) See Bro. Max. 323.
(b) It seems to have been conceded, that Buchanan v. Ocean Ins. Co. (6 Cowen, 318,) Clendenning et at v. Church, (3 Caines, 141,) and the principal case, established the validity of wager policies in New York. (1 Duer on Ins. 94. 1 Phillips on Ins. 3, 4. See, however, per Ogden, arg. 6 Cowen, 325.) The Revised Statutes, (1 Rev. Statutes, ch. 2, p. 666, § 8,9,10,) however declare that “ all wagers, bets or stakes, made to depend upon any gaming by bet or chance, or upon any bet, chance, casualty, or unknown or contingent event whatever, shall be unlawful; and that all contracts for or on account of any money or property, or thing in action so wagered, bet, or staked, shall be void.” Mr. Duer remarks upon this section of the statute, that “ the prohibition is so general in its terms, that it might well be construed to embrace all insurances whatever; but to guard against this construction, insurances made in good faith, for the security or indemnity of the party insured, and not otherwise prohibited by law, are, by a subsequent clause, excepted from its operation.” (1 Insurance, 94.) Wager policies are held void in Massachusetts ; (Amory v. Gillman, 2 Mass. 1; Babcock v. Thompson, 3 Pickering, 446 ;) in Pennsylvania; (Pritchett v. Ins. Co. of N. A. 3 Yeates, 464; Craig v. Murgatroyd, 4 Yeates, 161 ; Adams v. Penn. Ins. Co. 1 Rawle, 107 : Edgell v. M'Laughlin, 6 Wheaton, 176 ;) and generally throughout the United States. (1 Duer on Insurance, 95. See 1 Duer on Insurance, (p. 154, 155,) for a construction of the foreign authorities upon this question.