New-York Insurance v. Roulet

24 Wend. 504 | Court for the Trial of Impeachments and Correction of Errors | 1840

After advisement, the following opinions were, delivered:

By the President of the Senate.

The main questions arising in this case are: 1. Is the award of the commissioners under the French treaty final and conclusive upon the rights of the parties litigant here ? 2. If not, are the defendants in error entitled to recover from the plaintiffs in error the $5000 received by the latter on the claim presented by them to the commissioners under the French .treaty ?

This case is, I think, upon both these points very clear.

1. Upon the first point, the vice chancellor was clearly right in saying, that “ the awards of the commissioners are only to be considered as ascertaining what were proper claims upon the fund, the amount of the respective claims, and to whom, as between individuals and the government, the money might be legally'paid ; and not as settling the conflicting rights and equities of third persons, who may be interested, or entitled to participate in the money after the government had parted with it: .these being matters more properly belonging to the ordinary tribunals of the country. This is the law of the case of Comegys v. Vasse, 1 Peters, 193, which arose under the Spanish treaty. See also Sheppard and others v. Taylor and others, [ *510 ] 5 Peters, 675; Manro v. Almeida, *10 Wheaton, 473, and Willard v. Dorr, 3 Mason, 164. To the same effect, also, is the case of Delafield v. Colden, decided in our own court of chancery. See 1 Paige, 139.

This is also in strict conformity with the view which the commissioners themselves under the Spanish treaty entertained of their own powers, and upon which they acted. See the final' report made to the department of State of the United States on the 8th of June, 1824, by the commissioners under the Florida treaty, where, among other observations, they remark: “ But in these and many other cases which occurred, the board having ascertained the full amount of the loss, distributed this amount so ascertained amongst the different parties claiming before them, and seeming to have right to receive it, (no matter in what character,) without deciding or believing itself possessed of the authority to decide upon the merits of the conflicting claims to the same subject. To whom of right the sum thus awarded when paid may belong ; or for whom, how, or in what degree the receiver ought to be regarded as a trustee of the sum received, were questions depending upon the municipal laws of the different states of the union, the application of which to the facts existing in any case, the board did not feel itself authorized to make; and therefore abstained from instituting any inquiry as to the facts necessary to such a decision. These remarks the commissioners think it proper thus to state, lest their award may be considered as barring and finally settling pretensions, into which this board have, in truth, neither made nor believed itself authorized to make any examination whatever ; but have purposely left it open for the adjudication of others, who will have better'means of ascertaining the'facts.”

The provisions of the French treaty, and the act of congress for carrying the same into effect, are not so essentially different from those of the Spanish treaty, as to distinguish the case now before this court, so far as regards this first point, from the case of Comegys v. Vasse, or as to render the principles of law, adopted in that case, inapplicable to the present. This point has been recently fully considered and decided by the supreme court of the United States, in *the case of Trevall v. [ *511 ] Bache, 14 Peters’ R. 95, in which Chief Justice Taney, who delivered the opinion of the court, says: “ Upon the first question, (is the decision of the commissioners appointed under the treaty with France, conclusive upon the rights of the parties ?) the court have entertained no doubt. This case cannot, we think, be distinguished from the cases of Comegys v. Vasse and Sheppard and others v. Taylor and others. It has been argued, on the part of the appellee, that these cases were decided under the treaty with Spain ; and that the language of that treaty and of the act of congress creating the board of commissioners under it, differs materially from the treaty and act of congress under consideration, when defining the powers of the board. It is true that there is some difference in the words used; but, in our judgment, they mean the same thing. The rules by which the board is directed to govern itself in deciding the cases that come before ib, and the manner in which it was constituted and organized, show the purpose for which it was created. It was established for the purpose of deciding what claims were entitled to share in the indemnity promised by the treaty; and they, of course, awarded the amount to such person as appeared, from the papers before them, to be the rightful claimant. But there is nothing in the frame of the law establishing this board, or in the manner of constituting and organizing it, that would lead us to infer that larger powers were intended to be given than those conferred upon the commissioners under the Spanish treaty. The plea therefore, put in by the defendant in bar of the complainants’ bill cannot be sustained, and the case is fully open beforp this court upon its merits.” It will be perceived that this is a decision directly in point. It has, therefore, I think, been clearly shown that the first point in this case has already been conclusively decided in the negative.

- 2. As to the second point, I think there can be as little doubt as upon the first.

The plaintiffs in error, insurers in this case, having refused to accept an abandonment of the cargo, after due notice of its seizure and [ *512 ] condemnation by the French government, ’hinder its decrees, and having refused, when required by the defendants in error, to pay as for a total loss ; and having compromised the claim by a partial payment of only $5000 instead of $15,000, the amount insured, they thereby voluntarily renounced all interest in the cargo, and all participation in the spes recuperandi of the same; so that if the property itself, or either a full or partial indemnity therefor should, at any time thereafter, be recovered, it should be for the exclusive benefit of the assured, into whosoever hands the same might come or be ; and the same would be the case whether such recovery were of the property itself specifically, or of an indemnity therefor. This point was expressly decided in the case above cited, of Sheppard and others v. Taylor and others, where it was said, “ There is no difference between the case of a restitution in specie of the ship itself, and a restitution in value.” The $5000 received by the plaintiffs in error under the French treaty, being a portion of the indemnity for the cargo seized and sequestered in this case, the defendants in error are entitled thereto, and should be permitted to recover the same in this proceeding, as I have no doubt they might have done at law, in the equitable action of assumpsit for money had and received. The difficulties, however, attending this latter remedy, arising out of the peculiar condition of the parties in interest, at the time of filing their bill in equity, as suggested by the vice chancellor, were, with the other reasons given by him, quite sufficient to justify his entertaining the jurisdiction which he undoubtedly had of this case. His decree is, I think, in all respects right. The decree of the chancellor, therefore, affirming that of the vice chancellor, should be affirmed.

By Chief Justice Nelson.

The appellants claim a reversal of the decree below on three grounds : 1. That the award of the commissioners under the French treaty is conclusive in favor of their right to the fund; 2. That independently of the award, they are entitled to it upon the merits ; and 3. The remedy, if any, is at law.

The cases referred to by the chancellor, I think ^decisive [ *513 ] against their first position. The award is conclusive only, in respect to the validity of the claim for compensation under the treaty, and the amount. It did not necessarily involve a consideration of the equitable or legal rights of third persons to the fund—questions growing out of these rights are to be heard and determined in the ordinary course of judicial proceedings.

The title of conflicting claimants may have been, in some measure involved in the examinations of the commissioners preparatory to a distribution ; but this was only as between the individuals and the government with a view to ascertain the extent of the claims upon the fund, and the persons to whom it might be properly paid. Demands upon it arising out of the previous dealings of the original claimants were independent of the treaty or law of congress : they stood on the footing of contract express or implied between the individual parties, the final adjustment of which was not material to the proper execution of the duties of the commissioners. They had neither time for a careful investigation of such extraneous matters, nor was it practicable for the parties to furnish the requisite proof.

On the second ground it seems to me also plain the appellants fail to show any right. The bill charges that they had no interest in the cargo seized, as they rejected the abandonment when offered by the assured, and refused to pay for a total loss. They failed, therefore, to put themselves in their place, or to lay any foundation for claim to indemnity.

It is insisted, however, that the subsequent compromise between the parties in pursuance of which the appellants paid one third of the insurance money, ($5000) had the effect to subrogate them, pro tanto, to the rights of the assured against the French government. The bill states that there was no abandonment, assignment, or cession of right to recover the subject insured, or any part thereof, or any demand for the same at the time of the compromise. We are bound to assume, therefore, that it was made without any stipulation for a corresponding interest in the claim upon the gov-, ernment—in the spies recuperandi—and that the Underwriters [ *514 ] preferred paying the $5000, and relinquishing the expectation of indemnity, to the payment of a total loss which was $15,000, with the benefit of it; or to state the other side of the arrangement—the assured released the insurance company from payment of the $15,000 and assumed the hazard of the claim upon the French government in consideration of the payment of the $5000. This I think the necessary conclusion from the facts stated in the bill and admitted by the demand.

Although an action at law for money had and received might have been maintained by the surviving owner of the cargo against the company from the equitable nature of this remedy, as understood since the time of Lord Mansfield, it cannot I think, be doubted, the subject was also one of chancery jurisdiction. Simple trusts are now regarded at law, and the duty frequently enforced ; but it would be too much to say that this somewhat modern extension of the remedy at law had the effect to oust a court of equity of its original cognizance of the subject matter. There are many subjects of judicial investigation, over which the two courts have concurrent jurisdiction. This is one of 'them. Whether the arrangement is a wise one or not, must be left to the legislature. It is not to be presumed that the two tribunals, acting upon somewhat adverse principles, could settle the boundary without expensive, if not vexatious litigation.

Upon the whole I am of opinion the decree should be affirmed.

By Senator Edwards.

It appears to me the chancellor and vice chancellor are right in the conclusions to which they have come, relative to the effect of the award of the commissioners upon the conflicting rights of parties as between each other. The duty of the commissioners is declared in the act providing for their appointment, viz. to receive and examine all claims which may be presented to them under the convention between the United States and France, of the 4th of July, 1831, which are provided for by [ *515 ] said convention according *to the provisions of the same, and the principles of justice, equity and the laws of nations. 1 Sess. 22 Cong. ch. 199, § 1. The object for which they were appointed appears to be to ascertain the number of claims of American citizens against the French government, which fell within the provisions of the treaty, and the amount of each claim, that a proper distribution of the twenty five millions of francs might be made amongst the claimants ; and as the money to be paid by the French government, was to liberate it completely from all the reclamations preferred against it by citizens of the United States, it was necessary that their awards should be final and conclusive between the claimants and the French government, to fulfil the conditions on which the money was to be paid, and the terms of the treaty. The amount, when paid by the French government, exonerated it from any further liability to those claims under the treaty ; and the due proportion of that amount paid to each individual in whose favor the commissioners made their award, discharged our government from any further liability, on account of the claims presented, and the principal object in naming the individual in the award, was to designate the person who might receive the money, and discharge the government from its trust. In negotiating the treaty, the government were but the agents of the individuals holding these claims, and received the money for their benefit. The claims being the property of individuals, were assignable, and who eventually would be legally entitled to the money the government could not know, unless it was empowered to call the parties and witnesses before some tribunal, and determine the question in a legal form.

But in what tribunal could the conflicting rights of these claimants be settled ? The claimants are citizens of this state. Congress could not authorize commissioners to form such a tribunal, nor could they institute a new tribunal with sufficient powers to adjudicate the matter in controversy between these parties. By sec. 1, of the second article of the constitution, the judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme court, and such inferior ^courts as congress may from time to time ordain [ *516 ] and establish. But the judicial power of these forums do not extend to controversies between citizens of the same state, except where they claim lands under grants of different states. See 2d article, Const. U. States. Congress therefore could not constitute a tribunal with exclusive jurisdiction over the rights of these parties. It is manifest therefore to my mind, that no tribunal has passed upon these claims, which had the power to render a judgment final and conclusive between the parties. Nothing short of an absolute agreement between the parties could constitute the commissioners arbitrators, so as to make their award final and conclusive, as to the conflicting claims of the parties. But it is not pretended any such agreement has been consummated between them. As I come to the conclusion therefore that the award is not final and conclusive between the parties in determining their rights ; the next question is, what are the equities in the bill as admitted by the demurrer ?

It is difficult to conceive from the statements in the bill how the insurance company could make out a claim before the commissioners that should entitle them to an award for the §5000. True it is, the company had paid that sum, but under what circumstances ? They had insured to the amount of §15,000 on the cargo of the vessel, and in consequence of the loss of the cargo, the owners had a claim against them for that amount, and in order to buy off their liability and to free and discharge themselves from the payment of the §15,000, in consequence of the loss, they agree to pay and do pay §5000, without taking any interest whatever in the spes reauperandi of the property lost—and even refuse to hold such interest. It appears to me, therefore, they relinquish all claim whatever to the money, or any portion of it paid on account of the loss of the cargo. I am aware that an abandonment is not necessary to give the insured a right to receive the proceeds of claims arising from losses which have been paid. A mere payment of a loss, whether partial or total, gives the insurers an equitable title to what may be afterwards recovered from other *parties on account [ *517 ] of the loss. 1 Phillips on Ins. 464. But it is on the principle that the insurer is considered as purchasing the property as far as he pays or is liable to pay for the loss. 1 Phil, on Ins. 465. And had the insurers in this case paid the amount they had agreed to pay by the terms of their policy, they would have been so considered, and entitled to their portion of the amount paid by the French government for the loss, whether the owners abandoned or not. But how could they retain- the situation which their policy gave them as presumptive purchasers, without complying with the terms of the policy ? Will it be said the owners had a right to consent to a modification, and still permit them to occupy the same standing in point of interest ? Undoubtedly they had. But did they do so ? The owner consented to relinquish the payment of $15,000 for $5,000, and offered to the insurers an abandonment of the cargo, which offer was declined on the part of the underwriters. How, therefore, could this negotiation which cancelled the policy, give the insurers any interest in the property ? The law cannot imply an interest against the absolute refusal of the party to take such interest, nor can a court of equity help out such a claim.

The doctrine laid down in Gracie v. N. Y. Ins. Co. 8 Johns. R. 244, that the assured is never obliged to abandon, and if he does not, he is always entitled to recover to the .extent of his loss, I epnsider entirely correct. But if the whole amount of loss is recovered by the assured and they have received a portion of the loss from the underwriters of a policy, without any relinquishment of the spes reeuperandi by such underwriters, the portion of the amount of the loss thus received is received in trust for the underwriters. In Randall v. Cochran, 1 Vesey, sen. 98, the commissioners appointed to adjust the losses sustained by unjust captures, would not suffer the insurers to make claim to part of the prizes, but the owners only, although they were satisfied for their loss by the insurers. The lord chancellor said he “ was of the opinion that the plaintiffs had the plainest equity that could be. The person originally sustaining the loss was the owner; but after [ *518 ] ' *satisfaction made to him the insurer. No doubt but from that time, as to the goods themselves, if restored in specie, or compensation made for them, the assured stands as a trustee for the insurer, in proportion for what he paid.” And on the same principle, if the insurance company have received the $5000, which, as the bill states, was a part of the aggregate .sum of $50,940 awarded, for the whole loss on the cargo, after having refused to pay the amount of the policy and accept of an abandonment, I see no reason why they have not received the money without any legal or equitable claim whatever, and why they should not be considered as holding it in trust for the owners of the cargo, or their representatives.

It appears to me, this is one of those cases in which the insurance company cannot conscientiously hold the $5000 received-—having absolutely dedined to pay the amount of their policy and accept of the abandonment; and if so, a court of equity may entertain jurisdiction. Mr. Justice Story, says : “ One of the most common cases in which a court of equity acts upon the ground of implied trusts, in invitum is, where a party has received money which he cannot conscientiously hold from another party.” 2 Story’s Eq. 501. The receipt of money under such circumstances, in equity, raises an implied trust. 2 Fonbl. Eq. Book 2, ch. 1, § 1, note b. 2 Story’s Eq. 501, 502. It is true that courts of law in the actiop for money had and received, have now jurisdiction of most of this class of cases, and furnish an adequate remedy when suEcient facts can be proved without calling upon the defendant to disclose them. 2 Story’s Eq. 502 and cases there cited. In Law v. Thorndike, 20 Pick. R. 320, the bill which was filed under this same French treaty was dismissed, on the ground that the plaintiff had an ample remedy at law in an action for money had and received, if he was entitled to recover. That case, however, was put upon the ground, that it was unnecessary for the plaintiff to come into the court for a discovery of facts. The court say, “ the plaintiff has no need to come into a court of equity for a discovery. The facts upon which the right is claimed are all susceptible of *proof. The defendant standing in a repre- [ *519 ] seentative character, cannot be presumed to be personally acquainted with any material facts within his own knowledge, requiring a discovery. But it is not so in the case under review. The appellants against whom the claim is made are the original parties-, and the bill calls upon them to answer under oath the allegations in the bill for the purpose of affording the necessary evidence ; and also calls upon them to discover the amount paid to them upon the certificate issued. It appears to me, under such circumstances, we are not at liberty to infer that the party could make the necessary proof to recover at law, in an action for money had and received, and on that ground to say the bill should have been dismissed. I am for aErming the decree of the chancellor in overruling the demurrer.

On the question being put, Shall this decree be reversed?' All the members of the court present, who had heard the argument, answered in the negative. Whereupon the decree of the chancellor was affirmed.