Northern Pine Crating Co v. Liverpool & London & Globe Insurance Co.

143 Wis. 433 | Wis. | 1910

KekwiN, J.

The facts are undisputed, and the question arises whether they established a cancellation of the policy by mutual consent. It is conceded by appellant that, under the policy, ten days’ notice to respondent was necessary before cancellation could be effected, by it without the consent of the respondent. But it is contended that the evidence shows a cancellation otherwise than according to the terms of the policy, namely, by mutual consent. The evidence shows without dispute the execution and delivery of the policy Eebruary 28, 1909, running for one year, covering respondent’s manufacturing plant at Cass Lake, Minnesota; that on May 31st appellant’s state agent for Minnesota instructed the local agent of the company, one Harding, to cancel the policy in suit, at the same time making a memorandum of the instruction on the appellant’s policy register kept by Harding; that on June 8, 1909, appellant wrote to Harding confirming the instructions theretofore given to Harding; that on June 19, 1909, Harding, who was cashier in the bank at Cass Lake, took the policy in question out of the bank vault where it was kept by respondent, and mailed it to appellant, and on the same day wrote respondent stating that he had been instructed to cancel the policy and had that day done so and had credited respondent’s account with the ’return premium; that on June 23, 1909, respondent replied to Harding’s letter of the 19th acknowledging receipt thereof and asking whether the policy could not be rewritten in one of Harding’s other companies, and asking for details of the policy in suit; that respondent’s letter was received by Harding at Cass Lake June 24, 1909, about one hour before tbe fire in question occurred ; that the fire resulted in a loss and damage to respondent of $10,'792.84, of which appellant’s prorate (if its policy were in force) would be $1,541.83; that two days subsequent to the fire Harding wrote respondent referring to his letter of the 23d received, and saying that he had not had time to make a replacement of the insurance and referring to the fact that the adjusters had arrived and that they were disappointed that respondent was not there so that an adjustment could be had at once. Appellant denied liability, and respondent made and served proof of loss.

It is clear from the established facts that the appellant could cancel the policy only in the manner provided by the policy without the consent of the respondent. But it is insisted by appellant that the undisputed facts show a cancellation by mutual consent. The correspondence between appellant and respondent, which is claimed to work an immediate cancellation of the policy by mutual consent, is perfectly consistent with cancellation according to the terms of the policy “as to all risks subsequent to the expiration of ten days from such notice.” The appellant having the right to cancel only as to risks occurring subsequent to ten days after notice, the respondent was well justified upon the facts in believing that the appellant was proceeding to cancel according to the terms ■of the policy, and there is nothing in the correspondence or established facts showing that respondent consented to a cancellation otherwise than in accordance with the terms of the policy. Wicks Bros. v. Scottish U. & N. Ins. Co. 107 Wis. 606, 83 N. W. 781; Davis L. Co. v. Hartford F. Ins. Co. 95 Wis. 226, 70 N. W. 84. It is clear that the proceedings to cancel by appellant were adverse proceedings, not by request to respondent to cancel by consent in any manner contrary to the provisions of the policy. If the appellant desired to cancel by mutual consent so as to immediately terminate all risk under the policy, the course pursued by the appellant was not well calculated to bring such purpose home to the knowledge of the respondent, and it cannot be said from the record that the respondent ever acquiesced in such purpose. And in the absence of knowledge brought home, to the respondent that the purpose of the company was to cancel otherwise than in accordance with the terms of the policy, acquiesced in by the respondent, it must be held that the notice of cancellation was in accordance with the terms of the policy. A policy of insurance can only be canceled by one of the parties thereto, by a strict compliance with its terms as to cancellation, unless such compliance is waived by the other party. Bradshaw Bros. & Co. v. Fire Ins. Co. 89 Minn. 334, 94 N. W. 866; 16 Cyc. 873; Hartford F. Ins. Co. v. Tewes, 132 Ill. App. 321.

Whether, if the policy had been returned to appellant with the consent of respondent and the return premium accepted, this would amount to a cancellation of the policy otherwise than in accordance with its terms, we need not and do not decide, because it does not appear from the record that the respondent ever accepted the return premium, or that it had knowledge that the policy was returned to appellant until after the fire. We are convinced that the policy covered the risk at the time of the fire, therefore the respondent was entitled to recover.

By the Court. — The judgment below is affirmed.