150 Mich. 555 | Mich. | 1907
In January, 1905,verbal application was made to the agent of defendant, for insurance. Two policies were made out, dated and issued on the same day, one
The title to the land on which the building stood was in Nelson Gonyaw, who obtained it by deed from Elizabeth Delill in 1904, who at the same time assigned to him her interest in a land contract to the same premises made between herself and complainant Mary H. Quackenbush a few months before. There had been paid on the contract the sum of $181, and there remained to be paid the sum of $696.60.
The deed contained this clause:
“ This deed is given subject to a land contract, dated November 12th, 1903, given by said Elizabeth Delill to Mary H. Quackenbush.”
Each of the policies contained the clause, “ Loss if any, payable to Nqlson Gonyaw as his contract interest may appear.” The land contract provided that the party of the second part therein should keep the buildings upon the lands contracted for “insured against loss and damage by fire, by insurers, and in amounts approved by the said party of the first part, and assign the policy and certificates thereof to the said party of the first part.” The insured premises were in possession of and occupied by the complainant Mary H. Quackenbush and her family, and it was known to defendant that Nelson Gonyaw had an interest therein.
Subsequent to said loss Nelson Gonyaw died. Joseph P. Haffey was appointed administrator of his estate, and as administrator represents the interest of the estate in the insurance. It was claimed on the part of complainant Mary H. Quackenbush that her interest in the insured premises, was correctly stated to the agent of defendant,
It is the contention of defendant that it made no contract with Mary H. Quackenbush. We quote from the brief:
“By the decree of the circuit court it is decided that' defendant made no contract with Mary H. Quackenbush, but because it did make a contract with George Quackenbush and provided therein that in case of loss to him, such loss should be paid to Nelson Gonyaw as his contract interest might appear and the fire occurred which resulted in no loss to George Quackenbush, the defendant must pay Nelson Gonyaw with whom it had no contract and with whom George Quackenbush had no contract, the amount owing to him by Mary H. Quackenbush with whom the defendant company had no contract. Such a result is impossible and the decree so finding should be reversed.”
We do not think this can be said to be an accurate statement of the situation. The parties are in dispute as to whether the policy was intended to be made in the name of Mary H. Quackenbush or of the husband. As she has not appealed that question cannot be re-opened here. The parties are not, however, in dispute about the intention to protect the insurable interest of Nelson Gonyaw. They are all agreed it was to be protected. The land contract provided for insurance for his benefit. The agent knew he had an insurable interest. The policies
Mr. Gonyaw, as the owner of the record title, had an insurable interest. Hamilton v. Insurance Co., 98 Mich. 535 (22 L. R. A. 527). The agent could have learned just what that interest was. Whatever it was he undertook to insure, and was paid for doing so. See Hoose v. Insurance Co., 84 Mich. 309 (11 L. R. A. 340); Ahlberg v. Insurance Co., 94 Mich. 259.
The decree is affirmed, with costs.
