130 Wis. 402 | Wis. | 1907
Tbe reckless interposition of defenses involving charges of crime and fraud is not creditable to a corporation organized to supply indemnity to those unfortunate enough to lose their property by fire, where, as seems to be tbe case here, such charges have no foundation even, apparently, in tbe imagination of tbe defendant. Tbe charges of arson in destruction of tbe property and of perjury in tbe proofs of loss have not been supported, nor sought to be, by tbe offer of a word of evidence of any sort. Tbe remaining allegation of intentional and fraudulent withholding of knowledge in relation to tbe title of tbe property bad apparently slightly more of good faith to excuse it. Plaintiff bad stated in bis application to tbe defendant’s agent tbat the property
Here it is urged that, since the lease to Armstrong contained a prohibition against underleasing the premises without the consent of the owner and a provision that the latter might expel the lessee in such an event, plaintiff’s occupancy was momentarily terminable by the landlord, and that this fact was one enhancing the risk. The evidence is well-nigh conclusive that plaintiff had no knowledge of any such situation. When Armstrong sold him the building he had also manually transferred to him the lease, and plaintiff, according to his own testimony, had notified the owner of the land
The evidence wholly fails to show that any facts were known to the plaintiff in any wise limiting his absolute title to this building or affecting the insurance risk thereon, except the one fact that he did not own the ground on which it stood, and that he communicated industriously in his application. If defendant was interested to know the terms of the lease 'or tenancy as affecting the value of plaintiff’s interest in the building, the duty was upon it to inquire. When an applicant for insurance has answered truthfully all the questions
By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.