Akron Co. v. Fidelity General Insurance

229 F. Supp. 397, 29 Ohio Op. 2d 49, 1964 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8019
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Ohio
DecidedMay 11, 1964
DocketCiv. A. No. C 63-1002
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 229 F. Supp. 397 (Akron Co. v. Fidelity General Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Akron Co. v. Fidelity General Insurance, 229 F. Supp. 397, 29 Ohio Op. 2d 49, 1964 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8019 (N.D. Ohio 1964).

Opinion

GREEN, District Judge.

This action- was brought by plaintiff to recover upon a policy of insurance issued by defendant Fidelity General Insurance Company, hereinafter referred to as Fidelity.

In the first cause of action recovery is sought for an alleged fire loss in the amount of $39,528.86 against defendant Fidelity and defendant General Adjustment Bureau, Inc., hereinafter referred to as General.

In the second cause of action recovery is sought in the amount of $250,000 against defendant Fidelity alone, as a result of loss resulting directly from necessary interruption of plaintiff’s business caused by damage to or destruction of real or personal property. It is alleged by plaintiff that the policy of insurance issued by Fidelity insured plaintiff for business interruption.

Both parties defendant have moved to dismiss the complaint.

Defendant Fidelity has moved to quash the service of summons and dismiss the complaint for lack of jurisdiction.

Defendant General has moved to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.

Affidavits have been submitted by the parties, as a result of which the essential facts are basically settled. The dispute here is primarily one concerning questions of law and interpretation of certain Ohio statutes.

The facts relevant to the resolution of these motions, as established by the affidavits and allegations of the complaint, which are taken as admitted for the purpose of these motions, may be stated as follows:

Plaintiff operated a restaurant in North Randall, Ohio. Through its insurance agent it procured the insurance policy here sued upon from defendant Fidelity. Fidelity is an Illinois corporation, not authorized to do business in the State of Ohio.

Procurement of the policy in question was had by plaintiff’s insurance agent through International Excess Agency, Inc. International is a Surplus Lines broker, licensed pursuant to the Ohio Surplus Lines Law, Ohio Rev.Code § 3905.30. There are no ties, financial or otherwise, between Fidelity and International.

There does not appear to be any dispute concerning the regularity or propriety of the execution or issuance of the policy under the statutory law of Ohio.

On May 15, 1963 a fire occurred upon plaintiff’s premises, as a result of which the restaurant and its contents were damaged or destroyed. Plaintiff notified defendant Fidelity of the fire and resulting loss, and plaintiff alleges that it has perfoi-med according to the provisions and conditions of the said policy.

[399]*399Upon notification of the alleged loss Fidelity employed defendant General to adjust, evaluate and determine, and arrange payment for said loss. Defendant General is alleged to be a corporation engaged in the business of insurance claim adjustment in the City of Akron, Summit County and State of Ohio, with an office and agency in Cleveland, Ohio.

General determined plaintiff’s loss to be $39,528.85 for property damage, and prepared a proof of loss in that amount, which plaintiff executed. General was to forward the proof of loss to the offices of Fidelity, and secure payment within sixty days thereafter.

To this date no payment has been made to plaintiff for the fire loss.

It is further alleged by plaintiff, in support of its second cause of action, that defendant Fidelity has refused to perform its obligations with regard to the insurance for business interruption, provided for under the said policy.

Taking first the motion of defendant Fidelity, it is argued that service of summons should be quashed and the action dismissed for lack of jurisdiction over the defendant.

Service was originally had upon an officer of International Excess, and thereafter upon the Ohio Superintendent of Insurance pursuant to O.R.C. § 3901.17 (B).

It is argued by the defendant that the policy in suit was issued pursuant to the Ohio Surplus Lines Law, O.R.C. § 3905.30 et seq., and that the said law does not contemplate or permit the exercise of jurisdiction by a court within Ohio over a non-admitted insurance company.

Plaintiff counters with the argument that as defendant is a non-authorized insurance company it is subject to jurisdiction pursuant to O.R.C. § 3901.17.

Section 3901.17 of the Ohio Code, in pertinent part, provides:

“(A) Any of the following acts in this state, effected by mail or otherwise, by any foreign or alien insurer not authorized to transact business within this state is equivalent to an appointment by such insurer of the superintendent of insurance and his successors in office, to be its true and lawful attorney, upon whom may be served all lawful process in any action, suit, or proceeding instituted against it by or on behalf of an insured or beneficiary arising out of any such contract of insurance:
“(1) The issuance or delivery of contracts of insurance to residents of this state or to corporations authorized to do business therein.”

It would seem clear on the face of this statute that defendant Fidelity is subject to the exercise of jurisdiction within this state. Fidelity undeniably issued and delivered a contract of insurance to a corporation authorized to do business in Ohio.

The question remains whether an exemption from jurisdiction is afforded Fidelity by the Ohio Surplus Lines Law, O.R.C. § 3905.30 et seq.

Section 3905.30 of the Ohio Revised Code is entitled “Surplus line broker’s license.” This section sets forth the general licensing procedures and qualifications for obtaining such a license, and provides, in pertinent part:

“ * * * Such license, which shall be known as a surplus line broker’s license, shall permit the person named therein to negotiate for and obtain insurance, other than life insurance, on property or persons in this state in insurers not authorized to transact business in this state.” (Emphasis added).

Section 3905.31 is entitled “Prohibition.” Under its terms, a person not licensed under § 3905.30 is prohibited from doing certain acts on behalf of “any unauthorized insurance company.”

Section 3905.32 provides for the fee chargeable for such an application.

Section 3905.33 is entitled “Affidavit filed.” This code provision sets forth the [400]*400procedure required of a licensed surplus lines broker in placing insurance “in such unauthorized insurers,” and outlines the requirements for a valid placement of such insurance.

From this brief review of the components of the Ohio Surplus Lines Law it can be seen that there is no stated exemption from the exercise of jurisdiction by courts in Ohio extended to foreign insurers issuing policies of insurance through a licensed surplus lines broker.

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Related

Akron Co. v. Fidelity General Insurance
250 F. Supp. 201 (N.D. Ohio, 1964)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
229 F. Supp. 397, 29 Ohio Op. 2d 49, 1964 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8019, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/akron-co-v-fidelity-general-insurance-ohnd-1964.