Baltimore American Ins. Co. v. Hoover

1952 OK 36, 240 P.2d 744, 205 Okla. 697, 1952 Okla. LEXIS 483
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedJanuary 29, 1952
Docket34713
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 1952 OK 36 (Baltimore American Ins. Co. v. Hoover) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Baltimore American Ins. Co. v. Hoover, 1952 OK 36, 240 P.2d 744, 205 Okla. 697, 1952 Okla. LEXIS 483 (Okla. 1952).

Opinion

JOHNSON, J.

J. V. Hoover, as plaintiff, filed his petition in the court of common pleas of Oklahoma county, Oklahoma, on the 31st day of August, 1949, against the Milwaukee Mechanics Insurance Company and the Baltimore American Insurance Company, referred to herein as the Milwaukee Company and the Baltimore Company, respectively.

Plaintiff’s petition was, in substance, that he had one of the Milwaukee Company’s policies insuring him against loss or damage to his Lincoln automobile caused by collision or upset to the actual amount of the loss or damage less $50; that on March 14, 1947, while his policy was in full force and effect, he sustained damage to his car in the sum of $985 by collision and upset; that the Milwaukee Company admits liability only for one-half of the loss because the Baltimore Company, on February 17, 1947, issued its policy numbered S. A.-3542 on plaintiff’s automobile insuring it against loss or damage by loss or upset; that the Baltimore Company issued said policy on the application of Selective Investment Corporation, who, at the time, held a mortgage on plaintiff’s automobile; that subsequent to the loss or damage to the car plaintiff paid the mortgage and therefore the mortgagee no longer had any interest in said car or the proceeds from the recovery of loss or damage; that plaintiff duly fulfilled all conditions of said insurance on his part; that no part of said loss had been paid; that plaintiff have judgment against both defendants and a determination of the liability of the defendants on their respective policies.

The Milwaukee Company answered, admitting the allegations of the plaintiff’s petition, and in paragraph 2 thereof said:

“For further answer and defense, said defendant adopts all the allegations contained in numerical paragraph 6 of plaintiff’s petition as part of its defense, and re-alleges said allegations as part of its answer, as if said paragraph were set out herein.”

Paragraph 6 of plaintiff’s petition provides :

“The defendant, Milwaukee Mechanics’ Insurance Company, admit that it is liable to the extent of one-half of said loss, but deny liability for the remaining one-half of said loss on the grounds and for the reason that the defendant, Baltimore American Insurance Company, on February 17, 1947, issued its policy numbered S. A. -3542, insuring plaintiff’s said Lincoln automobile from loss or damage by collision or upset. This plaintiff is informed and therefore states that said policy issued by the Baltimore American Insurance Company was issued on the application of the Selective Investment Corporation who at said time held a mortgage on said Lincoln automobile. That subsequent to the loss herein set forth, plaintiff paid said mortgage and the Selective Investment Corporation has no interest in said automobile or the proceeds from the recovery on said loss. That this plaintiff does not have the policy or a copy of same. That defendant, Baltimore American Insurance Company, be required to attach a copy of said policy to its answer and be required to state the date of cancellation, if any cancellation was made.”

For further answer, in paragraph 3 it is alleged:

“For further answer and defense, said defendant avers that under the *699 terms and conditions of its policy marked Exhibit ‘A’ and attached to plaintiff’s petition, if the plaintiff has other insurance against a loss covenant by the policy, this defendant shall not be liable under the policy for a greater proportion of such loss than the applicable limit of liability stated in the declarations bears to the total applicable limit of liability of all valid and collectible insurance against such loss.
“Wherefore, the defendant, Milwaukee Mechanics’ Insurance Company, a corporation, having fully answered plaintiff’s petition filed herein, prays that said plaintiff recover no larger judgment against it than the liability shown under its and the codefendant’s policy.”

Thereafter the Baltimore Company filed its answer which in part reads:

“Said defendant denies generally and specifically, each, every and all the material allegations in said petition contained, except such as are hereinafter admitted.
“Said defendant admits the allegations contained in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of said petition.
“Said defendant admits that plaintiff secured from defendant Milwaukee Mechanics’ Insurance Company a policy of insurance on said automobile; that he paid to said Milwaukee Mechanics’ Insurance Company premium in the amount of $108; and that the copy of policy attached to plaintiff’s petition as ‘Exhibit A’ is a true and correct copy of the same.
“Defendant admits that plaintiff’s property insured by the policy referred to above was damaged as alleged by plaintiff, and that said loss was within the terms of the policy referred to above.
“Said defendant specifically denies that it entered into any contract of insurance with said plaintiff.
“Said defendant admits that Selective Investment Corporation, mortgagee, has no interest in said automobile or the proceeds from recovery on loss of same.
“Wherefore, having fully answered, said defendant prays that it be discharged from any and all liability to plaintiff; and that, if plaintiff be entitled to recovery on his loss, as alleged, same be adjudged against defendant Milwaukee Mechanics’ Insurance Company, under its policy of insurance on said property.”

To which plaintiff filed the following reply, omitting the formal portions:

“Comes now the plaintiff, J. V. Hoover, and for reply to the answers of the defendants herein, denies each and every allegations therein contained in consistent with the allegations of plaintiff’s petition.”

The Baltimore Company then filed a motion for judgment upon the pleadings which was overruled with exceptions.

By agreement a jury was waived and cause tried to the court.

A demurrer was filed by Baltimore Company to the evidence adduced against it which was overruled. Thereupon the court rendered a judgment against each company for the full amount asked for in plaintiff’s petition. The Baltimore Company filed a motion for a new trial which was overruled resulting in this appeal.

There is no question as to the amount of the damage plaintiff was entitled to recover.

The Baltimore Company contends that the main question presented by this appeal is whether or not the motion for judgment on the pleadings filed by it should have been sustained. Asserting that if plaintiff failed to state a cause of action against it, or if the answer of the Milwaukee Company failed to state a legal defense to plaintiff’s petition, then the trial court erred in failing to render judgment on the pleadings in favor of the plaintiff against the Milwaukee Company.

This court has announced the rule that judgments on the pleadings are not looked upon with favor. Carignano v. Box, 97 Okla. 184, 223 P. 673.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1952 OK 36, 240 P.2d 744, 205 Okla. 697, 1952 Okla. LEXIS 483, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/baltimore-american-ins-co-v-hoover-okla-1952.