Black v. Grain Shippers Mutual Fire Insurance

171 Iowa 309
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedApril 10, 1915
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 171 Iowa 309 (Black v. Grain Shippers Mutual Fire Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Black v. Grain Shippers Mutual Fire Insurance, 171 Iowa 309 (iowa 1915).

Opinion

Deemer, C. J.

— I. The policy was issued June 22, 1910, and was for the term of one year. The fire occurred October 5, 1910, and plaintiff claims to have made proofs of loss within a few days thereafter. Defendant averred in its answer that the policy never became effective because plaintiff did not pay the premium thereon. It denied having received proofs of loss. It also averred that there was a warranty clause attached to the policy, which was as follows:

“Warranty Clause.
“This policy-is issued upon the understanding and warranty by the assured, that the Anchor Fire Insurance Company of Iowa has now á policy or policies in force, insuring the identical property described in this policy for the sum of $1,000 in form concurrent herewith, in identically the same proportions on each part thereof and at no higher rate of premium; and that said policy or policies as now written will be continued in force during the entire currency of this policy; otherwise this policy is void. It is further covenanted and agreed that no change or waiver of this warranty shall [311]*311be made without the written consent of this association, signed by an officer endorsed upon this policy and it is agreed if the conditions of the policy and warranty are fulfilled by the assured that this association in case of loss will follow the same adjustment and settlement of its liabilities as made by the............ on the above described policy No. 95351 of the Grain Shippers Mutual Fire Insurance Association of Ida Grove, Iowa.
“Ida Grove, Iowa, June 2, 1910.
“F. D. Babcock, Secy.”

And that among other things, the policy contained the following provision:

“This policy is made and accepted subject to the foregoing stipulations, and conditions together with such other provisions, agreements or conditions as may be endorsed hereon or added hereto, and no officer or agent or other representative of this company shall have power to waive any provision or condition of this policy, except such as by the terms of this policy may be the subject of agreement indorsed hereon or added hereto, and as to such provisions and conditions no officer, agent, or representative shall have such power or be deemed or held to have waived such conditions or provisions, unless such waiver if any, shall be in writing upon or attached hereto; nor shall any privilege or permission affecting the insurance under this policy exist or be claimed by the insured unless so written or attached. ’ ’

It averred that this warranty clause was not complied with by plaintiff, and that she permitted the policy held by the Anchor Company to lapse, o!r to become cancelled; and that no substitution of companies was ever made or assented to by it. It also pleaded that because of plaintiff’s failure to pay the premium and to keep the warranty clause in force, the policy was duly cancelled, and plaintiff is not entitled to recover thereon. Plaintiff, in an amendment to her petition, [312]*312pleaded that when the Anchor Company cancelled its policy, she took out a policy for a like amount in the National Fire and Marine Company of New Jersey, and notified defendant of that fact, receiving the following letter in answer:

“Ida Grove, Iowa, Sept. 24, 1910.
“Mr. R. S. Mahoney, Fernandina, Florida. Dear Sir: Replying to your favor of September 20th, received this morning. Our records show that policy No. 95351 has been paid for, although our broker in Chicago is not Mr. F. R. Thompson, but there are a good many brokers at 159 La Salle Street, or at least in that building. Our records- show also that on September 8th, our broker in Chicago advised us that the warranty on policy No. 95351 had been changed to the National Fire & Marine Insurance Company of New Jersey for $1,000. Your letter asks us to change it to the National Insurance Company of Elizabeth, N. J. Now if that should not be the same insurance company as the National Fire & Marine Insurance Company, we shall be pleased to send you an indorsement or substituted warranty, and pending an answer to your letter the policy will be in full force provided the warranty company is either one of the companies above mentioned.
“Very truly yours,
“F. D. Babcock, Sec’y-”

And in this connection, she averred:

“And this plaintiff states that while this letter was addressed to Mr. R. S. Mahoney, it was intended for her and in reply to 'her inquiry concerning her policy No. 95351 in said company. And she states that when she received said letter she believed that the secretary of defendant company was stating the facts, and she relied upon his statements as being the facts, and she now states that they were the facts when he wrote them, and she believes them to be the facts now, and they are the facts and she firmly relied upon said [313]*313statement, ahd it was on account of said letter that she took no steps to have a warranty clause sent her substituting the National Fire & Marine Insurance Company in place of the Anchor Fire Insurance Company of Iowa, firmly and truly believing that it was not necessary for her to do anything further. And she also states that she believes that Mr. Babcock told the truth when he said that the defendant company; had been paid the premium for policy No. 95351 and that she now believes he told her the truth, and that said company had been paid said policy’s premiums — she had sent a check to her agent, F. B. Thompson, for the purpose of paying said premium. And she further states that at all times and in all manners she complied with every requirement of her policy with defendant company, save where said defendant company has expressly waived its provisions as it did in having the warranty clause attached to its permission endorsed on her policy. And plaintiff states that defendant company waived by its secretary’s letter and requirement, relating to said warranty clause and is estopped now from making any defense for the reason that no warranty clause was attached or endorsed on said policy. Wherefore plaintiff demands that the defendant company be estopped from pleading and defending this action for the reason that said warranty clause substituting the National Fire and Marine Insurance Company in place of the Anchor Fire Insurance Company was not attached to or endorsed on her said policy, and she demands judgment against the defendant company for the full amount of her damages under said policy, to wit, the sum of $1,000 and costs.”

Such were the issues on which the case was tried, and it is now insisted that the trial court was in error in rendering judgment for the plaintiff, for the reason that practically all of defendant’s defenses were established by the evidence.

[314]*3141. Insurance: sufficiency of evidence. 2. Evidence : secondary: notice to produce original: when not necessary. [313]*313II. As to proofs of loss: The testimony on this point comes from plaintiff and the cashier of her bank in Florida, [314]*314and is to this effect: the cashier simply testified that before him as a notary public, plaintiff verified Proo^s loss ; an<l plaintiff testified that she verified the same before the cashier as notary public, and that she mailed sworn proofs of loss to the defendant company.

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Bluebook (online)
171 Iowa 309, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/black-v-grain-shippers-mutual-fire-insurance-iowa-1915.