Clute v. Des Moines Mutual Hail & Cyclone Insurance

South Dakota Supreme Court

Clute v. Des Moines Mutual Hail & Cyclone Insurance

171 N.W. 817, 41 S.D. 574, 1919 S.D. LEXIS 49

CourtSouth Dakota Supreme Court

DecidedApril 18, 1919

DocketFile No. 4398

StatusPublished

This text of 171 N.W. 817 (Clute v. Des Moines Mutual Hail & Cyclone Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering South Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Clute v. Des Moines Mutual Hail & Cyclone Insurance, 171 N.W. 817, 41 S.D. 574, 1919 S.D. LEXIS 49 (S.D. 1919).

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Opinion

GATES, J.

[i] Application for rehearing. The former opinion appears in 170 N. W. 154. In the latter part of such opinion we quoted a portion of the record as it appeared in appellant’s brief, overlooking the correction in respondent’s brief which show.ed that such evidence was offered for a-'limited purpose, viz. to show the receipt of the letter of September. 22, 1909, by the defendant company. Therefore the portion of the opinion following such quotation from the record is withdrawn.

At the 'conclusion of the submission, of evidence the defendant moved for a directed verdict, among other grounds, for the reason that the policy required notice of loss to be given by registered mail within five days, and that such notice was not given, and that defendant had never received the letter of July 9th. Which motion was denied. '

There remains, therefore, for consideration the policy requirement that in case of loss “the member shall notify the secretary in person or by registered letter.” The question is: May the inference of receipt of proof of loss be invoked from the proof of [576]*576the mailing óf the concede'dly unregistered'letter of July 9, 1909, in the face of the above policy requirement?'

[2] -We are of the opinion that the court erred in 'denying such motion. The provision in the policy requiring notice by registered mail is a reasonable provision, and one which it was competent for the parties to adopt. Its very purpose was to make sure that the company’ would receive the notice of loss and to do away with the temptation to commit perjury on the part of an insured, or on the part of the officers of the insurer. If the tables were turned and the defendant had attempted to give notice of cancellation of the policy by ordinary mail, we do not douibt that the company would be held strictly to its contract. .So also should this plaintiff be held strictly to his contract. But the plaintiff argues that, if the defendant did receive notice, the fact that it was not sent by registered mail was unimportant, and then, to show that defendant did receive the, notice, he invokes the inference of fact from the proof of mailing. Lawver v. Globe Mut. Ins. Co., 25 S. D. 549, 127 N. W. 615. Such argument is ingenious, but specious. It reads out of the above provision of the policy the words “by registered letter” .and inserts in lieu thereof the words “by mail.” We may admit that, if the policy were worded as so read, the contention of respondent would be sound, and we may also admit that, if there was proof of the actual receipt of the notice by the defendant, aside from the above inference • from mailing, the fact of its being sent by ordinary mail would be immaterial.

The result arrived at in the former opinion is adhered to. The judgment and order appealed from are reversed. The petition for rehearing is denied.

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GATES, J.

[i] Application for rehearing. The former opinion appears in 170 N. W. 154. In the latter part of such opinion we quoted a portion of the record as it appeared in appellant’s brief, overlooking the correction in respondent’s brief which show.ed that such evidence was offered for a-'limited purpose, viz. to show the receipt of the letter of September. 22, 1909, by the defendant company. Therefore the portion of the opinion following such quotation from the record is withdrawn.

At the 'conclusion of the submission, of evidence the defendant moved for a directed verdict, among other grounds, for the reason that the policy required notice of loss to be given by registered mail within five days, and that such notice was not given, and that defendant had never received the letter of July 9th. Which motion was denied. '

There remains, therefore, for consideration the policy requirement that in case of loss “the member shall notify the secretary in person or by registered letter.” The question is: May the inference of receipt of proof of loss be invoked from the proof of [576]*576the mailing óf the concede'dly unregistered'letter of July 9, 1909, in the face of the above policy requirement?'

[2] -We are of the opinion that the court erred in 'denying such motion. The provision in the policy requiring notice by registered mail is a reasonable provision, and one which it was competent for the parties to adopt. Its very purpose was to make sure that the company’ would receive the notice of loss and to do away with the temptation to commit perjury on the part of an insured, or on the part of the officers of the insurer. If the tables were turned and the defendant had attempted to give notice of cancellation of the policy by ordinary mail, we do not douibt that the company would be held strictly to its contract. .So also should this plaintiff be held strictly to his contract. But the plaintiff argues that, if the defendant did receive notice, the fact that it was not sent by registered mail was unimportant, and then, to show that defendant did receive the, notice, he invokes the inference of fact from the proof of mailing. Lawver v. Globe Mut. Ins. Co., 25 S. D. 549, 127 N. W. 615. Such argument is ingenious, but specious. It reads out of the above provision of the policy the words “by registered letter” .and inserts in lieu thereof the words “by mail.” We may admit that, if the policy were worded as so read, the contention of respondent would be sound, and we may also admit that, if there was proof of the actual receipt of the notice by the defendant, aside from the above inference • from mailing, the fact of its being sent by ordinary mail would be immaterial.

The result arrived at in the former opinion is adhered to. The judgment and order appealed from are reversed. The petition for rehearing is denied.

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Bluebook (online)

171 N.W. 817, 41 S.D. 574, 1919 S.D. LEXIS 49, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/clute-v-des-moines-mutual-hail-cyclone-insurance-sd-1919.

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