Commercial Cas. Ins. Co. v. Skinner

1 So. 2d 225, 190 Miss. 533, 1941 Miss. LEXIS 76
CourtMississippi Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 24, 1941
DocketNo. 34444.
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 1 So. 2d 225 (Commercial Cas. Ins. Co. v. Skinner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Mississippi Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Commercial Cas. Ins. Co. v. Skinner, 1 So. 2d 225, 190 Miss. 533, 1941 Miss. LEXIS 76 (Mich. 1941).

Opinion

Roberds, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

May 6, 1939, Skinner recovered a judgment for $1,500 in the circuit court of Marion County against one Randall for personal injuries sustained in a collision between his automobile and a passenger bus owned and operated by Randall.

That judgment was affirmed on appeal to this court. See Randall v. Skinner, 187 Miss. 602, 192 So. 341.

The judgment was not paid and Skinner had a writ of garnishment issued thereon against appellant as the insurer of Randall as a common carrier.

After extensive pleadings, not necessary here to consider, and upon hearing and proof, the court below instructed the jury peremptorily to find for the plaintiff, which was accordingly done, and judgment was thereupon entered for Skinner against the appellant for the amount of the original judgment, interest, cost, etc. Fbom that judgment this appeal is prosecuted.

Appellant contends that its liability extended only to losses or damage actually sustained by the insured, and, since assured has suffered no loss or damage, the company even defending the original action, there is no liability. The case was tried below and is presented here on that theory. Both counsel admit that if the liability of the Insurance Company is only against loss actually sustained by Randall, the garnishment will not lie, and, conversely, if the obligation of the Insurance Company is more than that and amounts to insurance against liability, *542 then the garnishment will lie. Both of these propositions are amply sustained by the authorities. The general rule is stated in 4 American Juris, p. 750, paragraph 314, as follows: “If a policy is treated as a contract of indemnity against liability, as distinguished from indemnity against loss actually sustained, the insurer is subject to garnishment by an injured person who has recovered judgment on a claim which is within the protection of the policy. ’ ’

In the case of Employers’ Liability Assurance Corporation v. Bodron, 5 Cir., 65 F. (2d) 539, 540, a case originating in Mississippi, Judge Bryan, speaking for the court, announced the rule as follows: “The policy was not one which provided for indemnity in case of loss. As the assured became liable by reason of the judgment against him, so did the insurer. If the policy be one of indemnity against liability as distinguished from indemnity against loss, the insurer is subject to garnishment by an injured person who has recovered judgment on a claim which is within the protection of the policy. 5 Couch on Insurance 4186; 28 C. J. 166.”

Many other authorities could be, but are not, cited because there appears to be no material disagreement in the cases on these propositions. Randall, as the operator of a public bus, was required to furnish “public liability or indemnity insurance” under Section 7124 of the Code of 1930', “covering injuries and damages accruing to persons or property, arising out of its operations as such transportation company.”

On his behalf- appellant, under date January 4, 1938, sent a telegram to the Mississippi Railroad Commission, reading as follows: “Please Accept This Telegram As Binding Bodily Injury And Property Damage Liability Insurance Coverages Conforming With Requirements Your Commission for J. B. Randall DBA Varnado Bus Line Effective January First. Policy To Be Filed Shortly. Please Wire Confirmation. Commercial Casualty Ins. Co.”

*543 Following this telegram appellant, on February 9,1938, issued the present policy, which is dated January 1,1938', for a period.of one year, containing these provisions:

“Commercial Casualty Insurance Company — (A Stock Insurance Company Herein Called the Company) — - Agreements — does hereby agree to indemnify the Insured, named in the Declarations made a part hereof and herein called the Insured, in consideration of the premium herein provided and of the statements contained in the Declarations and subject to the limits of liability, exclusions, conditions and other terms of this policy, against loss from the liability imposed by law upon the Insured arising from claims against the Insured for damages caused by accident growing out of the ownership, maintenance or use of any of the automobiles enumerated and described in Item 4 of the Declarations only while owned, maintained, used and operated for the purposes stated and subject to the limitations in Items 1 and 5 of said Declarations . . .”
“The Company shall not be liable to pay any loss nor shall any action be brought against the Company until final judgment shall be recovered against the Insured in the court of last resort.
“The insolvency or bankruptcy of the Insured shall not release the Company for any payment for which it would be liable under this policy, and if such insolvency or bankruptcy shall occur and execution on a judgment recovered' in a suit against the Insured covered by this policy is returned unsatisfied, the judgment creditor shall have a right of action to recover the amount of such judgment against the Company to the same extent that the Insured would have had to recover against the Company had the Insured paid the said judgment; but in no event shall the liability of the Company exceed the limits expressed in this policy. In no event shall any action be maintained against the Company under this policy unless brought within one year after Eight of Action accrues; provided, however, that the minimum time set *544 by tbe statutes of tbe state in which the Insured resides shall govern.
“The Company does not prejudice by this condition any defenses against such action that it may be entitled to make under this policy.”
“. . . In consideration of the premium stated in the policy to which this endorsement is attached the insurer hereby insures the motor vehicles described in the policy and agrees to pay within the limits of the policy or any endorsement attached thereto any final judgment for personal injuries including death resulting therefrom (suffered by any persons other than the insured or his employees) and/or damages to property (including loss of, or damages to property of passengers, after receipt thereof by the motor transportation company and while carried on the motor vehicle), but excluding the property of the Insured or property (usually designated as ‘ cargo ’) loaded for shipment or in transit, caused by the negligent operation of said motor vehicle operated by the insured pursuant to a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued in accordance with said Mississippi Motor Carrier Act of 1926, and further agrees that upon its failure to pay any such final judgment such judgment creditor may maintain an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to compel such payment.”
“. . . No condition, provision, stipulation or limitation, contained in the policy or any other endorsement thereon, nor the violation of any of the same by the insured shall affect in any way the right of any person injured in person or property by the negligence of the insured or relieve the insurer from the liability provided for in this endorsement, or from the payment to such person of any such judgment, to the extent and in the amounts set forth in the policy.”

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

Related

Jordan v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance
774 F. Supp. 424 (S.D. Mississippi, 1991)
Jones v. Southern Marine & Aviation Underwriters, Inc.
739 F. Supp. 315 (S.D. Mississippi, 1988)
Briggs v. Benjamin
467 So. 2d 932 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 1985)
United States Fidelity and Guaranty Co. v. Gough
289 So. 2d 925 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 1974)
McGrath Corp. v. Vera Cruz Cia. Naviera, S.A.
256 So. 2d 505 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 1971)
Dawn Frosted Meats, Inc. v. Insurance Co. of North America
62 Misc. 2d 995 (New York Supreme Court, 1970)
Williams v. Moran
233 So. 2d 110 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 1970)
American Nat. Ins. Co. v. United States Fidelity & G. Co.
215 So. 2d 245 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 1968)
National Surety Corp. v. Kemp
64 So. 2d 723 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 1953)
MacEy v. Crum
30 So. 2d 666 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1947)
National Mut. Casualty Co. v. Clark
7 So. 2d 800 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 1942)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1 So. 2d 225, 190 Miss. 533, 1941 Miss. LEXIS 76, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commercial-cas-ins-co-v-skinner-miss-1941.