Commercial Standard Insurance Co. v. Shaller

302 S.W.2d 258, 1957 Tex. App. LEXIS 1799
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedApril 22, 1957
DocketNo. 6672
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 302 S.W.2d 258 (Commercial Standard Insurance Co. v. Shaller) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Commercial Standard Insurance Co. v. Shaller, 302 S.W.2d 258, 1957 Tex. App. LEXIS 1799 (Tex. Ct. App. 1957).

Opinion

NORTHCUTT, Justice.

B. N. Shaller and Walter Shaller sued Commercial Standard Insurance Company upon two insurance policies, one issued in the name of B. N. Shaller and the other issued in the name of Walter Shaller. There is no question but what the policies were in full force until they were picked [259]*259up by appellants. The case was tried to a jury upon certain special issues, and upon the verdict of the jury, the court rendered judgment against the insurer and in favor of B. N. Shaller in the sum of $25,OCX); and Walter Shaller in the sum of $10,000; each recovery bearing interest at the rate of six per cent per annum from the date of the judgment. From this judgment appellant perfected this appeal.

The issues submitted to the jury and their answers thereto were as follows:

“Special Issue No. 6.
“(a) Do you find from a preponderance of the evidence that the authority actually extended to Howard Williams by Commercial Standard Insurance Company did not include the right to write, in the name of Commercial Standard Insurance Company, policies in the amounts in controversy in this suit, being the respective amounts of $25,000.00 and $10,000.00, on properties located and used as were the Hackney Club premises and contents ?
“Answer: 'It did include such right’, or ‘It did not include such right.’
“Answer: It did include such right.
“If you have answered the foregoing subdivision (a) ‘It did not include such right’, and in that event only, then answer:
“(b) Do you find from the preponderance of the evidence that at the time said policies were issued the plaintiff, Walter Shaller, had actual notice that Howard Williams did not have authority to issue said policies, if in fact he did not ?
“Answer, ‘We find he had such notice’, or ‘We do not so find.’
“Answer: (Not Answered.)
“(c) Do you find from the preponderance of the evidence that at the time said policies were issued the plaintiff, Mrs. B. N. Shaller, had actual notice that Howard Williams did not .have authority to issue said policies, if in fact he did not ?
“Answer, ‘We find she had such notice’, or ‘We do not so find.’ (Not Answered) .
“Special Issue No. 7.
“Do you find from the preponderance of the evidence that the defendant, Commercial Standard Insurance Company, when it received -notice in its home office in Ft. Worth, Texas, of the issuance of the policies in question, considered said policies as being in force?
“Answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ .
“Answer: Yes.
“Special Issue No. 8.
“Do you find from the preponderance of the evidence that Walter Shaller consented to a cancellation of the policies in question before the date of the fire?
“Answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’
“Answer: No.
“Special Issue No. 9.
“Do. you find from the preponderance of the evidence that Mrs. B. N. Shaller consented to the cancellation of the policy issued to her before the fire in question?
“Answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’
“Answer: No.
“Special Issue No. 10.
“Do you find from the preponderance of the evidence that Mrs. B. N. Shaller authorized Walter Shaller to consent to a cancellation of the policy issued to her?
“Answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’
“Answer: No.
[260]*260“Special Issue No. 11.
“Do you find from the preponderance of the evidence that the building and contents decribed in said policies were on or about October 3, 19SS, totally destroyed by fire?
“Answer ‘Yes’ or 'No.’
“Answer: Yes.
“Special Issue No. 12.
“What do you find from the preponderance of the evidence, if any, was the fair market value of the contents of the building destroyed by said fire?
“Answer by stating the amount, if any.
“Answer: $18,000.00.’

There were other issues requested but denied by the court.

Appellant presents this appeal upon twenty points of error; but viewing this record as we see the controlling issues herein, we think points 4, 5 and 6 require the reversal of this case. These three points are as follows:

“Point Four — (Restated)
“The evidence establishes without dispute that Walter Shaller consented to or acquiesced in the cancellation of the policies in question so as to effect as to both policies, and certainly as to his own, an agreed cancellation of the policies in question. For this reason also the policies in question, or at least the policy issued in the name of Walter Shaller, were not in effect at the time of the fire, and the court materially erred in overruling appellant’s motions for directed verdict and judgment non obstante veredicto in rendering judgment against appellant.
“Point Five — (Restated)
“The evidence is insufficient to support the jury’s finding, made in response to Special Issue Number 8, that Walter Shaller did not consent to a cancellation of the policies in question before the date of the fire, and so overwhelmingly preponderates against that finding that in the exercise of its proper discretion the court should set the same aside.
“Point Six — (Restated)
“The evidence establishes without dispute that Walter Shaller waived any right he and his mother might have had to require written notice of cancellation, and that he, and through him his mother, is estopped to challenge the manner of cancellation; and for this reason also the court materially erred in overruling appellant’s motions for directed verdict and judgment non ob-stante veredicto and in rendering judgment against appellant.”

Mrs. B. N. Shaller never at any time discussed the question of insurance with Howard Williams, the agent representing the appellant. Walter Shaller was the only person ever to discuss the insurance matter with Howard Williams. If the acts of Walter Shaller and Howard Williams in connection with the cancellation of the policies were such as to constitute a cancellation, we think certainly Walter Shaller would be considered the agent of his mother, Mrs. Shaller. Mrs. Shaller testified as follows :

“Q. All right. Fine. In the matter of the issuance of the insurance policies — first, the builders’ risk policies, and then the permanent policies, did you ever go to the office of Mr. Williams yourself? A. No, sir.
“Q. Did you ever have any conversation with Mr. Williams on the subject of the issuance of those policies? A. No, sir.
“Q.

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Shaller v. Commercial Standard Insurance Company
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Bluebook (online)
302 S.W.2d 258, 1957 Tex. App. LEXIS 1799, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commercial-standard-insurance-co-v-shaller-texapp-1957.