Connecticut Fire Insurance v. W. H. Roberts Lumber Co.

89 S.E. 945, 119 Va. 479, 1916 Va. LEXIS 122
CourtSupreme Court of Virginia
DecidedSeptember 11, 1916
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 89 S.E. 945 (Connecticut Fire Insurance v. W. H. Roberts Lumber Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Connecticut Fire Insurance v. W. H. Roberts Lumber Co., 89 S.E. 945, 119 Va. 479, 1916 Va. LEXIS 122 (Va. 1916).

Opinion

Sims, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

In this case the judgment complained of in favor of the appellee, plaintiff in the court below, against appellant, defendant in the court below, was obtained upon a fire insurance policy, referred to in the record as a “floating policy,” being what is designated by text-writers on the subject as an open, floating, or blanket policy, and the judgment was for the amount of the plaintiff’s expected profits in certain lumber, which lumber was covered by the policy.

There are four assignments of error, but in the view we take of the case we need consider only one inquiry, and that is—

(1) Did the policy sued on cover the profits of the plaintiff in the lumber in question?

The material parts of the policy sued on are as follows:

“No. 1055.

“The Connecticut Fire Insurance Com:pany of Hartford.

“State of Connecticut.

“Amouiit $8,000.00 Rate $1.50 Premium $120.00

[481]*481“In consideration of the stipulations herein named and of One Hundred and Twenty Dollars premium, does insure W. H. Roberts Lumber Company for the term of one year from the twenty-fourth day of June, 1913, at noon, to the twenty-fourth day of June, 1914, at noon, against all direct loss or damage by fire, except as hereinafter provided, to an amount not exceeding Eight Thousand Dollars, to the following described property, while located and contained as described herein, and not elsewhere, to-wit:

“W. H. Roberts Lumber Co.

“$8,000.00'. On lumber, staves and timber products of every description now owned or which may be hereafter manufactured, or held in trust or on commission, or sold but not delivered or removed, or lumber, staves and timber products of every description on which advances are made under contract- of purchase, while stacked or piled at various mill sets or yards, or at shipping points, in the counties of Wise and Lee, State of Virginia.

“It is understood and agreed that the amount insured by this policy shall attach in each of the above named premises in that proportion of the amount hereby insured that the value of the property covered by this policy contained in each of the said places shall bear to the value of such property contained in all of the above named premises.

“ . . . Lightning, Iron safe . . . clauses attached.

[482]*482“Attached to and forming part of Policy No. 1055 of the Connecticut Fire Insurance Company of Hartford; Conn.

“Virginia-Kentucky Insurance Corporation, By R. L. Kilgore, Sect.,

“Agents.

“Lightning Clause.

“It is hereby specifically agreed that this policy insures against any loss or damage caused by lightning to the proporty insured, not exceeding the sum insured, nor the interest of the assured in the property; . . .”

It is clear from a reading of the policy itself that it does not insure profits. The terms used in the policy defining the subject of the insurance are those which have a well settled meaning, and contract, in effect, to insure the interests .of the plaintiff of whatever character, in the lumber itself, existing.at the time of the loss by fire, and not profits which might arise from the dealing, of the plaintiff with such lumber.

The character of the contract of insurance of property, or an interest or interests in property itself, is very different from a contract of insurance of profits to arise from the dealing with such property. The former is an indemnity against loss of existing property interests, at the time of the loss by fire; the latter is an insurance of expected interests, at the time of the loss by fire, viz: profits. The former concerns what is in actual existence, the latter what is only potentially in existence. And the text-writers and decisions of the courts seem to be uniform in their expression of the rule, that a policy of insurance will not be held to cover profits unless the purpose to do so is expressly stated in the policy. The difficulty is not that profits [483]*483may not be insured. They may. It is solely a question of wbat in fact is the contract of insurance.

The following named text-writers have this to say on the subject of profit insurance:

' 'Expected profits may be insured, both in this country and in England . . But the insured must have an interest in the property out of which the profits are expected to proceed, and the profits must be insured as profits. . . And such expected profits are still insurable though the insured may have no absolute ownership in the property out of which the profits are expected to arise, but merely a right, if he should so elect, to take it on certain terms and conditions in a certain event . . ” 1 May on Ins., see. 79, citing a number of cases.

“An insurance may be validly made on profits. Profits should be specifically described, whether the property be insured under a marine or fire risk, and this rule is unquestionably the law in England. Lloyds form of policy is adopted as usual by the insertion of the words ‘profits’ or 'commissions’ in the margin; or in the valuation clause adopting or adapting the language of the clause according as the subject of the insurance is valued or not.” 2 Joyce on Ins., sec. 1760, citing a number of English and American cases.

“It may be stated as a rule that if profits are not specially insured they cannot be recovered as such.” 3 Idem, sec., 2806, citing a New York ease.

“While the subject matter of insurance and the nature of the risk should be properly described in the policy, neither the nature nor extent of the interest need, as a general rule, be specifically set out therein . . . It is held that in certain cases the nature or character of the interest may be such as that a special description is required. Thus, it seems that profits [484]*484must be insured as such.” 2 Idem, sec. 900, citing a number of American eases. See also 19 Cyc. 840, and cases cited.

Counsel for plaintiff in their brief, in effect, admit that this rule is applicable and that if the policy sued on is looked to alone it does not insure profits, but they take the position that “the intent of the parties was to give the insured valid insurance upon whatever interest he had or might have under contracts of purchase or otherwise,” in the lumber in question— and they cite the following authority:

“Intention to be taken into account.—Policies should be construed so as to give effect to the evident intention of the parties.

“Liberal construction in favor of insured.—The policy of insurance being an instrument prepared by the insurer should, in case of doubt under the general rules, be construed strictly against the insurer who prepared it, and liberally in favor of the assured. This is the rule, even though the intention of the company is otherwise.” 19 Cyc. 656-7.

In a note, page 656, this language appears: “If there is any doubt or uncertainty under the terms of the policy as to the intent of the parties, it is to be resolved in favor of the insured.”

And counsel for plaintiff refer to the testimony on this point of the plaintiff, Mr. Roberts, and of Mr.

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Bluebook (online)
89 S.E. 945, 119 Va. 479, 1916 Va. LEXIS 122, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/connecticut-fire-insurance-v-w-h-roberts-lumber-co-va-1916.