Cosmopolitan Fire Insurance v. Putnal

60 Fla. 41
Supreme Court of Florida·Decided June 15, 1910·Published·Cited by 7 cases

Opinion

Taylor, J.

The defendant in error as plaintiff below sued the plaintiff in error as defendant below in the circuit court of Taylor county for recovery upon two policies of fire insurance. The first count of the declaration declaring upon a policy insuring against loss upon a stock of merchandise and store furniture and fixtures; and the second count declaring upon a policy upon a storehouse or building. The third count of the declaration alleged the necessity of plaintiff’s employment of counsel to collect said policies and claimed attorneys’ fees.

To this declaration the defendant insurance company filed the following pleas:

“Now comes the defendant in the above entitled cause [43]*43by its attorneys, Hendry & McKinnon, and Frazier & Mabry, and for pleas to plaintiff’s declaration says:

First,—That plaintiff ought not to maintain his aforesaid cause of action for the reason that he has not complied with the terms of his policies sued upon herein, in that he has never made the required proof of loss under the said policies as required therein, nor complied with the terms of the agreement set forth in said policies although the time specified in said policies in which to make proper proof of loss and compliance with the terms therein has long since lapsed; wherefore defendant prays to be dismissed herein with its costs wrongfully sustained.

Second,—For second plea defendant says that plaintiff did not comply with the terms of his policies sued upon herein in that he carried and sold wines, whiskeys and other spirituous liquors in said place of business described in his declaration and thereby made the risk more hazardous than it otherwise would have been and that said wines, whiskeys and spirituous liquors were sold without license and as what is commonly known as a ‘Blind Tiger,’ and that the same was done without the knowledge or consent of this defendant and that he thereby increased the hazard or risk above what defendant assumed in issuing said policies and he thereby violated and breached the terms of his said agreement as set forth in said policies; wherefore defendant says that plaintiff should not maintain his aforesaid action and- prays to be dismissed with its reasonable costs in this behalf wrongfully sustained.”

“Now comes the defendant in the above entitled cause by Frazier & Mabry, its attorneys, and for pleas to the first and second and third counts in the declaration filed in the above cause says:

1st. That it is not true as alleged that plaintiff kept and performed all things in the policy contained, oh his [44]*44part to be kept and performed; on the contrary plaintiff did not keep and perform the certain covenant and warranty in said policy styled the 'Iron Safe Clause/ in the particulars, to-wit, that plaintiff did not make a complete itemized inventory of the stock on hand at least once in each calendar year, and such inventory not having been taken within twelve calendar months prior to the date of the said policy, did not take one in detail within thirty days after the issuance of the said policy as in said provisions set forth.

2nd. It is not true as alleged that plaintiff kept and performed all things in the said policies contained on his part to be kept and performed; on the contrary plaintiff did not keep and perform the certain covenant and warranty in said policy contained styled the 'Iron Safe Clause/ in the particulars, to-wit, that plaintiff did not keep a set of books which clearly and plainly presented a complete record of the business transacted', including all purchases, sales and shipments, both for cash and credit, from the date of the inventory as provided for in said clause, and during the continuance of the said policy.

3rd. It is not true as alleged that the plaintiff kept and performed all things in the policy contained on his part, to be kept and performed; on the contrary, plaintiff did not keep and perform the certain covenant and warranty in said policy contained styled the 'Iron Safe Clause/ in the particulars, to-wit, that the plaintiff did not keep such books and inventory as were provided for in said clause and also the last preceding inventory if such had been taken securely locked in a fire-proof safe at night and at all times when the building mentioned in said policy was not actually opened for business; or failing in this the plaintiff did not keep such books and inventory in some place not exposed to a fire which would destroy the aforesaid building.

[45]*454th. It is not true as alleged that plaintiff kept and performed all things in the said policy contained on his part to he kept and performed; on the contrary plaintiff did not keep and perform the certain covenant and warranty in said policy styled the ‘Iron Safe Clause,’ in the particulars, to-wit, that plaintiff did not produce such set of books and inventory as are provided for in said clause for the inspection of the said company but failed to produce such set of books and inventory for the inspection of this defendant, notwithstanding this defendant requesting of the plaintiff an opportunity to inspect them, straightway upon being notified as alleged of the said fire.

5th. It is not true as alleged that plaintiff kept and performed all things in the said policy contained on his part to be kept and performed; on the contrary, the plaintiff did not keep and perform that certain agreement and condition in said policy and included within lines sixty-seven (67) and eighty (80) inclusive, in said original policy, as follows, to-wit; ‘If fire occur the insured shall give immediate notice of any loss thereby, in writing to this company, protect the property from further damage, forthwith separate the damaged and undamaged property, put it in the best possible order, make a complete inventory of the same, stating the quantity and cost of each article, and the amount claimed thereon, and within sixty (60) days after the fire, unless such time is extended in writing by this company, shall render a statement to this company, signed and sworn to by the said insured stating the knowledge and belief of the insured as to the time and origin of the fire, the interest of the insured and of all others in the property, the cash value of each item thereof and the amount of the loss thereon, all incumbrances, all other insurance, whether valid or not, covering any of the said property; and a copy of all the descriptions and [46]

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

Cosmopolitan Fire Insurance v. Putnal, 60 Fla. 41 (Fla. 1910).

60 Fla. 41 (Cosmopolitan Fire Insurance v. Putnal) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

Crystal Beach Development Co. v. Alvord
133 So. 858 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1931)
Corlise v. State of Florida
115 So. 528 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1928)
Avon Manufacturing Co. v. J. G. Herring
114 So. 425 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1927)
Davant v. Weeks
82 So. 807 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1919)
Southern Assembly v. . Palmer
82 S.E. 18 (Supreme Court of North Carolina, 1914)