Dixie Auto Insurance Co. v. Lee

258 So. 2d 892, 288 Ala. 185, 1972 Ala. LEXIS 1196
CourtSupreme Court of Alabama
DecidedFebruary 10, 1972
Docket6 Div. 830
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 258 So. 2d 892 (Dixie Auto Insurance Co. v. Lee) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dixie Auto Insurance Co. v. Lee, 258 So. 2d 892, 288 Ala. 185, 1972 Ala. LEXIS 1196 (Ala. 1972).

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Appellant, respondent below, appeals from a final decree, in equity, that reforms a policy of automobile collision and fire insurance which appellant issued. The reformation was made by substituting the name of William C. Lee for the named insured, Jackie Rayburn, one of the appellees. The final decree awards judgment for damages against appellant in favor of appellees William C. Lee and State National Bank. The bank had a mortgagee’s interest in the automobile described in the policy.

On Appellees’ Motion.

Appellees, prior to submission of this cause, filed in this court their motion' to strike the transcript of the record; and also to dismiss the appeal. The motion asserts the transcript was not filed here within sixty days after appellant perfected its appeal. Rule 37, infra.

The record shows that the appeal was perfected on September 14, 1970. The transcript, supra, was not filed until November 20, 1970.

The chancery court entered an order on November 13, 1970, as follows:

“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the time for filing the transcript of evidence in the above styled cause be, and the same is hereby extended for 30 days in addition to the regular 60-day period authorized by law and by the rules of the Supreme Court of Alabama.” (Emphasis Supplied)

It is to be noted that on October 14, 1970, the chancellor granted the court reporter an extension of thirty days from October 14, 1970, in which to file a transcript of the evidence. On October 22, 1970, the court reporter filed with the register a copy of a notice, dated October 22, 1970, to the solicitors of record that a transcript of the evidence had been filed with the register.

We conclude, therefore, that the aforequoted order of the trial court, dated November 13, 1970, referred to the transcript of the record and not of the evidence. There would have been no need for a second extension of time to transcribe evidence that had already been finished and the transcript filed.

We take cognizance of Alabama Public Service Com’n v. AAA Motor Lines, Inc., 272 Ala. 362, 131 So.2d 172, wherein we commented on the absence of any statute or court rule that requires the court reporter to file his transcript of the evidence in an equity case within any specified time. We observed: “ . . If any requirement as to time of filing is to be placed on the reporter, amendment of rule or statute [188]*188would appear to be necessary.” (272 Ala, at 366, 131 So.2d at 174)

In the absence of such mandate, the chancellor’s order of October 14, 1970, extending the time, was unnecessary and inefficacious. Howevei', the order does shed some light on the intention of the chancellor with respect to his order of November 13, 1970, supra.

The extension of time by the chancellor for filing the transcript of the record in this cause was authorized by Revised Rule 37 of this court. It became effective June 1, 1955. See 263 Ala. XXI; Rules of the Supreme Court, Recompiled Code, 1958, Appendix; State for Use of Russell County v. Fourth National Bank of Columbus, Georgia, 270 Ala. 135, 117 So.2d 145.

It thus appearing that the transcript of the record in this cause was filed here within the time prescribed by Rule 37, supra, the motion to strike.the transcript and to dismiss the appeal is overruled and denied.

On the Merits.

The bill of complaint alleges, inter alia, that:

“ . . . Through fraud, committed by the Defendant on the Complainants, or through a mutual mistake of the parties hereto, or through a mistake of one of such parties which the other at the time knew or suspected, the policy of insurance does not truly express the intention of the parties because it erroneously names Complainant Jackie Rayburn as insured instead of Complainant William C. Lee. . . .

The bill prays for a reformation of the policy by striking therefrom the words ‘“Jackie Rayburn, Box 111, Hackleburg, Alabama,’ ” and by ' substituting in lieu thereof the words “ ‘William C. Lee, Route 2, Hackleburg, Alabama.’ ”

The bill also prays for a judgment in favor of William C. Lee against defendant .in the sum of $2,000.00, and for general relief.

The respondent, in its answer, admits that it issued the policy naming Jackie Rayburn as the named insured and that it insured the GMC truck, the subject of this suit; but it denies, inter alia, the allegations of mistake and fraud as afore-quoted. It also denies that complainants or any of them are entitled to an order or decree reforming said policy of insurance in any manner, or that complainants or any of them are entitled to a judgment in any sum against respondent.

On final hearing, the chancellor decreed the prayed reformation of the policy and awarded judgment against appellant in the sum of $984.23 in favor of appellee Lee and in the sum of $65.77 in favor of appellee State National Bank.

Assignments of error here filed and argued challenge the correctness of the decree in reforming the policy and in awarding judgment in favor of the appellees afore-mentioned.

It appears from the evidence that appellee Rayburn owned or was possessed of a GMC truck which appellee Lee wanted to buy. Negotiations were begun between them that were designed to consummate the sale. These negotiations progressed, to the point that $1,800.00 for the truck were agreed to. Appellee Lee paid appelleeRayburn $600.00 on the purchase price with final payment to be made later. It seems that, on or soon after the first payment, the parties caused the license plate or tag to be transferred at the probate office to appellee Lee. Lee borrowed approximately $1,200.00 from appellee State National Bank to make the final payment. The bank took a chattel mortgage from Lee on the truck.

Appellant attached a loss payable clause to the policy. The rider attached was payable to the named insured and to State National Bank as their interests may appear. Appellant’s insurance broker, Lee Roy [189]*189Wiginton, of Haleyville, Alabama, mailed the policy to the bank where it remained until after the loss. Lee called for it and submitted the policy to his lawyer for legal advice as to appellant’s liability.

Prior to this transaction which Lee had with the bank culminating in the loan and the mortgage to the bank to pay the balance due to Rayburn, Lee and Rayburn contacted the insurance broker about insurance coverage on the truck. Wiginton had no authority to issue a policy, but did fill out an application therefor which Rayburn signed. Wiginton sent the application to appellant’s general agent in Jefferson County. The general agent in due time issued the policy in the name of Rayburn as the insured and sent it to Wiginton.

On the visit of Lee and Rayburn to see Wiginton about a policy, it appears a discussion ensued with respect to Lee’s eligibility for the insurance. Lee made known ■ to Wiginton that he did not have an Alabama motor vehicle driver’s license. This visit, according to the evidence, took place on March 13, 1969. It was then that the application for the insurance here in question was submitted to Wiginton. Appellee Lee then paid Wiginton the insurance premium of $90.00; and later, at the request of Wiginton, paid $20.00 additional premium because the vehicle was being used for commercial purposes.

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Bluebook (online)
258 So. 2d 892, 288 Ala. 185, 1972 Ala. LEXIS 1196, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dixie-auto-insurance-co-v-lee-ala-1972.