Downs v. Maryland Casualty Co.

230 Ark. 77
CourtSupreme Court of Arkansas
DecidedFebruary 16, 1959
Docket5-1735
StatusPublished

This text of 230 Ark. 77 (Downs v. Maryland Casualty Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Downs v. Maryland Casualty Co., 230 Ark. 77 (Ark. 1959).

Opinions

Jim Johnson, Associate Justice.

This matter is before the Court on appeal from the Columbia Circuit Court from an action in which the plaintiffs below sought a declaratory judgment to determine the obligations of two insurance companies, under their liability policies, and to require one or the other, or both, to defend a damage suit within the limits of either of said policies.

The cause was heard before the judge, sitting as a jury, under Section 34-2501, et seq. of the Ark. Stats., known as the “Uniform Declaratory Judgment Act.”

By stipulation of counsel for all parties, there were introduced into evidence the liability policies of both insurance companies.1

In 1948, J. P. Downs purchased a Hobbs 1948 semitrailer, and in 1953 be purchased a 1953 Dodge truck, 2% bon tractor. He used them in his own business until about June 1955, when he turned them over to his brother, W. F. Downs. Since June 1955, W. F. Downs has had continuous possession of this truck and trailer and has used them in his business except on one or two occasions. For two or three days at a time, J. P. Downs took the truck and trailer and used them with his own drivers in his own business.

On November 24, 1956, J. C. Martin, an employee of W. F. Downs, was driving this truck and trailer in El Dorado, Arkansas in connection with W. F. Downs’ business and was involved in an accident with an automobile owned by Y. Y. Meeks and then driven by Ann Dean, daughter of Y. Y. Meeks. That accident is the basis of a personal injury action by Ann Dean against W. F. Downs and J. C. Martin, filed in the Circuit Court of Union County.

This present action was brought by the plaintiffs below to determine which insurer should defend W. F. Downs and J. C. Martin against the action brought by Ann Dean. The plaintiffs in their complaint allege that Maryland’s policy issued to J. P. Downs specifically describes the truck and trailer involved in the accident as covered by it; and that U. S. F. & G’s. policy, issued to W. F. Downs, while not specifically describing that truck and trailer as covered by it, nevertheless covers them as a “Hired Automobile.”

U. S. F. & G. denies liability on the ground that the truck and trailer are not included in its policy and that the insurance coverage therein provided does not apply to them and further that if J. P. Downs (Maryland’s Named Insured) was the owner of that truck and trailer at the time of the accident, U. S. F. & G’s. only liability is that of excess insurance after all damages, costs and expenses, within the limits of Maryland’s policy, have been paid by Maryland.

Maryland denies liability on the ground that the truck and trailer, at the time of the accident, were not owned by J. P. Downs, but by W. F. Downs.

The facts concerning the purchase and use of the truck and trailer by J. P. Downs and his transfer of them to W. F. Downs and the latter’s, use of them are pertinent to show whether J. P. Downs or "W. F. Downs was the owner of the truck and trailer at the time of the accident and hence which of the insurance policies, if either, covered them and that accident.

The trial court held that the insurance policy issued by U. S. F. & G. to W. F. Downs covers the accident which is the basis of the damage suit filed by Ann Dean. The court further held that the insurance policy issued by Maryland Casualty Company to J. P. Downs does not cover the accident.

From this declaratory judgment, U. S. F. & G. appeals and both the Plaintiffs, J. P. Downs and W. F. Downs, also appeal “insofar as said judgment holds that the policy issued by Maryland Casualty Company to J. P. Downs, d/b/a Downs Service and Supply Company does not cover the truck and accident.”

The grounds urged by Appellant, U. S. F. & G., for reversal are:

1. Trial court erred in holding U. S. F. & G’s. policy covered accident and truck and that Maryland’s policy did not cover them.
(a) If W. F. Downs was the owner, neither policy provides coverage.
(b) If J. P. Downs was the owner, Maryland’s policy provides primary coverage under its “omnibus” clause and U. S. F. & G’s. policy provides excess coverage only.

The grounds urged by Cross-Appellants, J. • P. Downs and W. F. Downs, for reversal, are:

1. J. P. Downs was the owner of the automobile (truck) at the time of the collision.
2. The policy issued by Cross-Appellee, Maryland Casualty Company, covered the automobile (truck) under the “omnibus” clause.

The testimony and exhibits reflect that the truck and trailer here involved were purchased by J. P. Downs; he had them entered as assets on his books of account and in each year thereafter charged off as expenses in his own business the depreciation of each — finally completely depreciating the trailer in 1956 and the truck in 1957; he listed them for taxes in each year and paid the taxes on them; he registered them in his business name with the Motor Vehicle Division of the Department of Revenues and obtained a certificate of title (in his business name as owner subject to lien in favor of First National Bank of Magnolia) which is still in the possession of his mortgagee, First National Bank of Magnolia; each year he paid the license fees and obtained Registration Certificates also in his business name; he obtained and has continuously maintained in his own name, as the Named Insured, comprehensive liability insurance with Maryland specifically covering this truck and trailer as owned by him and has paid the premiums each year on the policies and also on upset, collision, etc., insurance with the Firemen’s Insurance Company of North New Jersey.

About June of 1955, J. P. Downs turned this truck and trailer over to his brother, W. F. Downs, saying, “Well, just go ahead and take it and we will settle for it after I get it out from under the mortgage.” In response to the above, W. F. Downs testified — “If he (J. P. Downs) didn’t need the truck any more I would buy it from him.” Thereafter, W. F. Downs has had possession and control of the truck and trailer except on one or two occasions when J. P. Downs took them for two or three days at a time. No money was paid by W. F. Downs to J. P. Downs and there was no agreement, either oral or in writing, about price or payment. J. P. Downs, moreover, continued to carry the truck and trailer on his books as assets; continued to charge off their depreciation in each succeeding year; continued to assess' them and pay the taxes on them; continued to maintain them registered in his own business name and to pay the license fees; and, continued to report them as owned by himself to his insurance carrier and to pay the policy premiums each year. He never reported to Maryland’s agents that he turned the truck and trailer over to his brother, W. F. Downs. On one occasion, when J. P. Downs took the truck and trailer back and was using it in his own business, they were upset while being driven by one of his own drivers, and he reported that accident to his insurance carrier (Firemen’s Insurance' Company) although there was nothing payable under his policy because the damages were less than the $100.00 deductible.

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230 Ark. 77, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/downs-v-maryland-casualty-co-ark-1959.