E. O. Barnett Bros. v. Western Assurance Co.

220 S.W. 465, 143 Ark. 358, 1920 Ark. LEXIS 199
CourtSupreme Court of Arkansas
DecidedApril 12, 1920
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 220 S.W. 465 (E. O. Barnett Bros. v. Western Assurance 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
E. O. Barnett Bros. v. Western Assurance Co., 220 S.W. 465, 143 Ark. 358, 1920 Ark. LEXIS 199 (Ark. 1920).

Opinion

Wood, J.

This action was instituted by the appellant against the appellee in the Hot Spring Chancery Court.

The complaint, among other things, alleged that the appellee was a foreign insurance company doing business in the State of Arkansas; that, in consideration of the payment of $15 premium paid by appellant to the appellee, it issued to appellant a policy in the sum of $600, insuring a one-story frame building, which was then in process of construction, and afterward completed, on lots 3 and 4, in block 14 in Barnett’s Second Addition in Malvern, Arkansas; that a description of the premises was not correctly given in the policy. The appellant set out what it alleges is the correct description. Appellant- also alleges “that the said policy was written with the mutual intent of the parties thereto that it should, by its terms, insure the-plaintiff against all direct loss or damage by fire to its said property. That in fact the said policy does not insure the plaintiff’s property in any manner; that the appellee in the preparation of said policy either by fraud or mistake left out of the policy the following condition: “This policy of insurance, in case of total loss by fire of the property insured, shall be held and considered a liquidated demand against this company for the full amount stated in this policy, or the full amount upon which this company charges, collects and receives premiums.”

Appellant further alleged that the omission of the above conditions was unknown to the appellant at the time the policy was received by it and paid for, and was not known to appellant until long after the property had been destroyed by fire. Appellant alleged that it liad performed all the conditions of the contract on its part; thát the premises insured had been totally destroyed by fire; that appellee did not deny liability under the terms of the policy until the building was destroyed.

The appellant prayed that the policy of insurance be reformed so as to recite a true description of the premises insured and to include the above condition; that appellant recover the sum of $600, with 12 per cent, penalty and reasonable attorney’s fee.

The appellee answered and set up that “the identical matters and things between the identical parties involved in this litigation have been heretofore fully and finally adjudicated, including every issue of law and of fact arising therefrom, as will more fully appear by reference to the pleadings, orders and judgments had and done in the case of E. O. Barnett Bros. v. Western Assurance Co., on February 1, 1916,” which said judgment is pleaded in bar of this proceeding.

The answer also further alleged that “said matters and things, including all the issues of law and of fact presented by the plaintiff in this cause, were again adjudicated in the case of Barnett Bros. v. Western Assur. Co., on July 31, 1917; that all the issues of law and fact presented by the complaint in this case were again adjudicated in the case of E. O. Barnett Bros. v. Western Assur. Co. on June 3,1918, in the Hot Spring Chancery Court.”

The appellee further alleged that each of these causes was prosecuted by an appeal to the Supreme Court and therein finally and fully affirmed.

The answer alleged that copies of the pleadings, orders and judgments are attached and made exhibits to the answer; that the answer contained the further allegation that “in all issues above referred to the plaintiff has complained upon identically the same contract of insurance and has never heretofore complained or averred that the same was not drawn or issued in full compliance with every term of the contract made and entered into by the respective parties thereto; * * * that the plaintiff is fully and completely estopped from contending that said policy for any reason should be modified or reformed.”

The appellant introduced the policy, No. 5,461,639, issued by the appellee December 3,1914, insuring a dwelling house for $600 in favor of E. O. Barnett Bros, for a premium of $15.

The testimony on behalf of the appellant on the issue of reformation was to the effect that it was the intention of the appellant and the agent that the policy should be written according to the laws of the State of Arkansas with the following clause contained therein: “This policy of insurance, in case of total loss by fire of the property insured, shall be held and considered a liquidated demand against this company, for the full amount stated in this policy, or the full amount upon which this company charges, collects and receives premium. ’ ’ That the policy as written does not contain this condition; that the agent soliciting the application for the policy stated that she had inspected the property; that the building was •complete, and that she had charged the regular rate for the full three years ’ policy, and that the policy as written was good insurance against all direct loss by fire to the property covered by it for three full years.

The testimony showed that the appellant had paid $15, the full and regular premium for three years’ insurance and that no part of the premium had been returned to appellant. The appellant testified that the policy does not express the intention of the parties at the time it was made and does not insure the property against loss or damage by fire; that the building upon which the policy was issued was totally lost by fire in June after the issuance of the policy.

The decree of the court, among other things, recites:

“This cause is submitted to the court upon the complaint, the answer, and demurrer to the complaint, the motion of the plaintiff to strike, the answer of the defendants, as well as the exhibits mentioned in the answer, the depositions, etc.”

There is also a recital in the decree to the effect that the parties agreed that the records and judgment in the former suits on this policy are offered by the appellee and are considered by the court. The decree further recites: “It is agreed that the said transcripts show that the cases pleaded by the defendant in bar of this action are suits at law, unsuccessful to the plaintiff, on the unreformed policy of insurance here sought to be reformed, and the same are to be considered as if copies of them were filed herewith, and may be referred to by either party in their argument of this case in the Supreme Court; but in no event are any of the transcripts or any of the parts thereof, or copies thereof to be put into the records of this case," should a transcript of this case be lodged in the Supreme Court.

“Now, having considered this case, as well as the argument of counsel, and being well and sufficiently advised herein, the court finds that the matters in controversy herein have been adjudicated by the Supreme Court of the State of Arkansas, and that the complaint of the plaintiff is dismissed for want of equity.

“It is therefore considered, .ordered, adjudged and decreed by the court that the plea of res adj'udicata be and the same is hereby sustained, and the complaint of the plaintiff be and the same is hereby dismissed for want of equity.” From that decree is this appeal.

The rulings of the court were correct.

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Bluebook (online)
220 S.W. 465, 143 Ark. 358, 1920 Ark. LEXIS 199, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/e-o-barnett-bros-v-western-assurance-co-ark-1920.