Employers Mutual Casualty Co. v. Piedmont Supply Co.

197 F. Supp. 159, 1961 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3468
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. North Carolina
DecidedAugust 25, 1961
DocketNo. C-112-D-59
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 197 F. Supp. 159 (Employers Mutual Casualty Co. v. Piedmont Supply Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Employers Mutual Casualty Co. v. Piedmont Supply Co., 197 F. Supp. 159, 1961 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3468 (M.D.N.C. 1961).

Opinion

EDWIN M. STANLEY, Chief Judge.

This action seeks an adjudication of the liability of the defendants, Piedmont Supply Company, Incorporated, George H. Hargrave, and John M. Geitner, under certain indemnity agreements executed in favor of the plaintiff. The plaintiff alleges that by virtue of the indemnity agreements it executed some sixteen payment and performance bonds on behalf of the defendant, Arrow Plumbing and Heating of Durham, Incorporated; that said defendant defaulted in performance of certain of the contracts covered by the bonds, thereby obligating plaintiff to take over and complete the contracts; and that the defendants, Piedmont Supply Company, Incorporated, George H. Hargrave and John M. Geitner are liable under their indemnity agreements for all losses sustained by the plaintiff. The defendants, Piedmont Supply Company, Incorporated, George H. Hargrave and John M. Geitner, contend that since a series of indemnity agreements were executed, their liability should be limited to the losses sustained by the plaintiff under specific bonds issued by the plaintiff on behalf of the defendant, Arrow Plumbing and Heating of Durham, Incorporated, and not all the bonds.

Prior to the trial, the parties stipulated that the court should first determine the specific payment and performance bonds with respect to which the defendants, Piedmont Supply Company, Incorporated, George H. Hargrave and John M. Geitner, as indemnitors, are liable to the plaintiff, and that the question as to the amount or extent of the liability of any of the defendants to the plaintiff would be reserved pending the court’s determination of the first issue.

The case was tried by the court without a jury. At the conclusion of the trial, the parties were given an opportunity to file requests for findings of fact and conclusions of law, and briefs in support of their contentions.

The requests for findings of fact and conclusions of law and briefs of the parties having been received, the court, after considering the pleadings and the evidence, including the stipulations and exhibits filed, now makes and files herein its Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, separately stated:

Findings of Fact.

1. The plaintiff, Employers Mutual Casualty Company (hereinafter referred to as “Employers”), is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Iowa, and maintains its principal office and place of business in the City of Des Moines, Iowa.

2. The defendant, Piedmont Supply Company, Incorporated, (hereinafter referred to as “Piedmont”), is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of North Carolina, and maintains its principal office and place of business in Cumberland County, North Carolina.

3. The defendant, George H. Har-grave (hereinafter referred to as “Har-grave”), is a citizen and resident of Cumberland County, North Carolina.

4. The defendant, John M. Geitner (hereinafter referred to as “Geitner”), is a citizen and resident of Catawba County, North Carolina.

5. The defendant, Arrow Plumbing and Heating of Durham, Incorporated (hereinafter referred to as “Arrow”), is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of North [161]*161Carolina, and maintains its principal office and place of business in Durham County, North Carolina.

6. The matter in controversy, exclusive of interest and costs, exceeds the sum of $10,000.

7. Piedmont, at all times pertinent, has been engaged in the business of supplying plumbing and heating equipment, fixtures, materials and supplies to persons, firms and corporations engaged in the plumbing and heating contracting business.

8. The defendant, Geitner, has been president of Piedmont for the past twelve years, and owns 449 of the 900 issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of said corporation.

9. The defendant, Hargrave, has been vice president and treasurer of Piedmont for the past twelve years, and owns 449 of the 900 issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of said corporation.

10. As officers and stockholders of Piedmont, the defendants, Geitner and Hargrave, were paid substantial salaries by said corporation in the years 1956 through 1959.

11. During the years 1956 through 1959, the defendant, Arrow, was engaged in plumbing and heating contracting as its principal business.

12. The plaintiff is duly authorized by a charter and is engaged in the business of executing and becoming surety on various and sundry bonds guaranteeing the performance of contracts, and the payment of laborers, materialmen and suppliers thereunder, for contractors.

13. The first contact any of the defendants had with the plaintiff was in 1955, when the defendants, Piedmont and Hargrave, executed a paper writing agreeing to indemnify the plaintiff against loss by reason of its execution of a performance bond on behalf of J. J. Barnes Company, a customer of Piedmont.

14. Sometime prior to July 18, 1956, the defendants, Hargrave and Geitner, contacted Joe Norton, one of the plaintiff’s agents, with the view of getting plaintiff to execute a performance bond with respect to a plumbing contract Arrow, one of its customers, held or was bidding on in connection with a Capehart Housing project at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After receiving financial statements from certain of the defendants, it was agreed that plaintiff would execute the performance bond for Arrow in connection with said contract, provided Piedmont, Hargrave and Geitner would agree to indemnify and hold harmless the plaintiff against any loss by reason thereof.

15. Pursuant to said understanding and agreement, the defendants, Hargrave and Piedmont, on July 18, 1956, executed and delivered to the plaintiff a written instrument, captioned “Indemnity Agreement,” in words and figures as follows:

“This Agreement, made this 18th day of July, 1956, by and between Arrow Plumbing & Heating Company (hereinafter called the Applicants), George H. Hargrave, Individual, Piedmont Supply Company, Inc. (Corporation), and others if any whose names are subscribed hereto (hereinafter called the Guarantors), on the one part and the Employers Mutual Casualty Company (hereinafter called the Company) on the other part Witnesseth:
“Whereas, the Applicants, on their own behalf and the behalf of others, may be required from time to time to give or furnish various and sundry bonds guaranteeing the performance of contracts, or in connection with litigation pending in the courts, or other bonds required or allowed by law; and
“Whereas, the Company is duly authorized under its charter to execute and become surety upon any and every such bond;
“Now, Therefore, in consideration of the premises, and of the mutual advantages accruing to each of the parties hereto, it is agreed:
[162]*162“First: That the Applicants will apply to the Company for the execution of bonds which the Applicants may desire or be required to give.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
197 F. Supp. 159, 1961 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3468, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/employers-mutual-casualty-co-v-piedmont-supply-co-ncmd-1961.