Farmers Mutual Aid Assn. v. Yager

12 N.E.2d 382, 104 Ind. App. 554, 1938 Ind. App. LEXIS 37
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 25, 1938
DocketNo. 15,824.
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 12 N.E.2d 382 (Farmers Mutual Aid Assn. v. Yager) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Farmers Mutual Aid Assn. v. Yager, 12 N.E.2d 382, 104 Ind. App. 554, 1938 Ind. App. LEXIS 37 (Ind. Ct. App. 1938).

Opinion

Dudine, P. J.

This is an appeal from a judgment in a suit instituted by appellee William H. Yager on a fire insurance policy issued by appellant.

*556 The complaint was an ordinary form of complaint on a fire insurance policy, which complaint alleged that The Department of Financial Institutions of the State of Indiana had some interest in the property covered by the policy, and that said department was made a party to the cause so that it could set up its claim, if any, to the proceeds, of said insurance.

The Department of Financial Institutions filed an answer alleging that prior to the issuance of said insurance policy, appellee Yager and his wife had executed a mortgage to the Somerville State B,ank securing a note in the principal sum of $800.00 payable to said bank, that said department has taken over said Somerville Bank for the purpose of liquidation, that said mortgage indebtedness is now due and unpaid, that while said policy was in full force and effect appellant insurance company, upon request of appellee Yager, attached a “mortgage clause” to said policy, by reason of which mortgage clause the proceeds due on said policy are payable to said department to the extent of said mortgage indebtedness.

Appellant filed a motion to make the complaint more specific which was overruled. Thereafter appellant filed an answer in four paragraphs, the first being a general denial, the second and third paragraphs of answer each alleging violation of the “other insurance clause” of the policy, which clause is hereinafter set out. The fourth paragraph of answer alleged there was other insurance in force, and under the “other insurance provisions” of the policy appellant’s liability would not exceed $500.00.

The issues having been closed by replies in general denial, the cause was submitted for trial before a jury. The jury by their verdict found for appellee Yager against appellant and assessed his damage at $1,200.00, *557 and upon the issues formed on the answer of the defendant Department found for said Department that $1,008.42 of said damages were due and should be paid to said Department on account of said mortgage indebtedness. Judgment was rendered upon the verdict in accordance therewith.

Appellant duly filed a motion for new trial which was overruled. The errors assigned upon appeal are alleged error in: (1) overruling appellant’s motion to make the complaint more specific; (2) in overruling appellant’s motion for a new trial.

In appellant’s brief appellant complains, with reference to alleged error in overruling the motion to make the complaint more specific, only because the court did not require the plaintiff to make the general allegation in the complaint “that he has done and performed all things required of him to be done and performed under the insurance policy” more specific. In Western, etc., Ins. Co. v. Spencer (1932), 95 Ind. App. 281, 179 N. E. 794, this court decided that a similar allegation was sufficiently specific and that it complied with Sec. 394 Burns 1926 (§2-1039 Burns 1933, §143 Baldwin’s 1934) which provides:

“In pleading the performance of a condition precedent in a contract, it shall be sufficient to allege generally that the party performed all the conditions on his part. . . .”

On authority of said case we hold that said allegation was sufficiently specific.

The grounds for new trial which appellant presents are alleged error in refusing to give and in giving each of certain instructions, and alleged error in that the decision is not sustained by sufficient evidence.

*558 *557 Appellant assigns, as a cause for new trial, the court’s refusal to give instruction number one tendered by ap *558 pellant. It is sufficient to say with reference to said contention that said instruction was covered by other instructions which were given by the court, particularly instruction number two.

Instruction number two given by the court advised the jury in effect that although the policy required the insured, if fire occurred, to give immediate notice in writing of any loss thereby suffered, and within sixty days after the fire to give a detailed report concerning the fire and the property destroyed, still if “within the time granted for a performance (of said conditions the insurer) waived a compliance therewith,” it is not necessary to a recovery on the policy that the insured prove a compliance therewith.

Instruction numbered three given by the court advised the jury in effect that although the policy required the insured to pay assessments levied against him by the directors of the insurer (association) within thirty days from the time of notice of such assessment— if “within the time granted for the payment of such assessments . . . the insurer waived compliance” with said provisions, it is not necessary to a recovery on the policy that insured prove a compliance therewith.

Appellant complains with reference to each of said instructions, that they were improper because no issue of waiver was tendered by the pleadings. It is true the pleadings did not expressly tender any issues of waiver. There is, however, ample evidence in the record which was admitted without objection, to sustain a finding that each of said provisions of the policy was waived by the insurer.

Section 2-1063 Burns 1933 (§168 Baldwin’s 1934) provides: “No variance between the allegations in a pleading and the proof is to be deemed material, unless it have (has) actually misled the adverse party, to his *559 prejudice, in maintaining his action or defense upon the merits. Whenever it is alleged that a party has been so misled, this fact must be proved to the satisfaction of the court, . . .”

No evidence was offered to show that appellant was misled by the variance between the allegations in the complaint, and the proof. It is not contended upon appeal that apellant was so misled. The record shows that appellant was not so misled.

Section 2-1064 Burns 1933 (§169 Baldwin’s 1934) provides: “Where the variance is not material, as provided in the last section (Sec. 2-1063 Burns 1933, §168 Baldwin’s 1934, supra) the court may direct the fact to be found according to the evidence, . . .” This provision sanctions the parts of said instructions of which appellant complains. See Union Frat. League v. Sweeney (1916), 184 Ind. 378, 111 N. E. 305, followed in Amer. Ben. Life Assn. v. Hall (1933), 96 Ind. App. 498, 185 N. E. 344; Western, etc., Ins. Co. v. Spencer, supra; Home Ins. Co. v. Day (1929), 90 Ind. App. 128, 168 N. E. 464; Illinois Pipe Line Co. v. Coffman (1934), 98 Ind. App. 419, 188 N. E. 217.

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12 N.E.2d 382, 104 Ind. App. 554, 1938 Ind. App. LEXIS 37, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/farmers-mutual-aid-assn-v-yager-indctapp-1938.