First Bank & Trust of Groves v. Kraehnke

732 S.W.2d 69, 1987 Tex. App. LEXIS 7762
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMay 28, 1987
Docket09 86 110 CV
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 732 S.W.2d 69 (First Bank & Trust of Groves v. Kraehnke) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
First Bank & Trust of Groves v. Kraehnke, 732 S.W.2d 69, 1987 Tex. App. LEXIS 7762 (Tex. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinions

OPINION

BROOKSHIRE, Justice.

Melvin Kraehnke had been in the trucking business, as an independent trucker, for about 5 years. He had bought a 1980 White autocar tractor costing $56,500.00. He paid $8,000.00 down and the balance was financed at First Bank and Trust of Groves. Initially, Kraehnke had collision and liability insurance through one Guidry, an insurance agent, whose office was in Port Arthur. The White autocar tractor was first used as a dump truck and bobtail truck, hauling 14 yards of material. In May of 1982, the dump box was removed and a fifth wheel attached making the unit into an “18 wheeler”. The insurance was with State Farm Insurance. However, when the unit was made into an 18 wheeler, State Farm did not cover such an “18 wheeler” truck as a matter of policy.

A Partial Factual Background

On May 27, 1982, Kraehnke approached the R.O. Williams Insurance Company [R.O.W., Inc.] to obtain insurance, contacting one Charles Tuttle. Tuttle was an employee of R.O.W., Inc. Kraehnke-explained the type of hauling he would be doing and the area involved. Later, Tuttle called Kraehnke back and quoted the price or premium cost. This price was satisfactory. Kraehnke went to Tuttle's office later that same day. At that time, he saw Tuttle in person. Kraehnke was introduced, briefly, to one Norman Edwards. Edwards’ office was in the same building as the office of Tuttle.

That same day, an insurance binder was issued on the Autocar tractor unit for $44,-000.00. The binder is in evidence showing that the agency was Colonial Surplus Underwriters Agency, 2508 McFaddin Street, Beaumont, Texas, and the company was Southern County Mutual Insurance Company. The binder was in force from May 27, 1982, to June 27, 1982, insuring the “Auto-car” for $44,000. The insured was, of course, Melvin Kraehnke of Winnie. The [72]*72binder provided for $1,000. deductible on a collision loss.

The signature of the authorized representative on the binder is R.O. Williams, Jr. His signature is dated May 27, 1982. On the binder, special conditions and other coverages show the First Bank & Trust of Groves having an interest concerning Item 1, being the “Autocar”. Kraehnke said that, on May 27,1982, when he received the binder, he thought and concluded that he was doing business with R.O. Williams, Jr., and he was certainly aware of all the terms of the binder, including the coverage, the term of the binder and the company involved, being Southern County Mutual Insurance Company. The truck owner, Kraehnke, paid Tuttle over $900. which was delivered and payable to R.O. Williams, Jr. The $900. plus was the quoted first premium payment. The truck owner was to be sent a payment book in which the balance of the premium was to be paid off in 8 monthly installments. Sometime during the week before June 27, 1982, he got back in touch with Tuttle because he had not received his payment book or the policy of insurance covering collision and liability. Kraehnke was aware that time was running out on the May 27, 1982, binder. Tuttle told him that the matter would be taken care of.

On or about June 29, 1982 — but dated and effective June 27 — a renewal or extension of the binder was executed and the binder was extended to July 27, 1982. It was signed by R.O. Williams, Jr., for R.O. Williams & Co., Inc. Again, Colonial Surplus Underwriters Agency was the agency involved and the company was Southern County Mutual Insurance Company. The insured was Melvin Kraehnke, covering a 1980 White Autocar, with a specific, identifying, serial number, valued at $44,000. The extended binder, again, contained a $1,000. collision deductible clause. A true copy of the renewal binder was received by the Appellant bank, according to its receiving stamp, on July 1, 1982, from Colonial Surplus Underwriters Agency. The insured vehicle was totally destroyed in a collision on July 2, 1982.

We think that it is important to point out that, at the top of the insurance binders, there are, in large lettering, these words:

“THIS BINDER IS A TEMPORARY INSURANCE CONTRACT, SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS SHOWN ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS FORM”

It was not a disputed or contested issue that the insured vehicle was totally destroyed on July 2, 1982. We cannot perceive that the Bank could have done anything further to protect its loan. The Bank had a binder stating that it was a temporary insurance contract and the binder was extended to July 27, 1982. Colonial Surplus had actual authority to issue both binders by a written agency agreement with Southern County Mutual, as well as by past business practices.

The Effect of the Insurance Binders

We decide that the governing, controlling, ultimate facts were determined and fixed on the date of the total loss. We conclude that the Bank, as a matter of law, should, and does, recover against the Southern County Mutual Insurance Company, the sum of $36,000., the value of the autocar on July 2, 1982, less $1,000. Both binders showed a lienholder’s interest in the Bank.

We hold the Bank was an actual, additional insured, as to its lien interest. The lien interest would be determined as of the date of the total loss, being July 2, 1982. Kraehnke is not a party in this appeal.

The Amherst Insurance Co. Issue

The Appellees contend that Amherst Insurance Company replaced Southern County on the risk. Amherst issued a policy after the total loss. The record reflects that Kraehnke had had a prior unsatisfactory experience with Amherst Insurance Company and he had not been satisfied with the manner of adjusting his prior claim. He said the settlement by Amherst was very slow. It was only after the collision resulting in the total loss of his White Autocar, that he first learned of the Amherst Insurance Company’s policy having [73]*73been issued at a date subsequent to the total loss.

There was no written binder issued, at any time, in the name of, or by, Amherst Insurance Company. The Appellees aver a telephonic binder was issued by Amherst, in California, in May, 1982. A week after the total loss, apparently a policy was issued by Amherst Insurance Company but it was never delivered to Kraehnke. The Bank received the policy August 5, 1982, being a month after the loss. Kraehnke said he would not have accepted Amherst as his carrier.

Ownership of Colonial Surplus Underwriters

On May 27, 1982, and at all material times thereafter, R.O. Williams, Jr., was the sole owner of Colonial Surplus Underwriters Agency, which was not incorporated. He had a surplus lines license. The surplus lines license was issued to a person in Texas authorizing him to place business in companies that are not authorized or admitted within Texas to do business. On August 1, 1983, Mr. Williams sold the surplus lines agency to Norman Edwards. From May 27, 1982, to August 1, 1983, R.O. Williams, Jr., was the sole owner of R.O. Williams & Company, a corporation, and also the sole owner of Colonial Surplus Underwriters. Edwards was the manager of Colonial Surplus Underwriters, working under Mr. Williams.

Testimony of Williams Relevant to the Binders

Williams was asked:

“Q And did Colonial Surplus authorize the issuance of that binder, of that extension? Pardon me.
“A It would have to be implied.

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First Bank & Trust of Groves v. Kraehnke
732 S.W.2d 69 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1987)

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Bluebook (online)
732 S.W.2d 69, 1987 Tex. App. LEXIS 7762, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/first-bank-trust-of-groves-v-kraehnke-texapp-1987.