Frakes v. Mutual Fire Co.

138 P. 224, 69 Or. 217, 1914 Ore. LEXIS 330
CourtOregon Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 20, 1914
StatusPublished

This text of 138 P. 224 (Frakes v. Mutual Fire Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Oregon Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Frakes v. Mutual Fire Co., 138 P. 224, 69 Or. 217, 1914 Ore. LEXIS 330 (Or. 1914).

Opinion

Mr. Justice Moore

delivered the opinion of the court.

Exceptions duly taken to some of the findings of fact were overruled, and it is maintained by defendant’s counsel that errors were thereby committed as follows: (1) In concluding that at the time stated the plaintiffs were partners. (2) In failing to find that prior to the fire notice of cancellation of the policy was given by defendant to plaintiffs. (3) In concluding that before the loss no notice was given that the policy would be canceled if the assessment was not paid. (4) And in finding that no assessment was made or notice thereof given, as required by the by-laws, in order to annul the policy.

1. Considering these assignments in the order stated, it is argued that no testimony was received tending to show that plaintiffs were partners at the time the policy was issued or when the fire occurred. It appears from the transcript that when the cause was called for trial counsel for the respective parties made statements of the facts involved, admitting that at the time of the fire the plaintiffs were the owners of the [222]*222stock of merchandise and of the store fixtures, and were engaged in business at the place specified in the policy. The court, addressing plaintiffs ’ counsel, said: “The policy is admitted and the loss is admitted, is it not? Do you have to prove anything else?” The defendant’s counsel thereupon remarked: “Of course we admit they [the insurance adjusters] found there was the amount of loss as stated” (by plaintiffs’ counsel). The court: “I think that I will hold that the defendant has the burden in this case, ’ ’ to which ruling no objection was made or exception taken. The plaintiffs’ counsel thereupon stated the amount of loss as determined by the adjusters and the proportion thereof chargeable to the defendant as hereinbefore detailed. The policy of insurance was then introduced in evidence and the plaintiffs rested.

Though the averment in the complaint that the plaintiffs are partners is denied in the answer, no testimony in support of that issue appears to have been given. The certificate of the trial judge appended to the bill of exceptions declares that the transcript contains a full, true and correct statement of all the evidence offered by either party, including the exhibits. The attestation does not purport to give a minute statement of the facts or the admission thereof as made by counsel for the respective parties at the trial of the cause. In the absence of such affirmative showing, it will be presumed from the findings of fact made by the court that the plaintiffs were and are copartners, that defendant’s counsel at the trial solemnly admitted the association of the persons hereinbefore named for the purpose of carrying on business together, thereby rendering other proof to substantiate such issue unnecessary.

2. It is maintained by defendant’s counsel that the uncontradicted testimony conclusively shows that notice of cancellation of the policy was given by defend[223]*223ant to plaintiffs prior to the fire, and that the finding that no snch notice was given until after the loss occurred is erroneous. The proper solution of this question depends upon the kind of notice required by the terms of the policy. The written agreement for indemnity against loss by fire which was received in evidence contains a clause as follows: “Whereas L. S. Frakes Company in accordance with the application which is made a part of this contract, has become a member of the Mutual Fire Company of Portland, Oregon (hereinafter called the Company) and bound himself to pay his ratable proportion of all assessments made in accordance with the ‘ constitution and by-laws ’ and the stipulation herein named, and also the payment of one hundred two and 90/100 dollars, the Company does insure,” etc.

A part of Article V of the Constitution of the defendant company, the whole of which is printed in the policy, prescribing the duties of officers, reads: “The secretary shall be the recording, corresponding and accounting officer. He shall attest all certificates and orders, and keep a complete record of all business of this company. He shall collect all assessments, receive all premiums, and pay the same to the treasurer daily.”

Article VIII of the Constitution, as far as material herein, provides: “All losses, charges and expenses shall be paid out of a fund to be known as the ‘ General Fund. ’ This fund shall at all times be maintained by assessments levied only by the board of directors when in their judgment the necessity exists, and upon all the members of the company, and shall be prorated in accordance with the amount of their policies respectively.”

The policy also contains a copy of the defendant’s by-laws, Section 2 of which is as follows: “Upon the written request of the insured, which request in con[224]*224nection with the assurances that pertain thereto, shall be attached to the policy at the time of its issuance and become a part thereof, this company will issue a fully paid-up policy for the time agreed upon as provided by law, upon the payment of the total amount of the assessments that could or would be levied upon any given policy in accordance with the constitution and by-laws, provided, however, that such money so received, other than what was then due the company, shall not be paid into the ‘General Fund,’ but shall be paid into a fund known as the ‘Advance Assessment Fund, ’ which fund shall be held by the corporation in trust, subject to the following conditions: "When any assessment may become due and owing on said policy, that the said company is authorized to levy said assessment against the said insured in the ordinary and usual way, but the said assessment shall be collected only out of said advance assessment fund.” In construing the language of that section, in an action wherein the complaint charged the levy of any advance assessment, and such averment was admitted by the answer which impliedly, at least, stated that the sum of money so determined upon had not been paid within 30 days after the giving of notice thereof, it was held that the policy was self-executing, and that upon default in the payment of the assessment it became ipso facto void: Mutual Fire Co. v. Maple, 60 Or. 359 (119 Pac. 484, 38 L. R. A. (N. S.) 726). In that case, though nothing is said in the opinion with respect to the giving of a notice of assessment, the decision proceeds upon the theory that such announcement was duly received.

It will be kept in mind that in the case at bar the policy recites that the plaintiffs had obligated themselves to pay their ratable proportion of all assessments, and that the contract of insurance also acknowledged the payment of $102.90. It would appear that [225]*225the sum so admitted was not an assessment but a premium, which amount agreed to be paid as the consideration for the insurance the secretary was authorized to receive pursuant to Article III of the Constitution. If, however, such sum was an advanced assessment within the meaning of Section 2 of defendant’s by-laws, and should have been paid within 30 days after notice thereof was deposited in the postoffice at Portland, Oregon, the mailing of a notice giving such warning is a condition precedent, the performance of which must be complied with before the policy is rendered ipso facto void: Schmidt v. German Mut. Ins. Co., 4 Ind. App. 340 (30 N. E. 939).

3. H. B.

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Related

Dial v. Valley Mutual Life Ass'n
8 S.E. 27 (Supreme Court of South Carolina, 1888)
Mutual Fire Co. v. Maple
119 P. 484 (Oregon Supreme Court, 1911)
Schmidt v. German Mutual Insurance
30 N.E. 939 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1892)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
138 P. 224, 69 Or. 217, 1914 Ore. LEXIS 330, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/frakes-v-mutual-fire-co-or-1914.