Glens Falls Insurance v. Hall

79 S.W.2d 383, 259 Ky. 25, 1935 Ky. LEXIS 260
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kentucky (pre-1976)
DecidedFebruary 22, 1935
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 79 S.W.2d 383 (Glens Falls Insurance v. Hall) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kentucky (pre-1976) primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Glens Falls Insurance v. Hall, 79 S.W.2d 383, 259 Ky. 25, 1935 Ky. LEXIS 260 (Ky. 1935).

Opinion

Opinion of the Court by

Morris, Commissioner

Affirming.

In July, 1932, appellee George W. Hall purchased what he claimed was a 1931 model Studebaker President Eight automobile from the Hodges Motor Company of East Peoria, 111., paying as he says $1,800 for the car; $200 in cash, $200 the trade in value of his old car, and fourteen slot machines at an agreed valuation of $100 each. The Hodges Company then executed to him a bill of sale. He. says he did not record this bill of sale in Illinois because business took him to Toledo, Ohio, some time in August of the same year, and he was compelled to buy an Ohio license on the ground that he was using the car in conducting his business, and in procuring the license he was required to and did file his bill of sale in Toledo.

The appellee went to Lexington, Ky., some time in September, 1932, and in October being desirous of borrowing some money made application to the Guaranty Finance Company and offered his car as a pledge for the anticipated loan. He was advised that the loan could be negotiated, but one of the requirements was that the car should be insured. It is in evidence That the Loan Company directed appellee to Mr. Respass, an agent of the appellant, and on October 18, 1932, the insurance company through Mr. Respass issued him its policy of insurance on his ear to the amount of $1,200. On October 20, he obtained a loan of $390 from the Guaranty Company, giving the company a mortgage on the car.

On November 1, 1932, about 9 or 9:30 p. m., appellee was driving the car on the Lexington-Nicholas-ville road. Some distance from Lexington the car caught fire’and burned to such an extent that it seems agreed that there was a total loss. Appellee then made claim on his policy for the loss; the company failed to pay and in January, 1933, he filed suit praying for judgment on his policy to the full amount.

*28 Appellee first answered by way of a general denial, but later by amended answer, specifically pleaded nonliability because it was alleged tbat appellee bad represented to tbe agent of appellant tbat tbe car was new, tbat it was a 1931 model, and tbat appellee bad paid $2,290 for same, all of wbieb statements were alleged to be untrue and known so to be, and tbat said misstatements were of material nature. Tbe company further pleaded , tbat appellee bad no title because tbe car was one which bad been stolen from its rightful owner, a Mr. Hannifin of Chicago. Tbe affirmative allegations of tbe answer were traversed.

Upon a submission of tbe case tbe jury returned a verdict in favor of appellee for tbe full amount sued for, which was $1,200, tbe face of tbe policy.

The appellant contends tbat tbe court erred in failing to give a peremptory instruction in favor of tbe company, on tbe ground tbat it bad sufficiently proven tbat appellee bad made misrepresentations in obtaining tbe policy, and bad shown conclusively tbat tbe appellee bad no title to tbe car. It is contended that the court erred in overruling tbe motion for a new trial on tbe following complaints: That tbe verdict was not sustained by tbe evidence; tbat tbe court should have-sustained appellant’s motion for a continuance; improper argument of counsel for appellee; and tbe refusal of the court to permit Smith, an insurance adjuster, to be present with counsel during trial, after a. separation of witnesses.

A discussion of tbe proof offered will serve to dispose of tbe first two complaints of appellant.

As said above, tbe appellee claims to have bought, tbe car in question from tbe Hodges Motor Company in July. The description taken from tbe bill of sale and filed in tbe record is as follows: ‘ ‘ One President 8,. Studebaker Sedan, 1931 Model, painted blue color. Serial #6018444, Motor No. 18282.” In tbe certificate-of registration (Ohio) tbe numbers are tbe same, except the word “factory” is used instead of “serial” and tbe letters P. E. appear before tbe numerals 18282..

It is admitted tbat tbe possession of tbe car and tbe bill of sale is prima facie evidence of title, therefore tbe burden of proving no title would rest with the *29 party denying title, and the state of facts upon which appellant claims that the car was stolen presents a rather peculiar situation.

Mr. Aubrey Cason, manager of the Capitol City Auto Company, New Orleans, La., testified by way of deposition that on September 12, 1929, his company purchased from the .Studebaker Corporation several cars, among which was a Studebaker President Eight Brougham, which bore serial No. 6018444, engine No. 18232. Mr. Cason further deposed that on December 30, 1929, his company sold and delivered this car to George M. Broaphy of Chicago. He attaches to his deposition a bill showing the sale of .the car to Broaphy, on the date above mentioned; the bill showing the sale of “1 Studebaker President 135 #Brougham S-6018444-M 18232-$2585.00.”

Broaphy’s deposition was not taken, but E. E. Hannifin of 5200 Blackstone avenue, Chicago, deposes that Broaphy prior to March 6, 1932, transferred the car to him. He files an undated photostatie copy of a writing which states: “All my right title and interest in Studebaker President 8, Sedan Serial #F. E. 18232, Motor #6018444 is vested in E. E. Hannifin. George M. Broaphy.”

Hannifin then testifies that on March 6, 1932, at 5 or 5:30 p. m. he left his car in front of the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago, and when he returned at 6:30 the car was gone. He says that he had it insured against theft, with the Federal Insurance Company, and that on May 5 the company adjusted the loss by paying him $1,400, whereupon he assigned all his title and interest to the Insurance Company, and that at no.time did he sell or assign the car to any other person. Johnson, agent of the company, says that when he learned of the loss he made report thereof to the company’s attorneys, who had an investigation made, and the company paid the loss as above stated. He does not go into details as to what the report showed as. a result of the investigation, but says thie loss was paid on account of the theft of the car.

To further complicate matters with relation to the denial of the ownership, before the trial was begun appellant was permitted to introduce affidavits as to what absent witnesses would say. It was shown that Sam *30 uel Lochs, 1732 Fifty-Second street, New York City, in the' latter part of 1929 purchased from the Brewster Garage a new Studebaker President Eight Brougham, bearing factory No. 6018400, engine No. 18282, and that he still owned and was driving the car. This brought his possession down to May 5, 1933.

There was also an affidavit to the effect that a person whose name was not then available would, if present, swear that as custodian of the Studebaker Sales Corporation, he knew that the car, described in the affidavit, as to what Sachs would testify, was sold to Sachs in the latter part of 1929, and that no other Studebaker car was sold bearing these numbers.

It was further shown by affidavit that an unnamed person, if present, would say that the Federal Insurance Company had paid the Hannifin loss in May, 1932, and that Hannifin had transferred title to the company,, which title rested in the company, and further that they had no reason to believe that the Hannifin car had been found or was in the.

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Bluebook (online)
79 S.W.2d 383, 259 Ky. 25, 1935 Ky. LEXIS 260, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/glens-falls-insurance-v-hall-kyctapphigh-1935.