Globe Indemnity Co. v. Banner Grain Co.

90 F.2d 774, 1937 U.S. App. LEXIS 3947
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
DecidedJune 12, 1937
DocketNo. 10831
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 90 F.2d 774 (Globe Indemnity Co. v. Banner Grain Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Globe Indemnity Co. v. Banner Grain Co., 90 F.2d 774, 1937 U.S. App. LEXIS 3947 (8th Cir. 1937).

Opinion

BOOTH, Circuit Judge.

This was an action at law for breach of a standard workmen’s compensation and employers’ liability policy brought by the Banner Grain Company against the Globe Indemnity Company. It is a so-called “liability over” case.,

The Banner Grain Company will be hereinafter called the “Employer,” and the Globe Indemnity Company will be hereinafter called the “Insurance Company.”

The action was commenced in the state court, and duly removed to the federal court on the ground of diversity of citizenship.

It was tried to the court, a jury being duly waived.

The facts are substantially as follows: On or about August 1, 1931, the said parties entered into an agreement wherein the Insurance Company agreed to insure the Employer for one year under a standard workmen’s compensation and employers’ liability policy against loss by the Employer on account of injuries sustained by any of its employees, within the terms of the policy.

Said contract of insurance contained, among other provisions, the following:

“I. (a) To Pay Promptly to any person entitled thereto, under the Workmen’s Compensation Law and in the maimer therein provided, the entire amount of any sum due, and all installments thereof as they become due.

“(1) To such person because of the obligation for compensation for any such injury imposed upon or accepted by this Employer under such of certain statutes, as may be applicable thereto, cited and described in an' endorsement attached to this Policy, each of which statutes is herein referred to as the Workmen’s Compensation Law, and

“(2) For the benefit of such person the proper cost of whatever medical, surgical, nurse or hospital services, medical or surgical apparatus or appliances and medicines, or, in the event of fatal injury, whatever funeral expenses are required by the provisions of such Workmen’s Compensation Law. * * *

“I. (b) To Indemnify this Employer against loss by reason of the liability imposed upon him by law for damages on account of such injuries to such of said employees as are legally employed wherever such injuries may be sustained. * * *

“VIII. This agreement shall apply only to such injuries so sustained by reason of accidents occurring during the Policy Period limited and defined as such in Item 2 of said Declarations. * * *

“Declarations.

“Item 2. The period during which the Policy shall remain in force, unless can-celled as in the Policy provided (herein called the Policy Period), shall be from August 1st, 1931, to August 1, 1932, at twelve and one minute o’clock a. m., standard time, as to each of said dates at the place where any operation covered hereby is conducted, as respects that operation, or at the place where any injury covered hereby is sustained, as respects that injury.”

The Workmen’s Compensation Law included in the indorsement, above referred to, was that of Minnesota (Mason’s Minn. St.1927, § 4261 et seq. as amended).

While said policy was in force, and on or about April 28, 1932, one of said Employer’s employees, Steve Clark, sustained personal injuries while in the line of his duty. He brought suit against the Employer in the state district court of Minnesota in April, 1933, to recover damages for $15,000.

The Clark Action in the State Court.

The Employer turned over the summons and complaint in said action to the Insur[776]*776anee Company, and advised said Insurance Company that it would look to it to investigate said claim, defend it, and pay the judgment, if any, under the provisions of its insurance policy.

Thereafter, the Insurance Company informed the Employer that it had investigated said cause of action brought by Clark, that his injuries were not covered by said policy, and that the Insurance Company would and did deny liability thereunder ; but it agreed to defend the action provided the Employer would sign a “Non-Waiver Agreement” (Exhibit “C”), which waiver was signed by the Employer, and which left open for future consideration the question of whether or not the said liability was covered by the policy. The Insurance Company, through its legal department, ' then undertook to defend said action in the district court of Hennepin county, its attorneys being assisted therein by counsel furnished by the Employer.

On the trial of the case, a-verdict was rendered against the Employer in favor of Steve Clark for $15,000.

Thereafter, on April 10, 1934, F. H. Durham, the attorney for the Insurance Company, wrote the following letter -to the Employer:

“Confirming telephone conversation, my client, the Globe Indemnity Company, feels that it has carried out its agreement to give the Banner Grain Company a complimentary defense as per the written reservation of rights entered into between the parties under date of April 22, 1933.

“They further take the position that they cannot take any further part in the above case or permit me, as their attorney, to assist you except upon a further written stipulation that the Globe Indemnity Company will not furnish an appeal bond, and furthermore, that its policy of insurance does not cover plaintiff’s (Clark’s) case as alleged in the complaint and proven on the trial of the case.”

The Employer refused to stipulate with the Insurance Company according to the terms of said letter, and the Insurance Company thereupon withdrew from the Clark litigation. The Employer then employed other coúnsel, who made a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or for a new trial. Upon the denial of that motion, they took an appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court, which affirmed the district court. Clark v. Banner Grain Co., 195 Minn. 44, 261 N.W. 596.

The Employer paid the Clark judgment against it, and seeks recovery in the case at bar of $19,332.15, the amount of said judgment plus costs, disbursements, and interest.

As above stated, the case at bar, originally commenced in the state court, was removed to the federal court on account of diversity of citizenship.

A somewhat more extended study of the Clark Case in the state court will be helpful in an understanding of the case at bar.

The complaint of Clark alleged negligence on the part of the Employer, and sought to recover at common law for damages for disease on account of failure to furnish a reasonably safe place in which to work.

The Employer answered, denying the allegations of the complaint and alleging negligence of Clark and assumption of risk. On the trial, the Employer amended its answer by adding the following paragraph: “Alleges that if plaintiff has any claim against this defendant, he is limited to the rights and remedies provided by the provisions of Part 2 of Chapter 23A, General Statutes of Minnesota, 1923, and Acts amendatory thereof, commonly known as the Workmen’s Compensation Act.”

The issue of defendant’s negligence was. submitted upon both tlie question of the common-law duty to furnish a safe place for working, and the question of violation of a statutory requirement for adequate ventilation; also upon the issue relative to the Workmen’s Compensation Act.

From the evidence submitted in the trial of the Clark Case, the following facts were shown: The Employer, Banner Grain Company, is engaged in the grain business and owns a large terminal elevator in Minneapolis for the holding, storing, and cleaning of grain.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
90 F.2d 774, 1937 U.S. App. LEXIS 3947, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/globe-indemnity-co-v-banner-grain-co-ca8-1937.