Halifax Fire Ins. Co. of Halifax v. Columbian Nat. Fire Underwriters' Agency of Cleveland

63 S.W.2d 750, 1933 Tex. App. LEXIS 1124
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJuly 13, 1933
DocketNo. 9870
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 63 S.W.2d 750 (Halifax Fire Ins. Co. of Halifax v. Columbian Nat. Fire Underwriters' Agency of Cleveland) 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
Halifax Fire Ins. Co. of Halifax v. Columbian Nat. Fire Underwriters' Agency of Cleveland, 63 S.W.2d 750, 1933 Tex. App. LEXIS 1124 (Tex. Ct. App. 1933).

Opinion

LANE, Justice.

This suit was brought by Columbian National Fire Underwriters’ Agency of Cleveland, Ohio, hereinafter for convenience referred to as the fire insurance company and •as appellee, against Halifax Fire Insurance Company of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, hereinafter for convenience referred to as the -explosion company and as appellant.

The fire insurance company alleged that on the 20th day of December, 1930, it issued to J. E. Buckley, of Houston, a $7,000 fire insurance policy on a dwelling situated at 4020 Mount Vernon street in the city of Houston, and one for $250 on a garage, both for the term of three years. Copies of the policies ■issued by the plaintiff fire insurance company were attached to the plaintiff’s petition and made a part thereof. It contained a provision that the company should not be liable for loss caused directly or indirectly by explosion of any kind. The plaintiff further alleged that on or about the 20th day of December, 1930, the defendant the explosion company issued to J. E. Buckley an explosion policy No. 106 in the same amounts, on the same property, for' the same term as the -,plaintiff’s fire policy; that the property and interest of Buckley in the premises was the same; that on December 31, 1930, Buckley reported that the house had been destroyed by fire; that this destruction occurred while both policies were in force; that after plaintiff received the loss notice from Buckley, it adjusted the loss with him for $6,600 on January 27, 1931, and paid him that sum, believing that he had sustained a loss by fire to that amount; that there was an explosion in the house insured and that the loss -incurred by Bucldey was caused by said explosion and not entirely -by fire; that as a result of the explosion the fire which destroyed the house was started; that there was no fire in the house prior to the explosion, and that the explosion caused the fire; that the damage caused by the explosion was $5,000.

That the plaintiff did not know about the explosion until the 9th of March, 1931, whereupon it demanded of the defendant a contribution on the loss and the defendant refused to pay anything; that it is entitled to recover from the defendant $5,000 as a proportionate share of the amount paid Buckley; that plaintiff paid Buckley $6,600, representing a total loss to the property, and after making that payment and on the 9th of March, 1931, notified the defendant that an explosion had preceded the fire and demanded that the defendant pay a proportionate part' of the loss. That the defendant became liable to pay to Buckley an amount equal to the damage sustained by explosion, and the defendant has refused to pay the plaintiff any money and denied liability. That on September 1, 1931, plaintiff received from Buckley a subrogation assignment under which plaintiff became the assignee of and subrogated to the rights of Buckley against the defendant under the explosion contract. Plaintiff pleaded the verbiage of that subrogation or assignment agreement and alleged that Buckley had performed all the conditions of the contract, and that as a result of this subrogation agreement the plaintiff became subrogated to Buckley’s rights and is entitled to recover from the defendant under the explosion policy the sum of $5,000 with 6 per cent, interest from March 9, 1931. Plaintiff prayed for judgment for $5,000 and interest.

On the 30 th day of November, 1931, the court rendered and caused to be entered of record its judgment, reading as follows:

“On this, the 30th day of November, A. D. 1931, came on to be heard the above entitled and numbered cause, wherein the Columbian National Fire Underwriters Agency of Cleveland, Ohio, is plaintiff, and the Halifax Fire Insurance Company of Halifax, Nova Scotia, is defendant, at which time plaintiff, by its attorneys appeared before the court and furnished the court all the necessary, proof, and the court finding that defendant, though duly served with process, on the 2nd day of November, A. D. 1931,- requiring it to appear and answer herein by the 23rd day of November, [752]*752A. I>. 1931, further finds that defendant herein failed to appear and answer the citation in the above numbered and styled cause on the 23rd day of November, A. D. 1931, or any time thereafter, but wholly made default, and failed to appear and answer herein in its behalf.
“Wherefore, the Columbian National Fire Underwriters Agency of Cleveland, Ohio, plaintiff, by virtue thereof, should, and ought to recover against the said Halifax Fire Insurance Company of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, defendant herein, its claim by virtue and occasion of the premises, and it being found to the satisfaction of the court that the amount of the principal claim of the Columbian National Fire Underwriters Agency o' Cleveland Ohio, is Five Thousand and No/100 ($5,000.00) Dollars, with interest thereon at the rate of six per cent. (6%) per annum from the 9th day of March, A. D. 1931, it is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed that the plaintiff herein do have and recover of the defendant hereinabove named, the sum of Five Thousand and No/100 ($5,000.00) Dollars, with interest thereon at the rate Of 6% per annum from the 9th day of March, A. D. 1931, until paid, and further, that the plaintiff do have and recover all costs in its behalf expended, for all of which let execution issue.”

This cause was brought to and is now pending in this court upon a writ of error upon a petition filed therefor on the 16th day of May, 1932, by appellant.

On the 18th day, of January, 1932, the trial judge approved the following instrument as “a full and fair statement of all the facts proven on the trial of this cause”:

“Columbian National Fire Underwriters Agency of Cleveland, Ohio, v. Halifax Fire Ináurance Co. No. C-199 — 936.
“In the District Court of Harris County, Texas, 61st Judicial District.
“November 30th, 1931.
“The following constitutes and is the evidence introduced upon the trial of the above entitled and numbered cause.
“The plaintiff introduced in evidence its subrogation receipt, as follows:
“ ‘The State of Texas, County of Harris.
“ ‘Whereas, the Columbian National Fire Underwriters Agency, of Cleveland, Ohio, did insure J. E. Buckley, of Houston, Harris County, Texas, under its policy No. DU-117844, issued at its Houston Agency, as follows:
“ ‘Seven Thousand ($7,000.00) Dollars, on dwelling, located at No. 4020 Mount Vernon Street, in Montrose Addition to the City of Houston, and Two Hundred Fifty ($250.00) Dollars on the servants’. house and garage, located at the same address, against loss by fire, said policy being for three (3) years, commencing on the 20th day of December, A. D. 1930, and continuing until the 20th day of December, A. D. 1933, said policy contract containing a loss payable or mortgage clause in favor of Grand Lodge of the Order of Sons of Herman of the State of Texas, San Antonio, Texas, and
“ ‘Whereas, the Halifax Fire Insurance Company, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, did insure J. E. Buckley of Houston, Harris County, Texas, under its Policy No. 106 issued at its Houston Agency, as follows:

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63 S.W.2d 750, 1933 Tex. App. LEXIS 1124, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/halifax-fire-ins-co-of-halifax-v-columbian-nat-fire-underwriters-texapp-1933.