Hartford Fire Insurance v. Raymond

38 N.W. 474, 70 Mich. 485
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedJune 8, 1888
StatusPublished
Cited by30 cases

This text of 38 N.W. 474 (Hartford Fire Insurance v. Raymond) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hartford Fire Insurance v. Raymond, 38 N.W. 474, 70 Mich. 485 (Mich. 1888).

Opinion

Long, J.

Relator filed a petition for mandamus to compel the respondent', the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of Michigan, to vacate an order made by him on April 2, 1888, revoking the license of relator to do business within, this State.

The relator is an insurance corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of Connecticut, and for many years has transacted an insurance business in the State of Michigan. In February, 1887, it filed the necessary proofs and papers with the Commissioner of Insurance to obtain, and did obtain, a renewal of its authority to do business in. the State of Michigan, and paid to the State Treasurer the specific taxes due from it for the preceding year, and continued to do business in this State for the year 1887.

At its session in 1887 the Legislature of this State passed' an act which was approved June 28, 1887, entitled—

An act to regulate the manner in which insurance companies not organized upder the laws of this State, but doing business within it, shall transact their business.”

Section 1 of this act, by its terms, requires all fire, marine,, or inland insurance companies or associations, in addition to the requirements of the law in force, to file with the Commissioner of Insurance an undertaking that it will not-directly or indirectly enter into any contract, agreement,. [487]*487arrangement, or undertaking of any nature or kind whatever with any other company, companies, association, or associations, or the agents of their respective companies or associations, in the business transacted in this State.

Section 3 absolutely forbids the making by any such insurance company of any contract of the character mentioned in section 1.

Section 3 prohibits the agents of any such company or association from making any such contract with the agent or agents of any other company.

Section 4 declares it unlawful for any agent, solicitor, broker, surveyor, or any one in any other capacity to transact or aid in transacting business for any company violating said act.

Section 6 makes it the duty of the Commissioner to provide a blank form contract required under the first section of the act, and to mail the same to each company not incorporated under the laws of this State, but doing business therein under authority from the Commissioner of Insurance.

This section makes it the express duty of the Commissioner of Insurance to—

Eevoke the certificate of each and every of said companies or associations which shall not file such undertaking”—

Properly filled, executed, and authenticated within 30 days ,after the mailing of said blanks to said companies.

Section 7 makes it the duty of the Commissioner of Insurance, on notice of “ any violation of the provisions of this act,” to investigate, and, if satisfied that any company is violating its undertaking, or section 2 of the act, or that its agents are so violating the same, to forthwith revoke the certificate granted in behalf of such company or association.”

In January, 1888, relator applied to the Commissioner of Insurance for a renewal of its authority, and on February 38, [488]*4881888, filed with the Commissioner the agreement provided for by the act of 1887. This agreement is as follows:

Know all men by these presents, That the Hartford Fire Insurance Company, of the city of Hartford, in the state of Connecticut, a body corporate by or under the laws of Connecticut, and fully authorized to conduct the business of fire, or fire and marine, and inland insurance, having been admitted or having applied-for admission to transact the business of fire insurance in the State of Michigan, in conformity with the laws thereof, and in compliance with Act No. 285, Laws of 1887, does hereby undertake, stipulate, promise, and agree that it will not directly or indirectly enter into any contract, agreement, arrangement, or undertaking of any nature or kind whatever with any other company, companies, association, or associations, the object or effect of which is to prevent open and free competition between it and said company, companies, association, or associations, or the agents of their respective companies or associations, in the business transacted in the State of Michigan, or in any part thereof.”

This agreement was signed by the president and the secretary of the company, and to it was affixed its corporate seal. At the time of filing this agreement with the Commissioner, the relator served upon the Commissioner the following protest:

To the Honorable, the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of Michigan:

“Act No. 285 of the State of Michigan requires insurance companies, not organized under the laws of your State, as a condition precedent to transacting business therein, to execu te and file with you an undertaking that they will not,directlv or indirectly, enter into any contract, agreement, arrangement, or undertaking of any nature or kind whatever with any other company, companies, association, or associations, the object or effect of which is to prevent open and free competition in the business transacted in the State, or any part thereof. This act also, in terms, makes it unlawful for agents of companies to enter into like contracts for similar purposes, and attempts to confer upon you and your deputy power to investigate alleged violations of the act, and, if satisfied therefrom that any company or its agent has violated the provisions thereof, then to revoke the certificate granted [489]*489in behalf of such company, and cause public notice of such revocation to be given.

“ It is the desire of this company, while transacting business in the State of Michigan, to comply with and observe the laws thereof.

“ The form of the undertaking prepared by you under this act we have executed, and enclose herewith. In executing and transmitting this instrument to you, this company doe's hereby make and transmit therewith its most earnest protest against the constitutionality of the act in question.

“ In executing the annexed agreement this company must not be understood as consenting to the jurisdiction attempted to be conferred upon you by the seventh section of said act, or that the authority of this company to do business in the State of Michigan may be revoked in case you or your deputy should become satisfied that this company is represented by any agent who is violating the provisions of section 3 of said act; and this company, in executing and transmitting the annexed undertaking, does not intend to consent, and shall not be understood as consenting, to all the provisions of said act, or waiving its right to question the validity thereof, should it become necessary hereafter.”

This protest was signed by the president and the secretary of the company. The renewal certificate was duly issued to the relator by the Commissioner of Insurance, and the relator continues to do business within this State.

On March 20, 1888, the Commissioner of Insurance served upon the relator the following written notice:

“Messrs. Geo. L. Olíase, President, and P. O.' Boyce, Secretary, Hartford Fire Insurance Company.

“Gentlemen: It having come to my knowledge that the Hartford Fire Insurance Company has violated the provisions of section 2 of Act No.

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Bluebook (online)
38 N.W. 474, 70 Mich. 485, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hartford-fire-insurance-v-raymond-mich-1888.