Hughes v. . Sun Mutual Ins. Co.

2 N.E. 901, 100 N.Y. 58, 55 Sickels 58, 1885 N.Y. LEXIS 942

Opinions

Danforth, J.

The complaint states that in November, 1881, the plaintiff as a common carrier and owner of the boat “ Arizona,” had, upon it and in his possession, coal of the value of $1,000, which he had carried from Hew York to Hew Haven on freight ; that the defendant, a domestic corporation, by violence took it from the boat.

The answer of defendant admits its corporate character, but denies the other allegations. It also set up new matter, but no question arises on the pleadings.

On the trial of the issues before a judge and jury, the character and ownership of the plaintiff was proved, and that the coal, in all two hundred and seventy-three tons, including seventeen on deck, was shipped under a bill of lading by the D., L. & W. Railroad Company “ for account of" R. H. Williams & Co.” of New Haven, and to be delivered to them “or their assigns (dangers of the seas excepted), they paying freight at the rate of seventy cents per ton.” While on the voyage and near Hew Haven a heavy storm was encountered, and the captain having first tied “ a big buoy to the end of the boat, and located her where she would be easily found,” left the boat and it sunk.

The boat and cargo were insured; the boat by the Buffalo Insurance Company ; and in pursuance of the terms of the policy the owner notified them of the “ misfortune,” claiming a total loss. But the policy provided that the insured should “ not have a right to abandon the vessel, except in the case of an absolute total loss,” and that “ the acts of the insured or insurers, or their agents, in recovering, saving and preserving the property insured, in case of disaster, shall not be considered a waiver or an acceptance of an abandonment, nor as affirming or denying any liability under- this policy, hut such acts shall he considered as done for the benefit of all concerned, and without prejudice to the rights of either party.”

Under these provisions the insurers refused to receive the loss, and in reply to the owner’s notice, informed him that they intended to raise the boat.

The defendant insured the cargo on account of the IX, L. & W. Railroad Co., and they, in consideration of the payment of its value, “ sold, abandoned and set over ” the coal and their interests in it to the defendant. Soon thereafter negotiations between the two insurance companies and the Baxter Wrecking Company resulted in a proposal by the latter, in substance, to raise the boat and cargo of coal, “ and do- liver them alongside dock in Hew Haven, to be discharged for and in consideration of the sum of $1,000, to be apportioned between the boat and cargo according to the laws and usages of general average in such eases.” This was agreed to. Under the agreement the boat was raised, and with all its cargo on board save the seventeen tons deck-load, taken to the wharf at Hew Haven. While there the plaintiff was notified by the Buffalo Insurance Company to go to Hew Haven and take charge of the boat. He notified the defendant of his claim for freight money and forbade the removal of the cargo until it was satisfied. The president of the company replied “he was not obliged to pay it, and would take the coal in spite of him.” After this the coal was sold by defendant’s directions, the wrecking company’s charges satisfied, and the balance paid over to the defendant.

At the close of the trial the court was asked to direct a verdict for the plaintiff, and this being denied, the plaintiff requested the trial judge to submit to the jury the question whether or not the plaintiff neglected and declined to raise the cargo and complete the voyage, and also whether or not he “ abandoned the cargo and the boat.’ ’ This also was refused, and on motion by defendant the complaint was dismissed.

The General Term granted a new trial. We think properly. When, as in this case, payment of freight is a condition of delivery, the cargo becomes bound to the boat from the time it is received on board, until by some default on its part, or some event which puts an end to the voyage, it becomes impossible to fulfill the contract of affreightment (Abb. on Ship. 595), and if, in fact, it reaches the port of destination, so that delivery can be made, whether by the boat named or by another agency set in motion by the original carrier, or by one standing in his place, freight is earned, the lien continues and can be enforced. This follows from the rule, entirely well settled, that as between the owner and insurer a total loss of freight arises only where the ship and cargo are wholly lost, but if, although the ship itself be wrecked and utterly lost, the master can reship and forward the goods by reasonable endeavor and reasonable cost, it is his duty to do so. (Hubbell v. Gt. W. Insurance Co., 74 N. Y. 246.)

Here it is undisputed that all save the deck-load did reach the place of destination and was there disposed of by the assignees of the cargo, to whom its shippers undertook to transfer it. Apparently, then, the contract to carry was fulfilled, and the contract to deliver would have been but for the interference of the defendant. If by preventing delivery to the consignees, it has prevented the boat earning full freight, that circumstance cannot be to its advantage. The defendant assumes that the shippers were the owners and had the right of control. If so the abandonment of the cargo to its insurers' can have no other effect than to put them in aplace of the insured, and make a delivery of the coal to them, as valid for the purpose of earning freight as would have been a delivery to the owner, but neither could take it against the will of the ship?naster until payment of freight.

The learned counsel for the appellant does not claim that on the part of the owner of the ship there was a consummated abandonment. He says the plaintiff “ tried to abandon. Under a clause in his policy he could not do this if insurers refused to accept abandonment; they did refuse.” Again he says : “ The refusal of his insurers to accept his abandonment was notice that the insurers would attempt to raise the boat, and they told him so from the first.” The terms of the ' policy, already referred to, justify that claim. How, then, can it be said that there was an abandonment by him ? An abandonment of the cargo by the shippers or owners could no[ affect the boat. An actual abandonment of the boat to its insurer would have presented a different question. The freight pending would go with it as incident to the ownership, and if finally earned, would belong to the abandonee. It would have not only the title to the boat, but the possession and the advantages resulting from a completion of the voyage. But there' was no abandonment to the insurers. The appellant’s claim. is that the plaintiff abandoned the voyage and treated it as put an end to, without the possibility of renewal and without the intention of resuming it. If that be so, then the contract was indeed dissolved. On the other side is the contention that the question was not one of law,--but at most one of fact for the jury to answer upon the evidence. In that case the exception to the refusal of the trial judge to submit it to them was well taken. It is to be observed that the boat was in tow from Hew York, aided neither by sails of its own or steam, but carried along by the motive power of another vessel; that, when by stress of weather it was cast loose and submerged, the place was marked by a buoy, to which before sinking it was attached. The object of this was that it might easily be found. No other consequences in fact or law resulted from the sinking of the boat through the water to the bottom than would have attended its stranding. In either ease, although disabled from completing her voyage, the owner might still earn the whole freight by making the necessary repairs, or by sending the cargo to the place of its destination in another boat. Here the boat, as the event clearly showed, was in position to be reached, repaired and sent on; no removal, even of the coal, being necessary. The voyage, therefore, was not lost, and under the stipulations of the policy the recovery of the boat must be considered as undertaken for the benefit and on account of its owner. The insurance on the boat was for the voyage. Neither boat nor cargo were in fact lost. The boat was insured for $1,200. The owner was paid $150, and of that about $300 went to the Baxter company. The loss was a partial loss only, and so treated. The boat at no time ceased to be the property of the plaintiff, and the expense of recovery was borne by him.

Upon the point now before us the evidence of the plaintiff and the president of the defendant is important. The former testified that he at once, after the accident, informed the defendant of the attachment of the buoy and its purpose, and that the Buffalo Insurance Company were going to raise the boat. He claimed his lien and forbade the removal of the cargo until freight was paid. The testimony of the president hardly raises a conflict. He remembers the interview with the plaintiff soon after the loss, and while unable to remember the exact language used, says; “ The effect of it, and the conclusion.! came to was that he didn’t mean to do any thing to get the vessel up; I think I said to him that being insured in the Buffalo company to the amount of $1,200, I supposed he had abandoned it, and we would have to make our own arrangements I can’t remember the exact language, but that is the conclusion we came to, and he gave me to understand that.” He testified, however : “ Hughes did not tell me in .so many words that he had abandoned the boat and would have nothing to do with it; he gave me the impression he was going to have nothing more to do with it,” and admits he was forbidden to take the cargo from the boat. But if there was contradiction, -the construction of the testimony was for the jury. Hnless voluntarily relinquished by the plaintiff, the legal possession which he had of the cargo continued after as it was before the accident, and 1 am unáble to find any thing in the appellant’s points which should relieve the defendant from answering for such damages as the plaintiff sustained by being deprived of it. The case should, therefore, have been given to the jury.

It does not follow that the recovery should include the full value of the cargo. It may extend no farther than the value of the plaintiff’s special property, and this again be diminished by subjecting it to a share of the expense incurred for its recovery. Heither of these questions are before us. It is enough that we now concur with the court below in the decision that the plaintiff was improperly turned out of court.

The order appealed from should, therefore, be affirmed, and the plaintiff, in pursuance of the stipulation, have judgment absolute.