Insurance Co. v. Morton-Scott-Robertson Co.

61 S.W. 787, 106 Tenn. 558
CourtTennessee Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 9, 1901
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 61 S.W. 787 (Insurance Co. v. Morton-Scott-Robertson Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Tennessee Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Insurance Co. v. Morton-Scott-Robertson Co., 61 S.W. 787, 106 Tenn. 558 (Tenn. 1901).

Opinion

McAlister, J.

This is a suit upon a policy of fire insurance. Verdict and judgment were in favor of plaintiff for the sum of $1,064.32, amount of the policy and interest. The company appealed, and, among other assignments of error, it is urged that there is no evidence to support the verdict. The policy in suit insured the plaintiff against direct loss or damage by fire to their stock of carpets, furniture, etc., contained in their storehouse on Union Street, in the city of Nashville. The aggregate insurance on their stock was $31,000, covered by twenty-three policies, issued by seventeen different companies. The concurrent insurance was authorized by the several policies, and no question is made in respect of additional insurance.

Companies representing $15,000 of 'this insurance settled and adjusted their liability without suit.

The fire occurred on December 9, 1898, and there is evidence tending to show that the loss sustained was largely in excess of the entire insurance. The value of the stock at the time of the fire is shown by the following table, to wit:

(1) Inventory June 1, 1898.'....$29,523 40

Í2) Goods purchased between June 1, aiid December 9, 1898 . :. 30,458 69

(3) Goods sold, charged, and not delivered . -4J3 00

(4) Goods held in trust for others.... 85 00

(5) Appreciation by advance in prices. 4,465 49

Total $65,035 58

[561]*561The gross sales from June 1 to December 9, 1898 .$34,892 54

These goods cost the sum. 23,147 00

Total value at time of fire... 41,888 58

These items are sustained by ample evidence to have warranted the jury in finding them correct.

It is objected that the item of appreciation of stock amounting to $4,465.49 was not included in the statement of loss submitted by the company to the insurance agents on Monday succeeding the fire. That is explained, however, by the fact that the first statement was made up hurriedly, and this item was overlooked.

It was stated and claimed at the first interview between the plaintiff and the insurance adjusters, and steadily insisted on throughout the negotiations that followed. It is supported by material evidence, and must be held to have been established by the verdict of the jury.

'Che proof shows that on Monday, December 12, succeeding the fire, adjusters representing the various insurance companies interested met at Nashville and entered into an organization, electing a chairman and secretary. This board adopted the following resolutions, to wit:

“1. In all matters of difference, a majority as represented by the insurance companies present shall rale.

“2. That stock in basement and grade floor [562]*562shall be removed, and then if tbe committee deems advisable shall be disposed of.”

This board, it appears, continued in session from day to day until the twenty-second of December, when they entered into an agreement by resolution “that there should be no independent action, but that they all should communicate and confer with each other.”

It appears that on Tuesday succeeding the fire there was a conference between the adjusters and representatives of plaintiff, and a discussion ensued as to what disposition should be made of the salvage or damaged goods saved from the fire. A committee was appointed to consider this question, and after visiting the premises and inspecting the condition of the damaged goods, the committee recommended that the salvage in the basement and on the grade floor be offered for sale to the highest bidder. An advertisement was accordingly made in the public prints, but mo acceptable bid was received.

It appears that about this time the adjusters concluded to demand an appraisement of the saved goods, and such an appraisal was proposed to the representatives of the insured. The insured insisted that the first step in an appraisement was to ascertain the value of the entire stock of goods at the time the fire occurred, and ■ that at the same time they could find out the value of the goods saved, aud thus settle the whole loss. The [563]*563adjusters, however, declined this proposition, insisting upon an appraisal of the salvage alone. The insured insisted that he was ready and willing for an appraisal provided it settled everything.

The adjustors had before them all the policies, books, papers, and invoices of the insured, including a statement of the loss. They inspected the wreck and saw the salvage, but they made no estimate of its value, nor a statement of the value of the stock at the time of the fire, nor any estimate of loss, nor did they agree to the correctness of any item in plaintiff’s statement of loss. The adjusters simply demanded an appraisement of the salvage, but not an appraisement of the entire loss.

It further appears that on December 16 the several adjusters made a joint demand for appraisal as follows, to wit:

“A difference having arisen in the amount of the damage done upon stock of goods by reason of a fire which occurred on December 9, 1898, we now demand that the amount of these damages be submitted to arbitration as provided for in the section of the policies under which you make your claims.” This demand was signed jointly by all the special agents and adjusters representing the companies interested. The plaintiff understood this letter to be a joint demand for an appraisal of the salvage alone, hence, in its reply, after referring to the fact that its statement of loss [564]*564fc.ad not been seriously controverted by tbe agents, stated, “You now demand of us an appraisal of tire salvage, and propose to leave the question as to cash value of the stock a matter for consideration after the appraisement has been made. To this we are unwilling to assent.” The letter continued, “A committee was appointed by you to examine the premises. That committee reported that it would be advisable to offer for sale the salvage in the basement and on the first floor. To this we gave our assent. We are not averse to an appraisement, but object to an appraisement .of the salvage and afterwards another appraisement as to value of stock.”

In view of what had been transpiring in the negotiations of the board and the insured for a settlement, the joint demand was understood by the plaintiff, as a demand for the appraisal of the salvage alone. Plaintiff's in their reply so informed the adjusters, and the latter did not correct this impression. They made no reply to the insured’s letter. However, the oral negotiations and conferences continued until December 22, when further effort at a settlement was ‘ suspended. There is evidence tending to show that, in the meantime a representative of the insured met Col. Young, chairman of the board of adjusters, and asked him if there was going to be any trouble about the salvage, and the latter responded, “Gro ahead and handle the salvage; you have a per-[565]*565feet right to do it. Go ahead.” Thereupon, plaintiff rented Amusement Hall, and about the eighth of January began to move therein the damaged stock saved from the first floor and' basement of the store. These goods were cleaned and renovated, and after being thoroughly advertised in the public prints, were sold at public auction for $1,250. Private sales amounting to $300 or $400 bad theretofore been 'made.

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Bluebook (online)
61 S.W. 787, 106 Tenn. 558, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/insurance-co-v-morton-scott-robertson-co-tenn-1901.