Interstate Fire Ins. v. Ford

350 S.W.2d 687, 234 Ark. 104, 1961 Ark. LEXIS 538
CourtSupreme Court of Arkansas
DecidedNovember 6, 1961
Docket5-2490
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 350 S.W.2d 687 (Interstate Fire Ins. v. Ford) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Interstate Fire Ins. v. Ford, 350 S.W.2d 687, 234 Ark. 104, 1961 Ark. LEXIS 538 (Ark. 1961).

Opinion

Carleton Harris, Chief Justice.

On August 25, 1958, Interstate Fire Insurance Company, appellant herein, executed to Henry Ford, Sr., appellee, its policy insuring the contents of Ford’s premises to the extent of actual cash value of the property at the time of any loss, or the amount which it would cost to repair or replace the property with material of like kind and quality, now, however, to exceed $1500. The schedule recited that the property insured was located in “West End — next to Blackman’s Cafe, Warren, Arkansas.” “Contents Insurance” was defined as “household and personal property usual to a dwelling (except motor vehicles, boats and aircraft), including household and personal property purchased under an installment plan and usual to a dwelling, belonging to the Insured or a member of the family of the Insured, while contained in the dwelling.” On November 21, 1959, Ford’s dwelling house and all contents were totally destroyed by a fire. At the same time, equipment in a pressing shop, also owned by Ford, was likewise destroyed. Appellee contends that his living quarters, cafe,1 and pressing shop were all located in the same building, and that his policy covered the contents of each, while appellant asserts the pressing shop and restaurant were located in a separate building, and the company is not liable for any loss occurring there. Three days after the fire, appellant’s adjustor met with Ford, and after some conversation, the latter was given a draft for $499.42.2 This draft was held for approximately eleven months, at which time it was returned to the company by appellee, with the statement that $1500 was due to be paid for the loss. A few days later, Ford instituted suit against the company for $1500, together with 12% penalty, and attorney’s fees. On trial, the jury, in a 9 - 3 verdict, found for appellee in the full amount sought, and the court entered its judgment accordingly,3 together with 12% penalty and attorney’s fee in the amount of $350. From such judgment, comes this appeal. Several points are urged for reversal, but under the view we take, a discussion of each contention is not necessary.

Appellant contends that appellee, by his action in accepting the draft of $499.42 and executing his release therefor, is precluded from recovering any additional sums. The proof shows that V. M. Heller, an adjustor for Interstate, together with Cecil Marks, district manager of the company, went to Warren on November 24, 1959, for the purpose of adjusting the loss. They, together with Ford, examined the dwelling- house, and Ford submitted a list of his loss. All of the parties then visited with Moseley Furniture Company, and the butane gas company, and obtained the cost value of the items that had been listed. No examination of the pressing shop or cafe premises was made, because the company contended that it was not liable for any such loss. The cost value was set at $759.35, and was adjusted to the actual cash value at the time of the loss in the amount of $494.50. This adjustment was 65.1% of the 1957 actual cost value. Ford took the draft and delivered it to a lawyer; approximately eleven months later, it was returned to the company. Appellant company contends that Ford’s action in accepting the draft and signing the release constituted accord and satisfaction, but, under the circumstances of this case, we do not agree. Ford stated:

"He took me all around the store, and we discussed where it all burned, and he said, ‘I’ll settle with you if you want it’, and I said, ‘Yes, sir’, and I thought he was going to pay me and he said, ‘I’ll give you $499 on it’, and I say, ‘The policy say $1500.00’, and he say, ‘I’ll give you $499.00’, and he say, ‘I’ll give you new stuff if you want it’, and I say, ‘I don’t want no new stuff’, and he say, ‘I’ll give you $499.00’, and someone told me to see a lawyer, and I’d get more’n that, and I went up to see a lawyer and he kept it eleven months and kept it . . .
Q. You had another lawyer before Mr. Roberts?
A. Yes, sir. I went to see if he couldn’t get me more’n that. I didn’t figure that was enough.”

Appellee asserts that he was "overreached”; that he took the draft and signed the release because he doubted that he would get any amount if he refused. It does definitely appear that Ford was dissatisfied from the outset. We think, under the proof, that it was a question of fact for the jury to determine whether Ford entered into the settlement freely and voluntarily, and with full knowledge of all his rights under the policy. Ford was apparently an ignorant colored man, and was, under the evidence, unable to read, and could only write his name.

The proof is not entirely clear as to whether the dwelling, pressing shop, and cafe were joined, and under the same roof. Ford testified that the cafe, pressing shop and dwelling were “tied together”; that the cafe was in the front, the pressing shop in the rear, and the dwelling to the east, some 15 or 20 feet from the pressing shop, but connected by “a little gate you go into about 10 feet where you go in, and joined by the same ramp * * * it’s a little place, just enough room to go through it, and I had it over the top of the other building.” Cleo Broomfield testified “it was all one building in together” . . . “Just a little passageway between the two buildings.” She testified there was a shed between the living quarters and the pressing shop. Hazel Hampton testified that the buildings were adjoined by a passageway with a roof on the back, but not over the front. Susie May Young testified that the pressing shop and dwelling were joined by a roof. We think the evidence was sufficient to make a jury question except that portion of the building occupied as a cafe definitely was not covered. This is shown by the terms of the policy itself, which describes the insured premises as being located “next to Blackmans cafe.” This language, of course, precludes recovery of property in Blackman’s cafe.

As to the last, appellee would, at any rate, be precluded from recovery for most items located in the restaurant, because the restaurant equipment, the value of which was introduced into evidence, was not “household and personal property usual to a dwelling.” For example, there is testimony of the loss of eighteen stools. This obviously is restaurant equipment. It is not at all clear from the evidence as to the value given the restaurant equipment. From the testimony:

“Henry, you list in this Complaint that you lost some dishes and restaurant equipment.
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What was the value of the dishes and restaurant equipment?
A. The restaurant ... all the stuff in it was about $500.00 value.
Q. All of it?
A. $500 value for the whole thing. I had an ice box and deep freeze.4
Q. We’re not talking about that. We’re talking about the dishes in the restaurant.
A. That’s all combined.
Q. Talking about the dishes and things in the restaurant, but no taking in the box . . . how much was that worth?
A. I guess . . .

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Bluebook (online)
350 S.W.2d 687, 234 Ark. 104, 1961 Ark. LEXIS 538, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/interstate-fire-ins-v-ford-ark-1961.