Lucas v. Jefferson Insurance Co.

6 Cow. 635

• Court: New York Supreme Court
• Decided: February 15, 1827
• Status: Published

Opinion

Curia, per

Woodworth, J.

No objection was raised on the argument, as to the finding of the jury ; nor can this be questioned on a bill of exceptions." It was contended that the charge of the judge was erroneous, on the ground that the defendants were entitled to the benefit of the payments made by the other companies ; and that, inasmuch as the whole of the loss sustained, had been already paid, the defendants were entitled to a verdict. It is well settled, that upon a double insurance, though the insured is not entitled to two satisfactions, yet in the first action, he may recover the w hole sum insured, leaving the defendant to recover a rateable satisfaction from the other insurers. (1 Bl. Rep. 416.) In such cases, the two policies are considered as making but one insurance. They are good to the extent of the value of the effects put in risk. The insured may sue the under-writers on both policies ; but he can only recover the real amount of his loss, to which all the under-writers shall contribute in proportion to their several subscriptions. (Marsh. on In. B. l. ch. 4. s. 4. p. 116. or Condy’s Ed. p. 146.)

In the case before us, it is said, that the clause in the policy, as to prior and subsequent insurances, differs essentially from the like clause in marine policies. I have looked at some of the printed forms of policies against fire, in the books; but have not discovered any such clause. There is no direct evidence, to show that the policies made by the Chatham and tEtna offices were similar to this. Whether they are or not, the parties in this action, must be governed by the contract they have made. That is express. Suppose the plaintiff had not received any thing from the other offices ; could he recover the whole amount of the defendants’ subscription, provided his loss was equal to that amount ? In a policy not containing the clause referred to, the plaintiff would be entitled to recover the sum insured, leaving the defendants to seek contribution from other insurers. Here there is astipulation against that course, in very explicit language: “ The insured shall not, in case of loss or damage, be entitled to demand or recover on this policy, any greater portion of the loss or damage sustained, than the amount insured bears to the whole amount insured on the property.” The defendants did not intend to be liable for the whole of their subscription in the first instance, and then seek indemnity by way of contribution. If, notwithstanding this clause, the defendants should voluntarily pay the whole amount of their subscription, towards the plaintiff’s loss, I do not perceive on what ground they could claim contribution. The answer to such a claim, would be, that they paid in their own wrong; and volenti non Jit injuria. If there is redress, it must be against the party who received more than he was entitled to demand. The principle of contribution, can only be enforced where the party paying, was under a legal obligation to pay. If the policies of the Chatham and .Etna companies, are similar to this, the defendants have no concern with the amount paid by them. In that case, they acted for themselves ; and if they have paid more than the plaintiff could by law recover, it was done voluntarily. In the present case, the amount of the plaintiff’s loss is controverted. He claims much more than the defendants are willing to admit. The weight of evidence on this point, may be as contended for by the defendants; but still, it is a disputable fact. The Chatham, and /Etna offices may have chosen to pay on the exhibition of the plaintiff’s proof, in preference to a protracted litigation. They may have erroneously considered the damages much greater than they really were. They acted voluntarily, and for themselves. This was submitted to the jury, and they have passed upon it. The act of settling for themselves, raises a presumption that the different policies were alike; and that no claim for contribution was contemplated as against each other.

On the supposition that the policies of the Chatham and /Etna companies, did not contain the. clause in question, the plaintiff might recover the amount of their subscriptions, if necessary to satisfy his loss; and in such case, I apprehend, it would be competent for the defendants, to show the plaintiff had received satisfaction. As indemnity can only be claimed, there is no right of action after it is obtained. If the policies of the Chatham and lEtna offices, were such as to entitle the plaintiff to recover of them all their subscription, if requisite to pay his loss, then their right to contribution against the defendants would be undoubted. The clause in the defendants’ poli-icy would not affect that question ; but would apply, when they should be prosecuted by the plaintiff, so as to protect them against his claim beyond a rateable proportion of the loss. If the loss has been already recovered, and paid, the claim for a rateable proportion is necessarily extinguished. The Chatham and Mtna offices, incurred no risk in making payment, provided the clause is not in their policies ; because it is conceded by the defendants, that the loss was at least equal to those payments. On this principle, the defendants are liable to contribute a portion to those companies. If the amount received, was to be taken into consideration on the trial, the duty of the jury would have been, to ascertain the whole amount of l°ss j and if it exceeded the sums paid, then, after deducting the payment, to find a verdict against the defendants for the balance, provided it did not exceed the proportion of the whole loss, which, according to the contract, the defendants ought to bear; and if the amount of the loss remaining unsatisfied, was less than such rateable share of the whole loss, then the verdict should have been for such balance. In the action for contribution, an adjustment would be made between the parties on these princi-pies. In the view thus taken, I think that part of the judge’s charge incorrect, which directed the jury not to take into consideration the payments made to the plaintiff, by the other insurance companies, provided those companies were aware of the existence of all the policies on the property at the time ; and made the settlement solely with a view of discharging the plaintiff’s claim against themselves. If the Chatham and JEtna companies, were liable to the amount of their subscriptions, which I apprehend they were, unless protected by a clause, like that in the defendant’s policy, their knowledge of other policies was immaterial. Whether they had knowledge or not, the plaintiff was entitled to recover against them; and if so, they had a remedy over against the other insurers. Neither can the fact that they settled to discharge the claim solely against themselves, defeat such remedy over, if it appears they have not paid more than the loss sustained. Suppose those companies had settled under a belief that their proportion of the loss wrould be'equal to the amount paid; and therefore, did not, at the time, contemplate a recovery against others for a portion of it. This would not invalidate their right to claim contribution, when it is shown that they had paid more than their relative proportion. In this point of view, the charge was calculated to produce a result unfavorable to the defendants. The verdict was for the plaintiff; for how much does not appear; probably for the whole sum insured. A new trial should be granted, if the Chatham and 1Etna companies, were legally bound to pay what the plaintiff received. But if those policies, Avere like the one in question, the defendants can derive no benefit from the payments made. They should be put out of view on this trial; and if so, that part of the charge on which I have commented, was incorrect as respects the plaintiff. The defendants have no cause to complain. It was allowing them the benefit of the payments, if the jury were satisfied of certain facts submitted to them; whereas ; they should have been instructed not to regard the payments, if the policies subscribed by those companies, bound them only to pay, in the first instance, a rateable proportion of the loss.

The question then is, what was the form of the Chat-ham and JEtna policies ? Neither party has adduced any express testimony to this fact. On whom devolved the necessity of showing what those policies contained ? Certainly not the plaintiff. His case was made out Avithout this. He claims of the defendants, the proportion they are bound to pay under their policy for the whole loss. They contend it has been paid by other companies. But to make that defence available, it must be shown, either that the companies paid in fact a sum of money wrhich was received in full satisfaction of all the insurances ; or that the amount paid by them, was in pursuance of a policy which authorized such payment. The first is not pretended. As to the second, the court is left to conjecture. It is a fact, on which the defence rests. There is no sufficient ground for presumption, that those polisies did not contain the clause in question. The defendants’ policy contains it. Some of the forms in the books, do not. We cannot assume the fact, that the policy differed from the one in this case. I think it may rather be presumed they are alike. The settlement made between the plaintiff and the companies, strengthens the presumption. They each deducted one sixth. They certainly had no right to make that deduction, if the loss exceeded the sums insured by them. The plaintiff claimed considerably more. It is not probable the plaintiff Avould have consented to a deduction of one sixth, if the policies were so drawn as to to allow him to recover the whole sum insured. Be this, however, as it may, I think the defendants ought to have shown the other policies were different, in order to avail themselves of the payments. The remainder of the charge is correct. If the loss was equal to all the sums insured, the plaintiff was entitled to the face of the policy. If less, to a proportion only. Whether the jury have found too much, or too little, is not before us. The motion for a new trial must be denied.

New trial denied.