McGhee v. Casualty Co. of America

15 Ohio App. 457, 1921 Ohio App. LEXIS 172
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedNovember 12, 1921
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 15 Ohio App. 457 (McGhee v. Casualty Co. of America) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McGhee v. Casualty Co. of America, 15 Ohio App. 457, 1921 Ohio App. LEXIS 172 (Ohio Ct. App. 1921).

Opinion

Allread, J.

The question as to the jurisdiction of the courts of Ohio to administer the fund deposited with the superintendent of insurance, and of the rights of Ohio policy-holders therein, as distinguished from the policy-holders of foreign states, was decided by this court in State, ex rel. Turner, Atty. Genl., v. Union Casualty Ins. Co. of Philadelphia, 8 Ohio App., 285. This case was referred to Hon. Francis H. Game, as special master commissioner, to hear and determine the issues as to the distribution of the fund and to make report.

Upon the filing of the report certain exceptions thereto were presented.

The question now arises upon confirmation of the report. There are many important questions presented, each of which amounts to a separate case. The master, in his report, states the facts upon which the respective claims rest, and his conclusions of law. [460]*460The most important questions are those in which exceptions to the report of the special master commissioner are presented. We have carefully considered the record, the briefs, and argument of counsel, and announce herewith our conclusions.

The Geaner Contracting Company, The Toupet, Beil & Conley, Inc., and The U. S. Gypsum Company Claims.

These claimants were non-residents of Ohio and the contracts of insurance Avere made outside of Ohio. The claimants, however, were carrying on business in Ohio and were subject to the provisions of the Ohio workmen’s compensation law. In the course of their business in Ohio they incurred liabilities under the Ohio workmen’s compensation law, part of which Avas discharged by the Casualty Company. The remainder has either been paid by the respective claimants or a liability for the unpaid portions still exists. It is urged that 'the liability of the claimants under the Ohio workmen’s compensation act amounts to the transaction of business by The Casualty Company in Ohio, which fact would hold the Casualty Company to the Ohio law and give its policy-holders the benefit of the Ohio deposit. Counsel for the claimants rely upon the decision of this court in the case of Hogan, Atty. Gen., v. Empire State Ins. Co., 8 Ohio App., 172. The Empire State Insurance Company case wa:s controlled by the act of congress which gave the subcontractors the benefit of the policy. Such subcontractors were constructive policy-holders, and being citizens of Ohio, and their claims having originated from business in Ohio, it was held that such constructive policy-holders were entitled to the benefit of the deposit. We find no [461]*461parallel facts in the case under consideration. The policies here were issued, outside of Ohio to nonresidents, and such non-residents are claiming the benefit thereof. There are no facts stated either in the answer of these claimants, 'the evidence, or the special finding of facts, which would permit these claimants to invoke the benefit of the Ohio statutes providing for the deposit and distribution of the Ohio fund. These claims were properly rejected by the special master commissioner.

The McDonald and Leahy Claim.

William Kramer, a citizen of Ohio, was the assured in a policy issued by the Casualty Company in Ohio, insuring him against employer’s liability. McDonald was an employe of Kramer, and, within the life of the policy, was injured in the course of his employment.

January 6, 1912, McDonald, by his next friend, brought suit against Kramer in the court of common pleas of Cuyahoga county to recover damages for such injuries.

January 24, 1913, the action was dismissed without prejudice by the plaintiff.

February 14, 1913, for a consideration of $1,600 paid to Kramer by the Casualty Company, Kramer assigned and surrendered his interest in the policy of insurance to the Casualty Company.

February 20, 1913, McDonald commenced another action against Kramer in the court of common pleas of Cuyahoga county to recover damages for the injuries aforesaid.

August 13, 1915, McDonald recovered a judgment in the action against Kramer in the sum of $5,000 and costs. Execution was issued on that judgment on December 23, 1915, and was returned unsatisfied [462]*462on January 10,1916. McDonald thereupon assigned to John W. Leahy one-half interest in the judgment.

October 19,1916, McDonald and Leahy commenced an action against William Kramer and the Casualty Company in the common pleas court of Cuyahoga county, seeking to be subrogated to the rights of William Kramer in the said policy of insurance and to recover of the Casualty Company the amount of the judgment theretofore obtained by McDonald against Kramer. The Casualty Company filed its answer, setting forth among other defenses:

1. That the policy of insurance had been surrendered by the assured and canceled, and

2. That the policy contained a provision that no action could be maintained against the Casualty Company unless commenced within 90 days from the date of the final judgment against the assured. That action is still pending.

McDonald and Leahy have filed a cross-petition and an amendment thereto in this court, seeking to establish an equity in the fund in the hands of the insurance commissioner. The superintendent of insurance of the state of Ohio and the New York liquidator of the Casualty Company filed an answer setting up, among other defenses, the alleged cancellation of the policy and the condition of the policy requiring actions to be brought within 90 days after final judgment on the claim against the assured. The questions presented are:

First, a:s to the jurisdiction of this court to hear and determine the controversy;

Second, as to the alleged cancellation of the policy,

Third, as to the failure of the claimant to bring suit within 90 days after judgment against the assured.

[463]*463Whether the common pleas court of Cuyahoga county in the pending action might have rendered a judgment establishing a legal liability against the company to McDonald is not important because no such judgment was rendered. We are of opinion that this court has jurisdiction to hear all competent evidence and determine the right of the claimants to participation in the funds deposited with the superintendent of insurance of Ohio. We are also of opinion that the settlement by the Casualty Company with Kramer, and the alleged cancellation of the policy, would not affect the existing cause of action in favor of McDonald.

The important and difficult question arises in connection with Section 9510-1, General Code, over the clause in the policy limiting the time of bringing an action against the company to 90 days after the final judgment against the assured. The condition in the policy is as follows:

“No action shall lie against the company to recover for any loss as described in this policy, unless brought within ninety days from the date of entry of the final judgment against the assured, after a trial of the issues on the merits, in a suit duly instituted within the period limited by the statute of limitations, awarding damages on account of a casualty covered thereby, and then only provided that such action against the company, be brought by the assured personally, for damages sustained by the assured in paying and satisfying such final judgment. This clause shall not in any way. limit, restrain or abridge the company’s defense to any such action.”

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Bluebook (online)
15 Ohio App. 457, 1921 Ohio App. LEXIS 172, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mcghee-v-casualty-co-of-america-ohioctapp-1921.