McGuire v. Hartford Fire Insurance

7 A.D. 575, 40 N.Y.S. 300

• Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Decided: July 1, 1896
• Status: Published

Opinion

Green, J.:

This action was. prosecuted to recover upon a policy of insurance issued by defendant, a foreign insurance company, to the plaintiff on October 1, 1894.

The insured property consisted principally of farming implements, grain, hay and straw. The fire occurred on October seventh following the issue of the policy. It is alleged in the complaint, among other things, that the plaintiff was the only person having an interest in the loss and entitled to maintain an action for its recovery. This allegation was established by proof. The defendant, by its answer, admits that- Miller, who procured the insurance and issued the policy, was its resident agent and possessed the usual authority of local agents of fire insurance companies in this State, but denies that he had any other or greater authority; the defendant also admits that, through said Miller, it issued its. policy, “ whereby it did insure the plaintiff against all direct loss or damage by fire; ” alleges that the property was incumbered, at the time the policy was issued, by chattel mortgages, which rendered the policy void; that Miller informed the plaintiff that if the defendant knew of the existence of such mortgages it would refuse to issue a policy, and that such mortgages would avoid the policy; to all of which the plaintiff assented; in other words, that the plaintiff agreed to pay his money for a void instrument. Defendant further alleges, in its answer, that the plaintiff fraudulently concealed, and requested Miller to conceal, from it the existence of such mortgages; that Miller did so, and that defendant did not discover the fact until after the fire, and was thereby deceived by the jfiaintiff and Miller into issuing the policy. No evidence was given in support of these defenses, and the existence of the mortgages was admitted.

The case discloses that, at the conclusion of the evidence, the defendant moved for a nonsuit and dismissal of the complaint, which was denied; plaintiff then moved for the direction of a verdict in his favor, which was granted, under exceptions taken; but defendant did not request that any question of fact should be submitted to the jury. By this practice, the parties treated the case as presenting questions of law only, and, as there was evidence to support the rulings of the court, it cannot, on this appeal, be successfully contended that there were questions of fact arising upon the evidence. (Provost v. McEncroe, 102 N. Y. 650.)

It is well settled that, when the defendant moves for a nonsuit, or rests his defense upon questions of law, and does not request to go to the jury, and his motion is denied, or the law held adversely to him, he is estopped from claiming upon appeal that there were questions of fact which should have been passed upon by the jury.

Where the defendant moves for a nonsuit, and the plaintiff requests the court to direct a verdict in his favor, and neither party requests that any fact be submitted to the jury, this is virtually an agreement of the parties to submit the question of fact to the court, and, if there is any evidence to uphold his decision, it will be sustained. (Dillon v. Cockcroft, 90 N. Y. 649; Sutter v. Vanderveer, 122 id. 652; Kirtz v. Peck, 113 id. 222; Robbins v. Springfield Insurance Co., 79 Hun, 117.)

It appears that Miller was empowered “ to receive proposals for insurance, fix rates of premium, receive monies, countersign, issue 'and renew policies, when duly signed by its president and attested by its secretary * * * subject to the rules of the office and the instructions which you may from time to time receive therefrom.” The policy contained this clause: “ This entire policy, unless otherwise provided by agreement indorsed herein or added hereto, shall be void * * * if the subject of insurance be personal property and be or become incumbered by chattel mortgage.” Also, “ This policy is made and accepted subject to the foregoing stipulations and conditions, together with such other provisions, agreements or conditions as may be indorsed hereon or added thereto, and no officer, agent or other representative of this company shall have power to waive any provision or condition of this policy, except such as, by the terms of this policy, may be the subject of agreement indorsed hereon or added thereto, and as to such provisions and .conditions no officer, agent or representative shall have such power, or be deemed or held to have waived such provisions or conditions, unless such waiver, if any, shall, be written upon or attached hereto.”

The evident meaning of these provisions is that the agent may agree to insure chattel mortgaged property, provided the evidence •of such agreement be in writing, and that such writing be indorsed "upon or added to the policy. In other words, the agent may waive the provision that the policy shall be void if the property is incumbered, provided he does so' by writing, indorsed upon or added to the policy.

Miller testified: “ Q. You say you had no authority to issue policies on chattel mortgaged property ? A. I didn’t say so; I issued policies on the application of parties for insurance, without first reporting to the Company the application; it was a matter of daily practice; I would issue a policy and then report the issuance of the policy; I indorsed permits, and reported those after the indorsements were made, without asking the consent of my superior officer, in each case.” It appears from the evidence that Miller had procured from the plaintiff a policy of insurance in the .¿Etna Company upon the same property, or a portion of it, which policy was in some form or manner made out for the benefit or protection of the mortgagees of that property; at least, the plaintiff, who was an illiterate man, supposed it was, as he confidently relied upon the statements of Miller, in whose good faith and honesty he implicitly reposed, and left the policy in his care. When that policy expired Miller told the plaintiff that “ The .¿Etna ” would refuse to renew the policy on chattel mortgaged property, and, as plaintiff was about to leave the office, Miller called him hack and said that “ The Hartford ” would “ carry this all right.” Plaintiff replied, “ All right; all I ask of you to do is to take care of these men; that is all I have got to pay the money for; if they hadn’t asked to do that, I wouldn’t spend the money at this time to get any insurance. * * * What did you say .about the chattel mortgages ? I told him I wanted them put in that policy; I told him about the other chattel mortgages; I didn’t care nothing about them, because they hadn’t asked me to do so ; * * * he said the insurance would begin right there; he said the policy was all right that day, would be all good until I heard from him to the contrary; * * * I had paid him five dollars; he didn’t deliver me a policy that day; I never saw that policy until after the fire; I asked Dr. Miller before the fire if he wrote that policy up yet; he said my policy was all right.” On cross-examination plaintiff testified that he did not read the policy that was given to him; that Miller agreed to put the mortgage clause on the policy when he wrote it; that Miller didn’t tell him that the Hartford would not insure chattel mortgaged property, nor that he would have to take his chances on the policy; that Miller said he would write it in; that it was necessary to put it in; that the company would carry that policy with that clause written in it. “ I told him what I had to have in the policy, of course; I know it was necessary for me to have it written in ; he agreed to do it; I supposed that this .permission, the chattel mortgage clause, had been written in the policy ; he told me it was; I didn’t look at the policy to see, for if I had I could not have told.”

The case, then, which we are called upon to decide upon this appeal may be thus stated: An illiterate man makes application to an insurance agent having full power and authority to issue policies upon chattel mortgaged property, provided he indorsed the agreement or waiver upon the policy, or added it thereto. An agreement having been entered into for the insurance of such property, a policy prepared and a portion of the premium paid, the agent promised and agreed to make such indorsement or writing in or upon the policy, and afterwards told the insured he had done so; the insured being unable to read, was practically in the position of a blind person. The policy was left in the custody of the agent until after the fire, which occurred six days later. No fault or "laches is imputable to the insured. The question then is, whether, under such circumstances, the insured must suffer for the fraud or negligence of the agent, or whether the company is responsible for his fraudulent acts or omissions.

The fraud or mistake of an insurance agent, within the scope of his authority, will not enable his principal to avoid a contract of insurance to' the injury of the assured who acted in good faith, and the fraud or mistake of the agent-may be proved by parol evidence, notwithstanding the provisions of the policy. This is clear upon principle, and is abundantly sustained by authority. (Dowling v. Merchants' Insurance Company, 168 Penn. St. 234, and cases cited.)

The defendant cannot be released from its contract, because the. plaintiff, acting in good faith, accepted without examination the policy written by its agent. Having made a full and frank .disclosure of the facts to the company’s agent, who was empowered to write the policy, there was nothing to induce or warn the insured to have the policy read, unless it was the anticipation of fraud or mistake, and this could impose no duty in protection of the rights of plaintiff. (Dowling v. Merchants' Insurance Co., supra; Broadhead v. Lycoming Fire Insurance Co., 23 Hun, 397.)

“ A party whose duty it is to prepare a written contract, in pursuance of a previous agreement, who prepares one materially changing the terms of such previous- agreement, and delivers it as in accordance therewith, commits a fraud which entitles the other party to relief, according to the circumstances presented. * * * The negligence of the plaintiff in not discovering the change, and laches in not sooner seeking relief, are questions which make the propriety of granting relief in a particular case discretionary. * * * Policies of fire insurance are rarely examined by the insured. The same degree of vigilance and critical examination would not be expected or demanded as in the case of. some other instruments. It is found that the plaintiff did not in fact examine the policy until after the fire, when for the first time he was informed of the peculiar terms of this provision.” (Hay v. Star Fire Ins. Co., 77 N. Y. 240.)

The position taken by the defendant seems to be, that the policy itself is a notification to the insured that if the existence of the incumbrance is not stated in writing indorsed upon the policy, or expressed therein, it shall be void, and it is incumbent upon the assured to see that this is done before he accepts it; and that if he relies solely upon the false assurance of .the agent that he has executed the instrument according to the verbal understanding or agreement of the parties, he does so at his peril.

However true this may be as a general proposition in courts of law, in an action brought to recover upon the instrument as written, it cannot (as we have seen) be invoked as a defense to a suit in equity for its reformation. Nor can we perceive that it has any application to a case of the character here presented, one that has such peculiar features, and which must necessarily be decided upon its special circumstances ; we are unable to assent to it as a proposition of law, and much less as a principle of equity, that an insurance company may relieve itself from responsibility for the fraudulent representations of its agent by imposing upon a blind or illiterate person the obligation of seeing to it, at his peril, that the agent has fulfilled his duty to himself and to the company by making out the policy according to the terms and conditions agreed upon. In other words, that the insurance company may, by and through the false assurances of its agent, foist upon an illiterate person an instrument that is void at the instant of its creation.

In O’Brien v. Home Benefit Society (117 N. Y. 310; 51 Hun, 495) the insured could neither read nor write, and he warranted the truth of the statements in the application, whether written by him or not; yet the company was held responsible for the untrue and incorrect answers written by the agent, whether by mistake or fraudulently.

And see Miller v. Phœnix Life Insurance Company (107 N. Y. 292), where the insured was a German and understood the English language very imperfectly, and company was held responsible ; the agent was a general agent.

Also, where the application was filled out by the agent who solicited the insurance and plaintiff was illiterate. (O’Rourke v. John Hancock L. Ins. Co., 10 Misc. Rep. 405.)

The plaintiff’s claim is not, accurately speaking, based upon any waiver of a condition or provision of the policy, for it was expressly understood and agreed that the incumbrances should be expressed in writing upon the policy, and the agent promised to do so, not to waive the requirement.

In Van Schoick v. Niagara Fire Ins. Co. (68 N. Y. 434) the condition was, that if the building insured is upon leased ground it must be “ expressed in this policy,” otherwise the policy shall be void. The fact that the building was upon leased ground was known to the agent who was “ in the business of soliciting and procuring insurance.” It was held that the agent’s knowledge was imputable to the company,; that it. was .to be presumed that, the defendant had overlooked the condition and so had forgotten to express the fact in the policy, or that it waived the condition or held itself estopped from setting it up, as, to presume otherwise, would be to impute a fraudulent purpose in issuing a policy known by it to be invalid. It should be observed, however, that it does not appear that there was any limitation or restriction imposed upon the power of the agent, to waive any condition or provision of the policy: Still the court made certain observations that are very pertinent here: “ It was not that the defendant would not at all insure a building on, leased lands. They did agree to take a risk upon it. But to have it insured by them, the fact of it being on leased land must be expressed to them. This was done. As evidence that it was done, it must, they say in the policy afterwards delivered, appear in writing on the policy. This is like countersigning by agent, but one of the forms of making the contract. That the policy was delivered and the premium received with * * * full purpose of making a valid, obligatory contract, is evidence that, through neglect or forgetfulness, one of. the. forms was not observed, or that it was waived by the parties.” Or, as in the present case, that it was fraudulently omitted, the insured being an illiterate person and relying on the promise of the agent to make the indorsement.

And the court, referring to Chase v. Hamilton Ins. Company (20 N. Y. 52), said that there the application contained a clause that the company would not be bound- by the knowledge of the agent, and it was held that the company was not chargeable unless there was fraud.

The case of Haight v. Continental Insurance Company (92 N. Y. 51) is to the point, and the opinion pertinent to this case. “ The defense rests upon the omission of any indorsement on the policy^ The case of Woodruff v. Imperial Insurance Company (83 N. Y. 133) is fatal to the defense, unless the effort of the appellant to point out a material difference proves successful. It was there held that when a policy is issued upon an unoccupied house, the agent having knowledge of the fact, the defendant cannot be permitted to say it never assumed the risk. And in such case the stipulation requiring an indorsement of the company’s consent must be deemed waived by the agent, and through him by.the company.' But in that case it did not appear that the policy contained the provision present in this, which expressly denied to the agent any power to waive, modify or strike from the policy any of its printed conditions ; and it is argued that this limitation of the agent’s authority, plainly expressed in the policy, was thus brought to the knowledge of the insured, and the company was not bound and could, not be affected by the knowledge and waiver of the agent. But the latter had authority to insure an unoccupied building, and could bind his company by so doing. There was no restraint upon his power to malee the precise contract which he did malee. Onl/y the manner of his doing it was regulated.” “ The waiver of conditions at the inception of a policy grows out of the consideration that the company must have intended to make a valid contract, or else to perpetrate a fraud. Their agent had authority to insure the building, although unoccupied, and, having done so, the company must be held to have waived a condition essential to its validity, and cannot be permitted to receive and keep its fruits and yet repudiate its existence.”

The present case is much stronger than the one quoted, for, in that case, we may infer there was no express agreement to insure. an unoccupied building, nor promise to state the fact by indorsement upon the policy, nor any fraud practiced upon an illiterate person.

In Woodruff's case the court remarked that in Walsh v. Hartford Insurance Company (73 N. Y. 5) a distinction is taken between the' power of an agent at the inception of a contract and after the contract has taken effect. In Walsh's case there was also a very stringent provision, making the procurer of the insurance the agent', of the insurer and not of the company, under any circumstances whatever, or in any transaction relating to the insurance. Upon applying for a renewal of the policy, the insurer informed the agent that he had sold the premises and that his interest was as mortgagee, and the agent promised to “ make it all right.” The company was held chargeable.

In Berry v. American Central Insurance Company (132 N. Y. 49) the agent’s powers were greatly restricted by stringent provisions of the policy, and yet the knowledge of the agent respecting the title to the property was held imputable to the company. “ The agents who issued the policy were general agents,, having authority to make contracts without reference to the home office, and their power to waive conditions in the policy was co-existent with that of the company itself. * * * Conditions which enter into the validity of a contract of insurance, at its inception, may be waived by agents, and are waived if so intended, although they remain in the policy whem delivered.’’

To the same effect is Carpenter v. German-American Insurance Company (135 N. Y. 298), although in that case no special restrictions appear. (And see McNally v. Phœnix Ins. Co., 137 N. Y. 389-396; Cross v. Nat. Ins. Co., 132 id. 133; Bennett v. North British Ins. Co., 81 id. 273; Robbins v. Springfield Ins. Co., 79 Hun, 117.)

In Forward v. Continental Insurance Company (142 N. Y. 382; 66 Hun, 546) the action was upon a standard policy, and three of the judges were of the opinion that the doctrine established by the former decisions of the court, referred to, were applicable to the facts and circumstances presented, notwithstanding the restrictions placed upon the powers of the agent; but the decision was placed upon another ground.

In McGonigle v. Susquehanna Insurance Company (168 Penn. St. 1) the action was upon a standard policy, similar to the one adopted in this State. The agent ivas informed of the incumbrance, but failed to note it upon the policy, and the company was held liable. “ That the policy contains conditions of a very stringent character must be admitted, but to say that those conditions, or any of them, can only be waived as prescribed in the policy, would be an assertion not warranted under the law.” (And see Gould v. Insurance Company, 134 Penn. St. 570-590.)

It is clear, therefore, both upon principle and authority that the knowledge of the agent is imputable to the company, and that the company must be held to have contracted, through its agent, to insure this property as incumbered and to note the incumbrances upon the policy; and that, having failed to make such indorsement, it must be precluded from setting up its own omission as a defense to the action, or, to put it in another form, the company is chargeable in law for the intentional or negligent omission of its agent to make such indorsement, especially towards one who is unable to read and relies upon the assurance given by the agent, and also leaves the policy in his custody. (Gates v. Penna Insurance Company, 10 Hun, 489; Chase v. People's Insurance Company, 14 id. 456; Miaghan v. Hartford Insurance Company, 24 id. 58; Pierce v. Nashua Insurance Company, 50 N. H. 297; German Insurance Company v. Gray, 8 Law. Rep. 70, with notes; Phœnix Insurance Company v. Golden, 121 Ind. 524; Fishbeck v. The Phenix Insurance Company, 54 Cal. 422; Union Insurance Company v. Chipp, 93 Ill. 96; Continental Insurance Company v. Ruckman, 127 id. 364.)

“ Defendant is estopped from setting up the condition, for the reason that is apparent that the plaintiff was induced to forego a formal compliance with the condition by the conduct of the person who negotiated the contract on behalf of the defendant. To give effect to the condition, after such conduct, would require the court to sanction a gross fraud upon the plaintiff.” (McCabe v. Farm Building Insurance Company, 14 Hun, 602.)

Plaintiff offered in evidence an assignment, executed by two of the mortgagees, of all rights and claims that they might have in and to the insurance moneys, and empowering him to sue therefor. Objected to as not pleaded; the objection is not tenable. The contract as executed runs to the plaintiff, and he alone can support it. It appears that the plaintiff intended that the policy should be prepared in such a form that the mortgagees should be protected, or-have some interest in the policy, but it was not distinctly agreed, so far as the case discloses, that the loss should be' made payable directly to them, so that they could maintain an action at law. However that may be, since they have disclaimed any interest whatever in the policy, the right of the plaintiff to sue upon it is clear. (Roussel v. St. Nicholas Ins. Co., 41 N. Y. Super. Ct. 279; Luckey v. Gannon, 1 Sweeny, 12; Ennis v. Harmony Ins. Co., 3 Bosw. 517; Baltis v. Dobbin, 67 Barb. 507; Winne v. Niagara Ins. Co., 91 N. Y. 185; Jackson v. Farmers' Mutual Ins. Co., 5 Gray, 52; Ripley v. Astor Ins. Co., 17 How. Pr. 444; Duncan v. Insurance Co., 129 N. Y. 237.)

If there had been a clear- agreement that the lossj if any, should be payable to the mortgagees, or-that the policy should be declared. for their benefit, a reformation of the policy would be decreed at their' instance. (Jemison v. State Ins. Co., 52 N. W. Rep. [Iowa] 185; Esch v. Home Ins. Co., 78 Iowa, 334; German Ins. Co. v. Gueck, 130 Ill. 345; 6 Law. Rep. 835.)

So here, the plaintiff would be¡ entitled to a reformation of the policy, if it were necessary, so as to make it express- the fact of the existence of the incumbrances. (Cone v. Niagara Ins. Co., 60. N. Y. 619; Bryce v. Lorillard Ins. Co., 55 id. 240; Van Tuyl v. Westchester Ins. Co., Id. 657; Maher v. Hibernia Ins. Co., 67 id. 283; Van Schoick v. Niagara Ins. Co., 68 id. 434; Hay v. Star Ins. Co., 77 id. 235; Manhattan Ins. Co. v. Webster, 59 Penn. St. 227; Ben Franklin Insurance Company v. Gillett, 54 Md. 212; Delaware State Ins. Co. v. Gillett, Id. 219; McCormick v. Orient Ins. Co., 86 Cal. 260.)

Assured may declare upon his policy as written, and, if the company avers and proves a breach of a condition, the assured may .prove a waiver of it without its being necessary to reform the policy. (Smith v. Commonwealth Insurance Company, 49 Wis. 322.)

This is the effect of the adjudications in the courts of this State; and, putting the case upon the- ground of estoppel, it may be invoked in law as well as in equity.

And, having established a right of recovery, the plaintiff is not to be thrown out of court, merely because he has failed to pray for equitable relief, and be put to a new action for the same cause.

In such a case as this, parol evidence is admissible in a court of law to prove the fraud that creates the waiver or estoppel. (McNierney v. Agricultural Ins. Co., 48 Hun, 239-243; Baumgartel v. Providence Ins. Co., 61 id. 118.)

The plaintiff called Miller, the agent, simply to prove his commission and authority.

On cross-examination he was asked if he did not tell the plaintiff that he would have to take his chances as to the validity of the policy, if the indorsement was not made. Objected to as not being proper on cross-examination, and objection sustained.

The evident purpose of the question was to establish the defense alleged in the answer, that'plaintiff agreed to accept the policy without the indorsement, or that he requested Miller to conceal the fact of the mortgages.

Defendant was at liberty to call Miller as its own witness, to contradict plaintiff’s testimony, but for obvious reasons it failed to do so.

The question, no doubt, was perfectly proper; but the court had the right to exclude it on cross-examination, and this was the ground of exclusion stated. Defendant was still at liberty to prove the defense set up in the answer, by calling its agent as its own witness. The only question put to witness by plaintiff and defendant, on first direct and cross-examination, related only to the authority of the agent. As I have said, the agent was called simply to prove the written authority.

The court exercised the discretion vested in it, and held that the defendant must defer examination concerning matters of defense until the case was with it for making its defense.

This objection is, in my opinion, answered in Briggs v. Gardner (60 Hun, 544), where the court, in-passing upon a similar question, says : “ At the time these questions were propounded the case was with the plaintiff. After the plaintiff rested no effort was made on the part of defendant’s counsel to propound the questions already mentioned ; presumably the justice would have allowed answers to have been given to them. Apparently he excluded the answurs at the time the questions were propounded, upon the idea that it was no part of the plaintiff’s case; and that, on the contrary, the evidence sought tended to support the defense which had been set up in the answer, of the statute of limitations. We are not prepared to say that the justice erred in the exercise of his discretion, and we are of the opinion that we ought not to reverse the judgment because of the rulings made by the justice.” (Neil v. Thorn, 88 N. Y. 270.) Also citing Bedell v. Powell (13 Barb. 183), where it was held that, “ the order in which proof shall be received on a trial is in the, discretion of the judge, and his decision cannot be reviewed on error or appeal.” (See, also, Baylies Trial Practice, 178, 179; Rapalje on Witnesses, § 246.)

We are of the opinion that this was so far in the discretion of the trial judge, that the ruling as made presents no error.

Defendant claims there was no evidence of the authority of either Miller, Allen or Arnold, who were agents, of defendant company, to receive notice of proofs of loss, or to waive formal proofs, or to adjust or settle the loss, and that no estoppel is created against defendant by reason of their acts, conduct or declarations.

Arnold testified that for sixteen years he was local agent for the defendant in other districts; that he had never before adjusted losses, nor been detailed on Work outside of his own local work; that he was sent to plaintiff’s place by Mr. Dewey, who was the special agent of defendant for this territory, and_, so far as he knew, was the highest agent for the company in this territory, and his superior in the affairs of the company; and that he followed out any directions Dewey gave him and went where he sent him. The defendant failed to give any evidence as to the authority of Dewey, or as to whether or not. he was directed by the company to send Arnold to investigate the loss and adjust it.

We will not undertake to rehearse all the testimony given, but we are satisfied that the evidence was sufficient to warrant the trial judge in drawing the inference, from all the circumstances presented, that- Dewey was authorized by the company to send Arnold to adjust the loss.

Defendant offered no evidence whatever, but remained silent, relying upon the inability of the plaintiff to prove essential facts that were peculiarly within its own knowledge and control.

Plaintiff was obliged to rely upon two of the defehdant’s agents whom he called to make out a prima facie case, and the objection seems to be that he should have called other agents and officers of the company located, as it is, outside of the State; to establish the strongest possible case, if lie could. He was not bound to do that; it was sufficient to produce evidence from which a jury could reasonably and fairly infer, from all the circumstances, that these men were authorized by the company to proceed and adjust the loss. The evidence was sufficient in law to establish aprima facie case, and to call upon the defendant to contradict or explain it. Its failure to do so could be taken by the jury into consideration. Here we have four persons who were the defendant’s agents engaged in taking part in the matter of adjusting plaintiff’s loss, and although the consequences of their acts, conduct and declarations will'operate as a gross fraud upon an illiterate person, the defendant disclaims all responsibility on the ground that it never authorized them to commit a fraud. The court ought not, if possible to prevent it, to sanction such a defense. A result leading to such consequences should be avoided.

Row it appears that the company, through its agent Miller, contracted with an illiterate man, but the policy did not come into the actual possession of plaintiff until after the fire and after the expiration of the. sixty days. The insured never having received the policy, and being illiterate, it is questionable whether he may be charged with notice of these conditions. (Continental Insurance Co. v. Ruckman, 127 Ill. 364.)

The plaintiff relied on the defendant’s contracting agent to inform him of the matters therein contained and to guide him in the right direction to save his rights.' It would seem that, under the peculiar circumstances presented in this case, the company was under some obligation to give him information of the provisions of the policy which the company will require him to observe for its protection.

If, as we- assume, the evidence Was sufficient to establish the authority of Arnold and Dewey, there was also a recognition by the company of the acts and conduct of Miller and Allen.

Every inference warranted by the evidence may be drawn against a party who, knowing the truth, of the matter and having the evidence in his possession, omits to produce it. (Wylde v. Northern R. R. Co., 53 N. Y. 156, 163.)

But here notice to produce was given. . Defendant gave no evidence. (And see Whitney v. Ticonderoga, 127 N. Y. 40, 46.)

It seems-that, if the case had gone to the jury, it would have been proper for the court to leave it to the jury to say whether, under the circumstances, the failure of the defendant to call Dewey, or to prove the extent of his authority, was suspicious, and to take that fact into consideration. (See Bleecker v. Johnston, 69 N. Y. 309, 311, 313.)

The omission to produce material testimony clearly within the party’s reach, which might explain an alleged fraudulent transact tion, raises the presumption against the bona fides thereof. (Bruce v. Keily, 30 N. Y. Super. Ct. 27-38.)

Where the testimony is clearly within reach, an assumption that the omission to produce it was the result of knowledge or fear on the part of that party to the action with whom it lay to produce the testimony,- and that his case could not. be improved by the production thereof, is justified. (Id.)

27o presumption arises against a party not producing evidence, unless it appears that there is evidence which contradicts or" explains the evidence adduced against him, and that such evidence is pecuh iarly within his knowledge or power to produce. (Fitzpatrick v. Woodruff, 47 N. Y. Super. Ct. 436; and see Flynn v. N. Y. Elevated R. R. Co., 50 id. 375.)

The jury, in determining the -question involved, may take into consideration the failure of a party to testify, or his omission to call as a witness an employee who might' contradict or explain the testimony or inferences ; and when a party knows the truth and omits to speak, any inference warranted by the evidence should be indulged against him. When a party has made a prima fade case against another, and that other has possession and control. of evidence and peculiar means of repelling the proof' or explaining it, we ought to accept the fact as satisfactorily established. (Witcher v. Jones, 43 N. Y. St. Repr. 151; Watson v. Oswego St. R. Co., 7 Misc. Rep. 562-565; and see, also, Ham v. Gilmore, 7 id. 596-600; Schwier v. N. Y C. R. Co., 90 N. Y. 558-564; Clark v. N. Y., L. E. & W. R. Co., 40 Hun, 605; Schmidt v. Keehn, 32 N. Y. St. Repr. 11; McGuire v. Joslyn, 31 id. 990-992; N. Y. & B. Ferry Co. v. Moore, 18 Abb. N. C. 106; S. C., 102 N. Y. 667 (Mem.); 1 Silv. Ct. App. 52.)

In the case last cited, which was an action to recover moneys claimed to have been embezzled, the court stated, in substance, that the refusal of the defendant to be sworn as a witness, when confronted by a strong case of circumstantial evidence, goes far to overthrow the presumption of innocence to which he would otherwise be entitled, and which might solve a doubtful case in his favor.

This case is also reported in 102 N. Y. 667 (Mem.), but this point is not stated in that report.

In the same case, at General Term, which was reversed, the court said that, if any inference can be drawn against the defendant from his omission to testify or make explanations, only such as is warranted by the evidence given by the plaintiff will be indulged in. (32 Hun, 29-34.)

The Special Term (which was affirmed by the Court of Appeals) stated the rule to be that, “ when a party knows the truth and omits to speak, any inference warranted by the evidence should be indulged against him.” (N. Y. & B. Ferry Co. v. Moore, 18 Abb. N. C. 113.)

The omission of a party to testify to facts within his knowledge in explanation of or to control adverse testimony, is a proper subject of consideration in equity, as well as at law. (McDonough v. O'Neil, 113 Mass. 92.)

When one party to an action has in his exclusive possession a knowledge of facts which would tend, if disclosed, to throw light upon the transactions which form the subject of controversy, his failure to offer them in evidence may afford presumptions against him. (Kirby v. Tallmadge, 160 U. S. 379.)

The language of the court in Flynn v. Equitable Life Insurance Company (78 N. Y. 575) may be appropriately applied here: “ Presumably it was in the power of" the company to produce him (the agent), and the company had the power to show precisely what authority Cory possessed, and failing to do this, it cannot complain that adverse presumptions should be indulged. * * * We think that the onus was fairly cast upon the defendant to show the real truth, or take the consequences which the law infers from the omission.”

Upon the evidence of the plaintiff showing the relations to the defendant of its agents who negotiated with the .plaintiff, concerning an adjustment of the loss sustained under the policy, and their dealings with this plaintiff, after the fire, concerning the loss under the policy, together with the presumptions which, under the cases cited, the court had a right to indulge in against this defendant, by reason of its silence and its omission upon the trial to produce the evidence peculiarly within its knowledge, we think the court was justified in finding, as it did upon the question of the authority of the company’s agents to adjust the loss of plaintiff.

If the court was right in that conclusion, it then becomes necessary to decide whether it was correct in .its decision that agents'of the company, clothed with the power of adjusting, or settling loss, may waive formal proofs of loss, and bind the company by parol waiver of the conditions of the policy as to furnishing proofs of loss.

In Kansas and other States it is held that a resident local agent of a- foreign insurance company, who is given full power to receive proposals of insurance, to fix rates of premium, to receive moneys and to countersign, issue and renew policies of insurance, is .to be deemed a general agent of the company, and may, after loss, bind the company by a parol waiver of the conditions as to furnishing proofs of loss, notwithstanding the policy provides that agents of the company have no authority to waive, alter, modify, strike from the policy, or otherwise change, any of its conditions, except by specific agreement indorsed upon it and signed by the agent making it, and other stringent restrictions upon agents’ powers. (Phenix Ins. Co. v. Munger, 49 Kans. 178.)

It was decided in Ide v. Phœnix Ins. Co. (2 Biss. 333) that a local agent may' waive formal proofs of loss ; that a statement that the proofs were “all right,” and that the company would pay, amounts to such waiver. ’

In Security Insurance Company v. Fay (22 Mich. 467) it was declared that, when the insured acts in accordance with instructions of the agent who issued the policy, he cannot be required to do more. “ There was no reference in -the- policy to any separate adjusting agent, and nothing requiring the proofs to be furnished to such a person.”

Where notice and proofs of loss are required to be given to the company, notice to local agent, of a foreign company, issuing the policy, is good. (North British Insurance Company v. Crutchfield, 108 Ind. 518-526.)

The policy did not require notice to any specified officer or person, or at any specified office or place.

Bush v. Westchester Insurance Company (63 N. Y. 531) is cited by defendant as sustaining its contention that there was no evidence of Arnold’s authority to act for defendant in the matter of the loss in question; but that case simply holds that the court erred in charging the jury that the local agent had authority to waive as matter 'of law. The corporate name of the defendant in that case indicates a domestic corporation.

The acts and declarations of an adjuster in the general or apparent scope of his employment are properly received in evidence and bind the company. (Bartlett v. Firemen's Ins. Co., 77 Iowa, 155; Brink v. Merchants' Ins. Co., 49 Vt. 442.)

If there be any evidence from which a waiver of proof may be inferred it should be left with the jury. (Farmers' Ins. Co. v. Taylor, 73 Penn. St. 342; Thierolf v. Universal Ins. Co., 110 id. 37.)

An offer of compromise by adjuster is evidence of waiver of proofs. (Gould v. Dwelling House Ins. Co., 134 Penn. St. 570.)

“ Prima facie the insured is entitled to have his loss made good immediately upon its happening; and when that loss appears to have been an honest one, we are not disposed to scan very strictly the evidence which tends to rebut a technical forfeiture of the right to> payment.” (Penn. Fire Ins. Co. v. Dougherty, 102 Penn. St. 568.)

Assuming agent’s authority is sufficiently shown, offers of settlement are competent to prove sufficiency of proofs of loss. (Townsend v. Merchants' Insurance Co., 36 N. Y. Super. Ct. 172; affd. in 56 N. Y. 655; no opinion.)

And when ah authorized agent took a statement of property burned and its value and said, “ That was all that was required,” its was held that it was a question for the jury whether there was a, waiver. (Nickerson v. Nickerson, 80 Maine, 100-106; Searle v. Dwelling House Co., 152 Mass. 263; and see Dowling v. Merchants' Ins. Co., 168 Penn. St. 234; Gould v. Ins. Co., 134 id. 570; Little v. Phœnix Ins. Co., 123 Mass. 380.)

The case last cited is similar in some of its circumstances to the case at bar, and court held that evidence was sufficient to authorize "the finding that P. and T. acted as general agents, with the knowledge and approval of the company,, and had authority to settle losses.

Where authority in respect to adjusting losses has been shown in sa-general agent, it becomes a question for the jury whether such .agent or adjuster, by acts and statements, has Waived or dispensed with proofs of loss and thus, raised an estoppel. (Underwood v. Farmers' Ins. Co., 57 N. Y. 500; Lowry v. Lancashire Ins. Co., 32 Hun, 329; affirmed, 105 N. Y. 646, without opinion; Bishop v. Ag. Ins. Co., 130 id. 488; Smith v. Home Insurance Co., 47 Hun, 30-40; Blossom v. Insurance Co., 64 N. Y. 162, 166.)

If the agent who issued the policy takes advantage of the ignorance or inability of the insured to read, or misleads him in regard to -making proofs of loss,, the company ought not to be.' permitted to take advantage of such action. (Rivara v. Queen's Insurance Co., 62 Miss. 721.)

If either party to this transaction must suffer by the acts' or rfaults of the agents it should be the defendant, whose agents they "were.

Applying the rules of law established for the disposition of like ceases to the evidence presented upon the trial of this action, we are of the opinion that the trial justice disposed of the questions submitted to him according to the rules thus established, and that his decision-should be upheld.

The order denying the motion for a new trial should be affirmed, with costs, and the motion for a new trial denied, with costs, and judgment ordered for plaintiff -upon the verdict.

All concurred.

Motion for a new trial denied, with costs, and judgment ordered on the verdict, with costs.