Olson v. Norwegian Mutual Insurance Association

140 N.W.2d 91, 258 Iowa 731, 1966 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 731
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedFebruary 8, 1966
Docket51961
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 140 N.W.2d 91 (Olson v. Norwegian Mutual Insurance Association) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Olson v. Norwegian Mutual Insurance Association, 140 N.W.2d 91, 258 Iowa 731, 1966 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 731 (iowa 1966).

Opinion

Moore, J.

This is an action at law against defendant insurance companies which had issued combined fire and wind *733 storm policies to plaintiff’s grantor on property, subsequently acquired by plaintiff, to recover for loss caused by windstorm. Plaintiff alleges the policies were extended beyond their expiration date by oral agreement or in the alternative defendants are estopped to deny there was insurance in force. At the close of plaintiff’s evidence- the trial court directed a verdict for defendants and entered judgment thereon. Plaintiff has appealed. We affirm.

Plaintiff contends the evidence created a jury question on existence of an oral agreement of insurance or an estoppel against defendants to deny coverage. He also assigns error in rulings on evidence.

On May 9,1957, defendants issued combined fire and windstorm insurance policies to Walter Strand on two sets of farm buildings. The policies bore numbers 96-1142 and 96-1143 and were for a five-year term from May 9, 1957 to May 9, 1962. The original policies could not be located but by stipulation the form thereof was received in evidence.

In the summer of 1959 plaintiff purchased from Strand the farm, including the two insured sets of buildings, and took possession in March 1960.

Plaintiff testified on direct examination as follows regarding a conversation with Hilman Sersland, then sécretary of defendant Norwegian Mutual Insurance Association and defendants’ agent.

“Q. Mr. Olson, did you have a conversation in the spring of 1960, with Mr. Sersland, in regard to this insurance ? A. I did, yes.

“Q. And about when was that ? A. It was in the spring; I suppose in April. Along in there, sometime. I wouldn’t say exactly the date, because I wouldn’t know.

“Q. April of 1960? A. Yes.

“Q. And do you recall what was said, at that time? A; Yes, I do.

“Q. And what was the conversation that you had with Mr. Sersland at that time? A. Well, I -just asked him about — I told him I was the new owner of the Strand place out here. * * * I just told him that I was the owner of the Strand place; and *734 mentioned something about the insurance. And he said, ‘Well, I’ll look after that.’ Which he did. He notified me when the premiums were due and so on and so forth.

“Q. And was that portion the extent of your conversation? A. Yes it was, at that time.”

Following this conversation Sersland had plaintiff’s name endorsed on the Strand policies and plaintiff was billed for the premiums on each policy as they became due in the spring of 1960 and 61. Two of his cheeks refer to the policies by number and have written on the face “insurance on Walt Strand farm.”

In the fall of 1961 plaintiff had a small loss and contacted Sersland. He testified: “I had the conversation with Mr. Sersland in the fall of 1961, because there was a little wind damage on the property I bought from Walter Strand. Mr, Sersland came out and looked at it. The claim I put in was paid and I was satisfied with the adjustment. I did not have a conversation with Mr. Sersland about my insurance coverage. We just talked about the insurance, rode out together to the farm on highway 52, and as to amount, talked about the coverage. He said he would let me know, like he had been.”

On redirect examination plaintiff testified: “I only received a fourth grade education. I testified on ^cross-examination that my claim was based on a policy or policies originally issued to Walter Strand. I have never seen those policies. On redirect, I said as far as I understood the agreement between myself and the insurance companies, my policies embodied the same terms as policy between Walter Strand and the companies.”

The policies originally issued to Strand expired May 9, 1962. No notice thereof was given to plaintiff. On June 17,1962, plaintiff’s property sustained substantial windstorm damage. Upon denial of his claim for that loss plaintiff brought this action. Defendants’ primary contention is that no insurance was in force after May 9, 1962.

I. Plaintiff’s pleadings like his testimony on redirect examination fail to clearly state his claim of an oral agreement for his insurance. In oral argument to this court plaintiff’s counsel took the position an implied oral agreement for a new five-year *735 term of insurance resulted from plaintiff’s conversation with Sersland in April 1960.

In Sanborn v. Maryland Casualty Co., 255 Iowa 1319, 125 N.W.2d 758, on which plaintiff heavily relies, we recognize that an oral agreement by an agent to keep insurance in force until notified otherwise by the insured followed by custom of defendant’s agent of keeping insurance in force may result in an estoppel against the insurance company but we have no such facts here.

Plaintiff pleads an oral agreement. He has the burden to prove the terms thereof. Rule 344(f)5, Rules of Civil Procedure.

Giving plaintiff’s evidence the most favorable construction it will reasonably bear, as required under rule 344(f)2, we find no evidence on which a jury finding of the claimed oral agreement could be based. Obviously all Sersland had in mind was the transfer of Strand’s policies to plaintiff which he did and notified plaintiff when the premiums were due. Plaintiff received no policies nor does he claim he ever expected to do so. The record indicates the Strand policies were in the hands of a mortgagee. Apparently plaintiff’s information- concerning the insurance policies and coverage came originally from Strand.

II. Plaintiff in his written brief argues there was an oral renewal of his insurance. Again plaintiff’s proof is lacking.

A binding contract of renewal must have all the essentials of a valid contract. There must be a meeting of the minds of the parties on all the essentials of the contract. 29 Am. Jur., Insurance, section 358; 44 C. J. S., Insurance, section 283.

Plaintiff’s testimony regarding his conversations with Sersland falls far short of creating a jury question on his claim of an oral renewal.

III. Plaintiff’s argument on the question of estoppel to deny coverage is meager and not supported by evidence making his position clear.

Equitable estoppel is based upon the idea that one who has made a certain representation should not thereafter be permitted to change his position to the prejudice of one who has relied on it. In Sanborn v. Maryland Casualty Co., 255 Iowa 1319, 1327-1329, 125 N.W.2d 758, 762-764, we cite and quote *736 our earlier eases and those from other jurisdictions which consider the principles of equitable estoppel including many involving insurance coverage. The discussion need not be repeated here. See also Laverty v. Hawkeye Security Ins. Co., 258 Iowa 717, 140 N.W.2d 83.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
140 N.W.2d 91, 258 Iowa 731, 1966 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 731, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/olson-v-norwegian-mutual-insurance-association-iowa-1966.