Reliance Lumber Co. v. Brown

30 N.E. 625, 4 Ind. App. 92, 1892 Ind. App. LEXIS 71
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 3, 1892
DocketNo. 597
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 30 N.E. 625 (Reliance Lumber Co. v. Brown) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Reliance Lumber Co. v. Brown, 30 N.E. 625, 4 Ind. App. 92, 1892 Ind. App. LEXIS 71 (Ind. Ct. App. 1892).

Opinion

Reinhard, J.

The appellant .filed a claim in the Marion Superior Court against the Manufacturers’ Mutual Pire Insurance Company in the hands of the appellee as receiver thereof. The claim is for a loss sustained by fire May 8, 1890, ^mounting to $702.07, under a policy of insurance issued to the appellant by said company. On June 27,1891, the receiver filed his report in the Superior Court disallowing said claim for the reasons set out in said report. The court approved the report over appellant’s objection and exception, and from that order this appeal is taken: The facts upon which the appellant rests its claim, and which are agreed to by both parties, are as follows:

First. On the 2d day of May, 1889, the Manufacturers’ Mutual Pire Insurance Company issued its policy, No. 2718, to the Reliance Lumber Company, of Beaumont, Texas, insuring said lumber company in the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000) against loss by fire on certain mill machinery and buildings.

Second. • That on said day, as a part of the consideration [94]*94of said policy, said Reliance Lumber Company executed its premium note, dated May 1, 1889, promising to pay to said insurance company the sum of $550 in instalments at such time as the directors of said company might order and assess, etc.

“ Third. That all assessments on said premium note, made prior to and including April 26, 1890, had been paid by said company.

“ Fourth. That on the 26th day of April, 1890, William T. Brown, by the judgment of the Marion Superior Court, in cause No. 40,800, entitled J. H. Clark et ál. v. The Manufacturers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Company, was duly appointed receiver of said insurance company and qualified as such, and took the charge and management of its affairs, and is still acting as such receiver.

“ Fifth. That on the 26th day of April, 1890, an order was made by the court in the above entitled cause, cancelling all outstanding policies and thereafter, to wit, on May 2, 1890, said receiver deposited in the postoffice at Indianapolis, Indiana, sealed in an envelope, postage prepaid, and caused the same to be registered, a notice addressed to said Reliance Lumber Company, at Beaumont, Texas, (its place of business) informing it of the fact that said policy of insurance had been cancelled on the 26th day of April, 1890, as aforesaid.

“ Sixth. That said notice was received by the said Reliance Lumber Company, of Beaumont, Texas, on the 12th day of May, 1890.

“ Seventh. That on the 8th day of May, 1890, before notice was received by said lumber company of the appointment of the receiver for said insurance company, and before said notice was received by said lumber company of the action of the receiver cancelling said policy of insurance, there was a partial loss by fire of the property insured under said policy, No. 2718.

“ Eighth. That by the terms of said policy said Reliance [95]*95Lumber Company was required, within thirty (30) days after the fire, to render to the insurance company a particular statement of the loss, signed and sworn to by it, stating such knowledge or information as the insured had been able to obtain as to the origin and circumstances of the fire, and also stating the title and interest of the assured and of all others in the property, the cash value thereof, the amount of loss or damage, all other insurance covering any of said property, and a copy of the written parts of said policies, and the occupation of the entire premises, all of which has been done.

“ Ninth. That the total loss by said fire was $3,230, the total insurance $10,000, of which the share of the loss of the Manufacturers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Company, under its said policy, is $702.07.

“ Tenth. That said policy of insurance was issued on the 2d day of May, 1889, and insured the property therein described for the term of five (5) years from that date; and in part consideration thereof the said Reliance Lumber Company executed to said insurance company its promissory note for the sum of $552, payable by instalments at such time as the directors of said company might order and assess for the losses and expenses of the said company, pursuant to its charter and by-laws, which promissory note is now held by said receiver, and is subject to further assessments by him under the order of the court for the purpose of discharging its obligations.

“ Eleventh. That said Manufacturers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Company, at the time of the appointment of the said receiver, was and still is and continues to be insolvent, and does not have sufficient property to discharge its existing admitted obligations, exclusive of the claim made by the said Reliance Lumber Company.”

This agreed statement of facts was taken by both the receiver and the court as the basis of the appellant’s claim, and together with the record in the cause in which the receiver was appointed, which is also a part of the record in [96]*96this case, furnishes the foundation upon which the questions submitted to us are to be determined.

By the case thus presented and according to the line of argument pursued by counsel on both sides, the points for decision in this appeal are reduced to a comparatively narrow compass.

The contention of the receiver is that a mutual fire insurance company of this State is not liable for loss occurring after it has been adjudged insolvent, its property sequestrated by the court and an order entered appointing a receiver, as was done in this case; and that if there was an appearance by the company, to such application, and a confession of insolvency, and that good cause existed for the appointment of a receiver, every member, of the company is bound by such order without further notice, and all liability on future losses then ceases; that it was therefore immaterial that the court ordered notice of the cancellation of the policies to be given to each holder, which (in the instance of the appellant) was not received until after the loss. Appellant, on the other hand, contends that, as the policy provides for notice in case the company desires to cancel it, and as the receiver here represents the company, in place of the directors thereof, the receiver was bound to give such notice before cancellation could take place, and as that was not done, the liability still exists. The court adopted the view of the receiver and held that no notice was necessary.

It is provided by statute that every person insured in any mutual fire insurance company shall be a member thereof during the time of such insurance. It is further provided that every person who thus becomes a member before receiving a policy shall deposit his promissory note, as a premium note, and shall pay such further consideration as may be agreed upon. The promissory note shall be payable in assessments as may be required by the directors. But any person insuring in such company may, if he so desire, pay a definite consideration in lieu of giving the premium note, [97]*97and in that ease he shall not be a member of the concern nor entitled to participate in the accumulations of the company. Sections 3751, 3752, R. S. 1881.

It thus appears that by the provisions of the statute cited there are two classes of policy-holders contemplated, viz.: 1. Those who give a premium note and are members of the company, and 2.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
30 N.E. 625, 4 Ind. App. 92, 1892 Ind. App. LEXIS 71, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/reliance-lumber-co-v-brown-indctapp-1892.