Rokusek v. National Union Fire Insurance

195 N.W. 300, 50 N.D. 123, 1923 N.D. LEXIS 88
CourtNorth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 2, 1923
StatusPublished
Cited by35 cases

This text of 195 N.W. 300 (Rokusek v. National Union Fire Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering North Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Rokusek v. National Union Fire Insurance, 195 N.W. 300, 50 N.D. 123, 1923 N.D. LEXIS 88 (N.D. 1923).

Opinion

Nukssjcjs, I.

This is an action to recover on account of a policy of insurance against crop failure. In his complaint, the plaintiff sets out the execution of the policy; its receipt by him and the payment of the premium on the same; that a loss was incurred; the adjustment of such loss; that by reason of fraud and false representations on the part of the defendant, the plaintiff entered into an agreement of accord with the defendant; the payment by the defendant and the receipt of such payment by the plaintiff of a portion of the loss claimed; the signing of a purported adjustment in full by the plaintiff; that the same was procured to be signed by and through the fraud and false representations of the defendant; that the agreement of accord in fact entered into has not been satisfied; that the monies paid by the defendant and received by the plaintiff have been applied on account of the loss incurred and that the plaintiff claims to recover the balance remaining unpaid.

The defendant answering, admits the execution and delivery of the policy by it to the plaintiff and the receipt of the premium therefor; denies generally the other matters and things set out in the complaint. As affirmative defenses, the defendant pleads: that the policy was obtained through and by reason of fraud and misrepresentation on the part of the plaintiff; that on becoming advised of such fraud and misrepresentation, the defendant denied liability under said policy and tendered a return to the plaintiff of the premium paid thereon; that said offer was refused; that by reason of these facts, the policy became and was void and all remedies barred thereunder; that there was a difference and dispute between the plaintiff and the defendant as to defendant’s liability on account of such policy; that the plaintiff and defendant entered into an agreement of accord in settlement and adjustment of the plaintiff’s claim; that such accord was thereafter fully executed and satisfied; that in satisfaction of such accord, the plaintiff received the monies agreed to be paid thereunder; that more than three years has elapsed since such monies were so paid, but that plaintiff has kept, and retained and has not repaid or tendered back the same notwithstanding the fact that he became aware of all the facts and [129]*129circumstances in connection with the transaction; that there was no fraud or false representations on the part of the defendant with reference to the making of the agreement of accord or the satisfaction of the same.

On the issues as thus made, the case was tried to a jury. At the close of the plaintiffs case, and again at the close of the whole ease, the defendant moved for a directed verdict. In accordance with the statute, chapter 133, Laws 1921, no ruling was made upon such motions. The plaintiff had a verdict. Judgment was entered thereon. No motion for a new trial was made, nor was there any motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. The ease is here on appeal from the j ndgment.

The record discloses that in June, 1917, the defendant company issued its policy of insurance against “crop failure” to the plaintiff. This policy covered certain crops owned by the plaintiff and growing upon lands in Hettinger county. The crops in question failed and Ihe plaintiff, on the 21st of September, 1917, filed his proof of loss for $2,753.20. The policy wns written by one Heinrich, the agent of the defendant company, at Burt, North Dakota. Mr. Heinrich was a banker. The plaintiff did his banking business with Heinrich, and, according to his own testimony, frequently consulted him about his business affairs. In December of 1917, one Zernke, the adjuster of the defendant company, was in the vicinity of Burt, adjusting losses for the company. He had various losses to adjust, the plaintiff’s among others. The plaintiff testifies that he saw and talked with Zernke regarding the loss in question and that Zernke adjusted his loss in the full amount claimed, representing that the company was insolvent and that the most it would be. able to pay was fifty cents on the dollar of the loss so adjusted; that it would pay such proportion of such loss; that the plaintiff was not satisfied and insisted upon the payment of the loss in full; that Zernke told him that if the company paid any other of its policy holders move than fifty per cent of his adjusted losses, that the plaintiff would get the same; that the plaintiff refused to assent to such an adjustment, but stated he desired to talk with Heinrich concerning the matter; that he went to see Heinrich at Burt; that the adjuster was not there; that Heinrich told him that the settlement papers were left there; that he signed some paper there, believing [130]*130that the same was an adjustment in full of In's loss and a receipt fox-fifty per cent thereof to be paid in cash, and that he was bound thereby only in that manner and to that extent; that such paper so signed by him was Exhibit “A,” in the words and figures as follows:

Final Loss Adjustment.

“Know all men by these presents: That a dispute having arisen between National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburg, Pa., and myself, as to tbe amount (if airy) due and owing me from said Insurance Company under the terms and provisions of its Policy No. 4335.

“This agreement witnesseth: That for the purpose of finally settling and terminating said dispute, I agree that the sole and total amount to which I am entitled under said policy has this day been compromised, adjusted, fixed and determined, by and between said Insurance Company and myself, to be in the sum of Thirteen Hundred Seventy Six & 60/100 Dollars ($1376.60), and I hereby waive and relinquish any further claim or claims against said Insurance Company and agree to. surrender said policy to said Insurance Company upon payment of said amount of $-. This adjustment to be .subject to the approval of the President of tbe Company.

Dated at Burt, N. D., this 4 day of Dec., 1917.

A. A. Zemke Frank Uokusek

As Adjuster for National Union Assured.

Fire Insurance Company.

Witness: E. Gr. Heinrich.”

That thereafter he received a draft for the amount of $1,376.60; that he cashed such draft; that such draft was Exhibit “jB” in the words and figures as follows:

“Loss Hettinger.

' Loss No. 0453. Draft No.-December 11th 1917.

Upon acceptance by the National Union Fire Insurance Company

THE MELLON NATIONAL BANK, PITTSBURG, PA.

Will pay to the order, of Frank Rokusek, Burt, N. D. Thirteen '.Hundred Seventy Six Dollars Sixty Cents, which payment, evidenced [131]*131by proper endorsement hereof, constitutes full satisfaction, compromise and indemnity for all claims and demands for loss and damage by Crop Failure 1917 to property described in Policy No. 4335 issued at its Burt, N. D. Agency, and said policy is hereby cancelled.

F. E. Church.

To the National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburg, Pa. Claim $1,376.60

Discount $--Net $-

That he reads and understands English fairly well, but that he did not read either the paper first signed by him, or the draft; that he had an opportunity to read such paper and was not in any way prevented from so doing, but that he did not do so because he relied upon the statements made to him with reference to the matter by Zemke and Heinrich.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
195 N.W. 300, 50 N.D. 123, 1923 N.D. LEXIS 88, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rokusek-v-national-union-fire-insurance-nd-1923.