Scott v. Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co.

1964 OK 6, 387 P.2d 487, 1964 Okla. LEXIS 243
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedJanuary 14, 1964
Docket40327
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 1964 OK 6 (Scott v. Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Scott v. Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co., 1964 OK 6, 387 P.2d 487, 1964 Okla. LEXIS 243 (Okla. 1964).

Opinion

DAVISON, Justice.

The parties occupy the same relative positions here as they did in the trial court and will be referred to by name or as plaintiff and defendant. Loran Scott brought this action against Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company, Inc., to recover on an insurance policy issued by defendant to insure plaintiff against loss by reason of hail damage to plaintiff’s wheat crop. Defendant’s answer included allegations of counterclaim or setoff for the amount of the note given by plaintiff for the premium for the policy.

The cause came on for trial to a jury. At the close of plaintiff’s evidence the trial court sustained defendant’s demurrer thereto on the ground that the evidence was insufficient to show that proof of loss had been furnished by plaintiff, as required by the policy, or to show a waiver by defendant of such proof of loss. The trial court rendered a further judgment denying defendant’s motion for a directed verdict in its favor for the amount due on the note on the ground that there was no allegation or proof that the intangible tax had been paid thereon. Both parties have perfected their appeals to this court.

We will first determine the matter of the insufficiency of the evidence to show grounds for recovery against the defendant. The policy was issued April 23, 1960, and *489 provided plaintiff should give written notice of any loss within 120 hours after the occurrence of such claimed loss, and within 60 days after the loss should render a signed and sworn proof of loss, and that the amount of loss would be payable 60 days after satisfactory proof of loss had been received. The testimony was that defendant furnished two printed postal cards to plaintiff at the time of the issuance of the policy. One side of the card set forth the name and address of the defendant and instructions that “this notice of loss” must be filled in and signed and mailed to defendant within 120 hours after the loss occurs; that should hail occur at harvest time, then proceed with harvest, but leave portions unharvested for the adjuster to determine the loss; and stated that defendant would do its best to have an adjuster see the crop from 5 to 10 days after the notice was mailed. The other side of the card was printed with blanks to be filled in to show the date and hour of the hail loss and the location of the crop and residence of plaintiff and the instruction “COMPLETE THIS SIDE AND MAIL TO HOME OFFICE.” Plaintiff’s evidence was that there was hail damage the latter part of May and the first part of June; that on each occasion, and within 120 hours after the damage, a card was filled out and signed and mailed to defendant, but no adjuster ever came; that on each occasion plaintiff was told by the local agent of defendant that an adjuster would come and that a few days after the last damage plaintiff called the home office of defendant in Oklahoma City and informed them the cards had been mailed and harvest time was near and was told an adjuster would call and not to worry, and to go ahead with the harvest and leave some unharvested spots. Plaintiff then harvested the wheat and left some spots for inspection. About the middle of October, after plaintiff received a letter demanding payment of the premium note, plaintiff stated he both called and went to the home office of the defendant and was informed an adjuster would contact him. Plaintiff testified that at no time was he requested to make a formal proof of loss. By letter of October 31, 1960, the defendant informed plaintiff that, since no official notification of hail loss had been received, no consideration could be given the matter. No sworn proof of time or extent of loss was ever submitted to defendant. The action was filed April 26, 1961.

The question for determination is whether the trial court erred in holding, as a matter of law, that the evidence and all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom did not constitute a waiver of the requirement of a sworn proof of loss. In Hartford Fire Ins. Co. v. Smith, 141 Okl. 90, 284 P. 624, we stated:

“While slight evidence is sufficient to show waiver of policy provision regarding time of making proof of loss, the acts constituting such waiver should be such as are reasonably calculated to make insured believe that compliance therewith was not desired, and that it would be of no effect if requirements were observed by him.”

Also in the cited case we quoted with approval as follows:

“ ‘Waiver, though involving the intentional relinquishment of a known right, is a question of fact which may be established by direct evidence or by inference from all the surrounding circumstances.’ ”

In Continental Ins. Co. of New York v. Portwood, 184 Okl. 22, 84 P.2d 435, the trial court concluded as a matter of law that all of the evidence reflected a waiver of the requirement of proof of loss and directed.a verdict in favor of plaintiff. In reversing the judgment with directions to grant a new trial this court held that the question of waiver is one of fact, which may be established by evidence of such facts and circumstances as would reasonably result in that conclusion, and that it is a question to be determined by the jury under proper instructions.

*490 In Berbohn v. Pinkerton, 208 Okl. 242, 255 P.2d 260, we said :

“A demurrer to the evidence admits every fact which the evidence, in the slightest degree, tends to prove, and all inferences and conclusions which can be reasonably and logically drawn therefrom; and if there is a conflict in the evidence, that which is unfavorable to the party against whom the demurrer is directed is to be considered withdrawn.”

Applying the principles of the above case to the evidence of the plaintiff, it appears that such evidence shows that plaintiff followed the instructions set forth on the cards and did mail the cards to defendant, and that plaintiff also orally informed defendant within 60 days that he had suffered a hail loss and had mailed the cards. The evidence shows that defendant not only informed plaintiff that adjusters would be sent, but also told plaintiff not to worry and instructed him to harvest the crop and leave spots for inspection. Defendant made no request for further information or proof of loss. We cannot say, as a matter of law, that the plaintiff’s evidence failed to show a waiver of proof of loss. We think the evidence and the inferences to be drawn therefrom were sufficient to present a question for determination by the jury as to whether or not presentation of a formal and sworn proof of loss was waived.

It is our conclusion that the lower court erred in sustaining defendant’s demurrer to plaintiff’s evidence.

Defendant contends that plaintiff did not plead a waiver of proof of loss in his petition and that evidence to show a waiver was not admissible. Defendant cites Palatine Ins. Co. v. Lynn, 42 Okl. 486, 141 P. 1167, and other cases with similar holdings. These decisions are not in point. In the present case the evidence relative to waiver was introduced without obj ection on direct and cross-examination.

In Century Ins. Co., Limited, of Edinburgh, Scotland v. Rice, 193 Okl. 418, 144 P.2d 953, we held:

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Bluebook (online)
1964 OK 6, 387 P.2d 487, 1964 Okla. LEXIS 243, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/scott-v-oklahoma-farm-bureau-mutual-insurance-co-okla-1964.