Wolverine Insurance v. Klomparens

263 N.W. 724, 273 Mich. 493, 1935 Mich. LEXIS 610

• Court: Michigan Supreme Court
• Decided: December 10, 1935
• Docket: Docket No. 113, Calendar No. 38,470.
• Status: Published

Opinions

Fead, J.

Plaintiff, as assignee of John J. Lanting, had judgment on trial before the court without a jury.

Mr. Lanting had an automobile collision insurance policy issued by plaintiff. The policy contained the usual subrogation clause. As a result of a collision between his car and a vehicle negligently operated by defendants, Mr. Lanting sustained both personal and property damages. In negotiations and adjustment arising out of the collision, defendants were represented by their own insurer and both insurance companies were represented by attorneys and their agents.

The collision occurred February 12, 1934. March 7th, plaintiff paid Mr. Lanting an adjusted sum for property damage and took an assignment of his claim against defendants therefor. No formal or written notice of the assignment was given defendants until July 13th.

Mr. Lanting put his claim against defendants in the hands of an attorney. June 2d, a settlement agreement was executed, releasing defendants from all claims on account of the collision, including injuries to the car and personal property.

Defendants contend the settlement with Mr. Lanting was a bar to this action because they had had no notice of the assignment to plaintiff prior thereto and the settlement contract, which purports to cover all damage, cannot be explained or varied by parol testimony. The items entering into a settlement may be shown by parol. Pawlicki v. Hollenbeck, 250 Mich. 38. The facts are that defendants, through their investigators and attorneys, were fully informed before the settlement that plaintiff had made payment of property damage on its policy; and, on Mr. Lanting’s claim that plaintiff had not paid his full loss therefor, an additional amount for property damage was allowed by defendants in the settlement with him. The rule is applicable:

“It is too well settled to render the citation of authorities necessary that, as between an insurer and a tortfeasor who has caused a loss of the insured property, the latter is ultimately liable for the loss, and that upon payment to the insured by the insurer the latter is entitled,to be subrogated pro tanto to the insured’s right against the tortfeasor. With this right in view the authorities are agreed that where, with knowledge of a previous settlement by the insurer with the insured, a tortfeasor who is responsible for the loss procures a release by making a settlement with the insured, the release amounts to a fraud upon the insurer’s right, and therefore .constitutes no defense as against the. insurer in an action to enforce its right of subrogation against the tortfeasor.

“And the conclusion is the same whether there is an express provision for subrogation of the in surer, or whether no such provision exists and the insurer’s right arises alone from its equitable right.” L. R. A. 1916A, 1282, note.

Defendants invoke the doctrine of splitting of causes of action as a bar to recovery by plaintiff. The purpose of the doctrine is to prevent repeated litigation in regard to the same cause of action and to protect a debtor from unnecessary vexation and cost. 1 C. J. p. 1107. It is for the protection of the debtor and may be waived by him, as by failing to make proper objection in the trial court. 1 C. J. p. 1109. And the cause of action may be split by partial assignments if the debtor consents. 1 C. J. p. 1110. Section 14010, 3 Comp. Laws 1929, requiring action to be prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest, recognizes the validity of an assignment to an insurer of part of a cause of action in tort, by providing that in such case both assignor and assignee may join in an action and a joint judgment be rendered.

The doctrine can have no application to settlements. There is no good reason why parties may not settle any part of a controversy upon which they may reach agreement and leave the controverted part for litigation. Bliss v. Railroad Co., 160 Mass. 447 (36 N. E. 65, 39 Am. St. Rep. 504). The situation is that defendants, being liable to both Lanting and plaintiff, settled with Lanting. Defendants and Lanting could not discharge defendants’ obligation to plaintiff. By the settlement, made with full knowledge, defendants acquiesced in the splitting of the causes of action.

Affirmed, with costs.

Potter, C. J., and North, Butzel, Bushnell, and Edward M. Sharpe, JJ., concurred with Fead, J.