Case ID: ny-super-ct_1/html/0325-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Jones C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

John M. Robbins versus The New-York Insurance Company.
    Dec. Term, 1828.
    The charterer of a ship has no interest in the freight as such, and he cannot, therefore, insure it eo nomine. It seems, however, that an advance of freight-money may be insured under the general name of freight; but to enable the charterer to recover the amount of the underwriter, he must prove the fact of the advance.
    This was an action upon a policy of insurance for $1000, made by the defendants in favour of the plaintiff, upon the freight of all kinds of lawful goods and merchandise laden or to be laden on board the schooner Penobscot-Packet, at and from New-York to Wilmington, in the state of North Carolina, from thence to Curaqoa and Bonair, and at and from thence back to New-York.
    The declaration contained a special count upon the policy, together with the common counts for money.
    Plea, the general issue.
    The cause was tried before Mr. Justice Oakley : and at the trial, it appeared that the plaintiff had no interest in the vessel insured, except as the assignee of a certain charter-party, which had been made between the agents of the owners of the schooner and one Edmund Bulkley. The vessel, while on her voyage, was greatly injured by a storm, and had been driven by stress of weather into the port of Jacmel, in the Island of Hayti, where she was inspected and condemned as unseaworthy. There had been a due exhibition of the preliminary proofs to the underwriters, but they were objected to, as insufficient to establish a claim against the defendants.
    By the terms of the charter-party, the amount to be paid for the use of the vessel, ($1200,) was not to become due until after her safe arrival at New-York, although the owners were to receive an advance of $100 at New-York, and a like sum at Curaqoa, if demanded.
    At the trial, the plaintiff was non-suited by the Judge, upon the ground that his evidence did not show that he had any insurable interest in the vessel, he being a mere charterer, who was not bound to pay for the use of the vessel, except upon her safe return to New-York.
    
      Mr. J. Bulkley for the plaintiff now moved to set aside the non-suit and contended,
    I. that the preliminary proofs were sufficient, and that the plaintiff could not be non-suited, on the ground that the defendants were entitled to ask for further preliminary proofs. [He cited Phil on In. p. 54,]
    Secondly, that the evidence exhibited an insurable interest in the plaintiff, for the charterer was to advance a part of the hire of the vessel: [4 Dall. 459.] but if not, then the defendant was entitled to recover back his premium.
    
      Mr. Ogden Hoffman contra. [He cited Cheriot v. Barker, 2 John. R. 346., and Riley v. Delafield, 7 John. R. 526.]
   Jones C. J.

delivered the opinion of the court.

This is a motion to set aside a non-suit at the trial, for want of proof of interest in the assured. The action was upon a policy of insurance on freight by the assignee of the charterer of the vessel. The charterer is the party, who is to pay freight, and his obligation to pay does not become absolute until the safe arrival of the vessel. He runs no risk of loss during the voyage, and consequently has no interest to protect by insurance. The owner of the vessel has the insurable interest in the freight and not the charterer, who is to pay it.

But a part of the freight is said to have been advanced. The advance of the freight gives no right to insure beyond the amount of the advance; and where the owner of the vessel is liable to refund in case of loss, his right to insure that amount—resulting from the lien the charterer has, upon the freight for his security—requires, that proof should be made of the actual payment of the money alleged to be advanced. In most cases the charterer will have a lien upon the freight for the advances he makes the shipowners, as his security against their inability to refund. That lien gives him an interest under the charter-party as, or in the nature of, a mortgage, which he may insure; and the better opinion seems to be, that he may insure it in general terms under the name of freight without describing it as a mortgage interest. But to enable him to recover, he must prove the fact of the advance. His covenant or agreement to make it is not sufficient. Possibly the presumption of actual payment from the express stipulation to pay at the home port, previous to the ship’s departure, and the fact of the departure of the ship from thence on her voyage might be sufficient as preliminary proof; especially if the insurers make no objection for the want of proof of actual payment, but put themselves upon other grounds of defence. But the actual proof of the advance cannot be dispensed with as proof in chief on the trial. Now the case states that this non-suit was directed for want of evidence as preliminary proof, (and on the trial for want of proof in chief) of the interest of the assured in the freight. The plaintiff then went into proof in chief to show his right to recover. No claim was made to a return of premium for want of interest; but the plaintiff’s demand was for a loss of freight upon an interest in advances, under the charter. No proof of any advance appears. The defect is incurable and the non-suit was right.

Motion denied.

[J. Bulkley, Att’y for the plff. Hoffman & Talman, Att's for the defts.]

Note.—Hofbman J. having been of counsel for the defendants declined giving any opinion.