Case ID: nys_50/html/0334-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "CULLEN, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

(26 App. Div. 584.)
    PEOPLE ex rel. LONG ISLAND MUT. FIRE INS. CORP. v. PAYN.
    (Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department.
    March 22, 1898.)
    L Mandamus—Superintendent op Insurance.
    On appeal from a final order directing a peremptory .mandamus requiring-the superintendent of insurance to amend the report of examiners appointed, by him to examine the condition of a mutual fire insurance company by crediting it with certain capital stock notes without charging it with any corresponding liability, held, that no duty was imposed by law upon th® superintendent in regard to the subject-matter of the application, and that, therefore, the writ would not lie.
    2. Same.
    
      ■Held, further, that, even though the superintendent had waived the objection, the court would be unwilling to give effect to any such concession.
    8. Insurance Companies—Sufficiency of Assets.
    A distinction exists between an insurance company having “capital stock” and one having only “assets or capital.” The latter is covered by the “Insurance Law” (section 43), applying where the superintendent of insurance deems the assets of a mutual company insufficient to justify its continuance in business, while neither section 41 nor section 118 in its entirety, involving references to capital stock, applies to the case of a mutual insurance company.
    4. Same—Duties of State Examiner.
    In making an examination of a mutual fire insurance company under section 43, the examiners are not compelled to do more than state the facts. On these facts the superintendent is to proceed and determine whether the assets of the corporation over and above its liabilities are insufficient to justify its continuance in business. This is the only determination to be made by him.
    Appeal from trial term, Kings county.
    Application by the people of the state of New York, on the relation of the Long Island Mutual Fire Insurance Corporation, for writ of mandamus against Louis F. Payn as superintendent of insurance.
    Appeal from a final order of the supreme court directing that a writ of peremptory mandamus issue commanding the above-named defendant, as superintendent of insurance of the state of New York, to amend the report of the examiners appointed by him to examine into the condition of the above-named relator, by crediting on said report the said relator with assets of $79,400 of capital stock notes without making any corresponding charge as a liability against said company; also amending said report by crediting said company with a sum of about $4,800 for furniture, fixtures, etc., in the office of said company, and used by it in the prosecution of its business. An appeal was also taken by the relator from so much of the final order as refused portions of the relief demanded. Reversed. .
    Argued before GOODRICH, P. J., and CULLEN, BARTLETT, HATCH, and WOODWARD, JJ.
    J. Rider Cady, for appellant.
    Walter H. Jay cox, for respondent.
   CULLEN, J.

We know of no duty imposed by law upon the superintendent of insurance in regard to the subject-matter of this application, the performance of which is sought to be enforced by the writ of mandamus. Though this objection may have been waived by the appellant in the proceedings before the special term, we understand that he urges it on this appeal; and, even were it now waived, we should be unwilling to give effect to any concession of the parties, and grant the writ of this court against a public officer to compel him to do that which no law makes it incumbent upon him to do. In my opinion, neither the position taken by the appellant nor that maintained by the respondent in regard to the statutory provisions as to the insolvency of mutual fire insurance companies, is correct. I think that section 41 of the insurance law does not apply to the case of a mutual insurance company; neither does seetion 118 in its entirety. Otherwise, as substantially conceded by the learned counsel for the appellant on the argument, the capital stock of .every mutual company would be impaired instantly upon its organization, and before it had lost a dollar or spent a dollar. . Under his claim the cash paid in and stock notes would constitute the capital stock of the company; but, as such notes and cash are only received in consideration of policies of insurance issued to the makers of the notes, the unearned premiums would have at once to be charged ■against the capital, and thus the capital be impaired to the extent of those premiums. I think the case of the relator, and of all mutual corporations, is covered by section 43. The difference in the language of these two sections makes this apparent. Section 41 provides for a case where it appears that the capital stock of an insurance company is impaired. Section 43 provides for a case where the assets or capital of a mutual insurance company is insufficient to .justify its continuance in business. This makes the distinction between a company having “capital stock” and a company having only “assets or capital” clear. In the case of a mutual insurance company there can be no impairment of the .capital stock within the statute. A perfect protection for the public is provided. When■ever the superintendent deems the assets of a company insufficient to justify its continuance in business, the attorney general can proceed against the corporation. The report of the examiners in the main, and with the exception of certain small items, states the condition of the relator correctly. It has $20,214.17 cash assets and $79,247.07 capital stock notes, with a total liability of $44,558.37. To the amount of the cash assets should probably be added an item •of $4,879.85 for furniture, stationery, etc., and, it may be* another item of $1,710.99 for amount due from the Fire & Marine Lloyds. But the examiners were not compelled to do more than state the facts, and this they have done except in the instances indicated. On these facts the superintendent is to proceed and determine whether the assets of the corporation, both cash and notes, over and above its liabilities, are insufficient to justify its continuance in business. This is the only determination to be made by the superintendent. There is no such thing as impairment of capital stock in the case. But I by no means wish to be understood as holding that the relator, ■or any mutual insurance company, should be allowed to continue •on in business indefinitely, merely because it has some surplus of assets over liabilities. If that were so, with a net dollar to its credit it might assume obligations to which, if the business proved unfavorable, it would have no means to respond. The question is one for the superintendent to determine when the net assets are too small to justify the company in going on.

The final order appealed from should be reversed, and application dismissed, but without costs. All concur.