Case Name: Wallace & Co. v. J. W. Lamson et al.
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1868-03
Citations: 20 La. 243
Docket Number: No. 1146
Parties: Wallace & Co. v. J. W. Lamson et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Annual Reports
Volume: 20
Pages: 243–244

Head Matter:
No. 1146.
Wallace & Co. v. J. W. Lamson et al.
Where the agent acts within the scope of his legitimate authority, the principal is bound by his
The Harmony Insurance Company of the city of New York, sent their agent, J. W. Lamson, to New Orleans, to cause the sunken steamer Charlotte to he raised. Lamson purchased tlie steamer Champion for the company, and used her in his efforts to raise the sunken steamer. For the price of the steamer Champion, and other expenses which he.incurred, he drew his drafts on the company in New York: Hell — That these expenses, being necessary to accomplish the main object of the agency, viz: the raising of the sunken steamer Charlotte, the company was bound to pay
APPEAL from the Third District Court of New Orleans, FeUowes, J.
E. IF. Huntington, for Wallace & Co.
J. D. Mayes, for J.W. Lamson.
Lacey, Marks <& Butler, for Harmony Insurance Company.

Opinion:
Hyman, C. J.
Plaintiffs sued J. W. Lamson and the Harmony Insurance Company of the city of New York on a draft drawn by him on the company for $4,470 42, which it refused to pay. By writ of attachment plaintiffs caused certain property to be attached by the sheriff.
The company has appealed from the judgment rendered against it for the amount of the draft, interest, etc. The judgment recognized a privilege on the property attached.
Plaintiffs averred that Lamson was authorized by the company to draw the draft, and that the money that they advanced for the draft enured to its benefit and advantage.
It appears from the evidence adduced, that Lamson was sent by the company from New York to New Orleans, to cause the sunken steam vessel Charlotte to be raised; that he bought the steamer Champion for the company, and used her in his attempts to raise the sunken vessel; that he drew four drafts on the company, amounting together to $12,764 80, to pay for the Champion, and to meet other expenses which he was incurring in raising the vessel, and that the company paid all the drafts but the one sued on.
Power had to be used in raising the Charlotte, and the agent, Lamson, had to get it. Drafts drawn by him on the company, to enable him to procure this power, binds it, as it was necessary for him so to do to effect the main object of his agency. See 6 L. 590.
Let the judgment of the District Court against the company be affirmed, at the costs of appellant.