Case Name: NILL v. PIONEER RESERVE MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE CO.
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1933-08-29
Citations: 264 Mich. 355
Docket Number: Docket No. 44, Calendar No. 37,246
Parties: NILL v. PIONEER RESERVE MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE CO.
Judges: McDonald, C. J., and Potter, Sharpe, North, Fead, Wiest, and Butzel, JJ., concurred.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 264
Pages: 355–356

Head Matter:
NILL v. PIONEER RESERVE MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE CO.
Rewards — When Reward Earned.
Where insurance company offered reward for evidence leading to arrest and conviction of any one setting fire to buildings insured by it; stating that all that was wanted was “tip,” and plaintiff gave information which led to arrest and conviction of one who confessed setting fire, plaintiff was entitled to reward offered.
Appeal from Hillsdale; Parker (Jam.es S.), J., presiding.
Submitted June 7,1933.
(Docket No. 44, Calendar No. 37,246.)
Decided August 29, 1933.
Assumpsit by Luvina Nill against Pioneer Reserve Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Michigan for reward offered for information regarding an incendiary. Judgment for plaintiff. Defendant appeals.
Affirmed.
Merton Fitzpatrick and Paul W. Chase, for plaintiff.
Leibrand & Leibrand (W. D. Grommon, of counsel), for defendant.

Opinion:
Clark, J.
Defendant is engaged in business indicated by its name. It offered and published a reward in part as follows:
"$1,000 reward.
"For evidence that will lead to the arrest and conviction of any one who shall set fire to buildings insured in this company. All we want is a 'tip' from you and we will do the rest."
A building of an insured, James H. Denning, was destroyed by fire. Officers and agents of defendant, being suspicious, investigated. Officers of the law also were active.
Plaintiff, as found by the trial court in a trial without a jury, gave information which led directly to the apprehension of one Ronald Spade, who confessed setting the fire.
Plaintiff sued for the reward, and had judgment. Defendant has appealed.
While there is conflict in testimony in respect of the information plaintiff actually gave, we are impressed that the finding of the trial court that plaintiff gave the information, the "tip," which led to arrest and conviction of the offender, is sufficiently sustained by the record. See Bloomfield v. Maloney, 176 Mich. 548 (Ann. Cas. 1915B, 662), for discussion of law in such cases. No other matter calls for discussion.
Affirmed.
McDonald, C. J., and Potter, Sharpe, North, Fead, Wiest, and Butzel, JJ., concurred.