Case Name: Hodgson v. The Marine Insurance Company of Alexandria
Court: United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1807-11
Citations: 1 Cranch 460
Docket Number: 
Parties: Hodgson v. The Marine Insurance Company of Alexandria.
Judges: (Duckett, J., absent,)
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 1
Pages: 460–462

Head Matter:
Hodgson v. The Marine Insurance Company of Alexandria.
If there be no ■warranty of neutrality in the policy, it covers belligerent risks.
Upon a valued policy, a misrepresentation as to the size and age of the vessel is no defence; although averred to be material as to the contract.
It is no defence to an. action of covenant on a policy, that the premium has been perpetually enjoined.
This was an action of covenant on the same policy as that in Simas’s case, [ante, 343.]
The 1st count avers the interest to be in Straas & Leeds. The 2d avers it to be in Leeds alone. The loss is stated to be bv capture.
Issue was joined upon the three first pleas.
The 4th plea was, that the vessel insured was the property of enemies of Great Britain, and was captured and condemned as such by the British, whereas the insurance was made only upon the property of American citizens in which no belligerent was interested.
To this plea the plaintiff demurred; and the CouRT adjudged the plea bad, because, inasmuch as there was no warranty of neutrality, the policy covered war-risks.
The 5th plea averred the rule and practice of the insurance company to be, never to insure beyond the reasonable and just value according to the representation. That the plaintiff proposed that the value should be agreed to be ten thousand dollars; and that to induce the defendants to execute the policy he represented the vessel to be about two hundred and fifty tons burden, and between six and seven years old ; in consequence whereof, the defendants executed the policy. That this representation was not true, the vessel being less than one hundred and sixty-five tons, and more than eight years old, and not worth eight thousand dollars, (the sum insured,) being worth only three thousand dollars. That the misrepresentation induced the defendants to execute the policy stating the value to be ten thousand dollars, and insuring eight thousand ; and so the policy is void as to them..
The CouRT, also, upon demurrer, decided this plea to be bad, because the misrepresentation did not appear, and was not averred to be material or fraudulent.
The 6th plea averred the same misrepresentation, and that it was “ material in regard to the said contract of insurance, and so they said the said contract is void as to them.”
The replication averred, that the misrepresentation ivas not material in regard to the ability of the vessel to perform the voyage insured.
The rejoinder reiterated the averments of the plea. To this there was a demurrer.
Mr. Swann, for the plaintiff,
cited Thoroughgood’s case, 2 Co. 9 ; Bright v. Ennyon, 1 Burr. 390; 1 Fonb. 106, 111, 112; Collins v. Blanton, 2 Wjls. 341, 344; Duffield v. Scott, 3 T. R. 374; Hayward v. Rodgers, Smith’s Rep. 209.

Opinion:
But the Court
(Duckett, J., absent,)
were of opinion that the defendants' 6th plea and rejoinder were good, and that the plaintiff's replication was bad, being of opinion that a material misrepresentation of the subject of insurance might be pleaded in bar of a sealed policy, and that the misrepresentation was material to the contract.
The 7th plea was, that the vessel insured was the property of a citizen of France, and not of a citizen of the United States. That there was war between France and England at the time of the insurance and at the time of capture. That the United States were neutral. That Richmond is the capital of one of the United States.
The Court, upon demurrer, adjudged the plea to bfe bad, because the policy covered war-risks.
The 8th plea was that the plaintiff had not paid the premium, and that the note given therefor was perpetually enjoined by the High Court of Chancery in Virginia.
The Court, upon demurrer, adjudged this plea also to be bad.
Judgment for the defendants on the demurrer to the 6th plea, and for the plaintiff on the others.
• This judgment was reversed by the Supreme Court as to the 6th plea, and affirmed as to others. See 5 Cranch, 100.