Case Name: W. H. Dowling and N. G. Wade, Plaintiffs in Error, v. the Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company, a Corporation, Defendant in Error
Court: Florida Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1921-02-24
Citations: 81 Fla. 222
Docket Number: 
Parties: W. H. Dowling and N. G. Wade, Plaintiffs in Error, v. the Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company, a Corporation, Defendant in Error.
Judges: 
Reporter: Florida Reports
Volume: 81
Pages: 222–225

Head Matter:
W. H. Dowling and N. G. Wade, Plaintiffs in Error, v. the Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company, a Corporation, Defendant in Error.
Opinion Filed February 24, 1921.
Petition tor Rehearing Denied April 1, 1921.
Where a plea is so framed that a defense may be proven tinder it, a demurrer thereto should not be sustained.
A Writ of Error to the Circuit Court for Duval County; Daniel A. Simmons, Judge.
Judgment reversed.
J. T. G. Crawford and H. L. Anderson, for Plaintiffs in Error;
W. H. Baker and E. J. L’Engle, for Defendant in Error.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
In an action on a surety bond, given to an insurance company by its agent, having express reference to an employment contract, pleas were filed under which a defense may be proven by appropriate evidence as to the course of dealing between the agent and the company in violation of the contract of employment, which may have operated to release the sureties, upon the general principles stated in Fidelity Mutual Life Association v. Dewey, 83 Minn. 389, 86 N. W. Rep. 423, 54 L. R. A. 495, and other like cases; and as such pleas were not' wholly bad for the purpose stated, it was error to sustain the demurrers thereto. Tedder v. Green, 79 Fla. 584, 84 South. Rep. 623. Writ of error was taken to a final judgmen rendered for the plaintiff.
Reversed for appropriate proceedings.