Court Opinion

ID: 9670498
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 03:21:36.961296+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:05.042555
License: Public Domain

On Rehearing.
PER CURIAM.
We cannot sustain the contention made by appellee on rehearing, as was also made on the original submission, that the truck including the trailer were worth more at the time of the wreck and immediately before than they were worth when purchased new. We do not find that the evidence sustains that contention.
However, in making the computation we deducted $500 from the amount of the loss occasioned by the wreck in ascertaining the amount owing by the insurer. This was in accordance with the terms of the policy which provided for a deduction of $500. Our attention is now called to the fact that the court charged the jury that it was agreed that the $500 had previously been deducted referring to the settlement made by the insurer with the acceptance corporation. There was shown in the transcript such an agreement acted upon by the court in so charging the jury. Therefore, it is not now a question of whether that should have been deducted in making the computation, but whether such deduction was violative of the agreement and the charge of the court. It appears to us that in view of that situation, appellee is correct in contending that such deduction should not now be made. It therefore becomes necessary for us to make a new computation of the amount of -the liability of the insurer by reason of the wreck in order to determine the amount, if any, is owing by the insurer to the appellee, plaintiff, which computation is as follows:
Value of the truck at the time of the accident $19,500.00
Value of salvage 1,800.00
$17,700.00
Unearned insurance premium 2,533.44
Total $20,233.44
Interest from Nov. 22, 1953 to Apr. 27, 1954 505.83
(5 months at 6%)
Total liability of insurer on Apr. 27, 1954 $20,739.27
Amount paid by insurer on Apr. 27, 1954 14,074.66
Liability of insurer to plaintiff 6,664.61
Interest at 6% from Apr. 27, 1954 to Feb. 2, 1956 706.42
(1 year 9 months and 6 days)
Maximum liability to plaintiff $ 7,371.03.
Therefore, the judgment of this Court should be modified so as to reverse the judgment of the circuit court on account of the excessive amount thereof, unless appellee shall within thirty days from this date file in this Court a remittitur of all damages included therein in excess of $7,371.03. If such remittitur is so filed, the judgment will be affirmed as reduced otherwise it will stand reversed and remanded.
The foregoing opinion was prepared by FOSTER, Supernumerary Justice of this. Court, while serving on it at the request of the Chief Justice under authority of Title-13, section 32, Code, and was adopted by the-Court as its opinion.
As the judgment and opinion of this Court is thus modified, the application for-rehearing is overruled.
Judgment and opinion of this Court modified, and as modified the application for rehearing is overruled.
LIVINGSTON, C. J., and LAWSON,. STAICELY and MERRILL, JJ.,. concur.