Court Opinion

ID: 9604535
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 02:23:09.640594+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:14:49.987459
License: Public Domain

Felton, C. J., and Townsend, J.,
dissenting. If the casualty company is obligated to defend any action against the railroad under the policy it issued to the railroad, it is immaterial that the rights of the parties had already accrued and that the railroad had a remedy at law against the casualty company for damages, attorneys’ fees and expenses for a failure to defend the action. If the casualty company is obligated to defend the action against the railroad, by the terms of the insurance policy, the railroad is entitled to have the case defended by the insurance company if it so desires. This is a legal right and the determination of the obligation of the insurance company is necessary in order that the railroad may determine its future action with reference to a defense of the case. It is no concern of the courts as to why the railroad insists on the right to have the insurance company defend the case. It is enough that under the law and decisions of the Supreme Court, as we interpret them, it has a right to know what its rights are, as a guide for its future course.