Court Opinion

ID: 9618781
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 05:17:12.429295+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:15:19.091544
License: Public Domain

Almand, Presiding Justice,
dissenting. The Court of Appeals correctly decided this case. The evidence demanded a finding that the sprinkler system was off from Saturday until the following Thursday when the fire occurred. The insured’s employee, who was in charge of installing the new sprinkler heads, stopped the installation on Saturday because of the lack of help on that day to hold the ladder. Though the plant was in operation on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday preceding the fire, there is a total lack of evidence as to why the remaining new sprinkler heads could not have been installed during this time. The replacement of the one sprinkler head which had popped the week before would have permitted the turning on of the valve controlling the water supplied to the sprinkler system in this area.
Under the express provisions of the insurance policy, the insured was required to use “due diligence in maintaining in complete working order all equipment and services, installed for the . . . extinguishment of fire in the property covered by this policy and under the control of the insured,” and the insurer would not be liable for a loss occurring “while the hazard is increased by any means within the control or knowledge of the insured.”
The evidence demanded a finding that the insured had breached this condition of the policy.