Court Opinion

ID: 9688889
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 18:10:52.734361+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:42.908290
License: Public Domain

Hall, J.,
dissenting:
I am unable to bring myself in accord with the majority opinion in this case. The policy involved herein shows that there was insured a 1956 600 Cab and Chasis to be used for commercial purposes only. The question *661may immediately be asked, “What in the world could a person do with a cab and chasis which contains no other mechanism for hanling other than the attachment for a trailer?”
The policy in this case was written by Moran Insurance Agency of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and that agency was a general agent of Hartford Accident & Indemnity Company. The accident of this vehicle occurred on May 28, 1956, and Mr. Lockard immediately gave notice to Moran’s Insurance Agency. It is undenied that he was assured by Moran’s Insurance Agency that he was fully covered under the policy and that the liability carrier would take over the investigation, negotiation and defense of any claims ag-ainst him as a result of the accident. The accident in question occurred about 18 miles north of Biloxi, Mississippi, and the insurance company had the truck which was damaged in the accident carried to a garage in Biloxi, selected by it, for repairs. In fact, the insurance company took over the matter and negotiated toward a settlement of all claims arising out of the accident and so notified the appellee.
In the meantime, Gaston Fairley and Manson Little-field employed an attorney to represent them in causes of action for personal injuries and property damage against him. The appellee forwarded the letter notifying him of the employment of an attorney to appellant’s agent and the appellee notified the attorney for Fairley and Littlefield. This notice was to Mr. O. B. Corban, who was unquestionably the representative of appellant, on the payroll of appellant, and acting* within the scope of his authority to investigate, negotiate, settle and dispose of claims. Mr. Corban notified the attorney for Fairley and Littlefield that the matter had been referred to him and that the claims were fully covered by insurance and that he would shortly see them to adjust the matter. From the date of the accident on May 28, 1956, through the succeeding months of June, July and August and up until the 26th day of September the appellee had no *662notice from the appellant other than he was fully and completely covered under, the insurance policy issued by the appellant. Because of this action on the part of appellant appellee was lulled into a belief that he was fully protected and he made no effort to investigate, negotiate and settle the claims because he was acting upon the assurance of appellant that he was fully covered under the policy.
On September 24, 1956, after the appellee had been lulled into this sense of security, the insurance company addressed a letter to the Moran Insurance Agency and denied coverage under the policy and two days later the Moran Insurance Agency mailed to the appellee a copy of the letter of September 24th. Throughout this period the appellee had been led to believe that he was fully covered, had been assured that the insurance company would adjust the matter and he now contends that the actions of the appellant conclusively estop the appellant from denying coverage in the case in question. The ap-pellee has most assuredly been placed at a great disadvantage by the conduct of the insurance company. See Izard v. Mikell, 173 Miss. 770, 163 So. 498; Martin v. Hartley, 208 Miss. 112, 43 So. 2d 875; In Re Stoball’s Will, 211 Miss. 15, 50 So. 2d 635; Stokes v. American Central Ins. Co., 211 Miss. 584, 52 So. 2d 358; Crooker v. Hollingsworth, 210 Miss. 636, 46 So. 2d 541, 50 So. 2d 355.
Arrington and McElroy, JJ., join in this dissent.