Court Opinion

ID: 6668145
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 21:07:32.344797+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:00:24.505688
License: Public Domain

By the Court,
Whitman, J.:
Respondent brought his action to recover from appellant the sum of twelve thousand dollars, losses by fire, upon two policies of insurance made by appellant to him ; one for five thousand dollars, upon his so-called brick building; the other for seven thousand dollars, apportioned, five thousand dollars upon his household furni*18ture, beds and bedding, and two thousand dollars upon his stock of merchandise, all in such building.
One of the issues raised by the answer was, that respondent had violated the provisions of condition eleven of the policy last named, in that he falsely and fraudulently swore, in his notice of loss, to a value much greater than the real value of the household furniture, beds and bedding. The trial resulted in a general verdict for respondent for ten thousand dollars ; the jury specially finding the value of the property abovenamed at three thousand dollars. A motion for new trial was denied, and from the order and the judgment appeal is taken.
Various errors are assigned, but the only one material to notice is the refusal of the District Court to give the instructions asked by appellant, touching the issue referred to. It appeared in evidence, that in his sworn statement of losses respondent placed the value of the household furniture, beds and bedding at six thousand dollars. In his testimony upon the trial he fixed it at about forty-five hundred dollars. There was evidence tending to greatly reduce this estimate. Appellant, thereupon, asked the following instructions :
1st. “ If you believe from the evidence that plaintiff made and delivered to the defendant, or its agents, an account of his loss or damage, as required and provided in the eleventh condition indorsed on the second policy of insurance attached to the complaint, and made proof of said account by his declaration or affirmation, and you find that there was fraud in the claim made by plaintiff for such loss, or that he was guilty of false declaring or affirming in support thereof, you must find for the defendant.”
2d. “ If you believe from the evidence that plaintiff made the proof by his declaration or affirmation, as required in the eleventh condition indorsed on his second policy in his complaint described, and that such declaration or affirmation was false, you will find for the defendant.”
The first of these instructions was given with this modification, striking out the words at the end thereof, “ you must find for the defendant,” and inserting in lieu, “ the policy can for that reason be vitated.” The second instruction quoted was refused.
*19Ttíe eleventh condition referred to, reads as follows:
11. “ All persons insured by this company, sustaining any loss or damage by fire, are immediately to give notice to the company or its agents, and within fourteen days after such loss or damage has occurred, are to deliver in as particular an account of their loss or damage as the nature of the case will admit of, and make proof of the same by their declaration or affirmation, and produce such other evidence as the directors of this company or its agents may reasonably require; and until such declaration or affirmation, account and evidence are produced, the amount of sucíi loss or any part thereof shall not be payable or recoverable; and if there should be fraud in the claim made for such loss, or false declaring or affirming in support thereof, the claimant shall forfeit all benefit under this policy; and any other policy granted to the insured by this company on any other property will be also null and void. If no claim be made within three months after the fire, the claimant shall forfeit all rights under this policy.”
This is one of the conditions upon which the policy was granted, and is to be construed as a part thereof. If its terms have been violated, then by express agreement both policies in suit became null and void. Whether there was such violation, was a matter for for the jury to decide under proper instructions. Those offered by appellant were correct, and should have been given.
The modification of the first entirely destroyed its force. It rendered that vague which before was ojear; and if taken literally, was erroneous, in that it confined tfyé effect of a violation of the condition to the second policy; wheh, such violation being found, it would affect equally both contracts, by virtue of the express terms of such condition. The refusal to give these instructions was error, entitling appellant to a new trial. The order denying the same is reversed, and the cause remanded.