Zurich Insurance v. Fairmont Roosevelt Hotel, Inc.
Zurich Insurance v. Fairmont Roosevelt Hotel, Inc.
Opinion of the Court
In re: Zurich Insurance Company and Travelers Insurance Company applying for certiorari, or writ of review, to the Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit, Parish of Orleans. 250 So.2d 94.
Writ refused. The judgment is correct..
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting from refusal to grant writ).
Civil Code Articles 2965-2971 make effects brought by travelers into a hotel or-inn “necessary” deposits and impose absolute liability upon the landlord or innkeeper-as depositary. Article 2971. limits, upon-, compliance with its mandate, the innkeeper's strict liability as a depositary to $100.— 00. Article 2969 permits the innkeeper to. be. released from responsibility for jewelr.y- and “other valuable articles of such description as may be contained in small compass”. (Emphasis mine.) Article 2969 expressly states, however, that the protection there afforded in the case of small, valuable-objects will not apply if the innkeeper or-his employees are guilty of “fraud or negligence”.
The property stolen from the traveler in: the instant case, furs, is not covered by-
The French and Louisiana Civil Codes have treated the necessary depositary as an insurer. Historically, our Legislature has attempted to relax the innkeeper’s strict liability as depositary, but never to exempt him from liability for his own negligence. 22 Tulane L.Rev. 333.
The Code is clear and explicit in its intent, history and doctrine support that intent, and there is no line of jurisprudence to the contrary. Cf. Pfennig v. Roosevelt Hotel, 31 So.2d 31 (La.App.Orl. 1947). I submit the Court of Appeal opinion is an incorrect statement of the law.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- ZURICH INSURANCE COMPANY v. FAIRMONT ROOSEVELT HOTEL, INC.
- Cited By
- 4 cases
- Status
- Published