Alsop v. Coit
Alsop v. Coit
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court.
The plaintiff cannot be in a better situation than if a policy had been effected pursuant to his instructions.
If the persons, to whom application was made, had offered to insure upon having the statement in the letter inserted as a warranty in the policy, and especially if the defendant could not have effected insurance at a reasonable premium upon any other terms ; it is by no means certain that the defendant would not have been bound in justice to his principal to make such a warranty. If he had refused to do it, and the plaintiff' had, in consequence, failed to procure the insurance he intended, he might well have objected to his agent, that the latter had no right to suppose that he had represented any thing which was not strictly true, or that he had undertaken any thing which he would not perform. And, if a policy had been effected with such a warranty, it is perfectly certain, that the plaintiff could not have recovered against the insurers.
But, if this is to be considered merely as a representation, the result is in our minds the same. The plaintiff, a part-owner of the vessel, must be presumed to have been privy to, and to have joined in, the orders for her sailing. The representation contains, in effect, a statement of what he had ordered, or intended to order, in that respect. The vessel was to sail “ as soon as the frigates, calculating to take advantage of their protection.” This representation [* 43 ] was made, * in order to reduce the premium ; and it must have had that effect. It ought, then, to be substantially complied with. The underwriters could not suppose, when signing such a policy, that the vessel had sailed two days before the letter was written ; and that the frigates, which were to protect her, were still in port.
Judgment according tc the verdict.
[† A principal cannot maintain an action against his. agent for damages resulting from the agent’s negligence, unless there has been “ a real loss or actual damage. See Story on Agency, § 222, and authorities and cases there cited. — Ed.]
Hughes on Ins 326.
Charaud vs. Angerstein, Peake, 43. — Duffel vs Wilson, 1 Campb. 401 and note. MacDonal vs. Frazer, Dougl. 247. — 4 Taunt. 872 - 874. — Hughes, 347.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Richard Alsop, Jun., versus Daniel W. Coit
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published