Davis v. Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance
Davis v. Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance
Opinion of the Court
It is agreed that the only obstacle to the plaintiff’s right to recover is his agreement with Susan H. Fales.
His application for insurance was “on his interest as mortgagee in possession,” and describes the property as occupied by a tenant. The policy is on the same interest, and describes the property in the same way; so that the phrase “ mortgagee in possession ” was not understood by the parties to imply an occupancy by the plaintiff, and the mere occupancy of Mrs. Fales is not a material fact.
The plaintiff’s agreement with her was made prior to the date of the policy, and related to the same interest which was insured by the policy. In April 1860 Levi S. Fales had made two mortgages to D. Wheeler, one of which was to secure a note of $1250, and the other to secure several notes, amounting in all to $2750. In June 1860 Wheeler sold the first note and mortgage to the plaintiff. He also sold to him three of the other notes, amounting to $1500, and assigned to him a corresponding interest in the mortgage that secured them. Before the agreement was made with Mrs. Pales, the plaintiff had taker
Before the loss, she had paid to the plaintiff the expense of the insurance, but this cannot be regarded as effecting an assignment of the policy.
The most important question that arises in the case is under the clause in the policy which provides that, “ in case of payment of any loss to a mortgagee whose interest only is insured, the party so paid shall, at the time of payment, assign to the company so much of his interest in the mortgage as may not be necessary to extinguish the balance of the debt due thereon.” If by the agreement "with Mrs. Fales the plaintiff had disabled himself from making such assignment to the company, without violating that agreement, it might perhaps bar his right to recover. But the agreement expressly recognizes his right to insure, and it is implied that the insurance, may be on reasonable terms and conditions. The condition above stated is reasonable, it being the clause which has the effect to limit the insurance to his interest as mortgagee, and to prevent him from
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Seth Davis v. Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance Company
- Status
- Published