Vigoreaux v. Lime Rock Ins.
Vigoreaux v. Lime Rock Ins.
Opinion of the Court
On 10th April, 1866, the defendants insured the plaintiff, and whom it might concern, “ lost or not lost, twenty two hundred dollars on the ship Thomas Lord for one year from March 14, 1866, at noon.” Shortly after March 14th, the vessel was damaged and an injury sustained, for which the defendants are responsible, if the policy attached. The policy is what is termed a time policy, and in such case it is immaterial where the vessel may be at the inception or termination of the risk. It is not pretended that there was any fraudulent conduct on the part of the plaintiff.
The insurance was effected through the procurement of Edwin Heed, who was an agent of the defendants, receiving applications for insurance, and forwarding the same to them, for which service he was allowed a commission. In his letter to them of April 9, 1866, requesting an insurance “ for a year from March 14, 1866, noon,” he writes, “ she was at Gibraltar on that date.”
The defense is that this statement was a material representation, and not being strictly accurate, the policy never attached.
But the representation cannot be regarded as material. That the defendants did not so regard it, is evidenced by the fact that no mention is made of it in' the policy. In Manly v. United M. & F. Ins. Co., 9 Mass. 85, the policy was “ for one year, commencing the risk at Barbadoes on 7th Dec. 1810, at 12 o’clock at noon of said day.” In fact, the. vessel had left Barbadoes the.preceding day
But if the law were otherwise, it is difficult to perceive what grounds of complaint the defendants can have. It does not appear that the plaintiff made any statements to the broker as to the locality of the vessel, or authorized him to make any to the defendants, or that he knew anything as to where the vessel was on the 14th March. Reed ivas a part-owner of the Thomas Lord, and made the statement on his own account from aught that appears. It is not pretended that his conduct "was in the slightest degree dishonest. He was the agent of the defendants in procuring the insurance, and if without authority from the plaintiff, he made a representation which was not strictly true, the plaintiff, who neither directed nor desired it, should not suffer therefor.
Biit it is not that there was any misrepresentation. It is conceded that the vessel at the time from which the policy begins, was
The plaintiff is entitled to recover. The damages have been agreed upon at $512.45. From this sum is to be deducted the premium note of $232 and interest, and a default is to be entered for the balance with interest from the date of the writ.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Mason D. Vigoreaux v. Lime Rock Ins. Company
- Status
- Published