Gray v. Buck
Gray v. Buck
Opinion of the Court
In this case there was evidence from which a jury might find tiie following as facts.
The brig, "Isaac Carver,” was practically owned in the following proportions: Marls Gray, (plaintiff) one-eighth; William D. Swasey, one-eighth; Joseph L. Buck, (defendant) one-fourth, and O. M. Gray, (the master) one-half. The
The only objection urged to the maintenance of the action upon the foregoing facts, is the non joinder of Swasey as a co-plaintiff.
We do not think the interests of the plaintiff and of Swasey were joint. They were not partners. Each owned his share individually. Each could insure his share separately, or leave it uninsured, without affecting the other. The plaintiff and Swasey did not jointly request the defendant to procure insurance upon any joint interest. Each applied for himself, and for insurance upon his own separate share. The defendant made similar arrangements with each about the insurance.' He could have made different arrangements. The similarity of the contracts does not weld them into one joint contract. We think each promisee can maintain his separate action for his share of the insurance. Owings v. Owings, 1 Har. Gill, (Md.) 484; Dunham v. Gillis, 8 Mass. 462; Bunn v. Wisner, 3 Caines, 54; Hall v. Leigh, 8 Cranch, 50.
The case White v. Curtis, 35 Maine, 534, relied upon by the defendant, is different from this case. In that case the insurance was upon the freight in which all the owners had a common interest. They had a common interest in the profit or loss of the venture. The defendant was not an owner and had no share in the venture. He procured the insurance for the joint
Exceptions sustained. Action to stand for tried.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Mark Gray v. Joseph L. Buck
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published