American Steam-Boiler Insurance v. Wilder
American Steam-Boiler Insurance v. Wilder
Opinion of the Court
The only defence which defendant has in this action is the claim that when plaintiff’s agent applied for the risk covered by the policy of insurance issued by plaintiff, he falsely and fraudulently stated and represented that plaintiffs contract of insurance, when written up, contained a clause of great value to defendant, and which would not be found in contracts entered into by another company, in which defendant was then insured, and with which he preferred to transact business of that character. No complaint is made by defendant as to the form or value of the clause incorporated in the policy issued to him by the plaintiff. It is sufficient and satisfactory; but he claims that one of like import, more valuable because less restrictive, was a condition of the contracts entered into by the other company at the time plaintiff’s agent solicited his risk; that said agent well knew the fact, and purposely deceived defendant by his assertion to the contrary. At the conclusion of the testimony
When plaintiff’s general agent, Flaherty, called upon the defendant, seeking an opportunity to place insurance on his property, he was referred to Mr. Watkins as the person who attended to that branch of defendant’s business, and with whom he should thereafter negotiate. At that time the property in question was covered by a policy, about to expire, in a rival company. It is undisputed that in the course of the conversation with Watkins, Flaherty asserted, among other things commendatory of the company he represented, that its policy contained a life clause, not to be found in the policies issued by the other company. This was untrue, for, although such a clause had been wholly omitted from the policy then in force upon defendant’s property, it appeared in some previously issued by the same company to its other patrons. This was known to Flaherty, and was not known to Watkins. The latter was given ample time to inquire into the matter, and was furnished by Flaherty with the blank used by plaintiff, with a request that he compare it with the policy issued by the other company. The settled case shows that Watkins retained possession of the blank for about 10 days, and then signed an application for insurance in plaintiff company, receiving in return, and immediately, — pending the preparation and delivery of a policy, — what is known as a “binding slip,” thus becoming.insured in an association perfectly solvent and reliable, so far as we know. The defendant makes no claim that he did not receive precisely what he was promised, all and exactly what he contracted for in the way of indemnity. It is not suggested that plaintiff company is not as trustworthy as the other, nor is it intimated that its policy does not as thoroughly protect defendant as would the policy of another. He simply urges that the agent’s untruthfulness and false statement, when urging the good points and advantages of the contracts offered by his company, avoid and vitiate the bargain, and relieve him from a payment of the stipulated premium. It seems quite probable that
Judgment affirmed.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting.) I understand that the evidence tended to show that the representation in question, made by the plaintiff’s agent, was that the Hartford company, in wUich the defendant was then insured, did not issue a policy embracing the feature of life insurance; that this was untrue, and was known to be so by the plaintiff’s agent; that the defendant’s agent, relying upon this representation and believing it to be true, allowed the existing policy in the Hartford company to be cancelled, and effected a new insurance with the plaintiff. I am not prepared to assent to the proposition that this did not constitute fraud.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- American Steam-Boiler Insurance Company v. Amherst H. Wilder
- Status
- Published