Western Assurance Co. v. McPike
Western Assurance Co. v. McPike
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
The building embraced in the policy sued on was described and insured as a family residence, occupied by a tenant. There were stipulations in the policy that if the premises should be used or occupied so as to increase the risk, or if they should become unoccupied and so remain for thirty days without the assent of the insurer indorsed on the policy, the policy should become void. The testimony shows that without the knowledge or assent of the insurer the building was unoccupied as a family residence for more than thirty days before it was burned. The owner of the property, who had possession of the policy, resided in Missouri. His agent, who insured the house in December, 1881, and lived in it at the time, moved with his family seventy-five or eighty miles from the place in January or February, 1882, and had not returned or seen the premises from that time until the house was burned in September, 1882, and knew but little, if anything, of what was going on about the place and exercised no supervision over it, and had no knowledge of the house being burned until he was informed of it nearly two months after the fire by a person whom he met on a steamboat on the Mississippi River. When the agent moved with his family he left his brother and his family in the house, and afterward his brother and family moved, and the building was converted into a retail liquor house by a man who had no family, and no authority, it seems, from the owner of the property or any of his agents to occupy the premises, and was paying no rent for the same. While thus occupied, the house was
It was error to refuse this instruction. By the terms of the policy the building was to be used and occupied as a family residence. The insurer had a right under the policy to the care and supervision involved in the use and occupancy of the building as a family residence. Ashworth v. Builders’, etc,., Ins. Co., 112 Mass. 423; Paine v. Ins. Co., 5 N. Y. Sup. Ct. 619. In such case a practical occupancy, consistent with the purposes for which the building was insured, is intended, and an occupancy that measurably lessens the vigilance and care that would be incident to its use for such purpose is not an occupancy within the meaning of the terms of such policy. Wood on Fire Ins. 180, 181.
It is manifest from the record that the house was virtually abandoned by the assured and his agents, and that the risk was increased by the manner in which the premises were used and occupied. We are of opinion, not only that the instruction above quoted should have been given, but that the court should have instructed the jury, as requested, to find for the appellant.
Reversed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Western Assurance Company v. J. D. McPike
- Cited By
- 5 cases
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- Fire Insurance. Stipulation as to occupancy of house and increase of risk. Action for loss. Instinction. Case in judgment. A house belonging to D. was insured as a family residence occupied by a tenant. The policy contained the stipulation that if the house should be used or occupied so as to increase the risk, or if it should become unoccupied and so remain for thirty days, without the assent of the insurer indorsed on the policy, it should thereby become void. The house was virtually abandoned by the assured and his tenant for more than thirty days during the period of the insurance, and -was converted into a retail' liquor saloon by some one without authority, paying no rent and having no family. While being thus used and occupied the house was destroyed by fire, and the assured brought an action upon his policy to recover the amount of money which the insurer had agreed to pay in case of loss as therein provided for. Held, that the policy was rendered void by the assured permitting the house to be unoccupied by a family for more than thirty days during the period of insurance without the assent of the assured, and permitting it to be used and occupied so as to increase the risk, and upon the facts stated the court should have instructed the jury to find for the defendant,