Bayles v. Hillsborough Insurance
Bayles v. Hillsborough Insurance
Opinion of the Court
There are two’deeisive objections to the validity of the declaration.
1. The suit is brought in the name of the assignee of the policy upon the original contract of insurance. The declaration contains no averment of a new contract between the assignee and the insurers founded on the assignment of the policy, and the assent of the company thereto. Nor would such averment, if made, have availed the plaintiff in an action of covenant, unless the new contract were under seal. The action is clearly founded on the original covenants of insurance, and cannot be maintained by the assignee. Flanagan v. The Camden Mut. Ins. Co., 1 Dutcher 506.
There is nothing in the charter of the company which qualifies this general rule of law, as applied to the defendants', or which, by fair implication, can be construed to render valid the assignment of any policy of insurance to a party having no interest in the premises insured
The declaration alleges that the policy was made by the defendants, in favor of one Colby, in 1849, and assigned to the plaintiff, in 1853, as collateral security for a bond of $442.05, and that the property was burned in 1853.
It is assigned, for cause of demurrer, that an action will not lie on this policy in the name of the assignee. There is no averment in the declaration that the property was conveyed or assigned to the plaintiff; that the plaintiff’ had any interest in the property insured ; or that the assignment has been recorded in the books of the corporation, or that any certificate of such record is certified on the policy by the secretary of the defendants.
Tbs charter (Pamph. Laws of 1854, page 152, § 8,) provides that, if any person insured in such corporation shall convey or assign the property insured, it shalbbe lawful
The policy not being assignable at common law, the plaintiff must show statutory authority for it. None is shown except that contained in the 8th section, and that only embraces cases where the property has been assigned or conveyed, neither of which is averred.
The charter further expressly provides that the corporation shall not be bound until the assignment shall have been recorded in the books of the corporation, and the record certified on such policy, neither of which is averred. The declaration averring that the policy was assigned, must further aver, in order to show a cause of action, a conveyance or assignment of the property to the plaintiff, a record of the assignment, and its certificate-on the policy, or a liability in some other shape.
The demurrer is well taken, and judgment must be entered accordingly.
Justices Elmer and Haines concurred.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- William G. Bayles v. The Hillsborough Insurance Company
- Status
- Published