Playman v. Commercial Underwriters
Playman v. Commercial Underwriters
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
“Now, therefore, I, C. H. Playman, hereby constitute and appoint Guy L. Wallace, E. A. Tyler, and F. E. Hitchcock, under the firm name of Guy L. Wallace & Co., attorneys for us and in our name, place, and stead, for the following purposes, viz.: 1. To exchange with other persons, firms, or corporations indemnity against loss or damage by fire or lightning in the_ amount of $2,000 and to that end to subscribe and deliver all necessary contracts whereby we shall be bound to so exchange indemnity against loss or damage by fire or lightning; and to change, modify or cancel such contract or contracts of indemnity; to adjust and settle our proportion of all losses that may occur under any such contract; to appear for us in any legal proceeding and to institute, prosecute, defend, compromise or settle any legal proceeding that may arise out of any such contract' for the exchange of indemnity; and it is expressly understood that this power of attorney is made for no other or different purpose than to authorize said attorneys in fact to exchange for us with other persons, firms or corporations indemnity against loss or damage by fire or lightning accruing to their own property; and that the power of said attorneys as hereby granted is also limited,” etc.
The power of attorney is in the usual form of such instruments, and does not create any express trust in favor of any participant in the combination. Wallace
“No action shall be brought to enforce the provisions of this policy except against the attorney, and representing all the underwriters, and each of the underwriters hereby agrees to abide the result of any suit so brought, as fixing his individual responsibility hereunder.”
It will be seen that in that case the policy expressly provided for an action against the attorney, who was also an underwriter, and the court held that by the terms of the policy he was the trustee of an express trust. No such condition appears here, either in the policy of in the power of attorney. The motion for a nonsuit should have been granted.
The judgment is reversed and the case remanded to the court below, with directions to enter a judgment of
Reversed and Remanded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- PLAYMAN v. COMMERCIAL UNDERWRITERS
- Status
- Published