Donath v. Insurance Co. of North America
Donath v. Insurance Co. of North America
Opinion of the Court
The cause was held under advisement, until the 17th of January 1807, when the opinions of the judges who had heard the argument were delivered.
— My opinion on the first point will be rendered unnecessary, by the opinion which I shall deliver on the second point; because, granting that the plaintiffs possessed an insurable interest, I am of opinion, that it clearly appears from the facts stated, that they ordered no insurance, and that no insurance was made for them, in any other capacity, than as agents of Don Alvarez Calderon: consequently, they cannot recover for a total loss, as Don Alvarez Calderon has accepted that part of the property which was saved, and thereby made his election to claim only for a partial loss. The instructions of the plaintiffs for effecting the insurance, were to insure expressly for and on behalf of Don Alvarez Calderon. It is true, they insured only $13,750, although the whole effects of p. their principal amounted to $18,733; *and they give the reason, that L $13,750 covered the amount of their advances, including premium, commissions, &c. The defendants might well suppose, that the plaintiffs were to hold this policy for their own security, in case of loss, although the insur
Suppose, Don Alvarez Calderon had paid the plaintiffs’ account; can it be contended, that he could not recover for his own use, on this policy, the amount of the loss, that he has actually sustained ? And if he could, does it not inevitably follow, that the plaintiffs cannot recover for their own use ? If they can, one insurance, effected for one premium, may be made to cover two different interests, vested in different persons. Besides, the plaintiffs attempt, most unreasonably, to make the defendants answerable for a risk, which they never meant to run; that is, for the integrity and good conduct of Don Alvarez Calderon. And after that gentleman has received the property, which was restored to him by the British court of admiralty, the defendants are called on to answer for it, as being lost. To render the impropriety of this demand the more complete, the plaintiffs made the abandonment, on which they found their claim, expressly by order of Don Alvarez Calderon. Nothing can be clearer than the plaintiffs, throughout the whole of the transaction of this insurance, acted not for themselves, but as the agents of Don Alvarez Calderon.
3d. On the third point, there is no difficulty. Undoubtedly, the plaintiffs may recover for the partial loss, sustained by Don Alvarez Calderon. -1 *The defendants do not deny it. I presume, the parties can easily adjust this loss. Indeed, I understood so, from what fell from Mr. Levy, in the course of his argument.
4th. The last question in this case is, whether the plaintiffs are entitled to a return of any part, and how much, of the premium ? The general rule is, that where the voyage is entire,, and the risk has once commenced, there shall be no return of premium. But when, by the course of trade, or the agreement of the parties, the voyage is divided into distinct parts; and on one of these parts, no risk has been run, there shall be an apportionment of the premium, and part shall be returned. A voyage may be entire, though the ship is to go to a number of different places, and to take in different cargoes. But if, in the contract of insurance, there are certain contingen
On the whole of the case, I am of opinion, that the plaintiffs are entitled to recover for a partial loss, and a return premium of seven and a half per cent., with interest from the commencement of the action,
Yeates, Justice, being indisposed, sent his opinion, in writing, to the court, and it was read by the prothonotary. He concurred in the decision, that the plaintiffs were entitled to recover a partial loss, for the goods lost and damaged; but he considered *the voyage as entire, and consequently, was opposed to the claim for a return of premium. L
And judgment was entered for the plaintiffs, accordingly ; the quantum to be calculated by the parties.
The assured is entitled to a return of the premium, if the goods upon which the insurance was effected have never been put on board the vessel, or if she was not seaworthy, at the time the risk would have commenced, if it had commenced at all. Scriba v. Insurance Co. of North America, 2 W. C. C. 107. But fraud on the part of the assured, will bar him from demanding a return of premium. Schwartz ¶. United States Ins. Co., 8 Id. 1V0.
On the question of interest, Dallas took the liberty of suggesting to the court, after the opinions were delivered, that the practice had uniformly been, to allow interest on the amount actually recovered, upon the expiration of thirty days, after depositing the proofs of loss; and that, on principle, the underwriters could only discharge themselves from mterest. or costs, by a tender, or payment into court, of the sum due. But the Chief Justice answered, that the subject had been considered, and was now decided.
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