Liverpool & London & Globe Ins. Co. v. Currie
Liverpool & London & Globe Ins. Co. v. Currie
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff in error issued an insurance policy to the defendant in error, Currie, insuring a building “against all direct loss or damages by fire, except as hereinafter provided,” in the sum of $3,200. In a subsequent clause of the contract it was stipulated that—
“This company shall not be liable for loss caused directly or indirectly by invasion * * * ; or (unless fire ensues, and, in that event, for the damage by fire only) by explosion of any kind.”
The Westmoreland building and Currie’s building were situate in the same block and upon the same side of the street in Midland, Tex. There was a building between the Westmoreland and Currie buildings. About midnight on May 28, 1918, and during the life of the policy a terrible explosion occurred in the Westmoreland building. The explosive substance was vaporized gasoline. The only person present at the time of the explosion was Tom Carr, an employee of a pool hall conducted in the Westmoreland building. His dead body was found immediately after the explosion upon the ground a short distance from the back door of the pool hall. The explosion completely demolished the Westmoreland building. The parties who arrived immediately after the explosion found the ruins enveloped in flames. The concussion from the explosion greatly damaged the Currie building. Thereafter Currie brought this suit upon the policy and recovered.
The views of this court are stated in the Mims Case, 226 S. W. 738, where the authorities are reviewed at length. The undisputed evidence shows that the damage to the Currie building was wrought by an explosion *233 in the neighboring Westmoreland building. The written agreements oí the parties show that such damage was caused by the explosion. The damage, if any, from the flames in the Westmoreland building was negligible. Nor is there any evidence of the amount of the damage caused by the flames. Since the plaintiff in error was not liable for the damage caused by the explosion in the Westmore-land building, the peremptory instruction in its favor should have been given as requested. The assignments complaining of its refusal are sustained.
Those assignments are overruled which assert that there is no evidence to support a finding that the explosion was caused by an antecedent fire in the Westmoreland building. This question was considered in the Westmoreland Case, 215 S. W. 471, and it was held to be an issue of fact under the evidence whether the fire preceded and caused the explosion, or was subsequent to and caused by the explosion. The ruling thus made is adhered to. But, under the authorities cited above the fact that the explosion in the Westmoreland building was caused by an antecedent fire therein does not render the plaintiff in error liable for the damage to the Currie building caused by such explosion.
What has been said disposes of all assignments.
The evidence being undisputed and fully developed, the judgment is reversed, and here rendered for plaintiff in error.
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Reference
- Full Case Name
- LIVERPOOL & LONDON & GLOBE INS. CO., Limited, v. CURRIE
- Cited By
- 8 cases
- Status
- Published