Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1896

Wunderlich v. Chicago & Northwestern Railway Co.

Wunderlich v. Chicago & Northwestern Railway Co.
Wisconsin Supreme Court · Decided April 14, 1896 · Winslow
93 Wis. 132; 66 N.W. 1144; 1896 Wisc. LEXIS 16

Counsel

Eor the appellant the cause was: submitted on the brief of Fish (& Gary., Por the respondents there was a brief by John E. Martin and Bouclc <& Hilton, and a separate brief signed by John E. Martin and B. W. Barger, attorneys for the insurance companies; and the cause was argued orally by Gahe Bouclc.

Wunderlich v. Chicago & Northwestern Railway Co.

Opinion of the Court

Winslow, J".

Fairly and reasonably construed, the complaint charges that the property of the plaintiffs Wunderlich was destroyed by a fire negligently kindled by the defendant, and that the plaintiff insurance companies had previously issued to the plaintiffs Wunderlich contracts of insurance against fire upon said property, which were in force at the time of the fire, and that said insurance companies had paid the losses under their policies. The demurrer to the complaint was properly overruled, for two reasons: (1) Because it is settled in this state that “ the question of misjoinder of plaintiffs, or whether the complaint, as to one or more of several plaintiffs, states a cause of action against the defendants, cannot be raised by demurrer under any of the grounds allowed by sec. 2649, R. S.” Kucera v. Kucera, 86 Wis. 416. (2) Because it is equally well settled that where insured property is destroyed by fire through the negligence of another, the insurer of such property, who has paid the insured the insurance moneys, becomes subrogated pro tanto to the latter’s claim against the wrongdoer, and should properly join with him as plaintiff in an action for such negligent burning. Pratt v. Radford, 52 Wis. 114.

By the Gourt.— Order affirmed.

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