American Insurance v. Smith , 1885 Mo. App. LEXIS 282 ( 1885 )

Philips, P. J.

This case has been on appeal in the-supreme court once before, and is reported in 78 Mo. 368. As appears from the opinion of the court, the first judgment of the circuit court in favor of plaintiff was-reversed because of the improper ruling on the law of the case. The supreme court held that the suit being’ found on a note given by defendant to the plaintiff, a foreign insurance corporation, in part payment of a premium on a policy of insurance, the plaintiff had made-out a prima facie case at the trial, by introducing the note in evidence ; and if the defendant would avoid its payment on the ground that the plaintiff at the time of the contract of insurance was not authorized to conduct the business of insurance in this state, it devolved on it to rebut plaintiff’s prima facie case by introducing proof of the absence of such license.

On the re-trial, defendant again had judgment, and plaintiff again appeals. It made the same proof, in the first instance it offered on the first trial, and rested. The defendant then introduced evidence, to the effect, that for the year 1874 the plaintiff had the requisite certificate from the state insurance commissioner, duly recorded in the recorder’s office for Gasconade county, where the contract of insurance in question was made. This recording in the county was required by statute. Sects. 27-30, p. 55-56, Laws Mo. 1869. This certificate, or permit, expired on the first of February, 1875. No such permit or certificate was filed for record in said county subsequent to the year 1874.

This evidence plaintiff meets with the objection, that so much of the provision of the act of 1869 as required said certificate to be filed for record in the local recorder’s office was repealed by the act of 1874. Laws Mo. 1874, sect. 7, p. 76. This act of 1874 does omit, in the amendment to said section thirty of the act of 1869, the provision aforesaid, and makes a certified copy of the certificate from the insurance commissioner the evidence of authority by foreign insurance corporations to do business in the state.

Therefore, it may be conceded to appellant that the mere absence of such certificate in the recorder’s office for the year 1875, would not warrant the inference that no such certificate existed. And if the verdict rested on such proof alone it could not stand. But there are other facts in this record. Aside from the proof introduced by defendant, showing that in March, 1876, the state insurance commissioner had revoked the authority hitherto given plaintiff to pursue its business in the state for past delinquences and failure to comply with the law, which manifestly occurred between February, 1875, and March, 1876, the plaintiff voluntarily took upon itself the task of satisfying the jury that it did have such permit for the year 1875. To this end it showed the existence of such certificate to it for every year from January, 1874, to January, 1884, save and except the particular year in question of 1875! This is a most significant fact, and was well calculated to persuade the jury that plaintiff had not the certificate essential to maintain its cause.

The certified copy of the certificate was in its possession, if in existence. Why, therefore, while struggling to satisfy the jury on this very point, did it' not strike the knot and shiver it, by producing the certificate ?

The fact necessary for the defendant to satisfy the minds of the jury on was simply, did plaintiff have such certificate in August, 1875 ? This fact could be proven directly, or by facts and circumstances which would satisfy “the mind‘and conscience of a common man.” The competency and admissibility of the evidence is for the court; but its sufficiency and effect belong exclusively to the jury. 1 Greenleaf Ev., sect. 2.

The only instruction given by the court told the jury, in substance, that if the plaintiff had authority to do-business in the state as such insurance corporation, and to take the note, at the time it was given, the note was valid; but unless they found that it had such authority at that time, they should find for defendant.

The instruction is clumsily framed, but we think the jury, if of ordinary intelligence, as we presume it was, were advised by it what the real issue was. And in view of the paltry sum (only three dollars) in controversy, and in view of the fact that plaintiff has seen fit twice to vex the appellate courts with it, we do not feel that the ends of justice and the public good would justify further contention over this matter.

The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.

All concur.