Talbot v. Nevada Fire Insurance Co. , 52 Nev. 145 ( 1930 )

Since an officer of a corporation occupies a fiduciary relationship, his dealings with the corporation should be scanned critically when he asserts a claim for services based on the proposition that the services rendered were not incident to his duties as such officer.

Where an officer of a corporation was present at an annual meeting of stockholders when a motion was adopted to the effect that, in view of past services rendered by such officer without compensation, he should be employed at a salary of $300 per month with a commission on the profits for the succeeding twelve months and allowed the privilege of practicing law, such officer is estopped from bringing an action on implied contract for such services formerly rendered without compensation.

We insist that it cannot be determined what the net profit of an insurance business is for a given year unless and without deducting from the income of that year the expenses of operation plus policy losses upon policies written during the year, and that the only true way to determine this is to follow the policies through to their ultimate conclusion and consider their history. Ins. Princ. Practices, Riegel Loman, p. 245, c. XVII. It is, therefore, true that until the insurer has afforded the insured protection for the full extent for which the premium is paid, then the full amount of the premium is not the property of the company, but is and remains a trust fund belonging to the policy holder who paid it; it must be carried on the books of the company as a liability, and cannot be considered profit until the record of each individual policy is sought out and traced.

It is such a well-known fact as to be, in our judgment, within judicial knowledge that a small fire insurance company of necessity and as a matter of good business must reinsure if it has substantial policy risks. In the contract sued upon in the second cause of action, the expressions "that for one year next following this date," and "during the year this contract is in force" clearly were intended to limit the business of the company to be considered, in determining the amount of commission, to the particular year in question.

A fire insurance business, like any other business, must necessarily be regarded, so far as profits are concerned, on a yearly basis. Amounts which may be carried as a "Reserve," or as "Undivided Profits" are simply matters of bookkeeping, and, while the same may affect questions like that of dividends for a particular year, they would not, and should not, be regarded as affecting the compensation of an employee entitled to a percentage of the actual profits for a given year.

OPINION This action was instituted to recover on two separate counts. The first count is on an alleged implied contract for services rendered, and the second count on an express contract.

The first cause of action grew out of this situation: The plaintiff was one of the organizers of the Nevada Fire Insurance Company, which was incorporated in 1911, but, as $100,000 had to be raised before it could commence business, it did not enter upon its business career until March 1, 1914, shortly prior to which time an experienced insurance man had been employed as "underwriting manager." Plaintiff's claim for services on this cause of action is based on the proposition that the services rendered were such as were not incident to his duties as president of the company. The nature of the services was soliciting insurance, arranging loans, and examining abstracts of title to property upon which loans were made, and writing letters to interest persons in the company as stockholders.

These alleged services were rendered in 1914, and he never mentioned to any one the fact that he expected remuneration, until about 1918. At the annual meeting of stockholders held on March 2, 1915, at which plaintiff was present and when he was contemplating relaxing his active interest in the company, one of the stockholders made a motion to the effect that, "in view of past services of the president without compensation," he be employed for a year at a monthly salary of $300 and commissions. At the annual meeting of the company, held on March 5, 1918, the claim of plaintiff, which is the basis of the first cause of action, was presented and unanimously rejected.

Three points are urged upon our consideration as to the first cause of action, namely: That the evidence shows no implied contract; that the services rendered were within the scope of the duties of the president of the company; and, thirdly, that the plaintiff should be estopped.

1. We do not deem it necessary to decide any of these questions except the one last mentioned; however, we may observe that in view of the fact that an officer of a corporation occupies a fiduciary relationship (McCourt v. Singers [C.C.A.], 145 F. 103, 7 Ann. Cas. 287; Hayden v. Green, 66 Kan. 204,71 P. 236), his dealings with the corporation should be scanned critically when he asserts a claim such as the one in question. Nor would it be out of place to say in this connection that it is the usual custom for the borrower to pay the expense of ascertaining the status of the title to property on which a loan is made, as well as all other expenses incident to making the loan.

2. It is clear to our minds that the plaintiff should be estopped from asserting the claim set forth in the first cause of action. He was present when the motion was made and adopted to the effect that, "in view of the past services rendered by the president without compensation," he be voted a salary of $300 per month, commission on the profits for the succeeding 12 months, and allowed the privilege of practicing law. If he had an intention at that time to make a claim for past services, it was his duty to make it known then. The motion was based upon the ground that he had rendered services without compensation, and it is very evident from the tone of the meeting, as appears from the minutes, that the contract would not have been made if he had intimated that he expected compensation for past services. It seems that the plaintiff was the active instrumentality in organizing the company, and was vitally interested in its success. On two or more occasions he sent letters to stockholders informing them that the incorporators had received no promotion stock, fees, or commissions, and that it was being managed with strict economy.

We can reach no other conclusion than that stated.

3. The second cause of action is to recover for commissions earned under the contract of March 2, 1915. The contract provides that for the services to be rendered by the plaintiff "he shall be paid as compensation by the company a salary of $300 per month, and in addition thereto five per cent (5%) of any profit which may be made by the company from its investments, underwriting or other business, during the year this contract is in force."

The defendant claims there was no proof of profits; hence the judgment in favor of plaintiff on this cause of action is erroneous.

4. The contract is clear and unambiguous and cannot be distorted into meaning anything other than what is implied by the language used; that is, that the commission should be paid on the basis of profits made during the year. Profits and losses are figured for a fiscal year, and it is evident that the same theory moved the parties in entering into the agreement in question, and not losses suffered thereafter on policies written during the year in question. Accepting this as the only reasonable and correct interpretation of the contract, this contention of defendant must be rejected.

5. It is contended by the plaintiff that the expense of reinsurance is not an item to be deducted from the gross income to ascertain the net profits as a basis to figure the amount of commissions earned by the plaintiff. We cannot agree with this contention. The expense of reinsurance was a precautionary measure to protect the defendant in its infancy from disastrous consequences, and was a sound business precaution and a legitimate expense to be charged in ascertaining net profits.

It is ordered that the judgment and order appealed from be, and the same are hereby, reversed, with directions to grant a new trial.

ON PETITION FOR REHEARING April 5, 1930. 286 P. 1118.