Cole v. . Germania Fire Ins. Co.

[EDITORS' NOTE: THIS PAGE CONTAINS HEADNOTES. HEADNOTES ARE NOT AN OFFICIAL PRODUCT OF THE COURT, THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT DISPLAYED.] The original policy, dated January 14, 1881, insured the firm of C.F. Dielmann Co. against loss or damage by fire "on their brick building occupied for planning and wood-working purposes, situate Nos. 547 to 555 West Twenty-first street," in the city of New York, for one year from January 19, 1881, in the sum of $1,000, "loss, if any, payable to W.C. Herrick, mortgagee," and contained a special clause known as the "mortgage clause." Among the conditions in the policy was one making it void in case of "increase of hazard" by the erection of neighboring buildings. During the life of the original policy (as was assumed on the trial, and as the evidence established) Dielmann Co. erected on the premises, at a distance of about seven feet from the main-building, a drying-house constructed of wood, one story high, intended for the drying of lumber and in which they placed a large amount of lumber, using therein steam introduced by pipes connecting with a boiler in the main building. Mr. Hamlin, an insurance broker, who acted as agent for Dielmann Co. and also for Herrick, the mortgagee, in procuring the original policy and in making the alleged renewal agreement, testified that "a frame building is more hazardous than a brick building; the close proximity of a frame building to a brick building ordinarily increases the hazard of a brick building." Upon this testimony, which was undisputed, and the uncontroverted facts as to the construction, location and use of the drying-house, the court was fully justified in assuming that there had been an increase of hazard. It is self-evident, and a contrary finding by a jury could not stand. It follows that if the fire had occurred during the running of the original policy, Dielmann Co. could not have maintained an action. The increase of hazard would have been a conclusive answer to their suit on the policy. But Herrick, the mortgagee, would have stood in a different position. By the express terms of the mortgage clause, his interest in the policy would not be invalidated by any act or neglect of the mortgagor or owner of the property. (Hastings v. Westchester Fire Ins.Co., 73 N.Y. 141.)

The fire occurred February 11, 1882, after the expiration of the original policy, and the plaintiff, who stands in the right of Herrick, the mortgagee, rests his action upon the claim that the policy was renewed and continued for the period of a year from January 19, 1882, by a valid, oral agreement made at that date between Herrick's agent, Hamlin, and the defendant. It was not denied on the trial that there was an oral negotiation between Hamlin and the defendant, to continue the policy, but the latter insisted that it did not result in a final and definite agreement, and also that the premium on the renewal was not paid, payment of which by the clause providing for a renewal is made a condition precedent to any liability for an extended term. It is unnecessary to pass upon these questions, as we have reached the conclusion that the complaint was properly dismissed on the ground that Hamlin did not, when the alleged agreement was made, disclose to the company the fact that the drying-house had been erected on the premises.

The renewal clause in the original policy contains this provision: "This insurance may be renewed by the payment of premium for extended term, duly receipted for, but in case there shall have been any increase of hazard, it must be made known to the company by the assured at the time of renewal, otherwise this policy shall be void." The mortgage clause also provides that the mortgagee shall notify the company of any increase of hazard which shall come to his knowledge, and if not permitted by the policy, shall pay therefor according to the established rates. The increase of hazard by the erection of the drying-house was known to the broker when the alleged renewal agreement was made. This was conclusively established by his testimony. Upon the well-settled doctrine of agency his knowledge is imputable to his principal, and Herrick, the mortgagee, was affected with notice of the fact known to his agent, and a failure by the agent to disclose to the underwriter the increase of hazard put the principal in the same position as if, with actual knowledge of the increase of hazard, he had personally applied for the renewal and omitted to inform the defendant. (Dresser v. Norwood, 10 Jur. [N.S.] 851; Story on Ag. [9th ed.], §§ 129, 140.) The increase of hazard by an erection made subsequent to the issuing of the original policy, and prior to the renewal, was a fact material to the risk, and its disclosure by Herrick, the mortgagee, who procured the renewal, was by the clear language of the policy a condition precedent to a continuance of the defendant's liability. The provision in the mortgage clause that the interest of a mortgagee shall not be invalidated by any act or neglect of the mortgagor or owner of the property insured, does not protect the mortgagee's interest in this case for the reason that it is his own act or default, and not that of the mortgagor or owner, which brings the case within the clause avoiding the policy. (Graham v. Fireman's Ins. Co., 87 N.Y. 69.)

It is, however, strenuously insisted by the learned counsel for the plaintiff, that there was no proof to justify the assumption made by the trial judge in assigning his reasons for dismissing the complaint, that Hamlin did not at the time of the alleged renewal disclose to the company the fact of the increase of risk, and that the burden of proving such non-disclosure was upon the defendant. The presumption of law is in favor of innocence and against fraud, and upon this ground it has been held that in an action upon a policy of insurance the plaintiff is not bound in the first instance to prove the truth of representations upon which the policy was issued and which formed the basis of the contract, but that the burden of proof is upon the underwriter to establish fraud or concealment, although the truth of the representations, or the disclosure of material facts, may have been a condition precedent to the insurer's liability. (Fiske v. New England Marine Ins. Co., 15 Pick. 310; Leete v.Gresham Life Ins. Society, 15 Jur. 1161; 2 Greenl. Ev., § 398.) Assuming that the present case is within the principle, we are of opinion that the evidence tended to show that the increase of hazard was not disclosed, and that the plaintiff acquiesced in the assumption of this fact made by the court on the final disposition of the case, and ought not now to be permitted to deny the correctness of the assumption. The witness Hamlin represented the mortgagee in procuring the renewal. The transaction was between him and the agent of the defendant, no other person being present. The interview was at the office of the company, and was very brief, he asking for a renewal and the agent consenting to it. He purports in his testimony to narrate the whole transaction, and no reference is made to any notice having been given of the increased risk. At the conclusion of the testimony the defendant moved to dismiss the complaint on the ground, among others, that the drying-house increased the hazard, and that there was also a change of name without notice to the company. The trial judge, in deciding the motion, said, among other things, "not only was there no premium paid, but a material increase of hazard that had occurred by the construction of the drying-house, was not disclosed." The plaintiff's counsel did not suggest to the judge that he had misconceived the facts upon which his ruling was based, but contented himself with merely excepting to the order dismissing the complaint. Under the circumstances we think it is not open to the plaintiff to raise for the first time on appeal the point that a non-disclosure was not shown.

The conclusion upon the point considered being decisive of the appeal, a discussion of other questions is unnecessary.

The judgment should be affirmed.

All concur.

Judgment affirmed.