Wynn v. Insurance Company

February 13, 1915. The opinion of the Court was delivered by This is an action on a policy of insurance for a partial loss caused by fire.

The only question in the case is presented by the following exception:

"Because his Honor erred in instructing the jury that procuring of additional or further insurance, in excess of the insurable value stated in the policy, as having been agreed upon by the insured and the insurer, without the consent of such insurer, would render the policy void (unless there had been a waiver).

Whereas, he should have instructed the jury that, under the statute law of South Carolina, the procuring of additional or further insurance without the consent of the insurer, does not render the policy void, but two or more policies written upon the same property are declared to be contributory insurance, and if the aggregate sum of such insurance exceeds the insurable value of the property as agreed upon by the insurer and the insured, in the event of a total or partial loss, each company shall be liable for itspro rata share of such insurance."

The ruling of his Honor, the Circuit Judge, involves the construction of section 2718, Code of Laws, 1912, which is as follows:

"No fire insurance company, or individuals writing fire insurance policies doing business in this State, shall issue policies for more than the value to be stated in the policy, the amount of the value of the property to be insured, and the amount of the insurance to be fixed by the insurer and insured, at or before the time of issuing said policies, and in case of total loss by fire, the insured shall be entitled to recover the full amount of insurance, and a proportionate amount in case of partial loss; Provided, Two or more policies written upon the same property shall be deemed and held contributive insurance; and if the aggregate sum of all such insurance exceed the insurable value of the property, as agreed by the insurer and the insured, in the event of a total or partial loss, each company shall be liable for its pro rata share of said insurance."

The case of Cave v. Insurance Company, 57 S.C. 347,35 S.E. 577, shows that the evident intention of the statute was to discourage double or additional insurance on the same property. In that case it was held that where additional insurance was placed on the property, by consent of the company first insuring it, each company was only liable for its pro rata share of the total insurance. It would be inconsistent with the manifest intention of the statute to hold that each company should be liable for its pro rata share of the total insurance, when the first policy contained a provision, rendering the policy void if there was additional insurance, as this would confer upon the insured right, which he did not have before the statute was enacted.

In the case of Cave v. Insurance Co., supra, the building was insured in three different companies. One of them valued it at $1,000, another at $3,000, and the third made no mention as to the requirements of the statute.

It will thus be seen that the valuation placed on the building by one company was three times as large as that mentioned in one of the other policies. The valuation of $3,000 increased the risk assumed by the first company, which valued the building at $1,000. To allow the policyholder to insure the property in other companies, without the knowledge or consent of the first company, would render the business of insurance very uncertain, as to the extent to which the companies might be made liable, without any agreement on their part. It would require them to find out, if the insured had taken out policies in other companies, in order to ascertain the amount for which they were liable — whether for the full value or a proportionate part thereof.

It is unreasonable to suppose that the statute contemplated such loose and uncertain business methods.

Affirmed.