Indiana Ins. Co. v. Knoll, 767A33

• Decision Date: 22 April 1968
• Docket Number: No. 767A33,No. 1,767A33,1
• Parties: INDIANA INSURANCE COMPANY, Appellant, v. Virginia KNOLL, Rufus Lark, III, Jesse Jamison, James Olds, Ellease Howell, David H. McCain, Administrator of the Estate of William C. Howell, Deceased, and Eugene H. Haviland, Administrator of the Estate of Gerald Lee Knoll, Deceased, Appellees
• Court: Indiana Appellate Court

Page 63

236 N.E.2d 63

142 Ind.App. 506

INDIANA INSURANCE COMPANY, Appellant, v. Virginia KNOLL, Rufus Lark, III, Jesse Jamison, James Olds,

Ellease Howell, David H. McCain, Administrator of the Estate

of William C. Howell, Deceased, and Eugene H. Haviland,

Administrator of the Estate of Gerald Lee Knoll, Deceased, Appellees.

No. 767A33.

Appellate Court of Indiana, Division No. 1.

April 22, 1968.

Frederick H. Link, Douglas D. Seely, Jr., South Bend, Jones, Obenchain, Johnson Benjamin Piser, Piser & Cox, South Bend, for appellees.

Ford & Pankow, South Bend, of counsel, for appellant.

COOPER, Judge.

This is an appeal from the Starke Circuit Court, wherein the Appellant brought an action seeking a judicial determination, by way of a declaratory judgment, to determine whether a certain policy of insurance was void or voidable because of alleged false answers and representations made by the insured when he executed the underwriting questionaire as a part of his application for insurance.

After the proper issues were closed, the cause was submitted to the trial court upon an agreed statement of facts upon which the Court entered the following finding and judgment:

'Upon the agreed statement of facts, the Court finds against the plaintiff and for defendants Knoll, Howell, Estate of Gerald Knoll.

'The Court finds that the policy of Insurance #FAS--06--045--074 of the Indiana Insurance Company to Gerald Knoll and Virginia Knoll was and is a valid, binding and enforceable contract of insurance for the period of 5--28--64 to 5--28--65.

'IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED BY THE COURT THAT plaintiff take nothing by way of its complaint.

'IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED THAT the policy of insurance #FAS--06--045--794 issued by the Indiana Insurance Company to Gerald Knoll and Virginia Knoll was and is a valid, binding and enforceable contract of insurance for the period of 5--28--64 to 5--28--65.

'Costs v. plaintiff.'

Thereafter Appellant filed its motion for a new trial which the trial court overruled and that ruling is the assigned error on appeal.

Because of the result we have reached, we believe the only pertinent specification of error in the motion for new trial is number four which alleges:

'That the decision of the court is contrary to law.'

The agreed statement of facts appearing in the record is as follows:

'1. On the 28th day of May, 1964, Gerald Knoll, also known as Gerald L. Knoll, and Virginia Knoll made application for private passenger automobile insurance to the plaintiff, Indiana Insurance Company. The face side of the application was filled out and signed by the Bardonner Insurance Agency, Michigan City, Indiana. The reverse side of the application which is entitled 'Underwriting Questionnaire' containing information furnished by Gerald Knoll was signed by Gerald Knoll. A copy of form of application as it was filled out and signed is attached hereto, made a part hereof and marked Exhibit 'A'.

'2. The Bardonner Insurance Agency issued an insurance policy after Bardonner Insurance Agency signed the face side of the application and Gerald Knoll signed the reverse side of the application designated 'Underwriting Questionnaire', as referred to in statement No. 1 above. The policy was issued on May 28, 1964. A copy of the policy as issued is attached hereto, made a part hereof and marked Exhibit 'B'.

'3. After the issuance of such policy, Gerald Knoll, while operating a motor vehicle purportedly covered by such policy, was involved in an automobile accident.

'4. Various parties, including all of the defendants in this action, have made a claim against the Indiana Insurance Company under the policy above referred to.

'5. The pertinent parts of the Driver Record of Gerald Knoll as shown in the Michigan City Police Department, Michigan City, Indiana, are:

                                                   Type    Arrest
                                                  -------  ------
                8-25-63 Franklin St. Barker Ave.  AAMajor   None
                8-31-63 Franklin St. 8th St.      AAMajor   Yes
                

"INDIANA INSURANCE COMPANY

INDIANAPOLIS INDIANA

PRIVATE PASSENGER AUTOMOBILE APPLICATION

IMPORTANT

SEE REVERSE SIDE

"All Questions Must Be Answered Unless A Policy Has Already Been Written, In Which Case Give Policy Number ______ Complete Bracketed Items On This Side and Reverse Side In Its Entirety.

Applicant: Gerald Knoll & Virginia Knoll

                (a) If applicant is an individual, is he sole owner? ___
                (b) If more than one applicant, who ownes the automobile? ___
                Address:  118 E Waren St. Michigan City Ind
                Policy Period: _________________________ to ______
                500XL-67-2Dr H.T
                Car 1: 1963 Ford Year--  Trade Name--  Model--  Type Body
                Identification, Motor, or Serial Number 3z67z112562 8 No. of Cyls. L
                        Symbol _____ Cost New--  Actual Cost 2400.00 Date of Purchase 5-28-64
                        New or Used Used
                Car 2: _____  Year--  Trade Name--  Model--  Type Body ______
                        Identification, Motor, or Serial Number ____________ No. of Cyls. ___
                        Symbol _____ Cost New ______ Actual Cost ______ Date of Purchase ______
                        New or Used ___
                Loss Payee:  First Merchants Natls Bank Address Mich City Ind
                Garaging Point: _____ Same as Applicant's Add.  Unless Otherwise shown
                        _____ Purpose of Use: ___
                Is car driven to and from work: Car 1 yes If so, give mileage, one way
                Car 2 _____
                Car 1 1 Average annual mileage: Car 1 10,000
                2 ___
                       Is car ordinarily used in business other than in going to and from work
                Car 1 No Car 2 ___
                Occupation: Pipe Mechanic  Employer: Michigan City Water Dept
                Employer's Address: Mich City, Ind___
                Husband's name, occupation and employer ___
                Rating Classification:______ Type Policy:______ Family:______
                All Star (Available only in Indiana & Ohio);______ Standard
                       PREMIUMS          CODES                   LIMITS OF LIABILITY
                Car 1          Car 2                          $   10,000 Each Person
                $31.00       $             11-                $   20,000 Each Occurrence
                20.00                       12-               $    5,000 Each Occurrence
                 7.00                       13-               $      500 Each Person
                23.00                       15-               $          or ACV
                43.00                       14-               $      100 Deductible from ACV
                                           14-                $      Deductible from ACV
                                           15-4               $             or ACV
                 2.00                       16-1              $  25. per Disablement
                 3.00                       18                $   10,000 Each Person
                                                              $   20,000 Each Accident
                             COVERAGES
                Bodily Injury Liability                       A
                Property Damage Liability                     B
                Automobile Medical Payments                   C
                Comprehensive                                 D
                Collision or Upset                            E
                Collision or Upset, Disappearing Ded.  E-1
                Fire, Theft, Windstorm                    F-G-H
                Towing and Labor Costs                        1
                Family Protection                             U
                 $_____________________  Total       Term        Symbol
                                                     ---------------------------------------
                $  51.60     In advance              H.O. Codes
                -----------------------              Stat.
                $  38.70       Due Date              Car 1
                -----------------------              Car 2
                $  38.70       Due Date              Agency               Location
                -----------------------
                                          Total Premium is Payable
                                        In Advance Unless Otherwise
                                                 Indicated.
                5-28-64
                -----------
                 Date                                /s/ Bardonner Ins Agency
                                                     ---------------------------------------
                                                                      Agent
                EXHIBIT A
                "UNDERWRITING QUESTIONNAIRE
                Is this risk new to agency? _____ Yes; _____ No
                Previous Insuror None
                THE NAMED INSURED:
                Birth Date: 1-24-38 Driver's License No. K540-275-497-065
                Known to you ------ Years
                Marital Status: _____ Single; X Married; _____ Divorced; _____ Widowed;
                        _____ Separated
                (Explain any no answer)
                Without impairments X Yes; _____ No.
                Lived in same town over one year X Yes; _____ No;
                Speaks English Well X Yes; _____ No.
                Is principal Operator X Yes; _____ No.
                DRIVER (OTHER THAN THE NAMED INSURED)
                Name                  Birth Date        Driver's License Number
                --------------
                Virginia Knoll  Wife  7-27-43           Permit E120582
                Marital Status        Member of Hshld.                  Impaired Percent of
                                                                        use of Car 1 Car 2
                Married                  X                                  No
                THE AUTOMOBILE/S (Complete for private passenger type only)
                Car 1
                -----
                 * * *
                Garaged: _____ Yes; X No.   Engine Size: 390 Horsepower
                No. and Type Carburation: _____ No.: 4 No. Bbl.
                Air Conditioning: _____ Yes; X No    Bucket Seats X Yes: _____ No
                        Is this Original Engine X Yes; _____ No  Power Steering: X Yes; _____
                        No    Tachometer: _____ Yes; X No. Std. Transmission with Floor Shifts
                        _____ Yes; X No.
                List other special equipment:
                Car 2
                -----
                 * * *
                Garaged: _____ Yes; _____ No.   Engine Size: _____ Horsepower
                No. and Type Carburetors: _____ No.: _____ No. Bbl.
                Air Conditioning: _____ Yes _____ No    Bucket Seats _____ Yes _____ No
                Is this Original Engine? _____ Yes; _____ No
                Power Steering: _____ Yes; _____ No    Tachometer: _____ Yes; _____ No.
                Std. Transmission with Floor Shifts _____ Yes; _____ No.
                List other special equipment:
                LOSS HISTORY STATEMENT-- In the 36 months period immediately prior to
                        the effective date of this insurance, has the applicant or any resident
                        of the household, been involved in an accident while operating a motor
                        vehicle, resulting in (a) damage to any property, including his own, or
                        (b) Bodily injury to or death of any person?
                X Yes _____ No  If "Yes," complete the

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