Commonwealth Ins. Co. of NY v. O. Henry Tent & Awn. Co.

• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit
• Writing for the Court: KNOCH and CASTLE, Circuit , and GRUBB
• Citation: Commonwealth Ins. Co. of NY v. O. Henry Tent & Awn. Co., 273 F.2d 163 (7th Cir. 1959)
• Decision Date: 21 December 1959
• Docket Number: 12764.,No. 12649,12649
• Parties: COMMONWEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK, The Continental Insurance Company, Milwaukee Insurance Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States Fire Insurance Company, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. O. HENRY TENT & AWNING COMPANY, Defendant-Appellee.

273 F.2d 163 (1959)

COMMONWEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK, The Continental Insurance Company, Milwaukee Insurance Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States Fire Insurance Company, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. O. HENRY TENT & AWNING COMPANY, Defendant-Appellee.

Nos. 12649, 12764.

United States Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit.

December 21, 1959.

John P. Gorman, Chicago, Ill., Donald N. Clausen, Herbert W. Hirsh, Jerome H. Torshen, Chicago, Ill., for appellants.

Morris A. Haft, Chicago, Ill., Bernard Davis, Haft, Shapiro & Davis, Chicago, Ill., for appellee.

Before KNOCH and CASTLE, Circuit Judges, and GRUBB, District Judge.

GRUBB, District Judge.

The above-numbered appeals have been consolidated for purposes of the hearing only. They arise out of an action for declaratory judgment brought by the insurers against the insured to determine their liability under a fire insurance policy containing a monthly reporting form endorsement whereunder the insured agreed to make monthly reports of total cash values of the insured property at each of specified locations.

The value reporting clause of said policies provides that if such reports are not timely made, the amount recoverable thereunder is to be limited to the amount of the last reported values.

The insured sustained a fire loss in the agreed actual amount of $32,188.29 and filed a counterclaim for that amount. The insurers contend that their total liability is $14,360.76, the last reported value at the location of the loss. (For a more detailed statement of the facts, see opinion of Chief Judge Duffy in this case, 7 Cir., 266 F.2d 200.)

A résumé of the proceedings had in the trial court and before this court shows that an order for partial summary judgment in the amount of conceded liability, $14,360.76, was entered by the trial court on the insured's motion on November 6, 1958, with execution issued pursuant to the court's order. The insurers appealed from that judgment on November 24, 1958. While said appeal was pending, the undetermined portion of the case was tried to the court and judgment entered for the insured on April 14, 1959, in the amount of $17,827.53 plus interest and attorneys' fees.

On May 2, 1959, the decision of this court, reported at 266 F.2d 200, reversing the order for entry of partial summary judgment of November 6, 1958, was rendered.

On May 4, 1959, the insurers filed notice of appeal from the judgment entered April 14, 1959.

On May 5, 1959, the insured moved in the trial court that the judgment of April 14, 1959, be vacated or, in the alternative, be modified by adding to it the amount of $14,360.76. This motion was continued on May 8, 1959, and on May 11, 1959, it was continued generally. On this date also the summary judgment of November 6, 1958, was vacated pursuant to the mandate of this court.

On May 15, 1959, the insured moved this court to amend its decision reversing the partial summary judgment of November 6, 1958. This motion was denied on June 11, 1959.

On May 22, 1959, the insured moved the trial court to pass on its motion of May 5, 1959, and that, in the event said motion should be overruled, judgment be entered for the insured in the amount of admitted liability. The trial court on this date denied the insured's motion of May 5, 1959, to vacate or modify but entered another judgment against the insurers in the amount of $14,360.76.

On May 25, 1959, the trial court, on its own motion, reconsidered its order for judgment of May 22, 1959, and took the matter under advisement. On June 25, 1959, the trial court reinstated its order of May 22, 1959, and entered partial judgment against the insurers in the amount of $14,360.76.

Appeal No. 12649 is from the judgment of April 14, 1959, in the amount of $17,827.53 plus $4,828.23 interest and...