Prestigiacamo v. Am. Equitable Assur. Co.

• Citation: 221 S.W.2d 217
• Decision Date: 04 April 1949
• Docket Number: No. 21137.,21137.
• Parties: NATALE PRESTIGIACAMO, RESPONDENT, v. AMERICAN EQUITABLE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK, A CORP., APPELLANT.
• Court: Missouri Court of Appeals

221 S.W.2d 217

NATALE PRESTIGIACAMO, RESPONDENT, v. AMERICAN EQUITABLE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK, A CORP., APPELLANT.

No. 21137.

Kansas City Court of Appeals. Missouri.

Opinion delivered April 4, 1949.

Appeal from Circuit Court of Jackson County. — Hon. John F. Cook, Judge.

AFFIRMED.

Alvin C. Trippe, Hale Houts and Hogsett, Trippe, Depping & Houts for appellants.

The case is to be reviewed as a suit in equity. Sutton v. Gilbert, Mo. App., 193 S.W. 2d 928, 929; Davidson v. Eubanks, Mo. Sup., 189 S.W. 2d 295, 296; Rinkel v. Lubke, 246 Mo. 377, 392, 152 S.W. 81; Sec. 114(d), Civil Code of Missouri. In each case the policy expressly limited the insurance coverage to $1250.00 on 1511-13 East 12th Street and $1250.00 on 1515-17 East 12th Street and no evidence offered was competent or admissible to vary these express provisions of the policy or show that either defendant had insured plaintiff for $2500.00 on the entire property as one building. Pennsylvania Casualty Co. v. Suburban Service Bus Co., Mo. App., 211 S.W. 2d 524, 529; George W. Crossan v. Pennsylvania Fire Ins Co., 133 Mo. App. 537, 540, 113 S.W. 704; Parker-Russell Min. & Mfg. Co. v. Ins. Company of North America, 209 Mo. App. 503, 514, 240 S.W. 248; Teich v. Globe Ind. Co., Mo. App., 25 S.W. 2d 554, syl. 2; Baker v. Keet-Rountree, 318 Mo. 969, 2 S.W. 2d 733, 740; Trabue v. Dwelling House Ins. Co., 121 Mo. 75, 25 S.W. 848; Mitchell Furniture Co. v. Fire Ins. Co., 17 Mo. App. 627; Hale v. Central Mfrs. Ins. Co., Mo. App., 93 S.W. 2d 271, 274; State ex rel. and to Use of Alport v. Boyle-Pryor Const. Co., 352 Mo. 1061, 180 S.W. 2d 727, syl. 4 and 5; J.B. Colt Co. v. Gregor, 328 Mo. 1216, 44 S.W. 2d 2 syl. 2; Iowa-Missouri Walnut Co. v. Grahl, 237 Mo. App. 1093, 170 S.W. 2d 437, syl. 1; Meinhardt v. White, 341 Mo. 446, 107 S.W. 2d 1061, 1063. Construction of the policies as providing $2500.00 each on the entire property as one building was precluded by the fact that the property was classified by the Missouri Inspection Bureau as two buildings and the premium fixed by each policy was based upon rates fixed by the Bureau as two separate buildings. State on Inf. of Taylor, Attorney General, v. American Ins. Co. et al., 355 Mo. 1053, 200 S.W. 2d 1, 9, 11, 14, 17; Magers v. Kansas City Life Ins. Co., 191 S.W. 2d 320, 330-331; Pilgrim Laundry & Dry Cleaning Co. v. Federal Ins. Co., 4 Cir., 140 F. 2d 191; Sections 5971 to 5979, R.S. Mo. The court erred in finding and entering judgment against defendants for penalties and attorneys' fees. There was no evidence of vexatious refusal to pay. Sanderson v. New York Life Ins. Co., Mo. App., 194 S.W. 2d 221, 228; Callahan v. Connecticut General Life Ins. Co., Mo. Sup., 207 S.W. 2d 279, 290; Howard v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 350 Mo. 17, 164 S.W. 2d 360, 366; Volz v. Travelers Ins. Co., Mo. App., 161 S.W. 2d 985, 994; Harms v. Mutual Life Ins. Co., Mo. App., 127 S.W. 2d 57, syl. 4; Berryman v. Maryland Motor Car Ins. Co., 199 Mo. App. 503, 506-7, 204 S.W. 738; State ex rel. Genkow v. U.S.F. & G. Co., Mo. Sup., 163 S.W. 2d 86, 90; Kossmehl v. Millers National Ins. Co., 238 Mo. App. 671, 185 S.W. 2d 293, 297; Suburban Service Bus Co. v. National Mutual Casualty Co., 237 Mo. App. 1128, 183 S.W. 2d 376, 378.

C.W. Crossan, Robert J. Coleman and Harry L. Jacobs for respondent.

In jury waived cases the judgment should not be set aside unless clearly erroneous and due regard should be given to the trial court's opportunity to judge the credibility of the witnesses. Sec. 114 (d), Laws of Mo., 1943, p. 388; Sutton v. Gilbert, 193 S.W. 2d 928 (Mo. App.); Wagner v. Mederacke, 195 S.W. 2d 108, 114 (Mo. App.); Johnson v. Frank, 354 Mo. 767, 191 S.W. 2d 618. Latent ambiguity can be raised by extrinsic evidence. Thereupon further extrinsic evidence is admissible to ascertain the intent of the parties and to identify the subject matter referred to. 32 C.J.S. 915, Sec. 961; 2 C.J. 1313, Sec. 2; Queen Ins. Co. of America v. Meyer Milling Co., 43 F. 2d 885, 887 (C.C.A. 8, Mo.). University City, Mo., v. Home Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 114 F. 2d 288 (C.C.A. 8, Mo.); Hardy v. Matthews, 38 Mo. 121; Peters v. Fleming, 329 Mo. 870, 46 S.W. 2d 581; Lead & Zinc Co. v. Phoenix Ins. Co., 27 Mo. App. 446; Carr v. Ins. Co., 2 Mo. App. 466; Ideal Pump & Mfg. Co. v. Amer. Cent. Ins. Co., 167 Mo. App. 566, 152 S.W. 408; Meinhardt v. White, 341 Mo. 446, 107 S.W. 2d 1061; 22 C.J. 1173, Sec. 1570; 32 C.J.S. 916, Sec. 961 (2); State ex rel. W.L. Morrison Inv. Co. v. Trimble, 301 Mo. 146, 256 S.W. 171; Renfro v. Met. Life Ins. Co., 148 Mo. App. 258, 129 S.W. 444; 44 C.J.S. 1119, Sec. 280; Lorenz v. Bull Dog Automotive Ins. Assn., 277 S.W. 596 (Mo. App.); Dolph v. Md. Cas. Co., 303 Mo. 534, 261 S.W. 330, 332. Extrinsic evidence disclosed latent ambiguity in policies sued on, the word "building" being of flexible import, ordinarily referring to entire structure. 12 C.J.S. 378, 379; Goedecke v. Zurich Gen. Acc. & Liab. Ins. Co., 7 S.W. 2d 309, 312 (Mo. App.); Prichard v. Natl. Protect. Ins. Co., 200 S.W. 2d 540 (Mo. App); Aird v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 27 Fed. Supp. 141, aff'd 108 F. 2d 136 (C.C.A. 5); Roberts v. Commer. Cas. Ins. Co., 168 F. 2d 23 (C.C.A. 6); Still v. Conn. Fire Ins. Co., 185 Mo. App. 550, 172 S.W. 625; University City, Mo., v. Home Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 114 F. 2d 288, 297 (C.C.A. 8); Queen Ins. Co. of America v. Meyer Milling Co., 43 F. 2d 885 (C.C.A. 8); Prussian Natl. Ins. Co. v. Terrell, 142 Ky. 732, 135 S.W. 416. Descriptions in insurance policies are not required to be precise. Street numbers often identify entire building bearing further unmentioned street numbers. State v. Castle, 75 N.J.L. 187, 66 Atl. 1059; Prussian Natl. Ins. Co. v. Terrell, 142 Ky. 732, 135 S.W. 419; Litto v. Public Fire Ins. Co., 109 Pa. Super. 195, 167 Atl. 603; Queen Ins. Co. of America v. Meyer Milling Co., 43 F. 2d 885; University City, Mo., v. Home Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 114 F. 2d 288; Westfield Cigar Co. v. Ins. Co., 165 Mass. 541, 43 N.E. 504; Westfield Cigar Co. v. Ins. Co., 169 Mass. 382, 47 N.E. 1026; Blake v. Exchange Mut. Ins. Co., 12 Gray (Mass.) 265; Williams v. Greensboro Fire Ins. Co., 209 N.C. 765, 185 S.E. 21 (Inspection Bureau numbers); Orwat v. Aetna Ins. Co., 226 N.Y.S. 278, 131 Misc. Rep. 141; Arlington Mfg. Co. v. Colonial Assur. Co., 180 N.Y. 337, 73 N.E. 34; Wolff v. Natl. Liberty Ins. Co., 191 Ark. 146, 83 S.W. 2d 836 (Inspection Bureau Numbers); German-Amer. Ins. Co. v. Conn. Fire Ins. Co., 95 Ala. 469, 11 So. 117. Reference in a policy to "building" ordinarily means the whole building, unless specifically qualified. Miles v. McKinney, 199 Atl. 540, 174 Md. 551, 117 A.L.R. 207; Dolph v. Md. Cas. Co., 303 Mo. 534, 261 S.W. 330, 331. In case of ambiguity policy is to be construed most favorably to insured. 26 C.J. 75, Sec. 70; Lemaitre v. Natl. Cas. Co., 195 Mo. App. 599, 186 S.W. 964; Salamone v. Prud. Ins. Co. of America, 103 S.W. 2d 506, 508 (Mo. App.). Cover endorsements on the policies were not only admissible as extrinsic evidence but as parts of the policies themselves and were controlling. Casebolt v. Central Life Ins. Co., 180 S.W. 2d 265 (Mo. App.); Doty v. Amer. Nat. Ins. Co., 350 Mo. 192, 165 S.W. 2d 862; Hessler v. Fed. Cas. Co., 190 Ind. 68, 129 N.E. 325; N.Y. Life Ins. Co. v. Hiatt, 140 F. 2d 752 (C.C.A. 9). Missouri Inspection Bureau's errors did not preclude blanket coverage according to the known true facts and the agreement of the parties. Secs. 5971 to 5979, R.S. Mo., 1939; O'Maley v. N.W. Mut. Life Ins. Co., 231 Mo. App. 39, 95 S.W. 2d 852, 858; Landau v. N.Y. Life Ins. Co., 199 Mo. App. 544, 203 S.W. 1003; Foursha v. Amer. Ins. Co., 224 Mo. App. 1071, 34 S.W. 2d 552; Veitch v. Mass. Bond. Co., 226 S.W. 658, 662 (Mo. App.); Lumberman's Mut. Ins. Co. v. K.C., Ft. Scott & Memphis R.R. Co., 149 Mo. 165, 50 S.W. 281; Shelby v. Conn. Fire Ins. Co., 218 Mo. App. 84, 262 S.W. 686; Indiahoma Ref. Co. v. Nat. Fire Ins. Co., 242 S.W. 710 (Mo. App.); Wolff v. Nat. Liberty Ins. Co. of America, 191 Ark. 146, 83 S.W. 2d 836; Sec. 5980, R.S. Mo., 1939. The court did not err in awarding penalty and attorneys' fees for vexatious delay. Earley v. Automobile Ins. Co. of Hartford, Conn., 144 S.W. 2d 860 (Mo. App.); Vaught v. Home Ins. Co., 277 S.W. 939 (Mo. App.); Lemaitre v. Natl. Cas. Co., 195 Mo. App. 599, 186 S.W. 964; Bennett v. Natl. Fire Ins. Co. of Hartford, 235 Mo. App. 720, 143 S.W. 2d 479; Murray v. Niagara Fire Ins. Co., 265 S.W. 102 (Mo. App.); Martin v. Continental Ins. Co., 256 S.W. 120 (Mo. App.).

SPERRY, C.

Plaintiff sued defendant, a foreign insurance corporation, for the full face amount of a $2500 fire insurance contract on the theory that the policy contained a latent ambiguity. The property insured was described as two buildings, each insured for $1250, whereas, plaintiff contends, the property is really but one building, which fact the agent knew, and that he agreed to so insure it. The case was tried to the court, without a jury, and judgment was for plaintiff for $2500, and for penalty and attorneys' fees of $500. Defendant appeals.

The property fronts 100 feet on the south side of East 12th Street, in Kansas City. The policy was in evidence and on the outside front jacket the following appears: "Property Bldg. 1511-1513 and 1515-17 East 12th $2500.00." On the first page of the policy, on the first line, appears the following: "Amount $2500.00 Rate (.82/2.05 (1.91/4.775 Premium $85.30." Attached to said front page is a sheet designated: "Mercantile Building Form," on the face of which appears the following: $1250.00 on each of the two, three story composition roof brick buildings * * * situated 1511-13 East 12th Street and 1515-17 East 12th Street City of Kansas City State of Missouri."

Plaintiff acquired the property in 1921. An architect testified to the effect that the lines of the roof and foundation indicate that it is one single building, constructed at one time; that the second and third...