Schaeffer v. Anchor Mut. Fire Ins. Co.
Decision Date | 13 April 1901 |
Citation | 113 Iowa 652,85 N.W. 985 |
Parties | SCHAEFFER v. ANCHOR MUT. FIRE INS. CO. |
Court | Iowa Supreme Court |
OPINION TEXT STARTS HERE
Appeal from district court, Carroll county; S. M. Ellwood, Judge.
Action upon a policy of fire insurance. The cause was tried to a jury. When the testimony was all in, the court directed a verdict in plaintiff's favor. Such a verdict was returned, and from a judgment rendered thereon defendant appeals. Reversed.Sullivan & Sullivan, for appellant.
Salinger & Korte, for appellee.
The policy was for $800, and covered a frame building occupied as a harness shop and dwelling. The first question presented is whether plaintiff, in whose name the policy was made out, had an insurable interest in the property. It is conceded that at the time the policy was issued the title to the property was in one B. C. Wente, the father-in-law of plaintiff. The only interest the latter had, as stated by him, was through this arrangement with the owner: On the part of defendant it is contended that this shows plaintiff to have been only a tenant at will, and as such he had no insurable interest. In Carter v. Insurance Co., 12 Iowa, 287, the court says: Again, in Merrett v. Insurance Co., 42 Iowa, 11, Beck, J., speaking for the court, says: Under this rule the homestead right of occupancy is insurable. See the case last cited; also Carey v. Insurance Co., 97 Iowa, 619, 66 N. W. 920. So likewise is the right of possession of chattels. Fox v. Insurance Co., 93 Iowa, 7, 61 N. W. 211. Under our statute a tenant at will is entitled to 30 days' notice before he can be dispossessed. He therefore has at least that term of definite, fixed possession. This right is insurable. What its value might be in the present case we are relieved from determining, for defendant has agreed of record that plaintiff's right of recovery, if he is entitled to succeed, is $800.
There is another view of this matter which is presented by the record, although not discussed by counsel. Plaintiff was under obligation, through his agreement with the owner, to keep this property insured; and, so far as appears, this was to be done for the latter's benefit. He had a right as a mere agent to do this. If, with full knowledge of all the facts, defendant chose to issue the policy in the agent's name, it cannot escape liability on the ground that he had no interest in the subject-matter. Wente's interest was certainly insurable, and it looks to us as if that was what plaintiff agreed to protect.
2. The policy contained this provision: “If the interest of the assured in the property, whether as owner, trustee, consignee, factor, agent, mortgagee, lessee, or otherwise, be not truly stated in this policy, then * * * this policy shall be void.” In its answer defendant avers that in plaintiff's application for the insurance he stated that he was the owner of the land upon which the building was situated; that this statement was intentionally and willfully made; that it was untrue, for that title was in Wente at the time; and because of this fraud the policy was void from its date. In response to this claim plaintiff alleges that the facts of his interest and occupancy and of the ownership of the property were fully stated to one Hannisch, a soliciting agent for defendant, who took the application, and filled it out; that plaintiff supposed the facts were correctly stated as he gave them, and did not learn the contrary until after the loss occurred. Evidence was offered by plaintiff to sustain these averments. To meet this testimony, Hannisch was called by defendant, who testified as follows: ...
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