State ex rel. Prudential Ins. Co. of America v. Bland

• Decision Date: 05 February 1945
• Docket Number: 39207
• Citation: 185 S.W.2d 654,353 Mo. 956
• Parties: State of Missouri ex rel. the Prudential Insurance Company of America, a Corporation, Relator, v. Ewing C. Bland, Nick T. Cave, and Samuel A. Dew, Judges of the Kansas City Court of Appeals
• Court: Missouri Supreme Court

185 S.W.2d 654

353 Mo. 956

State of Missouri ex rel. the Prudential Insurance Company of America, a Corporation, Relator, v. Ewing C. Bland, Nick T. Cave, and Samuel A. Dew, Judges of the Kansas City Court of Appeals

No. 39207

Supreme Court of Missouri

February 5, 1945

Rehearing Denied or Motion to Transfer to Banc Overruled March 5, 1945.

Original Proceeding in Certiorari.

OPINION OF COURT OF APPEALS QUASHED.

Opinion of Court of Appeals quashed.

Henry I. Eager and Michaels, Blackmar, Newkirk, Eager & Swanson for relator.

(1) The opinion of the Kansas City Court of Appeals is in conflict with those opinions of this court holding that contracts must be enforced as written by the parties, that their terms must be given effect in their plain, ordinary and popular sense and that unambiguous contracts cannot be enlarged or changed under the guise of construction. State ex rel. Prudential Ins. Co. v. Shain, 344 Mo. 623, 127 S.W.2d 675; State ex rel. Casualty Co. v. Cox, 14 S.W.2d 600; State ex rel. Mutual Benefit v. Trimble, 334 Mo 920, 68 S.W.2d 685; State ex rel. Life Ins. Co. v. Trimble, 306 Mo. 295, 267 S.W. 876; Prange v. International Life Ins. Co., 329 Mo. 651, 46 S.W.2d 523; Wendorff v. Mo. State Life Ins. Co., 318 Mo. 363, 1 S.W.2d 99; Martin v. Travelers Ins. Co., 310 Mo. 411, 276 S.W. 380; Caldwell v. Travelers Ins. Co., 305 Mo. 619, 267 S.W. 907; Scales v. Natl. Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 212 S.W. 8; Paisley v. Lucas, 346 Mo. 827, 143 S.W.2d 262. (2) Specifically the Kansas City Court of Appeals violated that rule. In holding that plaintiff had suffered no "loss, damage or expense" within the terms of the bond, although it had, solely on account of the bond, made a payment which is now conceded to have been wholly erroneous; and in holding that plaintiff did not prove such "loss, expense or damage." Ancient Order of United Workmen v. Mooney, 230 Pa. 16, 79 A. 233. (3) In holding that only a "prospective" breach of the bond would justify recovery, and that, the payment of the claim having already been made when it was discovered that the insured was alive, no recovery could be had; and this, notwithstanding the clear purpose and intent of the bond to provide reimbursement for this particular payment if the insured proved to be alive. Ancient Order of United Workmen v. Mooney, 230 Pa. 16, 79 A. 233; Masonic Life Assn. v. Crandall, 41 N.Y.S. 497. (4) In disregarding the fact (as shown by the affirmative statements in the opinion) that even if the bond be considered as one of indemnity against loss, as distinguished from one against "liability," nevertheless such a bond is always construed as providing protection against an actual loss incurred, or a payment actually made, as here; even the authorities cited in the opinion show this; Moberly v. Leonard, 339 Mo. 791, 99 S.W.2d 58, and other authorities cited in opinion; and in thus basing its opinion upon a meaningless distinction. (5) In holding that plaintiff's petition stated no cause of action when it sufficiently pleaded the terms of the bond and all of the pertinent facts.

Clarence C. Chilcott for respondents.

(1) No conflict is shown between the opinion of the Kansas City Court of Appeals and any decision of this court. State ex rel. Valentine Coal Co. v. Trimble, 325 Mo. 277, 28 S.W.2d 1028; State ex rel. Sei v. Haid, 332 Mo 1061, 61 S.W.2d 950; State ex rel. Kirby v. Trimble, 326 Mo. 675, 32 S.W.2d 569; State ex rel. Fitchner v. Haid, 324 Mo. 130, 22 S.W.2d 1045; State ex rel. Cont. Ins. Co. of the City of N.Y. v. Becker, 77 S.W.2d 100, 336 Mo. 59; State ex rel. Met. L. Ins. Co. v. Allen, 337 Mo. 525, 85 S.W.2d 469; State ex rel. Ben Hur Life Ins. v. Shain, 342 Mo. 928, 119 S.W.2d 236; State ex rel. M.-K.-T. v. Shain, 124 S.W.2d 1141; M.-K.-T. v. Hamarstrom, 59 S.Ct. 1032; State ex rel. Waters v. Hostetter, 126 S.W.2d 1164; State ex rel. K. C. Theological S. v. Ellison, 216 S.W. 967; State ex rel. United Rys. Co. v. Reynolds, 165 S.W. 729, 257 Mo. 19; State ex rel. Arel v. Farrington, 272 Mo. 157, 197 S.W. 912; State ex rel. Met. St. Ry. v. Ellison, 224 S.W. 820, 316 Mo. 865; State ex rel. Union Biscuit Co. v. Becker, 316 Mo. 865, 297 S.W. 783; State ex rel. Schrowang v. Hostetter, 337 Mo. 522, 85 S.W.2d 417; State ex rel. Hoyt v. Shain, 338 Mo. 1208, 93 S.W.2d 992; State ex rel. Kennedy v. Remmers, 340 Mo. 126, 101 S.W.2d 70; State ex rel. K.C. Pub. Serv. Co. v. Shain, 124 S.W.2d 1097; State ex rel. Dunham v. Ellison, 278 Mo. 649, 213 S.W. 459; State ex rel. Vesper-Buick v. Daues, 323 Mo. 388, 19 S.W.2d 700; State ex rel. Dowdon v. Allen, 337 Mo. 260, 85 S.W.2d 63; State ex rel. Superior M. Co. v. Hostetter, 337 Mo. 718, 85 S.W.2d 743; State ex rel. Tungett v. Shain, 340 Mo. 434, 101 S.W.2d 1; State ex rel. Pub. Serv. Comm. v. Shain, 342 Mo. 867, 119 S.W.2d 220; State ex rel. Locke v. Trimble, 298 S.W. 782; State ex rel. Smith v. Allen, 323 Mo. 396, 267 S.W. 843; State ex rel. Manion v. Dawson, 284 Mo. 490, 225 S.W. 97; State ex rel. Met. L. Ins. Co. v. Allen, 339 Mo. 1156, 100 S.W.2d 487; State ex rel. B. of L.F. & E. v. Shain, 123 S.W.2d 1; State ex rel. Silverforb v. Smith, 332 Mo. 229, 43 S.W.2d 1054; State ex rel. Am. Surety v. Haid, 325 Mo. 949, 30 S.W.2d 101; State ex rel. Morrison v. Simms, 201 S.W. 910; State ex rel. Wors v. Hostetter, 343 Mo. 945, 124 S.W.2d 1072; State ex rel. Dew v. Trimble, 306 Mo. 657, 269 S.W. 617; State ex rel. Cass v. Seehorn, 283 Mo. 508, 223 S.W. 664; St. Louis County to Use of Miss. Valley Trust Co. v. Menke, 95 S.W.2d 818; State ex rel. Kaiser v. Miller, 316 Mo. 372, 289 S.W. 898; State ex rel v. Trimble, 297 Mo. 104, 247 S.W. 187; State ex rel. Barnett v. Imhoff, 291 Mo. 603, 238 S.W. 122; State ex rel. v. Flynn, 348 Mo. 525, 154 S.W.2d 52; Hauser v. Burge, 120 S.W.2d 314; Am. Const. Fire Assur. Co. v. O'Malley, 342 Mo. 139, 113 S.W.2d 795; St. Louis v. Gleason, 93 Mo. 33, 8 S.W. 348; Ex parte McLaughlin, 105 S.W.2d 1020; Wells v. Thomas Garland, Inc., 39 S.W.2d 409; State ex rel. Prudential Ins. Co. v. Shain, 344 Mo. 623, 127 S.W.2d 675; Burrus v. Cont. Life Ins. Co., 225 Mo.App. 1129, 40 S.W.2d 493. (2) The opinion of the Kansas City Court of Appeals follows the decisions of this court and correctly declares the law and its application of the facts of this case. State ex rel. Prud. Ins. Co. v. Shain, 344 Mo. 636, 127 S.W.2d 675; Nofsinger v. Hartnett, 84 Mo. 549; Providence v. Broderick, 104 F.2d 614; Webster's New International Dictionary (2d Ed.); Caldwell v. Travelers' Ins. Co., 305 Mo. 619, 267 S.W. 907; State ex rel. Mills Lumber Co. v. Trimble, 327 Mo. 899, 39 S.W.2d 355; Pickering v. Hartsock, 221 Mo.App. 868, 287 S.W. 819; Webb Kunze Constr. Co. v. Gilsonite, 281 Mo. 629, 220 S.W. 857; J.E. Blank v. Lennox Land Co., 351 Mo. 932, 174 S.W.2d 274; Huddleston v. Same, 11 S.W.2d 1065; State ex rel. Maryland Cas. Co. v. Hughes, 349 Mo. 1142, 164 S.W.2d 274; Natl. Surety Co. v. Roth, 232 S.W. 737; Mathews v. Modern Woodmen of Am., 236 Mo. 326, 139 S.W. 151; State ex rel. Zimmerman v. Schaper, 152 Mo.App. 538, 134 S.W. 671; State ex rel. Jacobs v. Elliott, 157 Mo. 609, 57 S.W. 1081; Fullerton Lumber Co. v. Calhoun, 89 Mo.App. 209; Godfrey v. Kansas City L. & P. Co., 247 S.W. 451; Lange v. Freeman, 13 S.W.2d 1092; Cochrane v. Stewart, 63 Mo. 426; Hurst v. Randall, 68 Mo.App. 507; Smith v. Warren, 88 Mo.App. 285; Central States Grain Co-Operative, Inc., v. Nashville Warehouse & Elevator Corp., 48 F.2d 138; Howell v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 69 F.2d 447; Union Indemnity Co. v. Vetter, 40 F.2d 606; 27 Am. Jur., sec. 21, p. 457; Maloney v. Nelson, 39 N.E. 82; Conqueror Zinc & Lead Co. v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 133 S.W. 156; State ex rel. Western Automobile Ins. Co. v. Trimble, 249 S.W. 902; Staggs v. Gatham Min. & Mill. Co., 235 S.W. 511; Central States v. Nashville W. & E. Corp., 42 F.2d 138; State v. Cordaro, 241 N.W. 448; 31 C.J. 431; Title Guaranty, etc., Co. v. Turnes, 183 Ill.App. 23; 31 C.J. 437; State ex rel. Phillips v. Green, 112 Mo. 108, 90 S.W. 403; Burrus v. Continental Life Ins. Co., 225 Mo.App. 1129, 40 S.W.2d 493; Croghan v. Savs. Trust Co., 231 Mo.App. 1161, 85 S.W.2d 239; State ex rel. Central States Life Ins. Co. v. McElhinney, 232 Mo.App. 107, 90 S.W.2d 124; John Deere Plow Co. v. Cooper, 230 Mo.App. 167, 91 S.W.2d 145; Beers v. Strimple, 116 Mo. 179, 22 S.W. 620; Nofsinger v. Hartnett, 84 Mo. 552; Trust Co. v. Tindle, 272 Mo. 681, 199 S.W. 1025; Southern Real Estate & Finance Co. v. Banker's Surety Co., 273 Mo. 293, 184 S.W. 1030; Adel v. Dalton, 341 Mo. 454, 107 S.W.2d 1071; Gillen v. Bayfield, 329 Mo. 681, 46 S.W.2d 571; LaClede Construction Co. v. Tudor Iron Works, 169 Mo. 137, 69 S.W. 384; Cal Hirsch & Sons Iron & Rail Co. v. Paragould & M.R. Co., 148 Mo.App. 173, 127 S.W. 623; Malloy v. Egyptian Tie & Timber Co., 207 Mo.App. 465, 247 S.W. 467; 13 C.J., pp. 326, 339. Illinois Fuel Co. v. M. & O. Railway Co., 8 S.W.2d 843; Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co. v. Delta & Pine Land Co., 169 Miss. 196, 150 So. 205; Solace v. T.J. Moss Tie Co., 142 S.W.2d 1079; School Dist. of St. Joseph v. Security Bank of St. Joseph, 325 Mo. 1, 26 S.W.2d 785; State ex rel. Southern Surety Co. v. Haid, 49 S.W.2d 329; St. Louis v. Maryland Casualty Co., 122 S.W.2d 20; State to Use of Southern Bank v. Atherton, 40 Mo. 209; Wolthausen v. Trimpert, 105 A. 687; 31 C.J. 431; Burlington County R. Co. v. N.J. Rapid Transit Co., 77 N.J.L. 737, 73 A. 504; Warwick v. Hutchinson, 45 N.J.L. 61, (affirmed 46 N.J.L. 200); Johns v. Wartham, 188 Ill.App. 406; Drake v. Sherman, 179 Ill. 362; State v. Paul's, 21 Mo. 51; Underwood v. Century Realty Co., 220 Mo. 522, 119 S.W. 400, 25 L.R.A. 1173; Lindell v. Robes, 40 Mo. 249; American Law Institute, Restatement of the Law of Contracts, sec. 74; 12 Am. Jur., pp. 13, 14; Lubne v. Mutual Life Ins. Corp. of New...