State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. Farmers Insurance Exchange

W. R. Brown, J. This is an action for contribution for 50% of the damages sustained to premises insured by both plaintiff and defendant. The parties agreed on a stipulated statement of facts and plaintiff thereupon moved for summary judgment. This motion was denied and judgment was entered against plaintiff and dismissal was ordered on January 10, 1977. Plaintiff claims an appeal as of right. The owners and mortgagors of a home purchased a policy of fire insurance from Farmers Insurance Exchange naming a mortgage company as the loss payable party. The property was later conveyed by warranty deed filed February 27, 1973. The mortgage company agreed to the assumption of the mortgage by the new owner on March 10, 1973, but did not notify Farmers of the change of ownership. The new owners obtained a policy of insurance from State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, effective March 14, 1973, and the same mortgage company named as mortgagee-insured in the first policy issued by Farmers was designated as the mortgagee-insured in the policy issued by State Farm. Although Farmers was not notified of the change of ownership by the mortgagee, it did receive actual notice and issued a notice of cancellation on March 1, 1973, with a cancellation date of April 5, 1973. The notice of cancellation also provided for a partial refund of the premium. On March 28, 1973, the insured property was damaged by fire. Both plaintiff and defendant investigated the loss but Farmers rejected the claim. State Farm adjusted the loss, made *570 payment to the mortgagee, and thereafter sought contribution from Farmers. The policy reads in relevant part as follows: "[T]his insurance as to the interest of the mortgagee * * * shall not be invalidated by any act or neglect of the mortgagor or owner of the within described property, nor by any foreclosure or other proceedings or notice of sale relating to the property, nor by any change in the title or ownership of the property, nor by the occupation of the premises for purposes more hazardous than are permitted by this policy; provided, that in case the mortgagor or owner shall neglect to pay any premium due under this policy, the mortgagee [or trustee] shall, on demand, pay the same. "Provided also, that the mortgagee [or trustee] shall notify this Company of any change of ownership or occupancy or increase of hazard which shall come to the knowledge of said mortgagee [or trustee] and, unless permitted by this policy, it shall be noted thereon and the mortgagee [or trustee] shall, on demand, pay the premium for such increased hazard for the term of the use thereof, otherwise this policy shall be null and void.” The trial court held that the actual notice to Farmers of the change of ownership did not obviate the requirement of notice from the mortgagee and thus held the policy null and void. We reverse. With actual notice of the change of ownership, the purpose of this clause was fulfilled. Farmers was apprised of any increase in hazard caused by the change of ownership and occupancy. Even though apprised of this change, pursuant to which it issued a notice of cancellation on March 1, 1973, Farmers did not opt for immediate cancellation, but extended the coverage to April 5, 1973. By so doing, Farmers waived its right to declare an immediate cancellation and forfeiture of coverage. See First Baptist Church of Jackson v Citizens’ *571 Mutual Fire Insurance Co, 119 Mich 203, 207; 77 NW 702 (1899). See also Serbinoff v Wolverine Mutual Motor Insurance Co, 242 Mich 394, 400-401; 218 NW 776 (1928). Having done so, Farmers may not escape liability "by the simple expedient of a retroactive, nunc pro tunc termination of coverage”. Kaczmarck v La Perriere, 337 Mich 500, 506; 60 NW2d 327 (1953). A reversal on the ground stated above still leaves unanswered whether plaintiff can recover contribution. It is generally held that an insurer may not recover contribution where it has paid the full amount of a loss even though its obligation is only to pay the proportion of the loss that the amount insured by such insurer bears to the whole insurance on the property. 44 Am Jur 2d, Insurance, § 1818, p 743. One authority regards this as the majority rule. 16 Couch on Insurance 2d, § 62:157, pp 568-569. We decline to follow this rule and instead hold that contribution may be obtained in Michigan. By statute, the standard fire insurance policy in Michigan requires only pro rata liability where there are two insurance policies covering the same property. MCLA 500.2832; MSA 24.12832. Under this statutorily mandated policy, plaintiff and defendant were each legally obligated to pay only one-half of the claim and defendant was unjustly enriched by plaintiff’s payment of the full claim. However, MCLA 500.2836(4); MSA 24.12836(4) gives a statutory right of subrogation that includes contractual as well as tort rights of action. We believe the legislative intent expressed in this latter statute favors contribution in this situation. Had plaintiff sought a declaratory judgment prior to payment, it would have been entitled to an order declaring Farmers liable for half of the *572 damages and State Farm liable for half of the damages. See Horr v Detroit Automobile Inter-Insurance Exchange, 379 Mich 562, 566-567; 153 NW2d 655 (1967). Believing as we do that public policy should favor prompt payment of insurance claims, we hold that no different result follows from the payment to the insured prior to seeking a judicial determination of the right to contribution. Reversed and remanded for proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.