Royal Indemnity Co. v. International Railway Co.

Wheeler, J. One J. F. Kulp was the owner of an automobile. The plaintiff issued to him a policy of insurance in which, among other things, the insurance company agreed to indemnify the insured against loss or damage to his automobile caused by collision. During the life of the policy, Kulp had a collision with a street car of the defendant, in which the automobile was damaged, and he, himself, sustained certain personal injuries. The insurance company settled with Kulp for the damage to the automobile. The policy of insurance provided, among other things, that the insurance company should be subrogated to all the rights which said Kulp might have against any other person or other entity by reason of loss or damage, and. that the insured should on request execute any and all papers necessary to secure to the insurance company such rights. Accordingly, on the adjustment and settlement of the damages to the automobile, Kulp, by an instrument in writing, duly assigned and transferred to the insurance company any and all claims and demands which he had or might have against others by reason of the damage to said automobile, and subrogated the insurance company to his rights against said parties, expressly reserving from the operation of such assignment any claim he might have against any person or corporation for personal injuries sustained in said collision. Subsequently Kulp began an action in the Supreme Court against the International Bailway Company to recover for his personal injuries, on the ground of the alleged negligence of that company. This cause came on for trial, and before its termination the parties to that action settled the same out of court. The International Bailway Company on that settlement procured Kulp to execute to it a formal written release. This release was upon a printed blank used [672] by that company, and by its terms released the railway company from all claims or demands which said Kulp had “ or may at any time heretofore have had * * * either to person or property, by reason of said collision ” and “ for which an action is now pending in the Supreme Court, Erie County, which is to be discontinued.” Doubtless this release is broader in its terms than was intended, and that it was simply the purpose of the parties to it to release the claim for personal injuries, when, in fact, it, in form, released those to “ property ” as well. This, however, .is not an action to reform the release, and on this appeal we must accept the release as we find it. Subsequently the insurance company began this action in the City Court of Buffalo to recover the damages sustained to the automobile (which claim had been assigned to it as stated), on the ground of the alleged negligence of the railway company in causing the collision. The defendant set up and proved the release to the railway company as a bar te the action. The International Bailway Company admitted that its negligence caused the collision; but the trial court dismissed the plaintiff’s complaint on the express ground that the plaintiff had failed to give notice to the railway company of the assignment to the plaintiff of the cause of action alleged in the complaint prior to the execution and delivery by Kulp of his release to the railway company, and that therefore such release constituted a complete bar to any recovery in this action. In this disposition of the case, I am of the opinion that the trial court erred, for the reason that the evidence in the case shows that even though the insurance company may not have given formal notice [673] of the assignment to it, nevertheless the railway company had actual notice of its existence, and did not act in ignorance of its existence, or of the claim of the insurance company. It is undoubtedly the law that where a settlement is made in ignorance that a claim or demand has been assigned (except in cases of negotiable instruments) such a settlement will fully protect the party making it from the demands of the assignee. Heermans v. Ellsworth, 64 N. Y. 159. But in this case I am of the opinion that the railway company had actual notice. The plaintiff called as a witness in its behalf in the trial in the court below the attorney and counsel for Kulp who brought and tried his action for personal injuries in the Supreme Court, and who negotiated the settlement of the case then on trial with the claim adjuster of the railway company. He testified, in substance, to his connection with the personal injuries action and its settlement, which, so far as the talk leading up to it is concerned, related entirely to the action for personal injuries he had in charge. That he told the adjuster he would settle the suit for $3,000, and the adjuster told him the company would pay that sum; that in the course of that conversation the adjuster stated to him: ‘ ‘ That there was a claim against the company for damages to the automobile * * * ” and that the adjuster said: . “ If he settled this case with me he wanted me to be neutral on the claim, whoever had the claim—it was some insurance company I think — for damages to the automobile; that is, he didn’t want me to aid them. We had collected considerable testimony, and I believe Mr. Farrell asked me for the names of my witnesses so they would be available to him for the suit which I understood was to come up in the City Court as to the claim for damages. * * * I remember Mr. Farrell [674] spoke to me about another suit pending, and he wanted me to be neutral in the matter, and I told him I would be. I told him I would not. assist the insurance company.” This testimony was not in any way contradicted. In fact, the defendant offered no evidence whatever on the. trial. We must assume the evidence true. The only fair inference to be drawn from this testimony is that the railway company had knowledge that a claim for damages to the automobile was outstanding and held by the insurance company, or someone else than Kulp; and that it was further understood that the settlement with Kulp for personal injuries would not dispose of the claim for damages to the automobile; otherwise there was no occasion for any understanding with the counsel trying the action for personal injuries that when the claim for damages to the automobile came on that he would not assist the holder of that claim. While, doubtless, separate actions, one for damages to property, and another for personal injuries, might be brought by the same party, nevertheless it is customary to join such demands in one action, and the fact that Kulp’s action against the railway company was simply for personal injuries was a circumstance in and of itself sufficient to put the railway company on inquiry as to what had become of the claim for damages to the automobile. It is claimed by the defendant that nothing short of actual notice, given by the insurance company or by Kulp, of the assignment by Kulp to the insurance company would accomplish the purpose. I do not concur in this contention. It is sufficient that the defendant had knowledge that the assignment had been made, or had knowledge of facts sufficient to put it upon its inquiry. If it had such knowledge, no [675] matter from what source the information came, it cannot claim to have acted innocently in settling for the property damages with Kulp. Brewster v. Carnes, 103 N. Y. 556. In its last analysis it will be found that the rule giving a party the benefit of a settlement made in ignorance of an existing assignment is based on the doctrine of estoppel. No such benefit can or ought to be given where a party acts with knowledge, and in defiance of others ’ rights undertakes to negotiate some settlement for the very purpose of defeating them. The rule is that where a purchaser has knowledge of any fact sufficient to put him upon inquiry as to the existence of some right or title in conflict with that he is about to purchase, he is presumed either to have made the inquiry and ascertained the extent of such superior right, or to have been guilty of a degree of negligence equally fatal to his claim to be considered a bona fide purchaser. Williamson v. Brown, 15 N. Y. 354; Anderson v. Blood, 152 id. 293; Sweet v. Henry, 175 id. 275; Kingsland v. Fuller, 157 id. 511. This is true whether a párty purchases a release from liability for damages, or is purchasing a piece of real estate. The judgment should be reversed and a new trial had in the City Court. Costs of this appeal to abide the event. The appellant asks this court to render final judgment for the plaintiff, which this court has doubtless the power to do under the recent amendment to the City Court Act, but we think it better, in view of all the circumstances, and the fact that the defendant relied on a defense which did not avail, to give the defendant the benefit of a new trial. Judgment reversed and new trial ordered.