Pavey v. American Insurance Co.

LyoN, J. 1. The policy was issued upon a written application of the plaintiff therefor, in the form of questions propounded by the company, and the answers of the plaintiff thereto. Among these, after a statement of the description of the premises on which stood the dwelling-house of the plaintiff included in the policy, are the following: “ Q. What title has the apjdicant to these premises ? A. Warranty deed. Q. No. of acres? A. 160.” These answers were made warranties by the express terms of the contract of insurance. It appears by the undisputed evidence that the plaintiff held warranty deeds, of the whole 160 acres, but that 120 acres of the land was deeded to him by the owner, without consideration, merely for the purpose of enabling the plaintiff to sell and convey the same for the owner. The deed was absolute on its face, and there was no writing executed by the plaintiff declaring the alleged trust. The learned counsel for the defendant maintains that by his answers to the above questions the plaintiff declared, in substance and effect, that he was the absolute owner of the whole 160 acres, and that the existence of the alleged trust in respect to the 120 acres is a breach of that warranty and destroys the policy. The learned circuit judge ruled that such a parol trust is not authorized by the statute of uses and trusts, is void under the statute of frauds, and cannot be enforced, and hence that the plaintiff was the absolute owner in fee of the land thus conveyed to him. There is no claim of any defect in his title to the remaining forty acres, upon which his dwelling-house stood. Considering the decision of this court in Rasdall's Adm'r v. Rasdall, 9 Wis., 379, in which it was held that, in the absence of fraud or mistake, parol evidence cannot be received to prove that a deed absolute on its face was given in trust for the benefit of the grantor; considering, also, the provisions of the statute of frauds (R. S., 654, sec. 2302) to the effect that no trust or power over or concerning lands, or in any [224] manner relating thereto, shall be created, granted, assigned, surrendered, or declared unless by act or operation of law, or by deed or conveyance in writing, etc.; and considering, further, that resulting trusts are abolished by statute (E. S., 618, sec. 2071), as well as all other uses and trusts not authorized by statute (sec. 2071), and that a parol trust like that here asserted is not so authorized,— we think it would be difficult to demonstrate that the judge ruled incorrectly. Counsel claim that this alleged trust is authorized by sec. 2090. That section recognizes the existence of an express trust, which is not contained or declared in the conveyance to the trustees, but it comes far short of providing that a man may convey his land by a deed absolute on its face, and then be heard to allege a parol agreement that the grantee should hold the land in trust for him. Obviously the express trust recognized in sec. 2090 is one created or declared by some instrument in writing executed as the statute requires. Counsel also claim that the conveyance. of the eighty acres to plaintiff is like a conveyance absolute on its face, but which is given only as security or indemnity. Parol evidence is admissible to show that such a conveyance is a mortgage, and it is said that the same rule should apply here. In the Rasdall Case, the late Mr. Justice PaiNE said that he saw no distinction between the two cases, in principle, and he thought if parol evidence were admitted to show that a conveyance absolute on its face was but a mortgage, the same kind of evidence should be received to prove that a conveyance in like form was in fact executed upon an express trust for the benefit of the grantor. Afterwards, however, the court held, in Plato v. Roe, 14 Wis., 453 (the same learned justice writing the opinion), that parol evidence is admissible to prove that a deed absolute in form was given as security or indemnity, and is, therefore, a mortgage. The judgment is placed entirely , upon the ground that the rule, or exception rather, had become too firmly es225 tablishecl and too generally recognized to be disturbed by judicial decision. But the rule in Rasdall's Case, as applied to alleged parol trusts, has not been shaken in this state. "We do not find it necessary to pass definitely upon the question above considered, because we think the answer in the application to the interrogatory concerning title, is responsive to the question, and a sufficient answer thereto. The plaintiff stated that his title to the premises was a warranty deed, and his statement was true. At the very least he had a legal title, evidenced by such a deed. If the defendant company desired to know whether there were any outstanding equities upon the premises, it should have interrogated, the plaintiff further in respect thereto. The'rule that the construction which will save the-contract from forfeiture should be adopted if the language of the contract admits of it, requires us to hold that the plaintiff’s answer, that he had a warranty deed of the premises, informed the insurance company that he held the legal title, evidenced by a deed of warranty executed to him, and that the question did not require him further to disclose his title. 2. It is claimed that the jury assessed the plaintiff’s damages at a sum greater than was warranted by the evidence. Deducting from the verdict the interest which the court substantially instructed the jury to allow, it is perfectly obvious that the plaintiff has recovered $500 for his dwelling-house, and $215 for the loss of the personal property burned in it. He was insured on clothing, $100; on furniture, beds, and bedding, $100; and on provisions, $50. The testimony tends to show that the plaintiff lost by the fire, clothing of the value of $100, and it proves that he lost provisions not exceeding $12 in value. "With the exception of two stoves, we do not think there is any testimony tending to show a loss of furniture, beds, and bedding exceeding [226] in value $55 to $56. His claim for damage to tbe stoves will be considered presently. Tbe only tangible proof of tbe articles destroyed or damaged by tbe fire, and their value, is contained in a list and appraisal thereof made by tbe plaintiff and bis wife, and verified by tbe affidavit of the plaintiff, and in his testimony as a witness in his own behalf on tbe trial. There seems to be no proof of tbe loss of any articles not included in such list, or that any of them are of greater value than is therein specified. We take the value and description of the property damaged or destroyed from this list. In this .list are included a parlor stove and a kitchen stove, valued therein at $50. The testimony tends to show that the parlor stove was ruined by the fire, and the highest value put upon it does not exceed $15. There is really no evidence that the kitchen stove was damaged by the fire. The plaintiff testified that “ part of it went through the fire and it was broke.” But when or how it was broken, or to what extent, does not appear. The above is all the evidence we find on the subject,.except the plaintiff testified he told the defendant’s adjuster that “the kitchen stove was a Continental Cincinnati. I paid $52 for it, and he might have it for $40; that I had used it awhile.” Moreover, the evidence is overwhelming that the kitchen stove was removed from the building before the fire reached it, and was not injured at all. The evidence was entirely insufficient, indeed there was no evidence, to support a verdict awarding damages on account of such stove. The evidence, therefore, did not warrant the jury in allowing over about $10 .on account of furniture, beds, and bedding, and $12 on account of provisions, — in all, $82,— yet the jury awarded the plaintiff $115 on account of those articles. This is fatal to the judgment. In the exercise of a sound discretion this court has, in some cases of excessive damages, allowed the plaintiff to remit the excess and take judgment for the true amount. But this should never be [227] done, in a case determined by a jury, unless it is very clearly proved what is the true amount. There is no such clear proof here, for there is much evidence tending strongly to prove that the plaintiff in his testimony greatly overstated Ms loss. There must, therefore, be another trial. 3. It was argued on behalf of the defendant that it conclusively appears that the plaintiff wilfully swore falsely in respect to Ms loss, which, under a clause in the policy, forfeits his right to recover, and hence that the motion for a new trial should have been granted. We are unable to say that the proof is conclusive that he did so; and we do not say that the evidence tending to show that he did is preponderating. We leave that question, without expressing or intimating any opinion upon it, for the consideration of the court and jury when the case shall be again tried. By the Gourt.— Judgment reversed, and cause remanded for a new trial.