Trumbull County Mutual Fire Insurance v. Horner

Read, J. We recognize to; the fullest extent the cases cited to show that corporations are to be limited strictly to the powers conferred. • The objection in this instance is urged by one of the corporators and one of the insured, and we doubt not had he sustained loss by fire, he would as strenuously have insisted upon his policy as he now opposes the payment of the amount assessed upon his deposite note, to pay loss, occasioned by fire to his neighbor. It does not come with a very good grace from a corporator, after he has aided to put a corporation into action, and partook of its benefits, to deny its existence in order to escape its responsibilities. This would look very much like a man attempting to take advantage of his own wrong to avoid doing what was right, a defence not much favored in law. What the amount to be subscribed by the associates was to be composed of, whether premium notes, deposite notes, or the property to be insured, before policies could issue, is' not matter of easy solu [409] tion. It is almost if not quite impossible, to determine it from the charter. But be this as it may, we consider a corporationDe when called upon to respond to the obligations of the corporation to be estopped from denying its existence in order to escape responsibility. At all events, when a corporation is sued, it is not necessary to aver in the declaration that the corporators have complied in all respects with the provisions necessary to give them power to act, whatever the ¡case might be in a suit against a mere stranger. Such matter in the case of a corporation, if good at all, must come by way of defence, and then it might be replied that he could not set up his own wrong. As to the averment of demand, this is sufficiently alleged to admit of proof. The arguments in this case are of very great length and very great ability, as they usually are in cases of steamboats and corporations, and under some other heads of the law. Some fifty suits, it is said, are depending upon this case. But we believe we have said all that is material. Judgment reversed and cause remanded.