Forehand v. Niagara Insurance

Mr. Justice Sample delivered the opinion of the Court. The appellee brought suit on an insurance policy to recover damages for a loss occasioned by fire. The appellant interposed by pleas the defense, first, a failure to comply with the following provision of the policy: “ It is expressly warranted that the insured shall take an inventory of the stock hereby covered at least once a year, and shall keep books of account, correctly detailing purchases and sales of said stock, and shall keep all inventories and books securely locked in a fire proof safe or other place secured from fire in said store during the hours said store is closed for business. Failure to observe the above conditions shall work a forfeiture of all claims under this policy;” which failure, it is alleged, was intentional, for the purpose of defrauding the defendants, and without its consent; second, that plaintiff, in making his proof of loss, knowingly, willfully and corruptly swore falsely, in stating there was no incumbrance on said property; third, that after said fire the plaintiff refused, on request, to produce his books for inspection, as required by the provisions of said policy. A demurrer was interposed to these pleas, making the point on first plea that it does not allege one year had elapsed after the making of said policy before the fire occurred; on the second plea, that the matter therein set up, about which there was alleged false swearing, was not material under the provisions of the policy; that no forfeitures were declared by the defendant on account of the matters set up in said pleas, and that they amount to the general issue. The demurrer was sustained, on which ruling the defendant assigns error. The pleas did not amount to the general issue under the practice in this State. The introduction of the policy, with proof of loss, makes a prima facie case for the plaintiff. Ill. Fire Ins. Co. v. Stanton, 57 Ill. 354, 357; Continental Life Ins. Co. v. Rogers, 119 Ill. 485. The defendant may, by pleas, set up its cause of forfeiture. Herron v. P. M. & F. Ins. Co., 28 Ill. 235. In doing so, however, it must plead every fact necessary to show a forfeiture. Ill. Fire Ins. Co. v. Stanton, 57 Ill. 354. The chattel mortgage on the goods did not operate to change the title within the terms of the policy. Aurora Fire Ins. Co. v. Eddy, 55 Ill. 213. The second plea, above referred to, does not so allege. The false swearing, in order to work a forfeiture, must be material. Vol. 2, Am. & Eng. En. of Law, p. 301. The demurrer to this plea was properly sustained. There is no use in considering the third plea above referred to, that plaintiff refused to produce his books. The evidence shows he kept no books and that question is raised by the first plea, which presents the principal question material to this case. The first plea is good in form. No objection is made on that ground. The only question is, does it set up a defense ? The same question is raised by the evidence, for, as stated, the proof shows no books were kept by the appellee. The agreement to keep books is in the nature of a promissory warranty. Aurora Fire Ins. Co. v. Eddy, 49 Ill. 106, 108. It is not a condition or proviso, but an express agreement on the part of the assured, to be construed like other agreements, Ibid. A failure to comply with such an agreement would operate to forfeit all rights under the policy unless ivaived. Niagara Fire Ins. Co. v. Brown, 123 Ill. 356; Crigler v. Ins. Co., 49 Mo. App. 12; Pelican Ins. Co. v. Williamson, 53 Ark. 353. The rule of laAV is that forfeitures are not favored. The right to a forfeiture is stricti juris (Eddy case, supra), and equivocal expressions in a policy are interpreted most strongly against the company, for the reason it prepares the contract. Com. Ins. Co. v. Robinson, 64 Ill. 268; Niagara Fire Ins. Co. v. Scammon, 100 Ill. 644. The provisions of the policy set up in this plea required appellee to “ take an inventory of the stock * * * at least once a year, and keep books of account, correctly detailing purchases and sales of said stock.” The policy was issued on the 4th day of February, 1887, and expired in one year. The fire occurred on the 13th day of April, 1887, or thirty-seven days after the policy went into effect. It evidently was not intended by the proAdsion referred to, to require appellee to take an inventory immediately upon obtaining the insurance, under penalty of forfeiture. To so hold Avould be doing Adolence to the language used. It is well known that such is not the “ course of business.” When such inventory, however, is once taken, and also a book account kept of the purchases and sales thereafter made, as contemplated by this provision, then in case of loss by fire such inventory and books would shoAv the exact loss, or nearly so. This was the one and only purpose- of the provision in the policy. This provision, therefore, must be construed and considered in its entirety as relating to that one purpose. The means to effectuate that end were the requirements that appellee should take an inventory and keep books of account of purchases and sales. These requirements were not independent of each other, but interdependent. Therefore, if the former was not required to be done by the appellee immediately upon the receipt of the policy, the latter was not. The inventory was required to be taken once a year, which gave appellee the whole year within which to do it. Until done, the other dependent requirement did not become operative. The judgment is affirmed.