Michigan Shingle Co. v. State Investment & Insurance

Durand, J. This case was brought to recover upon an insurance policy, by which the defendant had insured the plaintiff upon certain lumber, lath, and shingles, owned by it, or held in trust or on commission, or sold but not delivered, piled on its mill docks Nos. 3, 4, and 5, at Muskegon, Mich. Among other things, the policy contained a clause as follows: “Warranted by the assured that a continuous clear place of 150 feet shall hereafter be maintained between the property hereby insured and any wood-working or manufacturing establishment, and that said space shall not be used for handling or piling of lumber thereon for temporary purposes, tramways, upon which lumber is not piled, alone being excepted; but this shall not be construed to prohibit loading or unloading within, or the transportation of lumber and timber products across, such clear space; it being sj>ecially understood and agreed by the assured that any violation of this warranty shall render this policy null and void.” ■ Within a few days after the policy was given, the insured property was destroyed by fire. At the time the policy was issued the agent who insured it knew the exact condition — 391 — and location of the insured property, and knew that the clear space of 150 feet, actual measurement, did not exist, and he also knew that the assured did not have it in its power to control a clear space for 150 feet, as mentioned in the policy. He knew that the adjoining docks 1 and 2 were being used for the purpose of piling lumber and shingles upon, and that it was not the intention of the assured to make any change in its method of conducting the business, or in the use of the space as it was used at the time the policy was given. He also knew, as stated in the brief of defendant’s counsel, that in a narrow straight line from the lumber on the docks to the plaintiff’s sawmill there was, perhaps, a clear space of 150 feet, but that out of a straight line this was not so, and that between the lumber on the docks and Hovey & McCracken’s mill there was not a continuous clear space of even 100 feet. The rate of premium to be paid, for insurance upon the different docks was fixed by defendant’s agent with reference to the supposed risk in view of the manner in which the docks were used, and the distance from other exposure. The-record shows that although the clear space referred to was not 150 feet, actual measurement, yet on account of the situation of the property, the manner of its use, and its proximity to water, it was considered equivalent to that distance by insurance men, and the testimony clearly shows that it was so considered in the office of the defendant’s agent, who, with full knowledge of the actual distance maintained and to be maintained, wrote the policy referred to, and placed that" distance at 150 feet. No change was made by the assured after the issuing of the policy, and of this fact, also, the defendant’s agent had full knowledge. He resided in Muskegon, had examined this property with special reference to its location and to its desirability as insurable property, and, knowing these facts, issue’d the — 392 — policy referred to, and took the premium which he charged for the insurance. The defendant insists that the clause, “ that there shall be hereafter maintained 150 feet clear space,” must be rendered literally, and without regard to the knowledge of the agent as to what the actual distance was, thereby asserting that it has the right to accept the money of the assured, issue its policy therefor, and lead it to understand that at has a valid insurance until a loss occurs, and then to repudiate its liability. Such a rule as this would enable it to affirm a contract, entered into by it with full knowledge of all the facts, in so far as such- contract might be of advantage to it, and to repudiate it the moment it «eased to be advantageous. This is inequitable, and contrary to the well-established rule in reference to when and how the repudiation of a contract shall be made. The knowledge of the agent is the .knowledge of the company. “ If the insurer receives the premiums with full knowledge of facts constituting a breach of one of the conditions of the policy, the right to insist that the policy is forfeited for that cause is gone.” Mershon v. Insurance Co., 34 Iowa, 87. In Plumb v. Insurance Co., 18 N. Y. 392, where the agent of a company had incorrectly filled in the measurements, he himself knowing that they were incorrect, it was held that his knowledge bound the company, — that it Was estopped to deny the assertion. In Rowley v. Insurance Co., 36 N. Y. 550, the application stated : “ I own the property; there is no incumbrance.” There was, however, a mortgage upon the property, of which the insurer’s agent had notice; but, notwithstanding that notice, the agent filled up the policy, setting forth falsely that there was no incumbrance. It was held that the insurer was estopped to set up the incumbrance as a'defense-to the action. — 393 — In Hodgkins v. Insurance Co., 34 Barb. 213, the application stated: “The above property is owned and occupied by me.” As a matter of fact these words were inserted by the defendant’s agent after plaintiff had informed him as to the particular nature of his title and interest, which was a contract for the purchase of the land, and for which a deed was not demandable at the time the fire occurred. It was held that the knowledge of the agent was the knowledge of his concern, and that the insurer was estopped to defend on the ground that the interest was misstated. In Insurance Co. v. Bruner, 23 Penn. St. 50, the description and survey were made a part of the policy and a warranty on the part of the assured, and one of the conditions was that a false description should vitiate the policy. The application failed to disclose mortgages to the amount of $6,000 which were upon the property. It .stated that the works were operated by the proprietor, and lighted by closed lamps. The proof showed that an open light was used to light up. with; that the works were not exclusively operated by the proprietor. But it was proved that the company’s agent knew how the building was occupied, and knew of the mortgages, and it was held that the plaintiff was entitled to recover. In Mutual Protection Co. v. Schell, 29 Penn. St. 31, the insurer’s agent examined the premises, and wrote the description in the application, but nothing was said about an oven contained in the building. Held, that it would not void the policy if the material matter was open to view, or if the insurer’s agent had notice of it. The same rule was held in Insurance Co. v. Cooper, 50 Penn. St. 331. In Insurance Co. v. Spencer, 53 Penn. St. 353, the policy stated that the risk should not be increased without the -consent of the insurer. The assured did increase the risk — 394 — by using tbe property for the purpose of distilling whisky. It was held a question of fact for the jury whether the agent ought to have known from the examination he made, or was told, that the premises would be used for distilling, and, if he did know it, the company must be held to have taken the risk with its eyes open. In Insurance Co. v. Merritt, 47 Ala. 387, the application described the property as a frame steam saw-mill and machinery contained therein. As a matter of fact there-was a planing machine in the building, which was a class, of property for which a higher rate of premium would have been charged. The insurer pleaded that the presence of the planing machine was concealed. The plaintiff replied that the application was written by the defendant’s agent after an inspection of the property. It was held that the replication was good. . In Franlclin v. Insurance Co., 42 Mo. 456, it was stipulated that the interest of the assured in the property must be an entire, unconditional, and sole ownership. The company’s agent was informed '‘that the assured was only a part owner, and that the property was incumbered. It was held that the company was estopped to set up the conditional interest as a defense to the action. In Insurance Company v. Wright, 22 Ill. 462, it was stipulated that, if the interest of the assured was other than absolute, the insurance should be void. The fact was that the absolute title was held by trustees for the use of his wife, which fact was not stated in the policy, but the particulars of the title were made known to the company’s agent. It was held that the company was estopped to contradict the description stated in the policy. In Insurance Co. v. Garfield, 60 Ill. 124, it was stipulated that if the interest of the assured was less than a fee it must be stated in the policy. The assured stated that it was a fee. The agent of the company knew that he had — 395 — made a mortgage upon the premises to secure $10,000, and the policy was made payable to the mortgagee. It was held that to permit the company to defend on.that ground would countenance the perpetration of a gross fraud. The same rule is held in Insurance Co. v. Nelson, 65 Ill. 415; Insurance Co. v. Shipman, 77 Id. 189. In McBride v. Insurance Co., 30 Wis. 562, the application was filled up by the company’s agent, stating the title to be in the plaintiff. It was held that if the agent was informed in regard to the title, and he inserted in the application an untruth in respect to it, the misrepresentation would not affect the plaintiff’s right to recover. And in Winans v. Insurance Co., 38 Wis. 342, where the assured was prohibited, among other things, from using gasoline within the insured building, except by writing indorsed on the policy, it was proved that the agent consented that the premises might be lighted with gasoline until a change in the manner of lighting could be effected. The premises were consumed by fire before the change was made. It was held to be settled law in that state that an agent of an insurance company, authorized to take risks and issue policies against fire, may waive by parol any conditions in the policies issued by him. The agent who has power to accept apjDlications and issue policies, but who with knowledge of the facts fails to state them correctly, binds the company to the misdescriptions made by him; and although the statements made in the application were untrue, yet if the insurer was informed of and knew the truth, and after such knowledge received the application and premium and issued the policy, he must be held liable, and the knowledge of the agent is the knowledge of the insurer. Miller v. Insurance Co., 31 Iowa, 216; Ayres v. Insurance Co., 21 Id. 185. In Peoria Ins. Co. v. Hall, 12 Mich. 202, the policy, prohibited keeping gunpowder without permission written — 396 — upon the policy. It was held that, if the agent who issued the policy knew that gunpowder was kept and to be kept, the contract was valid, whether permission was indorsed or not, notwithstanding the printed condition in the contract showing the agent’s authority was limited, for the company must be regarded as having known that gunpowder was and would be kept, the knowledge of the agent being the knowledge of the principal; it would be a fraud to permit him to issue a policy which it intended to treat as void if loss occurred. In Ætna Live Stock, etc., Ins. v. Olmstead, 21 Mich. 246, the application was required to state what, if any, incumbrances were upon the property insured, and th,e amount. There were two mortgages upon it. The company’s agent admitted that he knew of the mortgages when he drew up the application. The application was made part of the contract, and the answers were expressly made warranties. It was held that the failure to disclose the mortgages was to be attributed either to the agent’s ignorance, negligence, or fraudulent pretense of giving an indemnity when he knew he was giving none, and that it was a fraud on the assured to take the premium; hence the insurer was estopped on that ground. The same rule was laid down in Mich. State Ins. Co. v. Lewis, 30 Mich. 41; Hall v. Insurance Co., 90 Id. 403; Haire v. Insurance Co., 93 Id. 481. In commenting on this subject, in Insurance Co. v. Olmstead, supra, Mr. Justice Cooley says: “It is true that in this case the paper in question was drawn by an agent, but we do not think that in a legal point of view the rights of the parties are any different from what they would be had the agent himself been insurer. The insurance business of the world is done through agents almost exclusively, and the maxim, qui facit per alium facit per se, applies with special force to their acts. These agents assume to have, and generally do — 397 — have, much more intimate knowledge of the business than those with whom they deal; * * * and when an agent, who at the time and place is the sole representative of the principal, assumes to know what information the principal requires, and, after being furnished with all the facts, drafts a paper, which he declares satisfactory, induces the other party to sign it, receives and retains the premium moneys, and then delivers a contract which the other party is led to believe, and has a right to believe, gives him the indemnity for which he paid his money, we do not think the insurer can be heard in repudiation of the indemnity, on the ground of his agent’s unskillfulness, carelessness, or fraud. If this can be done, it is easy to see that community is at the mercy of these insurance agents, who will have little difficulty, in a large proportion of the cases, in giving a worthless policy for the money they receive.” Act No. 149, Laws of 1881, which is an act to provide for a standard form of fire insurance policy, was evidently intended by the Legislature to prevent some of the abuses complained of by Mr. Justice Cooley, for it is expressly stated in the act that the form of policy contemplated by it was for the purpose, among other things, of “securing fairness and equity between the insurers and assured,” and for the “avoidance of conditions, the violation of which by the assured would, without being prejudicial to the insurer, render the policy void, or voidable at the option of the insurer.” If the end sought for by the Legislature has not been accomplished it is no fault of the act. It is certain, however, that it was not thought desirable that the insurer should be furnished with any more avenues for the avoidance of its policies than had already been recognized by the courts, when dealing with the forfeiture clauses usually contained in policies of insurance. No different rule should be adopted in this class of cases than is in others, and the same rules in relation to estoppel and waiver should be applied. In this case the agent of the company knew the exact — 398 — amount of continuous clear space kept, and to be kept, by the plaintiff, and decided that such clear space, in consideration of the situation of the property and its surroundings, was equivalent to 150 feet, as ordinarily understood by insurance men. He wrote the distance in the policy himself. He took the plaintiff's money for a supposably valid insurance, and led it to believe it was such. He knew that.no change was made by the plaintiff to increase the actual amount of continuous clear space after the policy was issued, and that it was not expected by either party that it should do so. Yet, knowing these facts, no steps were taken by him to cancel the policy, or to refund the money obtained from plaintiff on account of it. The benefits of the transaction were all retained by the defendant so long as no liability was impending, and it was not until after the loss occurred that a forfeiture was claimed by it. To allow this to be done under these circumstances would be to permit a person to keep silent when he should speak, and to enable him to reap the benefit of his own wrongdoing after having himself led his victim into a trap. It must be held that the defendant is estopped from avoiding the policy for the reasons claimed by it. The judgment is affirmed, with costs. McGrath, C. J., and Long, J., concurred with Durand, J.