Dick v. Equitable Fire & Marine Insurance

NewMAN, J. It is not questioned by tbe plaintiffs, but is conceded that tbe foreclosure proceedings rendered tbe policy of insurance voidable, at tbe option of tbe defendants. But it is contended by tbe plaintiffs that, in tbe exercise of that option, tbe defendants elected to waive tbe forfeiture — 50 — and to treat the policy as still valid, and so are now estopped to urge the forfeiture. It is well settled in this state that conduct on the part of insurance companies, after knowledge-of the forfeiture of a policy, which assumes the policy to be-still valid and in force, especially if it subjects the insured to' delay or expense, is a waiver of the forfeiture and estops-the company to urge that defense to an action on the policy. Gans v. St. Paul F. & M. Ins. Co. 43 Wis. 108; Cannon v. Home Ins. Co. 53 Wis. 585; Oshkosh Gas Light Co. v. Germania F. Ins. Co. 71 Wis. 454; Renier v. Dwelling House Ins. Co. 74 Wis. 89. This principle of the law is not questioned by the defendants. Rut they deny knowledge of the-foreclosure proceedings which operated the forfeiture, and urge that the evidence given on the trial is insufficient to-establish that fact. But in Gans v. St. Paul F. & M. Ins. Co., supra, it is held that knowledge of facts which show that a condition of the policy has been broken, by the local agent who issued the policy, is imputed to the company a» knowledge of the same fact. And the testimony, clearly, is sufficient to sustain the finding of the jury that the local agent had knowledge. In that case it is unimportant whether the adjuster had actual knowledge or not. It is also urged that the evidence is insufficient to show that the agent who was sent to investigate the loss had power to bind the company by a waiver of the forfeitures. The agent disclaims such power. He denominates himself' a “ special agent,” and describes himself as having only limited powers. But evidently he was sent by the defendants-to investigate the circumstances and ascertain the amount of the loss. His real authority covered all that might be advantageous and appropriate in ascertaining the loss. The plaintiff was required, by the policy, to “ furnish, if required,, verified plans and specifications of any building, fixtures, or machinery destroyed or damaged.” Apparently, the agent sent had the power to require such plans and specifications — 51 — to be furnished by the assured. The carpenter’s estimate of the loss and damage was evidently such a paper. It was, at least, within, the apparent scope of the agent’s authority to demand such carpenter’s estimate. The defendants had indued him with such apparent authority. It was, in legal effect, the demand of the defendants. They are bound by it, and by the legal consequences which flow from it, although it may have been intended that his authority should be more limited. It was expressly held in Oshkosh Gas Light Co. v. Germania F. Ins. Co. 71 Wis. 454, that an adjusting agent has power to bind the company by acts in pais which operate as an estoppel to insist upon a forfeiture of the policy. See, also, American Ins. Co. v. Gallatin, 48 Wis. 36; Alexander v. Continental Ins. Co. 67 Wis. 422. While a mere local agent, as such, may have no power to bind the company by the waiver of a forfeiture, still the company may be bound by the act of any agent who is authorized to do the act which constitutes a waiver. The case is not within that provision of the policy which provides that “ these companies shall not be held to have waived any provision or condition of this policy, or any forfeiture thereof, by any requirement, act,' or proceeding, on their part relating to the appraisal, or to any examination herein, provided for.” The carpenter’s estimate did hot relate to an appraisal, or to the examination provided for. The policy contained this provision: “ This policy is made and accepted subject to the foregoing stipulations and conditions, together with such other provisions, agreements, or conditions as may be. indorsed hereon or added hereto; and no officer, agent, or other representative of these companies shall have power to waive any provision or condition of this policy, except such as, by the terms of this policy, may be the subject of agreement indorsed hereon or added hereto, and, as to such provisions and conditions, no officer, agent, or representative shall have such power, or be deemed or — 52 — held to have waived such provisions or conditions, unless such waiver, if any, shall bé written upon or attached hereto, nor shall any privilege or permission affecting the insurance under this policy exist or be claimed by the insured unless so written or attached.” In Renier v. Dwelling House Ins. Co. 74 Wis. 89, it was held that “such attempted restrictions upon the power of the company or its general officers and agents, acting within the scope of their general authority, to subsequently modify the contract and bind the company in a manner contrary to such previous conditions in the policy, are ineffectual.” Errors are alleged in the admission and rejection of evidence. The court admitted testimony, over the defendants’ objection, of a conversation which the witness overheard, before the fire, between the defendants’ local agent and the plaintiff. In substance it was that the local agent, Jackson, ■said to the plaintiff, “ I am afraid you will lose your house and lot by the foreclosure proceedings that have been commenced.” The plaintiff replied, “ I don’t think I will lose it, for I have a year to redeem in.” The object was to prove that the local agent had knowledge of the foreclosure. The defendants objected to this testimony on the ground that notice to the local agent, of the foreclosure proceedings; is'not notice to'the company.'' The objection on that ground is not tenable. Gans v. St. Paul F. & M. Ins. Co. 48 Wis. 108. Defendants’ counsel asked the plaintiff Dielc, on cross-examination, “ Didn’t you think at the time that the company ought to be informed of the fact that there was a judgment of foreclosure there?” The plaintiff answered, “I didn’t see any need of it, for I knew that Jackson knew it.” The defendants moved to strike out this answer as not responsive to the question. It is not clear that the answer is not responsive to the question. The question called for- noth'ing material to' defendants’ case." It is not obvious what — 53 — the counsel expected to elicit by it. The question itself seemed to imply some criticism upon the plaintiff for his failure to notify the company directly. The answer, very naturally, stated his reason for not having done so. The question seemed to call for some explanation. The answer, in substance, is, “ The defendant already knew it.” It is not evident that that answer was not responsive to the question. If the defendants did not desire an explanation of this kind, the question could have been put in different form, or, without detriment to the defendants’ case, omitted altogether. It is sometimes safer, in practice, not to ask irrelevant questions in cross-examination. ' It appears that after the plaintiff had procured the carpenter’s estimate, and had delivered it to the adjuster, the adjuster voluntarily, and without consulting the plaintiff* paid the maker for it. He testified that, at the time when he required it from the plaintiff Dick, he had informed Dick that it should be procured at his expense, which Dick denied. This was one of the issues tried. It was claimed by the plaintiffs that this was done from mere afterthought, for the purpose of avoiding the effect of the demand for the estimate as an estoppel. So, on cross-examination, the adjuster was asked if he did not know at the time when he paid for the estimate that, in case he had put the plaintiff to trouble and expense in getting it, while he had knowledge of the foreclosure, that would make the policy good. He answered, in effect, that he did know that such was the law, but that he had no knowledge of the foreclosure. Eur-ther questions of similar import were pressed, and similarly answered. This was all under objection that the questions were “incompetent, irrelevant, and immaterial.” The materiality of this line of questions and answers is not very evident or cogent. But possibly it may be relevant as having some inferential or argumentative bearing upon the plaintiff’s contention that the payment by the witness was the result of afterthought, in anticipation of the conse — 54 — quence of bis demand for the estimate. At least, it is not perceived that the defendants were injured by this testimony, as it seems to be rather favorable to defendants’ side of the contention. The defendants’ attorney asked one of the defendants’ witnesses this question: “Did you hear him [Mr. Bartlett, plaintiffs’ attorney] say to your father that he advised Mr. Dick [the plaintiff] that, if the insurance company wanted an estimate, not to let the grass grow under his feet until he got it?” This and other questions of the same general character were objected to as “ incompetent, irrelevant, and immaterial,” and excluded. This is alleged for error, because it is claimed that this class of testimony would tend to show that the plaintiff and his attorney “ were working for a forfeiture.” (“Waiver” is probably the word intended.) But the defendants could scarcely hope that the merest hearsay evidence would be deemed competent for proving it, or that the fact was of much importance if fully proved. It is claimed to be error that two separate judgments, one against each defendant for the sum for which it was liable, with its proportionate share of costs, were taken. This form of judgment seems to be required by ch. 235, Laws of 1893. It provides that “ all insurance companies interested in the loss ” may be joined as< defendants, and that “ a separate judgment shall be entered against each insurance company, for the amount of the verdict which may be rendered against such insurance company, together with its proportion of the costs in the suit.” The defendants also urge that the evidence is insufficient to support the verdict as to the amount and entireness of the loss. There is evidence which seems to show, with sufficient certainty, that the building was, for all practical or useful purposes, totally. destroyed. Seyk v. Millers' Nat. Ins. Co. 74 Wis. 67. By the Court.— The judgments of the circuit court are both affirmed.