Matthews v. Capital Fire Insurance

Marshall, J. The assignments of error raise three questions which will be considered in their order. 1. Is the interest of a vendee of realty under a land contract “sole and unconditional ownership” within the meaning of that provision of the standard policy requiring such ownership as a condition precedent to the validity of an insurance contract made in accordance therewith ? This court held contrary-to appellant’s position on that point in Davis v. Pioneer F. Co. 102 Wis. 394, 78 N. W. 596. That decision is in harmony with holdings of this court made prior to the enactment of the standard policy law. The authorities elsewhere are uniform to the same effect. The idea is that equitable ownership is, properly speaking, entire and sole ownership as regards the real purpose of the provision commonly used in insurance contracts on that subject. It does not seem that we are called upon to reconsider or discuss a matter so well settled as the law on the subject in question. Franklin F. Ins. Co. v. Crockett, 75 Tenn. 725, 729; Millville Mut. F. Ins. Co. v. Wilgus, 88 Pa. St. 107, 110; Chandler v. Commerce F. Ins. Co. 88 Pa. St. 223, 227; Lewis v. New England F. Ins. Co. (C. C.) 29 Fed. 496; Pennsylvania F. Ins. Co. v. Hughes, 47 C. C. A. 459, 108 Fed. 497: Dupreau v. Hibernia Ins. Co. 76 Mich. 615, 43 N. W. 585; Loventhal v. Home Ins. Co. 112 Ala. 108, 20 South. 419; Insurance Cos. v. Estes, 106 Tenn. 472, 62 S. W. 149. 2. Did the conduct of appellant’s adjusting agent, in denying all liability of his principal under the policy after the loss occurred, waive the provision thereof requiring proofs of loss ? It is conceded that were it not for the provision of law in terms precluding the waiving of any condition or provision [275] thereof, other than expressly in a writing indorsed thereon or attached thereto (sec. 1941 — 62, .Stats. 1898), the acts of the agent would have had that effect. But it is said that in view of disability of the agent being a matter of law, decisions on the subject, as regards insurance contracts not regulated by any legislative enactment in regard to the matter, do not apply, and that the effect of the standard policy statute was overlooked in Faust v. American F. Ins. Co. 91 Wis. 158, 64 N. W. 883, where the precise question here presented was decided adverse to counsel’s contention, though the effect of the law was fully recognized in Bourgeois v. N. W. Nat. Ins. Co. 86 Wis. 606, 57 N. W. 347. The difficulty with counsel’s position is that in the last case cited the question was whether a provision affecting the validity of the insurance contract could be waived by parol, not whether the doctrine of estoppel in pais may be invoked to prevent an insurance company from relying upon failure to do some particular thing required by its contract after a loss, requisite to the maturity of a claim to recover therefor. The two questions are entirely different. While it is true the term “waiver” was used in Faust v. American Ins. Co., and is commonly used under similar circumstances, it is well settled that such circumstances do not fall under the disability clause as to waiver by parol of conditions ■or provisions in an insurance contract. That refers to conditions or provisions requisite to the validity of the contract itself, not to the mere establishment of liability under the contract. If the assurer in any case is guilty of such conduct as to render some mere matter of detail in the establishment of a claim for loss under a policy useless, and to lead the assured to assume, reasonably, that compliance with the provision of the policy in that regard will not be insisted upon, it does not, strictly speaking, work a waiver of such provision, but it es-tops the company from insisting thereon. There are many cases in the books on this subject. Travelers Ins. Co. v. Harvey, 82 Va. 949, 5 S. E. 553; Carson v. Jersey City Ins. Co. [276] 43 N. J. Law, 300; Loeb v. Am. Cent. Ins. Co. 99 Mo. 50, 12 S. W. 374; Stevens v. Citizens' Ins. Co. 69 Iowa, 658, 29 N. W. 769; Phenix Ins. Co. v. Munger, 49 Kan. 178, 30 Pac. 120; Franklin F. Ins. Co. v. Chicago Ice Co. 36 Md. 102. Tbe trial court decided entirely right in bolding that under the circumstances of this case the appellant was estopped from- insisting upon respondent’s failure to furnish proof of' loss as a defense to his claim. The denial of all liability by its adjusting agent was its denial, since he was sent by the company to respondent to investigate the circumstances of the fire and to adjust the loss. In that situation to have furnished proofs of loss would have been a useless proceeding. 3. Did the court err in permitting 'evidence to show that the purpose of the assignment was to secure the assignee against loss by reason of his guaranty ? The idea of appellant’s counsel is that such evidence tended to vary a written -instrument contrary to the rule on that subject. It seems that the assignment, rightly' construed, shows plainly on its face that Muck was a mere pledgee of the policy. In that light, if the court committed error in making the rulings complained of, appellant was not prejudiced thereby. The assignment, as indicated in the statement of facts-, contained recitals showing, pretty clearly, that it was made solely as security. Had it said, after the recitals, “in consideration of the premises” instead of “in consideration of $800 paid,” etc., no one could reasonably claim that an absolute assignment was intended. As the matter stands, it seems quite clear that the consideration named refers to the guaranty of the payment of $800 upon the land contract, not to the actual payment of money to that amount to the assignor. That being so, necessarily, we'should say, Muck’s interest in the policy is to be measured by such sums as he contributed under the surety contract, and that the policy must otherwise be held to belong to the assignor. However, it is well settled that a sale- or assignment, absolute in form, may be shown to have been [277] mad© for security only, without violating the rule contended for by appellant’s counsel. It merely enables the court, viewing the circumstances characterizing the mating of the assignment, to determine its real nature. That is permitted where it is plain that the literal sense of the language of the writing does not exhibit the real transaction. Kent v. Agard, 24 Wis. 378; Butler v. Butler, 46 Wis. 430, 1 N. W. 70; Hoile v. Bailey, 58 Wis. 434, 17 N. W. 322; Schriber v. Le Clair, 66 Wis. 579, 29 N. W. 570, 889; Evans v. Laughton, 69 Wis. 138, 33 N. W. 573; Becker v. Howard, 75 Wis. 415, 44 N. W. 755. The foregoing leaves no matter referred to in appellant’s brief that calls for mention. There was clearly a valid claim established under the policy in which respondent was interested, and he having brought all parties concerned before the court, it properly proceeded to adjudicate their rights and to render the judgment appealed from. As no complaint is made respecting the result except such as are involved in the questions decided, the judgment must be affirmed. By the Court. — So ordered.