Insurance Co. of North America v. Rogers , 78 Me. 191 ( 1886 )

Libbey, J.

On the 25th of May, 1882, the defendant procured of the plaintiff insurance on the ship Levi C. Wade, valued at forty-eight thousand dollars, in the sum of six thousand five hundred dollars, for one year from April 28, 1882, payable to himself and whom it might concern. The policy contained the usual clause in marine policy as follows : " If on a passage at the end of the term, the risk to continue at pro rata premium until twenty-four hours after arriving at port of destination, but no longer, either on hull or freight, and in case of loss under this clause, three months additional premium is warranted by the insured.”

The ship sailed from San Francisco, April 25, 1883, for Liverpool, and arrived September 18, 1883.

The defendant gave his note for the premium for one year, which was indorsed by the plaintiff, and judgment recovered on it by the indorsee in 1885.

This action is to recover a pro rata proportion of premium from April 28, 1883, to September 19, 1883.

By the terms of the policy the defendant was insured during that time for a pro rata premium, and accepting the policy with that clause he must be held as promising to pay the premium. He certainly cannot hold the insurance without promising to pay the consideration for it.

,. But it is claimed in defence that the defendant owned only twenty-seven sixty-fourths of the ship and had on her a further insurance in another company for the sum of sixteen thousand five hundred dollars making in all twenty-three thousand dollars, while his interest in the value of the ship was only seventeen thousand two hundred and fifty dollars, and that there being an over insurance of five thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars in case of loss he could recover only a ratable proportion of the policies, and therefore is liable for only a ratable proportion of the premium. If this proposition is sound in law, the burden is on the defendant to prove that the policies were simultaneous. This he fails to do. Again, the insurance was on the ship, and not on the defendant’s interest only, for the benefit of the defendant and whom it might concern. It does hoc appear that it was not intended to cover the interest of some other owner as well as that of the defendant.

Judgment for 'plaintiff for ‡179.50 with interest from date of the writ.

Walton, Banfoeth, Virgin, Fost.br and Haskell, JJ., ‘concurred.