Grimes v. . Insurance Co. , 217 N.C. 259 ( 1940 )

Plaintiff's truck, while insured by defendant against loss or damage due to collision, was demolished 15 December, 1938, as result of collision with a locomotive engine. In accord with the terms of the policy of insurance, plaintiff and defendant executed an agreement in writing to submit the question of the amount of the damage to named appraisers, with directions to them to select an umpire, the award in writing of any two to determine the amount of damage. Thereafter the two named appraisers submitted an award fixing the total loss and damage at $485.00. It appeared, however, that the attempted appraisal was made without notice to plaintiff and without giving him an opportunity to be heard. The plaintiff refused to accept or be bound by the award, and instituted an action in the Superior Court, and filed complaint setting up the policy and the loss due to collision, and praying that he recover $650.00 therefor. The defendant filed answer admitting liability under the policy but denying the amount of the loss alleged, and pleading estoppel by the award. When the case came on for hearing in the Superior Court, before Thompson, judge presiding at June Term, 1939, after the pleadings were read and the jury impaneled, the court ordered that the matter in controversy be again submitted to the appraisers theretofore appointed by the parties. The defendant excepted to the order of reappraisal, reserving right of appeal to the Supreme Court. Thereafter one of the appraisers, together with the umpire, signed an award fixing the loss at $606.00. To this award defendant noted exception. At November Term, 1939, Burgwyn, special judge presiding, the award of reappraisement was confirmed, the court finding that defendant had waived its rights by appearing before the appraisers and taking part in the reappraisement. Judgment was entered for plaintiff for the amount last fixed by the appraisers, less the amount deductible under the terms of the policy. Defendant appealed to the Supreme Court, assigning errors in the order of Thompson, J., and in the judgment of Burgwyn, Special Judge. The award made by the appraisers, under the agreement of the parties for the submission of the question of the amount of loss due to collision under the terms of the policy of insurance, was properly held not binding on the plaintiff by reason of the absence of notice and opportunity to be heard. Public Laws 1927, ch. 94, sec. 6; Michie's Code, 898 (f). It is a well recognized rule that the parties to an arbitration proceeding, independent of statute, have a right to be heard and opportunity to present evidence as to all matters submitted. 3 Am. Jur., 929; 6 C. J., sec. 198. "Notice and opportunity to be heard are fundamental." Waldroup v. Ferguson,213 N.C. 198, 195 S.E. 615. Hence the plea of estoppel by the first award could not avail the defendant under the facts of this case. But the case was then in the Superior Court at the suit of the plaintiff. The defendant had pleaded to the merits. The issue was joined, and the jury impaneled. It was error, over the objection of the defendant, to transfer the trial of the issue of fact raised by the pleadings to arbitration or appraisement. C. S., 556.

The fact that defendant, after noting exception to the order of Judge Thompson, participated in the hearing before the appraisers and umpire may not be held to constitute waiver of its exception. As in case of compulsory reference, the defendant preserved its right to trial in the Superior Court and before a jury by excepting in apt time to the order, and again to the award. Lumber Co. v. Pemberton, 188 N.C. 532, 125 S.E. 119; Brown v.Buchanan, 194 N.C. 675, 140 S.E. 749; Cotton Mills v. Maslin, 200 N.C. 328,156 S.E. 484.

The cause is remanded to the Superior Court of Edgecombe County for jury trial on the issue raised by the pleadings, unless some other method of trial be agreed upon by the parties.

Error and remanded.