Gladding v. Cal. Farmers' Mut. Fire Ins. Ass'n

Sharpstein, J. The finding that the hay which was in a shed near the building destroyed by fire was not stored there by the plaintiffs or with their consent, but was stored there with the knowledge and consent of the authorized agent of the defendant, and that the increase of risk occasioned thereby was with the knowledge and consent of the defendant, is attacked on several grounds, some of which we think to be well founded.

1. A witness for plaintiffs testified that he stored the hay in the shed, and that before doing so he applied to plaintiffs for permission, and was told by one of them that he would not consent unless witness obtained the consent of Mr. Kinney (defendant’s agent). If he consented, witness could put the hay in. He says he saw Kinney, and was told' by him “ to go on and put it in.” Thereupon witness stored the hay in the shed. This evidence is not contradicted, and being introduced by plaintiffs, we may assume, as against them, its entire truthfulness. The finding that the hay was not stored in the shed with the consent of the plaintiffs, is clearly at variance with the fact of their having consented to its being so stored, if Kinney would consent.

2. There is a stipulation in the policy that it shall be void, “if the risk be increased by any means,” and another that, [8]“the use of general terms, or anything less than a distinct, specific agreement, clearly expressed and indorsed on this policy, shall not be construed as a waiver of any printed or written condition or restriction therein.”

It is alleged in the answer, that the risk was materially increased .by storing hay in said shed. The court should have found whether it was or not. There was some evidence which tended to prove that it was.

If any effect is to be given to the clause last above quoted from the policy, the finding that the hay was stored, “ with the knowledge and consent of the authorized agent of the defend- ■ ant,” is not sufficient to constitute a waiver of the preceding clause, “ that if the risk be increased by any means,” the “ policy shall be void.” That finding has no other support than is afforded it by evidence that when the plaintiffs were asked to consent to the storage of hay in the shed, they told the applicant that if Kinney would consent they would; and that Kinney was at the time defendant’s local agent at Oakland. The powers of such an agent are nowhere stated. He was not the agent through whom the application for insurance was made, and does not appear to have had any connection with the matter before his consent to the storage of the hay was asked and obtained. The authority to consent to an increase of the risk was probably inferred from the fact that he was the local agent of the company in the city where the loss occurred.