THURSTON v. KOCH, 4 U.S. 348 (1800)
Syllabus
U.S. Supreme Court
THURSTON v. KOCH, 4 U.S. 348 (1800)4 U.S. 348 (Dall.)
Thurston
v.
Koch.
Circuit Court, Pennsylvania District.
October Term, 1800
THIS cause came before the Court on the following case, stated by the counsel, Condy, for the plaintiff, and Ingersoll, for the defendant.
'On the 13th of October 1796, William
I. Vredenburgh, of the city of New-York, merchant, caused himself
to be insured, at the city of New-York, in a certain policy of
insurance, which was subscribed by the plaintiff, in the sum of
14,500 dollars, upon any kind of goods and merchandise, laden, or
to be laden, on board the brigantine Nancy, captain King, master,
lost, or not lost, at and from any port and ports in the
West-Indies, and at and from thence to New-York, and there safely
landed, beginning the adventure upon the said goods and
merchandises, from the lading thereof on board the said vessel, at
the West-Indies.
'On the 17th of October 1796, the
said William I. Vredenburgh, by Jacob Sperry and Co. his agents,
caused himself to be insured, at the city of Philadelphia, in a
certain other policy of insurance, which was subscribed by the
defendant, in the sum of 1300 dollars, with other underwriters, in
the whole amounting to 12,000 dollars, upon all kinds of lawful
goods, and merchandises, lost, or not lost, laden, or to be laden,
on
board the said brigantine Nancy, at and from Cape Nichola Mole, to any ports and places in the West-Indies, to trade, and at and from either of them to New-York, beginning the adventure from and immediately following the loading thereof on board the said brigantine at Cape Nichola' Mole, and so to continue until safely landed at any ports and places in the West- Indies, and at New-York aforesaid. The premium demanded upon this policy, was ten per cent. and was duly paid by the said Jacob Sperry and Co. on behalf of the said William I. Vredenburgh, to the defendant and the other underwriters upon this policy.
'On the 20th of October 1796, the
said William I. Vredenburgh, caused himself to be insured, at the
city of New-York, in a certain other policy of insurance, which was
subscribed by the New-York insurance company, for the sum of 2,200
dollars, upon all kinds of lawful goods and merchandises, lost, or
not lost, laden, or to be laden, on board the said brigantine
Nancy, at and from any port or ports in the West-Indies, to
New-York, beginning the adventure from the loading thereof on board
the said brigantine, at any port or ports in the West-Indies, and
so to continue until safely landed at New-York, &c.
'On the 12th day of September 1796,
the said brigantine Nancy, with the said goods and merchandises, so
laden on board, and insured and covered by the said policies as
aforesaid, sailed from Cape Nichola Mole, in the West-Indies, for
St. Marks, likewise in the West-Indies, and in the prosecution of
the said voyage, from Cape Nichola Mole to St. Marks aforesaid,
with her cargo, including the said goods and merchandises, so
insured as aforesaid, was captured by a French privateer, and
condemned; by which capture, the said goods and merchandises were
wholly lost to the insured. Upon this, suits were brought into the
Supreme Court of the state of New-York, against the plaintiff, upon
the policy by him subscribed, and against the New-York insurance
company, on the policy by them subscribed; in which suits, the
insured, the said William I. Vredenburgh, recovered as for a total
loss.
'The amount paid by the plaintiff
(after the usual deductions) for the loss, was 12,740 dollars, with
1783 dollars and 60 cents interest, and 418 dollars and 32 cents
costs. He has, likewise, paid, to the said assured, 1083 dollars
and 60 cents, being the amount of the premium upon the policy
subscribed by the defendants (after the deductions allowed in the
case of a returned premium) as a consideration for the assignment
of the said policy to the plaintiff. The New-York insurance company
have paid to the assured 2156 dollars, being the amount of their
policy (after the usual deduction in case of loss) with 301 dollars
84 cents interest. The several sums so paid, have completely
satisfied the loss, with all the interest and costs. [4 U.S. 348, 350]
Opinions
v.
Koch. Circuit Court, Pennsylvania District. October Term, 1800 THIS cause came before the Court on the following case, stated by the counsel, Condy, for the plaintiff, and Ingersoll, for the defendant.
U.S. Supreme Court
THURSTON v. KOCH, 4 U.S. 348 (1800) 4 U.S. 348 (Dall.) Thurstonv.
Koch. Circuit Court, Pennsylvania District. October Term, 1800 THIS cause came before the Court on the following case, stated by the counsel, Condy, for the plaintiff, and Ingersoll, for the defendant.
'On the 13th of October 1796, William
I. Vredenburgh, of the city of New-York, merchant, caused himself
to be insured, at the city of New-York, in a certain policy of
insurance, which was subscribed by the plaintiff, in the sum of
14,500 dollars, upon any kind of goods and merchandise, laden, or
to be laden, on board the brigantine Nancy, captain King, master,
lost, or not lost, at and from any port and ports in the
West-Indies, and at and from thence to New-York, and there safely
landed, beginning the adventure upon the said goods and
merchandises, from the lading thereof on board the said vessel, at
the West-Indies.
'On the 17th of October 1796, the
said William I. Vredenburgh, by Jacob Sperry and Co. his agents,
caused himself to be insured, at the city of Philadelphia, in a
certain other policy of insurance, which was subscribed by the
defendant, in the sum of 1300 dollars, with other underwriters, in
the whole amounting to 12,000 dollars, upon all kinds of lawful
goods, and merchandises, lost, or not lost, laden, or to be laden,
on
Page 4 U.S.
348, 349
board the said brigantine Nancy, at and from Cape Nichola Mole,
to any ports and places in the West-Indies, to trade, and at and
from either of them to New-York, beginning the adventure from and
immediately following the loading thereof on board the said
brigantine at Cape Nichola' Mole, and so to continue until safely
landed at any ports and places in the West- Indies, and at New-York
aforesaid. The premium demanded upon this policy, was ten per cent.
and was duly paid by the said Jacob Sperry and Co. on behalf of the
said William I. Vredenburgh, to the defendant and the other
underwriters upon this policy.
'On the 20th of October 1796, the
said William I. Vredenburgh, caused himself to be insured, at the
city of New-York, in a certain other policy of insurance, which was
subscribed by the New-York insurance company, for the sum of 2,200
dollars, upon all kinds of lawful goods and merchandises, lost, or
not lost, laden, or to be laden, on board the said brigantine
Nancy, at and from any port or ports in the West-Indies, to
New-York, beginning the adventure from the loading thereof on board
the said brigantine, at any port or ports in the West-Indies, and
so to continue until safely landed at New-York, &c.
'On the 12th day of September 1796,
the said brigantine Nancy, with the said goods and merchandises, so
laden on board, and insured and covered by the said policies as
aforesaid, sailed from Cape Nichola Mole, in the West-Indies, for
St. Marks, likewise in the West-Indies, and in the prosecution of
the said voyage, from Cape Nichola Mole to St. Marks aforesaid,
with her cargo, including the said goods and merchandises, so
insured as aforesaid, was captured by a French privateer, and
condemned; by which capture, the said goods and merchandises were
wholly lost to the insured. Upon this, suits were brought into the
Supreme Court of the state of New-York, against the plaintiff, upon
the policy by him subscribed, and against the New-York insurance
company, on the policy by them subscribed; in which suits, the
insured, the said William I. Vredenburgh, recovered as for a total
loss.
'The amount paid by the plaintiff
(after the usual deductions) for the loss, was 12,740 dollars, with
1783 dollars and 60 cents interest, and 418 dollars and 32 cents
costs. He has, likewise, paid, to the said assured, 1083 dollars
and 60 cents, being the amount of the premium upon the policy
subscribed by the defendants (after the deductions allowed in the
case of a returned premium) as a consideration for the assignment
of the said policy to the plaintiff. The New-York insurance company
have paid to the assured 2156 dollars, being the amount of their
policy (after the usual deduction in case of loss) with 301 dollars
84 cents interest. The several sums so paid, have completely
satisfied the loss, with all the interest and costs.
Page 4 U.S.
348, 350
'Question for the opinion of the Court. Is the defendant (one of
the underwriters, on the Philadelphia policy, of the 17th of
October 1796) liable to make any, and, if any, what contribution to
the plaintiff, upon the loss so paid as aforesaid by him? Or, in
other words, Is the defendant liable to pay more than the amount of
the loss, beyond the sum previously insured? 'If the Court shall be
of opinion in the affirmative, then judgment shall be entered for
the plaintiff, in such sum as, upon the principles established by
the Court, shall be found due. But, if the Court shall be of
opinion in the negative, then judgment shall be entered for the
defendant.' After arguments, the opinion of the COURT was delivered
by the presiding Judge, in the following terms:
PATERSON, Justice. The case before the Court is that of a double
insurance; and the question is, whether the insurers shall
contribute rateably, or shall pay according to priority of
contract, until the insured be satisfied to the amount of his loss.
The law on this subject, is different in different nations of
Europe, owing to the diversity of local ordinances, which have been
made to regulate commercial transactions. By the ordinance of one
country, the contract is declared to be void, and a forfeiture
superadded; whereas, by the ordinances of other countries, the
contract is merely void, without any forfeiture. By the ordinance
of Spain, if a policy be signed on the same day by several persons,
the first singer becomes first responsible, and so on till the
insured receive full satisfaction to the value of his loss; the
posterior insurers being liable only for the deficiency, and that,
too, according to the order of priority. But, in such case, by the
ordinance of France, the several insurers, on the same day, shall
contribute rateably to make up the loss; whereas, by the same
ordinance, if the policies bear date on different days, the rate of
contribution is rejected, and that of priority established; or, in
other words, if the first policy absorb the loss, or amount to the
value of the goods insured, the posterior insurers are not liable,
but shall withdraw their insurances, after retaining a certain per
centage. The solvency of the first insurer to the full value being
assumed, the ordinance is predicated on the principle, that there
remains no property to be insured, and, of course, no risk to be
run. But suppose the solvency of the first insurer should become
doubtful, what course is to be pursued? As this is a risk, it ought
to be provided against; and, accordingly, we find, that some of
these ordinances have declared, that such insurer's solvability may
be insured. It is obvious, that this is a point of great delicacy;
for, by questioning the solvency of a merchant, you wound his
credit, and, perhaps, cast him into a state of bankruptcy. Most, if
not all, of these ordinances, are of ancient date, and were
calculated for the then existing state of commerce in
Page 4 U.S.
348, 351
the several countries, which formed them. It is, however,
evident, that the law merchant varies in different nations, and
even in the same nation at different times. The course of trade,
local circumstances, commercial interests, and national policy,
induce to some variation of the rule. The law in this particular,
as it was understood and practised in England, prior to, and at the
commencement of, our revolution, was different from the rule, which
prevailed in France, Spain, and other countries, under their local
ordinances. A double insurance is, where the same man is to receive
two sums instead of one, or the same sum twice over for the same
loss, by reason of his having made two insurances upon the same
ship, or goods. In such case the risk must be the same. This kind
of insurance is agreeable to the practice and law of England, and
is considered as being founded in utility, convenience, and policy.
In the case of Godin and others v. The London Assurance Company, in
February 1758, Lord Mansfield, in delivering the opinion of the
Court, expressed himself as follows:
'As between them, and upon the foot
of commutative justice merely, there is no colour why the insurers
should not pay the insured the whole: for they have received a
premium for the whole risk.
'Before the introduction of wagering
policies, it was, upon principles of convenience, very wisely
established, 'that a man should not recover more than he had lost.'
Insurance was considered as an indemnity only, in case of a loss:
and, therefore, the satisfaction ought not to exceed the loss. This
rule was calculated to prevent fraud; lest the temptation of gain,
should occasion unfair and wilful losses.
'If the insured is to receive but one
satisfaction, natural justice says, that the several insurers shall
all of them contribute pro rata, to satisfy that loss against which
they have all insured. 'No particular cases are to be found, upon
this head; or, at least, none have been cited by the counsel on
either side.
'Where a man makes a double insurance
for the same thing, in such a manner that he can clearly recover
against several insurers, in distinct policies, a double
satisfaction, the law certainly says, 'that he ought not to recover
doubly for the same loss, but be content with one single
satifaction for it .' And if the same man really, and for his own
proper account, insured the same goods doubly, though both
insurances be not made in his own name, but one or both of them in
the name of another person, yet that is just the same thing; for
the same person is to have the benefit of both policies. And if the
whole should be recovered from one, he ought to stand in the place
of the insured, to receive contribution from the other, who was
equally liable to pay the whole.' 1 Burr. 492.
Page 4 U.S.
348, 352
In the case of Newby v. Reed, at sittings after term, in 1763, 2
Bl. Rep. 416. the same doctrine is laid down, agreed to, and
confirmed. For 'it was ruled by Lord Mansfield, Chief Justice, and
agreed to be the course of practice, that upon a double insurance,
though the insured is not entitled to two satisfactions; yet, upon
the first action, he may recover the whole sum insured, and may
leave the defendant therein, to recover a rateably satisfaction,
from the insurers.'
These cases have never been contradicted, and must be decisive
on the subject. The law, as stated in the above adjudications, is
recognized by Park and Miller, two recent and respectable writers
on marine insurances. Such being the law of England, as to double
insurance, before and at the commencement of our revolution, it was
also the law of this country, and is so now. It is of authoritative
force, and must govern the present case. Besides, if the Court were
at liberty to elect a rule, I should adopt the English regulation,
which divides the loss rateably among the insurers. It is the most
convenient, equal, and consonant to natural justice, and has been
practised upon, nearly half a century, by the first commercial
nation in the world. I am not clear, that the practice of France is
not in conformity with this rule; for it is probable, that they
open but one policy, bearing the same date, though signed at
different times, or different policies of the same date; in either
of which cases, by the French ordinance, the insurers contribute
rateably to satisfy the loss sustained by the insured. If so, it is
precisely the English and American rule. Equality is equity. This
maxim is particularly applicable to commercial transactions; and,
therefore, the rule of contribution ought to be favoured. The
pressure, instead of crushing an individual, will be sustained by
several, and be light. The result is, that the defendant must
contribute rateably to make up the loss of the insured.
PETERS, Justice. [352-Continued.]
The point in this cause is, whether in a case of double
insurance, the policies are to be taken according to priority; that
is, whether the second is answerable before the first is exhausted,
if the loss is greater than the sum covered by the first? And if
the loss is fully covered by the first, whether, if it be paid by
the insurers on the first, they can oblige those on the second to
contribute, pro rata?
To be respectable abroad, and to facilitate and simplify
mercantile business at home, we should have a national, uniform,
and generally received, law-merchant. The custom, or practice, of
one state differing, perhaps, from that of another, must yield to
general and established principles.
There is, however, no custom of merchants, in this, or any
other, district of the United States, stated in the case, and we
cannot travel out of the statement, in giving our judgment.
I mention as an extraneous fact, of which I have been informed
by persons intelligent in business of insurance, that the rule in
New-York, where they followed the British practice for a great
length of time, was variant from that they now use. The custom in
Philadelphia, has been, for a long course of years, to settle
losses, where there are double insurances, according to priority of
policy in date, without regard to time of individual signature:
that is, not to call on the second set of underwriters, if those on
the first policy were competent, or had paid the amount of
subscription, or loss. In this event, those on the second policy
return the premium, retaining one half per cent. If this be so, and
I have no reason to doubt, it is one of the very few subjects, in
which I have been able to discover a decided and universal custom
of merchants here. It may have originated, when the British rule
was more similar to that of many other nations, than it is now, and
was at the time of our revolution. It appears to me, that the
custom here is agreeable to the general maritime custom and law of
Europe, in this particular. The authorities produced in this cause,
on the part of the defendant, warrant me, in this opinion. All the
European nations, it is true, do not agree. [352-Continued.]
There may not in every detail, be an exact conformity among any
considerable number. But, I conceive, that where the greater number
of particular laws are coincident in a general principle, this will
establish what is called, general law. In the point before us,
there are exceptions in the laws of Spain, and those of England, to
what seems to be the general principle and rule, among other
trading nations. And the arrangements of those two countries,
differ from each other.
The law, or custom of merchants in England, was, formerly, more
agreeable to the general custom and maritime law of other nations,
than it has been decided, in latter times to be. It is contended,
that the British authorities, do not shew direct decisions of their
courts, on this point; yet, they are sufficient to satisfy me, of
what the law there is. It appears to me to be clearly settled, as
law, in England, that in cases of double insurances, if all the
policies cover the same risques, there shall be a rateable
contribution. It was so settled at the period of our independence.
It was their law-merchant, which, being part of the common law, was
binding on us; and is now engrafted into our maritime code. The
cases, before our declaration of independence, clearly shew, that
the law was then so settled. And in cases since that declaration,
it is recognised and agreed to be the law. Our insurances in that
country being still considerable, the rule is yet useful on that
account, among others.
In France, agreeably to an ordinance of Lewis XIV. the first
policy is to be exhausted, before the second operates, if dated at
different times. But different policies, of the same date, are
considered as one, and there is a rateable contribution.
In Spain, the date and time of individual subscription are
attended to, and insurers are called on, according to priority of
subscription, even on the same policy. I have had frequent
occasions to recur to Spanish regulations. There is, in most of the
Spanish maritime laws and customs, a peculiarity which creates an
exception, rather than a rule, on many general principles .
[352-Continued.]
I cannot see, that it will be materially disadvantageous to
commerce, to settle this question, in either way, contended for in
this cause. It is of most importance, that the point should be
clearly decided and settled in one or the other way; that merchants
may know, and accommodate their affairs to the decision. This court
can, at least, commence the means of final decision.
I believe with Professor Smith, in his 'Wealth of Nations,'
cited in this cause, that distributing the burthen of losses, among
the greater number, to prevent the ruin of a few, or of an
individual, is most conformable to the principles of insurance, and
most conducive to the general prosperity of commerce. The wisdom
and experience of the British nation, grown out of their more
modern and extended state of commerce, have given additional value
to this opinion. Whatever respect (and it is not slight), I may
entertain for the laws of other nations, I deem myself bound to
follow, what was the established law and custom of merchants in
England, at the time of our becoming an independent nation: not
because it was the law merely of that country; but because, it was,
and is, our law.
There is sufficient evidence in my mind, in the cases produced
out of the British books, to this point, to satisfy me of the law
and custom there established on this question. I, therefore,
conclude, according to the case of Newby v. Reed, (Sir Wm. Bl. Rep.
410.) that 'the insured may recover the whole sum; and leave the
insurer to recover a rateable proportion, from other insurers, on a
double policy,' and the insured may elect, which set of insurers,
or which of the individuals, he will sue, for the amount of actual
loss; beyond which he cannot recover, as he can have but one
satisfaction.
On the point stated, (the details of which merchants can best
adjust) I am of opinion, that the defendant is liable to pay to the
plaintiff, a contribution, upon the loss paid by him, as stated.
This contribution must be made by all the insurers, on all the
policies rateably, as their respective subscriptions bear a
proportion to each other, and all of them to the actual loss. The
defendant of course, must pay to the plaintiff his reteable
proportion, on these principles, according to the amount of his
subscription.
Judgment for plaintiff.
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