MIGHTY OAK, INC., A FOREIGN CORPORATION, APPELLANT,
v.
HARTFORD ACCIDENT & INDEMNITY COMPANY, ETC., APPELLEE
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An insurance company denied a claim for fire loss based on a 60-day vacancy clause in the policy. The insured argued that the insurance agent had actual knowledge of the vacancy and that this knowledge should be imputed to the insurer as a waiver. The court affirmed the jury's verdict for the insurance company, holding that the agency and knowledge questions were properly submitted to the jury rather than decided as a matter of law.
The court held that the trial court properly submitted the agency and knowledge questions to the jury rather than deciding them as a matter of law. The court also held that the trial court properly excluded evidence regarding Lane's errors and omissions insurance coverage because the insured failed to establish a reasonable factual basis showing that Lane had a personal financial stake in denying knowledge of the vacancy.
[1] A jury may determine whether an insurance agent had apparent authority and whether notice to the agent constitutes notice to the principal within the scope of that author…
[2] A party is estopped from arguing estoppel on appeal if the trial court relied on a stipulation that the party was relying on a theory of waiver instead.
Previewing 2 of 5 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“We hold that the trial court properly declined to rule, as a matter of law, that Lane was appellee's agent and properly submitted to the jury the issues as to whether Lane was an agent with apparent authority, whether Lane knew of the vacancy and whether Lane's acquisition of such knowledge, if any, was within the scope of such apparent authority.”
Establishes the court's principal holding that agency and knowledge questions are jury issues, not matters for judicial determination as a threshold matter.
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceMighty Oak held a property insurance policy with Hartford. A fire destroyed the insured building, but Hartford denied the claim on grounds that the pr…
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COWART, Judge.
The claim of appellant, Mighty Oak, Inc., for loss by fire of a building insured by appellee Hartford Accident & Indemnity Company was denied on the ground that the policy was not applicable because the insured property had been vacant for over 60 days prior to the fire. Appellant sued on the policy alleging that one Lane was an agent of appellee and that Lane had actual knowledge of the vacancy which knowledge, imputed to appellee, constituted a waiver of the vacancy provisions of the policy.
At trial appellant presented evidence from which the jury could have found that Lane was an agent of appellee. Appellant’s witnesses also testified to conversations in which they mentioned to Lane that the property was vacant. Lane denied receiving such information. From a judgment based upon a jury verdict for appellee, Mighty Oak appeals, alleging that the trial court erred in refusing instructions that would have in effect been a holding as a matter of law that Lane was an agent of appellee and in refusing to tell the jury that notice to Lane constituted notice to Hartford.
We hold that the trial court properly declined to rule, as a matter of law, that Lane was appellee’s agent and properly submitted to the jury the issues as to whether Lane was an agent with apparent authority, whether Lane knew of the vacancy and whether Lane’s acquisition of such knowledge, if any, was within the scope of such apparent authority. We do not read Hughes v. Pierce, 141 So. 2d 280 (Fla. 1st DCA 1961), to require a contrary holding.
Furthermore, on this appeal appellant is estopped to argue estoppel under Russell v. Eckert, 195 So. 2d 617 (Fla. 2d DCA 1967), because the trial court relied upon a stipulation that appellant was, at trial, relying on the theory of waiver as opposed to estoppel. Likewise, appellant’s trial counsel specifically agreed that the trial court not give any instruction defining waiver, so the adequacy of the trial court’s instruction on that subject cannot be urged on appeal.
During the cross-examination of Lane the trial court sustained an objection to a question by appellant’s counsel as to whether Lane was himself covered by a policy of errors and omissions insurance.
Appellant argues that, since Lane’s credibility as to his receipt of knowledge of the vacancy was in issue, appellant should be able to impeach Lane’s credibility by showing that Lane was not covered by an errors and omissions insurance policy and, therefore, that Lane might have a motive to testify falsely to avoid personal liability to appellee. We do not agree. Appellee insurance company certainly did not rely on Lane or anyone to constantly investigate and to keep the company informed of potential hazards to insured property. Rather, the company merely wrote a condition into its policy that the company was not liable for loss occurring while the building was vacant or unoccupied beyond a period of 60 consecutive days.
Therefore, it cannot be presumed that Lane would be liable for failure to communicate to appellee knowledge, if any, of the vacancy of the insured building. Appellant should have first shown, if possible, that the witness Lane was concerned about some personal financial responsibility to appellee as the result of his testimony in this case before attempting to “frost the cake” by questions relating to the details or the degree of any such concern. Until there is some basis in fact indicating that a witness might actually be concerned that his truthful testimony will result in personal disadvantage to himself, all is but suggestions and arguments from the imagination of counsel. Until there was some reasonable basis indicating the witness’ concern, speculative questions relating to the possible responsibility of the witness or the witness’ errors and omissions insurer were likely to mislead the jury, were properly considered irrelevant, and were properly excluded by the trial judge. There was no specific offer (proffer) of evidence to establish Lane’s concern about personal disadvantageous consequences of his own testimony and there was no specific offer of the excluded evidence sufficient to comply with Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.450(b).
See Ritter’s Hotel, Inc. v. Sidebothom, 142 Fla. 171, 194 So. 322 (1940).
The judgment below is
AFFIRMED.
ORFINGER and FRANK D. UP-CHURCH, Jr., JJ., concur.
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Citator
Cited By
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Wilkerson v. Alachua Cnty., 675 So. 2d 951 (Fla. 1st DCA 1996)…should have but did not interpose and present to the trial court for decision). Because it was not raised below, we cannot find the lower court erred in not applying this equitable defense. See, Mighty Oak, Inc. v. Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co., 399 So. 2d 425 (Fla. 5th DCA 1981). Having no basis to overturn the lower court’s order, it is AFFIRMED. BOOTH, JOANOS and VAN NORTWICK, JJ., concur.…
Authorities Cited
- Russell v. Eckert, 195 So. 2d 617 (Fla. 2d DCA 1967)
- Ritter's Hotel, Inc. v. Sidebothom, 142 Fla. 171 (Fla. 1940)
- Hughes v. Pierce, 141 So. 2d 280 (Fla. 1st DCA 1961)