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not the widow have the same fair opportunity to bring her action for damages sustained by the death of her husband by the wrongful act or neglect of another after the defendant comes into the state, as she would have if her cause of action were for the loss of a mule killed by the wrongful act or neglect of another? The fact that the action for the death of her husband is a statutory one, and the action for loss of the mule is a common- law one, does not answer the question, for it relates not to the creation of the cause of action, but to the construction of the tolling provisions of § 21.'

"Under the admitted facts in this case as to nonresidence and absence, the action was not barred by limitation. This holding would render it unnecessary, so far as a final determination of this appeal is concerned, to decide whether or not the time of the limitation in this case would run from the date of the discharge of the usurious contract, but, as the question is properly raised, and is important, we will consider 99 the same.

A second petition for rehearing having been filed, McNeill, J., on November 8, 1921, handed down the following opinion (- Okla. —, 201 Pac. 510):

A very elaborate brief has been filed in support of the second petition for rehearing, and a proper consideration of the same necessitates a consideration of not only the opinion in this case, but also a consideration of the opinion on the former appeal, being Connecticut F. Ins. Co. v. George, 52 Okla. 432, 153 Pac. 116. We think the former opinion failed to consider several material questions that should have been considered and were raised by the brief in said case, and are necessary to be considered at this time in reaching the right conclusion upon this second petition for rehearing. The policy involved was for insurance in the total amount of $2,000, and divided as follows: (1) $200 on household and kitchen furniture, etc., while contained in

above-described dwelling house; (2) $150 on iron and board roof frame barn No. 1, with shed attached, including foundation; (3) $250 upon grain, corn, ground feed, and seed while in building or in stack on farm; (4) $100 on farming utensils, wagons, harness, saddles, etc., while in building on farm; (5) $350 on hay, straw, fodder, and flax while in building, or in sheds, or in stacks on farm; (6) $800 on horses, mules, and colts anywhere; (7) $150 on cattle anywhere.

This action was brought to recover loss of: (1) For household furniture; (2) grain; (3) certain farming utensils; (4) hay.

error,

Insurancedivisible.

In the former appeal this court treated the policy as an inseparable contract, and that a violation or breach of the conditions of the policy in so far as it related to one class of property would render the entire policy void. In this we think the court committed and overlooked the former decision of the territorial supreme court, to wit, Miller v. Delaware Ins. Co. 14 Okla. 81, 65 L.R.A. 173, 75 Pac. 1121, 2 Ann. Cas. 17, wherein the court stated as follows: "Where an insurance policy is issued, and different classes of property are insured, each class being separated from the others and insured for a specific amount, and there is a breach of the conditions of the contract as to one class of the property insured, the contract should be considered as not one entire in itself, but as one which is severable, and in which the separate amounts specified may be distinguished, and a recovery had for one or more of them without regard to the other, provided the contract is not affected by any question of fraud, act condemned by public policy, or any increase of the risk of the company on the whole property insured because of the breach."

The identical question was before the supreme court of West Virginia in the case of Bond v. National F. Ins. Co. 83 W. Va. 105, 97 S. E. 692,

(84 Okla. 172, 200 Pac. 544.)

and the court said: "A fire insur-
ance policy
policy covering different
classes of property, separately val-
ued, containing a condition or war-
ranty relating to one class of prop-
erty only, and not affecting the risk
as to another, is a divisible contract,
and is not avoided in its entirety
because of a breach of such condi-
tion or warranty, notwithstanding
a stipulation in the policy that it
shall become void in toto upon a
breach by the insured of any one of
its conditions."

In the body of the opinion the court stated as follows: "Whether in such case the policy is divisible or entire there is much conflict in the authorities. There are three distinct rules relating to the question, each finding support in the decisions of the various courts of this country. One rule is that if the premium is paid in gross, even though the property insured is separately valued, the contract is entire; another, that if the property is separately valued the policy is divisible, even though the premium is in gross; and still another rule is, where the property is separately valued, the divisibility of the policy depends upon whether the property is so situated that the risk on one item of it affects the risk on the others. If a provision or warranty in a policy relating specially to one item of property separately valued affects the risk of all, the policy is regarded as entire, whether the premium is separate or in gross; but, if it does not so affect the risk on all the property insured, the policy is divisible."

The supreme court of Michigan in the case of Benham v. Farmers' Mut. F. Ins. Co. 165 Mich. 406, L.R.A.1915D, 736, 131 N. W. 87, Ann. Cas. 1912C, 983, stated as follows: "A policy, insuring for a single premium specified sums on the dwellings on a farm and its barns, sheds, furniture, products, equipment on the premises, and live stock anywhere in certain specified counties, is divisible, and the insurance on the personalty is not avoid

ed by breach of warranty as to condition of chimneys on the dwellings and the placing of an encumbrance on the realty without authority, except so far as it is contained in the buildings as to which the risk is increased."

The cases supporting the rule above announced are annotated in 2 Ann. Cas. 22; in the note the annotator stated as follows: "When these rules have come to be applied to a contract for insurance on different pieces of property, there has been a contrariety of opinion. It seems to be conceded in general terms that, where the contract is entire, a breach of condition affects all the property at risk; but as to what makes an entire contract there is not uniformity of ideas. It is doubtless a sound rule that where, by a policy upon several separate and distinct classes or species of property, each of which is separately valued, the sum total of the valuation is insured on payment of a premium in gross, the contract is severable; and a breach of a condition avoiding the policy as to one of the items does not affect it as to the others if there is nothing in the terms, in the nature of the contract, or of the different subjects of the insurance, or in the surrounding circumstances, from which it can be inferred that the insurer would not have been likely to have assumed the risk on one or several of the subjects of the insurance, unless induced by the profit or advantage of having a risk upon all, and if the breach as to one item of property does not increase the risk as to the balance."

The annotator, in support of this rule, states as follows: "In Merrill v. Agricultural Ins. Co. 73 N. Y. 452, 29 Am. Rep. 184, holding that a breach of a condition in a policy of insurance by placing encumbrances on the buildings, did not avoid the policy as to chattels in the buildings which were separately valued, the court in its reasoning points out the considerations which are determinative as to the divisibil

ity of insurance contracts: "There is nothing to show that an encumbrance upon the buildings would have been an objection to a risk on the chattel property, or that the opportunity of insuring on the buildings was the inducement to taking a risk also on the chattels. There is nothing in the nature or terms of the contract which make it so much an entirety as that it is at all difficult to tell the amount insured on the buildings, as distinguished from that at risk upon the chattels. There is nothing to show that had the chattels been insured, without insuring the buildings, the premium would have been greater or different. The risks are not necessarily indivisible; they may be dealt with in separate clauses, and are made. up of distinct and independent sums on different and distinct properties. There may be reasons which, existing as to one class of the property insured, might deter an insurance company from taking a risk on any of the classes. Some such general cause as fraud in the insured as to one class would in its nature extend to the whole subject-matter of the contract, and vitiate and avoid the whole contract in all its parts. But it is difficult to conceive how an act, in itself not evil, though it may affect one of the classes of property insured, and so affect it as to increase the hazard, if it does not also increase the hazard on another class, should operate so as to impair the contract as to that latter class.' In Baldwin v. Hartford F. Ins. Co. 60 N. H. 422, 49 Am. Rep. 324, it is held that an alienation by the insured, without notice, of one of several parcels of real estate covered by a fire policy containing a stipulation against alienation, avoids the policy as to property not alienated, unless the court can say as a matter of law that the risk of the remaining property is not increased."

As stated in the case of Bond v. National F. Ins. Co. supra, the different courts are in conflict as to whether the policy is a divisible

contract or an inseparable contract. One line of decisions adheres to the rule, if the premium is paid in gross, even though the property insured is separately valued, the contract is entire. Another line adheres to the rule that, if the property is separately valued, the policy is divisible, even though the premium is paid in gross. The other rule, which is the rule announced in the case of Miller v. Delaware Ins. Co. supra, to wit, where the property is separately valued, the divisibility of the policy depends upon whether the property is so situated that the risk on one item affects the risk on the others, and if the items of property separately valued affect the risk on all the property, it is regarded as an entire contract, and if it does not so affect the risk on all the property the policy is divisible. The risk upon the horses, cattle, or upon the grain or farm implements would not affect the risk upon the household furniture. We think the court committed error in holding, which it necessarily did, that the policy was an inseparable contract.

We will next consider the correctness of the former opinion in so far as it ordered the case dismissed. In considering this question there are two provisions of the policy necessary for consideration. The first provision is: "The assured shall also produce all that remains of the property hereby insured, whether damaged or not, and exhibit the same for examination, and submit to examination under oath, and subscribe to same to any person named by the company."

The other provision: "No suit or action on this policy, for the recovery of any claim, shall be sustainable in any court of law or equity until after full compliance by the assured with all the foregoing requirements, nor unless commenced within twelve months next after the loss occurred."

The courts are unanimous in holding that the provision in the policy requiring the insured to submit to an examination under oath is

(84 Okla. 172, 200 Pac. 544.)

a binding and valid provision. The courts are likewise unanimous in the decisions in holding, when the insured submits to an examination, he is only required to answer material questions, and the failure to answer immaterial questions will not avoid the policy. Insurance Cos. v. Weide, 14 Wall. 375, 20 L. ed. 894; Porter v. Traders' Ins. Co. 164 N. Y. 504, 52 L.R.A. 424, 58 N. E. 641; Titus v. Glens Falls Ins. Co. 81 N. Y. 410.

In the instant case the insured submitted to an examination, but refused to answer certain questions. This court in the former opinion held the questions were material, and we think correctly so, in so far as the questions related to the insurance on the grain, wagons, harness, and saddle. The mortgages did not cover the household furniture, and the questions were not material in so far as they related to the insurance on household furniture. The questions which related to the insurance upon the cattle and horses were immaterial for the reason that that portion of the policy was not before the court, and there was no attempt to collect for any loss on this claim or species of property.

The question for consideration is: Where a policy contains a provision requiring the insured to submit to an examination under oath, and contains a further provision that no suit shall be sustainable until the insured has complied with the terms of the policy, will the failure to answer material questions forfeit the policy? The general rule of law is that forfeitures are not looked upon with favor by the courts. The policy does not provide that a failure to answer a material question shall forfeit the policy, but provides no suit shall be sustainable until the provisions of the policy are complied with. The word "sustain" may be susceptible of several constructions. Webster defines "sustain" to mean to "carry on," or to "maintain," and that is the general meaning of the term.

The policy itself is silent as to

waive.

when this examination shall be held.
It might be requested before suit
was filed; it likewise may be re-
quested after the filing of suit. It
has been held, and we think correct-
ly in this kind of a policy, that the
personal examination of the insured
is no part of the -examination of
proof of loss pro- insured-right to
vided for by the
policy, but it is a right that is re-
served to the company, which it can
exercise as it might choose. Such
was the holding of the supreme
court of Illinois in the case of Win-
nesheik Ins. Co. v. Schueller, 60 Ill.
465, where the court stated as fol-
lows:
lows: "The personal examination
of the assured, reserved to the com-
pany by the conditions of the policy,
formed no part of the proof of loss
provided by the policy, and it did
not matter that such an examina-
tion was made more than thirty
days after the loss occurred. The
right to so examine was a privilege
reserved to the company, which
they could exercise or not, as they
might choose, but was not a duty
imposed on the assured."

We think the correct rule under policies which contain provisions similar to the one in controversy, where a difference arises over whether certain questions are material or immaterial, was announced by Dillon, J., in the case of Weide v. Germania Ins. Co. 1 Dill. 441, Fed. Cas. No. 17,358, where the court in the first syllabus stated as follows: "Under certain provisions of a fire insurance policy, the refusal of the assured to submit to an examination on oath, or to answer material questions respecting the loss, was considered not to work a forfeiture of the policy, but only

to examination.

to cause the loss not duty to submit
to be payable until
this was done; and such refusal
should be pleaded in abatement, and
separately from defenses in bar."

The same view was taken by the court of appeals in New York in the case of Porter v. Traders' Ins. Co. supra. In that case the court stated as follows:

"The provision of the contract as to which a breach is alleged is the agreement of the insured to 'submit to examinations under oath by the person named by this company.' They did submit to examination. It cannot be claimed that they were bound to answer every question propounded, however irrelevant. They were bound to answer only such as were material, having in view the purpose of the condition. They had no guide as to what was or was not material, except their own judgment, acting, of course, in good faith. Even if they made a mistake in deciding that the inquiry with respect to the cost of the steamer was not material, it is no ground for visiting them with a forfeiture of all the benefits of the contract, and the principle above suggested should apply.

"Finally, it should be noted that the condition alleged to have been violated in this case applied only after the capital fact of a loss. The object of the provision was to prescribe the manner in which an accrued loss was to be adjusted and ascertained. The liability of the defendant having become fixed by the happening of the event upon which the contract was to mature, conditions which prescribe methods and formalities for ascertaining the extent of it, or for adjusting it, are not to be subjected to any narrow or technical construction, but construed liberally in favor of the insured."

The supreme court of Washington, in commenting upon the provisions in the policy which provided that no action should be sustainable until the terms of the policy had been complied with, in the case of Barbour v. St. Paul F. & M. Ins. Co. 101 Wash. 46, 171 Pac. 1030, stated as follows: "But, even if this were not so, when we look to the words of the policy, which it is well settled must be strictly construed against the insurance company, we do not find that it provides that no action shall be 'commenced,' but that no action shall be 'sustainable.' At the

time plaintiffs sought to sustain their action by proofs, the examination had been signed and was in the hands of the defendant. All that the policy required had been performed."

The supreme court of Texas, in the case of Humphrey v. National F. Ins. Co. Tex. - 231 S. W. 751, reviews most of the cases dealing with this identical question. The court followed the rule announced in the case of Weide v. Germania Ins. Co. supra, and under the practice in that state held that the failure to submit to an examination or answer material questions should be raised by a plea in abatement, and that a failure to raise the same by such a plea was a waiver of the defense. Under our practice it would be more appropriate to raise this defense by a motion to dismiss, and if the controversy arose over whether certain questions were material, if the court should decide the questions were material, the court should make an order requiring the insured within a certain time to answer such questions, and, upon failure to answer said questions, the court should dismiss the case, or, if during the trial of the case the court should decide that the questions were material, the case should be continued and the insured given an opportunity to answer said questions before dismissing the case.

The courts have been very liberal in construing this provision of the policy, and have never placed a technical construction upon the same. See Johnson v. Bankers Mut. Casualty Ins. Co. 129 Minn. 18, L.R.A. 1915D, 1199, 151 N. W. 413, Ann. Cas. 1916A, 154; Gordon v. St. Paul F. & M. Ins. Co. 197 Mich. 226, L.R.A.1918E, 402, 163 N. W. 956; North British & M. Ins. Co. v. Rose, 142 C. C. A. 582, 228 Fed. 290. To hold a refusal to answer questions which the insured and his attorneys in good faith believed were immaterial would work a forfeiture of the policy, without first giving the insured a right to comply with the same if he was honestly mistaken,

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