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13 Mass. 172

Whitney v. Haven

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1816-03-15

<p>Imminent danger of capture is a justifiable cause of a delay of sailing, and does not avoid an insurance.</p> <p>Where the assured, at the time of effecting the policy, said, that the vessel was to sail in five days, and the underwriter said he would not be bound if she did not then sail; and in fact she did not sail until more than a month after; and in the mean time the rate of premium on such risks had considerably increased; it was holden, that such declarations, not being part of the written contract, did not affect the insurance.</p>

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently January 1865

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1816-03-15

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Curia.

¶1The objection, that there was a delay of sailing, amounting to a deviation, was left to the jury to determine, whether the delay was caused by imminent danger of capture. We think the cause for delay was a justifiable one ; and the jury have found that it existed. The declaration of the underwriter, that unless the vessel should sail by a certain day he would not be bound, should have made a part of the written contract, if he intended to avail himself of it. Parol evidence is not sufficient to give it effect. As to the objection that the policy did not attach, because the property insured was not on board the vessel at its date, we think it of no weight.

¶2 Judgment on the verdict.

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