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16 Me. 207

Williams v. Cole

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Decided July 15, 1839

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine · decided 1839-07-15

The only question was, whether the company should be charged on their answers, from which it appeared, that the defendant had insured at the office of the defendants, a quantity of potatoes against the perils of the sea, “ and all other losses and misfortunes which have or shall coñac to the damage of the said potatoes or any part thereof to which assurers are liable by the rules and customs of assurances in Bangor, provided, that the said assurers shall not be liable for…

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently February 1927

2 state decisions

Relies on Wadsworth v. Pacific Insurance

Cited in Cyclopedic (1922)’s definition of “Perils Of The Sea”

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1839-07-15

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

¶1The opinion of the Court was drawn up by

Emery J.

¶2Upon this disclosure, we think the defendants, sued in that character, must be adjudged trustees. We do not think it necessary that the loss should occur by stranding. Although potatoes like other vegetables are in their nature perishable, yet a loss by the perils of the sea, independently of stranding may well arise. If such losses were not within such policies, the indemnity against such risks would be practically of little importance.

¶3*209In the memorandum clause, where the exception is broad enough to include other losses, besides those arising from the inherent decay of the articles specified, the insurer is entitled to exemption from every risk plainly and explicitly included within the terms of the exemption. In this policy potatoes were not, by name, included in that exemption.

¶4The underwriter is not answerable for any partial loss on memorandum articles, except for general average, unless there is a total loss of the whole of a particular species, whether the particular article is shipped in bulk or in separate boxes or packages. 4 Wend. 33. Here the cargo was so damaged by the perils of the sea, as to exist only in the shape of a nuisance. In such a case, the loss is total, without abandonment. 3 B. & P. 474; 5 M. & S. 447; 3 Bingham N. C. 266, or 32 Eng. Com. Law Rep. 110, Roux v. Salvador.

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