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4 S.C.L. 71

Shirtliff v. Whitfield

Supreme Court of South Carolina

Decided May 15, 1806

Supreme Court of South Carolina · decided 1806-05-15

The principal question on the trial of this cause before Bait, J., in Charleston, was,'whether an agent, employed by a merchant to ship goods for him, is bound to have the goods insured without particular instructions to do so ? Evidence at the trial was given of a custom or usage among merchants by which such an obligation is imposed on the agent. The existence of the custom was left to the jury, who found in favor of it. cited Marsh. 209, 218.

Decided 1806-05-15

Waties, J.,

¶1delivered the unanimous opinion of the court, 10th May, 1806. In all mercantile transactions where an agent has received orders to insure goods directed to be shipped by him, he is bound to do it; or if he be a general agent, and has no particular instructions to insure, and ships goods as such, he is bound to in-stile, if in the course of such transactions it is usual to insure; *72But this rule does not hold in regard to a special agent. He is bound by his special instructions and no further, unless the mercan. hie law or custom has established additional duties. The defend. ants in the present case were special agento, and had no orders to effect insurance. They were not bound to do so, unless under an implied obligation resulting from the usage of trade. With respect to the usage, it appears there was evidence on both sides ; and the case being encumbered with other points, which may have dis. traded the jury, there is room to believe the determination upon this point was not so clearly and judiciously made, as upon another trial it may be ; and, moreover, upon a second trial, better evidence may be adduced with respect to the custom ; and it is important to the commercial part of society to know certainly whether such a custom is to be relied on or not.

¶2New trial granted.

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