Phoenix Insurance Company v. Erie Western Transportation Company/Opinion of the Court

United States Supreme Court

118 U.S. 210

Phoenix Insurance Company  v.  Erie Western Transportation Company

 Argued: January 19, 20 1886 Decided November 10, 1884. ---

The insurer of goods which are lost while in custody of a carrier, upon paying the loss, is subrogated to the claim of the insured against the carrier. Hall v. Railroad Cos., 13 Wall. 367. This being so, I think that the insured cannot, by separate agreement with the carrier, deprive the insurer of this right. Such agreement would be res inter alios acta, and void as against the insurer. It would be a fraud upon him. The carrier would thereby protect himself against the consequences of his own negligence, and compel the insurer to indemnify him without paying any premium. The owner of the goods gives up no right himself against the carrier; but they two agree, behind the insurer's back, that he shall have no right of subrogation against the carrier, but that the carrier shall have such a right against him, thus changing the law by their private agreement! It seems to me that this is contrary both to law and justice.

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