Baltimore American Underwriters of Baltimore American Insurance v. Beckley

The appellant insurance company, having paid a fire-loss covered by its policy, and asserting its contractual right of subrogation, sued the appellee upon the theory that the fire resulted from negligence in the performance of his contract to repaint the room' in which it occurred. A verdict for the defendant was directed by the trial court at the close of the testimony produced by the plaintiff, and the only exception in the record before us questions the propriety of that action.

The defendant John D. Beckley was a subcontractor engaged to remove the stain and varnish from paneling in the…