Shouse v. Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Ins.

This case was started by plaintiffs Shouse in a suit for declaratory judgment in state court against two insurance companies and the other defendants alleging total loss of a house and the personal property therein. It was removed to federal court on diversity of citizenship grounds. The insurance coverage in both policies as to the two items of loss claimed exceeded $10,000.

Appellant Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company issued a fire insurance policy on a house being purchased by plaintiffs-appellees, Shouse. The land contract sellers (appellees, Shorter) had already insured the same…