BEDFORD PETROLEUM COMPANY, SOC. ANON. FRANCAISE v. ARBUCKLE, SMITH & CO., LTD.

(1928) 30 Ll.L.Rep. 187

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Before Viscount Haldane, Viscount Dunedin, Lord Shaw, Lord Phillimore and Lord Blanesburgh.

Insurance brokers-Account-Consignment of oil cargo to plaintiffs - Passing of property-Insurance of cargo placed by consignors with A (foreign brokers) effected through defendants (English brokers)-Loss of cargo-Recovery of insurance moneys by defendants from underwriters as agents and on account of plaintiffs - Balance of accounts as between defendants and A-Intimation that plaintiffs should look to A for payment - Duty of defendants to account direct to plaintiffs-Relationship between plaintiffs and consignors- Title of plaintiffs to collect-Separate legal persona - Course of business - Reference from plaintiffs to consignors to adjust claim with A-Part settlement by A with consignors-Claim by plaintiffs against defendants for balance-Whether consignors "principals" or "mandatories"-Delegation -Estoppel-Judgment for plaintiffs.