Walla Walla Fire Insurance v. Spencer

Citations

• 52 Wash. 369
• 100 P. 741
• 1909 Wash. LEXIS 1122

Syllabus

<p>Compromise and Settlement — Validity—Cancellation—Duress —Evidence—Sufficiency. A compromise whereby an insurance company paid its agent $5,000 cash and gave notes for $15,000, in consideration of the surrender of stock and of an agreement for the agent’s employment covering a long term of years, cannot be can-celled for duress in that the agent threatened litigation on account of his discharge and the appointment of a receiver, at a time when the company was in disfavor, where the parties dealt at arm’s length, both had the advice of counsel, the compromise was ratified by the directors of the company, and no demand was made or steps taken to cancel the notes until after the lapse of six months; a threat of litigation or buying one’s peace not ordinarily being duress.</p>