History:

The case of the State of Mississippi, through Stokes V. Robertson, Revenue Agent v. Aetna Insurance Company, et al., was initially filed in the first judicial district of the Hinds County Chancery Court. Mississippi revenue agent Stokes Vernon Robertson filed the lawsuit on behalf of the state. The lawsuit alleged that Aetna and other insurance companies, including the Northern Assurance Company, Limited, and the Phoenix Assurance Company, Limited, colluded to set the fire-insurance premiums paid by Mississippi policyholders, specifically in Hinds County. The chancery court ruled in favor of the state. The Mississippi Supreme Court later affirmed the chancery-court ruling and ordered the defendants to pay penalties to the state. The case was later appealed to the United States Supreme Court. However, the court ruled in favor of the plaintiff on February 21, 1923, and ordered the defendants to pay penalties amounting to approximately $750,000 to the state of Mississippi.

 
Scope and Content Note:

This collection consists of a 264-page typescript of a deposition regarding the case of the State of Mississippi, through Stokes V. Robertson, Revenue Agent v. Aetna Insurance Company, et al. The deposition contains the examination, cross-examination, redirected questions, and testimony of Howard Terhune, secretary of the Phoenix Assurance Company, Limited. Included with the deposition are copies of correspondence, a meeting agenda from the National Board of Fire Underwriters, and an address of W. E. Mallalieu, general manager of the National Board of Fire Underwriters. These copies were meant to accompany the deposition of J. Victor Lane of the Northern Assurance Company, Limited.

 
Series Identification:

Series 1: Depositions. 1919-1921. 6 folders.

Box 1, folders 1-6