Cengage Advantage Books: Law for Business 19th Edition by John Ashcroft,Katherine Ashcroft,Martha Patterson

Exercise 4

North American Specialty Insurance Co. (NAS) underwrote construction bonds. Brunson Bonding and Insurance Agency was an agent for NAS, and Reid Methvin was an employee of Brunson. The agency agreement between NAS and Brunson required NAS to give prior approval before a construction bond was issued. Methvin issued bonds without prior approval from NAS. After NAS learned about the unauthorized bonds, it accepted and kept the premiums from Brunson. When a number of the unauthorized bonds resulted in defaults, causing NAS to pay out claims on them, NAS sued Methvin, Brunson, and Brunson's insurer. The defendants argued that acceptance of the premiums by NAS constituted ratification of Methvin's unauthorized acts. Did it?