Galvin v. Union Central Life Insurance
Galvin v. Union Central Life Insurance
Opinion of the Court
Opinion of the court by
Reversing.
On the 1st day of February, 1900, Sallie E. Galvin made application to appellee’s agent for a policy on her life, payable to ber child, W. T. Galvin. When tbe application was signed by ber, the agent, Huggins, asked J. W. Galvin for bis note, tbe amount of tbe first premium. Mrs. Galvin told him at tbe time that she bad the money with which to pay it, but tbe agent took ber husband’s note for it, which is as follows:
“Louisville, Ky., February 1st, JO. Four months after date I promise to pay to the order of O. G. Early, State*548 Superintendent Union Central Life Insurance Company, twenty-two and °7a»o ($22.07) without discount or defalcation, value received, negotiable and payable at First National Bank, Louisville, Kentucky, with interest at six per cent, per annum. For premium on policy in said Company. [Signed] J. W. Galvin.”
At the time of the execution of this note there was delivered to the assured a receipt, denominated on its margin “Binding Receipt.” When the policy was delivered the following receipt was also delivered to her:
“Premium, $22.07. Union Central Life Insurance Company, Cincinnati, Ohio. Received Twenty-two and °7ioo dollars, being the first premium upon policy No. 202723, issued upon the life of Sallie E. Galvin continuing said policy in force to the 30th day of January, 1901, at noon. This receipt is subject to the conditions of any and all notes which have been given or may be given for the amount of thet said premium, or any part thereof. This receipt is not valid' unless paid, also countersigned and dated the day of payment by C. C. Early, Agent. C. W. Huggins, Agt.
“Paid at Louisville, Ky., this 23rd day of Feb., 1900. E. P. Marshall, Secretary. Clem W. Huggins, Agent.”
On the left-hand margin of this receipt appears the following :
“Agents are not authorized to grant permits, make or alter contracts, or waive forfeitures.”
The assured, Sallie E. Galvin, died during the month of November, 1900. The appellant, J. W. Galvin, as guardian for W. T. Galvin, brought this action against appellee to recover the amount of the policy, to-wit, $1,000. The appellee answered,, denying that the first premium was ever paid, and averring that the policy lapsed or was forfeited
Issues were formed by the pleadings, a trial was had, and, when the evidence was heard, the court, on motion of the appellee, peremptorily instructed the jury to find for it. To all of which appellant objected and excepted, and the case is here on the appeal.
The facts in addition to those stated are, in substance, as follows: “Dr. J. W. Galvin failed to pay the note at its maturity, and the appellee then treated the policy as void from that date, but some time in the month of July, 1900, J. W. Galvin entered the office of appellee, in Louisville, Ivy., and found one Rodman, the assistant superintendent, and one Reich, the bookkeeper, and called for his note, which was produced, and paid, with interest to that date. When Early, the superintendent, entered, and ascertained that the note had been paid, he sent Rodman and Reich at once to the office of Dr. Galvin with the money, and offered to return it, and asked for the note. Galvin refused to accept the money or return the note. Appellee afterwards registered a letter to Galvin containing the money, and he refused to receive the letter. Before this payment of note by Galvin, and after it became due and the policy forfeited, as claimed by appellee, Dr. Hood, the appellee’s examining physician, had called on- Sallie E. Galvin (at the instance of appellee, as claimed by appellant, and at the instance of appellant, as claimed by appellee), and made an examination of her, with a view to the reinstatement of the policy. This examination or certificate w7as forw7arded to the company, at its home office, and the company refused to reinstate the policy, and reported the fact to Early, its superintendent, at Louisville, Ky. If the policy had been forfeited by the nonpayment of the
There are other questions of minor importance appearing in the record, but we consider it unnecessary to discuss them.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.